21 (Blu-ray) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2008 / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade 
Genres: Thriller, drama
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Jack Gilpin
Director: Robert Luketic
Plot Synopsis: An unconvincing exercise in moral complexity, 21 is based on Ben Mezrich's book Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe) plays brilliant, blue-collar scholar Ben Campbell, whose doubts that he'll win a scholarship to Harvard Medical School compel him to join a secret, M.I.T. gang of math whiz kids. Under the silky but chilling command of a math professor (Kevin Spacey), Jim and the others master card counting, i.e., the statistical analysis of cards dealt in blackjack games. The team lives a humdrum existence during the week, but on weekends in Sin City, the students are rolling in cash, going to exclusive clubs, and feeling on top of the world. (Ben even gets the girl: a comely, fellow counter played by Kate Bosworth.) Despite all that success, Ben feels ethically compromised, and indeed director Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde), in the old tradition of American movies, plays it both ways where fun vices are concerned. On the one hand, it feels so good; on the other, ahem, we know it's wrong. That studied ambivalence proves wearing after a while, making the most interesting character in the film a casino watchdog played by Laurence Fishburne. A master at reading the emotions of gamblers beating the house with a scam, he's admirable for being good at his job, but repellent for wrecking the faces of counters in casino dungeons. He's all about moral complexity in the tradition of anti-heroes, and a truly provocative element in an otherwise superficial movie. - Amazon.com
Disc Features:
- Audio Commentary - In a nifty bit of timing, director Robert Luketic and co-producers Michael de Luca & Dana Brunetti sat down to tape this commentary just as '21' was hitting the jackpot at the box office. That gives the track plenty of zing, with the trio talking as much about the fun times they had in Vegas as discussing the flick. That sometimes grates on the nerves (hey, someone else having fun in Sin City ain't so fun to listen to), but there are still plenty of nuggets here to discover. The best bits include a very thorough discussion on the real MIT techs and how they managed to trump the casinos for as long as they did, plus a look at the film's original ending, which was quite trickier. This commentary does come up a bit short as a look at the filmmaking process, but there remains enough here to recommend it.
- Featurette: "Basic Strategy: A Complete Film Journal" (HD, 25 minutes) - Though not that long, this centerpiece featurette is actually better than the commentary at giving us an overview of '21.' It's actually quite technical, with a look at the film's unusual photographic processes (which eschewed traditional film cameras for the new Genesis HD system), the cinematography, and shooting on location in Las Vegas. Cast participation is more limited (though all the main stars appear), with only sparse comments on how they all learned the ropes of Blackjack. All in all, however, a strong featurette.
- Featurette: "Money Plays: A Tour of the Good Life" (HD, 7 minutes) - The second featurette takes a look at the production design of '21,' including both the Vegas locations as well as the Boston sequences.
- Featurette: "21: The Advantage Player" (HD, 5 minutes) - Rather superfluous, this is a brief history of the game of Blackjack, and the various tips and hints the pros use to try and beat the house. Mildly interesting.
- Theatrical Trailers (HD)
Earth: The Biography (Blu-ray) BBC Video / 2007 / Unrated
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Genres: Documentary
Plot Synopsis: This landmark series uses specialist imaging and compelling narrative to tell the life story of our planet, how it works, and what makes it so special. Examining the great forces that shape the Earth - volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice - the programme explores their central roles in our planet's story. How do these forces affect the Earth's landscape, its climate, and its history? CGI gives the audience a ringside seat at these great events, while the final episode brings together all the themes of the series and argues that Earth is an exceptionally rare kind of planet - giving us a special responsibility to look after our unique world. This is a series that shows the Earth in new and surprising ways. Extensive use of satellite imagery reveals new views of our planet, while timelapse filmed over many months brings the planet to life. Offering a balance between dramatic visuals and illuminating facts, this ground-breaking series makes global science truly compelling.
The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection (Blu-ray) BBC Video / 2007 / Unrated Street Date: July 22, 2008
Genres: Documentary, Nature
Plot Synopsis: This 8-disc compilation box set includes 'Planet Earth: The Complete Series (Episodes 1-11),' 'Galapagos (Episodes 1-3),' 'Ganges (Episodes 1-3)' and 'Wild China (Episodes 1-6).' Each is presented on an individual disc, and is identical to the previously-released stand-alone editions.
The Scorpion King (Blu-ray) Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2002 / 92 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade 
Genres: Action, mystery, suspense.
