No Country For Old Men plus other great titles on Blu-ray March 11

No Country for Old Men (Blu-ray)

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment / 2007 / 122 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade "Seriously brilliant! Watch it last week and I agree that it should get the title for 'Best Picture of The Year' period!!
Javier Bardem is the best psychotic killer I've seen. Great cinematography. Exciting plot. Amazing script. Unexpectedly thrilling."




Genres: Thriller, Action-drama.

Starring: Javier Bardem, Rodger Boyce, Josh Brolin
Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.

Plot Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen deliver their most gripping and ambitious film yet in this sizzling and supercharged action-thriller. When a man stumbles on a bloody crime scene, a pickup truck loaded with heroin, and two million dollars in irresistible cash, his decision to take the money sets off an unstoppable chain reaction of violence. Not even west Texas law can contain it. Based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy, and featuring an acclaimed cast led by Tommy Lee Jones, this gritty game of cat and mouse will take you to the edge of your seat and beyond right up to its heart-stopping final act.

Disc Features:

• The Making of No Country for Old Men (SD, 25 minutes) -- While it trails off near the end, this straight forward featurette is packed with information about the production, the script, the cast, and the final editing of the film. Better still, it features interview clips with the Coen brothers as they discuss design decisions, pre-production woes, and the amount of leg-work it took to get the project off the ground. The entire cast chimes in as well, noting the efforts and the commitment exhibited by everyone involved.
• Working with the Coens (SD, 8 minutes) -- This rather self descriptive featurette doesn’t have many surprises, but it does manage to explore the on-set attitudes and shooting styles of the Coen Brothers. Interviews, candid behind-the-scenes footage, and a few questions with the directors keep this one consistently interesting.
• Diary of a Country Sheriff (SD, 7 minutes) -- This all-too-brief featurette compares and contrasts the characters of Sheriff Ed Tom Bell and Anton Chigurh. Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem appear in interviews to discuss the manner in which they crafted their characters.
• Trailers (SD, 4 minutes) -- While the theatrical trailer for ‘No Country for Old Men is not included,’ Disney/Buena Vista added Blu-ray trailers for 'National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets' and 'Gone Baby Gone'.

’No Country for Old Men’ is worth its weight in Oscar gold. The Coens have made an exceptional film that has grafted itself to my cinematic consciousness. The Blu-ray edition is magnificent as well -- it may not have a compelling supplemental package, but it does have a striking video transfer and an excellent PCM audio track.


Hitman (Blu-ray)

Fox Home Entertainment / 2007 / 94 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade Cool action! Impressive collection.






Genres: Action, Thriller

Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko
Director: Xavier Gens

Plot Synopsis: The best-selling videogame, Hitman, roars to life with both barrels blazing in this hardcore action-thriller starring Timothy Olyphant (Live Free Or Die Hard). A genetically engineered assassin with killer style and deadly aim, known only as "Agent 47", eliminates strategic targets for a top-secret organization. But when he's double-crossed on a mission, the hunter becomes the prey as 47 finds himself ensnared in a life-or-death game of international intrigue and violent retribution.

Disc Features:
• Featurettes: "Im the Crosshairs," "Digital Hits," "Weapons of Destruction," "Settling the Score"
• 4 Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Gag Reel
• Digital Copy

Sleuth (2007) (Blu-ray)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2007 / 89 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Thriller

Starring: Michael Caine, Jude Law, Harold Pinter
Director: Kenneth Branagh

Plot Synopsis:
Directed by critically-acclaimed director Kenneth Branagh, Jude Law and two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine (1987, Best Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters; 2000, Best Supporting Actor, Cider House Rules) join forces in this sharp-witted, modern adaptation of the 1972 classic, Sleuth. Locked in a high-tech English manor, bound in a deadly duel of wits, Andrew Wyke (Caine) and Milo Tindle (Law) come together as English gentlemen to discuss the matter of Wyke's wife: the woman both are sleeping with. But as wit becomes wicked and clever becomes cutthroat, Wyke and Tindle's game of one-upmanship spirals out of control, in an escalating chess match that can have only one outcome: murder.

