What Happens in Vegas
Tomatometer: 27%
Bonus Features:
A single-disc and an extended "Jackpot" edition are available, which begs the question: is it worth the gamble? You'll find extra features galore on both DVD releases, though seven deleted and extended scenes are only available on Blu-ray.
Postal
Tomatometer: 9%
Shockingly, it would seem Uwe Boll's projections for Postal, his latest video game adaptation, is far from Fresh. Congrats are nevertheless in order, since Uwe Boll's comically violent, self-referential political satire is, at nine percent on the Tomatometer -- his highest-rated film since debuting with 2002's Blackwoods (11%). So celebrate his career upswing (and satisfy your own morbid curiosity, dear reader) as Postal debuts on DVD this week.
Bonus Features:
Uwe Boll is a smart man. And he knows what we want. The media-savvy filmmaker includes a feature commentary on Postal's DVD release, footage of his infamous "Raging Boll" boxing matches, a clip of Verne Troyer as Indiana Jones, and more. Showing their support for what Boll hath wrought from their video game, the makers of Postal have included the complete PC game Postal 2 in the release (creator Vince Desi also cameos in the film as himself).
**Reminder: Buying Postal on DVD is exactly what Uwe Boll wants you to do. If you watch it, he wins...and we all lose.
Redbelt
Tomatometer: 71%
If you did a double take when you heard of Redbelt, join the club. A Mixed Martial Arts movie written and directed by...David Mamet?? Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, and Randy Couture star in the favorably-reviewed morality play, written with less of Mamet's signature talkiness. Watch it in a double feature with the other MMA drama of 2008, Never Back Down.
Bonus Features:
Featurettes on the making-of process and Mixed Martial Arts put the focus on the fighting, as do "Fighter Profiles" and an interview with UFC President Dana White. The crown jewel of Redbelt's DVD release is its feature-length commentary, which presents the unlikeliest of duos together, at long last: David Mamet and Randy Couture.
Son of Rambow
Tomatometer:
75%
Ever daydream as a child and find yourself smack dab in the middle of your favorite movie? Young Will (Bill Milner) does just that, as a chance viewing of Rambo: First Blood inspires him to let his imagination fly, leading him and his friends to make their own sequel for a local filmmaker's competition. It's a throwback to the sounds, sights, and great action flicks of the '80s (and ladies, catch Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick in a supporting role). If you see one new release this week, make it this gem of a film, which is Certified Fresh to boot.
Bonus Features:
Director Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith (the filmmaking team known as Hammer & Tongs, who also made 2005's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and their tremendously poised young actors Bill Milner and Will Poulter provide a commentary and look at the making of the film, including peeks inside their production offices, parked on barges on a London canal.
Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?
Tomatometer: 36%
The most interesting discovery in Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary isn't whether or not he actually finds Osama bin Laden (guess what -- he doesn't) but what he learns along the way. As with his Oscar-nominated Super Size Me, Where in the World relies a bit too heavily on gimmicks (such as a faux-video game showdown between a pixilated Spurlock and bin Laden), but unearths common ground between Americans and the people of nations halfway around the world.
Bonus Features:
Additional interviews with political figures and an animated history of Afghanistan bolster Spurlock's cross-cultural debate.
A/k/a Tommy Chong
Tomatometer: 70%
As one half of the duo Cheech & Chong, Tommy Chong became one of the biggest pro-cannabis celebrities in Hollywood; in 2003, that fame also made him one of the biggest targets in a $12 million DEA sting, one of the biggest "enemies" in the War on Drugs. Director Josh Gilbert's involving documentary follows the actor-comedian as he grapples with the government, pleads guilty, and is sentenced to nine months in prison for financing a glass pipe company owned by his son -- a conviction pursued and intentionally made harsher because of Chong's famous onscreen persona. (Last May, 10,000 copies of A/K/A Tommy Chong DVDs were seized by federal agents under the direction of U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, the same prosecutor who spearheaded Tommy Chong's case.)
Bonus Features:
Chong appears with former partner Cheech Marin for an interview (the duo reunited for a road show following Chong's incarceration) and sits down to discuss his case with his family in an additional featurette.
Heroes - Season Two
Tomatometer: N/A
Having aired only eleven episodes during its second season (thanks, writers' strike!), Heroes didn't have the chance to show us what it really had in store for Peter Petrelli, Claire Bennett, Hiro Nakamura and the rest of the super gang...until now. Snag Heroes Season Two on DVD to hear insightful episode commentaries and deleted scenes -- but most importantly, learn of the Season Two that might have been. Think plague, contamination, and large-scale action set pieces --- elements that might have saved Heroes from its perceived sophomore slump.
Bonus Features:
Watch the alternate ending and a featurette that delves deeper into the original story arcs planned for Season Two, plus deleted scenes, faux documentaries, and a sneak peek at Season Three!
Entourage - Season Four
Tomatometer: N/A
Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and Co. go on location for a film about a Columbian drug lord, then take it all the way to the Cannes Film Festival in the Emmy-nominated fourth season of HBO's Entourage. Watch for guest stars like Anna Faris, M. Night Shyamalan, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West.
Bonus Features:
Three episode commentaries and the fake trailer for Vincent's film, Medellin, should prove entertaining, but core fans will really love a panel filmed during the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, featuring Entourage's cast and crew as interviewed by critic Elvis Mitchell.
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 2-Disc Collector's Edition
Tomatometer: N/A
It always seems to happen this way; your favorite movie comes out in a special edition DVD, only to be upgraded years later with yet another, more special, collector's edition! If you can come to terms with this inevitability, you'll do a celebratory skeleton dance for the latest home video release of The Nightmare Before Christmas, which has been digitally restored (read: more vivid colors, previously unnoticeable visual details) and is available in a 2-disc Collector's Edition, an Ultimate Collector's Edition that comes with a talking Jack Skellington bust, and on Blu-ray.
