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 November spawned a monster.
A short but sweet week in the world of home video releases.
As the first week of November rolls on in the cavalcade of summer blockbusters and re-released catalog faves begin to sound off the call towards the holiday shopping season.
This week we have some Gump, Some Clones, Some Aliens, and an old school masked bandito. Is everybody ready?
The DVD Report for November 3rd 2009
Title - Forrest Gump: Sapphire Series
Rating: PG-13
Number Of Discs: 2
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field, Robin Wright Penn
Synopsis: Experience Forrest Gump in stunning high definition for the first time, accompanied by over two hours of dynamic new bonus features. Tom Hanks gives an astonishing performance as Forrest, an everyman whose simple innocence comes to embody a generation. Alongside his mamma (Sally Field), his best friend Bubba (Mykelti Williamson) and his favorite girl Jenny (Robin Wright), Forrest has a ringside seat for the most memorable events of the second half of the 20th century. Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), and Best Actor (Tom Hanks), Forrest Gump remains one of the great movie triumphs of all time.
Special Features -
DVD-
N/A
Blu-Ray-
Disc 1
Commentary with Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey and Rick Carter
Commentary by Wendy Finerman
Musical Signposts to History
Disc 2
Greenbow Diary
The Art Of Screenplay Adaptation
Getting Past Impossible: Forrest Gump And The Visual Effects Revolution
Little Forrest
An Evening With Forrest Gump
The Magic Of Makeup
Through The Ears Of Forrest Gump - Sound Design
Building the World Of Gump - Production Design
Seeing Is believing - The Visual Effects
Screen Tests
Mini-Review: Another great catalog release and one made for high def at that. There are only so many actors in films that you could watch at any time, Hanks has quite a few in this category and certainly Gump is one of his best for that. I could watch a triple feature of Gump, Apollo 13, and Catch me if you can pretty much any day of the week (and likely will when they are all on Blu-ray). Basically what I'm saying is if you have a Blu-Ray player you'll want to pick this up unless of course you can be listed as stupid is as stupid does. *This set is available in a rockin chocolate box gift set if you really want something nifty for your DVD shelf*
Title - Aliens in the Attic
Rating: PG
Number Of Discs: 1 (2 on Blu-Ray)
Director: John Schultz
Cast: Doris Roberts, Andy Richter, Kevin Nealon, Tim Meadows, Ashley Tisdale, Gillian Vigman, Robert Hoffman, Carter Jenkins, Austin Robert Butler
Synopsis: It's summer vacation, but the Pearson family kids are stuck at a boring lake house with their nerdy parents. That is until feisty, little, green aliens crash-land on the roof, with plans to conquer the house AND Earth! Using only their wits, courage and video game-playing skills, the youngsters must band together to defeat the aliens and save the world - but the toughest part might be keeping the whole thing a secret from their parents! Featuring an all-star cast including Ashley Tisdale, Andy Richter, Kevin Nealon and Tim Meadows, Aliens In The Attic is the most fun you can have on this planet!
Special Features -
DVD-
- Introduction to Film and Special Features with Ashley Tisdale
- Alternate Ending
- Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Animated Short Behind the Zirkonians
- Meet the Zirkonians Interactive Featurette
- The Ashley Encounters Featurette
- Kung Fu Grandma Featurette
Blu-Ray-
Introduction To The Film And Special Features With Ashley Tisdale
Alternate Ending
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Animated Short: Behind the Zirkonians
Meet the Zirkonians
Lights, Camera, Aliens!
Kung Fu Grandma
Brian Anthony "Electricity" Music Video
Fox Movie Channel Presents Life After Film School with Barry Josephson
Mini-Review: I'll be the first to admit I fully expected to hate this movie when it landed on my desk; however I sat down to watch this with the movie boyz (Henry and Jevon) and honestly I got a few laughs out of it, the boyz on the other hand giggled their butts off through pretty much the entire thing. It was made for little boys and my dudes approved it (point of fact it's on the TV for the third time as I type this). Take that as you will for your rental and purchase choices.
Title - Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season One
Rating: Not Rated
Number Of Discs: 4 (2 on Blu-Ray)
Director: N/A
Cast: Jedi Sith and Clones Oh My!
Synopsis: Executive Producer George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation present Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season One. As war rages through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi, including Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and newcomer Ahsoka Tano, fight to maintain order and restore peace. Meanwhile, the Separatists, led by Count Dooku, his assassin Asajj Ventress and the evil General Grievous, plot to defeat the Republic and gain control.
Each episode takes you deeper in the universe, introducing new characters and exploring new planets along the way. With groundbreaking computer-generated animation and epic storytelling, this is a Star Wars adventure like never before!
Special Features -
DVD-
- 7 Director's Cut Episodes
- 22 Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes with Director and Crew Interviews
- Exclusive 68-page Production Journal with Original Sketches and Artist Notes
- Sneak Peek at Season 2
Blu-Ray-
22 Action-Packed Episodes Including 7 Director's Cut Episodes
22 Behind The Scenes Featurettes With Director And Crew Interviews
Exclusive 68-Page Production Journal With Original Sketches And Artist Notes
Sneak Peek At Season 2
Jedi Temple Archives: An Exclusive Database Of Early Test Animation, Concept Art and 3D Turnarounds
Mini-Review: Ok I admit it, this show is kinda growing on me. The second season is off to a pretty good start as well. It's become part of our Friday night line up. While there are elements of it I would love a crack at changing there is quite enough to keep my love of star wars satisfied plus the fights can be pretty impressive as well. Us fanboys need our Star Wars and this is has become a fun way to get it, and on High Def it looks fantastic (even when you watch some of the fights in slo-mo).
