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Cheap DVDs: This Is It, District 9, The Hangover, Inglorious Bastards

Anet Hovhanesian — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:39:32 +0000

Let’s face it, with the economy so bad, we are forced to give up a lot of things we normally love but don’t let the joy of watching good movies be one of them. For our screencrave followers, here is a list of the best DVD/Blu Ray deals going on right now. I tried to keep the choices are diverse, I even have a couple old school classics for those helpless romantics!

Check out some great deals on Amazon under the jump…

DVDs

Under $10

The Hangover | $9.49
Julie and Julia | $9.99
Star Trek | $9.49
(500) Days of Summer | $9.49

Pick of the week: As lame as my reasoning is, I have decided to go with The Hangover because it’s just so funny. The plot wasn’t great. The acting wasn’t the best. But it made me laugh out loud throughout the film. Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis were hilarious. Plus as a bonus we get to see Mike Tyson poke fun of himself in the film. His musical debut alone made the movie worth watching.

$10+

Pick of the week: There is no competition for my favorite from this list of movies. Michael Jackson is a man who performed like no other. Owning this DVD is like owning a piece of history. This Is It gives audiences everywhere a glimpse of what his concert would have been like if it were to take place. It shows us how much more Michael had to give. Although it saddens me to watch this knowing we will never be able to experience that live again, it is as close as we will ever get.

Blu-RAY

Under $20

Law Abiding Citizen | $17.99
Batman Begins | $14.99
District 9 | $19.99
Iron Man | $19.49

Pick of the week: I am going to have to go with Law Abiding Citizen. It is a movie that has it all: good actors, (Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx), a good plot (A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family’s killers free) and a lot of thrills/drama. Although, it did not do great with audiences, it is entertaining and definitely worth the price.

And for the romantics looking for a good deal:

Casablanca| $14. 49 (Blu RAY)
Gone with the Wind | $15. 99

Which DVD is worth the lowered price? Which ones still cost more than they are worth?

Michael Jackson’s This is It Headed to DVD

Krystal Clark — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:45:39 +0000

Michael Jackson‘s This is It has proven to be a formidable foe at the box office so lets see how it does when it hits DVD shelves in a month. That’s right, the documentary film that was supposed to play for only 2 weeks in theaters this fall has been given a DVD release date.

According to the Associated Press, Michael Jackson’s This is It will be released on January 26, 2010 thanks to an announcement made by Sony Pictures Monday morning. Since it’s theatrical debut back in October, the film has grossed over 70 million dollars domestically and 240 million world wide. Are we really surprised that Sony wants to get this thing into your hands ASAP? This is It is a virtual gold mine for Jackson fans everywhere.

According to Home Media Magazine, the DVD and Blu-ray discs will be packed full of goodies including 60 minutes of never before seen footage for the DVD and 90 minutes for the Blu-ray, which includes “two documentaries, “Staging the Return: Beyond the Show” and “Staging the Return: The Adventure Begins;” a costume featurette called “The Gloved One”; a cast and crew tribute dubbed “Memories of Michael”; and “Auditions: Searching for the World’s Best Dancers”.

Sony isn’t holding back with their attempts at making Blu-ray the way to go for home entertainment.

The blu-ray will also include the “Making of ‘Smooth Criminal’” featurette, as well as uncut, all-new vignettes of “Smooth Criminal” and “Thriller,” which are seen briefly in the film itself. The Blu-ray is also outfitted with Sony’s BD Live movieIQ feature that can create a This Is It playlist and offer trivia and cast and crew background.

It’s kind of sad that their pinning those of us without Blu-ray players against a wall by putting all the good stuff on those discs. It’s such a huge marketing ploy, because they know MJ fans will do whatever they have to, to have a piece of his legacy.

What do you think of the differences between the This is It DVD verses the Blu-ray disc?

Weekend Box Office: Apparently This Is It, Is It

Mali Elfman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:03:29 +0000

If Paranormal Activity would have out sold the dead king of pop’s final release, This is It, I would have suspected Paramount of rigging the box office. Instead it slid in right below MJ at number two and managed to pull in another $16.5 million (may I just remind you again that the film was made for 15k?) this weekend scaring viewers around the nation.

