ROTTEN TOMATOES: RT on DVD: JCVD, Animated X-Men, and Star Trek on Blu-ray

RT on DVD: JCVD, Animated X-Men, and Star Trek on Blu-ray

Plus, Bride Wars, Hotel for Dogs, The Uninvited and more debut on DVD.

by Jen Yamato | April 27, 2009

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This week, home video enthusiasts have all kinds of new flicks -- fresh and rotten -- to peruse, starting with a surprising comeback by former action hero Jean-Claude Van Damme (JCVD). Mainstream viewers can choose between a kiddie-canine comedy (Hotel for Dogs), a superficial chick flick (Bride Wars), and a poky horror remake (The Uninvited), though we'd recommend giving a pair of lesser-known, but better-reviewed films a chance (What Doesn't Kill You, Nothing But the Truth). For the daring crowd, we've got a pair of flicks that push the boundaries of taste (the Guillermo del Toro-produced While She Was Out, Criterion's In The Realm of The Senses) and lastly, a few throwback TV on DVD titles for anyone feeling nostalgic (X-Men: The Animated Series Vol. 1 & 2, Star Trek: The Original Series on Blu-ray).

JCVD -- 85%

Fans of meaty '80s action flicks no doubt know the name Jean-Claude Van Damme from such glorious, sweaty butt-kicking films as Bloodsport (1988), Double Impact (1991), and Universal Soldier (1992) -- not to mention the cheesy video game adaptation, Street Fighter (1994) -- so it brings us great pleasure to report that the fallen idol's latest film, aptly titled JCVD, is not only a (gasp!) drama, but a bona fide comeback to boot! JCVD stars the Muscles from Brussels as himself, a former action star struggling with obsolescence who stumbles into a bank robbery; what results is alternately existential and comic, a referential heist movie laden with black comedy and extraordinary revelations by Van Damme about his life and career. (Also note, JCVD is Van Damme's first and only Fresh movie to date.) Bonus footage, trailers, and more will be included on the DVD release.

Next: This Hotel is for the Dogs

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(1-20 of 24 posts) | Reply

Chris B. writes:
on Apr 27 2009 07:13 PM

well thats weird. JCVD has been out for almost a month and a half here at the blockbuster i go to. i'll prolly rent hotel for dogs because i own a dog so you know i gotta get it. my friend said that she like the uninvited so i might get that one too.

(Reply to this)

Alessandro T. writes:
on Apr 27 2009 07:23 PM

I don't know where you're from Chris B. but I work at a video store and JCVD only come out on dvd April 27th.
But as for the movie, JCVD is a pretty cleaver film good plot and all, I agree with the 85%.

(Reply to this)

Alessandro T. writes:
on Apr 27 2009 07:24 PM

I don't know where you're from Chris B. but I work at a video store and JCVD only come out on dvd April 27th.
But as for the movie, JCVD is a pretty cleaver film good plot and all, I agree with the 85%.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Apr 27 2009 07:37 PM

JCVD is on Netflix watch instantly, I'll be watching it in the coming weeks. I'm going to rent What Doesn't Kill You, because of Ruffalo. I'll probably get Benjamin Button next week on Blu-Ray, though my thoughts on that movie have lowered the more I think about it.

(Reply to this)

utkipp1 writes:
on Apr 27 2009 08:00 PM

I am so getting X-Men.

(Reply to this)

Chris B. writes:
on Apr 27 2009 08:13 PM

i'm tellin you man JCVD has been at my blockbuster for a month and a half. i wonder why we got it before any of you guys.

(Reply to this)

mssk8erboy writes:
on Apr 27 2009 08:21 PM

He's probably right Blockbuster likes to buy exclusive rights to certain films so that they can rent it out before it comes out and before it's released. Thus making people who really want to see it go to blockbuster and rent it. I used to work at movie gallery and we ran into that situation a few times. JCVD looks awesome thansk for the heads up on the netflix instant I'm going to check it out on there instead of going to get it.

