BBC

DVD Review: British Greats ‘Wire in the Blood,’ ‘Life on Mars’

BrianTT — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:53:57 -0600

CHICAGO – Any good reader of HollywoodChicago.com knows that we have a soft spot for modern British television. “Torchwood,” “Doctor Who,” “Primeval,” “Robin Hood,” “Ashes to Ashes,” and many more shows range from good to great. One of the best series of the ’00s is the excellent “Life on Mars,” soon-to-be available in a series 1 DVD box set and accompanied on store shelves this month by the sixth volume of the thrilling “Wire in the Blood”.

DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0

The spectacular “Life on Mars” was adapted into an ill-fated ABC remake last fall and I worry that American audiences will ignore the original because they see the remake as a failure (which is itself debatable). Whether or not you liked or disliked the Yank version, please check out the BBC original, a great twist on the standard police procedural.

Life on Mars will be released on DVD on July 28th, 2009.
Photo credit: Acorn Media

John Simm plays Sam Tyler, a police detective who is either dreaming, delusional, or displaced in time. After getting hit by a car, Sam wakes up in 1973. All of the modern tools of crime fighting have yet to be invented and Tyler has to adjust to working in the sexist, hard-drinking, tough crime-fighting style of a quarter-century earlier, trying to solve the biggest mystery - what the hell is happening to him. Philip Glenister is spectacular as his boss and Liz White shines as a sympathetic policewoman.

Series 1 of “Life on Mars” consists of 8 episodes on four discs. Because each disc only contains two episodes, the video and audio quality are above average. The set also includes an amazing wealth of special features, including:

Commentary on episode 1 by co-creator and writer Matthew Graham, director Bharat Nalluri, and producer Claire Parker
Commentary on episode 2 by director Bharat Nalluri and producer Claire Parker
Commentary on episode 3 by star Philip Glenister and director John McKay
Commentary on episode 4 by stars John Simm and Glenister, co-creator and writer Ashley Pharoah, director John McKay, and Parker
Commentary on episode 5 by co-creator and writer Tony Jordan, director S.J. Clarkson, and Parker
Commentary on episode 6 by Graham, Pharoah, and director John Alexander
Commentary on episode 7 by stars Dean Andrews and Marshall Lancaster, writer Chris Chibnali, director S.J. Clarkson and Parker
Commentary on episode 8 by Simm, Alexander, and Parker

Other features: “Take a Look at the Lawman,” Interview clip with director Bharat Nalluri, “The Music of Life on Mars,” “Get Sykes,” and Outtakes Reel.

“Wire in the Blood: The Complete Sixth Season”

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Life on Mars” is something that I think could appeal to everyone. “Wire on the Blood,” however, is a much darker experience, a series of TV films that dive deep into the ugly side of human nature. The sixth season is now available from E1 Entertainment and would make a great addition for fans of British TV or well-made thrillers.

The “season” of “Wire in the Blood” consists of what are essentially four TV films with each disc containing a single episode that runs 86 minutes. What the episodes have in common is Dr. Tony Hill (Robson Green), a clinical psychologist who has a deep understanding of the criminal mind. Working with detective inspector Alex Fielding (Simone Lahbib), Hill profiles and captures murderers before they strike again.

The four episodes of season six are “Unnatural Vices,” “Falls the Shadow,” “From the Defeated,” and “The Dead Land”.

It seems a little unnecessary to spread out less than six hours of total run time on four discs and then to go a step further by not including a single special feature. That’s disappointing, but the series itself rarely fails to entertain. This is the final season of “Wire in the Blood”. I wouldn’t necessarily start with season six, but fans of the show will be happy to complete their collection of this international phenomenon.

‘Life on Mars’ will be released by Acorn Media and stars John Simm, Philip Glenister, and Liz White. The show will be released on July 28th, 2009. It is not rated.

‘Wire in the Blood: The Complete Sixth Season’ was released by E1 Entertainment and stars Robson Green and Simone Lahbib. The show was released on July 21st, 2009. It is not rated.

