Blu-ray 26th August Release

Heroes: Season Two (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2008 / 482 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Action, drama

Starring: Jack Coleman, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Masi Oka

Plot Synopsis: Rejoin the epic and suspenseful phenomenon as Heroes: Season 2 arrives on Blu-ray Hi-Def! Experience all the new and exciting twists of the astonishing series in this 4-disc set that includes every gripping Season 2 episode. Plus, see what could have been with exclusive bonus features that reveal the untold stories that never aired and an alternate ending to the season finale, where the fate of humanity takes an ominous turn when Peter fails to catch the vial containing the deadly virus.

Disc Features:

• Featurettes (HD, 80 minutes) - Spread across all four discs are five featurettes. First is "Heroes: Season 2: A New Beginning" (15 minutes). It's not very good, as it's largely promotional, and contains nothing we don't already know by watching the second season.
  
  Disc two contains the 24-minute "Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint." This is really more of a "fake" documentary that offers a pretty clever fictional biography of Hiro's own hero of the title, complete with "historical" drawings and other art. Tacked on here is 9 minutes-worth of "Global News Interactive" clips that paint another fictional picture, this time of Richard Drucker of the Company. (Though this is a strange choice, as Drucker isn't even in 'Season 2' as far as I could tell...)
  
  Disc three contains my vote for the best featurette, "Genetics of a Scene." Running 23 minutes, it gives a macro view of the making of the show by giving us a micro-dissection of four specific scenes of four different episodes. Directors Arkush and Beeman play the hosts, and there is a good cross-section of making-of footage, effects material, and additional cast & crew interview snippets. Though primarily focused more specifically on the directorial aspects of making 'Heroes,' this is a strong all-around production featurette.
  
  Finally, we have the "Season 3 Sneak Peek." This 8-minute tease may be worth the price of admission for 'Heroes' fans alone, as cast and crew dangle carrots in front of us on the upcoming season's story threads and character developments. With 'Season 3' now being marketed as the "Villains" year, it boasts a good shot at easily besting the mixed results of 'Season 2.'
  
• Deleted Scenes/Alternate Ending (HD, 25 minutes) - There are 17 scenes in all, spread across their respective episode discs. As with 'Season One,' I didn't find much meat here. Some of these scenes are mere extensions with minimal additional dialogue. Much of this stuff also falls flat -- moments that are simply dull, or subplots that are really cul-de-sacs.
  
  However, the big prize here is the inclusion of the alternate ending (18 minutes) to the show's closing episode. It can be found on disc four, and has been much discussed by fans as the second season was originally planned to conclude in a far different fashion. It's a shame that Universal has ruined the major change to the existing season ender right on the back of the Blu-ray box, and if not superior, than this ending is certainly ballsy. The ending is followed by an 18-minute video discussion with Kring, Loeb and co-executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander.
  
• Untold Stories (HD, 12 minutes) - This is a neat feature, a collection of six short clips that show us characters and stories that would have been integrated into the second season of the show had it not been shortened due to the writer's strike. There's even an intriguing final segment from Episode 13 that 'Heroes' fans will likely devour for its clues of season three. Very cool.
  
• Still Gallery (HD, 4 minutes) - Wrapping things up is a short montage of stills, featuring the art of Tim Sale. As on the 'Season One' Blu-ray, Sale's work is highlighted as it factors into the show's storylines involving Isaac and Peter. A thoughtful addition.
• Picture-in-Picture - If nothing else, these tracks are democratic -- there are eleven in all, one for each episode. In the interest of time (and my sanity), I sampled each for about 15 minutes just to get a general impression. Note that these PIP tracks are simply videographed interviews -- there is no behind-the-scenes footage or other making-of materials spliced in.
  
  The four that immediately struck me where those that featured the appearance of cast members -- "The Kindness of Strangers" with creator Tim Kring and actors Dana Davis and Adrian Pasdar, "Four Months Ago..." with actor Milo Ventimiglia and executive producer Greg Beeman, "Out of Time" with director Daniel Attias and actor Masi Oka, and "Cautionary Tales" with director Greg Yaitanes and actors Kristen Bell and Ashley Crow. Pasdar and Oka are the most responsive, throwing out enough insightful stories and asking perceptive questions that I wound up listening to almost the complete commentaries of both. It's also nice to hear from Bell, the ex-'Veronica Mars' who received mixed notices by some and here gives interesting detail on what appealed to her about her character and the challenges of joining an established show with such a strong fan base.
  
