This Week on DVD and Blu-ray - January 26th, 2010

Welcome back to another look at the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of the week. I hope everyone has been having a good 2010. Here in Southern California, the rain has been coming fast and furious so it's the perfect time to stay indoors and watch movies.

One of the biggest news stories of 2009 was the death of Michael Jackson. Always controversial, the so-called "King of Pop" left a tremendous mark on pop culture. Before his death, Jackson was in the midst of putting together a worldwide comeback tour, his first concert tour in over a decade. The documentary "This Is It" chronicles Jackson's rehearsals of the multimedia extravaganza. The footage was intended for Jackson's own personal archives, but was edited and released as a film in tribute. "This Is It" will be available this week on DVD and Blu-Ray. Target will also have an exclusive DVD/BD combo while Best Buy will have an exclusive bonus disc. For more, check out James Plath's review of the Blu-Ray.

Action hero Bruce Willis returns in the sci-fi blockbuster "Surrogates." Based on a comic book published by Top Shelf, "Surrogates" finds Willis in a future where humanity has shut themselves indoors, choosing to live out their lives through robotic replacements. The film bares a passing resemblance to another futuristic actioner, "I, Robot," mainly because both pictures star James Cromwell in essentially the same role. Mr. Plath has also reviewed "Surrogates" on DVD and Blu-Ray and you can also read Tim Raynor's theatrical review.

Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut with the roller derby comedy, "Whip It," written by Shauna Cross who adapted the script from her novel, Derby Girl. Barrymore assembled a wonderful cast that includes Ellen Page, "Arrested Development's" Alia Shawkat, Daniel Stern, Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Zoe Bell, and Kristen Wiig as Maggie Mayhem, the same alias used by Cross during her time as a roller girl.

Criterion has some excellent releases this week as usual. There's "Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy," a three-disc boxset featuring "Open City" (an absolute masterpiece), "Paisan," and "Germany Year Zero." Criterion will also be releasing a new edition of Wim Wenders' "Paris, Texas" on DVD and Blu-Ray. I own the DVD version released by Fox and it's my favorite of Wenders' films. According to Chris Long, Criterion's new transfer blows that edition away and does justice to Robby Muller's breathtaking cinematography. You can read Chris's reviews for the "Paris, Texas" Blu-Ray and DVD editions as well as his review of the Rossellini DVD boxset.

It's the horror franchise that will not die. The latest installment of the "Saw" series sees releases this week with "Saw VI" which attempts to open debate about the health care crisis through violent and convoluted contraptions. I wonder if these are the death panels Sarah Palin was talking about. "Saw" VI hits stores on Blu-Ray and on DVD in a theatrical version and an Unrated Director's Cut (which has been reviewed by Ranjan Pruthee)/

Clive Owen had a big 2009 with three films being released last year. There was "The International," the heist picture "Duplicity" and the more low-key "The Boys Are Back." Owen stars as a widower raising two sons in his own unique way. The film was based on the memoirs of sportswriter Simon Carr. Miramax will be releasing the film this week on DVD only which has been reviewed by James Plath.

Also coming out on DVD only are a pair of arthouse films about renowned artists. "Bright Star," written and directed by Jane Campion, focuses on the final three years in the life of poet John Keats. David Van Der Haeghen has reviewed "Bright Star" for your edification. E1 Entertainment will be releasing "Little Ashes" which gained notice for casting "Twilight" hunk Robert Pattinson as a young Salvador Dali.

Another release from E1 is the direct-to-video film noir, "Give ‘Em Hell Malone," which stars one-time Punisher and current star of HBO's "Hung," Thomas Jane, as a hard boiled detective. "Give ‘Em Hell Malone" was directed by Russell Mulcahy ("Highlander)" and James Plath has a review of the DVD.

Mariah Carey surprised a lot of people with her surprisingly strong performance in "Precious." Hot on the heels of that film comes the DVD release of "Tennessee," which also starred Carey and was produced by "Precious" director Lee Daniels.

Finally, Keira Knightley fans will be happy to know that "Pride and Prejudice" and "Atonement" debut on Blu-Ray this week courtesy of Universal. For more on the former, you can read my review of the original DVD release.

That does it for this week. We'll be back next week with a look at another crop of big releases including the zombie action-comedy, "Zombieland."