Blu-ray review: ‘Serendipity’
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Serendipity”
One of my all-time favorite romantic comedies, the 2001 hit “Serendipity” finally gets gift-wrapped in high-definition with its long-awaited Blu-ray release.
Filmed largely on location in New York City, including famed landmarks like Central Park, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and the Serendipity 3 restaurant, “Serendipity” is an uncommonly beautiful rom-com. Well worth the Blu-ray treatment, the film looks as crisp and warm as the seasonal festivities that open the twisty tale.
Although I’m not generally a fan of the genre, “Serendipity” is the rare rom-com that is both unabashedly romantic and uproariously funny. It ponders big questions about the interaction of fate and free will but with a light, lively touch. Most importantly, the film sparkles with great chemistry, particularly between pre-“2012” cinematic apocalypse John Cusack and pre-“Underworld” vampire warrior Kate Beckinsale.
A few days before Christmas, affable Jonathan (Cusack) and fetching Sara (Beckinsale) meet cute when they reach for the same pair of gloves at Bloomingdale’s. Although they are both involved with other people, the strangers feel an instant connection and spend a magical Manhattan evening together.
At the end of the night, Jonathan wants to exchange phone numbers or at least last names, but Sara decides to leave their budding relationship to destiny. He writes his full name and phone number on a $5 bill that she promptly spends, and she writes her contact info in a copy of “Love in the Time of Cholera” that she promptly sells to a used bookstore. If they’re meant to be together, she reasons, they will find the clues and reunite.
Years later, Jonathan has given up his dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker in favor of working as a producer for ESPN, and he is engaged to the sweet but vanilla Halley (Bridget Moynahan). Sara, who has moved to San Francisco, soured on fate and become a pragmatic psychiatrist-in-training, has just become betrothed to Lars (John Corbett), a romantic but career-obsessed New Age musician.
In the days before his wedding, Jonathan ropes his faithful best friend Dean (Jeremy Piven), a witty obituary writer for the New York Times, into a last-ditch effort to find Sara, which entangles them with a smarmy Bloomingdale’s salesman (Eugene Levy). Under the guise of a girls’ weekend, Sara drags her loyal BFF Eve (Molly Shannon), a cynical New Age store owner, to NYC in a desperate attempt to track down Jonathan. The colorful characters, near misses and crazy coincidences on their parallel quests make the expected happy ending even sweeter.
The Blu-ray doesn’t come with any new bonus material, although it does include all the special features from the 2002 DVD release, including director Peter Chelsom’s commentary and production diary. The deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette and storyboard comparisons are presented in standard definition, showing just how much better the movie looks after its Blu-ray upgrade.
—BAM
New releases for Jan. 10, 2011: Safetysuit’s “These Days,” “Moneyball,” John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
Former Tulsa band Safetysuit, now based in Nashville, Tenn., has released its second album “These Times.”
“Moneyball,” the acclaimed adaption of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction baseball and statistics best-seller, is out on DVD today.
And on the bookshelf, “The Fault in Our Stars,” the fourth novel from acclaimed young-adult fiction writer John Green is new in stores.
Here is a list of more CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Safetysuit, “These Days.”
Snow Patrol, “Fallen Empires.”
Nightwish, “Imaginaerum.”
Joshua Bell, “French Impressions.”
David Crowder*Band, “Give Us Rest.”
The Little Willies, “For the Good Times.”
Stevie Nicks, “The Lowdown.”
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones, “Come Sunday.”
Dean Martin, “Pennies from Heaven.”
Van Morrison, “Live on Air.”
Johnny Cash, “Country Boy.”
Willie Nelson, “The Last Letter.”
DVDs
1911
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season
Hawaii Five-O: The Twelfth and Final Season
An Idiot Abroad: Season One
Killer Elite
Moneyball
Primeval: Volume Three
The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption
Sinners and Saints
There Be Dragons
What’s Your Number?
Books
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down by Jennifer Hudson
Smart Trust: Creating Prosperity, Energy, and Joy in a Low-Trust World by Stephen M.R. Covey, Greg Link, Rebecca R. Merrill
Emotional Equations: Simple Truths for Creating Happiness + Success by Chip Conley
-BAM
New releases for Jan. 3, 2011: “Jimmy Owens,” Elvis, “Contagion,” “The Guard,” Lisa Swayze’s memoir
If like me you still haven’t used all your Christmas gift cards, here are this week’s new CDs, DVDs and books for your perusal:
CDs
Jimmy Owens, “The Monk Project.”
