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Latest Video: FilmCrunch 067: Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, Premonition reviewed

Veronica Santiago and Neil Estep review Hairspray, Chuck & Larry, and Premonition in this episode of FilmCrunch.
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This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 29, 2008

Life of Brian Blu-rayHappy Tuesday, all!

The big news this week is the release of Monty Python’s Life of Brian on Blu-ray. The classic film, walking the hyper-sensitive line between important social issues and side-splitting comedy, is easily one of the best from the Python team, and should have a place on every movie lover’s shelf. Why not own it in gorgeous 1080p resolution and Dolby 5.1 surround sound? The harmless religious satire is that much better.

On a side note, am I crazy, or has Warner started consistently releasing films on HD DVD weeks later than those released on Blu-ray? For instance, this week’s Blu-ray release, The Invasion, won’t come out on HD DVD until February 19. And it’s not this one time either—the list of upcoming titles from High-Def Digest shows a serious lag in Warner HD DVD releases. I realize that Warner is phasing the format out, but have they officially put HD DVD on the back burner?

Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.

Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 29, 2008


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Worst Movie Titles of 2007 (So Far)

DescriptionThis weekend’s Joaquin Phoenix/Mark Wahlberg flick has been driving me batty for weeks—and I haven’t yet seen the film.  I don’t even have a problem with the trailer.  The movie simply suffers from a horrible case of crap-title-itus.

We Own the Night?  Could that be more vague?  Instead of envisioning a cops vs. mafia film, all I can see is the now-defunct (yet great) soap opera Edge of Night.  And while I understand the film’s title would be explained if I actually watched it,  that doesn’t excuse it’s existence.  The box office shelf life for movies is extremely short these days; more attention should be paid to the little things.  I’m an extremely shallow person who often judges books by their cover.  I need a proper teaser.

And believe me—‘craptitleitus’ does not discriminate.  Great movies, movies actually worthy of attention, often become victims of this affliction.  Poor marketing can affect anything and everyone.

So to honor We Own the Night’s crap-status, I’m going to list my Worst Titles of 2007 (thus far).

Click to continue reading Worst Movie Titles of 2007 (So Far)


Box Office Breakdown:  Audiences Not Yet Tuckered Out

Rush Hour 3

Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third, Pirates, Ocean’s, Bourne and now Rush Hour 3.  All six three-quels premiered directly at the top of the heap this summer.

Unfortunately, a six-year gap between the second and third Rush installments may have led to what some would consider slightly disappointing receipts.  On any other occasion, a $50 weekend would be something to brag about.  But considering it pales to the $67.4 million brought in by the 2001 predecessor, it’s only worth a pat on the back.

But really, the Disappointment of the Week honor should really fall on Cuba Gooding Jr.  When you’re accepting rejected scripts from the man who played Norbit, you have to wonder where it all went wrong (two words: Chill Factor).  Sadly, Daddy Day Camp was originally slated to be a straight-to-video release but somehow tested well enough to be released in theaters.  Who knows?  Maybe Gooding can pull a Halle and go straight-from-Oscar-to-Razzie.

Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown:  Audiences Not Yet Tuckered Out


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