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DVD Shopping Bag: Fringe Season 2, KONG and the Astonishing X-Men
The Bag Runneth Over By
Robert T. Trate
September 28, 2010
The DVD Shopping features King Kong, Fringe and the X-men
© Bob Trate
A month ago, the DVD Shopping Bag was really short on titles. Thankfully, a slew of classic Roger Corman titles became available and gave us something to get excited about. Having a title to talk about this week isn’t the problem. The problem is picking just one title and only featuring that. Rarely do we feature more than one but this week there are just too many not to mention. Obviously Iron Man 2, will end up in your shopping bag, but let’s talk about a few others that are also worth picking up.
Due to a recent move on my part, my copy of Fringe Season 2 on Blu-ray arrived a little late, so please forgive me on my tardiness. I’m really glad that I gave this series the chance it so rightfully deserved. Season 2 really got to the heart of the Fringe Family. It established that everything in season 1 was nothing but a prologue that leads to season 2. What we learned were not answers to our questions about Peter (Joshua Jackson), Olivia (Anna Torv), and Walter (John Noble), but the consequences of all their actions. Season 1 had one hell of a finale and yes season 2 started off completely on the wrong foot. Yet, by the end, Fringe became one of our must see TV shows.
The Blu-ray is packed to the hilt with special features, commentaries for various episodes, and further explanation of the pattern. If you watched the first one of these from season 1, it is an incredible look at how the show is shaped. Each writer, actor, director, and producer gives their insights into where the plot is going. It is an incredible way to prepare yourself for season 3 and take in all that you might have missed during season 2.
Have we forgotten Peter Jackson’s over indulgent dream project yet? Good. Then let us go back to the original and appreciate it in 1080p. Thankfully, the special features are exactly the same as the 2005 2 Disc DVD version. I said thankfully because those special features are a Kong fan’s dream. The commentary by Ray Harryhausen is both fun and informative as he not only walks you through the history of the film but his own personal experiences with it. The recreation of the “Lost Spider Pit Sequence” is another gem as Peter Jackson recreates the lost scene mostly from photographs and legend. The final product is both a tribute the filmmakers of the day and incredible to watch. The transfer is as good as it will ever be as the silver in the film is highlighted almost too much. Regardless of seeing too much film grain, King Kong on Blu-ray is the only way to go.
When Marvel converted Joss Whedon’s and John Cassaday’s brilliant first 6 issues of Astonishing X-Men into a motion comic, it only made sense. Whedon’s story is a fan boy’s dream and who doesn’t love the X-Men? I read the comic when it came out and loved where Whedon took our favorite mutants. The difference in the motion comic is that Whedon’s dialogue now breathes completely with life. The characters, all voiced superbly, each have that Whedon charm we have come to love. Suddenly, this story, which I read so many moons ago, became fresh and incredibly addicting all over again. This is motion comics done right. Hopefully DC Comics will take notice and take their to the same level.
Last, and certainly not least, is Superman/Batman: Apocalypse. I apologize for not having seen the full Blu-ray and all the special features, but I did see the film up in New York last week. It has quickly become my favorite in the DC Animated library. From the original Jeph Loeb arch Superman/ Batman/ Supergirl, this story line stays true to its roots. What amazed me was how Batman (Kevin Conroy) is the funny man in this adventure. Another great aspect to this chick flick (yes you read that right) are the fight sequences. Not only are they incredibly elaborate, but breathtaking as well. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a must have for your library. Look for Tim Janson’s full review this week.
Top 5 Picks of the Week:
1. Iron Man 2 (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)
2. King Kong (Blu-ray Book)
3. Astonishing X-Men - Gifted (Marvel Knights)
4. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse [Blu-ray]
5. Nightmare Before Christmas [Blu-ray]
ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS
7 Days Starring Claude Legault and Martin Dubreil
Cat City Starring Rebecca Pidgeon, Julian Sands, Brian Dennehy
Dark Woods Starring Tracy Coogan, John Muscarnero, Mary Kate Wiles
The Killer Inside Me Starring Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, and Simon Baker
The Killer Inside Me [Blu-ray]
Hero [Blu-ray] Starring Jet Li
Iron Bodyguard (Dub Sub) Starring Chen Kuan-tai, Yueh Hua, and Lily Li
Perriers Bounty Starring Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, and Jim Broadbent
ANIME
Bleach Uncut Box Set 6
Devil May Cry: The Complete Series (Viridian Collection) Starring Reuben Langdon, Luci Christian, Rob Mungle
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Complete First Season (Viridian Collection) Starring Aaron Dismuke and Vic Mignona
Genshiken 2 Lite Box (Vols 1-3, Eps 1-12) Starring Kaori Mizuhashi
Hell Girl: Three Vessels Collection 1
Ikki Tousen: Premium Box (3pc) Starring Masumi Asano
Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny Volume 3 Starring Masumi Asano
Kaze No Stigma: The Complete First Season Starring Cherami Leigh, Mark Stoddard, and Sean Hannigan
