Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 89 mins  – 2009 – Unrated – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1

 

There are bad horror films, and then there are really bad horror films. Depending on your taste, The Unborn will fall in either one of those two spots, because unless you’ve just taken some form of illegal substance, there’s no way you will consider this film to be good. For the past few years American made horror films have been horrible, and even the worst Asian horror movie is more superior. If you’re just desperate to watch something in the horror genre, The Unborn is available on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. But you’ve been warned.

MOVIE

The simple plot revolves around Casey (Odette Yustman), a woman who keeps having nightmares about a creepy little boy and a dog. Things get creepier for Casey when one of her eyes begins to change colors and her ophthalmologist asks her if she has a twin brother, even though she is an only child. Casey gets her father to confess that she did have a twin brother, but he died at birth. Casey believes that her unborn brother is haunting her, and her only hope is Rabbi Sendak (Gary Oldman), who is basically playing the ‘exorcist,’ and uses his faith to banish the unborn child from this world.

This film was written and directed by David S. Goyer, who believe it or not also wrote the storyline for both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. So what the hell happened? You would expect something better than this mess from a guy who has such and impressive thing on their resume. The movie is as scary as an episode of Scooby Doo, the acting is lame, (including Gary Oldman who is one of the best actors out there), and the lead character is so dull and that you really won’t care if she lives or dies. Basically this film looks like it was based on someone seeing the edited TV version of the Exorcist with all the good parts toned down and commercials for the Sham-Wow in-between. 

American made horror movies are in trouble right now because they’ve drained the Asian rip-off well dry and now all they’re stuck with is bad ideas. You know somewhere in some producer’s office there are twenty great original horror scripts being used to hold up his espresso maker. So why did this one get made? Because the guy who wrote Batman was involved, that’s why. Do yourself a favor and skip this one, but if you do rent it, make sure you rent a better film along with it so you won’t feel like 89 minutes of your life has just been snatched away.

VIDEO

The Unborn is a bad movie, but thanks to the power of Blu-ray, at least it looks good. In full 1080p with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the film’s displays nice textures and skin tones, and the creepy dark atmosphere stands out. Colors are purposely muted, but still manage to jump out at you. Grain is an issue is some of the dark interior scenes, but overall it’s a solid transfer.

AUDIO

Like all horror films, sound is extremely important, so what The Unborn lacks in story it makes up for in audio. Offering a Dolby Digital DTS 5.1 sound track, every bump in the night is effectively done to make you jump. Dialogue is crisp and background sound effects are blended well. Sound enthusiasts should be pleased.

EXTRAS

Maybe Universal knew they had a bad film on their hands, which is why they really didn’t put any effort in packing any good bonus features onto the disc. The film displays the “Urated” version on the front of the case, but we’re talking one minute longer than the theatrical PG-13 version. Yawwwnnn!

There are six deleted/extended scenes that are barely worth watching, and that’s about it. Director/writer David S. Goyer didn’t even bother to do an audio commentary track, because it would take a lot of explaining to make sense of this waste of time.

BOTTOM LINE

If you love horror films, don’t bother with The Unborn because there’s nothing to see that you haven’t already seen done better before. The Blu-ray offers good picture and sound quality, but it doesn’t matter because you’re still watching a mediocre horror flick. If you’re desperate give it a rent, but it’s not worth your hard earned dollar. 

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 1.5

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 186 minutes – 2009 – Unrated – 1080p – 2.40:1 – Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 – Digital Copy

The first time anyone heard about Watchmen was in 1986 when DC comics released a limited twelve issue comic book series created by Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. Because it was so unique compared to anything out there, it became an instant phenomenon, second only to another graphic novel series also by DC comics, The Dark Knight Returns. For years all comic book geeks heard stories about a live action motion picture in the works, but the closest this came to being a reality was a decade ago when director Terry Gilliam was put on board to helm it. This never happened and the hope of the film coming to light went back into the Hollywood abyss. Then finally after seeing the success of Spiderman, Iron Man and four different guys wearing the Batman suit over the years, interest in a big screen Watchmen film became fashionable again. Two years ago a film based on another graphic novel, 300, hit the screen by a new director named Zach Snyder, and became a bigger hit than anyone imagined. The studio knew that they found the right man for the job, and finally the task of turning one of the most complex pieces of literature into a sellable motion picture was in full motion. When it was finally released in early 2009, Watchmen was not the mega success that everyone banked on it becoming; some even called it a bomb because it tool less than $200 million worldwide. But in my humble opinion Watchmen is a true masterpiece that was badly marketed, and will in time be seen by a new audience that will appreciate what an amazing film it is. Judge for yourself because Watchman is now available on Blu-ray (the only format it should be seen on) from Warner Home Video. Who’s watching the Watchmen? It should be you.

THE MOVIE

It’s hard to explain the plot of Watchmen, you just have to experience it with an open mind. Imagine a world where President Richard M. Nixon is still in power and the U.S. has won the Vietnam War, mainly because a team of superheroes was sent in to eliminate the Viet Cong. Back in the 50’s a collection of masked vigilantes took to the streets to fight crime, and united to form a team known then as the Minutemen. For several decades they were hailed as heroes, until the 70’s when a law was signed outlawing them as criminals, and shutting down the group, sending the individuals to go their own ways. Some were killed off, some lost their minds and were put in mental facilities, and others found new ways to adapt to the modern society.

When one of the former team members, Edward Blake, aka The Comedian (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is murdered, one of his mates known as Rorschach (played by Jackie Earle Haley), takes it upon himself to investigate the crime, which leads him through an endless maze of cover-ups and corruption. He turns to another Watchmen, Nite Owl (played by Patrick Wilson) for his help, and together they begin to unravel the mystery. Within this we are introduced to other Watchmen that include Adrian Veidt. Aka Ozymandias (played by Matthew Goode), who is now a corporate tycoon who uses his power and influence to control the media;

Laurie Jupiter, aka Silk Spectre II (played by Malin Akerman), her mother Sally Jupiter, aka Silk Spectre (played by the Carla Gugino), who are constantly knocking their heads together because of past events. Finally there’s the most powerful Watchmen, Jon Osterman , aka Dr. Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup), a brilliant scientist who fell fate to a drastic radiation blast that transformed him into a hairless blue man, who can increase his height to the size of a giant, vaporize a human to particles, or transform himself to another planet at will. Together they combine their strengths and weaknesses, not only to solve the crime of their fallen comrade, but to save the world from possible nuclear annihilation.