Starring: Dwayne Johnson
Director: Chuck Russell
Plot Synopsis: Adventure rules! As the spectacular Mummy series explodes into a new realm of breathtaking, non-stop action in The Scorpion King! Unleashing WWE superstar The Rock as the most feared warrior of the ancient world, The Scorpion King plunges you into a sweeping tale filled with stunning fight sequences, awe-inspiring battles and pulse-pounding thrills. It's the ultimate special effects-powered epic and the must-see-and-see again adventure of the year! - Amazon.com
The Mummy Returns (Blu-ray) Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2001 / 130 Minutes
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade 
A must have collection.Genres: Action, mystery, suspense.
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah
Director: Stephen Sommers
Plot Synopsis: An ancient legacy of terror is unleashed when the accursed mummy, Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), is resurrected - along with a force even more powerful: The Scorpion King (The Rock). Now, as the fate of all mankind hangs in the balance, Rick O'Connell (Fraser) and his wife Evie (Rachel Weisz) embark on a daring, desperate race to save their son - and the world - from unspeakable evil. Supercharged with pulse-pounding action and spectacular special effects that'll blow you away, The Mummy Returns is "the best adventure movie of the year!"- Amazon.com
Disc Features:
- Audio Commentary - Sadly, I found this the only real highlight of the supplements. The track features director Stephen Sommers and co-producer/editor Bob Ducsay, while they discuss fairly standard stuff for a commentary at least they are enthusiastic (if pretentious) about the film. Sure, both 'Mummy' movies were mega-hits, so I suppose it was easy for them to forget that none of their derivative movies were ever even remotely memorable five minutes after leaving the theater. Still, Sommers and Ducsay a relate a good share of on-set shenanigans, from surmounting the production challenges and working with all the effects to the chemistry between Brendan Fraser and future Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz. And like so many commentaries for blockbuster movies these days, all of the attention is on the effects, not the story. Still, a good listen overall.
- Featurette: "Spotlight on Location" (SD, 20 minutes) - "Spotlight On Location" is just what it sounds like -- one of those extended commercials that play on HBO. All of the movie's main participants contribute congratulatory on-set interviews, including Sommers and Ducsay, plus special effects artist John Berton, and actors Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Oder Fehr, Arnold Vosloo, Patricia Velasquez, and, of course, The Rock. While this is a slick-enough promo, the relentless back patting grates and there is a severe paucity of behind-the-scenes footage. In short, I learned absolutely nothing about the making of the film.
- "Visual and Special Effects Formation" Vignettes (SD, 20 minutes) - Better than the EPK are these effects reels. Highlighting four sequences ("Imhotep Returns," "Pygmy Mummies Attack," "Anubis Warriors Rising," and "Scorpion King Revealed"), each can be viewed in five different iterations: "Conceptual Stage," "Animation Test," "Plate Photography," "Visual FX Elements," and "Final Feature Sequence." Berton narrates, and each subsection illustrates a phase in creating the sequence -- a bit confusing really, but informative enough if you are interested in this sort of thing.
- Outtake Reel (SD, 5 minutes) - Provides a few chuckles, but not much more.
- Music Video (SD) - Long before Chris Daughtry ripped off their act, alt-rockers LIVE contributed a song to 'Mummy Returns,' "Forever May Not Be Long Enough."
HD Bonus Content:
- Picture-in-Picture - Utilizing Profile 1.1 and Universal's U-Control interface, this PIP track is both something old and something new. Some of the material is repurposed from the featurettes found in the standard suite of extras, but there are also plenty more making-of material and cast and crew interviews. Unfortunately, as with the PIP track on 'The Mummy,' the pace drags with too many dead spots. But if not the greatest PIP track you'll see, this is still a welcome exclusive.
- 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Sneak Preview (SD) - This glorified commercial is just the film's theatrical trailer with some interview bits and breathless hyperbole thrown in.
The Mummy (1999) (Blu-ray) Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 1999 / 125 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade A must have collection.Genres: Action, mystery, suspense.