Although the biggest surprise this weekend was actually Law Abiding Citizens and The Stepfather jumping up a few places in the box office lineup and Amelia joining the top ten despite horrible reviews.

Check out the numbers below…

Michael Jackson’s This Is It | New | Sony | Weekend Gross $21,300,000 | Average Per Theater $6,119 | Total Gross $32,509,000 | Week 1
Paranormal Activity | LW 1 | Par. | Weekend Gross $16,540,000| Average Per Theater $6,880 | Total Gross $84,780,000 | Production Cost $0.015 | Week 6
Law Abiding Citizen | LW 4 | Over. | Weekend Gross $7,303,000| Average Per Theater $2,642 | Total Gross $51,385,000 | Production Cost $50 | Week 3
Couples Retreat | LW 5 | Uni. | Weekend Gross $6,097,000| Average Per Theater $2,015 | Total Gross $86,663,000 | Production Cost $70 | Week 4
Saw VI | LW 2 | LGF | Weekend Gross $5,560,000 | Average Per Theater $1,831 | Total Gross $22,824,000 | Production Cost $11 | Week 2
Where the Wild Things Are | LW 3 | WB | Weekend Gross $5,081,000 | Average Per Theater $1,394 | Total Gross $61,800,000 | Production Cost $100 | Week 3
The Stepfather (2009) | LW 8 | SGem | Weekend Gross $3,400,000 | Average Per Theater $1,449 | Total Gross $24,748,000 | Production Cost $20 | Week 3
Astro Boy | LW 6 | Sum. | Weekend Gross $3,035,000| Average Per Theater $1,005 | Total Gross $10,891,000 | Production Cost $65 | Week 2
Amelia | LW 11 | Fox | Weekend Gross $3,000,000 | Average Per Theater $2,804 | Total Gross $8,306,000 | Production Cost $40 | Week 2
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant | LW 7 | Uni. | Weekend Gross $2,809,000 | Average Per Theater $1,020| Total Gross $10,521,000 | Production Cost $40 | Week 2

Wow. Look at how fast The Vampire’s Assistant is falling! Definitely not the next Twilight!

What do you think of this weekends box office numbers?

Michael Jackson’s This is It Grosses 20 Million

Krystal Clark — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:45:12 +0000

Michael Jackson fans literally came out in droves to see the singer’s final farewell in the film This is It. The documentary is directed by Kenny Ortega, that allows audiences to watch Jackson’s final days while preparing for his This is It comeback tour. According to the Associated Press, the film has brought in a whopping 20 million dollars at the worldwide box office in one day.

This is It has accumulated 7.4 million dollars domestically, and another 12.7 million overseas. The film easily dominated Wednesday’s box office, and had a record breaking debut according to a Sony distributor. The film had the largest opening of any other movie on a Wednesday in October.

For a single day release, This Is It climbed into the ranks of top-grossing music documentaries, just behind the $8.6 million domestic haul of U2: Rattle and Hum. The film is expected to surpass Madonna‘s Truth or Dare, which earned 15 million, and Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience ($19.2 million) to come in at number two, behind Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, on the all-time music-documentary chart.

I’m sorry but we need to pull together for MJ. There is no way I can sleep at night knowing a man of his stature is unable to overthrow a tween. The film will only be in theaters for two weeks so if you’re interested in seeing it, I suggest you hop to it. The Halloween slump on Saturday might be your best bet, people will be too busy getting drunk to hit the theaters that night.

Have you seen This is It? What do you think of the film?

This Is It: Movie Review

JC — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:30:24 +0000

The moment we’ve all been waiting for: This Is It features the beloved sovereign of sound who sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released thirteen no. 1 singles, and scored a double induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. The film’s earnings are aimed to generate proceeds that will benefit The Michael Jackson Family Trust (for his family and children in need).