Nabari no Ou: The Complete Series Starring Brina Palencia, Joel McDonald, and Eric Vale
CARTOONS
Astonishing X-Men - Gifted (Marvel Knights) Starring Wolverine, Cyclops, and Beast
C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation, The Tenth Season Starring Laurence Fishburne, George Eads, Eric Szmanda
Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment
Monsters Inc [Blu-ray]
Nightmare Before Christmas [Blu-ray]
Red vs. Blue Season 8: Revelation Starring Burnie Burns, Jason Saldana, and Gustavo Sorola
Rock & Rule (25th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] Starring Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, and Lou Reed
The Scooby-Doo Collection (Meets Batman / Meets the Harlem Globetrotters / Greatest Mysteries)
The Scooby Doo Collection (Meets the Boo Brothers/ Greatest Mysteries / Winter Wonderdog)
She-Ra: Season One, Vol. 1
Son of the Beach: Back to the Beach Starring Roland Kickinger, Timothy Stack, and Michael Berensen
South Park: A Little Box of Butters
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse [Blu-ray] Starring Summer Glau, Tim Daly, Edward Asner, and Kevin Conroy
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Single-Disc Edition)
Swamp Thing: The Legend Continues Starring Dick Durock
Tom & Jerry Collection
CLASSICS
Harlow Starring Carroll Baker, Red Buttons, Angela Lansbury
Knock on Wood Starring Danny Kaye and Mai Zetterling
My Favorite Spy Starring Bob Hope, Hedy Lamarr, Francis L. Sullivan, and Arnold Moss
Where Love Has Gone Starring Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Mike Connors, and Jane Greer
COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style
Get Him to the Greek [Blu-ray] Starring Russell Brand, Jonah Hill, and Rose Byrne
Get Him to the Greek (Single-Disc Edition)
Get Him to the Greek (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Criterion Collection
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence: The (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Takeshi Kitano
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (The Criterion Collection)
The Thin Red Line (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring James Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and Kirk Acevedo
The Thin Red Line (The Criterion Collection)
HORROR
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow Starring Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, and Larry Drake
Death Kappa (Ws Dub) Starring Misato Hirata
Fangoria FrightFest Presents - Grimm Love Starring Keri Russell and Thomas Kretschmann
Fangoria FrightFest Presents - Pig Hunt Starring Jason Foster and Travis Aaron Wade
Fangoria FrightFest Presents - Hunger Starring Linden Ashby, Lori Heuring, and Lea Kohl
Fangoria Frightfest Presents - Fragile Starring Calista Flockhart, Elena Anaya, Richard Roxburgh
Fangoria FrighFest Presents - Dark House Starring Jeffrey Combs, Meghan Ory, and Diane Salinger
Fangoria Frightfest Presents - The Tomb Starring Michael Madsen, Wes Bentley, Eric Roberts
Fangoria FrightFest Presents - Road Kill Starring Sophie Lowe, Bob Morely, and Xavier Samuel
Fangoria FrightFest Presents - The Haunting Starring Ana Torrent and Francisdo Boira
Frozen Starring Shawn Ashmore and Emma Bell
Frozen [Blu-ray]
Madman 30th Anniversay Edition Starring Gaylen Ross
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film Starring Lance Henriksen, John Carpenter, Mick Garris, and Joe Dante
Prey [Blu-ray] Starring Peter Weller
Suck [Blu-ray] Starring Malcolm McDowell, Dave Foley, Henry Rollins, and Iggy Pop
Suck
There's Nothing Out There (Ws) Starring Craig Peck, Wendy Bednarz, and Mark Collver
Ultimate Machine Girl: Collectors Tin (3pc) (Ws) Starring Minase Yashiro
Wake the Witch - Special Edition Starring Stephanie Tapio, Karis Yanike, Rachel Lien, and Martin Kenna
MODERN CLASSICS on BLU-RAY
King Kong (Blu-ray Book) Starring Robert Armstrong, Fay Wray, and Bruce Cabot
The Private Eyes [Blu-ray] Starring Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Trisha Noble, and Bernard Fox
Super Size Me: 6 1/2 Year Anniversary Special Edition Starring Morgan Spurlock
SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [Blu-ray] Starring Skandar Keynes and William Moseley
Iron Man 2 (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) Starring Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle
Iron Man 2 (Single-Disc Edition)
Iron Man 2 (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Iron Man 2 (Single-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray]
Race to Witch Mountain [Blu-ray] Starring Dwayne Johnson and Alexander Ludwig
TV LAND
Legend of the Seeker: The Complete Second Season Starring Craig Horner, Bruce Spence, and Craig Parker
Paranormal State: The Complete Season Four Starring Ryan Buell, Heather Taddy, Chip Coffey, and Eilfie Music
Scrubs: The Complete Ninth And Final Season (Two-Disc DVD) Starring John C. McGinley and Kerry Bishe
Scrubs: The Complete Collection Starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, and Ken Jenkins
Secret Agent AKA Danger Man: The Complete Collection (SLIMLINE) Starring Patrick McGoohan, Richard Wattis, Lionel Murton
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Other then Ironman 2 Special Edition Blu-ray of course, I can't wait to get Sup/Bat/ Apocalypse. All the clips and interviews posted on here have got me really excited to watch it. Also, with how well done Red Hood made further puts DC as #1 in animated films. I am digging Fringe on tv right now so I am going to Netflix the first seasons.