  The remaining video commentaries are more technical (read: dry), and include "Four Months Later" with Kring, co-executive producer Jeph Loeb and actor Jack Coleman, "Lizards" with executive producer Allan Arkush, co-executive producer Michael Green and Grunberg, "Fight or Flight" with Beeman and Grunberg, "The Line" with co-executive producers Adam Armus and Kay Foster, and Coleman, and "Truth & Consequences" with director Adam Kane and actor Stephen Tobolowsky.
  
  Finally, there is the season closer, "Powerless" with Arkush and composers Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin. Oddly, I expected a major track for this one with Kring and cast, but instead we mostly get Arkush and some sporadic comments (that really cover their work on the entire second season) by Coleman and Melvoin. Not a bad track, but still, a strange choice of participants.
  
• Hero Connections - Continuing the feature from 'Season One,' Universal again offers us evolutionary dossiers on the main characters of 'Heroes.' As the season progresses through each episode, you can toggle the U-Control icons to receive pop-up info on the various heroes and villains to chart their arcs and get other biographical data.
  
• BD-Live - Finally, Universal is touting 'Heroes: Season Two' as being BD-Live enabled -- or, at least one disc in the set is. At press time, the set has not streeted so there is no content available. The studio has not confirmed what content will launch when the disc hits stores, aside from the ability to share your MyScenes bookmarks, but check back here and we'll update when new content goes live.

Heroes: Season One (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2007 / 1009 Minutes
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade Outstanding!!






Genres: Action, drama

Starring: Jack Coleman, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Masi Oka

Plot Synopsis: Discover the phenomenon that is sweeping audiences everywhere as Heroes: Season 1 comes to Blu-ray Hi-Def! Experience the suspense, mystery, and electrifying twists as this astonishing series follows seemingly unconnected, ordinary people around the globe who discover they have extraordinary powers. As they come to terms with their unique abilities, their risky decisions will affect the futures of everyone around them …and the world. Join their epic journey in this five-disc set packed with hours of fascinating and revealing bonus features, including the never-before-aired series premiere from show creator Tim Kring.

Disc Features:

• Pilot Episode - Things kick off with the 73-minute unaired original pilot episode on disc one. (Note this is the only bonus feature in full 1080p/VC-1 video.) More than just a handful of extraneous scenes reinstated for marketing purposes, this is actually a recut version by series creator Tim Kring. The changes are quite substantial, if something a mixed bag. Much of it worked for me, including an entire subplot involving terrorists that adds palpable tension, and an entirely new introduction for the character Sylar (with an entirely different actor!). Other changes were less welcome, such as snips to the Petrelli family relationship that I missed.
  
  Those curious about this sometimes radically re-worked Pilot should turn to the optional audio commentary with Kring, who spends most of the track outlining the differences. He also is quite witty when it comes to discussing some of the budget limitations, including the majority of the sets being reused from "Crossing Jordan." Fun, informative stuff.
  
• Deleted Scenes - Less successful are the 50(!) deleted scenes scattered across the remainder of discs two through seven. Some are so short (literally seconds) that they comprise only mere lines of chopped dialogue. For the real gems, you've just gotta scour through it all -- there are some real nuggets here of character development, with a couple of subplots that I'm surprised were snipped. I won't spoil them, but die-hard fans will likely thrill to learn genuine new insights about their favorite show.
  
• Featurette: "The Making of 'Heroes'" (SD, 9 minutes) - This first featurette is your standard behind-the-scenes fluff piece. It touches on just the basics -- the concept, the casting, a quick overview of the production and hints at upcoming character arcs. There are the usual quick bits of production footage, and interviews with Kring and most of the main cast. Again, though, it's all a bit too superficial and slick to offer much beyond the promotional.
  
• Featurette: "Special Effects" (SD, 10 minutes) - This one offers another quick look at creating believable special effects for an hour-long weekly television series, and to say the time crunch is severe would be an understatement. Also interesting about this featurette is the fact that a clear distinction is made between special effects (on-set trickery including rain, mood etc.) and visual effects (stuff actually created on the computer).
  