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

Blu-Ray, TV Review: ‘Torchwood: Children of Earth’ is Riveting, Must-See Television

BrianTT — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:11:01 -0600

CHICAGO – Everyone with a TV should tune in tonight to one of the best hours of science fiction that the genre has ever seen, the opening night of the five-part “Torchwood: Children of Earth” mini-series. BBC America is broadcasting the US debut of this five-night event and it is simply incredible, earning every bit of the glowing praise and buzz that has been building in anticipation of its debut.

TV Rating: 5.0/5.0

“Children of Earth” is essentially about the end of civilization. It is about a species - mankind - presented with a horrible situation and how bad decisions in the face of adversity simply add up over time. The sins of the past generation will be visited on the next one. It may sound deep for a sci-fi mini-series, but as any “Torchwood” fan will tell you, this is no ordinary sci-fi show.

Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day 1 - the children.
Photo credit: BBC

If you’re completely unfamiliar (and even if you are, you should still tune in), “Torchwood” takes its name from an underground alien-fighting team a la “Men in Black” or “The X-Files”. Spun-off from the new version of “Doctor Who,” the soldiers in the fight against the unknown are led by the immortal Captain Jack Harkness (the great John Barrowman). Dark, sexy, twisted, funny, and totally unpredictable - “Torchwood” the show has been great for two stellar seasons.

As good as “Torchwood” has been, it’s never been this good. “Children of Earth” is heart-breaking, action-packed, incredibly unpredictable, and genuinely scary. And the storytelling is as good as anything I’ve seen on television in a very long time.

(l to r) Ianto (Gareth David-Lloyd), Captain Jack (John Barrowman) and Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles).
Photo credit: BBC

The first hour is a mind-blower. Without warning, all of the children on the planet stop moving. They just stare off into space for a little over two minutes before they go back to whatever they were doing. The panic starts to build. It gets worse when it happens again in a few hours. When all of the children of the planet stop again, they start to chant. “We. We. We. We Are. We Are. We Are. We Are Coming. We Are Coming.” It’s one of the most terrifying images I’ve seen on television and I’ve been covering this form for a very long time.

From here, “Children of Earth” goes many, many places, but I don’t want to ruin any of the twists and turns of the excellent screenplay. Who (or what) is controlling the children of Earth? And what will they want when they get here? The amazing thing about “Children of Earth” is how unlikely it is that you will know where it’s going. So much television writing is predictable from the first act set-up but each episode of “Children of Earth” features multiple twists and turns.

This is amazing storytelling, always staying one step ahead of the audience, who will likely be on the edge of their seat waiting for the next development. I honestly can’t remember the last time I could actually feel my heart race as a complex, intriguing, action-filled story came to an explosive climax. That happened with “Children of Earth”.

To be fair, the second hour of “Children of Earth” doesn’t quite live up to the incredible ending of the first. But very few things could. Just as more people remember the pilot of “Lost” than the second episode, a let-down is natural. The fact that the team behind “Torchwood” get back to near the same quality level of that amazing opener by the third episode is remarkable. The fourth hour is a bit talky - although thematically fascinating - and the end comes a bit too abruptly, but these are minor complaints for what is one of the best mini-series in years. Don’t miss it.

Torchwood: Children of Earth - Day 4 - (l to r) Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd) and Captain Jack (John Barrowman).
Photo credit: BBC

If you don’t have BBC America or can’t watch it this week, “Children of Earth” will be released on a perfectly transferred Blu-Ray release on July 28th, 2009. The two-disc set only includes one special feature, a half-hour look at the making of the project, but the video and audio are gorgeous.

The same stunning technical quality holds true for “Torchwood: The Complete Second Season,” hitting Blu-Ray on July 28th, 2009. All 13 episodes look flawless in 1080i High Definition and the accompanying DTS HD audio track is perfectly mixed. Copious special features include deleted scenes, outtakes, “The Life and Deaths of Captain Jack,” and detailed behind-the-scenes information in “Torchwood Declassified”.

