After slim pickings last week, a better crop of movies I can recommend this week:
1.) “This is It” (Sony, $39.95) – my favorite movie of year by far (longer review under “Picks” here); Blu-ray takes it up a notch w/ following notable bonus features:
— 16-minute poignant but not maudlin “Memories of Michael”
— 40-minute “Staging the Show”: welcome movie extension;
loads of fascinating prep footage and dialogue
— 10-minute dancer auditions; see MJ through eyes of professional admirers
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- 2.) “Surrogates” (Disney, $39.99) – exciting futuristic thriller concept set in world where everyone has their own lookalike robot to do daily activities while owner controls them from home.
— Bruce Willis always enjoyable
— engaging throughout;
— great stunts;
Extras include:
— four deleted scenes
— music video “I Will Not Bow”
by Breaking Benjamin
— science of surrogates featurette
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3.) “Whip It” (Fox, $39.99) — Fun story of rebellious teen who secretly defies her mother’s beauty pageant push and joins a rough roller derby team.
— Movie and Ellen Page feel like sequel to “Juno”
— Great cast: Daniel Stern, Juliette Lewis,
Drew Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden
& Jimmy Fallon as announcer
— minimal bonus features: extra scenes
Other notable new releases:
- “Saw VI” (Lionsgate, $39.99)
– R-rated theatrical cut in full-screen; and unrated widescreen director’s cut
Extras:
— two audio commentaries
— three making-of featurettes
— multiple music videos