Anyone who’s become a frequent reader of my weekly Blu-ray column knows that to even call it a weekly column is a bit of a joke. Nevertheless, instead of making excuses as to why I haven’t written a post in awhile, let’s just jump right into it as there are several titles worth talking about, including Clint Eastwood’s latest and the Blu-ray debut of an anime classic.
“Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One” (Funimation)
Funimation has certainly had its share of ups and downs when it comes to the “Dragon Ball Z” franchise. They were practically lynched by fans for releasing digitally remastered versions that cropped the image, and then were praised for bringing the Dragon Boxes (previously only available in Japan) to America. Now, they’re receiving some flak for the release of “Dragon Ball Z Kai,” a reinvention of the series that hews closer to Akira Toriyama’s original manga. Loyalists have claimed that this new version isn’t really “Dragon Ball Z,” and while they’re definitely exaggerating in their assessment, they’re not totally wrong, either. “Dragon Ball Z Kai” isn’t the “DBZ” you grew up with, but rather a meaner, leaner adaptation that does away with all the pointless subplots in order to keep the story moving. Those who have complained that the anime is bloated will love this new approach, and it doesn’t hurt that the series looks absolutely gorgeous in high definition. It’s not perfect, mind you, but between the cleaned-up prints and the revitalized animation, this is the “Dragon Ball Z” I wish I had watched from the start. The fact that only 13 episodes have been included on the two-disc set is a bit annoying (especially when nine of those appear on the first disc), but perhaps there’s some method in the madness.
When it was announced that Clint Eastwood would be teaming up with longtime collaborator Morgan Freeman for a biopic about South African president Nelson Mandela, I don’t think anyone expected a movie about rugby. But that’s exactly what we got, and though we didn’t learn nearly as much about the man as we would have liked, “Invictus” did do a good job of conveying the influence that Mandela had in uniting the country’s races. While the movie pales in comparison to some of Eastwood’s other work, it is a better-than-average sports drama with some fine performances from its two leads. Warner’s Blu-ray release capitalizes on their involvement with a behind-the-scenes look at how Freeman and Matt Damon transformed into their respective real-life subjects, as well as the difficulties of filming the rugby scenes. Various cast and crew members also contribute to an excellent picture-in-picture video track that makes watching the film a second time incredibly worthwhile.
“Valentine’s Day” (Warner Bros.)
The Garry Marshall-directed ensemble comedy didn’t fare too well with the critics, but despite its shallow premise (a hastily thrown together rom-com anthology that places star power ahead of story), it’s not nearly as bad as you might think. Granted, it’s not very good, either, but if you’re okay with the fact that “Valentine’s Day” is little more than a series of clichéd vignettes starring some of the most beautiful people in Hollywood, than you’ll probably enjoy it. Ashton Kutcher is surprisingly good as the central character, while Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift (of all people) deliver memorable performances. The Blu-ray release also boasts a decent collection of extras including an amusing commentary by Marshall and a feature where the cast and crew discuss their Valentine’s Day memories, so if nothing else, at least you’ll get a little value for your money.
Also Out This Week:
“Outlander” (Vivendi)
“Extraordinary Measures” (Sony)
“The Spy Next Door” (Lionsgate)
“The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