• Featurette: "Stunts" (SD, 10 minutes) - "Stunts" features an interview with stunt coordinator Ian Quinn, as he guides us through the basics, plus a few key action sequences.
  
• Featurette: "A Profile of Artist Tim Sale" (SD, 11 minutes) - A celebrated comic book artist, Sale's contribution to 'Heroes' is quite extensive, as he was in charge with largely conceptualizing the visual look of the show's protagonists. Basically a one-on-one chat, this one's arguably the most informative and fascinating of the featurettes on the disc.
  
• Featurette: "The Score" (SD, 9 minutes) - Finally, "The Score" is cool, if only to see what Wendy & Lisa have been up to all these years after the mega-success of 'Purple Rain' and the Prince & the Revolution phenomenon. Admittedly, I found their compositions to be a bit too well-integrated into the show, as they often seem to blend into nothingness. Still, it's great to see the composers of a TV show get some recognition.
• Picture-in-Picture - I continue to really enjoy picture-in-picture commentaries on next-gen titles, and 'Heroes: Season 1' certainly doesn't disappoint in this category. Tracks are offered on eight different episodes -- "Godsend," "The Fix," "Distractions" (disc four); ".07%", "Five Years Game," "The Hard Part," "Landslide" (disc six); and "How to Stop an Exploding Man" (disc seven). Note that each track includes an almost completely different set of participants, from cast and crew, to creator Tim Kring (on "Exploding Head" only).
  
  In the interest of time, I sampled about 15 minutes of each track. Each features its participants recorded as one big group with only a couple of cameras. There is no behind-the-scenes footage edited in like most PIP tracks, so these essentially function as audio commentaries, except you can now see the participants. That's something of a disappointment, as what's generally such a step up about PIP tracks is that they integrated disparate footage in a way that audio commentaries can't. Anyway, at least the detail is there, with each track almost non-stop with comments; and, depending on the groupings of the track, a general focus (the effects crew on one, the actors and writers on another, etc.)
  
• Artwork Presentation/Character Connections - I'm lumping both of these U-Control features together, as they are presented consistently on each episode across all seven discs.
  
  First (and coolest) is the "Artwork Presentation." Throughout the season, the character of Isaac creates a series of paintings, some of which integrate into the plot (and much to fans' delight, the show's expanding mythology). Cleverly utilizing high-def technology in a way standard DVD could only dream of, here you can zoom in on any of the paintings for a closer look -- a very neat way of using interactivity to offer increased insight into a feature's narrative.
  
  The second feature, "Character Connections," is also unique. As the season progresses through each episode, you can "chart" the characters as they inter-connect. The map grows as the series soldiers on, and by the end it looks like a giant plate of spaghetti. Nifty.
  
  
• BD-Live - As if all this U-Control material wasn't enough, Universal has also BD-Live-enabled 'Heroes.' (Note that before you can utilize these features, you'll need to register online (in one of two ways, either using your computer through Universal's web-based form, or directly via your player's remote. Also, these following features are reported by Universal to be fully active live at street date.)
  
  Once that's done, the main extra is the Genetics Abilities Test. Answer a series of questions to "discover" if you too have advanced abilities. You can then save your profile and share it with other would-be heroes online.

What Happens in Vegas (Blu-ray)

Fox Home Entertainment / 2008 / 99 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade






Genres: Comedy

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher
Director: Tom Vaughan

Plot Synopsis: What Happens in Vegas is a comedy waiting to happen. It takes an old premise (drunk strangers regretting their decision to get married in Las Vegas) and adds in a dilemma (a $3 million slot machine win) that could've been easily resolved. But then again, there would've been no movie if the unhappily wedded couple figured out that splitting the money in half and getting their marriage annulled would've been quick and effective. Cameron Diaz plays uptight clean-freak Joy, who has just been dumped by her fiance. Ashton Kutcher is Jack, a slacker furniture maker who has been fired--by his own dad. Each goes to Vegas to let off some steam. And while they have nothing in common (except being exceptionally good looking) they make out, get married, and fight over the money Jack wins with Joy's quarter. Instead of letting the couple get divorced, a judge sentences the odd couple to half a year of marriage. What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas, but extends into New York where Jack and Joy live. Both actors have fared well in comedies, especially Diaz in My Best Friend's Wedding. And while Kutcher still has to live down Dude, Where's My Car?, he showed a lot of comedic flair and charm in A Lot Like Love. But the two face an uphill battle here with inane dialogue and a premise that not only is unbelievable, but unlikeable. The two are so incompatible (and immature) they can't even control bathroom time and, in Jack's case, his bladder.

