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DVD Shopping Bag: Piranha Blu-ray

Second Time around Blues

By Robert T. Trate January 11, 2011

Piranha now on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
© Sony Pictures/Bob Trate

A theatrical screening of the 2010 version of Piranha was an incredible experience. The midnight show had its faithful diehard gore fans mixed with that of the avid summer movie watchers. This was the last summer movie of 2010 and it did go out with some bite. The film was fun, packed with gore, and tons of boobies as well. The 3D might not have been the best but at least it exploited it when it should have. All in all, Piranha was a fun cinematic experience to close out our summer. Now it arrives on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D so let’s take a look at the catch of the day.

Blu-ray and 3D Gags

With an up conversion to 3D the film did have a few blurry moments in the theater. The 3D in the theater did help to hide the incredibly cheap special effects for the film, all of which are only highlighted by the Blu-ray edition. These scenes now look even cheaper in 1080p. One could argue that this only adds to the cheese ball factor in Piranha but it remains an eye-sore, nonetheless. Another eye-sore is the blatant 3D gags. Odd 3D moments, such as a penis floating towards the screen and one of our heroines vomiting right into the camera are best forgotten. The 1953 version of House of Wax (Warner Brothers’ first 3-D movie) immediately comes to mind with its bizarre out of place, now mute, 3D gags. If you have the proper equipment a Blu-ray 3D version of Piranha is available.

Boobies and Second Time Around

All right who doesn’t love seeing tons of boobies in their horror movies? Even the ladies, who love horror, know that they are a necessity. This may be the greatest modern collection of breasts not featuring the words “girls gone wild” in the title. On a second viewing though one has to wonder, could we have punched up the dialogue a bit better? Perhaps added to the character’s dimensions? Better yet, at least have our hero Jake (Steve R. McQueen) get around the bases with Danni (Kelly Brook). If anything, that would have kept in spirit with the movie and the genre. Boobies are fun but the second time around they appear as if you have seen them before.

Deleted Scenes

There are almost 8 minutes of deleted scenes for this 88 minute movie. Most feature more boobies but there are two that would have been nice additions to the film. One of which was a scene featuring Christopher Lloyd. We simply don’t have enough of Doc Brown in our lives. The other is a scene between our hero Jake and his love interest Kelly (Jessica Szohr). It seems unnecessary given the subject matter but was played out perfectly by the actors. Hopefully, it has ended up in their reels somewhere. If you were interested in what happened to Derrick’s (Jerry O'Connell) camera man (Paul Scheer) that scene is here too.

Gore for the Score

If anything the best reason to watch Piranha again is the gore. Director Alexandre Aja pushes past the limits of good taste and sets a new standard for the genre. Each and every death sequences is fun, gut wrenching, and a true treat to those that crave carnage. Though some are CG enhanced the old school effects are a true treat in Blu-ray.

Top 5 Picks of the Week:

1. The Social Network [Blu-ray]

2. Piranha [Blu-ray]

3. Robinson Crusoe on Mars (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

4. Green Hornet, The: Movie Edition

5. Dances with Wolves (20th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]

ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS

Dances with Wolves (20th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] Starring Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene

Dances With Wolves

Green Hornet, The: Movie Edition Starring Gordon Jones, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel, and Wade Boteler

The Hessen Conspiracy Starring Billy Zane, Lyne Renee, John B. Lowe, and Michael Bowen

Long Ride From Hell Starring Steve Reeves and Aldo Sambrelli

Magic Man Starring Billy Zane, Alexander Nevsky, Robert Davi

Shake Hands With the Devil Starring Roy Dupuis, Owen Lebakeng Shejake, Deborah Kara Unger

ANIME

Black Butler: Season One, Part 1 Starring J. Michael Tatum, Brina Palencia, and Monica Rial

CARTOONS

Alpha and Omega Starring Hayden Panettiere and Justin Long

Alpha & Omega (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

Ben 10 Ultimate Alien 1 Starring Yuri Lowenthal, Ashley Johnson, Greg Cipes

COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style

Comedy Central Roast of David Hasselhoff

Criterion Collection

Army of Shadows (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Lino Ventura, Paul Meurisse, Simone Signoret

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West, and Mona

HORROR

The Chainsaw Sally Show, Season 1 Starring April Monique Burril, Azman Toy, Stacie Ficerai Beard

Halloween Night Starring Cindy Wheeler, Todd Carpenter, Danielle Donahue

Piranha [Blu-ray 3D] Starring Elisabeth Shue and Jerry O'Connell

Piranha [Blu-ray]

Piranha

MODERN CLASSICS on BLU-RAY

Once Upon a Time in America [Blu-ray] Starring Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern

The Social Network [Blu-ray] Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake

SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY

Doctor Who: Meglos (Story 111) Starring Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, John Leeson, and Jacqueline Hill

Doctor Who: The Dominators (Story 44) Starring Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines, and Wendy Padbury

TV LAND

Adam-12: Vol. 1 Starring Martin Milner and Kent Mccord

All in the Family: The Complete Eighth Season Starring Carroll O'Connor and Rob Reiner

Best of Bonanza Starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Pernell Roberts

Bonanza: Collector's Edition (5-pk)(Tin) Starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Pernell Roberts

Criss Angel: Mindfreak Season 6 Starring Criss Angel, Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi, Banachek

Dragnet: 1968 Vol.1 Starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan

ER: The Complete Fourteenth Season Starring Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, Parminder Nagra

Great Performances: Macbeth Starring Patrick Stewart, Oliver Burch, Suzanne Burden, Ben Carpenter

Greek: Chapter Five - The Complete Third Season Starring Clark Duke, Scott M. Foster, Spencer Grammer, and Paul James

Green Hornet, The - 75th Anniversary Original Serials Collector's Set Starring Gordon Jones, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel, and Wade Boteler

Green Hornet Strikes Again-75th Anniversary Starring Warren Hull, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel, and Wade Boteler

Hot in Cleveland: Season One Starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick

BOX SETS

John Wayne: America's Legendary Hero Starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Marsha Hunt, and Nancy Shubert

The Three Stooges: Collector's Edition Starring Curly Joe deRita, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard

Robert Trate writes two weekly columns for Mania the DVD Shopping Bag and the Toy Maniac. Robert also participates in a pod cast that reviews movies, comics and celebrates all things geek. Check it out at You’ve Got Geek on You.com.