July 2009 should finally be the month when most of the world catches up with “Torchwood,” one of the best shows on television right now and one of the best science fiction shows in the history of the medium.

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth’ premieres on BBC America on Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 8pm CST and runs every night this week. It stars John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Peter Capaldi, Paul Coply, and Liz May Brice. It was created by Russell T. Davies.

‘Torchwood: Children of Earth’ & ‘Torchwood: The Complete Second Season’ will be released on DVD & Blu-Ray from BBC Home Video on July 28th, 2009. They are not rated.

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

DVD Round Up, May 7, 2009: ‘Caprica,’ ‘Look,’ ‘Two and a Half Men’

BrianTT — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:30:39 -0600

CHICAGO – The Round-Up is back with a house-cleaning version of our legendary column that brings five titles together that have almost nothing in common other than the fact that they might have slipped under your radar as you were busy spring cleaning. A Bollywood musical, an indie film, a new TV show, an old one, and a foreign one. We’ve got something for everyone.

“Caprica” was released on Tuesday, April 21st, 2009.

“Chandni Chowk to China,” “Gavin and Stacey: Season One,” and “Look” were released on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009.

“Two and a Half Men: Season Five” will be released on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009.

“Caprica”

Photo credit: Universal

Synopsis: “An astonishing breakthrough is taking shape on the planet “Caprica”. The rapidly evolving spheres of human and mechanical engineering have collided, along with the fates of two families. Joined by tragedy in an explosive instant of terror, two rival clans led by powerful patriarchs, Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) and Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz), duel in in era of questionable ethics, corporate machinations and unbridled personal ambition as the final war for humanity looms.”

“Caprica,” from the Executive Producers of “Battlestar Galactica,” stars Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales, Paula Malcomson, Alessandra Toreson, Magda Apanowicz, and Polly Walker. It was written by Jane Espenson and Ryan Mottesheard and is unrated. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.78:1 aspect ration and accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track.

Special features on “Caprica” include a feature commentary with director Jeffrey Reiner, executive producer/writer Ronald D. Moore, and executive producer David Eick, deleted scenes, and video blogs.

“Chandni Chowk to China”

Photo credit: WB

Synopsis: “Have you ever dreamed of being more than your circumstances? Sidhu (Askay Kumar) longs to escape his dreary existence cutting vegetables at a road-side food stand in Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi, India. When two strangers from China proclaim he is the reincarnation of a Chinese war hero, Sidhu envisions fame, fortune and adventure. Journeying with them back to China, Sidhu meets the alluring Sakhi (Deepika Padukone) and love blossoms. But can it survive the vicious smuggler, Hojo (Gordon Liu) and his cadre of kung-fu assassins?

Megalomaniacal villains, crazy inventors, Chinese mystics and outlandish kung-fu assassins all get thrown together in this joyful, uplifting adventure full of beautiful landscapes, attention-grabbing songs, and high energy dancing.

Featuring top Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone and produced by acclaimed father and son duo, Ramesh and Rohan Sippy, Chandni Chowk to China promises to excite.”

“Chandni Chowk to China” stars Mithun Chakraborty, Akshay Kumar, Jun Li, Chia Hui Liu, Chang En Lu, Deepika Padukone, Ranvir, Shorey Conan Stevens, Kevin Wu, and Roger Yuan. It was written by Shridhard Raghavan & Rajat Aroraa and directed by Nikhil Advani. It is not rated. The film is presented in matted widescreen with a Hindi Dolby Surround 5.1 track.

Special features on “Chandni Chowk to China” include additional scenes.

“Gavin and Stacey: Season One”

Photo credit: BBC/WB

Synopsis: “Gavin is an ordinary boy from England, Stacey is an ordinary girl from Wales. They speak every day on the phone at work, and yet they’ve never met… until now. But when Gavin and Stacey finally meet and their ordinary worlds come together, we see, through their families, their friends and their differences, that there’s no such thing as ‘ordinary’ after all.”

