This Week in Home Video: The World's End, We're the Millers, Night of the Comet, Tank Girl and Doctor Who
This Week in Home Video previews all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and on-demand titles hitting the street this week, plus lost gems, crazed Cancon, outrageous cult titles and the best places to rent, buy, talk or see movies in Toronto.
NEW RELEASES
The World's End (eOne)
A bunch of old friends re-unite to finish an unresolved pub crawl initiated 20 years prior, but things get wacky when they encounter a village full of homicidal robots.
Final part of the "Cornetto" trilogy manages to top the legendary status of its heady stable mates SHAUN OF THE DEAD and HOT FUZZ with the combined talents of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine, Rosamund Pike and Eddie Marsan. The freaky Sci-Fi element almost crowbars the comedy right out, but a satisfying conclusion brings the chocolate and peanut butter back together.
A wealth of extras are present and correct, including the genius "There's Only One Gary King" (Osymyso's Inibri-8 Megamix), and equally hilarious commentaries from director Edgar Wright (making up for the laugh-free mince that was SCOTT PILGRIM) and actors Simon Pegg and Nick Wright.
We're the Millers (Warner Bros.)
Jason Sudeikis plays a small time pot dealer who must assemble a fake family of squares (including stripper Jennifer Aniston and runaway goth Emma Roberts) to haul a huge drug shipment across the Mexican border. Its NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION meets THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS ethos is a dour reflection on where our culture is at, but it's riotously funny and that is all that matters.
The Bluray/DVD/Digital combo pack contains both theatrical and extended versions of the movie, and includes roughly 45 minutes of outtakes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.
Planes (Disney)
Dusty the crop duster wants to race, but his fear of heights and inability to fly fast hold back his dreams until one day his courage is put to the test and Dusty soars like never before. Disney successfully transitions the action from CARS to PLANES in this tale of bravery not-unlike last week's animated release TURBO (great double bill for the young'uns, that). Featuring bonus deleted scenes, short features about the racers, and the Colin Cowherd hosted Top Ten Flyers.
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification (Paramount)
Feature length version of 2 classic early 90s STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION episodes featuring the return of Spock, found working undercover in the war against the Romulans. Now that he shows up in the rebooted movies every time J. J Abrams has plot constipation, the novelty has slightly worn off, but back in 1992 Leonard Nimoy's appearance was a huge deal. Extras include a making of featurette and commentary from Star Trek designers Mike & Denise Okuda. The entire Season 5 of ST:TNG on Bluray is also available this week.
Doctor Who - The Tenth Planet (BBC)
What better way to mark the 50th Anniversary of DOCTOR WHO then this slice of utterly classic Black and White history that finds the first Doctor encountering the Cybermen for the very first time, getting tired and regenerating into another body. This kind of things was unheard of at the time and from listening to the commentary you get the impression they didn't think it was going to work.
CULT CLASSICS
Assault on Precinct 13: Collector's Edition (Scream Factory)
A run-down, mostly abandoned police station is attacked by the goulish ruffian gang Street Thunder. John Carpenter's first feature length film also remains his toughest, with a synth heavy score he composed and performed himself, and a streak of nihilism a mile wide, going much further than Its "RIO BRAVO meets NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD in sun kissed '70s Los Angeles" rep suggests. Extras include commentary from Carpenter, interviews, trailers, and a stunning new 1080p transfer.
Night of the Comet (Scream Factory)
Two '80s Valley girls are amongst the last of the human race after a comet buzzes earth and turns the population into dust. Now the girls must battle zombies in between bouts of shopping and meeting hot survivor guys. Funny to see how much of the zombie craze was predicted in trashy b-movies like this one, loving rescued from obscurity by the fine folks at Scream Factory.
Eve of Destruction (Scream Factory)
Tap dancer Gregory Hines is a little out of his depth as Terrorism expert Jim McQuade, on the track of the Eve VIII android who is on a murderous rampage. Strange SF thriller from 1991 is exactly the kind of offbeat movie you used to find languishing in the corner at video rental stores, now punched up to the standards of the 21st century by Scream Factory.
Tank Girl (Shout Factory)
Bonkers cult favourite about an anarchic chick Tank Girl (Lori Petty) battling the villainous Kesslee (scenery chewing Malcolm McDowell) for control of water in the barren future of 2033. Featuring a varied guest cast, Ice-T as a half-man/half Kangaroo Ripper, and creature effects from Stan "JURASSIC PARK" Winston, this slept on '90s underground fave deserves reappraisal.
STILL FRESH
DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ON THE BIG SCREEN
This Saturday, November 23rd marks the 50th anniversary of BBC's globally adored science-fiction series DOCTOR WHO. It's fitting that Toronto celebrates, as the series was created by Torontonian Sydney Newman, and the CBC were one of the very first broadcasters to pick up the show and air it back in 1963:
The 50th Anniversary 3-D special "Day of the Doctor" stars current Doctor Matt Smith, alongside former Doctor David Tennant, with guest stars John Hurt and Billie Piper along for the adventure in space and time.
Word is that a few tickets may be available, so if you are a hardcore WHOser without any it may be worth your time to chance a last minute score.
Worst case you can see a matinee of HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE and hop on a torrent of DOCTOR WHO when you get home...
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