Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Ten Best High-Def Gifts to Buy This Holiday Seasonhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/best-high-definition-gifts-to-buy-this-holiday-season/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/best-high-definition-gifts-to-buy-this-holiday-season/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/best-high-definition-gifts-to-buy-this-holiday-season/#commentsFiled under: ,


Now that Black Friday has come and gone and folks have to start making sane if vaguely desperate decisions what to get their friends and loved ones for the holidays, it seemed appropriate that Cinematical put together a list of a few items that might help cross a few names off your list. Scouring the last few months for suggestions, as well as carefully checking the slate of releases in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, we came up with ten suggestions that will make the space under your tree seem a little less empty, and should hopefully help their recipients' lives feel a little more full - of entertainment, at the very least.

In alphabetical order:

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]]>akira kurosawaAkiraKurosawacriterion collectionCriterionCollectiongone with the windGoneWithTheWindharry potterharry potter years 1-6HarryPotterHarryPotterYears1-6living fireplaceLivingFireplacemel brooksMelBrooksnational lampoons christmas vacationNationalLampoonsChristmasVacationsnow white and the seven dwarfsSnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfsstar trek: original motion picture collectionStarTrek:OriginalMotionPictureCollectionthe mel brooks collectionthe prisonerTheMelBrooksCollectionThePrisonerwatchmenwatchmen: the ultimate cutTodd GilchristWed, 02 Dec 2009 22:32:00 ESTShelf Life: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacationhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/shelf-life-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/shelf-life-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/shelf-life-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation/#commentsFiled under: , ,


On Thanksgiving Day this year, I sat with my girlfriend's lovely family eating turkey and watching Home Alone, and it occurred to me that in the hustle and bustle of reviewing new movies, I seldom take the time to go back and revisit the holiday movies that I remember from my childhood. Even among the titles I've viewed for this "Shelf Life" series, few of them were seminal kids movies, whether they were from my own childhood, or from those of previous or subsequent generations, and none of them have been traditional holiday or holiday-themed films.

Home Alone was a film I saw at a formative time in my young life - I was 14 or so - but National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation was probably more important to me, since it balanced gingerly on the line between family entertainment and more grown-up fare. In hindsight, it's probably more oriented for teenagers and kids than anyone, even with (or maybe because of) its abundance of potty humor, but it seemed like 20 years was about the right amount of time to take between viewings. Which is why Christmas Vacation is this week's "Shelf Life" subject. (Well, that and Warner Home Video recently released a deluxe box set including one of those moose-shaped eggnog glasses.)

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]]>beverly dangelochevy chaseChevyChasechristmas vacationChristmasVacationjohn hughesJohnHughesnational lampoons christmas vacationNationalLampoonsChristmasVacationshelf lifeShelfLifeTodd GilchristWed, 02 Dec 2009 21:02:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: The Pirates of Penzancehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/free-flick-of-the-day-the-pirates-of-penzance/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/free-flick-of-the-day-the-pirates-of-penzance/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/free-flick-of-the-day-the-pirates-of-penzance/#commentsFiled under:

Forget Pirates of the Caribbean. Forget musicals like My Fair Lady. My favorite swashbucklers don't have an Aerosmith swagger or terrible speech troubles. They hold their own against the very model of a modern major general. In 1980, theatrical producer and creator of the New York Shakespeare Festival Joseph Papp brought Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. It was so popular that it ended up making its way to Broadway, won a bunch of Tony Awards, sailed away to London, and then got turned into the film in 1983.

The movie starred Kevin Kline, Rex Smith, Linda Ronstadt, and Angela Lansbury, and detailed the life of Frederic (Smith), a boy who was supposed to become a pilot, until his hard-of-hearing nurse (Lansbury) misheard her instructions and apprenticed the kid to a pirate (Kline). On his 21st birthday, he's finally released, and soon falls for a saucy daughter (Ronstadt) of Major-General Stanley (George Rose), sparking a stand-off between the good Major-General and noble life and the swashbuckling ways of unlawful pirate life.

