BuzzSugar

What to Rent: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:30:00 PST

If you feel like bumming around this week, I have the perfect couch potato companion: new DVD releases! Here are my three picks, but Sorority Row and Everybody's Fine also hit shelves today if you want to add them to your queue.

The Informant!

Part crime caper, part silly comedy, The Informant! stars Matt Damon as the bumbling vice president of a major agricultural corporation who goes undercover with the FBI to expose the company's shady price-fixing. Damon's mustache and his inner ramblings are good for laughs - and he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance - but I was left scratching my head over the jumbled plot towards the middle of the movie. Maybe it'd be easier to follow a second time around?

Extras include deleted scenes.

77%

The September Issue

Giving us an insider look into the secret world of Vogue, The September Issue is full of flashbulbs, celebrities, gorgeous gowns, and (somewhat surprisingly), heart. Yes, we get to see the infamous Anna Wintour without her trademark glasses, but I admittedly fell even more in love with her coworker, friend, and nemesis Grace Coddington. The film is style and substance – and a great watch for the weekend.

Extras include 90 minutes of extra footage, including Wintour putting together the high profile Met Ball.

84%

One more release when you

read more. The Box Richard Kelly's thriller The Box stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as a suburban couple in the '70s who are offered a million dollars if they press a button - causing the death of a stranger. The movie's premise and Kelly's direction have a lot of promise, but the mass of loose ends, bad dialogue, and cheesy scares didn't satisfy me. However, Kelly's debut Donnie Darko found its audience on DVD, so The Box could as well. Extras include a featurette with Richard Matheson who wrote the short story "Button, Button" on which the movie is based. 44%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:30:00 PST

Welcome back from your holiday hibernation! If you still feel like being a couch potato, settle in and prolong that vacation with these new movie releases. Or if you're in the mood for a marathon, catch up on your TV (and prep for the upcoming episodes) with Big Love: Season 3 or Chuck: Season 2, which also hit shelves today.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

After a strong showing at the box office and solid reviews, I'm curious to check out Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - even if it's not the most grown-up of movies. The film follows Flint (Bill Hader), an inventor whose creations get him into trouble. His latest is a contraption that changes water into food, and Flint accidentally launches it into the sky, causing hamburgers and the like to rain down. Seems like a cute, kooky pick if I want something light. Plus, Anna Faris voices one of the characters.

Special features include a Director's Commentary with Hader, but if you get the Blu-Ray/DVD combo, you can use the "Splat" button to simulate throwing food at the screen, which sounds fun if you're a kid (or not a kid).

85%

The Final Destination

It's the fourth installment in the horror franchise, so you know the premise by now: a teen sees a deadly vision and tries to protect those around him, but death still comes calling in a series of over-the-top gruesome setups. It may be campy, but The Final Destination did well in theaters, probably thanks to its new 3-D effects. The DVD version includes special 3-D glasses, so you can watch it in all its gory glory home. I doubt it'll capture the magnitude you get on the big screen, but it's kind of an entertaining novelty, none the less.

Special features include deleted scenes.

28%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:30:00 PST

Looking for some fresh picks to add to your Netflix queue? I've got you covered. Just take a peek at these three new releases coming out on DVD today.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra

Many of you said that you weren't psyched to see the slick action update on the classic toy in theaters, but perhaps you'll feel differently now that it is available to watch at home. G.I. Joe has that loud, flashy, blockbuster appeal which can make for a perfect weekend rental - even if it's pretty much mindless entertainment. (Plus, I know how much you love Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum!) Bonus: If you're a CGI geek, the special two-disc version includes a behind-the-scenes look at the special effects.

37%

Two more new releases when you

read more. I Love You Beth Cooper Hayden Panettiere stars as the title character - the hottest girl in school and long-time crush of the film's nerdy hero, Denis. When Denis wins class valedictorian, he uses his graduation speech to profess his love to Beth. Lucky for him, the act of courage works in his favor, and Beth shows up at his house. You can pretty much guess what happens from there - her boyfriend is not pleased, threatens to beat Denis up, etc. - but the DVD features an alternate ending to spice things up. Critics panned its release, but if you're a devotee of the teen sex comedy genre, then this is one to put on your viewing checklist. 14%
Food Inc. Ever wondered where the meal on your plate really comes from? Food Inc. is a documentary that breaks down America's food industry step by step - from the farms where it's produced, to the big brother-like companies that monopolize it, to the supermarket. It's an interesting - albeit frightening - insider's peek that is packed with expert info. (Even my health guru, FitSugar, gave it her stamp of approval.) Consider this your brain food for the week - but if I were you, I'd refrain from eating while you're watching it. 97%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:30:00 PDT

It's Tuesday, which means new DVDs hit shelves to fatten up your entertainment library! Trying to decide which to add to your Netflix queue? Check out these three releases.

