Spin-ematical: New on DVD for 9/30
Filed under: DVD Reviews, New on DVD, Home Entertainment
Iron ManAt the risk of drawing the ire of Batfans everywhere, I'll just come out and say it: Iron Man is
(Available in both single disc and two-disc special edition)
Forgetting Sarah MarshallThe latest from Camp Apatow stars a far-too-naked Jason Segel, an almost unrecognizably sexy Mila Kunis 2.0, a scene-stealing Russell Brand, and Kristen Bell. The film definitely has its moments, but I'm just not sold on Segel as a leading man, who seems to equate "comedic skill" with "revealing your junk." And as much as we enjoy rooting for a lovable loser, at some point in the movie it helps if he stops moaning, crying and being generally so extremely pathetic. After Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder and The Happening, Sarah Marshall will have to settle for being the fourth funniest movie so far this year. Rent it, or buy it in the discount bin (Available in both single disc and two-disc collector's edition)
Taxi to the Dark SideAlex Gibney's damning doc on U.S. torture practices in the Middle East has gotten more ink for the filmmaker's recent legal battle with distributor ThinkFilm than it did for winning the Oscar for Best Documentary. But hey, there's no such thing as bad press, right? But the sad fact remains: most Americans would rather watch fake people being play-tortured in "porn" like Saw and Hostel than hear about real people being tortured in real life. Like most Iraq docs before it, Dark Side is an illuminating and infuriating film that won't be seen by anyone not already infuriated in the first place. Rent it (you're not going to need to watch more than once)
Bigger, Faster, StrongerChris Bell is the unlikeliest of filmmakers: A self-professed meathead from Poughkeepsie who sets out to examine the muscle-bound, steroid culture of America. The result is like watching an ESPN weightlifting event with disturbing insight and more Hulk Hogan. It's easy to feel both sorry for and extremely intimidated by its subjects: You want to hug them and tell them it'll all be OK, but know doing such will likely cause severe head injury. Rent it
Other Releases
Jellyfish
CSNY: Deja Vu
OSS 117
Chapter 27
Can't Hardly Wait: Special Edition
Iron Man: Special Edition
Forgetting Sarah Marshall: Collector's Edition
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Knocked Up
The Sixth Sense
The Thing (1982)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Land of the Dead: Special Edition
Dawn of the Dead: Special Edition
Can't Hardly Wait: Special Edition
Daredevil: Special Edition
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. I am with you Kevin, while i enjoyed TDK... Iron Man was a superior comic book film imo.
Posted at 5:33PM on Sep 30th 2008 by Akbar Fazil
3. "ron Man is the best my favorite superhero movie of the year."
It's okay Kevin. You're entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong =P
Posted at 5:47PM on Sep 30th 2008 by The Addict
4. Really, fourth funniest?
I think the only two movies I laughed at more than Forgetting Sarah Marshall were Burn After Reading and the straight to DVD Futurama movie.
I didn't find Tropic Thunder or Pineapple Express all that funny, and The Happening shouldn't count. :P
5. fourth funniest? something or someone must have told you those three other movies were funnier. I thought tropic thunder was just ok, pineapple express was a disappointment and the happening doesnt count.
ironman better than dark knight? i thought the hulk with ed norton was better than ironman.
Posted at 6:52PM on Sep 30th 2008 by Jonathan
6. I just bought Iron Man today. Still haven't watched it again since theaters, but I loved it. However, I've seen The Dark Knight three times. So I guess that tells you which I prefer.
I think you've seriously misinterpreted Jason Segel and the revealing of his "junk." It is not meant for a shock laugh, and while it does elicit one, wouldn't be nearly as funny if it didn't painfully underscore his naked emotional state.
Have you seen Freaks and Geeks? Segel is fantastic in one of the lead roles.
Posted at 8:21PM on Sep 30th 2008 by AJ Wiley
7. I thought 'Sarah Marshall' was the funniest movie of the year so far with Tropic Thunder in second.... at least you didn't pick the piece of crap that was 'Step Brothers'
Posted at 8:44PM on Sep 30th 2008 by Alex Farquharson
8. I'm sorry but WHAT? The Happening? Uhhh... I got it the other day but haven't watched it yet. I'm guessing that's total sarcasm... so I guess I'll have to watch it now...
And I loved this movie... reminded me of my last relationship a bit too much though, lol
Posted at 1:43AM on Oct 1st 2008 by Brent
9. Glad to see that theres a lot of people who don't seem to be swayed by mass marketing campaigns when it comes to deciding the quality of a movie. Sarah Marshall was pretty much one of the funniest movies I've ever seen, whereas Pineapple Express I laughed out loud once ("See this? Theres no hair there. That means I'm very aerodynamic when I fight), and Tropic Thunder was an interesting movie with a few funny scenes (and no, none of them included a belligerent Tom Cruise screaming obscenities...good for him for doing something different for himself, but there was nothing "new" or "ingenious" about the character itself). As for TDK IM opinion, I think Bryan hit the nail on the head. I can see how people would enjoy watching Iron Man more, but its not a spectacular piece of film making. Just a summer action movie with a little more going on than most other fluff pieces, whereas TDK is an exceptional film that actually challenges ones notions of humanity, morality, etc.
Posted at 11:31AM on Oct 1st 2008 by Kevin
10. Sarah Marshall collector's edition is 3 disc, not 2.
Maybe It's just me, but I thought Baby Mama was funnier than Sarah Marshall, other than that I can't think of much I thought was better, especially on my second viewing.
TDK was a better movie, but Iron Man was a lot more fun, and I enjoyed it more. Anyone else in the role of the Joker and TDK would have been average, with Heath in there it elevates it to something special.
Posted at 1:02PM on Oct 1st 2008 by Duke
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1. There is a lot of truth in your analysis of Iron Man, despite my own raving love for The Dark Knight (http://goodmoviebadmovie.blogspot.com/2008/07/dark-knight.html). When all is said and done, Dark Knight is a better movie, but Iron Man is a better COMIC BOOk movie. Dark Knight is an impossibly compelling film about a guy who just happens to be a superhero, whereas Iron Man and in turn Robert Downey Jr. is everything that a comic book based movie can be. It is perhaps the funniest non comedy I have ever seen and manages to do what so few such movies manage to accomplish, it tells not the story of Iron Man but of how a very human Tony Stark became a very extraordinary superhero. The p'nash, wonderment and excitement of the film is reminiscent of some of the very best comic books I have ever read, whereas Christopher Nolan's masterpiece is a rollercoaster ride about a guy in a cape.
Posted at 5:08PM on Sep 30th 2008 by Bryan