This Week’s Big Releases
THE HUNGER GAMES
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling book series by Suzanne Collins, THE HUNGER GAMES tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, a young girl thrown into a tournament in which she has to fight for her life in a violent and brutal survival game. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson star.
Tomatometer Rating: 85%
Special Features: There’s a two hour making-of special feature, a look at Suzanne Collins, an interview with Donald Sutherland, explaining the “Games Center”, film critic Elvis Mitchell talking to director Gary Ross, and more. I’ve got a full review of the blu-ray to give you all later this week.
Deals: Amazon, Best Buy, and Target have the two-disc blu-ray combo pack for $19.99. However, Best Buy has an fancy pants four disc edition for $29.99 and Target has its own three disc edition with an exclusive disc for 24.99.
Buy/Queue/Skip: Though I still liked the book better than the movie, Lawrence’s performance elevates a fairly strong adaptation. I’ll be reviewing the blu-ray later this week, but I’d say definitely QUEUE IT. Read Courtney’s Review and check out our Critic’s Review Roundup in the meantime.
JAWS
Synopsis: Speilberg. A Shark. The first, and one of the best, blockbusters, finally available on blu-ray.
Tomatometer Rating: 100%
Special Features: There’s a look at the impact of JAWS on cinema and history, the restoration that was done for the blu-ray, and some vintage making-of footage.
Deals: Amazon has the standard blu-ray edition for $17.99, and you can get a Best Buy exclusive edition for $24.99.
Buy/Queue/Skip: Of course you’re going to BUY IT. You probably already pre-ordered it.
Also Available This Week
There’s a great selection of indie releases this week, including: THE RAID: REDEMPTION (Courtney’s Review), JUAN OF THE DEAD (Brandon’s Fantastic Fest Review), KILL LIST (Courtney’s Review), and THE SNOWTOWN MURDERS.
Wes Anderson’s THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS has a blu-ray joining the Criterion Collection this week.
The baddest mutha ever, SHAFT is also new to blu-ray.
In TV, there’s NIKITA: SEASON TWO while animation’s got ANGRY BEAVERS: SEASON 3, PART 2 and THE SMURFS AND THE MAGIC FLUTE, out this week. I’ll be reviewing the latter two.
Manny’s Pick
I’ve got another two-fer this week, with the release of two of my favorite TV shows. Both COMMUNITY and HAPPY ENDINGS have their latest seasons out with COMMUNITY: SEASON 3 and HAPPY ENDINGS: SEASON 2 hitting store shelves.
Though COMMUNITY will no longer be helmed by its creator Dan Harmon, this season was perhaps it’s most Harmon-y, especially in it’s latter episode, which delved deeply into full tilt metaliciousness, with alternate timelines, video game episodes and so much more of what makes it one of the best shows on television. HAPPY ENDINGS, by comparison, is more traditional, but its actors and their chemistry make it consistently hilarious. Have a Whore’s Bath and enjoy this clip!
See you next week!