Disc Features:

• Commentary with Director Kenneth Branagh and Actor Michael Caine -- Caine and Branagh sit down for an excitable discussion about the production, the on-set atmosphere, the differences between the 1972 original and the new remake, and the nuances brought to the characterizations of Andrew and Milo. Unfortunately, the commentators begin a trend that will seep through every supplement on the disc -- they seem genuinely convinced that the film is unpredictable and that the second act reveal, in particular, is a real surprise for viewers. While many of their comments and anecdotes are certainly interesting (their dissection of Andrew's house, the strange sexuality at play in the remake), they tend to be infatuated with their own work to the point of losing objectivity. Fans of the film may enjoy this one, but I longed for an unbiased examination of the performances and their relation to the story.
• Commentary with Jude Law -- The information garnered from this additional track would've been quite exceptional if Law had appeared with Branagh and Caine in a single commentary. Law's track suffers midway through the film's runtime, growing silent far too often as the actor resorts to summations of the differences between the story and the original stage and film versions of 'Sleuth.' The young actor also seems infatuated with the "shock and surprise" of the second and third acts, rather than discussing the nuances of the characters themselves. Even those who enjoyed the film will begin to grow weary of this dry, lackluster track.
• A Game of Cat and Mouse (HD, 15 minutes) -- This standard making-of featurette covers the genesis of the project, the changes made from the original play and the 1972 film, and the development of Branagh's new take on each character. The best bits come in the form of interview clips where Caine and Law discuss the psychological profiles of their characters and the reasoning behind their performance decisions. Unfortunately, these brief sparks can't keep the featurette from delving into repetitive information covered at length in Branagh's commentary.
• Inspector Black: Make-up Secrets Revealed (HD, 3 minutes) -- This is a quick featurette that looks at the make-up effects used in the second act of the film. It's impressive work, but the prosthetics never concealed the actor well enough to make the plot twist work.
• Trailers (HD, 16 minutes) -- While it doesn't include the theatrical trailer for 'Sleuth,' this Blu-ray disc includes previews of 'Steep', '30 Days of Nights', 'We Own The Night', 'Across The Universe', 'Jane Austen Book Club', 'Saawariya'
  

August Rush (Blu-ray)

Warner Home Video / 2007 / 112 Minutes / Rated PG
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade







Genres: Drama

Starring: Freddie Highmore
Director: Jim Sheridan

Plot Synopsis:
There's music in the wind and sky. Can you hear it? And there's hope. Can you feel it? The boy called August Rush can. The music mysteriously draws him, penniless and alone, to New York City in a quest to find - somehow, someway - the parents separated from him years earlier. And along the way he may also find the musical genius hidden within him. Experience the magic of this rhapsodic epic of the heart starring Freddie Highmore (as August), Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard and Robin Williams. "I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales," August says. Open your heart and listen. You'll believe, too.

Disc Features:
Additional Scenes (SD, 14 minutes) - There are seven scenes included here, all extended character interactions. They're just as pleasant as the film, though there's nothing here that should have remained in the final cut. Warner presents all of the material in 480i/MPEG-2 video, with optional English SDH, English, French, and Spanish subtitles. Although there is no optional filmmaker commentary, the studio does provide short descriptions of each scene, as well as scene marker tags describing where they would have gone had they stayed in the film.


Appleseed Ex Machina (Blu-ray)

Warner Home Video / 2007 / 104 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade Great effects! Blu-ray delivers.







Genres: Animation [Manga]

Director: Shinji Aramakii

Plot Synopsis:
Produced by John Woo and directed by Shinji Aramaki, Appleseed Ex Machina (2007) ranks as the most elaborate, stylish, and violent of the three adaptations of Masamune Shirow's manga. When it was released in 1988, the original Appleseed felt like a summary of anime's past, while Akira pointed the way to the future. The second Appleseed (2004), also directed by Aramaki, was an unimpressive motion-capture CG feature that borrowed elements from other sci-fi anime. In this latest incarnation, Deunan, Briareos, and Tereus of the E.S.W.A.T. team are charged with preserving the peace of the city-state of Olympus, a hi-tech paradise on a largely ruined Earth. Screenwriters Kiyoto Takeuchi and Todd W. Russell have given the story a contemporary twist, adding attacks by "cyborg terrorists" and an effort by the ruler of Olympus to control a world-wide satellite surveillance system. When cyborgs and human launch coordinated attacks on the government headquarters in Olympus, Deunan, Briareos, and Tereus swing into action against a mysterious enemy. The plot has little in common with the earlier films: the Appleseed technology that was at the core of the story isn't even mentioned. The look, tone, and characters in Ex Machina recall Shirow's Ghost in the Shell, rather than the original Appleseed. Not surprisingly, the elaborately choreographed fight scenes reflect Woo's signature style, with slo-mo martial-arts combat, close-ups of falling shells, dynamic camerawork, and all-out gun battles. But the weightless movements of the motion-capture characters and the limited rendering of the skin textures gives Appleseed Ex Machina the feel of an extremely elaborate computer game. Despite the limits of the mo-cap technology, Appleseed Ex Machina is a fast-past, take-no-prisoners cinematic adventure that will delight action-movie fans as well as anime lovers.

