Please see the release calendar for releases from countries outside the US.
Marketing can make or break a file, and in some cases, change the way a film is initially perceived. Such is the case with today's Blu-ray release of The Adjustment Bureau, where a post-Inception landscape forced marketers to focus on the entire "reality isn't real" aspects of the film, even though core theme is a love story that will appeal more to fans of The Notebook than of Christopher Nolan's aforementioned masterpiece.
For the The Adjustment Bureau Blu-ray review , staff reviewer Kenneth Brown commented, "Your personal appreciation and enjoyment of The Adjustment Bureau is most likely going to be geared more than usual to your expectations of what kind of film you think you're about to see." He continues, "If… you want nothing more than an OK chick flick, with lovers fighting against impossible (and even supernatural) odds, you'll probably find a lot to like in The Adjustment Bureau, despite its logical deficiencies and tonal imbalances."
When released, Taken was a surprise box office hit, grossing nearly ten times its budget worldwide. So it was no surprise that when trailers were released for Liam Neeson's Unknown, it looked very much in the same style as Taken, though it shares most of its theme with an even more popular action film - The Borne Identity. Even though the film takes its influences from two highly regarded films, it fails to meet the same level of refinement action fans have come to expect.
Staff reviewer Kenneth Brown commented in his Unknown Blu-ray review , "It's fun, twisty and entertaining, sure. But it's also fairly forgettable; another convoluted genre pic bolstered by terrific performances. Sadly, plot holes, leaps in logic and unhinged implausibility prevents it from being much more. Luckily, Warner's Blu-ray release is a different matter altogether. While its supplemental package is a near-barebones bore, its AV presentation is a near-perfect stunner worthy of its thriller roots."
Rome fans will recall the very first episode, where Vorenus and Pullo set out to find the stolen Aquila. Now, if you take that episode, remove the political drama, and stretch the story to two hours, you get The Eagle, which is out today on Blu-ray. The film never gained traction in the box office, but makes a decent addition to anyone's collection who appreciates Roman drama.
For the The Eagle Blu-ray review , staff reviewer Kenneth Brown concluded, "There's something refreshing about The Eagle's minimalism. It doesn't revel in excess, doesn't stray too far from its source and doesn't try to rise above its means." He continues, "Armed with a faithful video transfer and an able-bodied DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, The Eagle doesn't go into the night as quietly as it might otherwise."
And of course, any fan of Michael Bay's over-the-top thematic need to pick up a copy of The Island today. No, Bay doesn't make the deepest or artsy films out there, but they sure are fun to watch! So get yourself a few cold ones, pop a bag of popcorn, and enjoy the ride.
Staff reviewer Martin Liebman commented in his The Island Blu-ray review , "Like the best of Science Fiction, its future storyline hauntingly rings as plausibly true both today and in the near future, and it's accentuated by incredible action pieces that only Michael Bay can achieve. Despite a few flaws -- it's overlong, primarily -- The Island holds up not as a treasure of cinema or anything of the sort, but as a commendable all-around effort that's sure to withstand the test of time. Paramount's Blu-ray release of The Island features strong technical presentations and a handful of extras."
Not all weeks are going to be knockouts, but I can't recall a worse week for Blu-ray. Two knock-offs top the list. Louis CK is good, but WWE? People still watch WWE? Why?
I'll pick up The 'Adjustment Bureau' today! Thought it was a pretty cool flick. Not to big of a Michel Bay fan, but I actually did enjoy 'The Island' so for the right price I'll pick it up eventually. I'll Netflix 'The Eagle' and see what I think first.
I actually quite enjoyed The Adjustment Bureau and thought it was well-written, -acted and -crafted. I don't regard it as a "chick flick" though it really is a love story affected by sci-fi and action elements. Although, taken separately, I liked the film's trailer, it is a bit misleading in terms of what the tone of the film is. I definitely recommend the film, but I agree that potential viewers should not expect a lot of heavy sci-fi or wall-to-wall action. Jason Bourne is nowhere to be seen here. You'll need to keep an open mind. It may be that your expectations will have to be adjusted, lol.
Down the line -- and not too far down the line -- I will definitely blind buy the classic Kiss Me Deadly, the other film that interests me in this relatively light week. Next week will be big, though...
Just the Unknown combo pack for me this week. I'll also buy The Island in the near future, and I'll check out The Adjustment Bureau later on in the month. Looking forward to Sucker Punch next week.
PossumPete--It looks like the first two (Individual 11, Laughing Man) are merely compilations of material from the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex tv series. The Laughing Man is culled from SAC 1 and Individual 11 culled from SAC 2. The Solid State Society follows the TV series. So I'd go Laughing Man, Individual 11, and then Solid State Society.
That said, although I haven't watched Ghost in the Shell beyond the 1st movie, my impression is that the different iterations stand alone, so you might be able to watch them in any order you please.
You might be better off asking the anime thread in the forum, though.
Anybody find Louie in a blu-ray case? It seems stores opted to go with the DVD case with the blu-ray instead of the blu- ray case with the DVDs! Bad move! Go away DVDs nobody likes you anymore!
So I blind bought the adjustment bureau. What a great movie, I really found it moving and a facinating look at how fate and love work. I don't get why the film got such harsh reviews especially on this site. The only reason i can see for someone not loving this movie is if they had never found their true love in life.