“Gavin & Stacey” stars Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb, Joanna Page, Matthew Horne, Melanie Walters, James Corden, and Ruth Jones. The show was written by James Corden & Ruth Jones and directed by Christine Gernon. It is not rated. The show is presented in widescreen with a Dolby Stereo track.

Special features on “Gavin & Stacey” include “How It Happened,” outtakes, “Behind the Scenes in Leicester Square,” and audio commentaries with Ruth Jones, James Corden, and Christina Gernon.

“Look”

Photo credit: Anchor Bay

Synopsis: “There are an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras in the United States. On any given day, the average American is captured approximately 200 times. Every one of us is constantly being observed at our jobs, on the street, while shopping, and sometimes even in our own homes. Every one of our secrets, lies, crimes and most private moments are all being recorded. But who is watching us? Rhys Colro (Entourage), Hayes MacArthur (The Game Plan), Jamie McShane (24) and Spencer Redford star in this award-winning drama from writer/director Adam Rifkin that takes the ultimate look at our “big brother” world.”

“Look” stars Hayes MacArthur and Jamie McShane. The film was written and directed by Adam Rifkin and is presented in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by a Dolby Surround 5.1 audio track.

Special features on “Look” include “A LOOK Behind the Scenes,” audio commentary with writer/director Adam Rifkin, producers Brad Wyman and Barry Schuler, and actor Hayes MacArthur, alternate & deleted scenes, “Director Adam Rifkin: Outtakes,” trailer, and TV spot.

“Two and a Half Men: Season Five”

Photo credit: WB

Synopsis: “Televisions #1 comedy celebrates five seasons of funny with big laughs and hilarious new storylines. Charlie (Charlie Sheen) tops the charts as kiddie-song sensation Charlie Waffles. Alan (Jon Cryer) at last meets the perfect woman who just happens to be dating Charlie. Jake (Angus T. Jones) starts junior high, armed with reams of “helpful” advice from Alan and Charlie. Evelyn (Holland Taylor) ties the knot for the fifth time (lots of guests at the wedding, lots of cops at the reception). And as always, Berta (Conchata Ferrell) deals with it all by dealing out a royal flush of deadpan zingers. The guys are in and the welcome mat is out at everyones favorite Malibu beach house. Have a great time!”

“Two and a Half Men: Season Five” stars Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle, Conchata Ferrell, and Holland Taylor. The show as created by Chuck Lorre is not rated. The show is presented in widescreen in Dolby Surround Stereo.

Special features include “Two and a Half Men at 100,” “The Lore of Chuck Lorre: Must Pause TV The Genesis and Evolution of His Vanity Cards at the End of Each Episode,” “Two and a Half Men Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard: Chronicling the Crossover Episodes Between Writing Teams of Two and a Half Men and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and·Bonus Episode: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Two and a Half Deaths.

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

DVD Round Up, Mar. 31, 2009: ‘Shuttle,’ ‘Donkey Punch,’ ‘Cracker,’ ‘Clone Wars’

BrianTT — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:28:29 -0600

CHICAGO – Two TV shows and two indie horror movies comprise the final edition of the infamous HollywoodChicago.com Round-Up for March. Both shows already have cult followings and the movies are likely to build ones of their own.

There are several major titles hitting DVD and Blu-Ray this week - “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Seven Pounds,” “Marley & Me”. These are the minor ones that have hit stores in recent weeks or are just about to do so.

“Cracker: The Complete Collection” was released on March 10th, 2009.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” was released on March 24th, 2009.

“Donkey Punch” & “Shuttle” will be released on April 7th, 2009.

“Cracker: The Complete Collection”

Photo credit: Acorn Media

Who doesn’t want nearly a day’s worth of highly acclaimed mystery movies? “Cracker” with Robbie Coltrane is one of the most beloved series of mysteries of the last several decades. The show won dozens of awards and earned legions of fans on the BBC and in repeats on A&E. Fans of modern mysteries should definitely take a look at “Cracker”

“Cracker” stars Robbie Coltrane, Barbara Flynn, Geraldine Somerville, and Christopher Eccleston, and was created by Jimmy McGovern. The ten disc set includes 1993’s “The Mad Woman in the Attic,” “To Say I Love You,” & “One Day a Lemming Will Fly,” 1994’s “To Be a Somebody,” “The Big Crunch,” & “Men Should Weep,” 1995’s “Brotherly Love,” “Best Boys,” “True Romance,” 1996’s “White Ghost,” and 2006’s “A New Terror”.