Disc Features:

• Audio Commentary - Director Tom Vaughan is joined by editor Matt Friedman, and no offense to the pair, but I was bored senseless. Do really need such a arid and self-serious technical dissection of a movie like 'What Happens in Vegas?' There's a smattering of interesting bits involving various edits that had to be made to achieve a PG-13 rating, and developing the love-hate chemistry between the Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher characters. Otherwise, this is dull, dull, dull stuff.
  
• Featurette: "Sitting Down with Cameron and Ashton" (HD, 9 minutes) - As the only real appearance of the two stars on the disc, this is a disappointment. The conversation is utterly superficial and cloyingly promotional. If you didn't these two were utterly smug in the movie, you'll certainly think so after watching this.
  
• Featurette: "DVD Extra Time with Zach Galifianakis" (HD, 8 minutes) - A completely fake interview, with the movie's special guest star, Galifianakis, grilling Vaughan, and generally insulting him. It's kinda funny, but wears out its welcome after about two minutes.
  
• Deleted/Extended Scenes (SD, 7 minutes) - There's six scenes here, but they are all so short and superfluous they offer nothing really worth watching. There is also a separate mock commercial, "From the Law Firm of Stephen J. Hater, Esq." that gets its own menu option.
  
• Gag Reel (SD, 3 minutes) - Fairly amusing, especially Kutcher, who actually comes off here as spontaneous and funny, unlike his character in the movie...
  
• Digital Copy - Finally, we get a Digital Copy of the film on a second DVD disc (in standard-def). It's viewable on portable PCs, and also Mac-based devices.

• Bottoms Up! An Intoxicating Vegas Experience - An utterly stupid feature, but fun. This pop-up "drinking game" is a variation on the frat boy classic "Never Have I Ever." Throughout the movie, as the characters admit to various bad things they've done (usually sexual), a prompt will appear asking you to drink if you've also done the dirty deed. God knows such inebriation got me through this movie, and helps makes 'What Happens in Vegas' ten times funnier once you've had a few vodka shots.

Redbelt (Blu-ray)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment / 2008 / 99 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Action, drama

Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Alice Braga
Director: David Mamet

Plot Synopsis: Like David Mamet's previous films, Redbelt's narrative slowly exposes the well-guarded secrets of systems shrouded in mystique and conspiracy, this time at martial-arts academies and on Hollywood film and television sets. Reminiscent of Rocky, Redbelt is an unapologetically moralistic tale of an impoverished, inner city Jiu Jitsu instructor whose idealism is an affront to those who seek to sink him. Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), unknowingly affiliated with the wealthy Brazilian family who rigs televised MMA matches, naively rescues actor Chet Frank (Tim Allen) from being mutilated in a bar brawl, but isn't able to link Frank's sketchy relations until Terry's life is endangered. Fated to assist Terry is attorney Laura Black (Emily Mortimer), who conveniently stumbles into Terry's Jiu Jitsu academy early in the film's opening. With an impossibly mandarin plot, Redbelt is packed with improbable coincidences and confusing, maze-like dead-ends, but the sheer brainpower required to sleuth along keeps one riveted throughout. Plus, it is hard not to be thrilled by ample, accurately enacted Jiu Jitsu fight scenes. Mamet's actors deliver deadpan, poker-faced dialogue to comedic effect, especially Ricky Jay, who plays an MMA star's corrupt manager. Allen, also, is surprisingly suited to portraying an untouchable, overly serious Hollywood film star. Even Redbelt's subplots revolve around fighting: while Frank shoots a war film, Terry hashes it out with his wife who urges him to earn some cash. In the end, one wonders if Terry's uphill struggle isn't representative of the director's attempt to sift through convoluted narrative threads for an archetypal hero legend that is sparklingly simple.