Disc Features:

• Filmmaker Commentary -- Jerry Beck sits down to interview producer Joseph Chu about the development and creation of the film. However, despite the lack of production heavyweights, Chu (fluent in the English language) provides a candid and engaging chat that reveals endless details about the CG animation, the motion capture performances, and the art direction and design decisions which appear in the final film. Chu even covers the cultural significance of the imagery, characters, and plot points that may have escaped Western viewers. The track does get a bit quiet at times when the two get distracted by the animation, but Beck usually pops out another question before the silence drags on for too long. Ultimately, this is a welcome and informative track that should answer any question fans might have about the film.
• Team Up: John Woo and Shinji Aramaki (16 minutes) -- This fun little featurette feels slightly overproduced, but it does a great job of exploring Woo's involvement in 'Ex Machina,' Aramaki's directorial decision making processes, and the vision the duo had for the latest 'Appleseed' film. It includes interviews with animators, producers, and historians, pre-production footage from story meetings with Woo and Aramaki, early storyboards, rough animatics, and finalized footage to give a sweeping (albeit surface-level) glimpse behind the scenes.
• Revolution: Animating Ex Machina (19 minutes) -- While the information in this production featurette may be redundant in the wake of Chu's audio commentary, the visuals helps showcase the techniques used to energize the fluidity and kineticism of the CG animation. As an added bonus, the mini-doc even looks into the casting and recording of the English dub track.
• The Appleseed Chronicles (20 minutes) -- This is a dense exploration of Shirow's original "Appleseed" manga and the manners in which it influenced the two CG-animated 'Appleseed' features. Shirow's still nowhere to be found, but the featurette explains his reclusive nature and offers up quotes from other interviews on the author's behalf. This featurette includes an array of comments from industry pros, anime production staff, and 'Appleseed' crew members edited together with pages from Shirow's manga and finalized animation from 'Ex Machina.' It feels a tad long-winded, but it covers a lot of ground. Fans will certainly appreciate this thorough exploration of such classic source material.
• East Meets West (19 minutes) -- Whether you're new to anime or a frequent flier, this short is a decent examination of Western interest in Eastern animation. It's pretty entry level to satisfy long-time anime buffs, but newcomers will find it to be an interesting, sometimes enlightening extra.

Dan in Real Life (Blu-ray)

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment / 2007 / 98 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Comedy, Drama.

Starring: Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook
Director: Peter Hedges (II)

Plot Synopsis:
Steve Carell’s best film performance to date can be found in the fitfully engaging Dan In Real Life, where his long-suffering persona suits a character who lets his long-dormant hopes rise for a moment, only to be shot down again. Carell plays Dan Burns, a newspaper columnist who writes about family issues and relationships. As a widower with three growing girls to raise, however, the difference between Dan’s printed wisdom and his struggles with fatherhood and loneliness is often vast. He’s put to a severe test when he packs up the kids for a cabin holiday with his parents and siblings, then falls for the exotic, if elusive, Marie (Juliette Binoche) during a solo excursion to a bookstore. Stirred by a woman for the first time since his late wife, Dan is shocked to find that Marie is actually dating his brother Mitch (Dane Cook), and that she’ll be spending the vacation with him in the midst of his family. From that point, the script, co-written by director Peter Hedges (Pieces of April), pretty much becomes a parade of difficult circumstances under which both Dan and Marie have to keep their attraction to one another secret. Certain scenes work better than others, but there is an overall monotony to the movie that isn’t helped by a lack of onscreen chemistry between Binoche and Carell. Both actors are fine on their own terms, but whatever is supposed to be clicking between Marie and Dan isn’t compelling enough to make one truly care that they get together somehow. Still, this is a film with plenty of moments to like, especially when Carell gets to broaden his previous range of emotions in a movie.

Disc Features:

• Audio Commentary - Writer-director Peter Hedges goes solo on this track, and it's quite strong. 'Dan in Real Life' was a very personal story culled from the filmmaker's own life, and he's passionate as he speaks about conceiving and developing the project. As the track wears on, Hedges gets more screen-specific, delving in-depth into narrative situations, characters, altered lines and other on-set changes made during the shoot. A very good, very solid commentary.
  
