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.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 (Blu-ray) – If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies you’ve probably seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 in the theatre already and don’t really need us to recommend it to you on DVD and Blu-ray. I will say that it is just as much a wild, magical ride a second time around, and it is still one the most visually stunning additions to the series.
Blu-ray is definitely worth it for this title as the 1080p high-def picture and amazing surround sound will blow you away. Special features include Maximum Movie Mode with actor Jason Isaacs, many making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, a sneak peek at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Pt. 2, and more. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film **** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars). NOTE: This title is not available until April 15.
Country Strong (Blu-ray) – The last time Gwyneth Paltrow was in a movie involving singing we got the extremely terrible Duets (2000), starring Paltrow and Huey Lewis (yes, the same Huey Lewis from the band Huey Lewis and the News). And after about 20 minutes of Country Strong, I was actually longing for Duets. The big problem with Country Strong, other than the stupid title, is that it’s just downright boring and lifeless. I was hoping for another Crazy Heart and instead got a made-for-TV quality fluff piece. I guess the video and audio of the Blu-ray release are decent if you can stomach the content. Special features include making-of featurettes, music videos, deleted scenes, and more. Film * Blu-ray * (out of 5 stars).
The Incredibles (Blu-ray) – Up until this Blu-ray release, The Incredibles was one of my least favourite Pixar releases. It’s not a bad movie, but compared to Toy Story or Monsters, Inc., I didn’t connect with it at the time I first saw it. That was a long time ago and my outlook has obviously changed. The Incredibles is a smart and fun film that is not so much for kids as it is for people who are into superheros and comic books (my kid did enjoy it though). If you don’t know the story, the film revolves around a former superhero who has retired and settled down with another former superhero. They have kids and try to live a normal life. When he is lured back into his costume soon the whole family is fighting to save the world.
The 1080p image the Blu-ray sports is gorgeous and shows off the animation and colours perfectly, and the 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix will knock your ears off. Special features include two audio commentaries, the short films Boundin’ and Jack-Jack Attack, deleted scenes (in HD), a recent roundtable with the filmmakers looking back on the film, making-of featurettes, the original DVD features, and a ton more. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film **** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars).
Also available on DVD and Blu-ray this week:
Cars (Blu-ray)
Marwencol (DVD)
Tracy and Hepburn Complete Collection (DVD)
Keeper of the Flame (1942) (DVD)
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry/Race with the Devil Double Feature (DVD)