The feature is silly, wordy, and best of all, allows Kline to be charismatic, sexy, and whole lot more lively than most of his more recent work. After the jump, you can watch the excellent and most impressive "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," and then:

Head over to SlashControl to watch The Pirates of Penzance!

Note: If you're curious about the stage production, a recording is available on DVD as well.

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]]>CinematicalFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayKevin KlineKevinKlinePirates of PenzancePiratesOfPenzanceSlashControlMonika BartyzelWed, 02 Dec 2009 16:39:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 12/1http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-1/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-1/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-12-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 12/1

Terminator Salvation
I suspect McG's movie will play really well at home, with the volume turned up and the surround sound explosions masking the lack of a compelling story and lackluster performances. Everyone from Christian Bale to Anton Yelchin to Sam Worthington to Bryce Dallas Howard was overshadowed by the special effects and the robots running rampant. However, at home you can walk in and out, pause, rewind, and replay -- and yes, freeze frame Moon Bloodgood's extremely brief topless scene -- without harming an essentially harmless movie. Rent it. Also available in a 3-disc Blu-ray edition, with theatrical and director's cut, alternate endings, featurettes, and more

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Our reviewer, Eric D. Snider, described it as "a mix of genuinely funny performances and highly lazy storytelling. You know how it goes: the plot is inane, but a lot of the dialogue makes you laugh." With Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, and Owen Wilson. Not my cup of tea, but if you're so inclined: Rent it. Also on Blu-ray. Single-disc DVD includes audio commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes with alternate ending, and gag reel. Two-disc "Monkey Mischief" edition add more featurettes and games. The Blu-ray combo pack includes even more featurettes and a standard def DVD.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Who is that happy couple running? Indies on DVD, more Blu-ray picks, and Collector's Corner - after the jump!

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]]>a christmas taleAChristmasTalegremlinsindies on dvdIndiesOnDvdnew on dvd this weekNewOnDvdThisWeekNight at the Museum: Battle of the SmithsonianNightAtTheMuseum:BattleOfTheSmithsonianpaper heartPaperHeartterminator salvationTerminatorSalvationthe green milethe rolling stones gimme shelterTheGreenMileTheRollingStonesGimmeShelterPeter MartinTue, 01 Dec 2009 13:32:00 ESTWarner Bros Will Make Clint Eastwood Fans' Dayhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/30/clint-eastwood-warner-bros-dvd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're lucky enough to be graced with cash or gift cards this Christmas, and you have a big hole on your DVD shelf where Clint Eastwood ought to be, Warner Bros will be happy to help you out. On February 16 they're releasing a massive, 19-disc collection Clint Eastwood: 35 Films, 35 Years at Warner Bros that celebrates the actor / director / producer. Included will be a booklet and a feature length documentary by Richard Schickel. The retail price will be a hefty $179.98.

Warners didn't release a complete list of those 35 films, but it spans the tender years of Where Eagles Dare all the way to 2008's Gran Torino. I imagine there will be some crossover with what you already own, like the entire Dirty Harry collection and The Outlaw Josey Wales. But most of his output from the late 1970s onward was done at Warner Bros, so all those films you've forgotten he ever made -- The Gauntlet, Bronco Billy, Honkytonk Man, Tightrope, Firefox, Heartbreak Ridge, A Perfect World, Pink Cadillac -- and can't find on DVD will make this a must have for the fan who needs everything.

Or almost everything. If you're looking for his directorial debut Play Misty For Me, or forgotten gems like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot or The Beguiled, you'll have to wait until Universal or MGM decides to put out a boxed set of their own. On that day, you better reinforce your bookshelf with steel frames to support the other 30 odd films he's done, even without Francis in the Navy.

