Rippling biceps, needles in the heart and the circle of life are all a part of this week’s releases, so let’s get started!
This Week’s Big Releases
FAST FIVE
Synopsis: The most recent entry in the franchise – and arguably one of the best – takes the action to Brazil and features the fast cars, rippling muscles and gay subtext you’ve come to know and love.
Tomatometer Rating: 78%
Special Features: There’s an extended edition of the film, which I assume has more glistening Dwayne Johnson and I’m assuming that he and Vin Diesel make out at some point. There’s tons of other stuff here, including Take Control 2.0, an all access look at the film with director Justin Lin, commentary with Justin Lin, a look at all of the cars and stunts in the film, featurettes on the music, on the history of the characters and lots more.
Deals: Best Buy and Target have the blu-ray combo pack for $19.99
Buy/Queue/Skip: I really liked this movie, much, much more than I expected to and it was perhaps the most fun I had at the movies this past summer, and Brandon thought so too. BUY IT.
THE LION KING
Synopsis: Simba and the circle of life all come to blu-ray.
Tomatometer Rating: 88%
Special Features: There’s a new deleted scene and song, some bloopers (which, are great), documentaries on the film, a sing along mode, and all the previous special features from the last DVD incarnation of the movie.
Deals: Best Buy is offering the four disc combo pack, which includes the film in 3D, on blu-ray and on DVD and with a digital copy
Buy/Queue/Skip: I’m going to be reviewing the blu-ray later this week (spoiler: it was pretty awesome), but I feel the same way about the 3D as Courtney did in her review, while it’s novel, it’s not necessarily the best thing ever. However, the film is still great, and I’d definitely say BUY/UPGRADE IT, though I’d personally go with just the blu-ray sans 3D.
Also Available This Week
There’s a whole mess of stuff new to blu-ray this week, including PULP FICTION and JACKIE BROWN, which I will be reviewing later this week.
There are other classics of varying sorts available on blu-ray this week, including the Bootleg cut of ALMOST FAMOUS, PEE-WEE’s BIG ADVENTURE, DEAD ALIVE, and SPACE JAM.
Also, there’s SCREAM 4
In TV this week there’s the final season of BOY MEETS WORLD, whose final episode always reduces me to tears, a special edition of the first season of THE WALKING DEAD, which features some pretty cool box art by legendary poster artist Drew Struzan, the first season of AAAHH! REAL MONSTERS, and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Complete Series.
Manny’s Pick
My pick this week is the Korean sexual thriller THE HOUSEMAID, which is available now on Netflix Watch Instant, which, as of this moment, is still called that. This film is definitely a slow burn with some shocking moments, but it’s worth watching for the absolutely insane ending. Check out Brandon’s review from last year’s Fantastic Fest and my review for more.
See you next week!
