This Week on DVD & Blu-ray (04-30-13)

 

 

It’s a good week for writer/directors! David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” is finally coming out this week. The dramedy was well-received by critics, but moreso with movieogoers who were won over by engaging and relatable characters and fine performances (earning Jennifer Lawrence Oscar gold). The movie serves as a reminder of how great Russell is at delivering authentic relationships in a confidant and exciting manner. And the other David, David Chase (creator of “The Sopranos”) released his first feature-length film “Not Fade Away” which you most likely did not see. It too is populated with authentic characters, focusing on a small-town rock band in 1960s New Jersey trying to make a name for themselves. So, it’s a good week for Davids. But, what else is out this week?

 

That sound you hear is another January dud dropping. Director Allen Hughes (“Menace II Society”) latest, “Broken City” is a tale of New york City corruption and conspiracy starring Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I heard this one was a satisfying yet by-the-numbers warmed-over noir. No rush on that one.

 

Also out this week is “Manborg”, a 2011 Canadian sci-fi action flick, which (quite honestly) looks unintentionally (or maybe not) hilarious! It’s a retro B-movie from Atomic-6 studio and directed by Steven Kotanski, who made “Father’s Day” and contains Nazi vampires, robotic soldiers and martial arts experts. Certainly not for everyone, but it sounds like cheesy fun. Sold.

 

You can get a double dose of Barbara Streisand this week too! William Wyler’s 1968 musical “Funny Girl” comes to Blu-ray for the first time. This was Babs feature-film debut, earning her an Oscar (which she shared with Hepburn for “The Lion in Winter”) for her performance in the film, which also starred Omar Shariff. This release coincides with the 71 year-old’s movie from last December “The Guilt Trip”, in which she played an overprotective mother to Seth Rogen, as her son. For her performance in that comedy flop, she earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Actress. So….full circle.

 

Also new to Blu-ray is Austrailian director Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 rom-com “Strickly Ballroom”, as we get closer to “The Great Gatsby” his newest film. On that note, there’s also a stack of “Star Trek” movies on Blu-ray, available for the first time individually (they were previously only available in sets).

 

 

That’s it for this week! Previous reviews will be highlighted below. Enjoy the Rundown….

• 30 Rock: Season 7 (DVD)
• Ben Hur: The Epic Miniseries Event (DVD)
• Broken City  (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Cloak & Dagger (1946)  (DVD/Blu-ray)
• The Details  (DVD/Blu-ray)
• East of the East: The Complete Series – Classic (Blu-ray)
• The Enforcer (1951)  (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Frontline: Cliffhanger (DVD)
• Funny Girl (Blu-ray)
• The Guilt Trip (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Hoodlum Empire (1952) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Kaijudo: Rise Of The Duel Masters: Dragonstrike
• Lifeforce (Collector’s Edition Combo Pack) (Blu-ray)
• The Lonely Trail (1936) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Manborg (DVD)
• The Men (1950) (Blu-ray)
• The Miracle of the Bells (1948) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Neighboring Sounds (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection
• Night of the Scarecrow (1995) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Not Fade Away (DVD/Blu-ray)
• NOVA: Earth from Space (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Pals of the Saddle (1938) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Parked (DVD/Blu-ray)
• The Revisionaries (DVD)
• Shelter Me (DVD)
• Silver Linings Playbook (DVD/Blu-ray)
• Star Trek I: The Motion Picture (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek VII: Generations (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek X: Nemesis (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek: Insurrection (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Three (Blu-ray)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds (Blu-ray)
• Strictly Ballroom (Blu-ray)
• Three Faces West (1940) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• The Unbelievable Truth (1989) (DVD/Blu-ray)
• The Wicked (DVD/Blu-ray)