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]]>clint eastwoodClint Eastwood 35 Films 35 Years Warner BrosClint Eastwood DVD collectionClintEastwoodClintEastwood35Films35YearsWarnerBrosClintEastwoodDvdCollectionfeaturedElisabeth RappeMon, 30 Nov 2009 09:48:00 ESTDiscuss: How Long Should You Keep Netflix DVDs?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/29/discuss-how-long-should-you-keep-netflix-dvds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/29/discuss-how-long-should-you-keep-netflix-dvds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/29/discuss-how-long-should-you-keep-netflix-dvds/#commentsFiled under:

NetflixOver at Hacking Netflix, Peter Nelhaus started a lively discussion about how long Netflix subscribers should get to keep DVDs without penalty. Peter feels that Netflix needs to establish some limits -- after you've hung on to a disc for, say, two months, you should be charged the purchase price for the DVD. His problem is that Netflix just doesn't have large quantities of more obscure foreign/indie titles, and if I'm procrastinating on watching one of those "smaller" titles, the rest of you are waiting on me. The two pages of comments offer a range of suggestions: Netflix sending a "nudge" email to subscribers every month, waiting until six months to charge a fee for holding a DVD, or simply buying more copies of that title.

The thread prompted me to look at our own Netflix account. It's not pretty. We've had one DVD for a month, and the other two for over two months. If you're in Austin and wondering why you can't get your hands on Brothers of the Head, it's totally our fault. A "nudge" email would probably help; threatening us with a fee might be overkill, although we'd sure send them back ASAP. Admittedly we tend to use the Watch Instantly feature more than the physical discs, so even hanging onto the discs, we get our money's worth. However, I think I'll physically nudge my husband to watch 'em or send 'em back soon, just to avoid the wrath of Peter and others like him.

Continue reading Discuss: How Long Should You Keep Netflix DVDs?

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]]>CinematicalfeaturedfilmmovieNetflixnetflix watch instantlyNetflixWatchInstantlyJette KernionSun, 29 Nov 2009 15:02:00 ESTDiscuss: What Were Your Best Black Friday Deals?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/best-black-friday-deals/#commentsFiled under: ,

As my Twitter feed fills with constantly re-Tweeted online bargains (be still, my weeping wallet), and as our own site did its best to prepare you readers for today's Thunderdome of savings, it's likely that a great many of you ventured out to capitalize on Black Friday in all its mania.

There were certainly deals to be had on movies and home entertainment equipment alike, and that's really what we want to hear about (not that a thirty-dollar camping tent isn't impressive or anything).

Where'd you go? How long did you wait in line? How cold was it? How busy was it? What did you get? What was already gone? Did you upgrade to Blu-ray this year? And did any of our readership outside the States take advantage of the online deals without leaving the comfort of your own home?

So go ahead, brag and boast about your claimed trophies. Me? I've got an empty wallet to console.

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]]>amazon.combest buyBestBuyblack fridayblack friday 2009black friday dealsblack friday salesBlackFridayBlackFriday2009BlackFridayDealsBlackFridaySalestargetWilliam GossFri, 27 Nov 2009 20:15:00 ESTFree Flick of The Day: Blame It On Riohttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/free-flick-of-the-day-blame-it-on-rio/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/free-flick-of-the-day-blame-it-on-rio/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/free-flick-of-the-day-blame-it-on-rio/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A film about an affair with your best friend's daughter is probably the last place you would expect to find a lesson on morality. But oddly enough, that's exactly what you get in Larry Gelbart's sex comedy, Blame It On Rio. Like many of the films I saw during my childhood, I was well out of the prescribed age group for the story of a May-December affair, but I always remembered this movie for two reasons: it was where I learned about the world of mid-life crisis, and I even learned a little something about the consequences of your actions ... but we'll get to that later. So if you've never seen this movie, you're in luck because SlashControl offers the flick as part of their free film selection.

Released in 1984, Rio was written by Gelbart, who is best known for his work in TV (as one of the creators of M.A.S.H) and in film (as the writer of Tootsie), and was directed by movie-musical legend, Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain). The story centered on two friends, Victor and Matthew (played respectively by Joseph Bologna and Michael Caine), who decide to go on vacation to Rio de Janeiro when their marriages have hit the skids. But things get a little tricky when Matthew (Caine) begins an affair with his best friend's teenage daughter, Jennifer (played by Michelle Johnson).