Sure this sounds way out there, but that’s the beauty of Watchmen, it’s not like anything else on the map. There are some traditional comic book elements that will remind you of the whole Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman triangle, but all the dark and sexier tones that those comics will hint at but never touch are fully displayed here. Zach Snyder does and excellent job to deliver a close adaptation of the graphic novel, and without his care it could have turned out to be a disaster. This Blu-ray offers the full director’s cut that includes 24 minutes more of footage that dives more into the characters and human elements. Does this make it better than the theatrical version? Yes, because it’s obvious Snyder was under studio pressure to make the film more action-based to bring in the so-called “X-Men” audience into the theaters. This director’s version plays out closer to the original source material, but it would have been a plus if both the theatrical and the director’s cut were available on the disc.

Overall, even though this will require a three hour time commitment, Watchmen is definitely worth seeing, not only for the hardcore fans of the graphic novel, but for those who are tired of watching watered-down PG-13 comic book movies like Wolverine. The film has flaws, but it also has brilliance and this is what keeps it interesting and fresh. Are there people out there who will hate this movie? Of course, but after a repeat viewing the film may grow on you, particularly because comic book based movies are usually so weak, Watchmen stands up on its own. This one is a must see.

VIDEO

Presented in full 1080p in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, Watchmen looks incredible, and should only be seen in HD to deliver the full effect. Though the film is dark, colors are plentiful, whether it is Dr. Manhattan’s glowing blue skin, the yellow trim on Silk Spectre’s costume, or the red sands on the surface of Mars, the palette is at full spectrum. The films cinematography by Larry Fong steals the show, with scenes ripped right out of the comic book panels that immerse you into the world of the Watchmen. The film’s opening credit sequence alone looks better than most films you’ll see this year. Warner went all out to deliver the best transfer they could, and if you have a TV with excellent resolution, you will appreciate this. I can’t imagine viewing this film in any other way, so if you’re a lucky one with a Blu-ray player don’t even bother with a standard DVD.

AUDIO

Watchmen offers a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 sound track that sounds superb if you have an audio system set up to experience it. Yes, the movie has loud moments with explosions, gunfire, crowds, and flying vehicles, but for a superhero film this one also has plenty of dialogue. Rorschach’s character, who basically mutters his words, can be heard clearly and Dr. Manhattan’s deep smooth monotone voice stands strong. Music of the times is also becomes a character in the film so whether it be Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times Are a Changing,’ Nena’s ‘99 Luftballons,’ or ‘I’m Your Boogie Man’ by KC & The Sunshine Band, you’re taken on quite a musical adventure.

EXTRAS

The Blu-ray version of Watchmen is packaged in a three-disc set with the feature on disc one, bonus features on disc two, and a Digital Copy on disc three. This is a solid set that’s worth the price, with all the features in full HD and the new Maximum Movie Mode.

The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics is a half hour featurette that looks at the genesis of the Watchmen graphic novel, and includes interviews individuals involved with the project, including the book’s artist Dave Gibbons.

Maximum Movie Mode is a very cool feature that can only be done on Blu-ray, and allows you to watch the movie while director Zach Snyder appears on screen for certain scenes to show you some behind the scenes clips and provide background information with comic book-to-movie comparisons. This is much better than the standard audio commentary track and with the Picture-In-Picture view, it makes you feel like you’re getting so much more.

Focus Points are the 11 webisodes shown online before the release of the film that look at specific behind the scenes segments of the production.

Real Super Heroes: Real Vigilantes runs a half an hour and looks at the world of real vigilantes who patrol neighborhoods to fight back against crime. This one is kind of interesting, and definitely worth a look, just for the comparison. Look at it this way, Batman himself is no more than a vigilante.

Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World is a fifteen-minute featurette where Dr. James Kakalios, the Professor of Physic at the University of Minnesota discuses the science of the Watchmen universe.

The music video for ‘Desolation Row’ by My Chemical Romance is accessible if you’re a fan of the band, or at least like the song from the movie.

Finally there’s a Digital Copy of the theatrical version of the movie. For those who never saw the film in theaters, this is your chance to compare the theatrical version to the director’s cut.

BOTTOM LINE

Watchman is an incredible Blu-ray presentation offering excellent picture and sound quality and a nice batch of extras, particularly the Maximum Movie Mode. The director’s cut offers 24 minutes more to the story, that actually fills in gaps and brings it closer to the graphic novel. A film like Watchmen is the reason you bought that Blu-ray player or own a PS3, because this is really one of those movies that can only be fully experienced in the HD format. This one is a must buy.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 4.5

Video: 5.0

Sound: 5.0

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 4.5

Reviewed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released July, 24 2009

1 hr. 46 min.

Armando Iannucci/IFC Films

Peter Capaldi

Mimi Kennedy

Tom Hollander

Gina McKee

James Gandolfini

Anna Chlumsky

You may not know who Peter Capaldi is. But if you see this film, and you should, you will always remember his performance. You may not remember Anna Chlumsky from her star childhood turn in My Girl, but you should. (Anna Chlumsky is in the mold of childhood Oscar winner Anna Paquin, who has lately lit up the small screen in True Blood). Throw in Mimi Kennedy from Dharma and Greg and the oddly funny James Gandolfini of Sopranos fame and you have the ultimate B-list cast. And that’s exactly the type of cast this movie benefits from. This is a movie the big Hollywood studios/Hollywood A-listers would have mangled.

Critics compare this film to Wag the Dog and that is fair. And it does have elements of standard british humor a-la Monty Python. But this film, political satire that it is, is singular in that the character played by Capaldi, Malcolm Tucker, is the biggest jerk you’ve ever laughed at. He’s ascerbic and abrasive. He’s an ass. And boy is he funny. I viewed this in a packed house and I can’t count the number of lines I didn’t hear as I waited for the laughter to subside. If you were going to be cursed out by someone, this would be the man. Though I wonder if you or me, in real life, would find it so funny after all!

Essentially the film is a send-up of the Bush/Blair Iraq war/Weapons of Mass Destruction debacle. It is much more. Anyone who wears their red power-tie into the theater will miss a truly clever, immensely funny movie-going experience, so I implore you to check your politics at the door. Any war decision or high power subject could be at the heart of this piece and it would work. The humor is in the way we all want power, and about how we all make gaffes.