Orphan

All right, so it's not the best horror film ever - for that, take a peek at my scary movie bracket - but who doesn't love a good spook just in time for Halloween? In Orphan, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as parents who adopt a destructive little girl with a huge secret. The movie borders on ridiculous, but if you like to laugh during your fright flicks, it's got a bit of dark humor and over-the-top slasher scenes. Bonus features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending - which should be good for keeping things fresh, seeing as how the big twist has already been spoiled by pretty much anyone who's seen it.

55%

See two more new releases when you

read more. Nothing Like the Holidays If you're feeling anti-Orphan, then perhaps a Christmas-themed ensemble film is more your speed. Nothing Like the Holidays follows a large, boisterous Puerto Rican-American family as they gather at their parents' home, and the obligatory love-hate relationships ensue. The storyline is a little stale, so I wasn't a fan when the movie first came out - but it may be a solid rental to get into the pre-holiday spirit and for the actors. (Alfred Molina and Freddy Rodriguez are particularly good as father and son.) There's also a bonus blooper real. 49%
Whatever Works Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David stars in Woody Allen's story of a crabby New Yorker who takes in a young Southern runaway named Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood). Putting aside the somewhat unsettling older man and much younger woman relationship, the real joy to be had is from the bit character parts. Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. turn in hilarious performances as Melodie's parents, and dreamy Henry Cavill of The Tudors plays a love interest. If you can get beyond David doing his tiring, whiny Allen schtick, they make the film worth checking out. 48%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:19 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. Check out this week's picks!

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
I admittedly wasn't a fan of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past when it came out in theaters, but it may be worth considering if you're in the mood for a romantic comedy that doesn't make you think too much. The premise: When playboy Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) attends his brother's wedding, he runs into his first love Jenny (Jennifer Garner), setting off a Christmas Carol-like chain of events, complete with ghosts. Yes, the plot's contrived and Connor is incredibly smarmy, but I enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, especially Emma Stone as an 80's ghost with a bad perm and Michael Douglas as Connor's Lothario uncle.

27%

Two more up next, so

read more. Observe and Report Observe and Report follows a self-important, semi-delusional mall security cop (Seth Rogen) who flips out when he realizes he may not become a police officer - or win over the makeup counter girl of his dreams (Anna Faris). When I first reviewed it, I was surprised by how dark the film turned out to be for a Rogen and Faris comedy. Still, it does have a few laugh-worthy moments, and Rogen fans will probably want to add this to their must-see list. 51%
Lymelife Set in the 1970s, Lymelife is an ensemble drama that follows two families in a Long Island neighborhood dealing with a Lyme disease scare. It boasts a decent ensemble cast, including Cynthia Nixon, Alec Baldwin, and Timothy Hutton, but Rory Culkin (yes, Macaulay's brother) is the heart of the film as a 15-year-old struggling in the midst of messed-up chaos. (Emma Roberts also turns in a memorable performance as his crush.) The reviews were mixed when the film released in theaters, but if twisted suburbia is your thing (i.e., American Beauty or The Ice Storm), then Lymelife is worth checking out. Bonus material includes an alternate ending. 54%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:15:49 PDT

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Critics panned X-Men Origins: Wolverine when it first came out in theaters - and it got a rough start when an early version leaked online - but that didn't stop it from hitting it big at the box office.

The film, which serves as a prequel for X-Men favorite Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), gives us a peek at the mutant's childhood, his first love, and his brother Victor (Liev Schreiber). Overall, it's entertaining and fun, even though the storyline is hard to follow. Add to that a cast that includes Taylor Kitsch and Ryan Reynolds, and you have a movie that's easy on the eyes for what it lacks in substance - the perfect requisites for at-home viewing.

Special features include a segment called "The Roots of Wolverine" with Len Wein (co-creator of Wolverine) and Stan Lee (co-creator of the X-Men).