Disc Features:

• Audio Commentary – Writer/director David Mamet is joined by supporting actor (and UFC champion) Randy Couture for a commentary in which each attempts to teach the other about their respective careers. Couture learns a few things about filmmaking, and Mamet learns some more about Ultimate Fighting. Mamet does most of the talking while Couture rather gamely sits there and tries to absorb some of the director's more esoteric trains of thought. They come across as good friends with a lot of respect for one another. Couture's presence is most helpful in analyzing the fight sequences.
• Behind the Scenes of Redbelt (HD, 20 min.) – An insubstantial EPK piece about how everybody loved working with Mamet and with each other on this "dream come true" project.
• Inside Mixed Martial Arts (HD, 19 min.) – Mamet describes his background with Jiu-Jitsu, and we even get to see him practice a few moves. After that, various experts explain the history and philosophy of the sport.
• Q&A with Director David Mamet (SD, 26 min.) – The director answers questions about his intentions, his influences, the use of widescreen cinematography, and fight choreography, among other things.
• An Interview with Dana White (HD, 17 min.) – The current president of the UFC gives us a little more history about the organization, his involvement, and the challenges of taking the sport mainstream after it had been banned even from Pay-Per-View. White is a charismatic guy, but a good deal of the interview time is spent plugging his company, which gets tiring after a while.
• Fighter Profiles (HD, 4 min.) – A cheesy montage of bio information and stats for all of the real athletes who make appearances in the film.
• The Magic of Cyril Takayama (HD, 5 min.) – An interview with the supporting actor who played a small but critical role in the plot. A real stage magician, Takayama demonstrates the sleight-of-hand wizardry that landed him the job.
• Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 min.)

Postal (Blu-ray)

UMVD / 2008 / 109 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Genres: Comedy

Starring: Zack Ward, Dave Foley, Chris Coppola
Director: Uwe Boll

The Nightmare Before Christmas (Blu-ray)

Walt Disney Home Entertainment / 1993 / 76 Minutes / Rated G
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade Must own!! Period.





Genres: Animation, comedy

Starring: L. Peter Callender, Randy Crenshaw, Judi M. Durand
Director: Henry Sellick

Plot Synopsis: Now digitally restored and remastered with state-of-the-art technology, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector s Edition is deeper, darker and more brilliant than ever as Tim Burton originally envisioned. Can Christmas be saved? Bored with the same old scare-and-scream routine, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his merry mission puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere! This new version comes with DisneyFile Digital Copy, a full-length version of the movie you can transfer and watch on your PC, Mac, and video-enabled compatible portable players.

Disc Features:

• Frankenweenie (SD, 30 min.) – Tim Burton's 1984 short film stars Shelley Duvall and Daniel Stern as the parents of a young science whiz who brings his recently-deceased dog back to life through the miracle of electricity. The local townsfolk don't react well to the discovery. The black & white short is a little stilted in pacing, but is a clever tribute to 1930s classic horror films and demonstrates the promise of Burton's developing visual sensibilities. The Blu-ray contains the extended director's cut version of the film. The piece is preceded by a new video introduction in which Burton plugs his upcoming animated remake.
• Vincent (SD, 6 min.) – Another chestnut from the Disney archives, this early stop-motion animated short by Burton illustrates a poem narrated by Vincent Price. The influence on 'Nightmare Before Christmas' (as well as Burton's short-lived animated series 'Family Dog') is abundantly clear. In fact, keep an eye out at time codes 1:20 and 4:45 for a prototype version of Jack Skellington making his first appearance on celluloid.
• Deleted Storyboards (SD, 3 min.) – Storyboards for three deleted sequences (including an alternate ending) are presented with brief commentary by Burton explaining why they were dropped. All three scenes have temp music and dialogue (not by the main cast).
• Deleted Animated Sequences (SD, 5 min.) – Three scene extensions and one entirely new scene made it all the way through to completed animation but were eventually cut for time.
• The Making of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (SD, 25 min.) – A fascinating documentary that explains the stop-motion animation process and gives a good overview of Burton's designs, the music, storyboards, art direction, lighting, and how the puppets were manufactured. Unlike most "making of" featurettes available on home video, this one has some real substance to it and isn't just EPK filler material.
• Halloween Town – This section of the disc is devoted to still galleries filled with character designs and concept art, as well as some short animation test videos. The categories are: Jack; Sally; Oogie Boogie; Evil Scientist Igor; Lock, Shock & Barrel; and the Citizens of Halloween Town.
• Christmas Town – Designs and concept art for Santa and his Helpers.
• The Real World – More still galleries devoted to the poor townspeople Jack terrorizes with his Christmas shenanigans.
• Storyboard-to-Film Comparison (SD, 4 min.) – A breakdown of the Town Meeting sequence.
• Posters – A brief still gallery of five poster art designs.
• Trailers (SD, 4 min.) – One teaser and one full theatrical trailer. The teaser plays up the Disney tradition for innovation in animation and reveals that the film was originally planned for release under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.