The beauty is in the script–truly as well crafted in its dialogue as I’ve seen/heard in a long time. Every character seems to get the tenor of this film. The director employs an agressive style to perfection. The editing is a lesson in how to cut for comic effect. The film is so tight that on the rare occasion it misses, you actually feel disappointed. Like the pitcher just gave up his first hit in the ninth.

When you are finished, and you want more of Peter Capaldi, you will want to know right off that he is the longtime comedy partner of one Hugh Laurie (Dr. Greg House). He was the best part of the comedy tandem’s ill-fated show Fortysomething. Many believe he was the best part of Blackadder. He is a british talent waiting for America to discover him. In a way I hope America does not. I’d hate to see a good thing ruined.

Bottom line 4.5/5.0

Reviwed by Richard Lee Zuras

Released July 24, 2009

1 hr. 36 min.

Marc Webb/Fox Searchlight Films

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Zooey Deschanel

Full disclosure: I am a huge Zooey Deschanel fan. (Though I haven’t seen her recent years-long slew of Indie films.) I “discovered” her in her first film, a decade ago, entitled Mumford. Since then, as she has appeared in films like Elf, Almost Famous and Yes Man, I have marveled at her voice, speaking and singing, and her grace. She is often referred to as having saucer-like eyes (it is meant in a good way), and an impish smile. The psychologist in me says she reminds me of Jessica in Rankin-Bass’ Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town. But I digress for a reason. Zooey is rarely sexualized (Maxim lists not withstanding) in the way so common of Hollywood’s young actresses. She is from a Hollywood family (her father is the cinematographer that gave us The Passion of the Christ) and seems to know how to cast her spell in the vein of a young Katherine Hepburn–another screen beauty that was never redacted into a purely sexual object.

In this film, she has found the perfect role. Not to spoil the movie but suffice it to say that there is a real-world quality about Zooey that she is somehow unattainable, somehow a projection of perfection splashed with Artistic imperfection. Human. And her ability, and Joseph’s, to play to the roles they have set before them is remarkable. It has been reported that the director gave the two leads specific songs to listen to before each day’s filming. Music, in fact, is perfectly intertwined throughout the film, including a Bollywood-like little song and dance set to the sounds of Hall and Oates. Having seen this in a packed theater, I can report that everyone responded with glee! Not since When Harry Met Sally has a romantic comedy given us such real characters with such believable chemistry. And if I’ve not given Joseph enough credit let me add here that having followe him since 10 Things to his star turns in Miracle in St. Anna and The Lookout, let me state here that the sky is the limit for this uber-talented actor.

A few old-school critics accuse this movie of manipulating the tools of the trade (it is ripe with flash-backs, flash-forwards, re-edits of scenes, and voice-over) in order to achieve its desired effects. Well isn’t that the point of having a large tool-box? Now these days, particularly in the action arena, many directors/producers make movies in service of the tools themselves. But no rational movie-goer will see such propaganda at work herein. This is a film that employs its wares in a synchronistic, highly organic manner. Seldom, if ever, will you find yourself saying “Oh, that shouldn’t have been done that way.” Trust me.

This is a charming movie about infatuation. Therefore, about 99% of the audience should relate. But it is a quiet film, not one that will easily fall into the laps of the teen-goer, and will therefore have to make it in the same way that Little Miss Sunshine or Juno did–through positive word of mouth and rave reviews. It will be hard to find many folks that don’t recommend it. It will be harder still to find a negative review. Trust me.

Bottom line 4.5/5.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 107 mins – 2009 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.40: 1 – DTS-HD Lossless Master 5.1 Audio – Digital Copy

When The Fast and the Furious came out in 2001, it was an instant hit spawning fans that included muscle and tuner car enthusiast, as well as a new generation of wannabes who attempted to trick out their mom’s old Honda Civic into a street-ready ten second car. The movie gave Vin Diesel box office clout, and girls who could care less about cars just went to see Paul Walker’s blue eyes. Sure it was just a re-hash of the Patrick Swayze/Keanu Reeves 1991 film, Point Break, but it worked better. The Fast and the Furious spawned two lame sequels, the Diesel-less 2 Fast 2 Furious and the one that none of the original cast members were involved with, (not counting that 5 second cameo by Diesel), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Both of the sequels were successful enough to make the studio come to their senses and pay all the film’s original stars to return for one more adventure, Fast and Furious. The latest Furious film comes to Blu-ray from Universal Home Entertainment, so strap on your seatbelts for one sweet ride.

THE MOVIE

One good thing about Fast and Furious is that it continues the story line from the previous films, but only uses the bits and pieces that matter. The film opens in the Dominican Republic, taking place a year before the events of Tokyo Drift, where we find Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), hiding out from the law with a new posse, which includes Han (Sung Kang), who was the co-star of Tokyo Drift.

Dom’s old flame Letty, (Michelle Rodriquez) also comes along for the ride in an action prologue involving the heist of an oil tanker truck. Months later, Dom learns that Letty has been murdered and sneaks back into the US on a mission to find her killer. Here he is reunited with his sister Mia, (Jordana Brewster) and Brian, (Paul Walker), who now works for the FBI. There’s still tension between Dom and Brian, but they put it aside to track down Letty’s murderer, a drug lord named Arturo Braga who uses underground street racers to transport drugs across the border.

Directed by Justin Lin, (who also helmed Tokyo Drift), Fast and Furious is definitely the best film since the original, making you completely forget about the second and third movies and start fresh. Why makes this one succeed where the other’s failed? Let’s face it…its Vin Diesel. Sure it’s cool to see everyone from the original cast back again, but Diesel is the bond that makes the chemistry work. It’s like a Rocky film without Stallone, what would be the purpose of that? Also, where the previous two films were not sure what direction they were going, Fast and Furious knows exactly what it’s attempting to do; and as soon as the film starts it never takes it’s foot off of the gas pedal. Whereas the scope of the other Fast and Furious films is always condensed to one area, this time the film feels larger because Director Justin Lin sets the adventure in various places, such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and of course the Streets of LA. If he could have found a way to stick in Japan, I’m sure he would have.

