ROTTEN TOMATOES: RT on DVD: Exclusive Australia Scene, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and More!

RT on DVD: Exclusive Australia Scene, Beverly Hills Chihuahua and More!

Plus, lots of treasures for direct-to-video (and Stana Katic) lovers this week!

by Jen Yamato | March 02, 2009

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This week on DVD we've got a sweeping historical epic from Down Under (Baz Luhrmann's Australia, plus an exclusive deleted scene), a tale of talking pooches (Beverly Hills Chihuahua), and a Certified Fresh drama starring Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long). For those whose interests are piqued by the words "direct to DVD," we've also got two new animated adventures (Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, Wonder Woman) and a titillating vengeance pic (Stiletto, starring Stana Katic, Tom Berenger, and Michael Biehn), plus a bayou thriller adapted from a James Lee Burke bestseller (In the Electric Mist, starring Tommy Lee Jones). Lastly, we offer the latest from Crow T. Robot and Co. (Mystery Science Theater 3000 Vol. 14) and a Blu-ray offering that will go well with some fava beans and a nice Chianti (Silence of the Lambs on Blu-ray).

1. Australia -- 54%

Baz Luhrmann's epic tale of war and love in mid-century Australia was, to say the least, an ambitious undertaking; addressing the nation's history of class inequality and its people's can-do spirit against the backdrop of World War II via an opposites-attract romance and a dash of Aborigine mysticism -- with an homage to The Wizard of Oz thrown in to boot --- sounded complicated enough on paper, let alone brought to life onscreen. And yet, for better or worse, that is precisely what Lurhmann did.

Australia isn't for everyone; cynics thought it cloying, while fans thought it wondrous, although all agree its nearly three-hour-runtime is an endurance test. But if you're a fan of stars Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman (or want to watch young Brandon Walters' breakthrough debut performance, a child actor debut to rival those in Slumdog Millionaire) then Australia might be your cup of tea.

Unfortunately, your options are limited as Australia is available only as a single-disc DVD (with two deleted scenes and nothing more) or on Blu-ray, with a handful of extra featurettes. Below, watch one of the deleted scenes, in which Lady Ashley (Kidman) is served a rude dinner by her angry household staff.

Next: You know you want it -- Beverly Hills Chihuahua

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 06:16 PM

Oh man I found Brandon Walters really annoying in Australia, I was cringing during his narration... He was fine over all but that narration I thought was kind of annoying. I also thought Australia felt like 3 movies in one, kind of sloppy, also too many Wizard of Oz throw backs. I still liked the movie though, its visually great and Hugh Jackman is really good in it. I'd say rent it. Not much else this week. Milk and Synecdoche New York come out next week though, I'll be getting those on Blu Ray.

(Reply to this)

ARTaylor writes:
on Mar 02 2009 06:49 PM

I saw Wonder Woman at WonderCon. Fantastic. One of, if not the single best animated comic book movie. Great combination of action-adventure and romantic-comedy. I had some problems with the final battle but overall it was very well made. I highly recommend it and will be getting it as soon as I can.

(Reply to this)

vashfanatic writes:
on Mar 02 2009 07:20 PM

The tomatometer score for "I've Love You So Long" is given here as 3%, but elsewhere as 90%. I think it's a typo.

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Mar 02 2009 07:38 PM

Great Recap Jen,

I will likely never see a film with Tom Sizemore, on purpose, again. He's a sick sick man. . .

I didn't know about "I've loved you so long." I like French films. . .so hopefully netflix will give it to me.

Also have Electric Mist in my queue.

(Reply to this)

utkipp1 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 08:57 PM

Well obviously Silence of the Lambs is a definite. Other than that nothing I'm gonna buy and the only thing I definitlry will rent is in the electric mist and maybe australia.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 09:07 PM

In reply to this comment (#2351290)
I don't like the sharp animation for the Wonder Woman DVD's. Best animated comic book film is definately "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm". Just saying.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 09:08 PM

Is something wrong with my computer, or does "I Loved You So Long" have 3 percent?