Bonus Features:
The limited run Ultimate Collector's Edition Skellington bust will be a must-have item for diehard fans, something the goth kids won't be able to pick up at Hot Topic. Otherwise, a host of new featurettes accompany previously released DVD extras, including a tour of Disneyland's Nightmare-themed Haunted Mansion, a newly recorded commentary track combining the memories of Tim Burton, director Henry Selick, and composer Danny Elfman, and the reading of Burton's original Nightmare poem read by Christopher Lee, animated in 2-D with Burton's early concept art.
Want another glimpse of this super-special, hand-painted Jack Skellington bust that doubles as a DVD set and comes with optional Sandy Claws dress-up gear? Disney's put together a nifty stop-motion demo of their own to show you what it will be like to have Jack sitting on your mantle this Christmas. Watch below.
To read previous installments of RT on DVD, check out our column archives here. 'Til next week, happy renting!
Related Items
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jokerboy1991 writes: on Aug 25 2008 05:59 PM I will definitely pick up Entourage this week, I might get HEROES season 2 even though it wasn't very good and kind of sucks compared to the first season (a total rip-off of WATCHMEN). I am getting Red belt tomorrow in the mail from Netflix. Maybe I will rent Son of Rambow. Also I love A Nightmare Before Christmas and I have never bought it before, so maybe I will finally pick that up on Blu-Ray. Why no DVD news?!?!?- Could have talked about the CASABLANCA Blu ray box set coming out, or the HB II 3 disc set or the Incredible Hulk 3 disc set coming out, even though the Incredible Hulk wasnt that good. (Reply to this) |
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Jen Yamato writes: on Aug 25 2008 06:05 PM I know, I know...no DVD news again! I'm doing some hard thinking about this column, my friend. Trying to figure out how best to present all of this info. But yes, go get Son of Rambow! I'll try to do right by you next week. Jen (Reply to this) |
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Some guy you dont know writes: on Aug 25 2008 06:23 PM Redbelt, Rambow (amazing movie from a potential-filled director) and ZOMG NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS FTW. (Reply to this) |
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Jen Yamato writes: on Aug 25 2008 06:27 PM I can't wait for my own Jack Skellington to arrive! He shall sit proudly on my desk of swag... (Reply to this) |
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AntonChigurh writes: on Aug 25 2008 06:43 PM I want the shield season6, screw all the other releases this week(except for entourage and Nightmare). (Reply to this) |
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tomwaitsjr writes: on Aug 25 2008 07:11 PM Are they chanting UWE or UMLAUGHT? If I rent the TOmmy Chong film, will I get arrested? =( (Reply to this) |
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jokerboy1991 writes: on Aug 25 2008 07:44 PM In reply to this comment (#2001648) Cool. Also is that Jack skeleton an exclusive buy some where, because I cant find it on AMAZON. (Reply to this) |
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lilheclou writes: on Aug 25 2008 09:38 PM i must have the nightmare before Christmas (Reply to this) |
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nathanpoitras writes: on Aug 25 2008 09:56 PM I'll be getting The Nightmare Before Xmas Blu-Ray and that's about it. (Reply to this) |
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nathanpoitras writes: on Aug 25 2008 10:52 PM Oh, how could I forget The Adventure of Robin Hood on Blu-Ray and the infamous Salo on Criterion DVD. I can't wait to see that one. (Reply to this) |
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blattman writes: on Aug 25 2008 11:57 PM Son of Rambow only played for a week in vegas, so I have been waiting for the dvd. It looks as charming as Millions. The Jack bust looks sweet! I think I may get aka chong just to piss off the feds. (Reply to this) |
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cartwrightStuff writes: on Aug 26 2008 02:21 AM Damn i really want the nightmare before christmas dvd but is it being released with the model in the uk or just in the us? (Reply to this) |
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McChipmunk writes: on Aug 26 2008 05:04 AM In reply to this comment (#2001709) they're chanting uwe, it's pernounced "uva" (Reply to this) |
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Gimy writes: on Aug 26 2008 08:45 AM hmm...bush in a boll movie makes me ponder the question: who's worse at their job. bush as our prez...or boll making his sh3tty movies. hmm...thats a toughie... (Reply to this) |
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Jen Yamato writes: on Aug 26 2008 10:44 AM Looking into the bust question. Also, is it me or has Salo's infamy and appeal worn off a bit now that Criterion is releasing it? (Reply to this) |
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astrangefish writes: on Aug 26 2008 11:28 AM In reply to this comment (#2002583) bush as your prez. (Reply to this) |
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Thomas Johnson writes: on Aug 26 2008 12:29 PM ATTENTION ROTTENTOMATOES: just fyi you spelled "characters" incorrectly in the consensus of The Iron Giant (it is spelled charators) (Reply to this) |
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the_don_of_yreka writes: on Aug 26 2008 12:49 PM I am going to rent Redbelt. After watching Never Back Down, I wish there was a better MMA moive to be made. Hopefully,Redbelt will be that better moive. Also, I will buy Heroes Season Two on DVD. Even though Season Two wasnt the best, I still love the show. I cant wait for Season 3! :) (Reply to this) |
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Daffy Duck writes: on Aug 26 2008 02:07 PM In reply to this comment (#2002583) If uwe bolls job is making sh3tty movies I'd say hes doing a fantastic job. (Reply to this) |
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Jen Yamato writes: on Aug 26 2008 03:18 PM Thanks, TJ. (Reply to this) |
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