Elvis Presley, “Elvis Country” (Legacy Edition).
Lego Feet, “Lego Feet.”
The Beau Brummels, “Bradley’s Barn” (Limited edition re-release).
Johnfish Sparkle, “Flow.”
Mr. Oizo, “Stade 2.”
Monkees, “Head” (Limited collector’s edition).
DVDs
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Five
Contagion
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
The Guard
I Don’t Know How She Does It
Justified: The Complete Second Season
The Last Lions
Mildred Pierce
Puncture
Removal
Shark Night
Books
Worth Fighting For: Love, Loss, and Moving Forward by Lisa Niemi Swayze
Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together by Mark Driscoll and Grace Driscoll
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice
The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future by Jonathan Cahn
Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen by David Novak
-BAM
Blu-ray review: “Kung Fu Panda 2”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Kung Fu Panda 2 Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy
With “Kung Fu Panda 2,” one of DreamWorks Animation’s most winning adventures gains a nimble successor as well as a canny setup for a third film.
As expected, the sequel to the 2008 blockbuster lands a strong one-two punch with its fists-of-fury action and uproarious if sometimes over-the-top comedy. Surprisingly, “Kung Fu Panda 2” also happens to be far more visually striking than it has to be. Director Jennifer Yuh and her talented team effectively transport viewers to ancient China and deftly use various animation styles to tell different parts of the storytelling.
In his second cinematic outing, loveable Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black, who reaffirms that he was perfectly cast) has achieved his dream of joining the Furious Five — Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen) and Crane (David Cross) — the famed kung fu-fighting protectors of the Valley of Peace. Although he is now a skilled warrior and leader of the band, Po is still a bit like the Five’s awkward younger brother with his pudgy physique, cuddly goofiness and hero-worshipping enthusiasm.
Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), who instructs Po and the Five, informs the panda that he won’t be a true kung fu master until he achieves inner peace, which for Po means delving into his mysterious origins. After all, his restaurateur dad, Mr. Ping (James Hong), is a goose who has been less than willing to discuss how he came to father a panda.
The secrets of Po’s puzzling past are painfully revealed when the villainous Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a crafty albino peacock, reemerges from exile leading a pack of vicious wolves and wielding a devastating secret weapon that threatens the very existence of kung fu.
“Kung Fu Panda 2” ups the ante in many ways, bringing Michelle Yeoh, Dennis Haysbert and Jean-Claude Van Damme to the A-list voice cast, boosting the intensity of the fight sequences and adding even bigger action set pieces. But the sequel makes its greatest strides artistically: The realism of the computer-animated action contrasts effectively with the clever flashbacks, which are done in a hand-drawn style, and the gorgeous prologue, which calls to mind ancient Chinese shadow puppets.
The best of the Blu-ray features is an interactive “animation inspiration” map that shows how different locales in the movie were inspired by actual Chinese landmarks. The Blu-ray also offers the options of playing the movie with a trivia track or “The Animators’ Corner,” which incorporates behind-the-scenes interviews and drawings.
Other bonus features include the fun new animated short “Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters,” an episode of the Nickelodeon series “Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness,” filmmakers commentary, deleted scenes, cast interviews, games and a Mandarin Chinese language lesson.
— BAM
New releases for Dec. 27, 2011: “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” soundtrack, “The First Grader” on DVD, Dean Koontz’s “77 Shadow Street”
Nine Inch Nails mastermind and Oscar-winning composer Trent Reznor (AP file)
In case you have gift cards or Christmas money to spend, there are some new entertainment options this week, including the three-CD soundtrack to the Hollywood adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the uplifting Kenyan film “The First Grader” on DVD and new books from best-selling authors Dean Koontz and Christine Feehan.
Here is a list of this week’s new CD, DVD and book releases, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (soundtrack box set).
Elvis Presley, “Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives” (box set)
Seal, “Soul 2.”
Music Theatre Wales, “Philip Glass: In the Penal Colony.”
Thomas Newman, “The Iron Lady: Music from the Motion Picture.”
Yardbirds, “Glimpses 1963-1968” (box set).
