RA: Renters Anonymous – January 27th, 2009
New Releases
Vicky Cristina Barcelona – 7/10 – Trailer
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall
Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.
Special Features:
- 1.85:1 Widescreen with Dolby Stereo
No other features
Blu-ray Features:
- 1.85:1 Widescreen 1080p Transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- No other features
Recommendation: Rent
RocknRolla – 7.4/10 – Trailer
Starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Chris Bridges, Jeremy Piven, Gemma Arterton
In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, attracting some of the city’s scrappiest tough guys and its more established underworld types, all of whom are looking to get rich quick. While the city’s seasoned criminals vie for the cash, an unexpected player — a drugged out rock ‘n’ roller presumed to be dead but very much alive — has a multi-million dollar prize fall into his hands.
Single Disc Special Features:
- 2.40:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
No other features
2-Disc Special Features:
- 2.40:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
- Commentary by Guy Ritchie and Mark Strong
- Additional Scene
- Featurette: “Guy’s Town”
- Digital Copy of the Film
Blu-ray Features:
- 2.40:1 Widescreen 1080p Transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1
- All of the features of the 2-Disc DVD, plus:
- Featurette: “Blokes, Birds and Backhanders: Explore the World of RocknRolla”
Recommendation: Rent
The Lucky Ones – Trailer
Starring Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins, Michael Pena
The story revolves around three soldiers — Colee (Rachel McAdams), T.K. (Michael Pena) and Cheever (Tim Robbins) — who return from the Iraq War after suffering injuries and learn that life has moved on without them. They end up on an unexpected road trip across the U.S., with Colee on a mission to bring her boyfriend’s guitar back to his family because he saved her life, T.K. seeking confidence to face his wife after a shrapnel injury that threatens his sexual function and middle-aged Cheever planning to hit the casinos in a desperate effort to pay for his son’s college tuition.
Special Features:
- 1.78:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0
- Featurette: “A Look Inside The Lucky Ones”
Recommendation: Pass
The Rocker – 6.2/10 – Trailer
Starring Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teddy Geiger, Josh Gad, Will Arnett, Emma Stone
The Rocker tells the story of a failed drummer who is given a second chance at fame. Robert “Fish” Fishman is the extremely dedicated and astoundingly passionate drummer for the eighties hair band Vesuvius, who is living the rock n’ roll dream until he is unceremoniously kicked out of the band. Twenty years after his rock star fantasies are destroyed, just when Fish has finally given up all hope, he hears that his nephew’s high school rock band A.D.D. is looking for a new drummer. They reluctantly make him the newest member of the band, giving him a chance to reclaim the rock God throne he’s always thought he deserved, and taking the young band along for the ride of their lives.
Special Features:
- Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
- Commentary by Peter Cattaneo, Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone and Jason Sudeikis
10 deleted scenes- Gag Reel
- Featurettes: “Rainn Wilson: Office Rocker”, “Pete Best Interview”, “Behind the Band: Vesuvius”, “Rock Beat with Fish Fishman”, “The Music of the Rocker”, “Rock Tales”
- MTV Film Festival Panel
- “I’m Not Bitter” Music Video
- 4 Exclusive Podcasts
- Fox Movie Channel Presents…In Character with The Rocker
- Vesuvius Public Service Announcements
- Digital Copy of the Film
Blu-ray Features:
- Widescreen 1080p Transfer with DTS HD Master Audio 5.1
- All of the special features of the DVD Release
Recommendation: Rent (if you’re bored and saw everything else)
Pride and Glory – 6.3/10 – Trailer
Starring Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich
Ray Tierney (Norton) is a New York City police officer who is part of a multi-generational police family. Tierney investigates a troublesome case that involves his older brother and brother-in-law, compelling the family to choose sides between their blood and the New York Police Department.
Single Disc Special Features:
- Both the 1.85:1 Widescreen and 1.33:1 Fullscreen versions with Dolby Digital 5.1
2-Disc Special Features:
- 1.85:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
- Documentary: “Source of Glory: The Making of Pride and Glory”
- Digital Copy of the Film
Blu-ray Features:
- 1.85:1 Widescreen 1080p Transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- All of the features of the 2-Disc DVD
Recommendation: Rent
Lakeview Terrace – 6/10 – Trailer
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Patrick Wilson
Chris Mattson (Patrick Wilson) and Lisa Mattson (Kerry Washington), a young interracial couple, have just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. A stern, widowed-single father of two, LAPD officer Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson) is the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. The persistent intrusions into the lives of Chris and Lisa ultimately take a turn for the worse when the couple decides to fight back.
Special Features:
- 2.40:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
- Commentary with Neil LaBute and Kerry Washington
- Deleted Scenes
- Behind the Scenes
Blu-ray Features:
- 2.40:1 Widescreen with Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- All of the features of the DVD release
Recommendation: Pass
College – 6/10 – Trailer
Starring Drake Bell, Andrew Caldwell, Ryan Pinkston, Kevin Covais, Nick Zano, Gary Owen, Haley Bennett, Nick Zano
After Kevin (Drake Bell), a high school senior, gets dumped by his girlfriend Gina (Alona Tal) for being too boring, he doesn’t want to go to the freshman orientation weekend at Fieldmont University, where they had planned to go together. But his best friends Carter (Andrew Caldwell) and Morris (Kevin Covais) convince him that the weekend away will help get his mind off her. Once there, one of the rowdiest fraternities on campus pretends to recruit them as pledges in return for granting them access to the college party scene. Though forced to put up with the disgusting antics of fraternity brothers Teague (Nick Zano), Bearcat (Gary Owen), Josh Tenk (Himself) and Cooper (Zach Cregger), the guys meet sorority girls Kendall (Haley Bennett), Heather (Camille Mana), and Amy (Nathalie Walker), and sparks fly. But once Teague feels threatened by Kevin’s new relationship with Kendall, he takes the pre-frosh humiliation to a greater level, forcing the guys to decide to fight back.