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah
Director: Stephen Sommers
Plot Synopsis: Deep in the Egyptian desert, a handful of people searching for a long-lost treasure have just unearthed a 3,000 year old legacy of terror. Combining the thrills of a rousing adventure with the suspense of Universal's legendary 1932 horror classic, The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser, is a true nonstop action epic, filled with dazzling visual effects, top-notch talent and superb storytelling. - Amazon.com
Disc Features:
- Audio Commentaries -- Director Stephen Sommers kicks things off with a screen-specific audio commentary, where he is joined by editor Bob Ducsay. I will say one thing about Sommers -- he really believes in the movies he makes. Incredibly animated throughout, he bursts with enthusiasm for every scene, and it is easy to see why he is able to attract such a-list the talent to his projects. His enthusiasm on the commentary also easily trumps Ducsay, who aside from a few post-production nuggets seems to be purely along for the ride. But aside from Sommers' relentless optimism, I appreciated his insight into his conception of the material as action-adventure rather than horror (even if I wish this weren't the case) and the choices he made in refashioning the Mummy character as more of a flesh-and-blood creation with a backstory, and not just some dead guy in bandages. And at least Sommers is honest about his obvious lifts from Indiana Jones and countless other movies, with numerous references proving that he's well-versed in modern pop filmmaking. I can't say that this commentary is a must-listen for casual fans, but diehards should not skip it.
But wait, there are two more audio commentaries: one with actor Brendan Fraser, and the second with Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O'Connor and Arnold Vosloo. Why these two tracks weren't simply edited together is beyond me -- Fraser is a very likable, earnest guy, but he struggles to hold a whole track on his solo shoulders, while on the other track only Vosloo has an interesting enough character to warrant a commentary appearance at all. These two tracks are for 'Mummy' masochists only.
- Documentary: "Building a Better Mummy" (SD, 50 minutes) - This is a surprisingly meaty 50-minute documentary (well, at least if you are interested in CGI). Perhaps there is far too much focus put on the film's once-cutting-edge special effects, but I was surprised by the wealth of behind-the-scenes material, the snappy pace, and the better-than-average quality of the on-set cast and crew interviews. Sommers is again a one-man show, with seemingly boundless energy. What is also fun about watching "Building a Better 'Mummy'" is that no one involved was a big star yet, so there's an air of uncertainty surrounding the project that makes for good drama. A clear cut above your usual fluff-minded EPK.
- Visual and Special Effects Formulations (SD) - This offers four different selectable iterations of five different scenes, from raw effects rendering to the final complete sequence.
- Storyboard-to-Screen Comparisons (SD) - The comparisons are included for three additional scenes: "Hangman's Noose," "Scarab Run" and "Trouble In Cairo." The presentation is basic and not upgraded for HD, with a typical storyboard/final composite side-by-side format.
- Deleted Scenes (SD, 2 minutes) - Don't expect much here -- just a quick 2-minute montage of cut footage, and none very interesting at that. The quality of these scenes is also fairly mediocre.
- Photograph Montage (SD, 5 minutes) - Presented as a single video clip, this collection of promotional and publicity stills is set against an excerpt of the film's score. Only simple Play/Pause control is offered.
HD Bonus Content:
- Picture-in-Picture - Utilizing Profile 1.1 and Universal's U-Control interface, this PIP track regurgitates much from the documentary included as a standard extra, but also incorporates much that is new. The pacing is a tad slow (too many gaps of silence), but the PIP works very well for the behind-the-scenes footage, and the cast and crew interviews is well-integrated. Given the overabundance of audio commentaries on the disc, the PIP is preferable -- we get the gist of the important points, plus the video. Not the greatest video commentary I've seen, but kudos to Universal for going the extra mile for Blu-ray.
- 'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" Sneak Preview (SD) - This glorified commercial is just the film's theatrical trailer with some interview bits and breathless hyperbole thrown in.
The Perfect Storm (Blu-ray) Warner Home Video / 2000 / 130 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Genres: Action, Drama
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Plot Synopsis: It's Halloween, 1991. Near Gloucester, Massachusetts, the six members of the Andrea Gail, a swordfishing boat, head out to sea for their last trip of the season. Unbeknownst to them, a shockingly brutal storm is slowly gaining steam. Before the National Weather Bureau has a chance to inform the crew of the impending danger, it's too late. The resulting battle with three merging weather fronts--an unheralded natural disaster--is grueling and tragic. Based on the true-life best selling novel by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane and is directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
Disc Features:
• 3 Audio Commentaries: Director Wolfgang Petersen / Author Sebastian Junger / Visual Effects Supervisor Stefen Fangmier and Visual Effects Producer Helen Ostenberg Elswit
• HBO First Look: "Creating the Perfect Storm"
• Featurettes: "Witness to the Storm," "Creating an Emotion"
• Still Gallery: "Yours Forever"
• Theatrical Trailer
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Blu-ray) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2006 / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Genres: Horror
Starring: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkenson, Charisma Carpenter
Plot Synopsis: A thrilling, horror film based on a true story about a single lawyer (Laura Linney), who takes on the church and the state, when she fights for the life of a priest (Tom Wilkinson), who has performeda deadly exorcism on a young woman. Linney must battle the cocky state lawyer (Campbell Scott) as well as her own demons, as she realizes that her career so far has not led her to fulfillment.