DVDs
Apollo 18
Archer: The Complete Season Two
The Borgias: The First Season
Brighton Rock
Final Destination 5
The First Grader
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Hostel: Part III
Jersey Shore: Season Four
Love Crime
The Pool Boys
Shameless: The Complete First Season
The Tunnel
Books
77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
Spirit Bound (A Sea Haven Novel) by Christine Feehan
A Brief History of Thought: A Philosophical Guide to Living by Luc Ferry
Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All by Kyle Richards
Hidden Summit (Virgin River) by Robyn Carr
-BAM
Blu-ray review: “Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Edition”
A version of this review appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Edition”
The always kaleidoscopic science-fiction series “Farscape” gets even more colorful and otherworldly with a high-definition upgrade well worth the wait and the premium price.
All too often, revisiting a late, great sci-fi show becomes a bit of a laughing matter when storytelling and special effects are revealed as less extraordinary than viewers’ memories of them. With “Farscape: The Complete Series Blu-ray Edition,” the series’ famously loyal fans won’t be disappointed: The space opera with its complicated characters, eye-popping special effects and mind-bending plotlines looks light-years more beautiful and bizarre than it did during its 1999-2003 run on cable television or on the previous standard DVD box set.
Arguably the most vivid, daring and imaginative sci-fi series ever to air on TV, the cult favorite follows the wild adventures of astronaut/scientist John Crichton (Ben Browder), who gets caught up in a wormhole while making a space flight in an experimental craft of his own design. The wormhole flings him into a distant galaxy, and he emerges in the middle of a prison break aboard a vast living ship, or Leviathan, named Moya.
The inmates — temperamental Luxan warrior Ka D’Argo (Anthony Simcoe), bright blue Delvian high priestess and empath Zhaan (Virginia Hey) and arrogant deposed royal Dominar Rygel (a Jim Henson Co. puppet voiced by Jonathan Hardy) — and Moya’s wise, multi-armed Pilot (another puppet voiced by Lani Tupu) bring Crichton on board but are as distrustful of him as they are of each other. They are joined by the fierce Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), a humanoid Sebacean and former member of the mercenary Peacekeepers, and later by mercurial Nebari thief Chiana (Gigi Edgley) and the unstable Stark (Paul Goddard), a Stykera with the ability to ease the pain of those passing to another realm.
While Crichton is determined to find a way back home, he is pursued by vengeful Peacekeeper Capt. Crais (Tupu again), whose brother the earthling accidentally killed when coming out of the wormhole. Later, ruthless scientist Scorpius (Wayne Pygram) hunts Crichton in the hopes of tapping the astronaut’s knowledge of wormholes.
Like any long-running sci-fi series, “Farscape” has its convoluted and hokey moments. But it remains consistently innovative, cleverly blending dynamic live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, impressive makeup and prosthetics and ahead-of-its-time computer-generated images.
Must-see episodes include the thought-provoking “A Human Reaction,” the dark fan favorite “Crackers Don’t Matter” and the Looney Tunes-inspired “Revenging Angel.”
To the outrage of fans, the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) abruptly canceled “Farscape,” ending it with a cliffhanger at the close of the fourth season. Unfortunately, the Blu-ray box set doesn’t include 2004 miniseries “Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars” that tied up the show’s storyline.
But the complete Blu-ray edition does include 15 hours of bonus features, which includes all the deleted scenes, commentaries and interviews from the 2009 DVD box set plus the new documentary “Memories of Moya: An Epic Journey Explored.”
— BAM
“Wings,” first film to win the Oscar for best picture, soars onto DVD and Blu-ray for first time Jan. 24
Paramount Home Entertainment kicks off the studio’s centennial celebration in 2012 by releasing the inaugural Best Picture Academy Award winner “Wings” for the first time ever on Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 24.
Meticulously restored to give fans the chance to view the visually stunning epic in pristine condition, the 1927 World War I drama explores the devastating effects of war through the story of two men who go off to battle and the woman they both leave behind. Featuring groundbreaking aerial dogfights and epic battle sequences, “Wings” is both a cinematic spectacle and a compelling story of love and sacrifice that effectively dramatizes the bitter wages of war.
The historic piece of cinema stars Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Richard Arlen, and also features Gary Cooper in one of his first feature film roles.
