Blu-Ray, DVD Round Up, June 16, 2009: ‘Crossing Over,’ ‘Woodstock,’ ‘The Cell 2’

CHICAGO – It’s time to dig a little deeper at HollywoodChicago.com and pull out a standard and HD edition of the Round-Up, our regular column that gives you the synopsis, features, and technical details on several titles that we either couldn’t get around to full-length reviewing or we didn’t think deserved the time.

“Crossing Over” and “Woodstock: 40th Anniversary Edition” were released on June 9th, 2009.

“The Cell 2” and “Nature’s Most Amazing Events” were released on June 16th, 2009.

“The Cell 2” (Blu-Ray)

Photo credit: WB

Synopsis: “Imagine a serial killer who flatlines his victims and then brings them back to life over and over again, until they beg to die. Beautiful psychic investigator Maya Casteneda (Tessie Santiago) was his last victim and swore vengeance on her tormentor before she escaped. Now The Cusp is back, and the FBI taps Maya to help capture the elusive monster. Maya soon discovers the only way she can locate The Cusp is to enter his head. The danger: if Maya dies in the killers brain, she dies in real life! Like the trailblazing original, The Cell 2 is a mind-blowing mix of fantasy and reality that enters a place of fear and power like no other: the thoughts of a psychopath. Chris Bruno (The Dead Zone), Frank Whaley (World Trade Center) and Bart Johnson (High School Musical) co-star.”

“The Cell 2” stars Tessie Santiago, Chris Bruno, and Frank Whaley. It is rated R. The film is presented in 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1 and accompanied by a Dolby TrueHD English 5.1 audio track.

Special features on “The Cell 2” include “The Cell 2: Behind the Scenes”…and additional features via BD Live.

“Crossing Over”

Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

Synopsis: “Harrison Ford is on a quest for justice as an immigration agent investigating the case of a missing illegal. In a cross-fire of crime and bureaucracy, fraud and murder, he must race against time to try and save a family from becoming collateral damage in the fight for the American dream. Critics rave, “Harrison Ford is terrific. An engrossing, thoroughly entertaining movie with great performances from a first-rate ensemble cast” (Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com). Co-starring Ashley Judd, Ray Liotta, Jim Sturgess, and Cliff Curtis, Crossing Over will keep you riveted until the final mystery unfolds.”

“Crossing Over” stars Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Jim Sturgess, Cliff Curtis, Alice Brage, and Alice Eve. It was written and directed by Wayne Kramer. It is rated R. The film is presented in widescreen accompanied by an English 5.1 track.

Special features include…nothing. A Harrison Ford film released only on standard edition without a single special features? We keep opinion out of the “Round-Up,” but the presentation of “Crossing Over” says something about the film. If the studio is ignoring it, why shouldn’t you?

“Woodstock: 40th Anniversary Edition”

Photo credit: WB

Synopsis: “1969 was a year unlike any other. Man first set foot on the moon. The New York Mets won the World Series against all odds. And for three days in the rural town of Bethel, New York, half a million people experienced the single most defining moment of their generation; a concert unprecedented in scope and influence, a coming together of people from all walks of life with a single common goal: Peace and music. They called it Woodstock. One year later, a landmark Oscar®-winning documentary captured the essence of the music, the electricity of the performances, and the experience of those who lived it. Newly remastered, the film features legendary performances by 17 best selling artists.’

“Woodstock” stars Joan Baez, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Country Joe McDonald & Country Joe & The Fish, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Santana, John Sebastian, Sha Na Na, Sly & The Family Stone, Ten Years After, and The Who. The Academy Award-winning documentary is presented in widescreen with a Dolby Surround 5.1 English audio track.

Special features on “Woodstock: 40th Anniversary Edition” include a new retrospective called “The Museum at Bethel Woods; The Story of the Sixties & Woodstock”.

“Nature’s Most Amazing Events” (Blu-Ray)

Photo credit: WB/BBC

Synopsis: “Witness the planet’s most breathtaking natural events, and follow the dramatic wildlife stories behind them. Combining the epic cinematography of Planet Earth, with all the emotion, intimacy and storytelling of a wildlife diary, this series charts the effects of global climatic phenomena which transform entire landscapes, drawing in thousands of animals and determining their fate. Each episode is set in a different part of the world - from the great flood of the Okavango delta to the plankton blooms of the Pacific Ocean, and from the Indian monsoon to the race for survival triggered by the annual Arctic melt - and shows how immense natural forces, often starting thousands of miles away, drive a chain reaction that culminates in a spectacular wildlife event. For some animals, it’s a window of opportunity, but for others, it’s the most dangerous time of their lives. Follow their emotional, involving stories to a dramatic climax where their fate will be revealed.”

“Nature’s Most Amazing Events” is presented in gorgeous High Definition with a 1080i picture and an English Stereo audio track.

Special features on “Nature’s Most Amazing Events” include a behind-the-scenes feature on each episode called “Nature’s Most Amazing Events Diaries”.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com