Obviously, no Fast and Furious film would be complete without a showing off a collection of kick ass cars, and this film has some of the best yet in both the tuner and muscle categories. In the opening sequence Dom drives a sleek black Buick GNX that looks like Darth Vader on wheels, and Brian’s exotic Subaru Impreza that will make you want to turn on your Xbox and play Need for Speed to get your fix. Plenty of care went into the selection of cars used in the film, and who drives what to represent their character. If you’re a car lover, this alone will keep you watching.

Fast and Furious will not win any Oscars, but the beauty of it is that it’s not trying. It’s simply entertaining a target audience, and recapture what was lost in the previous sequels, making the first and fourth film perfect bookends. Will there be another Furious movies? Well being that this one made $350 million worldwide, which is more than any of the other films in the series made, I’m sure the producers will come up with something. And if so, just pay the cast whatever they want to get the ball rolling, because without Diesel and Walker together, there’s not much else to keep you coming back.

VIDEO

Fast and Furious looks fantastic on Blu-ray, presented in full 1080p in a 2.40:1 frame ratio. Just take a look at the opening oil tanker heist from the opening scene to see how the colors jump off the screen. Every spec of stubble on Diesel’s square jaw, and the lack of hair on his domed head are on full display as if you were sitting in the car next to him. There are plenty of CGI car effects in this movie, which at times looks like the cut scene for a racing videogame, but it works because it’s all visually pleasing. Grain does pop up during some of the night and interior tunnel sequences, but overall this one is definitely show off material.

AUDIO

Like the image quality, the sound for Fast and Furious is absolutely superb, offering a DTS-HD Master 5.1 audio mix that will bring your speakers to their knees. If you don’t have a surround sound system, you’re missing out on a major part of the experience, because when the cars rev up and race through the streets, or the tanker from the opening scene barrel rolls down the road, you want to hear and feel the rumble. Dialogue is crystal clear and Diesel’s signature voice is the icing on the cake.

EXTRAS

Fast and Furious actually comes with a solid package of bonus features, including a second disc with a Digital Copy, so Universal has made sure that you get your money’s worth.

Director Justin Lin offers a Director’s Commentary track, and even though he’s very passionate about his work on the Fast and Furious films, the track gets dull fast.

Los Bandoleros is one of the best features offered on the disc. Written and directed by the man himself, Vin Diesel, Los Bandelos is a twenty-minute short film that acts as a prequel to the events of Fast and Furious. Set in the Dominican Republic, the short features several cast members from the film such as Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Sung Kang, and goes into the preparation that leads to the oil tanker heist from Fast and Furious’ opening sequence. It’s very cool that Universal put up the cash and allowed Diesel to do this, because it’s a nice bonus, and actually not a bad short film.

Getting the Gang Back Together is a ten-minute featurette that goes into the concept of why the original cast members were brought back together for the fourth film. It’s probably because none of them have been in a hit movie in the last five years and they were offered a huge paycheck, but that’s just my opinion.

Under the Hood is divided into two sections “Muscle Cars” and “Imports” and looks at some of the cars featured in Fast and Furious.

Driving School with Vin Diesel is a four-minute spot that shows the D-man driving around the track and prepping his role.

Races and Chases looks at the main street race sequence, showing how it was done Fast and Furious style.

Shooting the Big Rig Heist dives into the film’s opening action sequence, displaying all the elements it took to make it look exciting on screen.

High Octane Action; The Stunts is more of the same, showing off how the action sequences were done.

South of the Border: Filming in Mexico is a small clip that shows the cast and crew filming on location in Mexico.

There’s also the music video by artist Pitbull for one of the songs featured in the film ‘Blanco.’

For those of you who like their movies on the go, a second disc features a Digital Copy.

Via Universal’s U-Control you can access ‘Take Control’ where you can watch director Justin Lin and the film’s star, Paul Walker talk about the film as the film plays. This is actually very cool, and beats listening to a standard commentary track. This is something that can seriously be utilized for future Blu-ray releases.

There a Virtual Garage that displays a 3-D version of the Buick featured in the movie, and allows you to rotate 360 degrees, paint it a different color, and add decals. It’s nothing fancy, but supposedly you can download an iPhone app that will allow you to use the device as a control for the virtual car. This couldn’t be tested because the retail version of the Blu-ray is not yet in stores, so this feature is not live as of this writing.

BOTTOM LINE

If you love the Fast and Furious films, this Blu-ray is a must buy, offering superior image and sound quality, as well as a sweet batch of bonus features and a Digital Copy tossed in. This one sells itself and will fly off shelves when it hits stores. Buckle up!

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 124 minutes – 2004 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p – 2.40:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Lossless Audio

Author Nicholas Sparks has a loyal following of readers who find his novels refreshing, because instead of the bad things in life, his stories focus on the good side of humanity and finding love. Several of his books have already been made into movies, such as Nights in Rodanthe, A Walk to Remember, and Message in a Bottle. His novel The Notebook was given the Hollywood treatment in 2004, and is now a Blu-ray Limited Edition Giftset from Warner Home Video. This may not be one for the guys, but sometimes you have to get in touch with your gentler side.

THE MOVIE

The Notebook is a very simple story centering around a man named Duke, played by veteran actor James Garner, who lives in a nursing home. In a fairy tale manner he begins to read a story to another patient in the home, Allie, played by Gena Rowlands.

The story he reads begins in the 40’s, focusing on a young Country boy named Noah (Ryan Gosling), who falls in love with a girl from a wealthy family named Allie (Rachel McAdams). Their love affair begins, but many obstacles fall into place, one being her family doesn’t approve of her being with this farm boy; and there’s also another guy trying to win her hand, an heir to a rich family named Lon (James Mardsen). Noah and Allie engage in a rollercoaster romance throughout the 40’s to present, where we discover that she is the woman in the story and Duke is Noah, but Allie doesn’t remember him because she suffers from advanced Alzheimers. Duke is reading a series of letters that he wrote to Allie many years ago, and when she learned about her illness, she made him promise to continuously read the story of the love to her so that if only for a short time, she will remember.

Directed by Nick Cassavetes, who is better known as an actor for playing a bad guy or directing violent films like Alpha Dog, The Notebook is a very different style. Yes, it’s a chick flick, but not the vomit-fest that stars Matthew McConaughey or Sandra Bullock; instead it showcases excellent performances and a story that will even make the toughest guy in the room shed a tear. Supporting cast members such as Sam Shepard, Joan Allen and Kevin Connolly also round out the excellent cast, which is a mixture of old stars and newcomers.