36%

Two more up next so

read more. Easy Virtue Jessica Biel takes on Noel Coward in this big-screen adaptation of his 1920s-set play. Biel plays Larita, a feisty American race-car driver who is thrust into the world of upper-crust, uber-traditional English society when she marries a British man (Ben Barnes). Ultimately I felt like Biel just couldn't hold her own against acting veterans like Kristin Scott Thomas and Colin Firth who portray her in-laws, and the film fizzled at the box office. But still, Easy Virtue is full of enough witty lines and gorgeous scenery to make it a pleasant weekend rental. 50%
Grey's Anatomy: Season Five Get caught up on the most recent season of Grey's before the big premiere on September 24. It delivers another dose of dramadey at its finest as Meredith and Derek work on their relationship and Christina finds love with a new doctor at Seattle Grace. The show loses some of its focus mid-season, particularly when Izzie's hallucinations start taking a turn for the awkward, but it finds its way back again for the heartbreaking season finale. Season five also showcased some superb acting, scoring Emmy nods for Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh. DVD extras include unaired scenes, outtakes, and an interview with Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:30:55 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

Flight of the Conchords: Season Two
If ever there was a DVD set to bring home and enjoy over and over again it's one for Flight of the Conchords! This show is a neverending source of joy because Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are so very funny. Plus the songs are actually quite catchy.

In the second season of their HBO show, the two guys continue to struggle to make it in the music industry and meet the ladies of Manhattan. Some of the DVD extras include outtakes, deleted scenes, and Dave's Pawn Shop commercials.

Two more up next so

read more. The Soloist The Soloist is an ambitious little film from Atonement director Joe Wright all about the relationship between a journalist and a homeless, mentally ill man who also happens to be a gifted Julliard-trained musician. The visually slick movie stars heavyweight actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx in the lead roles. Wright tries to pack a ton of stuff into one movie, so watching this one is a substantial - but worthwhile - undertaking. Special features include audio commentary by Wright, deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, a featurette about homelessness in Los Angeles, and a peek at the real-life men who inspired this remarkable story. 54%

Obsessed Interestingly, Obsessed and The Soloist opened over the same weekend. Obsessed was No. 1 at the box office while The Soloist was No. 4. Though I find the whole catfight thing to be a little tired, I have to admit that the trailers for Obsessed made me chuckle. In one preview, Ali Larter's character is brutally attacking Beyonce's character and Beyonce's husband calls to ask if she's OK. Beyonce responds with something like, "I got this" and hangs up. Ha! It might be worth renting for the camp factor alone. Here's the plot: "Derek Charles (Idris Elba) seems to have it all - including the perfect job and the perfect wife (Beyonce Knowles). But his charmed life takes on an ugly tarnish when sexy office worker Lisa Sheridan (Ali Larter) sets out to seduce and destroy him. Now, it's much more than a dangerous liaison; it's a full-blown occupational hazard. Christine Lahti and Jerry O'Connell co-star in this Fatal Attraction-style thriller from director Steve Shill." The DVD extras seem just as entertaining as the movie and include three behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Girl Fight!" (about the stunt coordination and the actresses' thoughts on "the fun of getting to fight each other!"), "Playing Together Nicely" (about the writing of the script and the casting process), and "Dressed to Kill" (featuring costume designer Maya Lieberman). 18%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:30:52 PDT

Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5
One of SciFi's (or, sorry, SyFy's) signature and most critically acclaimed series, Battlestar Galactica, ended this year. Now you can own the DVD and complete your collection, or if you're catching up with the series, you can add to your queue and witness the wrap-up for yourself.

Since I haven't seen it yet, here's how Netflix describes the final season: "Dire new challenges to the tenuous human-Cylon truce that has enabled them all to reach Earth, where they encounter a world vastly different than they expected. As revolt spreads throughout the fleet, the final Cylon model is revealed, and the ultimate fate of both races hangs in the balance. Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell star."

There are DVD extras aplenty, including deleted scenes, several unaired extended episodes, commentary with producers and show directors, David Eick's video blogs, and a featurette titled "A Look Back."

Two more up next, so

read more. Fast and Furious A lot of people went to see this movie when it hit theaters. It was like the Paul Blart: Mall Cop of action movies this year. Anyway, here's how Netflix describes the "plot": "Fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) must team with his old nemesis Agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and take on a common enemy in the latest full-throttle installment of the speed-racing franchise. Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster reprise their roles as Letty and Mia, respectively, in the action adventure, which features pulse-pounding convoy heists and precision tunnel crawls." Check out these featurettes: "Los Bandoleros: Vin Diesel's original short film provides an exciting back-story of characters and the need for fuel that sets up the explosive land train heist in Fast and Furious," (ha!) "Under the Hood-Muscle Cars: A look at some of the muscle cars in the film including the return of Vin Diesel's iconic Charger," and "Driving School With Vin Diesel: Vin Diesel hits the track to brush up on his stunt driving." 28%
Dollhouse: Season One People often, you know, do stuff on Friday nights and may not have seen this latest and greatest TV creation from Buffy mastermind Joss Whedon just yet. Despite its flaws, I really got into this show! The first season really improves about four or five episodes in, so this is one of those instances when you have to hang in there and trust that it gets pretty interesting, especially if you are into science fiction. Eliza Dushku plays Echo, part of a group of people whose personalities are wiped clean from their brains so that they can be imprinted as lots of different people. Sometimes these people are cool (super smart detective types) and sometimes they are, well, creepy, and used for nefarious purposes, like sex. In this first season we learn about the mysterious history of who Echo really is, as well as the dark secrets hidden inside the Dollhouse. Special features include the original unaired pilot titled "Echo," deleted scenes, and the making of Dollhouse.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:30:25 PDT