Afro Samurai: Season One (Blu-ray)

FUNimation / 2007 / Unrated
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Television

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson
Disc Features:
• Featurettes: "In the Booth: Voice Talent of Afro Samurai," "RZA Music Production Tour"
• Character Profiles
• Promo Spots


Dude, Where's My Car? (Blu-ray)

MGM Home Entertainment / 2000 / Unrated
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Jennifer Garner, Seann William Scott, Ashton Kutcher
Director: Danny Leiner

Plot Synopsis: Meet Jesse (Ashton Kutcher< - TV's That '70s Show) and Chester (Seann William Scott - American Pie, Road Trip), two dimwitted yet lovable party animals who wake up one morning with a burning question: Dude, Where's My Car? Their only clues are a matchbook cover from the Kitty Kat strip club and a year's supply of pudding in the fridge. As they retrace their steps, these dudes are in for the ride of their lives encountering hot alien chicks, dodging killer ostriches, and trying to score "special treats" from their ticked-off twin girlfriends. It's an outrageously sweeeeeet comedy adventure that's "totally entertaining all the way through...totally!" (iFilm) Action Starter Pack (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2008 / Unrated
Street Date: August 26, 2008

This three-pack bundle includes Miami Vice. U-571 and End of Days. Each is presented on an individual disc, and is identical to the previously-released stand-alone editions.





Miami Vice (2006) (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2006 / 141 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Action, thriller

Starring: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Li Gong
Director: Michael Mann

Plot Synopsis: Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell go deep undercover in the explosive, action-packed Miami Vice Unrated Director's Edition! When detectives Ricardo Tubbs (Foxx) and Sonny Crockett (Farrell) are asked to investigate the brutal murders of two federal agents, they find themselves pulled into the lethal world of drug traffickers. From the acclaimed director of Heat and Collateral comes an exclusive motion picture experience you won't want to miss!

Disc Features:

• Audio Commentary - Filmmaker Michael Mann provides a full-length audio commentary for the Unrated cut of the film, and it was the highlight of the disc for me. Though Mann has a reputation in Hollywood as being the biggest asshole next to James Cameron, he certainly knows how to deliver a great commentary. He jumps right into dissecting the differences between the two cuts of the film, though interestingly, he makes it a point to say that neither is necessarily superior to the other, they are just two visions of the same film. Mann also touches upon the controversial shoot, telling many of the same stories he told the press at the time of the film's theatrical release, including tense moments for Colin Farrell and a group of real-life drug traffickers, as well as difficulties with Gong Li and her weak command of the English language. Though a solo Mann does get to be a bit much after nearly 140 minutes, any diehard fan of 'Miami Vice' should definitely start here.
  
• Featurette: "Miami Vice Undercover" (SD, 22 minutes) - The first of a trio of main production featurettes, "'Miami Vice' Undercover" shows us how Farrell and Foxx learned the detective ropes with a couple of real undercover cops, though sadly neither actor comments on what (if any) influence the portrayals by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in the original series had on their performances.
  
