This Week In DVD: Waltz With Bashir, Inkheart, And More
This Week in DVD is a column that compiles all the latest info regarding new DVD releases, sales, and exclusive deals from stores including Target, Best Buy and Fry's.
Please don't take the commentary on the movies and TV shows too seriously, as they're meant not to be reviews but rather previews that include the general thoughts and ramblings of a twice-committed DVD addict. The categories represent solely the author's intentions towards the DVDs at hand, and are in no way meant to be a reflection on what he thinks other people should rent or buy. So if he ends up putting a movie you like in the "Skip it" section without having seen it, please keep in mind that the time you could spend leaving a spiteful but ultimately futile comment could instead be used for more pleasant things in life. Like buying DVDs.
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
With its unique animated style and innovative approach to documentary filmmaking, Waltz with Bashir is a fascinating experiment, and one that proves to work very well in connection with the compelling, emotionally powerful subject matter (following one man's attempts to remember what happened during an Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War). If you're the type of person who feels the need to watch a documentary more than once, then by all means, this is well worth the purchase, but for everyone else, it makes for an essential one-time viewing.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: A director's commentary, a Q & A with Director Ari Folman, and 2 featurettes ("Surreal Soldiers: Making Waltz with Bashir", "Building the Scenes – Animatics").
INKHEART
It's no surprise this movie bombed at the box office; even if it weren't completely devoid of value, it attempted to join the "fantasy adventure book-to-film adaptation" Hollywood craze after it had already died down. Before Inkheart, we had already received Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight, Stardust, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Golden Compass, Eragon, and even the colossal failure that was The Seeker. After all that, did the higher ups at New Line really think this would draw in the crowds? Or did they simply overestimate the appeal of Brendan Fraser? Newsflash: nobody saw The Mummy because it starred Brendan Fraser; they saw it in spite of that.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: "Eliza Reads to Us" featurette.
THE PINK PANTHER 2
I must say, life was a lot better ten minutes ago. I had completely forgotten that this movie even existed. In fact, come to think of it, I could've sworn this movie came out years ago. Or maybe I'm just suffering a case of déjà vu, as I've spent the past five years trying desperately to rid my mind of what's become of Steve Martin's career. I suggest you do the same. Try to think back to a time when he didn't make critically-reviled sequels to critically-reviled kiddie crap, where the comedy stemmed from something other than him falling down a lot and having a silly accent.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: 27 Pink Panther cartoons.
CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC(Available as single-disc and 2-Disc Special Edition)
I'm so conflicted. On the one hand, I love Isla Fisher. Not only is she adorable, but she's a wonderful comedic actress and is married to Sacha Baron Cohen. (OK, that last part is unrelated, but I'm still gonna give her bonus points for it anyway.) On the other hand though, this is a movie about shopping. ...Oh wait, scratch that. I'm not conflicted at all. It's a rom-com about shopping. Enough said.
Blu-ray? Yes.Notable Extras: The 2-disc edition includes deleted scenes, bloopers, and a digital copy of the film.
*Does not include 2-Disc Edition, which costs $22.99 at each of the listed stores (including Amazon).
Other noteworthy DVDs available this week...My Dinner with Andre (Criterion Collection) – Dragon Hunters – The Code