Continue reading Free Flick of The Day: Blame It On Rio

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]]>demi mooreDemiMooreFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayJoseph BolognaJosephBolognalarry gelbartLarryGelbartMichael CaineMichaelCaineslashcontrolstanley donenStanleyDonenJessica BarnesFri, 27 Nov 2009 18:12:00 ESTNew Site Makes It Easy to Buy and Sell DVDshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/new-site-makes-it-easy-to-buy-and-sell-dvds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/new-site-makes-it-easy-to-buy-and-sell-dvds/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/new-site-makes-it-easy-to-buy-and-sell-dvds/#commentsFiled under: ,

When it comes to my home entertainment collection, I have a problem saying no. If it's cheap enough and I can come up with a rationale for owning it, I'll shell out my hard earned dollars. Of course, this results in my shelves sagging under the weight of unloved and unwatched DVDs that seemed like a good idea at the time -- frankly, I couldn't tell you why I had to buy my very own copy of Step Up 2. But, selling those unwanted discs can be a bit of a hassle, and this is where Glyde comes in. This new service was created by the founder of eBay Motors and promises a new (and easier) way of buying and selling your used DVDs, video games, books, or CDs online.

So here's how it works: you simply sign up for an account, enter your credit card info, shipping address and you're ready to go. You can buy or sell with a single click, and best of all Glyde offers a no-hassle return policy -- which is sometimes a bit of a worry of mine when shopping online. If you're selling, Glyde sends you a Netflix-style prepaid envelope once the item has been sold and you pop it back into the mail within 24hrs. Glyde takes 10% of the sale price (and the price of the mailer) and the rest is deposited into your account, and you can withdraw your money at any time (via bank transfers or checks). Buying is even easier, and just takes one click to charge the item to your credit card. It all sounds pretty good on paper, and it is about time I started culling my own home entertainment collection -- I just hope I don't buy it all back again.

Watch a video intro to Glyde after the jump.

Continue reading New Site Makes It Easy to Buy and Sell DVDs

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]]>buyingdvdseBayEbayMotorsGlydeonline shoppingOnlineShoppingsellingJessica BarnesFri, 27 Nov 2009 09:45:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Amazon.comhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/27/black-friday-movie-deals-amazon-com/#commentsFiled under: ,

At first I thought this would be too difficult. Target, Best Buy, Walmart ... all those stores offer a very manageable number of Black Friday movie deals. Surely Amazon.com would prove way too massive of an undertaking ... but nope! Of course Amazon.com is offering a lot more movie deals than the non-virtual stores are, but they've made things quite easy by categorizing everything, and with handy links and everything!

First off, here's the Amazon Black Friday sales page, movies-only division. But that page offers way too many options, so let's pick out some of the best standard (non-blu-ray) dvd deals: Blazing Saddles ($5.99)! The Marx Brothers Collection ($17.99)!! The Goonies ($6.99)! The Nightmare on Elm Street box set ($24.99)! Spaceballs ($8.49)! And on and on it goes. New, old, classic, crappy, there's a good deal in here whatever you're after.

And what I'm after is blu-rays! 2001: A Space Odyssey ($9.49)! The Silence of the Lambs ($8.99)!! Watchmen director's cut ($16.99)! Goodfellas ($10.99)!! And those crafty Amazoners are planning to change the titles every day. It's like they want you to visit their website six times a day!

Last but not least, for those who love not just the deals but also the crazy pressure that comes with Black Friday, Amazon is now offering some nifty "Lightning Deals" that are scheduled throughout the week and last only a few hours. For example, tonight you can purchase the X-Men Origins: Wolverine blu-ray for $9.99. That's a pretty good deal on a very recent blu-ray release. Too bad the movie stinks.