Watchmen
Do you guys remember when it was all Watchmen hype, all the time? It seems like that went on forever and then finally the movie, based on the critically acclaimed comic book series by Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, hit theaters. And it was fun, especially for those of us who had read the book. Director Zack Snyder made a faithful adaptation, which has its benefits and drawbacks. Visually it is a feast for the eyes, especially the opening sequence, and I think it's definitely worth taking home if you didn't catch it on the big screen. The cast is pretty cool, too, and includes Jackie Earle Haley, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, and Patrick Wilson.

There are lots of DVD extras, like a director's cut of the film (186 minutes) on some versions, a featurette titled "The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics," and webisodes.

64%

Two more DVDS to check out if you

read more. Coraline In my opinion, this stop-motion animated adaptation of Neil Gaiman's book is one of the better movies to hit theaters so far this year. It's clear that the filmmakers embarked on a painstakingly careful process to bring this strange and sometimes scary story to the big screen. Dakota Fanning voices Coraline, a little girl who discovers an alternate version of her life - a way better and more interesting version. But when her "Other Mother" (voiced by Teri Hatcher) tries to keep her forever, Coraline must dig deep and tap into her bravery to get back home. It's immensely entertaining and I highly recommend adding this to your queue! Special features include a featurette in which director and screenwriter Henry Selick and Coraline author Neil Gaiman take fans deeper into the intricacies of Coraline's worlds, deleted scenes, and a special making-of featurette. 88%
Pushing Daisies: Season Two I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm so bummed that ABC let this whimsical gem of a show go. Thankfully the DVD is out now so you can keep it with you forevermore. Pushing Daisies will live on in our DVD collections and our hearts! Special features in this second season DVD set include "The Master Pie Maker" (a peek inside the mind of creator Bryan Fuller), "From Oven to Table" (bringing a script idea to life), "Secret Sweet Ingredients" (spotlight on composer Jim Dooley), and "Add a Little Magic" (a look at the show's visual effects).

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:30:13 PDT

Grey Gardens
Like so many others, I am endlessly fascinated by the Beale women whose lives were captured in a 1975 documentary film by Albert and David Maysles. Between their odd lifestyle on a once lavish estate and their familial connection to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the stories of both Edith Beales beg for a biopic. Now the HBO movie starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange is out on DVD and both turn in outstanding performances as daughter and socialite mother. If you didn't catch this when it aired on television, now's your chance to settle in and enter the bizarre and transfixing world of the Beales.

Special features include audio commentary with executive producers Michael Sucsy, Lucy Barzun Donnelly and Rachael Horovitz, a featurette titled "Grey Gardens: Then and Now," interviews with Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange and the Emmy-winning director of the documentary, Albert Maysles.

100%

Two more up next, just

read more. The Edge of Love I feel like I was just writing about this movie and then - bam! It's out on DVD. I guess it didn't get a real release here in the States. Well, I still want to see it. The film follows the true story of a love triangle between the poet Dylan Thomas (played by Brothers and Sisters' Matthew Rhys), his wife Caitlin (Sienna Miller) and a woman named Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley). Vera eventually married William Killick (Cillian Murphy) but still couldn't tear herself away from her poet - despite becoming close friends with Caitlin. In the strange real-life story, the jealous William ultimately attacked Dylan and Caitlin's house. Special features include commentary with director John Maybury and Matthew Rhys, a "Looking Over The Edge of Love" featurette, outtakes, and the theatrical trailer. 33%
Mad Men: Season Two I'm so excited for Mad Men to return to my TV on Aug. 16! I might even shake up a commemorative martini to drink during the premiere. If you missed the second season, well, now there is no excuse for not experiencing the awesomeness of this show. Then again, I have to say watching these episodes back-to-back without a week-long breather is probably intense. In this season so much happens, it makes the head spin. Special features include feature-length audio commentaries on all episodes, a "Birth of an Independent Woman" featurette examining the rise of female independence in the 1960s, and a featurette titled "An Era of Style" that takes a close look into the fashion of the 1960s and its influence on designers today.