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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

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 -0700

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, 20 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Tuesday means that new DVD releases hit up Netflix, so I've checked out the offerings to let you know which movies deserve a spot on your queue.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Though last year's Transformers was a fun surprise hit, I thought this Summer's sequel failed to deliver the same laughs or thrills. Reprising their roles are leading-man-in-training Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox as long-distance couple Sam and Mikaela when Sam goes off to college, only to be followed by his robot-taming legacy.

It's Decepticons vs. the Autobots again, and many things blow up - but I'd rent this only if you're a fan of thin plots, deafening explosions, and Megan Fox's body parts.

The special features include a behind-the-scenes feature chronicling the making of the film with cast interviews and a retrospective of the Transformers toys to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

19%

See two more new releases when you read more.

Chéri

Michelle Pfeiffer stars as a courtesan and older lover of Rupert Friend in the romantic drama Chéri. Set in the 1920s (before the term "cougar" was coined and it was just known as awesome), the movie mostly focuses on Friend's character after his relationship with Pfeiffer is over, who "educated him in the ways of love." Yowza. Stephen Frears directs (who also directed Pfeiffer in the classic Dangerous Liaisons), and Kathy Bates has a role as Friend's meddling mother. The DVD includes deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.

53%

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler

SNL's been a pretty bleak place this season, and I partially blame the exits of Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph. Fortunately, this DVD of Amy's best moments on the show comes out today, and I for one can't wait to cue it up to see her impersonating the likes of Dakota Fanning and Nancy Grace. There are also skits with my favorite Poehler characters, the one-legged, flatulent Amber, Bronx Beat's Betty Caruso, along with a highlight reel of her best Weekend Update moments. Also, it must be noted that this Best of DVD is one of the few devoted to a former female cast member; only Gilda Radner, Molly Shannon, and Cheri Oteri share the honor.

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0700

It's Tuesday, which means your Netflix queue is about to get a bit fresher and longer. I've gone through today's new DVD and Blu-ray releases and have some recommendations for what you should rent next.

The Proposal

This Summer's super successful rom-com, The Proposal, stars Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in a pretty predictable scheme (you know, girl proposes to boy to avoid deportation), but I enjoyed this surprisingly funny movie. I tend to like both Reynolds and Bullock in general, and their chemistry in this one is pretty irresistible. It was also an audience-pleaser, raking in enough money in ticket sales to make it one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time.

44%

Check out two more new releases when you read more.

Drag Me to Hell

Drag Me to Hell, starring Justin Long and Alison Lohman, earned props in the horror genre for its clever premise and witty dialogue. Lohman stars as Christine, a bank teller whose life takes a turn for the terrifying when she is cursed by a gypsy. Long plays her boyfriend and sidekick who tries to help her regain control and banish the spirits.

I've heard this one is more fun than scary, and it marks Sam Raimi's return to the camp-horror genre (he's behind the Evil Dead franchise) and a respite from the Spiderman movies.

92%

Land of the Lost

In Land of the Lost, Will Ferrell stars as Rick Marshall, who finds himself stuck in a parallel universe littered with dinosaurs and ape men. With his sidekicks Holly and Will, the trio takes on the adventure of a lifetime and try to find their way back home.

The Summer blockbuster didn't do too well in theaters, making some wonder whether Ferrell fatigue had set in. However, the fun casting of Danny McBride and Anna Friel as Will and Holly could make this movie watchable.

DVD extras include deleted scenes, a Danny McBride featurette, and a Devil’s Canyon Gift Shop Commercial and Tour.

26%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:30:36 -0700

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. Oh and even though it's not on Netflix, don't forget that Ally McBeal: The Complete Series is finally available on DVD today!

Year One

The comedy chops of Michael Cera and Jack Black weren't enough to make prehistoric comedy Year One a hit, but the movie still has some laughs, especially if you're fans of the two actors.

The gross-out humor definitely wore on me, but the funny supporting cast might make it worth the rental (Paul Rudd, Hank Azaria, and David Cross all make cameos) - if you can stand all the toilet humor.

16%

See two more new releases when you read more.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Anvil! The Story of Anvil became a surprising sleeper hit, thanks in large part to word of mouth (aka Twitter). The documentary centers around Canadian heavy metal band Anvil, who may have been little known to the public, but actually went on to influence other popular acts like Metallica. Metallica even shows up in the movie to talk about the band.

The movie was beloved by critics (check that Rotten Tomatoes rating!) and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

98%

Assassination of a High School President

Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton star in Assassination of a High School President, a comedy/crime caper set in a high school. The film made a splash at last year's Sundance Film Festival, but then kind of faded away when it came to a theatrical release . . . no matter, because it's on Netflix now.