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]]>amazon.comblack fridayBlackFridayScott WeinbergFri, 27 Nov 2009 00:03:00 ESTMaking The (Up) Grade: North By Northwesthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/making-the-up-grade-north-by-northwest/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Initially I planned to make North by Northwest a title revisited in my "Shelf Life" column, but I decided against it when I realized that most folks just love that movie to death, including myself, so seeing whether it's still good would be purely redundant. But the new Blu-ray released by Warner Brothers also didn't seem like it warranted a question of whether or not it was superior to its predecessors thanks to a wealth of bonus content - that is, until I discovered that in fact some of it was on previous versions, no doubt leaving longtime fans with a quandary whether or not to shell out a few more shekels to see one of their favorite Alfred Hitchcock films in high-definition.

As such, North by Northwest is the overdue subject of this week's "Making The (Up) Grade," and I spare no effort examining the past, present and future of this film's home video incarnations.

What's Already Available:

Continue reading Making The (Up) Grade: North By Northwest

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]]>alfred hitchcockAlfredHitchcockcary grantCaryGrantmaking the up gradeMakingTheUpGradenorth by northwestNorthByNorthwestvertigoTodd GilchristThu, 26 Nov 2009 12:02:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: Pieces of Aprilhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/free-flick-of-the-day-pieces-of-april/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/free-flick-of-the-day-pieces-of-april/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/26/free-flick-of-the-day-pieces-of-april/#commentsFiled under:

In this current world where Katie Holmes is wife to Tom Cruise and mother of Suri, it's easy to forget she used to have a pretty solid indie career intermingled with her days on the popular Creek -- Libbets Casey in The Ice Storm, Claire in Go, Hannah in Wonder Boys, Jessica in The Gift, Nurse Mills in The Singing Detective, April Burns in Pieces of April, and Heather Holloway in Thank You For Smoking. But there is one starring role in there that's quite applicable this week: Pieces of April. *

Her last big role of worth (she played only a supporting character in Smoking and she was bad enough to be axed from Gotham law after Batman Begins), Pieces of April finds Holmes the black sheep of a dysfunctional family. Living a life on her own in New York with her boyfriend Bobby, April decides to tackle the daunting halls of turkey roasting and have her family over for a Thanksgiving feast. Unfortunately, her oven fails and throws her into ultimate turkey turmoil as she struggles not to be seen as a failure (again) by her family. The film earned Patricia Clarkson an Oscar nomination for her role as Holmes' cancer-plagued mom, and is a pretty decent indie as a whole.

So, as you gear up for your own turkey feast:

Head over to SlashControl and watch Pieces of April for free!

*And one supporting gig that's prime for the more cynically holiday-minded -- The Ice Storm.

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]]>CinematicalFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayKatie HolmesKatieHolmesPieces of AprilPiecesOfAprilSlashcontrolMonika BartyzelThu, 26 Nov 2009 09:02:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Toys "R" Ushttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/black-friday-toys-r-us-deals/#commentsFiled under: ,

Our good friend and EIC Erik Davis had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving?

The next big brick and mortar retail stores we'll be scouring for Black Friday deals is Toys "R" Us . While there isn't a great selection of DVD/Blu-ray players, those parents looking to save on kid-friendly titles should find more than enough to pick up here. Note that the doorbuster items are marked with a *

Toys "R" Us is open at 12:00am on Black Friday. Their online sale starts at 12:01am EST on Thanksgiving Day.

Our previous Black Friday Movie Deals:
Best Buy
Target
Walmart
Kmart and Sears

DVD/Blu-ray

20 Select DVD Movies $9.99
30 Select DVD Movies $4.99
Aliens In The Attic DVD $9.99
All $9.99 Sony DVDs - 60 Titles (In-Store Only) $3.99
Aristocats DVD $9.99
A Tale Of Tails DVD $4.99
Babe DVD $4.99
Barbie Thumbelina DVD $4.99
Blues Clues World Travelers DVD $4.99
Bolt Disney DVD $9.99 *
Christmas Star DVD $4.99
Coraline DVD $9.99
Curious George DVD $4.99
Diego Saves Christmas DVD $4.99
Hanna Montana The Movie Blu-Ray $14.99
Hero Rails DVD $9.99
Hotel For Dogs DVD $9.99
Jonas Brothers Disney DVD $9.99 *