-MIKE

(Reply to this)

Detrs writes:
on Apr 27 2009 08:41 PM

I can finally replace the crappy torrent bootleg of X-Men.

Now, where's Daria?

(Reply to this)

Kudos Mooney writes:
on Apr 27 2009 09:00 PM

I reviewed JCVD in my new blog at cinematicdays.blogspot.com

It's a blog where I basically watch a ****load of movies, bad, good, old, new...anything I've never seen before...and review them, to the best of my ability.

Please check it out.

Shameless plug? yeah. it is. but i shan't apologize.

(Reply to this)

Mike B. writes:
on Apr 27 2009 09:17 PM

Yep. Not very kind of anyone to assume that Chris B is a crackpot. I rented JCVD from the blockbuster here well over a month ago.

(Reply to this)

Vincent Rolandelli writes:
on Apr 27 2009 09:19 PM

Great movie! JCVD is definitely one of the top movies of 2008!

(Reply to this)

ARTaylor writes:
on Apr 27 2009 09:55 PM

I am definitely getting the X-Men volumes once I get the money. That was one of the best series from my childhood along with Batman, Spider-Man, and Beast Wars. I even started the wiki on those 90s Marvel series, I have such fond memories of it. Disappointed there's not a single bonus feature but at least we get the first two and a half seasons.

Already have the three seasons of Star Trek TOS on DVD, with season one on HD-DVD. And since I do not have a Blu-Ray, nor do I desire one, I will be sticking with my $200 set.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Apr 27 2009 09:56 PM

I've gotta see "JCVD". I don't need another Star Trek set of TOS. So, "JCVD" is it. Hmm. I expected to say more.

(Reply to this)

digitalrelic writes:
on Apr 27 2009 10:51 PM

In reply to this comment (#2442327)
Star Trek S1 on Blu-ray has been reported by multiple professional reviewers to look considerably better than its' HD DVD counterpart(and obviously miles ahead of the dvd). So sour grapes like ARTaylor are missing out when they decide to skip the Blu-ray.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Apr 28 2009 12:10 AM

OH MY GOD! BRIDE WARS IS OUT!! I need to run out and pick that up! NOW!

But first, let me grab this nail gun and shoot it through both of my testicles, then drink a gallon of drain-o, while giving myself a root canal through my *** and watching the Spirit!

... On a serious note, perhaps I'll rent the old X-men volumes, just to see if the stuff I watched when i was younger was any good. I sure as hell know I'll be having a Star Trek movie marathon though.

(Reply to this)

thejuggernautlives writes:
on Apr 28 2009 01:04 AM

In reply to this comment (#2442297)
I did as well. The JCVD release date has been weird. I rented it from Blockbuster almost 2 months ago, but Best Buy didn't get it until last week, and now this says that it comes out this week. I think we are all just going crazy.

Anyway, the only one I might get this week is JCVD. The Uninvited was better than I thought it would be, but still just barely "decent." Nowhere good enough to buy. I would tentatively suggest it as a rent just because Emily Browning is always fun to watch. I will, however definitely rent What Doesn't Kill You, and maybe Nothing But the Truth. All I know is that I can't wait for Benjamin Button next week.

(Reply to this)

FURY.UK writes:
on Apr 28 2009 02:04 AM

Benjamin Button was over hyped. Whilst I agree that the special ageing effects were good, it was hard not to compare it to the far superior Forrest Gump. I was left a bit impartial at the end of it. It had potential.

(Reply to this)

FURY.UK writes:
on Apr 28 2009 02:06 AM

Anyone seen the TOS with the new digital effects in? Does it make a big difference?

(Reply to this)

CFM writes:
on Apr 28 2009 05:51 AM

In reply to this comment (#2442297)
You know, Mike, that Chris could be right, and still be a crackpot...

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Apr 28 2009 08:14 AM

JCVD was amazing. Everyone's correct about Blockbuster - it's in the "Blockbuster Exclusive" case on the shelf. I watched it sometime in mid-March, but the street date is now. But yeah, a great, great movie.

(Reply to this)

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