• Featurette: "Just Like Family: The Making of 'Dan in Real Life'" (HD, 16 minutes) - "Just Like Family" isn't a particularly long doc, but it offers a nice mix of insightful making-of material and the merely promotional. Hedges is as emotional and earnest here as he is on the commentary, and he's joined by the equally sincere Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook and most of the rest of the cast and crew. Though there are still a few too many film clips here for my taste, "Just Like Family" is a very pleasant watch.
  
• Featurette: "Handmade Music: Scoring 'Dan in Real Life'" (HD, 10 minutes) - I never really noticed the music in 'Dan in Real Life' while I was watching the film, which according to this featurette, was exactly the plan. Inspired by the more song-based (and relatively subtle) scores of classics like 'The Graduate' and 'Harold & Maude,' Hedges utilized the talents of Sondre Lerche, a little-known singer-songwriter whose winsome tunes are indeed perfect for the film. If you've never heard of this guy (as I hadn't), check out this featurette, as he is one to watch.
  
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 20 minutes) - There are eleven scenes in all, and for once, they're pretty good stuff. There are a few scene extensions, but also a good deal of added character interactions, especially one late-film conversation between Dan and his parents that would have better fleshed out their relationship for me, so I wish it hadn't been snipped. Hedges makes a case for all of the excisions, however, in his optional commentary, which is also worth a listen.
  
• Outtakes (SD, 4 minutes) - The package is rounded out by this quick 4-minute yukfest, which of course spotlights Carell and Cook. Nothing here is particularly inspired, however, with most of the usual missed lines and "Boy, aren't we all having a ton of fun!" laughs on the set. (Note that this is the only extra on the disc in 480i/MPEG-4 video only. However, it comes from an AVID dub complete with timecode, so it looks fine, all things considered.)

Independence Day (Blu-ray)

Fox Home Entertainment / 1996 / 144 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Overall Grade Recommended. A must have collection!






Genres: Action, Science Fiction

Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum.
Director: Rolland Emmerich

Plot Synopsis:
One of the biggest box office hits of all time delivers the ultimate encounter when mysterious and powerful aliens launch an all-out invasion against the human race. The spectacle begins when massive spaceships appear in Earth's skies. But wonder turns to terror as the ships blast destructive beams of fire down on cities all over the planet. Now the world's only hope lies with a determinded band of survivors, uniting for one last strike against the invaders - before it's the end of all mankind. Ermm everyone knows about this movie is it. Hahaha

Disc Features:

• Filmmaker Audio Commentary - Director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin sit down for a lively, engaging discussion. Even though I usually don't like the films the pair makes, I do like their commentaries. Emmerich in particular is full of enthusiasm for even the stupidest moments of 'ID4,' and he is sometimes so child-like that it almost makes me like the movie more. The pair is also open about the obvious influences that inspired 'ID4' (i.e, the countless other movies they ripped off), plus we get the usual backpatting about the cast (especially how great Will Smith is, yadda yadda yadda). A good, solid commentary that is certainly the best extra on the Blu-ray.
  
• Visual Effects Audio Commentary - The second track features visual effects supervisors Volker Engel and Doug Smith, but it's a bit of a snoozer. The pair speak in low, measured tones, and all the tech talk begins to fold in upon itself. Since there are no before-and-after visuals to illustrate what the pair is saying, the track also suffers from additional tedium. I suppose those really into '90s-era effects will want to listen to this, but I quickly hit the fast-forward button once the big alien attack near the beginning of the film was over...
  
• Theatrical Trailers (HD) - Fox provides a theatrical teaser and three different theatrical trailers for 'Independence Day,' all in HD (though the quality, especially on the teaser, is marginal). There are also HD spots for the Fox Blu-ray titles 'AVP', 'The Fly', 'I, Robot', 'Planet of The Apes', 'Predator', 'X-Men - The Last Stand'

HD Exclusive Content:

• ID4 Datastream Trivia Track - Another Fox graphic track, this one culls the majority of its info from the visual effects commentary. It highlights most of the key effects and offers basic factoids on how specific shots and stunts were created. Unfortunately, it's not all that exciting, and I found the small-ish text a bit hard to read, even on my 70" screen.
  
