There is a nice mixed bag of DVD shaped fun this week starting with National Treasure 2: Book Of Secrets. The first National Treasure was certainly a bit of a dumb exercise but still managed to be both entertaining and suitably filled with trivia / puzzles, plus it featured Nic Cage not being annoying which is a real plus. I’m actually quite surprised how much I am looking forward to seeing this second instalment.
If you are looking for something a little more substantial then look no further than the Oscar winning Film of the Week, No Country For Old Men. This film is immense in both story and style and is easily the best film that the Coen Brothers have ever made, possibly even one of the greatest American films ever made. In case you hadn’t spotted it yet – I love this film.
Moving on, this week also sees the release of Afghan literary adaptation The Kite Runner and the Michael Douglas starring The King Of California. I can’t pass judgement on these as I have not yet seen them but I have heard great things and will hopefully be able to post reviews before the week is out.
There are a number of re-releases this week the most interesting of which is the restored version of Sam Peckinpah’s Major Dundee. Starring Charlton Heston in the title role alongside Richard Harris and James Coburn (plus regulars Ben Johnson, Warren Oates and L.Q. Jones) and this is a rip-roaring western adventure that has some real balls. Following a mixed group of Union cavalry officers and Confederate P.O.W.s as they hunt down a band of Apache, this film has been various seen as a retelling of Moby Dick, a lecture on the divided nature of the
United States and a commentary on the Vietnam War. Like all great film it fits nicely into all of those and yet refuses to be tied to a single one.
Not so much a re-release as simply a re-package is the new edition of The Godfather Trilogy. If you already have the boxset that was released a few years back then you pretty mush have what is here. The first two films have been given a 5.1 so
und makeover, there are a few new extras (including one called The Godfather on the Red Carpet which seems a good indication of the quality) and the box has a subtle streak of red across it. Quite.
Finally, UCA are putting out a new line of double feature packs. Whilst we all know that these can always throw up some badly chosen duets (Wilde/Ned Kelly anyone?) they have actually included some great couplings. My favourites are East Rider/Two-Lane Blacktop and Adaptation/Being John Malkovich. The first set unites possibly one of the most overrated (but important) films of all time with Monte Hellman’s low key, under seen car classic whilst the second offers up two surrealist modern classics.
Have a good week.
