We're halfway through August, and home video has hit a snag.
This week, DVD and Blu-Ray don't have much to offer up. Fans of heavy-handed romance movies have The Last Song, the latest Nicholas Sparks novel turned movie, to look forward to. In it, Miley Cirus stars as the damsel in distress who is banished to her father's home in small-town Georgia. There she meets a boy, copes with her issues, and all is right in the world.
If you've read one Nicholas Sparks book, you've read them all. Sadly, his books turned into movies are much the same way. Greg Kinnear plays Cirus' father, while mostly unknown Liam Hemsworth, plays the love interest. You've been warned.
Also dropping on DVD and Blu-Ray this week is Brendan Fraser's last box office bomb, Furry Vengeance. The movie stars Brendan Fraser acting opposite CGI-animated wildlife animals. Brooke Shields plays Fraser's wife. The movie performed horribly at the box office, making only $17 Million before leaving theaters.
Fans of Blu-Ray get an interesting bump this week, with the first Blu-Ray release of Nanny McPhee (just in time for the upcoming theatrical sequel), as well as the amazing Red Riding Trilogy. While the popular Nanny McPhee will be a great purchase for those with kids, the Red Riding Trilogy is a fantastic addition to any Blu-Ray collection. The three movies, based on the popular Red Riding Quartet books, were originally aired as a television series on the BBC and star the new Peter Parker, Andrew Garfield.
The Best
The Last Song
Buy/Rent/Skip: Skip - Read the review
Miley Cyrus stars as a teenager who reconnects with her father years after her parents go through a nasty divorce in this adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel. The novelist also provides the screenplay for the production, which is directed by Julie Ann Robinson. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Director: Julie Ann Robinson
Starring: Miley Cirus
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for thematic material, some violence, sensuality and mild language.
Official Website: http://touchstone.movies.go.com/thelastsong/
(Click poster for movie trailer, full cast, plot summary, and more..)
Furry Vengeance
Buy/Rent/Skip: Skip
A real estate mogul (Brendan Fraser) goes head-to-head with a group of furry critters looking to protect their forest from development in this Summit Entertainment/Participant Media co-production. The family-oriented comedy was written by Mr. Woodcock's Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Director: Roger Kumble
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for some rude humor, mild language and brief smoking.
Official Website:http://www.furryvengeance-movie.com/
(Click poster for movie trailer, full cast, plot summary, and more..)
The Rest
Nanny McPhee
A nanny reveals ways of making children behave that are much more effective than a time-out in this fantasy comedy based on the "Nurse Matilda" books for children by Christianna Brand. Near the dawn of the twentieth century, Mr. Brown (Colin Firth) is a widower who must tend to his business as an undertaker while looking after his brood of seven children. Brown's offspring are a singularly ill-mannered lot who have managed to drive away 17 different nannies when their father arranges for one Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) to help out with the children. McPhee is an strange looking woman with...(Read Full Synopsis)
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The Red Riding Trilogy
The first installment of the Red Riding Trilogy, 1974 follows rookie newspaper crime correspondent Eddie Dunford (Andrew Garfield) as he encounters police corruption while investigating a chilling series of child abductions in Yorkshire, England. Adapted from British author David Pease's bestselling series of crime novels centering on the mystery of the Yorkshire Ripper, 1974 was quickly followed by 1980 (directed by James Marsh), and 1983 (directed by Anand Tucker). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
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Recent DVD and Blu-ray Releases
August 10th - Date Night and more...
August 3rd - Kick-Ass and more...
July 27th - Clash of the Titans and more...
July 20th - Cop Out and more...
July 13th - The Bounty Hunter and more...
