A scene from 'Waiting for ‘Superman’'. Courtesy Paramount Home Entertainment.
New On DVD is sponsored by the Toronto-based video store Eyesore Cinema, located at 801 Queen St. West (above Rotate This!). They specialize in rare, out of print, hard to find, and import titles, and will take special orders if you’re nice. They also sell magazines, posters, books, and more. If you’re in Toronto, pop in and show your support (and make sure to tell them we sent you). You can also visit them online for more info.
Waiting for ‘Superman’ (Blu-ray)
Criticize This! Pick of the Week – Waiting for ‘Superman’ is an eye-opening documentary about the state of the educational system in the United States. Directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), the film is heart-wrenching at times and should act as a warning to Canadians on what can happen if we don’t make some changes to our own school system. For a documentary the Blu-ray release looks surprisingly good. Special features include additional teacher stories, an interview with director Davis Guggenheim, and more. Film **** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars).
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (Blu-ray)
– Woody Allen’s latest film left me wondering if the writer-director has run out of steam once and for all. The film follows Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) and Helena (Gemma Jones), an older married couple who are going through a divorce, while their daughter Sally (Naomi Watts) and her husband Roy (Josh Brolin) are becoming interested in other people (Roy is spying on their neighbour Dia, played by Freida Pinto, and Sally is into her boss Greg, played by Antonio Banderas). Unlike Allen’s better work, the dialogue in You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is stale and forced, and the entire film comes across as pointless. The Blu-ray release is a disgrace to the format and includes no special features except for the theatrical trailer. Film ** Blu-ray * (out of 5 stars).
Unstoppable
– Inspired by a true event, Unstoppable tells the story of a runaway train in Pennsylvania carrying very explosive materials. As the train picks up speed it becomes apparent it could take out a city, killing thousands of people, if they don’t find a way to stop it. Enter two guys working trains on the same track (played by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine) and now you have the ingredients for an a heart-pounding action/hero movie. I expected Unstoppable to be on par with the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Both movies are about trains, both are directed by Tony Scott, and both star Washington in pretty much the exact same role. The big difference is that Unstoppable is watchable, and enjoyable, and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 remake is complete trash. Special features on the DVD include audio commentary with director Tony Scott and a pair of making-of featurettes.
Also available on DVD and Blu-ray this week:
Hatchet II (DVD
/Blu-ray
)
Cactus (DVD)
Last Tango in Paris (Blu-ray
)
Moonstruck (Blu-ray
)
Rain Man (Blu-ray
)
Chaplin (Blu-ray
)
All The President’s Men (Blu-ray
)