The film is not perfect, being slow in certain places, but it’s easy to see how this could have turned out to be a sappy Lifetime Channel movie if it weren’t for the dedication of the actors and director to the original source material. Again, this may not be one for the guys who would rather be watching their Steven Segal Above The Law Blu-ray, but a good movie is a good movie even if it doesn’t have explosions are catch-phrase lines. If you want to show that special lady in your life that you’re a sweet guy with a tender side, the slide The Notebook into your Blu-ray player and put your arms around her. It will be worth the two hour investment, and you can always watch that Steven Segal movie later.

VIDEO

Presented in full 1080p in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, The Notebook image quality is good, but there are inconsistencies with the picture quality. Some scenes look picture perfect with sharp details, but other scenes display blurred backgrounds that do not look natural, and colors that are slightly muted. It seems as if when this film was being transferred attempts were made to enhance it, but it effects other portions of the image. Overall, the image quality is a huge leap above what you would get from the standard DVD, but if more precise care were taken, this could have been an amazing visual winner.

AUDIO

The Notebook offers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 that is well balanced and highlights this dialogue driven drama. James Garner’s signature voice has never sounded better, and the natural background elements are highlighted well without being over exaggerated. The sound mix, like the film itself is calm and satisfying.

EXTRAS

Normally, big over-priced movie box sets have an appeal to them such as the one for Terminator with the full-sized endo-skeleton head, but this gift set for The Notebook seems to be an unnecessary overkill. It comes in a giant box that will instantly take up most of your space on a shelf, and there really isn’t anything included that would get you excited. There’s not even a digital copy included…so what exactly was the point?

There are two audio commentaries available, one by director Nick Cassavetes and a second by the book’s author Nicholas Sparks. Both of these men are passionate about the material, but Cassavete’s commentary has more meat, and he talks about on the set difficulties, and issues like directed his mom, actress Gena Rowlands.

‘All in the Family: Nick Cassavetes’ is a fifteen-minute promo piece about the actor and director that includes interviews with the cast of The Notebook.

Nicholas Sparks: A Simple Story Well Told is a quick five-minute piece on the author and his work.

Casting Ryan & Rachel takes a look at the casting of the film’s two young leads, Gosling and McAdams. And you can also watch Rachel McAdam’s screen test.

‘Southern Exposure: Locating The Notebook’ is a ten-minute featurette about the shooting locations used to give the film an authetic feel.

There are 12 deleted scenes that clock in at around thirty-minutes. Some are worth a look, but most are rather slow and you can see why they were removed.

This big box also includes a 46 page photo album that can also be used a scrapbook, similar to the one in the film. You are also encouraged to write your own romantic notes on the included blank cards. There are also nice little envelopes and cute stickers, like the ones you give the girl or boy that you like in your second grade class. Basically, unless you are a die-hard fan of this movie, most of this stuff is completely useless, and you’re better off with just the film itself.

BOTTOM LINE

The Notebook is a good film, packaged in an unnecessary gift set that may look good opening on a Holiday or birthday, but other than that, hopefully just a standard Blu-ray will be released to avoid taking up your shelf space. It is refreshing to see a film like this still has a place in the world where transforming robots rule, so if you haven’t seen it before, The Notebook is worth shedding a tear for, even if you don’t want any of your football friends to know.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 3.5

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 113 minutes – 1993 – Rated R – 1080p – 2.35:1 – Dolby TrueHD 2.0 Lossless Audio – DigiBook

 

When Falling Down hit theaters in 1993, it attempted to send out a message about how society can affect an individual when they are pushed. But back then it didn’t have that much of an impact, because the country wasn’t in turmoil. Now flash forward sixteen years later, with America suffering from a major recession that has put so many people out of work and caused others to lose their homes, and a film like Falling Down has a whole new meaning. If you’ve never seen this film before or maybe just forgot about it, Falling Down is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video, and after watching the news lately you may see some similarities.

MOVIE

Falling Down stars Michael Douglas as William Foster, an unemployed man who is struggling to keep his life together, but everything around him is falling apart. He is referred to as “D-FENS” because he formally worked for the defense department, and it’s the name on his license plate.  D-Fens has the worst day ever that begins with traffic jam that makes him abandon his car and walk the streets of L.A. where he keeps running into one insane situation after another. This causes him to reach the boiling point and snap after dealing with greedy store clerks, street gang members, and an insanely racist Nazi guy. Things get worse when he weapons and decides to take justice into his own hands. On the flip side a detective named Prendergast (Robert Duvall), is riding out his last day on the force before he retires, but the events lead him to cross paths with D-Fens. He begins to fit events of the day together and sees this as one final mission to accomplish before he hangs up his badge.

Directed by Joel Schumacher, Falling Down is actually more complex than people will give it credit for.  Douglass with his crew cut and Dilbert glasses is the model for the so-called average man who is a raging inferno inside, because they can’t deal with the obstacles life is tossing at them. The one main issue with the film is that it avoids being too dark, which defeats the purpose, because it should be a dark film. If the same movie were made in the 70’s, attempts at humor that were tossed in to soften things up would have been eliminated.

Falling Down shines a light on how many people feel about minorities, gays, and the society they live in, but before you can think about it too much, the light is turned off. This subject could easily be revisited today with D-Fens now being the guy at General Motors who just lost his job, or the guy who doesn’t like the idea of the President having a different skin color. It’s dated as a canvas, but the subject matter still sparks interest, which is why the film still remains a cult favorite. It’s worth your attention, flaws and all.

VIDEO

Falling Down comes to Blu-ray with a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and even though it looks better than the old DVD it still has some issues. There seems to be plenty of grain in places, and while some scenes look sharp and crisp there are some soft spots that look blurry. Skin tones are solid and you can see all the lines and beads of sweat on Michael Douglas’ face. Colors are muted purposely to set a dark tone, and this works to pull you into D-Fens’ world. It’s not the best-looking Blu-ray out there, but it is better than the DVD if you’re looking to upgrade.