The filming of “Wings” was a major undertaking for Paramount Pictures when it began shooting in September 1926. Because the studio planned to make the film a major roadshow feature, executives immediately cast the top film star of the day, Clara Bow.
However, director William Wellman wanted to cast lesser-known actors around Bow and ultimately chose Rogers and Arlen, as well as the unknown Cooper in a small, but key role.
Because of the extraordinary demands of the epic, the studio reached out to the U.S. Army for assistance and the picture was made with the cooperation of the largest garrison of troops in the U.S. at the time in San Antonio, Texas. Large-scale battlefields were built on more than five acres of land near the barracks and thousands of real-life soldiers appeared in the massive ground sequences.
For the breathtaking aerial battles, groundbreaking new film techniques were used to capture a sense of authenticity that audiences of the day had never experienced before. In fact, “Wings” was one of the first films in which the actors actually went up in real planes and were able to activate the mounted cameras themselves—a brave feat for the likes of Rogers, who had never flown before.
At a time when few films cost as much as $1 million, “Wings’” budget soared to an extraordinary $2 million. But the investment paid off when the film opened and became a resounding hit, playing for over a year at its original New York engagement. And in 1929 “Wings” became the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, as well as a second Academy Award for Engineering Effects, now known as special effects.
Because the original negative was lost decades ago, contemporary audiences have only seen “Wings” in a compromised form. The restoration process utilized a duplicate negative housed in the Paramount archive, but despite this being the best element available, the negative was beset by damage, including entire reels that were strafed with scratches and printed-in nitrate deterioration that was literally eating into the edges of the frames. Using state-of-the-art digital tools normally used to create special effects, the film was meticulously restored frame-by-frame. Original tints and effects, such as colors that were embossed onto the film strip to give flames and explosions a fiery look, were also digitally recreated based on a detailed continuity script that still existed and tinting/toning guides from the period.
For this release, the film’s original paper score was procured from the Library of Congress and recorded with a full orchestra. Like many silent film scores, the music was a combination of original composition, popular songs of the period and themes from classical music. Musicians with expertise in silent film music were chosen to recreate a truly orchestral experience.
In addition, Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt (“Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark”) and the outstanding team of sound engineers at Skywalker Sound added World War I sound effects as authentically as possible using library sounds from earlier eras to give viewers a true-to-the-period experience.
The “Wings” Blu-ray includes the new documentaries “Wings: Grandeur in the Sky,” which gives perspective on the remarkable cinematic achievements of William Wellman and his team of filmmakers; “Dogfight,” which explores the history of early aeronautics; and “Restoring the Power and Beauty of Wings,” which details the painstaking process of returning this monumental epic to its original glory.
Read about the “Wings” Blu-ray and DVD features after the break.
New releases for Dec. 20, 2011: Common, “Dolphin Tale,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Warrior” and more
Common (AP file)
Just a friendly reminder: Christmas is Sunday, so there are only a few shopping days left.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Common, “The Dreamer, The Believer.”
Young Jeezy, “TM 103 Hustlerz Ambition.”
Alexander O’Neal, “My Gift to You.”
Roscoe Dash, “J.u.i.c.e.”
Percy Sledge, “Atlantic Recordings” (Limited edition box set).
The Stooges, “Complete Funhouse Sessions” (Box set).
Christopher Young, “The Rum Diary: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.”
The Saint Vincent Camerata Scholars, “A Blessed Day Has Dawned.”
DVDs
Blackthorn
Burke and Hare
Catch .44
Colombiana
Dolphin Tale
Futurama: Volume 6
Glee: The Concert Movie
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
One Tree Hill: The Complete Eighth Season
Straw Dogs
The Tempest
Warrior
Books
Covert Warriors (Presidential Agent Series #7) by W. E. B. Griffin
D. C. Dead (Stone Barrington Series #22) by Stuart Woods
Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook by Weight Watchers
Star Wars The Old Republic Explorer’s Guide: Prima Official Game Guide by Mike Searle
Once Upon a Time: A Collection of Classic Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
-BAM
DVD review: “Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour Live CD+DVD”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour Live CD+DVD”
Two-time Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift again proves that such accolades are warranted with her “Speak Now World Tour Live CD+DVD,” which chronicles her second blockbuster headlining tour.
