Video: 4
Audio: 5
Extras: 3
Is it frightening or reassuring that the themes explored in V for Vendetta are as relevant now as they were when the graphic novel was first penned in the 1980s? Alan Moore and David Lloyd created the story about an antihero’s attempts to bring down a fascist government. In their film adaptation, the Wachowski Brothers didn’t have to veer too far from the original to strike a modern chord. It manages to address all the hot-button topics residing on our cultural and political plates—terrorism, immigration, gay rights, censorship, biological weapons, and how a government should best balance freedom and security—while remaining an engaging piece of fiction.
From the opening credits, to that crazy hitchhiker, to the ceremonial bones and feathers outside the old house, to the tooth (with filling) lying on the front porch, to the sudden, ugly killing of the first victim, we know that something ain’t quite right in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. You can even feel a knot forming in your stomach during John Larroquette’s restrained narration that sets the stage for this road trip that’s about to take a tragic turn. I can’t even imagine how savagely this smart, brutal masterpiece of modern horror must have rocked moviegoers’ worlds back in a more innocent 1974. Dark Sky Films’ Ultimate Edition now transports us to those backwoods of the Lone Star State where it all began.
Video: 4
Audio: 3
Extras: 2
“Syriana is one of the most relevant stories in the world today,” says the film’s executive producer, Jeff Skoll, in the “Make a Change, Make a Difference” featurette on Warner Brothers’ new DVD release. He’s absolutely right, as even a cursory glance at world and domestic news will confirm. The film paints an unflinching portrait of the world’s dependence on oil and the lengths to which politicians and businessmen will go to maintain the status quo in the global oil fields, even as that status quo contributes to the rise of Islamic extremism in countries where people are afforded few other options.
Alfred Hitchcock in a Box
The matured DVD format enables library builders to enjoy the full sweep of a great career in cinema for minimal investment. A perfect example is Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense. Most of his major works are collectible in huge boxed sets that cost less, per title, than a movie ticket. True, the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats may eventually bring high-def reissues. But that would take years, and in the meantime, the standard-def boxes are bargains. Grab them before they slip away.
Video: 4
Audio: 4
Extras: 3
Steven Spielberg strikes a conciliatory tone in his introduction to this two-disc presentation of his acclaimed revenge opus. Clearly responding to some criticism, he notes that he is “in no way, shape, or form” attacking Israel in the film. We’ll take him at his word; however, Munich is a harsh look at how the country sought to avenge the kidnapping and murder of its athletes at the 1972 Olympics by implementing its own campaign of sanctioned murder.
Video: 4
Audio: 3
Extras: 3
Devout fans of the cult phenomenon The Boondock Saints will sing praise for the quality improvement in this definitive re-release of the DVD as an Unrated Special Edition. The two-disc set, packaged in a sleek metal box, has been digitally remastered for sound and picture, now boasting an anamorphic presentation that will find redemption with enthusiasts.
Video: 2
Audio: 2
Extras: 2
With so many unanswered questions remaining from their first outing, Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt return with a dozen children for yet another wacky family adventure, where, if we’re lucky, perhaps we’ll learn a lesson. The unnecessary sequel finds Martin’s brood going up against Eugene Levy’s eight overachieving children on a scenic summer vacation. While watching Martin, Hunt, and Levy on screen is always a treat, the family film has very little to offer that it didn’t bring to the table the first time around.
Video: 4
Audio: 3
Extras: 0
Forbidden love is a frequent Woody Allen theme, and it’s at the root of his latest, highly acclaimed film. Shot entirely in England, Match Point tells the story of Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a former tennis pro who falls game, set, and match for the sensuous American Nola (Scarlett Johansson). The problem is, Nola’s engaged to Tom, who’s not only Chris’ good friend but may soon be his brother-in-law by way of Chris’ pending marriage to Tom’s sister, Chloe.
As the annually updated list of the top 100 DVDs of all time hits stands in the August issue of Home Theater magazine, we thought we'd take a moment to honor the number-one picks from each category in last year's ranking. We purge these "best of the best" titles each year to help keep the list current, although they still receive our highest recommendation: Buy them all as part of your own ultimate DVD library.
Best Music DVD
Video: 3
Audio: 3
Extras: 1
An engaged gal comes home to Pasadena for her sister’s wedding and suspects that her family may be the one the book and movie The Graduate is based on in this comedy that has tons of talent associated with it but never takes off. Sarah (Jennifer Aniston) finds out that the week before Mom married Dad, Mom got freaked out, ran off to Mexico, and had a quickie affair with a high-school big man on campus Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner). With that info and in doing the math, she realizes it’s conceivable that her dad…well, isn’t. She seeks out and finds the wealthy tech magnate Beau, whom she has a one-nighter with and gets some answers from.
Video: 4
Audio: 3
Extras: 4
An updated treatment of the ancient Celtic epic made famous through Wagner’s opera, Tristan & Isolde retells the medieval tragedy of star-crossed lovers who must hide their passion out of loyalty to king and tribe.
Video: 3
Audio: 3
Extras: 4
OK now, I don’t say this very often, but this movie is messed up. It’s actually pretty good—don’t misunderstand—but this well-crafted tale of three impossibly obnoxious tourists on a budget takes many a dark twist, with lots of unapologetically graphic violence. It’s not for the faint of heart.
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