AUDIO

This is odd, instead of the standard TrueHD 5.1 audio that would be offered on a Blu-ray, Falling Down decided to go with a Dolby TrueHD 2.0 sound mix. For this reason the sounds are relatively flat, which is a big mistake for a film that has so many exterior scenes that would benefit from the extra waves of audio. Dialogue sounds clear, but certain background audio sounds as if its been squeezed through a tube. Your rare speakers won’t get much of a workout on this one,  and you’ll be baffled why Warner decided to go this way.

EXTRAS

The bonus features are a big letdown, because Warner decided to release Falling Down in their ‘DigiBook’ format, so the disc is packaged in a 32-page hardcover booklet. As for supplement material, there’s not much there in the clever packaging.

Director Joel Schumacher and Michael Douglas sit down for an audio commentary track, talking about the journey to get Falling Down onto the big screen. It’s an interesting commentary that is actually worth listening to all the way through.

Deconstructing D-Fens as a ten minute interview with Michael Douglas who talks about what made him interested in doing the movie, as well as how he molded himself to become D-Fens.

The 32-page booklet the that holds the disc offers some still from the film with the characters, as well as a summary of the film and production.

Other than the theatrical trailer, that’s all there is inside this bag of goodies, so if you enjoyed this film you will be very disappointed.

BOTTOM LINE

Falling Down is not your typical adventure or action film; instead it attempts to make you think about society and how it may affect an individual who has reached their boiling point. While the film itself is worthy of viewing, the Blu-ray leaves a lot to be desired with decent image quality, but a limited sound mix and no stand out bonus features. Unless you are a hardcore fan of the film, rent it first.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 2.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Lionsgate Home Entertainment– 201 minutes – 2009 – Rated R – 1080p 1.85:1 – DTS HD 7.1 Lossless Audio – Digital Copy – 3D

 

The original My Bloody Valentine that came out in 1981 was not exactly on anyone’s best horror films list, so it was odd when someone decided to go and do a remake. Friday the 13th, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, sure everyone knows about those slasher flicks, but can anyone even remember what My Bloody Valentine was about? Well stuff like that never stops the Hollywood engine, so fast forward twenty eight years later and a ‘reboot’ hit theaters, but this time with a new gimmick…it’s in 3D. My Bloody Valentine jumps out of your Blu-ray from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, ready to suck you into the third dimension.

MOVIE

The plot for My Bloody Valentine is your basic cut and paste job centering around a guy named Tom (Jensen Ackles), who returns home to the small mining town of Harmony where an infamous murder that occurred on Valentine’s Day over a decade earlier has still left a dark cloud. Tom discovers that his former sweetheart, Sarah (Jaime King) is now shacked up with his old friend Axel (Kerr Smith), whom also happens to be the town’s Sheriff. To make a long story short, the murderous miner with a bloody pickaxe is also back in town and chopping down victims one-by-one. For obvious reasons everyone blames Tom, but clues begin to unfold leading to other suspects. But before anyone knows the real truth, there will be plenty of blood spilled and screams galore.

Directed by Patrick Lussier, who has directed such direct-to-video flicks as White Noise 2 and Dracula 2: Ascension, My Bloody Valentine is not trying to be anything other than what you expect. It follows the slasher film checklist without attempting to break any new ground in any way whatsoever. Stupid victims who you want to see hacked up…Check. A badass mask-wearing killer with a sharp weapon…Check. Sex and female nudity…Check. Hints for sequel…Check. So what’s the attraction of this movie? It’s the freakin’ 3-D, because without that attraction, this movie is as unwatchable as the original film it’s based on. Dude, there’s a chick walking around butt naked from head to toe for several minutes…in 3-D. If that doesn’t sell the movie, what will? And at some point you know the killer will hurl his weapon directly at the camera to give you the illusion it’s coming at you. All 3-D movies prior have done this trick, so why would expect less here?

My Bloody Valentine is a film where you put your brain to sleep and then press play. Watching this film with a few of your peeps in your dark living room is the most effective way to be fully entertained (just as long as you have enough 3-D glasses). A film like this knows exactly what kind of audience it wants, and understands how to keep them entertained. Even someone who prides themselves on only watching foreign art house films will be able to have fun with this film, because if a pickaxe flying right towards you doesn’t get your blood flowing, then nothing will.

VIDEO

Here’s a treat for you; instead of one version of the movie, you’re getting two. There’s standard 2D version and a 3D version, and let’s face it, that’s the only one you’re actually going to watch all the way through. Both versions are presented in full 1080p with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, but 2D version for obvious reasons looks better, displaying super sharp colors and a solid image quality. Grain is speckled in darker scenes, such as the mining cave, but overall the transfer looks good

The 3D version is not exactly what you would call high-definition quality because the resulting image is foggy and the colors have been all but muted to deliver the 3D effect. But you won’t care because this is all to deliver goodies like three-dimensional nudity and blood splattering off your screen. As for the 3D effect itself, it completely delivers the thrills thanks to the included cardboard red and blue glasses (four in the pack). It’s not on the level of Michael Jackson’s Captain Eo, but for your living room it’s extremely effective.

AUDIO

Offering a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix, My Bloody Valentine sounds great, allowing you to hear such nice effects as the miner’s pickaxe scrapping the stone walls as he chases his victims, and screams that will echo all around your room. Dialogue, though really bad, is crisp and the music works well with immersing you in slasher mode.

EXTRAS

There are not a lot of goodies on this Blu-ray, but you do get both a 2D and 3D version of the film, as well as four pairs of those cheap cardboard 3D glasses.

The film’s director, Patrick Lussier is joined by the screenwriter Todd Farmer to offer an audio commentary track. These two guys seem to get along, and the commentary sounds like they had a lot of fun making the film.

Deep Inside My Bloody Valentine is barely eight minutes long and if you blink you’ll miss it. This is just a promo clip for the film with random interviews that say nothing about the production.

A selection of alternate/deleted scenes really go nowhere and the alternated ending adds nothing new to the film.

Finally there’s the theatrical trailer in full HD. Yawn.

There’s a Digital Copy of the film, but obviously it’s only the 2D version, but it would have been interesting if the 3D version were also available as well. Just imagine being on a plane or train watching the film on your iPhone wearing those 3D glasses? That would have been a nice touch.