The DVD and CD feature different highlights from several of her shows smoothly edited together. As with her 2009-10 “Fearless” trek, Swift, who turned 22 this week, devised an eye-popping spectacle to accompany her confessional songs for her “Speak Now World Tour.” The teen-pleasing theatrics start with the opening number “Sparks Fly,” with Swift strutting from one end of the massive stage to the other in a fringed golden dress while aerialists dangle from the rafters and wave sparklers.
Backup dancers, costume changes, playacting and glitter cannons are all part of the show, which made fall stops in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Decked out in vintage clothing, a tap dancer pulls a switch that launches Swift high into the air from under the stage. Dressed in a lacy frock with her hair braided, the star plays the ganjo — a banjo with a guitar neck — on her recent hit “Mean” and fan favorite “Our Song.”
In sharp contrast to the dancer playing a snotty bride in a puffy gown, the singer-songwriter dons a royal blue halter dress, bouncy ponytail and short white gloves to crash the wedding in “Speak Now,” the title track of her third album. The lyrics about running away give Swift the perfect opportunity to take one of her trademark trips through her concert crowd.
After pausing for many high-fives and hugs, She emerges in the midst of the throng, where she sits under a glowing tree on a small platform to strum a ukulele to a medley of her “Fearless,” Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister.” She switches to acoustic guitar to play her heartbroken ballad “Last Kiss,” revisit Train with her cover of the band’s Grammy-winning “Drops of Jupiter” and start off her 2009 smash “You Belong With Me” before heading back to the main stage for more big musical set pieces.
Ballet dancers and ball gowns augment the fairytale “Enchanted,” and Swift literally rings the bell on the dramatic “Haunted.” She closes her set with the earnest fan tribute “Long Live” but returns for a glittery, high-flying encore of “Fifteen” and “Love Story.”
The CD includes fun covers of Kim Carnes 1981 chart-topper “Bette Davis Eyes” and The Jackson Five’s classic “I Want You Back,” along with a disappointingly flat rendition of Swift’s new single “Ours,” which won’t endear her to detractors who criticize her pop-country sound or uneven vocal performances.
DVD features: Home movie clips and tour rehearsal footage.
— BAM
New releases for Dec. 13, 2011: “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Fright Night,” “The Walking Dead, Vol. 15″
There are less than two weeks left until Christmas, and for cinephiles, several soundtrack albums and well-reviewed movies are out this week for home listening and viewing.
In the CD section, movie soundtracks dominate, from the score from the blockbuster “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ to Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa’s music from and inspired by “Mac & Devin Go to High School.” Jonsi’s music for “We Bought a Zoo,” John Williams’ for “The Adventures of Tintin” and Hans Zimmer’s from “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” also are due.
Among the new DVDs, most critics praised the sleeper hit “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the remake “Fright Night,” the animated sequel “Kung Fu Panda 2″ and Chinese director Hark Tsui’s Sherlock Holmes-esque “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame.”
For comics fans, “The Walking Dead, Volume 15,” Marvel’s “X-Statix Omnibus” and the finale “Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 27″ are among the new selections on the bookshelf.
Here are more options for new CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Carter Burwell, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, The Score.”
Rammstein, “Made in Germany.”
Anthony Hamilton, “Back to Love.”
John Williams, “Music from the Motion Picture The Adventures of Tintin.”
Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Stage Whisper.”
Hans Zimmer, “Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.”
Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa, “Mac & Devin Go to High School: Music From and Inspired by the Movie.”
Smokey Robinson, “The Solo Albums: Volume 6.”
Jonsi, “Music from the Motion Picture We Bought a Zoo.”
DVDs
Circumstance
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Family Guy: Volume 9
Fright Night
Kill Katie Malone
Kung Fu Panda 2
A Legend Is Born: Ip Man
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The Smell of Success
Tanner Hall
Books
The Walking Dead, Volume 15: We Find Ourselves by Robert Kirkman
Covert Warriors (Presidential Agent Series #7) by W. E. B. Griffin
D. C. Dead (Stone Barrington Series #22) by Stuart Woods
The Devil’s Elixir by Raymond Khoury
Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 27 by Hiromu Arakawa
X-Statix Omnibus by Peter Milligan
Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Michelle Rowen
Star Wars The Old Republic Explorer’s Guide: Prima Official Game Guide by Mike Searle
Once Upon a Time: A Collection of Classic Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
-BAM