Disc Features:
• Audio Commentary with Director Scott Derrickson
• Deleted Scenes
• 3 Featurettes: "Genesis of the Story," "Casting the Film," "Visual Design"
HD Exclusive Content:
• BD-Live Enabled
I Know What You Did Last Summer (Blu-ray) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 1997 / 104 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade Genres: Suspense, thriller
Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillippe
Director: Jim Gillispe
Plot Synopsis: Jennifer Love Hewitt (from TV's "Party of Five") and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Scream 2) star with Freddie Prinze Jr. Ryan Phillippe and Johnny Galecki in this terrifying tale of a body that just won't stay dead. After an accident on a winding road four teens make the fatal mistake of dumping theirvictim's body into the sea. But exactly one year later the dead man returns from his watery graveand he's looking for more than an apology. From the writer of SCREAM. - Amazon.com
Disc Features:
- Audio Commentary (SD, 18 minutes) - Director Jim Gillespie and editor Steve Mirkovich sit down for one of the better commentary tracks I've heard for a film like this. Gillespie is a lively presence and guides the track, talking rather swiftly about the challenges in shooting a low-budget film on location, with young actors and with little studio support. Mirkovich doesn't add all that much to the party, though the discussion on the use of music (or rather the lack of it) during one key suspense scene is required listening for anyone making a horror movie. Fans of the film should like this track.
- Featurette: "Now I Know What You Did Last Summer" (SD, 27 minutes) - Produced for the DVD special edition re-issue, this retrospective featurette ain't bad. Gillespie, producer Stokley Chaffin, writer Kevin Williamson and stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Anne Heche all return to offer recollections on making the flick, and the overview is basic if informative enough. All that's missing is Lois Duncan, who wrote the original young adult novel, and reportedly was not all that happy with the film version -- it would have been a kick to hear her thoughts.
- Short Film (SD) - Included is Gillespie's early short film 'Joyride' (no relation to the Paul Walker flick of the same name), which proved so stylish and gripping it landed him the gig on 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.' Indeed, it's a pretty tense short and is worth a watch.
- Music Video (SD) - A clip for Hula Shaker's "Hush" is provided. Note this is the re-issue version, which features excerpts of the band's original performance video interspersed with lots of film clips.
- Theatrical Trailer (SD) - No actual theatrical trailers are provided for any of the 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' films, only clips for other Sony Blu-ray titles
Urban Legend (Blu-ray) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 1998 / 99 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: July 22, 2008
Overall Grade Genres: Suspense, thriller
Starring: Loretta Devine, Danielle Harris, Joshua Jackson
Director:
Plot Synopsis: When New England college student Natalie finds herself at the center of a series of sadistic murders seemingly inspired by urban legends she resolves to find the truth about Pendleton's own legend a twenty-five-year-old story of a student massacre at the hands of an Abnormal Psych professor. As the fraternities prepare to celebrate the macabre anniversary Natalie discovers that she is the focus of the crazed killer's intentions in the ultimate urban legend-- the story of her own horrific murder. - Amazon.com
Disc Features:
- Audio Commentary - Director Jamie Blanks flies solo here, and it's the best extra on the disc. He's incredibly enthusiastic, to the point where he seems blissfully unaware of his own film's deficiencies (is the twist ending really "incredible?") He also fawns over the cast and crew to a fault, while dissecting a few key sequences and acknowledging their debt to the slasher flicks he grew up loving as a kid. I have to give Blanks credit -- he managed to make his first major studio picture while still in his twenties -- and he certainly gives this track tons of youthful energy.
- "Making Of" Featurette (SD, 10 minutes) - This is a pretty lame featurette, with very pithy on-set interviews with Blanks and the major cast. Interestingly, there are a few excerpts of deleted scenes in here, which really should have been presented as a stand-alone supplement. Otherwise, this is totally formulaic.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD) - No trailer is provided for 'Urban Legend,' only HD promos for '21' and 'Starship Troopers: Marauder.'
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