Check out the film’s review below…

The Players:

Director: Kenny Ortega
Cast: Michael Jackson, Kenny Ortega, Mr. Jackson’s dancers, band, etc

The Plot:

Kenny Ortega presents an anthology of backstage footage, rehearsals, and interviews featuring Mr. Jackson’s preparation for his sold-out London tour. In short, one last look at the legendary King of Pop shredding the stage with his unparalleled vivacity and musical genius.

The Good:

NOT a biopic: I applaud Kenny Ortega for concentrating his film around a very specific period of time and not every shred of Jackson knowledge ever documented. This Is It acutely exhibits Mr. Jackson as what the world deemed him: the greatest entertainer on the planet. While the film obviously isn’t a full career retrospective, it features Mr. Jackson at his most endowed. Every particle of the massive organism that is a Michael Jackson production received it’s due diligence from the King himself. This small six week window captures Mr. Jackson in such creative involvement (staging, choreography, production design, lighting, story-concepts) while still demonstrating grace, patience, and the essential ability to collaborate. It’s effortless to accept Mr. Jackson as the phenomenon he became when the audience can witness what he demanded from his creative collaborators/environment.
Concert-feel: We really receive the gift of Mr. Jackson’s final performances in the film and the audience is entranced from start to finish. There’s footage of every hit song with impeccable image and sound – it’s easy to forget that you are not, in fact, front row at one of his concerts.
Intimacy: Regardless of the fact that Mr. Jackson is not always communicating with the camera, there’s a very immediate intimacy established with the audience. Perhaps because we’re not JUST seeing him in an interview or performing – but in the wings as well. The audience begins to understand Michael Jackson as a complete portrait of success, yes, but also as a human being with subtle quirks and idiosyncrasies.

The Bad:

No Real Arc: While Ortega’s objective was ultimately to create a tribute rather than to tell a story, the film could have used a little more shape. There was no solid arc to the movie other than the progression of rehearsals leading up to the concert dates. Also, the finale was lacking – It would’ve been nice to see the film close with something particularly sentimental to send the audience home with.

Overall:

Even if you aren’t a die-hard fan, you will appreciate this pulsating portrayal of Michael Jackson’s epic presence and artistic mastermind. If you’re expecting a record of his life, or a tear-jerking series of sob-stories, don’t waste your time. This movie is seeping with vitality, excitement, and obviously, great music – much like Mr. Jackson himself. Expect nothing more and you’ve got a lovely night out!

Rating: 9/10

Michael Jackson Remade His Thriller Video

Krystal Clark — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:22:40 +0000

One of the many surprises viewers can expect to see when attending a screening of Michael Jackson’s This is It are never before shown music videos. According to Cinemablend, prior to his death the singer-songwriter made several updated versions of some of his most famous videos including the 1983 history maker Thriller.

The director of This is It Kenny Ortega, revealed that the film will include new versions of “Thriller,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Earth Song.” All three of these re-imaginings were shot in 3-D with the intention of being shown during Jackson’s comeback tour. Even though the footage will be screened in 2-D when it’s released, Ortega does suspect that a 3-D version of the film may surface somewhere down the line.

I was already amped to see this movie after watching the trailer, and now I have another reason to buy a ticket. Who would turn down Thriller? A new video with new moves, and scarier costumes? It’s going to me awesome to see that in the theater so close to Halloween. What do you think?

This is It will hit theaters for a limited two week run starting on October 28th.

Are you interested in seeing a Thriller remake?

Michael Jackson’s This is It Human Nature Clip

Krystal Clark — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:15:34 +0000

One of my favorite Michael Jackson songs is “Human Nature.” The smooth melodic tune is one of the many hits on the iconic R&B/Pop album, Thriller. A new clip has been released from the upcoming documentary Michael Jackson’s This Is It, and it features the late singer rehearsing the song. It’s a good look at M.J. still in his element after many years away from the stage.