More after the jump

Continue reading Black Friday Movie Deals: Toys "R" Us

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]]>black friday movie dealsblackfriday09BlackFridayMovieDealstoys r usToysRUsErik DavisWed, 25 Nov 2009 18:05:00 ESTShelf Life: Fight Clubhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/shelf-life-fight-club/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/shelf-life-fight-club/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/shelf-life-fight-club/#commentsFiled under: , ,


By all accounts, 1999 was one of the best years in film history, featuring an amazing glut of debuts and career-defining follow-ups from a rich and varied roster of directors who are steadily working some ten years later. For example American Beauty, which was also released in '99, was one of the first films revisited in our "Shelf Life" series, and it seemed most likely to lose its luster, especially given its Oscar win and almost universal critical acclaim, but thankfully the film sustained most of its initial appeal and impact.

Fight Club, meanwhile, faced markedly more polarizing reactions from audiences and critics, although like Alan Ball and Sam Mendes' film it captured a moment in the zeitgeist that made it important almost regardless of how good it was. Ten years later, Fox Home Entertainment just released the film on Blu-ray in a gorgeous new set, and after a decade of conspicuous consumption and ironic detachment, it's time to see whether the weight of its message or meaning still holds relevance.

Continue reading Shelf Life: Fight Club

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]]>american beautyAmericanBeautybrad pittBradPittchuck palahniukChuckPalahniukdavid fincherDavidFincheredward nortonEdwardNortonfeaturedfight clubFightClubshelf lifeShelfLifeTodd GilchristWed, 25 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST'Funny People' Star Aziz Ansari Getting His Own 'Randy' Spin-offhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If the sound of the name "Ruh-Ruh-Ruh-Raaaaaaaandy!" partnered with a few DJ effects and the sight of comic actor Aziz Ansari jumping maniacally around a stage made you tingle in Judd Apatow's Funny People, then prepare yourself for what I'm about to say: Randy is getting his own movie. To paraphrase Randy himself, if you fine folks are prepared to chortle until your genitals become disconnected from your body, let me hear you say "Yes!"

Variety reports that Ansari and fellow Human Giant collaborator Jason Woliner pitched the Randy spin-off to Apatow along with two other intended Ansari vehicles, a buddy road flick about motivational speakers and an astronaut comedy. While Apatow's production company will produce all three, the report doesn't mention which of the projects will happen first.

Over at the MTV Movies Blog, Christopher Campbell notes that just last week, Apatow indicated some hesitation on Ansari's part to revisit the character of Randy. "Aziz may be concerned that more people think he's Randy than Aziz," Apatow explained. And that may be a legitimate concern for Ansari, who currently co-stars on "Parks and Recreation." His Randy characterization is so subtle, even in its bombastic raunchiness, that it's an entirely believable comic persona -- kind of a douchebag persona, but a hilarious one nonetheless. (Personally, if Ansari did nothing but "Randy" for the rest of his life, I'd be satisfied.)

More on the Randy spin-off and a video from Funny People after the jump.

Continue reading 'Funny People' Star Aziz Ansari Getting His Own 'Randy' Spin-off

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]]>aziz ansariAzizAnsarifunny peopleFunnyPeopleHuman GiantHumanGiantJason WolinerJasonWolinerJudd ApatowJuddApatowRandyspin-offJen YamatoWed, 25 Nov 2009 10:02:00 ESTFree Flick of the Day: Hang 'Em Highhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/free-flick-of-the-day-hang-em-high/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/free-flick-of-the-day-hang-em-high/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/free-flick-of-the-day-hang-em-high/#commentsFiled under: ,

After nominating For a Few Dollars More and The Good the Bad and the Ugly for Free Flick of the Day, I'm going to sound like a very old and tired drum by nominating Hang 'Em High. But hey, you need something to watch today and it's just sitting there, waiting for someone to notice it.

