Friday, March 30, 2007

DVD Releases - March 27

“Children of Men” (R) - Director Alfonso Cuaron brings an adaptation of a P.D. James novel to the big screen that depicts an infertile population where near anarchy reigns in the streets. Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine star in this critically-acclaimed film that also managed to garner several Oscar nominations.
Extras: Deleted scenes and multiple featurettes.
Official Web site

“Happy Feet” (PG) - Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Film, “Happy Feet” follows a penguin named Mumble (voiced by Elijah Wood), who’s got dancing fever. Problem is, emperor penguins are supposed to be able to sing, which makes him a bit of an outsider. Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Brittany Murphy are among those lending their voices to this film from George Miller, the director of “Babe.”
Extras: Two new animated sequences, two music videos, a classic cartoon and a private dance lesson with Savion Glover.
Official Web site

“The Pursuit of Happyness” (PG-13) - Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner, a real-life success story who struggled for a time to make ends meet, while taking on an unpaid internship at a San Francisco stock brokerage firm. The film also stars Smith’s actual son, Jaden, and Thandie Newton, but the proceedings are really fueled by Smith’s Oscar-nominated performance.
Extras: A featurette on the Smith father and son combination, commentary with director Gabriele Muccino, a making-of featurette, and a conversation with Gardner.
Official Web site

“The Shield: Season 5” - Anyone who’s followed this gritty cop drama from its first season should be pleased with how well the show’s overall quality has held up. The fifth season almost takes on the feel of a Shakespearean tragedy by the time it all plays out, with much of the show’s focus landing on a cat and mouse pursuit between Det. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and a determined Internal Affairs investigator (Forest Whitaker, in a riveting performance) who’s not above bending the rules himself.
Extras: Tons of deleted scenes, as well as commentaries on all 11 episodes, along with multiple featurettes.
Official Web site

“Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj” (R/Unrated) - In this sequel (pretty much by name only, since the stars of the original, Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid are no shows), Kal Penn takes over as the star, playing Taj, Van’s sidekick, who heads to England to attend a snooty grad school. There’s probably some drinking and sexual situations to follow, don’t you think? This movie was in theaters for about 10 minutes, but now it’s yours to keep on DVD.
Extras: Deleted scenes, a gag reel, music videos and a couple of featurettes.
Official Web site

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