BOTTOM LINE

My Bloody Valentine is a fun slasher film, but the only way to enjoy it is via the 3D version. This Blu-ray offers both 2D and 3D versions of the film with four pairs of glasses included so this adds plenty of re-watching value when friends come over. If you’re a fan of the slasher genre, this Blu-ray is a must buy, and even those of you who never watch this type of flick should give it a look because 3D is always fun.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

New Line Home Entertainment– 280 minutes – 1997/1999/2002 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p 2.35:1/2.40:1 – DTS HD 5.1 Lossless Audio

 

If they gave awards to the one series of films that has spawned the most catch phrases, it has to go to the Austin Powers movies. “Yeah, Baby, Yeah!” “One million dollars!” “Get in my belly!” “Things got weird, momma” “Sex…Yes, please” “Spitz or Swallows, which is it?” “When Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset…People die!” And if you watch these movies continuously you’ll find more and more quotable content. Comedian Mike Myers struck gold when he first brought the suave-boyish super-spy Austin Powers to the screen back in 1997. The follow-up sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me, was even more successful in 1999 making more than double of what the original made at the box office. The third flick, Goldmember, released in 2002, showed that the franchise was losing its charm, but still managed to nab a fortune in ticket sales. New Line Home Entertainment has release the Austin Powers trilogy in a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray box set, so slip on your smooth velvet and your psychedelic attitude because shagging time is here.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Mike Myers plays the super cool mojo-filled British spy Austin Powers who is the man to be in the 60’s, when everything was fun, colorful, and shagging is a way of life. He plays a constant cat-and-mouse chase game with his archenemy, the mastermind criminal, Dr. Evil (also played by Myers), who is out to hold the world hostage. When Dr. Evil is cryogenically frozen with the goal of being revived in the future, Powers has the same experiment done on him in hopes of foiling his plan. When Dr. Evil re-emerges 30 years later in 1997, Powers is thawed out and sent on a mission to stop him. Powers who was once the epitome of super cool, now looks like a clown in the future society, and is desperately trying to fit in with the help of another agent, Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley).

The highlight of the movie is Dr. Evil and his evil entourage, which includes his right hand man, Number Two (Robert Wagner), the son he never knew because he was created via frozen semen, Scott Evil (Seth Green), a ruthless assassin, Mustafa (Will Ferrell), and the diabolical Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling), who basically steals every scene she’s in. Myers as Powers is fun, but face it, when he slaps on that bald cap and put the pinky in his mouth as Dr. Evil, this is where the real laughs roll in.

Director Jay Roach knows that there’s not much he can do other then yell action and let the cast do their thing, because it’s so obvious that most of the dialogue was made up on the spot, because there are so many actors in the cast who got their start in the improvisational comedy world. Yes, this film is silly, but it’s so much fun, especially if you’re familiar with the spy movies that are being spoofed, particularly the Bond films. Also, every time you watch this film you’ll find something new to laugh at, even if it something as small as one of Dr. Evil’s odd expressions. And as an tiny bit of trivia, this film, as well as the other two Austin Powers flicks were co-produced by Demi Moore (No wonder she still has so much money).

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Austin Powers instantly landed into pop culture, so it was no surprise that there would be a sequel, and two years later we got the super-spy’s next adventure The Spy Who Shagged Me. This time Dr. Evil creates a time machine to go back in time, where he steals Powers’ mojo, which is what gives him his coolness.

Many of the original cast members such as Mindy Sterling, Robert Wagner, and Seth Green have returned, but some new faces are also included. Heather Graham plays the new ‘Powers girl,’ a CIA named Felicity Shagwell who is also out to stop Dr. Evil. Former brat packer Rob Lowe plays Number Two (Wagner’s character) as a young man when they go back in time. Mike Myers puts on a fat suit to play a third character in the film, a giant obese hulk named Fat Bastard. But the most memorable character is a miniature-cloned version of Dr. Evi named Mini Me played by Verne Troyer, who even though he has no lines steals plenty of scenes.

Again directed by Jay Roach, The Spy Who Shagged me is just one skit after the other that makes no sense, but some of the scenes are so funny that you really won’t care if the film has a non-existing script. This is one of those movies where you just watch to see how far they will go to push as close to the edge of PG-13 humor line. If you enjoyed the first film, even though the second is not as clever, you will laugh your ass off at times, and as long as a film can deliver that, it’s successful.

Austin Powers: Goldmember (2002)

You’ve got to have a trilogy, so when the box office tally for the second Austin Powers film was triple that of the first movie, Mike Myers and the gang quickly ran back to the studio for the super spy’s next adventure, Austin Powers: Goldmember. Unfortunately, the third time is not the charm, because Goldmember is the weakest film in the series, which seems like everybody was trying to get in on the action, which is obvious in the opening scene that features such Hollywood heavyweights as Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey and even Steven Spielberg.

It’s really not clear what the plot of the film is, you just have to accept and go along for the ride and hope you get a laugh or two. The gang from the first two films has returned to their roles, with the newest additions being Michael Caine as Austin’s father, Nigel Powers, and Beyonce Knowles who is terribly cast as the latest Powers girl, agent Foxxy Cleopatra. Myers puts on more make-up again to play the title character Johan Van Der Smut, also known as the villainous Goldmember.

Goldmember is the weakest film in the trilogy, because there were no attempts made to keep thing fresh, and they instead kept pumping out the same jokes you’ve seen in the last two films. Jay Roach takes the director’s chair again for the third time, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is actually running the show. There are talks of a fourth Austin Powers film in the works, and if that occurs (and it will because of the current “reboot” trend in Hollywood), let’s hope that Myers and his associates don’t screw it up again, because there’s a huge fan base of ticket buyers who want their mojo back.

International Man of Mystery specs:

VIDEO

With a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, the first Austin Powers film looks great with bright colors and accurate skin tones. The image is so clear that every time Dr. Evil turns his head at certain angels you can see the badly molded bald cap he’s wearing poking up at the seams. Overall the image quality looks good, but there are hints of grain in places, but not enough to make you not appreciate the transfer.

 AUDIO

Offering a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mix, International Man of Mystery makes good use of all the speakers, so when you hear Quincy Jones’ theme in the opening dance title sequence, you should have no complaints. Dialogue is clean and clear, and sound effects are evenly divided to benefit your surround system.

The Spy Who Shagged Me specs:

VIDEO

Just like the first movie The Spy Who Shagged me looks great, if not slightly better with the highlight being the display of it’s super bright colors. Skin tones are excellent and the detail is so sharp that you can see how bad sand cheap some of the sets look. There’s not as much grain in this movie as there was in the first, mainly because there are barely any dark scenes. This one is a winner.