May the Force Be With You In High Def!
Title - Not Forgotten
Rating: R
Number Of Discs: 1
Director: Dror Soref
Cast: Claire Forlani, Paz Vega, Chloe Moretz, Simon Baker, Benito Martinez, Ken Davitian
Synopsis: Simon Baker of The Mentalist stars as Jack Bishop, a picture-perfect husband and father in a peaceful Texas border town. But when his 11-year old daughter is kidnapped, he'll hunt her abductors - and unleash his own tortured soul - into a Mexican hell of barrios and bordellos controlled by the mysterious religion of La Santa Muerte. When a man has too much to hide and nothing to lose, should he dare to search for the truth? Paz Vega (Spanglish), Benito Martinez (The Shield) and Claire Forlani (CSI: NY) co-star in this shocking thriller where not everyone is who they seem to be and the darkest secrets of the past are Not Forgotten.
Special Features -
DVD-
Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Producer/Director Dror Soref and Co-Writer/Associate Producer Tomas Romero
Behind The Scenes
Trailer
Blu-Ray-
Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Producer/Director Dror Soref and Co-Writer/Associate Producer Tomas Romero
Behind The Scenes
Trailer
Mini-Review: I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch this one yet, but take a look at that synopsis and you can bet I will be before you've had a chance to read these very words. A cast and story worth checking out, more so if you love thrillers like this. Mikey does love his vengeance/father on a rampage flicks so I'm betting this will rock.
Title - Mission Impossible: The Final TV Season
Rating: Not Rated
Number Of Discs:
Director: N/A
Cast: Lynda George , Peter Graves , Peter Lupus , Greg Morris , Barbara Anderson
Synopsis: The classic spy series Mission: Impossible returns for Season Seven, the most exciting one yet! The action drama about the activities of the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) was a sensation from the beginning. The inspired cast, fast-moving plots, neat gadgets, pre-recorded tapes that self-destruct - all these elements mad this brilliant show one of television's crowning achievements.
For the final season, Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) continues to focus on targets outside the reach of conventional law enforcement, as he and special effects whiz Barney (Greg Morris), muscle man Willy (Peter Lupus), and the gorgeous Casey (Lynda Day George) help smash organized crime rings. This set of Mission: Impossible - The Final TV Season concludes with all 22 episodes, on DVD for the first time. Like a lit fuse, the groundbreaking series smolders till the end. Be there for the final mission
Special Features -
DVD-
N/A
Blu-Ray-
N/A
Mini-Review: One last time and one last set to pick up to complete your IMF collection. With its kickin gadgets and over the top action it's sad that this is the final season of this show but now it can be re-watched from beginning to end at your own leisure and pace. Cue the theme and get on the mission.
Title - Zorro: The Complete First & Second Seasons - Walt Disney Treasures Limited Edition Tin
Rating: Not Rated
Number Of Discs: 6 each
Director: N/A
Cast: Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin, Guy Williams
Synopsis: From 1957 to 1959, Disney's Zorro was one of the most popular series on television starring Guy Williams, Henry Calvin, and Gene Sheldon. The show helped transform the literary character Don Diego de la Vega into the ultimate iconic, beloved swashbuckling masked hero of the time. The adventures of Zorro and his trusty steed Tornado have captivated audiences since their inception, gaining new audiences when it was re-aired on the Disney Channel in 1983 and re-colorizing the episodes in the
1990s.
After the series conclusion, the Zorro adventures lived on from 1960 to 1961 on Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color in the form of a four-episode anthology series of hour-long Zorro specials, all of which are also included in Walt Disney Treasures Wave IX. debut Walt Disney Treasures sets are hosted by noted film historian, author and critic Leonard Maltin. Each limited edition, individually numbered volume includes a Zorro pin, an authenticity certificate, exclusive lithograph and comes in a unique, collectible black tin.
Special Features -
DVD-
Zorro: The Complete First Season
Zorro: El Bandido - Part 1 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland
television show (original air date: October 30, 1960)
Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo - Part 2 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland
television show (original air date: November 6, 1960)
Zorro: The Complete Second Season
Zorro: The Postponed Wedding - A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland
television show (original air date: January 1, 1961)
Zorro: Auld Acquaintance - A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland television
show (original air date: April 2, 1961)
Blu-Ray-
N/A
Mini-Review: Upon my return from Disneyland what did I find waiting, you guessed it Zorro! I dug this show so much as a kid watching it with my Grandfather. Yes I know it's not hard to imagine with my love of super heroes and nearly all black wardrobe. Like many things from my childhood I've now introduced this to my little dude and he is loving it so far and I don't think it'll take long for us to watch both seasons. It's pretty amazing how well this show still looks and holds up, oh sure it's got it's share of cheese but it's good cheese not the stinky kind so it's all part of the fun.
Even better these sets come in those tin cases and come with loads of extra goodies. Get marked on your way to adventure.
That's the whole kit and caboodle for this week, unless you need some more info on those GI JOE DVD's that came out this week.
See ya next week kids!
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