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Digital Breakdown: 'Rambo' surprisingly good
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SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Who exactly was clamoring for a new “Rambo”? The last movie in the series (“Rambo III”) was in theaters 20 years ago. But what’s shocking is that this new “Rambo” isn’t half-bad. In fact, if anything, “Rambo” (which really should have a “IV” after it) is a throwback to old-school action flicks from pre-CGI days when stunts were real.
Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) has spent the last two decades living a peaceful life on the Thai-Burmese border catching snakes, fishing and staying out of trouble. But when a group of missionaries asks him to travel up river to bring medical aid to rebels in Burma, he is forced to fight the good fight against an army of terrible tyrannical goons. This “Rambo” actually points to the current political reality of oppressive leadership in Myanmar.
This DVD set features audio commentary from Stallone, deleted scenes, six featurettes, trailers from prior “Rambo” films and a digital copy of the film that can be transferred to an iPod or laptop computer. Price: $34.98 to $39.99. Rent or buy: Rent
GRACE IS GONE
When Stanley (John Cusack) learns that his military wife assigned to Iraq has died, he puts off telling his daughters, instead taking them on a drive from their Minnesota home to a Florida theme park in an attempt to help fulfill their greatest wishes. Along the way, he musters the courage to tell them the sad news and to begin the mourning process himself.
“Grace is Gone” isn’t going to win any happiest-film award, but Cusack turns in a wonderful, out-of-character performance as a husband whose world has been shattered and at the same time, tries to protect his daughters from pain. Extras include one featurette looking at real-life inspirations for the film. Price: $28.95. Rent or buy: Rent
DARIO ARGENTO BOX SET
The master of the Italian giallo (literally meaning yellow, but also a term for Italian stylized cinema) and one of the best horror directors on the planet, Dario Argento gets his own tribute box set from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment.
Labeled by numerous critics and fans as “the Italian Hitchcock,” Argento is getting mainstream Hollywood work with Showtime’s “Masters of Horror” series and an upcoming horror film, aptly named “Giallo.” The films in this set are: “Tenebre,” “Phenomena,” “Trauma,” “The Card Player” and “Do You Like Hitchcock?” Price: $49.97. Rent or buy: Buy
LIPSTICK JUNGLE: SEASON ONE
After mediocre ratings from its first season, this NBC series from the creator of “Sex and the City” was recently given a surprise second season. This DVD of a truncated season — due to the four-month-long writers’ strike — has seven episodes on two discs. It’s best used for catching up in time for the show’s new season debut in the fall. There aren’t a lot of extras. Price: $29.98. Rent or buy: Rent
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING
The classic BBC sitcom is finally available as a complete collection featuring 36 episodes, three specials and extras including two featurettes, never-before-seen sketches, outtakes, alternate audio track commentaries and more on nine discs. Before it gets remade in the U.S., check out this awesome original. Price: $129.98 Rent or buy: Buy
Other DVDs making their debut Tuesday: “Invaders — Season One,” “Holocaust,” “Rawhide: Season Three — Volume One,” “Darfur Now,” “Typhoon,” “Cassandra’s Dream,” “Cleaner” and “Shelter.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
7:38 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 11, 2008 re: "DIGITAL BREAKDOWN: Everyone should ‘Live Free’"
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re: "Digital Breakdown: Don’t pick up this ‘Stranger’"
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re: "Digital Breakdown: Check out ‘Twister’ on Blu-ray"
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1:54 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 22, 2007
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april simental said:
this movie is very good as the first three, but it would have been better if they did have it R.im pretty sure bruce wanted the movie 2 b R, but the directors didnt want 2.
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Examiner Reader said:
were u watching the same movie as i was. this movie is one of the best bruce has ever done. it seems to me that u are not a bruce willis fan, if ur're gonna diss the kind of movies he does come talk to me. dont u ever talk about his movies like that ever again.
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R. Knights said:
Both "Twister," and "P.S. I Love You," are available in HD DVD from Warner Bros., in spite of what this article implies.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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ja pan said:
if you haven't seen the "host," you're missing something great in horror flicks. it may not be the most interesting plot or the greatest actors, but it will keep you in the seat of your pants terrified what's coming up next.
401 agree | 351 disagree
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