Hang 'Em High isn't a great film by any means, and it's not a very remarkable Western. It's full of missed opportunities, and the end hints that there may have been plans for a franchise centered around Marshall Jed Cooper. It's notable because it was the first film Clint Eastwood produced with his Malpaso shingle, which he would obviously go onto do great things with. (Would there be an Unforgiven without Hang 'Em High? Probably, but who knows!) It's also his first post-Sergio Leone Western, and one of the first attempts to bring Leone's style to America. It doesn't succeed in doing that very well, though a lot of the Man with No Name's trademarks remained. I think Eastwood sold himself a bit short by relying on that cigar so much, particularly since this is a character who is miles away from the cold bounty hunter of the Leone flicks. Jed Cooper is a man who is genuinely trying to do the right thing in life, and gets screwed over again and again.

However, this film entertaining enough, and is worth watching just for the whole hanging sequence. I've already mentioned this film as the probable inspiration for Lt. Aldo Raine's hanging scar and while I'm still not sure if that's true or not, you can watch it and pretend Cooper is Raine's grandfather.

Watch Hang 'Em High for free on SlashControl

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]]>Clint EastwoodClintEastwoodFree Flick of the DayFreeFlickOfTheDayHang em HighHangEmHighMalpasoslashcontrolElisabeth RappeTue, 24 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST'Paranormal Activity' on DVD and Blu-ray December 29http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/paranormal-activity-dvd-blu-ray-december-29/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/paranormal-activity-dvd-blu-ray-december-29/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/paranormal-activity-dvd-blu-ray-december-29/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you still haven't seen Paranormal Activity, I don't know what you've been waiting for. Seeing the horror flick in theaters is one of those great moviegoing experiences -- the more people in the theater to scream and laugh with the better. Besides, I can only imagine that watching the thing at home would be so frightening you'll never be able to sleep soundly again. Oh, that probably appeals to many of you scary movie fans, in which case you'll be glad to know you have to wait only a little over a month more to pick up the DVD or Blu-ray of this little movie that could.

Paramount will release Paranormal Activity to home video on December 29, just in time to give you something to purchase with the gift card you got over the holidays. Both the DVD and Blu-ray come with the theatrical version of the film as well as an unrated cut that includes an alternate ending (presumably the original one). And the Blu-ray includes a digital copy of the theatrical version, so you can play the movie on your iPod and watch it while hiding underneath your covers.

Continue reading 'Paranormal Activity' on DVD and Blu-ray December 29

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]]>blu-raycloverfieldparanormal activityParanormalActivitysteven spielbergStevenSpielbergthe blair witch projectTheBlairWitchProjectChristopher CampbellTue, 24 Nov 2009 18:32:00 ESTSpin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/24http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-24/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-24/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/24/spin-ematical-new-on-dvd-for-11-24/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Angels & Demons
The first was met with much critical disdain, but fought back to earn over $750 million at the worldwide box office. Angels & Demons still managed to make money, but less than $500 million (needing worldwide take to even make up for the budget) as Tom Hanks tries to hunt down a symbol-loving murderer. Eric D. Snider called it: "is as overly serious as its predecessor, and poor Mr. Hanks -- the world's most likable man, for crying out loud! -- is still dour and intense." Skip it. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Four Christmases
Just as the title implies, Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon are forced to stop avoiding their crazy families and must hit four households over the holidays. In his review, William Goss wrote: "The rest makes for an occasionally amusing, mostly shrill series of encounters with an ensemble that only encourages misanthropic ideals, and maybe if Four Christmases had decided to extend itself beyond white trash targets and projectile vomiting, we could've found ourselves talking about a new Christmas classic right now." Rent it if you want some uncomfortable holiday humor. Also on Blu-ray.

Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Funny People
If ever there was a reason why Adam Sandler has been sticking to the ridiculous fluff, this is it -- a dramedy with a lot of heart that couldn't even make back its budget after worldwide release. In his review, Todd Gilchrist said: "Funny People is one of the summer's, if not the year's best films, because it's a comedy that inverts the medium's typical use - effectively revealing feelings rather than concealing them - and invites the audience to share in that discovery." Buy it and give the film some love. Also on Blu-ray.

Read Our Blu-ray Review | Add to Netflix queue | Buy at Amazon

Hit the jump for a peek at Shorts and other new releases...