I was intrigued by the trailer for this movie and will probably check it out, especially since it has Rocket Science's cute protagonist, Reece Thompson.

57%

Which movie will you be adding to your Netflix queue?

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:30:24 -0700

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. In addition to the movies below, there's also Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience and Madonna's directorial debut Filth and Wisdom. Check out this week's picks!

Away We Go

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph star as an expecting, road-tripping couple in this indie comedy drama directed by Sam Mendes. I loved the quirky humor that came from not only the leads, but a star-studded cast of supporting characters played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeff Daniels, Alison Janney, and Catherine O'Hara. It may not be as laugh-out-loud as the two leads' usual work, but if you're looking for a sweetly funny flick you may like Away We Go. The DVD and Blu-ray have a making-of featurette, a commentary track, and a behind-the-scenes feature about how the filmmakers tried to make the production more environmentally friendly.

66%

See two more new releases when you read more.

Management

Jennifer Aniston stars as an everyday gal in the comedy Management. Steve Zahn is the shy hotel manager who meets and falls in love with her immediately, and Woody Harrelson is the has-been boyfriend he's trying to woo her away from. It's not the straightforward romantic comedy you'd expect from Aniston, which I don't mind at all, and Zahn's so adorable he can make stalker-like behavior seem OK. On the DVD are a commentary track, a gag reel, and deleted scenes.

44%

Monsters vs. Aliens

Monsters vs. Aliens boasts the vocal stylings of Reese Witherspoon as Susan Murphy, a woman who's hit by a meteor and turns into a giant as a result. The 3D movie from Dreamworks is definitely kid-friendly fare, but I tend to enjoy modern animated movies like this, especially when they also have the voices of Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Hugh Laurie, and Stephen Colbert. The DVD and Blu-ray discs have tons of special features, like music videos, deleted scenes, and the technology behind the movie.

72%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:19 -0700

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 -0700

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, 08 Sep 2009 07:30:00 -0700

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. Aside from the movies I'm highlighting below, Important Things With Demetri Martin: Season 1, Crank 2: High Voltage, and Fringe: Season 1.

The Office: Season 5
This season of The Office was great as usual; The Michael Scott Paper Company fails to get off the ground, but watching Pam, Michael, and Ryan try to work together and then eventually end up back at Dunder Mifflin is predictably hilarious.
Jim and Pam spend the season happy and engaged, Toby comes back, and the love triangle between Angela, Dwight and Andy is finally settled. Catch up before the big wedding in a couple weeks!

To see two more movies to queue, just read more.

Parks and Recreation: Season 1
If you didn't give Parks and Recreation a fair shake in its first season, now's as good a time as any to watch the DVDs before the second season starts.
Amy Poehler's comedy had an uneven, but generally good first season. I was mostly chuckling throughout - blame the awesome supporting cast, like Aziz Ansari, Paul Schneider, Chris Pratt and Rashida Jones, and the show's Office-like humor.

Dance Flick
Sure, this Wayans Brothers flick looks pretty dumb, but isn't that the point? I've got to admit that I love most dance movies, so I might not mind seeing them spoofed.
If you said you wouldn't see it in the theater when it came out but might rent it, here's your chance.

19%

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:30:18 -0700

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. In addition to the dramas I recommend below, also look out for a couple TV shows on DVD, specifically Brothers and Sisters: Season 3 and Desperate Housewives: Season 5.

State of Play
I was impressed by this tense thriller, which stars Russell Crowe as a seasoned reporter and Ben Affleck as his congressman friend who gets himself in trouble. There's also Rachel McAdams as Crowe's green protégé, who I'm always happy to see on-screen.
Two hours around journalism and politics can sound kind of dry, but this movie's fast-moving plot keeps it engaging and entertaining. Special features on the DVD include deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.

84%

See two other movies out on DVD today when you read more

Sugar
Algenis Perez Soto hits hard as the titular character, Miguel "Sugar" Santos, in this story of a minor league baseball player from the Dominican Republic who is shipped to the States to play ball. This isn't a fun time at the ballpark, it's a weighty drama from the same people who brought you Ryan Gosling's Half Nelson. I was riveted by the performances and the filmmakers' portrayal of the unsympathetic International baseball factory.
Special features include deleted scenes, and several featurettes, including one about the casting process.

93%

Earth
Disney's visually stunning Earth comes to us from the producers of the earlier and equally wonderful Planet Earth series.
This is one that will make you happy you have that Blu-ray player - the gorgeous photography looks amazing on an HD TV and player. Plus, the narration by James Earl Jones is guaranteed to give you goose bumps.

85%