• "Alien Scavenger Hunt" Interactive Game - Making use of the Blu-ray format's BD-Java capabilities, the game is a merging of basic interactivity and feature film playback. Rather than a stand-alone game, activate the "Alien Scavenger Hunt" and the film starts up, but now with an interface overlaid at the bottom of the screen, plus a "targeting crosshair" (aka cursor) you can control with your remote. The object is to find the objects on-screen that are listed in the overlay. As you "collect" the objects, they are added to your tally, and there are twelve objects in all to find. As a game, this is just plain weird, so I wonder who will have to patience to sit through the entire 144-minute feature film (though Fox does let you save your progress and return at a later date) when all you're doing is clicking on the screen a few times.
  
• Bookmarks- Select your favorite scenes from 'ID4,' and store them for playback even after you eject the disc from the player.
  
• Keyword Search - A bit a of useless feature if you ask me, but Fox has included a very extensive list of indexed topics ("Air Force One," "Fierstein, Harvey," etc.) that, when selected, take you to the relevant point in the feature.
  
• D-Box - Finally, Fox has encoded D-Box motion control commands into 'ID4,' so if you have one of the company's custom home theater chairs, you can feel a little rumble every time one of the aliens blows shit up.

I, Robot (Blu-ray)

Fox Home Entertainment / 2003 / 115 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Genres: Action, Science Fiction

Starring: Will Smith, James Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan
Director: Alex Proyas

Plot Synopsis: In the year 2035, technology and robots are a trusted part of everyday life. But that trust is broken when a scientist is found dead and a skeptical detective (Will Smith) believes that a robot is responsible. Bridget Moynahan co-stars in this high-tech action thriller that questions whether technology will ultimately lead to mankind's salvation...or annihilation.

Disc Features:
-Audio Commentaries
-Featurettes
-Fact Track

HD Exclusive Content:
Searchable Content Index
-Dual-Menu Navigation System


Gattaca (Blu-ray)

Sony Home Entertainment / 1997 / 106 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Genres: Sci-fi, Thriller

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Gore Vidal
Director: Andrew Niccol

Plot Synopsis:
Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Alan Arkin and Jude Law star in this engrossing sci-fi thriller about an all-too-human man who dares to defy a system obsessed with genetic perfection. Hawke stars as Vincent, an "In-Valid" who assumes the identity of a member of the genetic elite to pursue his goal of traveling into space with the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation. However, a week before his mission, a murder marks Vincent as a suspect. With a relentless investigator in pursuit and the colleague he has fallen in love with beginning to suspect his deception, Vincent's dreams steadily unravel.

Disc Features:

• Welcome to Gattaca (HD, 22 minutes) -- First up is a newly produced featurette that provides a compelling look into the film's meticulous production. Hawke, Thurman, and Law pop up in interviews to discuss their characters, the on-set atmosphere, and Niccol's vision. Since it's a fairly standard making-of featurette, it tends to drag on after ten minutes, but fans of the film will have no problem finding plenty of information to enjoy.
• Do Not Alter? (SD, 15 minutes) -- This new featurette explores the complex world of genetics and DNA. Narrated by writer and political activist Gore Vidal (who also appears in the film), this new featurette is an interesting (albeit truncated) look at the science and controversial issues at the heart of 'Gattaca.' Creepy and engaging, it manages to make the film seem more relevant than ever.
• Original Featurette (SD, 7 minutes) -- The aptly titled "Original Featurette" is the EPK short that appeared on the previously released standard edition DVD. Frankly, I wish this redundant, back-patting video had been left on the cutting room floor -- but you can't knock Sony for giving fans everything they had on their previous DVDs. This one's for purists and completists only.
• Deleted Scenes (SD, 11 minutes) -- A collection of six poorly-preserved cuts that look awful. However, once you push through the horror of the video quality, the scenes are actually pretty good. The only thing that didn't sit well with me was an alternate ending (or coda) that tacked on an extra helping of unwarranted sentimentality. Still, it's worth a quick watch just to see Niccol drive his point home.
• Substance Test Outtake (SD, 1 minute) -- This quick and amusing outtake should leave a smile on your face.
• Trailers (HD, 11 minutes) -- A collection of Blu-ray previews for 'The Water Horse',
  'Close Encounter of The Third Kind, 'Damages Season 1', 'Dragon Wars'.
  

Dogma (Blu-ray)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 1998 / 130 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: March 11, 2008

Genres: Comedy

Starring: Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon
Director: Kevin Smith

Plot Synopsis: The last known descendant of Christ is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole.

Disc Features:
• 2 Audio Commentaries: Cast and Crew Commentary / Technical Commentary
• 100 minutes of Deleted Scenes with View Askew Crew Intros
• Jay and Bob's Secret Stash Commercial