• Additional Featurettes (SD, 28 minutes) - "Miami and Beyond" and "Visualizing 'Miami Vice'" share much of the same focus, which is on Mann's use of practical Miami locations to create atmosphere and authenticity and his legendary perfectionism with every aspect of the production, from lighting to costumes to prop guns. Mann also discusses his preference for shooting with lightweight and handheld HD cameras, which he feels gives his films a directness otherwise lacking with more polished, complex technical systems.
  
• Vignettes: "Behind the Scenes" (SD, 13 minutes) - Finally, we have three shorter vignettes compiled into a "Behind the Scenes" section (these were previously included only on the Unrated standard-def DVD release), dubbed "Gun Training," "Haitian Hotel Camera Blocking" and "Mojo Race." Each of these hone in on specific sequences in the film and really get into the nitty-gritty of Mann's technique. I found these vignettes to be the least interesting of the behind-the-scenes material, though their inclusion here is still welcome for completists.

U-571 (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 2000 / 117 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Overall Grade





Genres: Action, thriller

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, and Jon Bon Jovi
Director: Jonathan Mostow

Plot Synopsis: A U.S. Navy Captain and his crew are just beginning to enjoy 48 hours of leave when they receive word to immediately return to duty. On a top-secret assignment, they must disguise themselves as Nazis and infiltrate a severely damaged Nazi U-boat. Once on board, they are to steal the Nazi's top-secret decoding device and sink the sub before the Germans catch on to what's really happening. Their mission is more dangerous and frightening than anything they could have ever imagined, but one which has the power to turn the tide of battle.

Disc Features:
Audio Commentary - The only standard extra that remains is the screen-specific audio commentary with director Jonathan Mostow. Though his somewhat monotone voice and slow pace made this one a slog to sit through at times, he certainly is passionate about his film. Growing more lively as he goes on, Mostow starts by focusing primarily on the historical background of the film (and I use the term "historical" loosely), then goes more in-depth on the film's many production challenges. I can't say I cared that much in the end, but if you like the film this is a pretty good if sometimes dry commentary.
Picture-in-Picture - Director Jonathan Mostow returns to host this track, which combines material from four of the featurettes found on the original DVD and HD DVD releases: the 13-minute "Spotlight on Location" (a pretty lame EPK), plus the historical pieces "Enigma" (that offers insight on the central element of the film's story, and explains why the device was so integral to the world's efforts in stopping the Nazi regime), "Britain Captures the U-110" (the real story behind the Americanized events depicted in the film) and "Capturing the U-505" (essentially narrated archival footage that's akin to a newsreel). I like all of this material, which is joined by a smattering of on-set cast & crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage I didn't see in the original featurettes. However, the pacing remains quite slow -- I found the frequent dead gaps a bit boring even if I appreciated having all of this detail in one place. It probably would have been preferable that Universal just included the original featurettes along with this PIP version, but as it stands, you get the same data in a much more digestible and cohesive form.

End of Days (Blu-ray)

Universal Studios Home Entertainment / 1999 / 123 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Genres: Action, thriller

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Byrne
Director: Peter Hyams

Plot Synopsis: All hell breaks loose when Arnold Schwarzenegger battles the ultimate evil in this chilling supernatural action thriller. When Jericho (Schwarzenegger), a burned-out former New York City cop is assigned to security detail for a mysterious stranger (Gabriel Byrne), he thwarts an incredible assassination attempt. During the ensuing investigation, he and his partner (Kevin Pollak) save the life of the beautiful and terrified Christine York (Robin Tunney), whose destiny involves death, the devil and the fate of mankind. Now it's up to Jericho to save the girl, the world and his own soul as he comes face to face with his most powerful enemy ever!

Disc Features:
Audio Commentary - The only true highlight is this screen-specific chat with director Peter Hyams that really surprised me. Hyams is funny, personable and not at all pretentious about the film. No, he doesn't actually mock it, but it is refreshing to hear a director speak with such quiet wit and candor. Hyams offers a nice series of antecedents on working with Arnie, the film's obvious cinematic influences, and the various effects sequences, which now seem too CGI-phony. Still, this is the rare commentary that made me admire the filmmaker more, even if his film kinda sucks.


Pale Rider (Blu-ray)

Warner Home Entertainment / 1985 / 116 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: August 26, 2008

Genres: Western

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress
Director: Clint Eastwood

Plot Synopsis: A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.