It’s a gangbuster week on the home video front as five new titles arrive on DVD and Blu-Ray. There’s action, comedy, music and dance, romance and a bit of horror-suspense that is sure to please every Movie Fanatic.
Immortals: The spectacle that Tarsem Singh created should be seen on the big screen, but with the proliferation of hi-def TVs, not much is lost with Immortals arriving on Blu-Ray and DVD. The film is a visual marvel and its action sequences are so well choreographed, we might want to call it action as ballet. The Greek gods story resonated with theatrical audiences, making it a surprise hit late in 2011 and those that missed the spectacle should enjoy it immensely on home video.
Footloose: Why remake a classic? Well, thank goodness director Craig Brewer did as his Footloose is a fantastic piece of cinematic joy. The story is similar, but updated effectively for the 21st century. Kenny Wormald steps into Kevin Bacon’s dancing shoes in the story of a big city kid who moves to a small town where dancing and loud music are banned. We all know what happens, but in the remake it feels remarkably fresh as its soundtrack combines new tracks with the classics we know and love. Extras abound on the Blu-Ray combo pack including the delightful doc that takes us inside the decision to remake a 1980s classic, deleted scenes, the Fake ID music video by Big & Rich and commentary by Brewer.
Jack and Jill: Adam Sandler mostly missed with this story of twins (he plays both brother and sister). What is most shocking about Jack and Jill is the presence of Al Pacino, who plays himself utterly infatuated with Sandler’s Jill. We could not make this stuff up.
Like Crazy: Romantics will adore this charming film that stars Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and The Hunger Games’ Jennifer Lawrence. The story follows a couple of lovebirds (Yelchin and Jones); he’s American and she’s British. The duo fall in love and have to deal with the distance that separates them when her visa runs out. Not too much in terms of extras on the home video, but this film stands alone by itself as a must-own.
The Skin I Live In: Creepy, scary, thrilling and all brilliant is our way of describing The Skin I Live In. Antonio Banderas stars as a world-renowned plastic surgeon who is up to something slightly sinister behind the walls of his palatial mansion. The latest film collaboration between director Pedro Almodovar and Banderas produces another home run.
