Blu-ray New Release Jan 29

Damages: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2007 / 575 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Genres: Drama

Starring: Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Glenn Close
Plot Synopsis: Glenn Close leads an incredible ensemble cast starring as hot-shot litigator Patty Hewes as she embarkes on the biggest class-action lawsuit in her firm's history. Patty has several weapons up her sleeve - deception, betrayal and unflinching ambition being just a few. The opposition, her team, and anyone who gets in her way had better watch their backs as she manipulates her way through the case.

Disc Features:
• Audio commentaries on select episodes
• Featurettes: "Willful Acts," "Behind-the-Scenes," "Understanding Class Action," "Trust No
One"
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers
Golden Globe 2008 Winner [Glenn Close] for BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES--DRAMA



Daddy Day Camp (Blu-ray) Overall Grade

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2007 / 89 Minutes
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Actors: Cuba Gooding Jr., Lochlyn Munro, Richard Gant,

Directors: Fred Savage

Plot Synopsis: Daddy Day Care pals Charlie and Phil are back in this hilarious, all-new adventure: Daddy Day Camp! When the dads expand their childcare magic to Camp Driftwood - serving up sports, crafts and teaching the kids a thing or two about nature, they discover the camp has everything it needs except a plan to put the bullies of rival Camp Canola to shame. With some quick thinking, teamwork, a secret weapon and some off-the-wall crazy antics, the dads and kids unite to make sure Daddy Day Camp secures its rightful place in kid camp history!

Disc Features:

Given that 'Daddy Day Camp' was a bust at the box office, I suppose it's no surprise that Sony has produced an anemic supplement package for the film's Blu-ray debut. At least the extras (all three of them) are in full HD.

• Featurette: "How I Spent My Summer Making 'Daddy Day Camp'" (HD, 12 minutes) - Unlike the movie, this featurette is cute and amusing. Rather than trying to sell us on the virtues of the flick, we’re introduced to the film’s kid actors, who are all thrilled to be making a movie. I sincerely hope they all go on to bigger and better things, as I'd hate for 'Daddy Day Camp' to wind up as the only credit on their resumes.
• Interactive Quiz: "What I Learned at Camp" - This very basic quiz simply presents a series of questions about the characters and situations in the movie, with each followed by a different video excerpt (depending on whether you got the question right or wrong). I suspect even the most cheerful tot will spend five minutes on this, tops.
  
• Theatrical Trailer (HD) - No trailer for 'Daddy Day Camp' is included, but we do get full HD previews for 'Are We Done Yet' and 'Surf's Up'.

The Invasion (Blu-ray)

Warner Home Entertainment / 2007 / 99 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Genres: Action, Horror, Science Fiction

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam
Director: Oliver Hirschbeigel

Plot Synopsis: The Invasion tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemics origins are extraterrestrial, she must fight to protect her son, who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.

Disc Features:
• Documentary: "We've Been Snatched Before: Invasion in Media History"
• Featurettes: "A New Story," "On the Set," "Snatched"

Justin Timberlake: Live at Madison Square Garden (Blu-ray)

Sony BMG / 2007 / Unrated
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Genres: Music

Starring: Justin Timberlake
Plot Synopsis: Justin Timberlake releases the FutureSex/LoveShow From Madison Square Garden Blu-ray. In addition to the full concert from his New York performance at MSG in August 2007, this release also includes a song by song running commentary from Justin, an in-depth look at the making of the show and an additional 80 minutes of special never before seen extras. Special features include behind-the-scene concert and backstage footage, a distinct ultra hi-speed bonus concert music video, and exclusive access to full length interviews with Justin, the band, and crew, giving the viewer an intimate look at the energetic buzz of activities before, during and after the show.

Disc Features:
• Artist commentary given by Justin Timberlake navigates the viewer through the show
including song by song commentary
• Full length version of the HBO show opening, not previously broadcast
• Expanded pre-show and extended backstage footage never seen before
• Under the stage footage shot while the concert was taking place
• Remix video of "Sexy Back"
• Making of the tour interview footage

King of California (Blu-ray)

First Look Studios / 2007 / Rated R
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Genres: Drama

Starring: Michael Douglas, Rachel Evan-Wood
Director: Mike Cahill

Plot Synopsis: An unstable dad who after getting out of a mental institution tries to convince his daughter that there's Spanish gold buried somewhere under suburbia.





Monty Python's Life of Brian (Blu-ray)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 1979 / 93 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: January 29, 2008

Overall Grade

Genre: Comedy
Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones,
Directors: Terry Jones

• Plot Outline Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.
• Plot Synopsis: Irreverent satire of Biblical films and religious intolerance focuses on Brian, a Jew in Roman-occupied Judea. After joining up with an anti-Roman political organization, Brian is mistaken for a prophet, and becomes a reluctant Messiah.

Disc Features:

'Life of Brian' includes all of the special features that are set to appear on the Immaculate Edition DVD (released day and date with the Blu-ray edition). While this version is missing the feature length documentary ("The Pythons") from the Criterion Collection DVD, it still has a host of supplemental content for the Python enthusiast.

• Commentary with Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Terry Jones -- I appreciate the presence of two commentaries for 'Life of Brian,' but I really wish all five participants would have sat down together to record one track. Just imagine the possibilities. Even so, the commentary with Gilliam, Idle, and Jones is the slight winner between the two, simply because it covers more ground and digs deeper into the production of the film. I was actually relieved that this track wasn't just jokes heaped onto jokes, but is actually a careful look into the making of one of the most controversial comedies of all time.
• Commentary with John Cleese and Michael Palin -- I was also surprised to find the track with Cleese and Palin to be well balanced, with several in-depth examinations of the film. The two men throw out quite a few more quips and barbs than the participants on the first track, but they never drift off topic or lose themselves in idle banter. Best of all, Cleese and Palin are very candid about the in-fighting amongst the Pythons, as well as the drama that seemed to follow the comedy team no matter what their endeavor. In all, both tracks provide a complete listening experience that is sure to please any Python fan interested in learning about the film (rather than those fans looking for the legendary comedians to crack a joke every five seconds).
• Audio Recording of the Early Screenplay with Storyboards (111 minutes) -- This is a fun feature that many completists will adore, but it really begins to drag on after a while. Without the benefit of watching the roundtable read through, we're left with a series of storyboards that tend to suck the soul and humor out of the majority of the track. Still, anyone with patience will find this feature to be a unique way to experience an early version of a classic film.
• The Story of Brian (SD, 60 minutes) -- The real draw for me was this newly produced, hour long look behind-the-scenes at 'Life of Brian.' It features interviews with all of the living Python members, as well as fairly thorough looks into pre-production, the shoot, the editing process, the release, and the film's reception. There are a ton of excellent anecdotes spread throughout the documentary as well as a number of fun facts about the controversy that's haunted the film since it first appeared in theaters. This is a must watch for any Python fan.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 13 minutes) -- At first, I was ecstatic to watch a collection of deleted Python bits. Sadly, there isn't a lot here, and it’s all too clear why each scene was deleted. The cuts include moments with a group of shepherds, Pilate's wife, Otto, a literal and figurative sign, and a souvenir salesman.
• Radio Spots (3 minutes) -- Strange but funny, this collection of audio shorts is worth a listen.
• Photo Gallery -- A collection of black & white stills that include candid looks at the Pythons during the filming of 'Life of Brian.'
• Trailers (HD, 3 minutes) -- Without a Python trailer in sight, this disc includes trailers for 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' as well as a video montage promoting various Sony titles.