“With more than 25 major awards - including BAFTAs for best drama series and best actor - “Cracker” ranks as one of British television’s most acclaimed crime dramas. Robbie Coltrane (“Harry Potter,” “Ocean’s Twelve”) truly inhabits his role as the brash and brilliant forensic psychologist, Dr. Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald. For the police, Fitz’s astonishing insights into the criminal mind prove invaluable, but his arrogance and boorishness make him barely tolerable as a colleague. For his family, Fitz’s self-destructive compulsions - scotch, sex, and gambling - bring only pain and turmoil. Complemented by an outstanding cast, Coltrane delivers a brilliant performance as a genius who can dissect a psychopath’s motives, but can’t keep his own demons at bay. These powerful crime dramas examine the pressures and prejudices of contemporary urban life and the violence that they spawn.”

“Cracker” is presented in various forms with some episodes in 4:3 full screen and some in 16:9 widescreen with all episodes in Dolby Digital Stereo. Special features include “Cracker: Behind the Scenes,” an intimate, 45-minute visit with the show’s cast and creative team.

“Donkey Punch”

Photo credit: Magnolia

The controversial “Donkey Punch” starts as a sun-kissed trip aboard a yacht but things turn ugly when drugs and sex get involved. The first half of “Donkey Punch” is dread-filled and interesting enough to nearly make this thriller worth seeing, definitely for hardcore horror nuts who have almost certainly heard the buzz building on it for months, but the second half devolves into a pretty traditional slasher pic. Just know that before you embark on this 99-minute tour and there may be enough to like here.

“Donkey Punch” stars Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, and Jaime Winstone. It was written by Olly Blackburn & David Bloom and directed by Blackburn. It is not rated.

“After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults overindulge in champagne and ecstasy. Completely letting go of their inhibitions, they capture their wild partying aboard a luxury yacht on video camera. But when their reckless sexual endeavors are taken too far, one of them dies in a freak accident. The remaining members of the group argue about what to do, which leads to a ruthless fight for survival.”

“Donkey Punch” is presented in widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks. Special features include deleted scenes, “Making of Donkey Punch,” a director interview, cast interviews, and director commentary.

“Shuttle”

Photo credit: Magnolia

Like “Donkey Punch,” “Shuttle” has a decent idea but it’s even more awkwardly executed. There are enough twists and turns to satisfy serious thriller or horror junkies, but don’t expect much and don’t take this ride unless you’re a huge fan of the genre.

“Shuttle” stars Peyton List, Cameron Goodman, Cullen Douglas, Dave Power, James Snyder, and Tony Curran. It was written & directed by Edward Anderson. It is rated R.

“When two friends return from a girls’ weekend vacation in Mexico, they find themselves stranded at the airport. Trying to get home safely, they board an airport shuttle for the short trip. But once their feet cross the threshold of the shuttle, a night that had started like any other turns terrifying, and the ride home becomes a descent into darkness.”

“Shuttle” is presented in widescreen with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks. Special features include “Behind the Scenes,” Deleted Scenes and Casting Sessions.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided”

Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“The Clone Wars” may have been one of the most disappointing movies of 2008 but the Cartoon Network series continues to build a loyal fan base. To try to bring fans of all things “Star Wars” to “The Clone Wars,” Warner Brothers has released a four-episode sampler set from the series of the first quartet of half-hour adventures of Anakin, Yoda, and the rest of the gang - “Ambush,” “Rising Malevolence,” “Shadow of Malevolence,” and “Destroy Malevolence”.

