New on DVD: Jan. 6

New DVD’s This Week: Jan. 6

Kate Beckinsale stars in Underworld, a stylish, suspenseful drama that depicts a world populated by a secretive clan of modern, sophisticated Vampires whose mortal enemies are the Lycans (werewolves), a shrewd gang of street toughs. As war between the races begins, the balance of power is further upset when a beautiful young Vampire (Beckinsale) falls in love with a Lycan (Scott Speedman). Len Wiseman directs this fast-paced tale of deadly action, ruthless intrigue and forbidden love.

What’s
Cool:

Available widescreen or fullscreen
Director, cast, writer, and technical commentary
Making-of featurettes
Storyboard comparison

	From Our Review:
	Ambitious and with a look to die for, Underworld unfortunately had great potential to be what The Matrix Reloaded should have been but turns into so much humorless gothic hokum. Hopefully the sequel, underway now, will make the most of what’s great (the look) and leave behind what’s not (the rest). More. . .

Out of Time

The tagline reads, “How do you solve a murder when all the evidence points to you?” Well, sit tight–you are about to find out. Time is dwindling for police chief Matt Whitlock (Denzel Washington), as he attempts to prove himself innocent of a crime he did not commit. Touted as an “entertainingly deft sleight-of-hand thriller” (Entertainment Weekly), Out of Time is directed by Carl Franklin (High Crimes) and also stars Dean Cain and Eva Mendes.

What’s
Cool:

Director commentary
Making-of featured
Outtakes
Screen tests
Original theatrical trailer

	From Our Review:
	Even though it portends to be full of twists and turns, you’re really not going to be terribly surprised by what goes on in Out of Time. Still, watching the street-savvy Denzel Washington wriggle his way out of a tight jam is kind of fun. More…

Uptown Girls

What happens when a spoiled-but-broke party girl and her charge, an uptight know-it-all are, forced to spend their days together? Find out as Brittany Murphy (Just Married) and Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam) star in this heartfelt comedy about a former rich girl who has her hands full with a sharp-witted “eight-year-old going on 40.” Featuring Heather Locklear and Donald Faison.

What’s Cool:

Behind-the-scenes featurette
Music video
Deleted scenes
Interview with costume designer
Original theatrical trailer

	From Our Review:
	Heading uptown to hang out with these girls? Save the cab fare. There’s no joy in spending even a minute in the company of the bickering Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning. They deserve each other. We don’t deserve them. More…

Still Hot

S.W.A.T.

Jim Street (Colin Farrell) is a former S.W.A.T. team member who was thrown off the team for a controversial decision made during a hostage situation. After agreeing to a demotion, the dedicated Street gets his chance to redeem himself when a team commander, Dan "Hondo" Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson), recruits him for a new Special Weapons and Tactics unit. After weeks of rigorous physical training, the new team is immediately thrown into action when a notorious drug lord (Olivier Martinez), offers a $100 million bounty to anyone who can free him from police custody. As they escort the kingpin out of Los Angeles into the hands of the Feds, the S.W.A.T. team is pursued by a ruthless and well-armed band of mercenaries.

What’s Cool:

Commentary by director Clark Johnson and screenwriters David Ayer and David McKenna
Featurettes: “6th Street Bridge: Anatomy of a Shoot Out” “S.W.A.T.: TV’s Original Super Cops” “The Making of S.W.A.T.” and “Sound & Fury of S.W.A.T.”
Eight deleted scenes
Gag reel

	From Our Review:
	Frustratingly shallow summer blockbuster fare, S.W.A.T. takes gratuitous gun violence to a whole new level. More. . .

The Order

For centuries, a secret Order has existed within the Church. While investigating a series of unexplained murders, renegade priest Father Alex Bernier (Heath Ledger) discovers an entity known as The Sin Eater, who absolves the unforgivable outside the Church by “eating” their sins while allowing greater evil to go unpunished. Burdened by this load, the Sin Eater craves release through death, but who will eat his sins and grant eternal peace? Who will carry on his dark tradition? As the young priest uncovers the answers and pursues these paragons of evil, he fights to save his own soul and that of the troubled woman Mara (Shannyn Sossamon) he loves.

What’s Cool:

Two discs, dual sided
Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 – English
Commentary by director Brian Helgeland
Eight deleted scenes with optional director commentary

	From Our Review:
	Director Brian Helgeland’s The Order is a chilling film with an original premise that unfortunately gets lost in a maze of superfluous subplots and silly looking special effects. More…

Compiled by Anne Reiman

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