Extract (available on DVD and Blu-ray December 22nd, 2009)
Mike Judge’s latest effort, Extract, is both surprising and refreshing in its presentation. The director’s talent for creating unique and eccentric characters is still foremost in thismanifestation of troubled blue collar workers and their disastrous dealings, but a muchsubtler humor finds its way into the everyday situations that become proportionally expanded for comedic appeal. Yet the inclusion of generally inoffensive jocosity creates a calmer and more interesting look at the mishaps of people that feel more real than the overblown, overly exaggerated caricatures of the easier gross-out comedy. Though there are still a few miscues and unrealized potential in a handful of the humorous encounters found throughout the film, the variety of characters keeps a consistent level of amusement not found in the more crude samplings of the genre.
Joel (Jason Bateman), the owner of an extract manufacturing plant, constantly finds himself in precarious situations that steadily worsen by the minute. First, his soon-to-be floor manager acquires a serious injury in a machine malfunctioning accident that subsequently endangers the wellbeing of his company. Second, his personal life doesn’t fair much better when he takes the advice of his bartending friend Dean (Ben Affleck) during a drug-induced brainstorming session on how to test his wife’s faithfulness. Finally, compounding these catastrophes is new employee Cindy (Mila Kunis), who happens to be a scam artist intent on milking the company for all its worth. Now, Joel must attempt to piece his company and his marriage back together all while trying to figure out what he’s really after in life… Read the rest of the review HERE!
BONUS FEATURES
Both Blu-ray and DVD editions include: • Mike Judge’s Secret Recipe—What are the ingredients of a classic Mike Judge film? Go straight to the factory floor to uncover the writer and director’s secrets. From shooting in a real working factory to the unique cast of characters and situations, Mike Judge always seems to have the right recipe.
And only on Blu-ray:
• Extended Scenes—5 scenes featuring extended portions with Joel, Dean and Brad that didn’t make the final cut of the film. • Deleted Scene—Straight from the factory floor, watch this exclusive deleted scene where Dean explains his rather abrupt departure from Willie’s party the night before and finds out Joel got punched in the face.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (available NOW on DVD and Blu-ray)
While the fifth installment provided some of the darkest moments seen in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince displays an even more sinister and morbid approach to the deadly witchcraft and devious wizardry. But with that darkness comes an alleviating light found in the romantic mishaps and jealous tussles between the students. Blending the foreboding presence of encroaching doom with Quidditch practice, schoolwork, and blossoming high school romances, the sixth entry in the legacy of Harry Potter is simultaneously the most mature and the most entertaining, though the days of playful sorcery and lighthearted misadventures are long gone.
In the sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry it is dark times indeed. The school itself has become a breeding ground for danger and deception and the surmounting minions of the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) have brought forth destruction even to the innocents of the outside world of muggles. As a new potions teacher, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), is recruited for mysterious reasons, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) must contend with ominous missions from Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) as well as his growing feelings for Ginny Weasly (Bonnie Wright) and the newfound jealous tension between his best friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson)… Read the rest of the review HERE!
Special Features:
-Additional scenes
-J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life
-Close Up with the Cast of Harry Potter
-Get a Sneak Peek at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort
-What’s On Your Mind? – Lightning-round Q&A with cast/crew
-Cast members sum of their characters in One-Minute Drills
G-FORCE (available on DVD and Blu-ray December 15th, 2009)
A top-secret, highly trained trio of guinea pig super spies is assigned to stop a dastardly plot to take over the world in G-Force, a gorgeously rendered CGI adventure from famed producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Squad leader Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) will do what it takes to guarantee the success of his team, which also includes Blaster (Tracy Morgan), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude, and Juarez (Penelope Cruz), gorgeous martial arts pro. With the help of Speckles (Nicolas Cage), a star-nosed mole, and myriad other members of the animal kingdom, the G-Force tries to derail evil appliance mogul Leonard Saber’s power grab. It helps when your fly-on-the wall reconnaissance expert is, well, a fly on the wall!
Destined to be the family comedy hit of the season, and released just in time for the holidays, G-Force includes a fascinating line-up of behind-the-scenes features, hilarious deleted movie scenes and a collection of music videos featuring songs from the film. And exclusively for Blu-ray owners, there are three CGI effect bonus features that will satisfy their quest to join the rodent spy world.
Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie (available on DVD Decemeber 15th, 2009)
Embark on a supernaturally exciting adventure as the Russos, your favorite family of wizards-in-training, join together on a quest full of heart-stopping action and hilarious magical mishaps! While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally casts a spell that threatens her family’s existence! Max (Jake T. Austin) tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin (David Henrie) use every trick they know as they search for the “Stone of Dreams” to reverse the spell and save their family. You won’t want to miss one extraordinary moment of this extended, magic-filled and action-packed movie!
Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition features exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes bonus and awesome extras that take you deeper into the mysterious world of wizardry!
LOST: The Complete Fifth Season (available on DVD and Blu-ray December 8th, 2009)
The show that revolutionized primetime proves once again why it is television’s most addictive and creative series, as the epic story of LOST twists, turns and spirals through time in its brilliant fifth season. Destiny sends the Oceanic 6 back to the Island and into the heart of the enigmatic Dharma Initiative. The reason they had to return and the fate of all those who were left behind is revealed as the momentum builds toward the much anticipated series finale in 2010.
Some of LOST’s most pressing questions are finally answered in a spectacular 5-disc collection, packed with deleted scenes, exclusive interviews, as well as Blu-ray exclusive content.
LOST stars Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday, Michael Emerson as Ben, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Ken Leung as Miles, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet and Terry O’Quinn as Locke.
All 17 episodes of the season fans and critics alike are calling the best ever are available to watch again and again in a five-disc set packed with never-before-seen bonus material, including revealing cast interviews and behind-the-scenes features, including exclusive content only available on the Blu-ray.
Official Rejection (available NOW on DVD!)
Anyone interested in Independent Cinema must see this film. Official Rejection sheds some much needed light on the trials and tribulations of getting an indie film into festivals; and through a documentary that is at once hilarious, disconsolate, heartbreaking, infuriating, uplifting, and eye-opening, it’s evident that rejection is a commonplace piece of the filmmaking process – and can never stop the truly determined.
Official Rejection begins with the ambitions of filmmakers Scott Storm, Paul Osborne, and Brian Osborne getting their independent film “Ten ‘Til Noon” approved for premiering at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. But upon its rejection, the trio begins searching for an alternate route to success. Falling back on the “anti-Sundance” festival Slamdance, and finding denial there as well, the persistent group embarks on a tumultuous quest to discover the painful truths about the state of independent film, the festivals that claim to cater towards these movies, those that actually do, and the upsets and triumphs of both their own experiences and the multitude of filmmakers that suffer the same daunting adversity… Read the rest of the review HERE!
Two-disc “Rejection Collection” DVD
Disc 1:
- Widescreen (16x9) feature presentation
- 5.1 Surround Sound
- Feature-length audio commentary with director/writer/editor Paul Osborne and producer/star Scott Storm
Disc 2:
77 minutes of extended interviews with filmmaker Kevin Smith (Clerks, Zac and Miri Make a Porno), indie film guru Chris Gore (author, Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide), Troma Films founder Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist), and actress/filmmaker Jenna Fischer (The Office, LOLLILOVE).
- 7 Deleted Scenes
- 6 Film Festival “Swag Reports” with Scott Storm
- Trailer Gallery
- “Mr. Kaufman Comes to deadCenter” webisode, with Lloyd Kaufman
Don't forget to check out the Free Movie Club for great NEW prizes!
- Joy Dominguez
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