DVD Digest for July 22, 2008

Paul Clark — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This week, Criterion gives DVD buyers a re-pressing of an old favorite and a new version of a classic. Also, plenty of Blu-Ray for your enjoyment, provided you’re not in the market for good movies.

DVD of the Week: Years ago, Criterion released four of Carl Th. Dreyer’s greatest films in deluxe versions, but his 1932 classic Vampyr has only been available in a subpar transfer from Image. Until now, that is. This week, Vampyr finally gets the treatment it richly deserves in a new two-disc set from the folks at Criterion. Along with both German- and English-credited versions of the film, the DVD contains a commentary from film scholar Tony Rayns, a 1966 documentary about Dreyer’s work, a radio broadcast of Dreyer speaking about filmmaking, and much more. Even the insert is indispensible, containing not only essays on the film, but a book featuring the film’s original screenplay as well as the story on which it was based. Naturally, any DVD version of a Dreyer film is a must for any serious film lover, but to see one of his most significant works given the top-shelf treatment like this is magnificent news.

Also this week, Criterion is re-releasing Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low in a new version featuring several new features, plus a new high-definition transfer. So if you didn’t pick up the film last time around, now’s your chance.

In a slow week for new movies coming to DVD, today brings the release of the college-students-taking-on-Vegas thriller 21 (Sony, also Blu-Ray), Famke Janssen in Turn the River (Universal), and the John C. Reilly/Seann William Scott comedy The Promotion (Weinstein).

On the TV-on-DVD front, the big news this week is the long-awaited Region 1 release of Spaced: The Complete Series (Warner). Fans of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz will finally be able to get a taste of the series that introduced to the world the stars (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost) and director (Edgar Wright) of those films, along with the witty, pop-culture-savvy brand of humor that made those movies fanboy favorites. Also this week: Las Vegas Season 5 (Universal).

Finally, coming this week to Blu-Ray only: the Sony horror trifecta of I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and Urban Legend; Universal’s Mummy trilogy of The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and The Scorpion King; and The Perfect Storm (Warner). And if you’re actually waiting for good movies to come out on Blu-Ray, take heart- October is only three months away.

DVD Digest for July 8, 2008

Paul Clark — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

This week, one DVD distinguishes itself from the crush of cash-grabs and tie-ins. Also, Criterion continues their commitment to awesomeness. Otherwise, a pretty slow week.

DVD of the Week: Normally, I would use this space to plug the latest DVD from The Criterion Collection. However, since I’m not particularly familiar with this week’s release, Mon Oncle Antoine, I would instead like to take this opportunity to mention Warner Home Video’s collection of Batman animated shorts, entitled Batman: Gotham Knight (Warner, also Blu-Ray). Much like The Animatrix did five years ago, Warner has taken what might on the surface appear to be a simple movie tie-in leading up to the release of Batman: The Dark Knight. But the studio is fully committed to its franchise and the tone set by the recent entries. A number of talented animators were brought on board to direct the shorts, which were written by screenwriters including Batman Begins screenwriter David S. Goyer and Academy-Award nominee Josh Olson (A History of Violence). Besides, as far as tie-ins go (this week also brings new versions of Batman Begins on both standard and Blu-Ray), this beats holy hell out of yet another new pressing of Batman & Robin, wouldn’t you say?

And speaking of cash grabs… like mummies? This week, Universal is releasing new Special Edition versions of The Mummy (1932), The Mummy (1999), and The Mummy Returns, all in advance of next month’s release of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Also, there’s a new version of Van Helsing hitting the market, although heaven knows why.

New titles on DVD include: The Ruins (Paramount, also Blu-Ray); Stop-Loss (Paramount); Chop Shop (Koch); and The Tracey Fragments (Image).

Finally, in the TV-on-DVD front, this week brings I Dream of Jeannie Season 5 (Sony); Monk Season 6 (Universal); Psych Season 2 (Universal); Stargate Atlantis Season 4 (MGM). So now you know.

The Screengrab : the mummy returns

DVD Digest for July 22, 2008

DVD Digest for July 8, 2008