DVDs for Guys Who Like DVDs - Volume 1

Boondock Saints: Uncut Special Edition
This one isn’t for the kiddies or the faint of heart. But those who aren’t opposed to gratuitous violence will love this flick. It follows the story of the MacManus Brothers (played by Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus) who find themselves in trouble with the mob after a bar room brawl. Obviously, mobsters don’t like being roughed up, especially by two Irish guys. After a drunken fire-setting melee, the mobsters seek bloody revenge on the two Irish brothers. Connor and Murphy MacManus (could they have given these guys more Irish names?) turn the tables on their mobster attackers and are praised as heroes. Consequently, they decide killing off the wicked of the world isn’t a bad idea. Murderous rampages ensue with Willem Dafoe playing the role of the detective hot on their trail. This movie didn’t see much time, if any, in theaters due to its violent nature, but has been a cult classic. The uncut special edition won’t disappoint.

Patton: Special Edition
This 1970 Classic is back with a new special edition. Simply put, Patton is one of the greatest war movies ever made. George C. Scott turned in an Oscar winning performance playing the title role of American World War II general George S. Patton. Winner of the 1970 Oscar for Best Picture, Patton is not just a story about the battles of Patton and his troops, but is a character piece that delves deeper into who Patton was. This two-disc special edition DVD contains audio commentary from author Charles M. Province as well as a documentary on the making of the movie. I own the original DVD release of this movie and will own this special edition release as well. If you love war movies, I suggest you do the same.

Also coming out this week is a special edition DVD of “The Longest Day” - another great World War II movie chronicling the Normandy Invasion known as “D Day.”

Tora Tora Tora: Special Edition
Forget about the Pearl Harbor monstrosity that Michael Bay paraded around as war movie with Ben Affleck and Josh Harnett. This is a real movie about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, minus the weird love triangle of the disastrous 2001 release. Tora Tora Tora actually shows the planning and strategy behind the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and leaves out the unnecessary sappy love story. This 1970 classic may lack the stellar visual effects that Bay’s release had, but what it lacks in style it more than makes up for in substance. What makes this movie so special is its accuracy and the fact that it’s told from both sides of the story. American director Richard Fleischer directed the scenes from the American side of the event while Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku directed the scenes from the Japanese perspective. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was one of the most dramatic events in the history of the United States and a movie depicting its events does not need any added drama. Tora Tora Tora realized that, and that is part of what makes this a memorable film.

Releasing May 30, 2006Platoon: Special Edition
If you couldn’t tell by now, I enjoy a good war movie. Platoon is one of the best Vietnam movies ever produced, cementing Oliver Stone as a major player in Hollywood. Unlike other Vietnam movies, Stone’s epic was based on his own experience as a solider in the Vietnam War. Platoon saw an all-star cast lead by Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, and Forest Whitaker. Deleted scenes, documentaries, and audio commentary from Oliver Stone and Military Advisor Dale Dye make this a good buy at under $20.

Riddick Trilogy
Ok, so maybe the Chronicles of Riddick wasn’t that great even if you’re a fan of bad acting, terrible dialog, and over the top action blockbusters like me. But Pitch Black is worth the $15 asking price. Vin Diesel’s first leading role came in the 2000 release of Pitch Black where he played the wildly violent Riddick. Riddick’s transport crashes stranding him and his fellow survivors on a planet with three suns. It just so happens this land houses some nasty creatures that live only in the dark, or as the title suggests in the pitch black. You would think three suns on a planet would prevent these creatures from harming you. That is, unless of course, there is an eclipse that occurs once every hundred years or so. This trilogy gives you Pitch Black along with the sequel Chronicles of Riddick and The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury which fills in the holes between the first and second movies in this series. Like I said, don’t expect any grand plots, or any clever dialogue, and forget about character development. This is the kind of series you can turn on and then turn off your brain to watch. And I mean that in a good way.

Releasing June 6, 2006

Entourage – The Complete Second Season
Vince, Turtle, E, and Johnny Drama are back for season two of the HBO hit show Entourage. If you didn’t see season one, buy that first before season two comes out. Why HBO decided to release the season two DVDs the same week that season three will be premiering is beyond me, but this is still worth the money. If you haven’t seen the show, it follows the life of most mid 20’s men – you know a life of super models, expensive cars, giant houses, and super models. Jeremy Piven’s character Ari is one of the funniest characters currently on TV. The “PCU” star delivers big time as Ari Gold, a Hollywood agent in charge of making Vince a star. My take on it? Hug it out bitch, and pick up your copy today.

Glory Road
The story of the 1966 Texas Western basketball team is brought to life by Disney in this 2005 film. Head coach Dan Haskins took the first all African American starting five to the NCAA Title game against traditional powerhouse Kentucky, in what some people have called the greatest game ever played. It’s a Disney flick, so expect some sappy, over emotional scenes, but its still a great story and a good sports movie. The DVD comes with some cool features such as deleted scenes and interviews with former NBA superstar Tim Hardaway, as well as other players. If movies like Rudy, Miracle, and Hoosiers line your DVD shelf, I think there’s a spot for this one.

Dazed and Confused Criterion Collection
They could release this movie in 10 different versions and formats and I’d probably buy each one. If there is a better movie to sit around with a bunch of high school or college buds and crack open a few cold ones, I am unaware of it. It’s one of those “shut your brain off and enjoy” movies. Even the most pretentious of film student will crack a smile when they see a young Ben Affleck get dowsed with paint or a young Matthew McConaughey shamelessly refuse to grow out of his high school days. Released in 1993, this movie is still a mainstay in the DVD collections of college students around the country. And that’s what I love most about this movie, I get older… but it stays the same age.

Blackhawk Down: Extended Cut
This is another movie that has been released in about 50 different formats and versions. Blackhawk Down tells the story of 100 US Army Rangers who were sent into the Somali capitol of Mogadishu to capture a pair of Somali lieutenants including warlord Muhammad Farrah Aidid. Aidid’s men shot down two US Black Hawk helicopters trapping the 100 Army Rangers in the city and pinning them up against thousands of insurgents. The story behind this flick is flawlessly entertaining and the composition and execution of the film is top notch. Blackhawk Down features some of the best sound design you will find in a movie. If you’re the owner of a new surround sound system or already own one, this is one movie that will solidify your thousand dollar purchase.

Releasing June 6, 2006

Coach Season 1
Before Craig T. Nelson was the voice of Mr. Incredible, he was head coach Hayden Fox on the ABC hit TV Show Coach. For 200 episodes, Fox and his assistants Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke) and Dauber Dybinski (Bill Faggerbakke) coached the Minnesota State Screaming Eagles to a national title before moving on to the NFL, when ratings started to dip in the show’s later years. This is one of the best “Guy” TV shows of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Released right in time for Father’s Day, this two disc DVD just made my shopping a lot easier this year.

Also releasing this week in TV…

• Cheers Season 8
• MacGyver Season 6
• Walker, Texas Ranger Season 1 (Chuck Norris says to buy this)

Related Posts

• Watch a movie anytime, anywhere
• Soothing sounds for restless sleepers
• A real page turner…
• Boston Bomb Scare No Laughing Matter
• 17 Awesomely Bad Action Movies
• DVD Guy’s Top 10 Sports Comedies
• DVD Guy’s Top 10 Sports Dramas

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 at 9:58 am and is filed under Featured Posts, Movies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.