Category Archives: DVDs

Dec 05 2013
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DVDs, History, Pop Culture

Seeing Deeper

Examining two centuries of photography and its artistry

Photo_DVD

Photo: A History From Behind the Lens

DVD $49.99 (Athena/RLJ Entertainment)

We take it for granted now that cameras are practically synonymous with cell phones, but photography hasn’t been around forever. (Only about 200 years, to be exact.) This 12-part documentary offers an entertaining, enlightening examination of the art form’s past and present and looks ahead to its high-tech future, using playful animation to illustrate complicated concepts and covering its many facets and uses. A companion booklet features a history of cameras and a timeline of photographic breakthroughs. So as you’re taking that next selfie or other snapshot, remember, there’s two centuries of technology, trial-and-error and artistry behind that simple “click.”

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Dec 05 2013
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DVDs

Even More Despicable

Sequel to animated spy romp filled with family-friendly laughs

DespicableMe2

Despicable Me 2

Blu-ray $34.99 / DVD $24.99

Children and parents alike will enjoy this clever, laugh-filled follow-up to the original 2010 animated spy romp about the reformed super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his three adorable adopted daughters and his army of hilarious little yellow helper “Minions.” Recruited by the Anti-Villain League to deal with a new threat, Gru swings back into hilarious gadget-y espionage action to save the world—and his family. Bonus content includes three Minion mini-movies, commentary, and several features that go behind the scenes with the cast and crew.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Nov 19 2013
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DVDs

Geri-Action Heroes

Bruce Willis & over-50 co-stars return for second espionage romp  

Red2Red 2

DVD $29.95 / Blu-ray $39.95 (Summit Entertainment)

Bruce Willis returns in the role of retired black-ops CIA agent Frank Moses, who must once again re-assemble his somewhat old-school team (John Malkovich, Helen Mirren) to thwart a new international threat in this second installment of the “geri-action” (geriatric + action) formula that proved itself so successful the first time around. Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mary-Louise Parker round out the cast, and Blu-ray bonus features include gags, goofs and an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the film’s characters, boom-boom weaponry, espionage gadgetry and extreme stunts.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Nov 13 2013
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DVDs

Summertime Blues

Water-park job keeps teen from drowning in vacation misery

TheWayWayBack

The Way Way Back

DVD $19.98 / Blu-ray $29.98 (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

A sunny, sparkling summer coming-of-age comedy now released as part of the Fox Home Entertainment Holiday Collection, this tale of a miserable 14-year-old teen, Duncan (Liam James), dragged away on a family vacation with his mom (Toni Collette) and her oppressive boyfriend (Steve Carell), won over indie audiences before finding broader success with more mainstream crowds earlier this year. Things start looking up for Duncan, however, when he meets a cute girl next door (AnnaSophia Robb) and lands a gig at the local water park, where he meets a cool-cat mentor older friend (Sam Rockwell) who helps him navigate the challenges of life, love, family and friendship. Bonus features include several making-of and behind-the-scenes features.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Nov 07 2013
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Books, DVDs, History

Up, Up & Away

1983 tale of America’s first space cowboys shines on Blu-ray

TheRightStuff

The Right Stuff: 30th Anniversary Edition

Blu-ray $27.98 (Warner Home Video)

Director Philip Kaufman’s acclaimed 1983 drama about America’s space race and the original seven astronauts of Project Mercury—adapted from writer Tom Wolfe’s equally acclaimed 1979 bestseller—came to the screen in an era before computerized razzle-dazzle and the wizardry of digital special effects. But no matter: It remains a rocket ride of high-spirited, spunky adventure that perfectly captures the space-cowboy tone of the times, spurred along by a dream cast of Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid, Fred Ward, Barbara Hershey and Levon Helm. The commemorative Blu-ray comes with a generous load of bonus features, including several documentaries, a profile of real-life astronaut John Glenn, and commentary by the director, cast and crew.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Nov 05 2013
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DVDs, History