“The sensational animated TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” blasts off with 4 action-packed episodes in “A Galaxy Divided”. In the first chapter, Yoda’s top secret mission becomes a battle for survival, pitting the Jedi Master and three clone troopers against enemy assassin Asajj Ventress and her massive droid army. Episodes 2 to 4 track the colossal - and deadly - warship Malevolence. Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker leads a clone squadron attack against the destructive vessel, damaging but not destroying it. When Padme Amidala and C-3PO fall into a trap and are taken hostage aboard the ship, Anakin and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi boldly infiltrate it in the hope of rescuing the prisoners and destroying the Malevolence from within. Experience the action and humor of the galaxy far, far away with these exciting adventures!”

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” is presented in standard version, preserving the aspect ration of its original television exhibition, and accompanied by English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Dolby Surround 5.1 tracks. The DVD includes no special features.

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

DVD Review: New Version of ‘Brideshead Revisited’ Worth a Look

BrianTT — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:17:06 -0700

CHICAGO – The BBC mini-series adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited” is so beloved that the new version with Matthew Goode, Hayley Atwell, Ben Whishaw, Emma Thompson, and Michael Gambon was doomed from the beginning. Miramax has done the filmmakers a disservice by releasing their work only on standard DVD, but fans of period pieces or classic literature should give Julian Jarrold’s film a chance.

The most successful thing about “Brideshead Revisited,” besides excellent supporting performances by Thompson and Gambon, is the design. For a budget reportedly under $20 million, there are some significant accomplishments in the film worth seeing and, while it looks good on DVD, Julian Jarrold’s film is the kind that’s made for the HD of Blu-Ray. It’s shameful that it won’t be seen on that format, at least not initially.

Brideshead Revisited is released by Miramax/Walt Disney on January 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Miramax

As for the film itself, “Brideshead Revisited” is not as perfect as the mini-series but it does enough right with such a daunting task and low budget that it becomes easy to overlook its flaws.

Matthew Goode (“The Lookout”) is perfectly cast in the daunting role of Charles Ryder, a sometimes cold, hard-to-read character from the Evelyn Waugh classic. Charles is a straight man in a story of over-the-top characters, a fellow caught in a triangle of love and class issues.

Brideshead Revisited is released by Miramax/Walt Disney on January 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Walt Disney Pictures Home Video

Ryder becomes entrances with the Marchmain family, first becoming close friends with the very tormented Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) and then meeting his beautiful sister Julia. Charles purportedly falls for Julia but Sebastian falls for Charles. The man in the middle faces even more problems with the matriarch of the family brings class and religious issues to the forefront. “Brideshead Revisited” is a story of a country going through massive changes between the World Wars.

Screenwriters Andrew Davies and Jeremy Brock were tasked with compressing the classic novel into just over two hours and the results clearly aggravated purists around the world. If you believe classic literature is sacred and should not be altered, avoid the new “Brideshead Revisited,” but this could have just been a Cliffs Notes version of the book and it’s more than that.

Thompson and Gambon take turn stealing scenes and the film is worth seeing just for their work. As for the three leads, the polite thing to say might be that these challenging roles were a bit outside of their reach. Goode fares the best, but neither Atwell nor Whishaw feel like they really connect with their characters.

Despite that, there’s so much greatness in Waugh’s novel that what remains in this new version of “Brideshead Revisited” is worth seeing even if just for the strength of its source. If only we could see it in Blu-Ray, as all movies, especially ones with period design this detailed, should be available.

“Brideshead Revisited” on DVD is presented in the film’s original 2.40:1 aspect ratio and with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound track. Special features include deleted scenes, filmmakers’ audio commentary, and “The World of Brideshead” featurette. It’s not an exhaustive collection of extras but does provide all the information that fans of the film would probably need. No one’s looking for a “Brideshead” gag reel.

‘Brideshead Revisited’ is released by Walt Disney Pictures Home Video and stars Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson, and Michael Gambon. It was written by Andrew Davies and Jeremy Brock and directed by Julian Jarrold. It will be released on January 13th, 2009.

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