Special Features:
- Anamorphic Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
- Gag Reel
Recommendation: Pass
Open Season 2
Starring Mike Epps, Joel McHale, Cody Cameron, Jane Krakowski, Billy Connolly, Crispin Glover
Set one year after the events of the first movie, Boog and Elliot are back. After Elliot falls head over hooves with Giselle, Elliot’s road to the Altar takes a slight detour when Mr. Weenie is kidnapped by a group of pampered pets determined to return him to his owners. Boog, Elliot, McSquizzy, Buddy and the rest of the woodland creatures launch a full scale rescue mission for their sausage shaped friend and soon find themselves in enemy camp; the world of the pets. Led by a poodle named Fifi (Crispin Glover). The pets do not plan to let Mr. Weenie go without a fight.
Special Features:
- 1.78:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1
How to Draw: Boog, Elliot & Fifi- Deleted Scenes
- Music Video: Who Let the Dogs Out
- Going WILD! with a voice cast of Open Season 2
- DVD Games
Blu-ray Features:
- 1.78:1 Widescreen 1080p Transfer with Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- All of the features of the DVD release, plus:
- Save Mr. Weenie! (Game)
Recommendation: Pass
Re-Releases
Mary Poppins (45th Anniversary Edition) – 7.4/10
Starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley
The movie combines a diverting story, songs, color and sequences of live action blended with the movements of animated figures. Mary Poppins is a kind of Super-nanny who flies in with her umbrella in response to the request of the Banks children and proceeds to put things right with the aid of her rather extraordinary magical powers before flying off again.
Special Features:
- 1.66:1 Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0
- Backstage Disney: Disen on Broadway Featurettes
- Rare Behind-the-Scenes Footage
- Poppins Pop-up Fun Facts
- Bonus Short: “An Animated Adventure”
- Musical Reunion with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman
- Deleted Song
- More!
Recommendation: Rent
The Bourne Trilogy (Blu-ray)
- The Bourne Identity
- The Bourne Supremacy
- The Bourne Ultimatum
Blu-ray Features:
- Widescreen with 1080p Transfer with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Filled with U Control, BD Live and many other special features for each film
Recommendation: Buy
Groundhog Day (Blu-ray) – 7.2/10
Starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray
A weather man is reluctantly sent to cover a story about a weather forecasting “rat” (as he calls it). This is his fourth year on the story, and he makes no effort to hide his frustration. On awaking the ‘following’ day he discovers that it’s Groundhog Day again, and again, and again. First he uses this to his advantage, then comes the realisation that he is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day.
Blu-ray Features:
- 1.85:1 Widescreen with Dolby TrueHD 5.1
- Commentary with Harold Ramis
- A Different Day: An Interview with Harold Ramis
- The Study of Groundhogs: A Real Life Look at Marmots
- The Weight of Time Documentary
- Deleted Scenes
- Needle Nose Ned’s PiP Track
Recommendation: Rent
Any Given Sunday (Blu-ray) – 6.9/10
Starring Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Elizabeth Berkley, Charlton Heston
When a devastating hit knocks a professional football legend and quarterback Cap Rooney out of the game, a young, unknown third-stringer is called in to replace him. Having ridden the bench for years because of a string of bad luck stories and perhaps insufficient character, Willie Beaman seizes what may be his last chance, and lights up the field with a raw display of athletic prowess. His stunning performance over several games is so outstanding and fresh it seems to augur a new era in the history of this Miami franchise, and forces aging coach Tony D’Amato to reevaluate his time-tested values and strategies and begin to confront the fact that the game, as well as post-modern life may be passing him by. Adding to the pressure on D’Amato to win at any cost is the aggressive young President/Co-owner of the team, Christina Pagniacci, now coming into her own after her father’s death. Christina’s driving desire to prove herself in a male dominated world is intensified by her focus on the marketing and business of football, in which all coaches and players are merely properties.
Blu-ray Features:
- 2.35:1 Widescreen with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1
- Commentary with Oliver Stone and Jamie Foxx
- Documentary: “Full Contact: The Making of Any Given Sunday”
- Music Videos by LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx
- Football outtake and Landmark outtake montages
- Production stills and ad material galleries
- Jamie Foxx audition tapes
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Outtakes and landscapes montages
- “Instant Reply”: Direct access to exciting game play moments
- Music-only audio tracks
- Theatrical Trailer
- Digital Copy of the Film
Recommendation: Rent
The Unrated Blogger’s Cut
I’ll be picking up the amazing Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and I’ll also be picking up RocknRolla for my Guy Ritchie collection (love those british flicks). As for my rental list I’ll be looking to see if anywhere carries the Hulk Vs. DVD and give it a look. Other than that, I’ll be saving my money for some more DVD releases next week.
Coming Soon:
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Kite board
