“THE WOLFMAN” (Blu-Ray and DVD)

‘Even a director that is pure of heart
and has made films like “The Rocketeer” at his height
may become a mediocre hack when the Wolfman remake looms
and the CG is pretty far from tight’

That would be Joe Johnston I’m having a go at, even though he probably doesn’t deserve most of the blame for this underwhelming adaptation of Universal’s classic monster movie. Benicio del Toro is cast (presumably only because he bears a resemblance to original actor Lon Chaney Jr) as the unfortunate Lawrence Talbot, an actor who returns as the prodigal son to his decrepit home estate when his brother has turned up horribly murdered. It’s all of a few moments before he finds himself bitten by ‘something’ while investigating a local gypsy camp (damn profiling). His father (Anthony Hopkins) always seems to be pretty busy gnawing on the scenery while issuing vague warnings, Emily Blunt heaves at her bodice while tending to the injured del Toro, and Hugo Weaving creeps around trying to pin renewed murders in the town on the returned brother. There are certainly some fun moments but it all seems much less than it should be, especially with the F/X which will never be able to show as convincing a werewolf transformation with computers as a master practical artist like Rick Baker (who did a lot of the finished wolf makeup) is capable of.
EXTRAS: The original 1941 film which streams through BD-Live (but which should have been put on its own blu-ray disc; two pop-up tracks, a trivia one that features occasional comparison PiP and one with more production stuff; alternate ending; 4 featurettes about the myths, Rick Baker’s werewolf love, the F/X vs Practical effects work, and the stuntwork; a digital copy; D-box tech for all you d-bags who can afford the chair
CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL SPILL.COM REVIEW
CLICK HERE TO BUY The Wolfman (2-Disc Unrated Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]

“THE THREE MUSKETEERS/THE FOUR MUSKETEERS” (DVD)

Believe it or not, this adaptation of Alexander Dumas’ novel is one of the most fun and best versions of the many out there. I refer to it as one film because these were made to originally be as one film, but were split up by the studio. Much yelling and stomping of feet was done by the cast over pay involved until proper remuneration was made, a decision that even now is named after the Salkind family producers and is written into all SAG actors contracts. Regardless, as swashbuckling lighthearted adventure goes, you don’t get much more entertaining than these two (one) films starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay, and Richard Chamberlain as the swordsmen. Add in Charlton Heston as Cardinal Richelieu, Christopher Lee as the Count De Rochefort and Raquel Welch reminding you who possibly the sexiest woman who ever lived is, and you’ve got a must-own, with both of the films on one DVD. If you’re even mildly a fan of the dashing, witty swordsmen type of thing, you’re gonna fall madly in love with this.
EXTRAS: trailers; picture gallery; 50 minute documentary called “The Saga of the Musketeers”
CLICK HERE TO BUY The Three Musketeers/The Four Musketeers (Two-Movie Collection)

“UNDISPUTED III: REDEMPTION” (Blu-Ray and DVD)

Some of you are likely asking yourselves, “Really, Cyrus? The third Undisputed movie? Would you mind taking that Blu-Ray distribution company’s cock out of your mouth before you start this list?” But I swear, there’s a method to my madness. While the original Wesley Snipes/Ving Rhames film about prison boxing directed by Walter Hill wasn’t too bad, it certainly didn’t make me want to see the direct-to-video sequel. But this third film has more than a few advantages in its corner, especially the wonderfully charismatic and stunning martial artist Marko Zaror playing a role. Despite my disbelief, reports keep flooding in from other critics that this sucker is pretty impressive from a fight fan point of view, of which I certainly am one. Expect a review from me on the site later on once I’ve sat down to watch it.
EXTRAS: Digital copy
CLICK HERE TO BUY Undisputed III: Redemption [Blu-ray]

“WAR OF THE WORLDS” (Blu-Ray)

I was pretty far from blown away by Steven Spielberg’s remake of the classic H.G. Wells story of alien invasion, but even the least of Spielberg’s science fiction films is still better than most that come out. Perhaps I would have been more taken with it were it not for Tom Cruise in the lead, or an oddly misplaced Tim Robbins cameo, the constant convenient coincidences, or the oddly improbable happy ending...actually, I guess they would have to have done quite a bit to make me like this more, but there’s no faulting the well done special effects and tense action. I think as doomsday movies go, “War of the Worlds” is an acceptably enjoyable entry into the category but definitely not an essential one.
EXTRAS: Eight relatively short featurettes about various aspects of the film’s production and design; 91 minutes of Production Diaries divided into four segments covering different parts of the production; Galleries; Trailer
CLICK HERE TO BUY War of the Worlds [Blu-ray]