Sony / 2010 / 119 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: March 01, 2011
Genres: Musical, Romance, Drama
Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming
Director: Steve Antin
Plot Synopsis: There is, according to Burlesque, a nightclub on the Sunset Strip that looks like a blend of Cabaret and Moulin Rouge and employs a full contingent of dancers and musicians in the service of a neo-retro-burlesque-blues program. Presiding over the craziness within is Tess, a grande dame who also performs occasionally and who could only, under these circumstances, be played by Cher. Entering the scene is a young leather-lunged hopeful from Iowa named Ali, played by Christina Aguilera in her movie-acting debut. The vibe of this glitzy concoction is more Flashdance than Showgirls, despite prerelease predictions that the film would be a campfest of epic proportions. In fact, it's more cornball than trashy. Ali hits most of the clichés of the genre: defying Tess's skepticism by proving her mettle during an impromptu stage number; flirting with the nice-guy bartender (Cam Gigandet, of Twilight) whose home she shares for a while, in a purely platonic way, of course, just until she gets her feet on the ground; and keeping a wary eye on the high roller (Eric Dane, of Grey's Anatomy) who wants to possess her, because, you see, he takes whatever he likes. And did we mention that Tess is facing foreclosure on the club in a month's time? Seriously, you didn't see that coming? Writer-director Steve Antin has no embarrassment about putting any of this across, which may be why it all feels weirdly innocent, if relentlessly silly. Stanley Tucci revives his gay assistant from The Devil Wears Prada, Alan Cumming lurks about in an undefined role that might well have been filmed months after everybody else, and Kristen Bell enjoys a few wicked-witch moments as Ali's main rival. Aguilera, needless to say, belts out her songs as only someone with a very large voice can, and Cher stops the show with an old-fashioned torch song ("You Haven't Seen the Last of Me") that is clearly designed as a roof-raiser. (And, by gum, it works.) This is a ridiculous movie, but it gets points for never claiming to be anything else.
Disc Features:
movieIQ™+sync featuring the Burlesque playlist
Director's Commentary
Alternate Opening
The Burlesque Lounge: Alternate Full Musical Performances!
Blooper Reel
Burlesque is Back!
The Performers: The Cast of Burlesque
Setting the Stage: Production Design & Performers
Inside the Dressing Room: Creating the Burlesque Look
The Set List: The Music & Choreography of Burlesque
20th Century Fox / 2010 / 94 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: March 01, 2011
Genres: Adventure, Thriller
Starring: James Franco
Director: Danny Boyle
Plot Synopsis: From Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) comes the powerfully uplifting true story of one man’s struggle to survive against mountainous odds. Aron Ralston (James Franco) has a passion for all things outdoors. But when a falling boulder traps him in a remote Utah canyon, a thrill-seeker’s adventure becomes the challenge of a lifetime. Over the next five days, Ralston embarks on a remarkable personal journey in which he relies on the memories of family and friends--as well as his own courage and ingenuity--to turn adversity into triumph!
Disc Features:
Disc 1: Theatrical Feature Blu-ray
Feature Commentary by Director/Co-Screenwriter Danny Boyle, Producer Christian Colson and Co-Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy
Deleted Scenes
Search & Rescue: Actual events that aided the search and rescue of Aron Ralston
127 Hours: An Extraordinary View - A unique collaboration between the director and actor
Disc 2: Digital Copy
CBS Films / 2010 / 98 Minutes / Rated R
Street Date: March 01, 2011
Overall Grade 
RecommendedGenres: Action, thriller
Starring: Will Ferrell and Brad Pitt Director: Geroge Tillman Jr.
Plot Synopsis: In Faster revenge is a dish best served quickly and with no remorse. Dwayne Johnson's character Driver has few lines, instead letting his actions--and the growls of the muscle car he's driving--speak volumes. Driver (given no other name for the duration of the movie) is released from prison, for crimes not initially noted, and immediately sets out in a fast car with a gun and a mission of revenge. He is coldly efficient with his kills, wasting no time or bullets as he delivers his brand of justice. The puzzle pieces of his crusade are snapped together with each victim he goes after; this is not a man who kills for the thrill. Each victim is specially selected, and Driver wants each to see his face to understand why they are being executed. Nor does he bother hiding his face from surveillance cameras or the police detectives (Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino) chasing him. Driver is not a man who cares if he's caught, so long as he gets to finish his self-imposed task first. As word of his spree hits the news, one of his potential victims hires an assassin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) to get to Driver first. Surprisingly, most of the characters show some depth of personality, in spite of being little more than caricatures of stereotypes (the troubled cop, the bored assassin). Faster isn't as reliant on mindless action as expected, but the story line is played out in such a way that you can't help rooting for Driver and his bloody revenge. Though parts are a tad predictable, all in all this is a thoroughly entertaining action flick.
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