AUDIO

Presented with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mix, the audio design is again done well, with crystal clear dialogue and good use of speaker separation. The second film has a lot more action; so, things will get louder, with more gunshots and explosions. There’s really nothing to complain about here.

Goldmember specs:

VIDEO

Goldmember is presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, and the image quality is decent, but not as clean as the previous two films, which is odd, because it’s usually the last film made that looks the best. There’s a good amount of grain here, because of all the films this one has the darkest style. The quality obviously looks better than what you will see on the standard DVD, but it just doesn’t stand toe-to-toe with the International Man of Mystery and The Spy Who Shagged me.

AUDIO

Like the other two films Goldmember also offers a Dolby TrueHD sound mix that sounds great, delivering the same crisps dialogue and audio effects. This film seems to have more music than the others in the trilogy, so this is highlighted and expands the use of both rear and front speakers.

EXTRAS

All the bonus features that were included with the standard DVDs have all been ported over for this Blu-ray collection. Unfortunately, nothing new has been added such as a ten-year retrospective, which would have been welcomed. All the extras are in standard definition and look plain in comparison, but if you want to trade-up you won’t have to worry about something being missing.

Bonus Features for International Man of Mystery:

Director Jay Roach and star Mike Myers sit down for an audio commentary, but it doesn’t offer much about the production and just sounds like two guys sitting at a bar talking about the Austin Powers movie they just saw.

There are twelve minutes of deleted/extended scenes, and though you may find a chuckle here or there, most of them play out exactly as unwanted scenes.

Bonus Features for The Spy Who Shagged Me:

Roach and Myers provide a commentary track for the second movie, this time included the film’s co-writer Michael McCullers. This commentary is much better than the one from International Man of Mystery and the guys seem to be having a lot of fun re-telling on the set stories.

There are twenty minutes of deleted/extended scenes that are bouncing around all over the place. Good luck finding a laugh in these maze.

A behind the scenes featurette provides a behind the scenes look at the making of The Spy Who Shagged Me that includes interviews with the cast and crew.

The Dr. Evil Story is a very funny fake documentary on the most feared man in the Austin Powers universe.

A series of four music videos round out the package that includes songs by Madonna , Lenny Kravitz, Scary Spice from the Spice Girls, and a Dr. Evil and Mini-Me duet.

Bonus Features for Goldmember:

Myers and Roach deliver another one of their audio commentary tracks, tossing out more stories of how ideas were conceived and on the set antics.

A new batch of deleted/extended scenes offer more of the same things you saw before, so hopefully you will get a chuckle.

The world of Austin Powers, which runs about forty-five minutes is a must see for fans of the British super spy, looking at all aspects of the three films and delivering quite a bit of information about the productions.

A silly Focus Point and Fact Track, allows you to watch Goldmember and either watch pop-up video styled text info or access behind the scenes clips.

Several music videos are also included by artist such as Britney Spears and Beyonce, as well as a new duet by Dr. Evil and Mini-Me.

BOTTOM LINE

If you’re a fan of the Austin Powers film, purchasing this trilogy Blu-ray collection is a no-brainer, because it’s the most complete set on the market. The image quality varies, depending on the movie, but they are all a step above your old DVDs. You’ll be quoting catch-phrases for days after you’ve watched all of the films, because they are a lot of fun at a time like this we all can use a good laugh. “Yeah baby…Yeah!”

SCORES: (Out of 5):

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery:

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 2.5

Extras: 3.5

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me:

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 4.0

Austin Powers: Goldmember:

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

AUSTIN POWERS COLLECTION:

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment– 84 minutes – 2009 – Rated R – 1080p – 1.85:1 – Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio – Digital Copy

 

A movie featuring two Saturday Night Live alumni and one well known comedic actress has got to offer a barrel of laughs…right? Well this was the intention when Spring Breakdown was being filmed, but none of that made it to the final print. Instead all that’s left is a lame chick flick with neither originality nor wit. Spring Breakdown comes to Blu-ray from Warner Home Video, but unless you’re just desperate, there’s nothing much to see here

THE MOVIE

Spring Breakdown stars former Saturday Night Live cast members   Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and movie funny girl Parker Posey as lifelong friends from school who never fit in with the cool kids, and now as adults still don’t. Gayle (Poehler) is tough on the surface, but insecure everywhere else. Judi (Dratch) is set to marry a man who is obviously gay, and it seems everyone can see this fact, but her. Becky (Posey) is the mousey assistant to a diva politician, played by Jane Lynch, who is the only character that offers any laughs in the entire movie. This simplistic plot puts the three friends in a situation where Becky has to go undercover as a teenager on a Spring Break trip to keep an eye on her boss’ daughter to make sure the girl doesn’t do anything to embarrass her mother’s campaign. As you would guess Gayle and Judi come down on the spring trip with her also pretending to be college girls, even though they are all pushing forty. From this point on every joke that we’ve seen a zillion times before is done yet again, making the film as stale as three day old bread.

Poehler, Dratch any Posey are funny and talented actresses, but none of that was utilized in this film, which feels like you’re watching a Lifetime made for TV comedy. If you’re on an airplane with time to kill and you can’t sleep, maybe you will find a chuckle or two, otherwise there are plenty of other options to waste 84 minutes.

VIDEO

Presented in 1.85:1 Spring Breakdown is barely above the quality of a standard DVD. Colors are bright, but lacks the sharpness of what you expect from Blu-ray. There are also certain moments when the image quality is fuzzy at first and then clears itself up. That ain’t right.

AUDIO

With a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix, this is a bargain basement Blu-ray sound mix. Yeah, dialogue is clear, but background sounds such as the party scenes are piled up over one another, and only your front speakers are used. Don’t even bother cranking it up for this one.

EXTRAS

This one got the straight-to-video treatment, so don’t expect the deluxe treatment because there’s nothing worthy to click on the menu.

A second disc features a Digital Copy of the film…Uh, why?

BOTTOM LINE

In this economy you should spend your money wisely, so a Blu-ray such as Spring Breakdown in no way screams, “buy me”. This mediocre film with so-so image and sound quality, and anemic extras is no more than a rental, hopefully a free rental.

SCORES: (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.0

Video: 2.5

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 1.5

Bottom Line: 2.0