Take a look at the King of Pop asking, why, why (tell’em that it’s human nature..)…

Jackson still had good vocals down to his last days. Something tells me this would have been an jaw dropping performance as well as tour if he was able to follow through with it. The entire stage looks like it’s setting the mood for something amazing to go down. Unfortunately, we’ll never know what it would have been like to experience one last dose of M.J. All we have left is the documentary footage that’s covered in This Is It, which will hit theaters for a limited two week run starting October 28th.

What do you think of Michael Jackson’s performance in this clip the film?

Michael Jackson’s This is It Trailer

Krystal Clark — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:17:14 +0000

The official trailer for the upcoming Michael Jackson documentary This is It has debuted on the web. The film will feature rehearsal footage from what was supposed to be Jackson’s future comeback tour. The trailer aired during tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards, and was given a fitting introduction. I’ve already watched it several times, and it makes me realize how gifted an individual he really was.

Get your first look at the official trailer for Michael Jackson’s This is It…

I can’t believe he’s gone. This looks as if it will show the human side of Michael more than anything. He really loved music, and knew how it could change people’s lives for the better. His kind of dedication and talent isn’t so easy to come by these days. If he was still with us, I’m sure his comeback tour would have been a commercial and critical success.

Michael Jackson’s This is It debuts in theaters on October 28th for a two week limited engagement.

Will you go see This is It is theaters?

Michael Jackson’s This is It Poster

Krystal Clark — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:50:11 +0000

A poster has already been printed for the upcoming concert documentary, Michael Jackson’s This is it. The film is a compilation of footage covering the singer’s last days, while rehearsing for his 2009 comeback tour. The film will hit theaters on October 28th, and will give fans the ultimate behind the scenes experience from one of the greatest performers of all time.

The following poster isn’t as over the top as I thought it would be, but it gets the message across…

I love how his silhouette is filled with images of him performing. That’s a beautiful way to remember Jackson as an artist. Now that September is here, the studio has some serious promoting to do before This is it comes out. But then again, as much coverage as the Jackson family has received in the past few months I’m sure the word is out there.

One side of me thinks this is a great way to see Michael in action one last time, while the other part wishes they weren’t capitalizing so quickly off of his death. I’m at a crossroads.

What do you think of the poster for Michael Jackson’s This is it?

Image courtesy of RopeofSilicon

Michael Jackson Film Finalized

Krystal Clark — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:58:40 +0000

As we previously reported, a film centering on the late Micheal Jackson is happening. There was already a preliminary deal established last week between Jackson’s estate, Sony, and AEG Live. The next step would involve Katherine Jackson, the executor of Michael’s remaining assets to put in her two cents. According to Deadline Hollywood, everything is a go, and Sony Pictures already has a press release for the film circulating online.

Here’s a snippet of the ridiculously long press release the studio has sent out.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S “THIS IS IT” TO BE PRESENTED IN THEATERS AROUND THE WORLD BY SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT AND SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Film Drawn From Entertainer’s Last Rehearsals and Behind-The-Scenes Footage
Will Be Released October 30th in High Definition with Digital Sound

This Is It is being produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson and will be drawn from hundreds of hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage, captured in high definition with state-of-the-art digital sound as the late singer was preparing for his concert series in London. The film, which will also offer select sequences in 3-D, will provide a unique career retrospective and feature interviews with some of Jackson’s closest friends and creative collaborators.

Did I just read the phrase, “select sequences in 3-D?” Oh, no! The 3-D technology is getting everybody, not even Jackson’s tour footage is safe. It seems like Sony already had this project in the bag, before they even went to trial. If you read the entire press release, you can easily tell they had it on stand by for when they were given the official go ahead. They own Jackson’s music and the distribution rights for it so I think that gave them had the upper hand on everyone involved.

As you can see This is it will hit theaters the day before Halloween, and will include the last footage shot of the “King of Pop” in action. I’m still not a fan of that release date, but you have to capitalize, when you can capitalize.

Will you go see the Michael Jackson movie?

ScreenCrave.com » this is it

Cheap DVDs: This Is It, District 9, The Hangover, Inglorious Bastards

DVDs

Blu-RAY

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This Is It: Movie Review

The Players:

The Plot:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 9/10

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