This Week’s Big Releases
SILENT HOUSE
Synopsis: Elizabeth Olsen gets the living crap scared out of her in this film, which is done in one long shot (spoilers: not really, but it’s a neat trick).
Tomatometer Rating: 42%
Special Features: There’s a commentary with co-directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau. That’s it.
Deals: Amazon and Best Buy have the blu-ray combo pack for $19.99.
Buy/Queue/Skip: Olsen gives another standout performance in this horror film, whose gimmick, while interesting, is a one trick pony at best. QUEUE IT if you haven’t seen it and read Courtney’s review for more.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION: SEASON ONE
Synopsis: The continuing mission of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard. This landmark sci-fi series features Patrick Stewart in one of his more iconic performances, along with Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Jonathan Frakes, Wil Wheaton and many more.
Special Features: Paramount has lovingly restored and perfected each episode for high definition, with complete overhauls of both the picture and sound quality as well as an upgrade to the series’ special effects. Apart from that, there’s also a making of featurette explaining how these episodes were brought to high definition, a three part retrospective of the first season and the inception of the idea to bring Star Trek back to the small screen and much more.
Deals: AMAZON and Best Buy have the five disc blu-ray boxed set for $59.99
Buy/Queue/Skip: Die hard trekkers will have already pre-ordered this boxed set, but TNG, though lauded as the best of the Star Trek series, never stuck with me. I’d say if you haven’t already BOUGHT IT, then you might want to QUEUE IT and give it a test run on Netflix Watch Instantly before you commit to the full set.
Also Available This Week
In TV land this week, apart from THE NEXT GENERATION, there’s also the third season of CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, as well as the second half of season two of HEY ARNOLD!, which I’ll be taking a look at later this week.
If you’re in the mood for some sexy sadness, check out THE DEEP BLUE SEA, with Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston, which Mel enjoyed.
Two of Whit Stilman’s films, THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO and METROPOLITAN join the Criterion Collection this week.
Relive the glorious 90s and the days of Smash Mouth with MYSTERY MEN, now available on blu-ray.
Best Buy’s got some pretty good deals on blu-rays this week, including: AMERICAN GRAFFITI, AMERICAN PIE and THE STING FOR $12.99, 3D blu-rays like KUNG FU PANDA 2 and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON for $19.99, GOODFELLAS, DAZED AND CONFUSED, SUPERBAD, INCEPTION AND RESERVIOR DOGS for $9.99, and a great deal on FIREFLY: THE COMPLETE SERIES for only twenty bucks.
Manny’s Pick
My pick this week is JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, an excellent documentary about 85-year-old Jiro Ono, whom many consider the best sushi chef in the world and how he personifies everything about the sushi culture in Tokyo. Japan recently declared him a “living national treasure.” This film will not only please sushi fans, but fans of shows like TOP CHEF, Food Network junkies, and those who admire watching true artists, regardless of the field, at work. Check out Courtney’s review from the 2011 AFI Fest for more.
See you next week!
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