The best new movie on Blu-ray this week is filled with a dozen big stars, while another features Kevin Costner in an unlikely horror movie produced in 2008 that was not released in theaters.
1.) “Valentine’s Day” (Warner, $28.98 or $35.99 combo Blu/DVD) is yet another thoroughly enjoyable relationship comedy from filmmaker Garry Marshall, this time exploring the experiences of many different L.A. couples on Valentine’s Day.
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— Two Taylors (Lautner and Swift, the latter in her film debut) provide teen star power and fun small roles.
— Two Jessicas (Alba and Biel) deliver sex appeal in solid performances
— Two Roberts (Julia and niece Emma) contribute strong moments
— Two surprises offer humor and heart-tugging poignant moment
— Two good songs by Swift and Jewel
— Hector Elizondo in his 17th Marshall movie as funny as ever cast as husband to Shirley Maclaine.
— Fun bonus feature salute to Marshall with praise and jabs by cast
— Funny gag reel
— Marshall fascinating and informative audio commentary (his son shot “love letter” to L.A. — opening titles montage) and intros to 14 deleted scenes, all of which deserved to be cut.
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Invictus (Warner, $34.99), an inspiring sports movie in the larger context of the resurgence of South Africa under unlikely President Nelson Mandela during the 1995 World Cup of Rugby, is an ideal film to get you revved up for next month’s soccer (futbol) 2010 World Cup.
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— Damon is terrific even with masterful South African accent.
— Director Clint Eastwood creates multiple rousing crowd-pleaser scenes atypical of his usual style.
— English captioning feature hepful during many scenes where thick accents and soft dialogue are hard to hear and understand.
— Interesting picture-in-picture pop-up video anecdotes during movie by Eastwood, writer and others.
— Fun teaser bonus feature of upcoming feature-length documentary “The Eastwood Factor” on Eastwood’s career by longtime Eastwood profiler Richard Schickel following Eastwood around Warner lot.
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3.) Extraordinary Measures (Sony, $34.95) starts out looking like little more than a TV movie (it’s from CBS Films, and even blatantly plugs sister network Nickelodeon’s “Spongebob Squarepants” at beginning) but winds up being a fairly powerful story about a businessman (Brendan Fraser) who uses his professional drive to track down a research scientist (Harrison Ford) and push him to create a business partnership to create a drug to save his two children born with a rare fatal condition.
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— Fraser and Ford are strong playing characters against type.
— Bonus feature with real father/businessman John Crowley.
4.) The Spy Next Door (Lionsgate, $39.99), a cute family movie with plenty of fun low-budget high-tech gadgets and action akin to a Disney Channel movie, but with major star Jackie Chan as a seemingly nerdy suburban neighbor of a single mom who tries to win over the hearts of her three precosious kids.
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— Chan is charming as a former spy trying to keep his identity and skills a secret.
— George Lopez and Bill Ray Cyrus are fun supporting characters, in a Disney Channel kind of way.
— Delightful montage of Chan’s best movie stunts during opening titles
— Fun blooper reel typical of Chan
— Engaging featurette showcasing Chan as stunt master and mentor
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5.) The New Daughter (Anchor Bay, $34,98) offers the A-list Kevin Costner in a remarkably ordinary horror movie produced in 2008/09 about a father whose daughter is unwittingly caught up in frightening mysterious events happening in their big old house near a big old wooded area, which is all somewhat intriguing but which could have had an other less accomplished actor in the lead role.
— Luis Berdejo director commentary very helpful in pointing out many almost-too-subtle things happening in the final few seconds, which may escape most viewers and leave them scratching their head about the ending.
— By Scott Hettrick