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 09:09 PM

I think I'll rent "Stiletto". It looks like fun.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 09:11 PM

MST3K is on DVD! Best TV show ever! I'm buying that as soon as possible! Nice week for DVD's, even though "BHC" is out.

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Mar 02 2009 09:51 PM

You're quite right - nothing's wrong with your comp, only with your RT editor. Is there an emoticon for bashful gratitude? Fixed, should update soon.

Also, yay for interest in Stiletto! I didn't mention that Stana Katic is also the femme fatale in last week's The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice! What a resume.

I'm interested to hear more feedback on Wonder Woman, if anyone has the chance to see it.

Cheers,

Jen

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 10:32 PM

%u2022^_^%u2022 (This works!)

As for "Stiletto", Miss Hawaii in a small role as a detective, with Tom Sizemore as a guy named Large Bills...sign me up!

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Mar 02 2009 10:34 PM

In reply to this comment (#2351605)
WOW! My face! Didn't come out as expected...

(Reply to this)

ARTaylor writes:
on Mar 02 2009 10:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#2351589)
It's part action-adventure film and part romantic-comedy, and both parts are done wonderfully. It's not based on any one story, but rather it goes through the Wonder Woman origins mixed with a supervillain story. It's not entirely original but works.

SPOILERS

Plenty of action though not bloody. Bruce Timm said they did have more in it but they had to tone it down to avoid an R rating. The action itself is done well and fun to watch.
Plenty of funny moments from comical moments in fight scenes to the well delivered jokes. But they're not for kids. Jokes about sex, Wonder Woman's outfit, just stuff like that.
The voice acting is top notch. Not a single role is miscast or not done well. My only quibble is the dialog of Zeus, Hera, and Hades who talk quite modern for ancient Gods, even in the prologue which is set in ancient Greece.
The animation is great except it's just like Justice League. Watching this felt like I was watching the series. It's not like Batman: Gotham Knight where it looks completely different than Batman: The Animated Series.
The movie doesn't shy away from the fact that comic books tend to exaggerate women these women, especially Diana, are very beautiful. All the Amazons are called "armored supermodels." Steve the pilot thinks he's died and gone to heaven when he first sees the Amazons who are bathing naked. When Diana first puts on the Wonder Woman costume there's a close up of her large chest. It's certainly in no way animated porn but sensitive parents will want to watch out.
My only real complaints deal with the final battle. To me it doesn't feel like they built it up enough, like it was rushed into. The bad guy raises the dead Amazons to fight the living ones, which is emotionally powerful but it's over too quickly. Steve goes off to destroy a nuclear missile, disappears for five minutes while we watch everyone else, it comes back to him, he finishes his part, and disappears for the rest of the battle. Not really edited smoothly.

END SPOILERS

Anyone who enjoyed Timm's previous work or any animated superhero DVD will enjoy Wonder Woman. Like I said, it's certainly one of the best ventures into animated superheroes. I certainly enjoyed it, as did pretty much everyone else at WonderCon. Hopefully this will help motivate DC and WB to move forward with the live action Wonder Woman.

(Reply to this)

Speaker for the Films writes:
on Mar 03 2009 06:44 AM

Aw, the fall of humanity is being realeased this week. Time to grab your crosses!!

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Mar 03 2009 08:17 AM

Yay! i'm getting Ashes of Time Redux. . . hurray for Netflix.

(Reply to this)

collex writes:
on Mar 03 2009 01:47 PM

My videoclub said that Ace Ventura Jr. (the third sign of the apocalypse) is supposed to come out this week. Was it wrong or did you choose not to speak of this baleful occurence?

(Reply to this)

whitey_mcwhite writes:
on Mar 03 2009 07:09 PM

No mention of Role Models?!

(Reply to this)

mssk8erboy writes:
on Mar 03 2009 10:26 PM

Role Models comes out next week.

I liked Australia a lot but I'm going to hold off for now. I'm also going to wait on the watchmen motion comic, i might rent that. This week all I'm interested in is Halo Wars lol. Next week though i plan on picking up Let The Right One In, Role Models and Synecdoche, New York.

-MIKE

(Reply to this)

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