For History Buffs

Watching World War II unfold from every angle

WWII3FilmCollection

WWII 3-Film Collection

Blu-ray $29.99, DVD $24.98

(Lionsgate/A&E Consumer Products)

Here’s one DVD set that will keep armchair history buffs glued to their seats for hours—11 of them, to be exact! This five-disc collection of three History channel specials (WWII in HD, WWII in HD: The Air War and WWII From Space) offers expert examinations of the world’s most destructive conflict from three different perspectives, using combinations of first-person accounts, gripping narration, rare restored color film footage and stunning computer-graphic simulations that show what battles, troop movements and other key events would have looked like if they could have been tracked with modern-day satellite technology.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Oct 28 2013
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DVDs, Pop Culture

Hot & Bothered

Bullock, McCarthy buddy up as mismatched police partners

TheHeat-1The Heat

DVD $29.98, Blu-ray $39.99 (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

Playing a pair of totally mismatched police partners, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy bring a riotously fresh comedic chemistry to this female variation of Hollywood’s familiar “buddy comedy.” Bridesmaids director Paul Feig knows that gals can be just as funny—and just as raunchy—as guys, and The Heat turns up the grown-up tee-hees just about as far as they can go for an R rating. Bonus features include several making-of and behind-the-scenes featurettes, bloopers, deleted scenes, hilarious commentary (with one track option from the commentators of Mystery Science Theater 3000) and a rundown of the fabulous supporting cast.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Oct 17 2013
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DVDs, Pop Culture

Squint Like Clint

Iconic 1973 Western made name for writer-director Clint Eastwood

HighPlainsDrifterHigh Plains Drifter: 40th Anniversary Edition

Blu-ray, $19.98 (Universal Studios Home Entertainment)

The main character didn’t have a name in his 1973 Western, but he certainly made one for Clint Eastwood. The “man with no name,” as he came to be called, became a pop icon of rugged, silent, vengeful Old West justice and helped establish Eastwood as an actor-director force in Hollywood. This new hi-res edition doesn’t have any special features (bummer!), but its charms are in its re-mastered clarity, which brings every dusty, squinty, sun-baked, sweat-soaked detail to vibrantly renewed life in the tale of a mysterious stranger of few words who helps a small, sin-ridden town rid itself of a violent band of outlaws.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Oct 14 2013
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DVDs, Pop Culture

Redrum! Redrum!

Documentary goes deep inside Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining

Room237

Room 237

Blu-ray $29.98 / DVD $27.98 (IFC Films)

If you thought the movie The Shining was just a scary story about a haunted hotel, well, you’re obviously not one of the people interviewed in this fascinating documentary, which rounds up several passionate super-fan theorists with their interpretations about the hidden meanings in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Is the movie interwoven with clues about American expansionism, the horrors of the Holocaust or a faked moon landing? Or is it just a big, rambling cinematic maze that can’t ever be fully explored? Named for the location in the hotel where much of the movie’s weirdness takes place, Room 237 is a mesmerizing dive into a crazy kaleidoscope of possibilities.

 —Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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Oct 14 2013
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DVDs, Pop Culture, Television

Beam Me Up!

New Star Trek collection connects fans with series’ beginnings

StarTrekOriginalSeriesOrigins2Star Trek: The Original Series—Origins

Blu-ray $26.99 (CBS Home Entertainment/Paramount Home Entertainment)

Since it debuted on TV in 1966, it’s crossed the pop-culture universe to conquer comic books, novels, video games and movies. Now lifelong Trekkies and newer fans alike can reconnect with how it all began with this collection of origin episodes featuring first appearances of significant characters from the seminal Star Trek: The Original Series, including Spock, the super-villain Khan, and the alien Klingons; the cute but troublesome Tribbles; and both pilot episodes of the iconic series, “The Cage” and “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” which gave the show its memorable catchphrase.

—Neil Pond, American Profile Magazine

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