Continue reading Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 11/24

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]]>Angels and DemonsAngelsAndDemonsCinematicalDVD RecommendationsDvdRecommendationsfeaturedFour ChristmasesFourChristmasesFunny PeopleFunnyPeopleShortsThe Maiden HeistTheMaidenHeistMonika BartyzelTue, 24 Nov 2009 11:15:00 ESTInterview: Judd Apatow (Part Two)http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/judd-apatow-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/judd-apatow-interview/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/judd-apatow-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Read Part One of this interview right here

When Judd Apatow's latest film, Funny People, was announced, many critics and audiences hailed it - even before they saw it - not only as an evolution of the filmmaker's style, but a return to the kind of drama-laced comedy that flourished in the 1980s and early '90s thanks to folks like Cameron Crowe and James L. Brooks. When it was released, the film more than satisfied those expectations, offering an unflinching but frequently hilarious portrait of an A-list comedian rediscovering himself, but there seemed to be a sense that audiences knew themselves less well than they felt like they knew the film's main character, resulting in a less enthusiastic response than perhaps even they expected.

The film arrives on Blu-ray this week, offering what is indisputably the most complete and comprehensive look behind the scenes at a comedy ever produced, and offers audiences a second chance to check out Apatow's most meaningful and resonant work to date. Cinematical got a chance to catch up with the writer-director via telephone to discuss the contents of the expansive, 2-Disc Collector's Edition; in the second part of our chat, Apatow talks about precisely what made the movie so personal for him, and offers a few insights about its place in his growing body of work, and its potential influence on his future films (including a Harry Potter movie, maybe?).

Cinematical: With or without talking to you at the time of the film's release, people seemed to assume that this was a very personal film, I think because it was more serious than your previous work. Was it really personal, and if so in what way or why?

Continue reading Interview: Judd Apatow (Part Two)

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]]>adam sandlerAdamSandlerfunny peopleFunnyPeoplejudd apatowJuddApatowleslie mannLeslieMannseth rogenTodd GilchristMon, 23 Nov 2009 22:02:00 ESTBlack Friday Movie Deals: Walmarthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/walmart-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/walmart-black-friday-deals/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/walmart-black-friday-deals/#commentsFiled under:

Our good friend and EIC Erik Davis (that's me!) had a very thoughtful idea for the holiday season: Why not scan the early flyers for the Black Friday sales, and report back to you -- the ravenous movie junkie -- to let you know where to find the best treats on the day after Thanksgiving? We'll be bringing you deals for a variety of stores and online retailers all week long. Here's what we've posted so far so you can keep track:

Black Friday Movie Deals: Best Buy
Black Friday Movie Deals: Target

Walmart opens at 5am on Friday, November 27th. I've highlighted the most notable (for being awesome) deals in bold.

DVD/Blu-ray

17 Again (DVD) $9.00
Aliens In The Attic (DVD) $9.00
Blazing Saddles (DVD) $2.00
Blood Diamond (DVD) $2.00
Braveheart (Blu-ray) $10.00
Casino Royale (DVD) $2.00
Facing Giants (DVD) $2.00
Fast & Furious (Blu-ray) $10.00
Fireproof (DVD) $9.00
GI Joe (DVD) $9.00
Gladiator (Blu-ray) $10.00
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (Blu-ray) $10.00
HellBoy II (DVD) $2.00
Horton Hears A Who (DVD) $5.00
Hotel For Dogs (DVD) $5.00
I Am Legend (DVD) $2.00
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (Blu-ray) $10.00
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (DVD) $9.00
Iron Man (DVD) $5.00
Kung Fu Panda (DVD) $5.00
Little Black Book (DVD) $2.00
Madagascar 2 (DVD) $5.00
Mall Cop (DVD) $5.00
Marley & Me (DVD) $9.00
Monsters Vs Aliens 2 Pack (DVD) $9.00
Nim's Island (DVD) $5.00

More after the jump

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]]>blackfriday09walmart black fridayWalmartBlackFridayErik DavisMon, 23 Nov 2009 20:35:00 EST