A slew of films are out today on DVD, including a couple of the summer’s biggest hits. There’s also one of those holiday-convenient box sets. But before we get into all that, have you seen the trailer for the new Star Trek movie?
Movie previews are not usually within this column’s purview, but this is a significant event for a geek community that hasn’t gotten much love in recent years, and I feel it should be mentioned somewhere on Smile Politely. It’s been six years since the last Star Trek film and four years since the last Trek series was canceled. The new Trek film is the end of the longest gap we’ve had between new Trek material since the gap between the original series (canceled in 1969) and the first movie (1979).
Click the jump to read more new releases.
To relate this all to my column in a kind of peripheral way, the ten Trek films have all gotten Special Edition DVD releases in the last couple years, and the newly remastered original series is just now coming out on DVD. In case you’re wondering, the good (or, at least accessible to mainstream audience) films are II, IV, most of VI and First Contact.
Futurama actually had a very astute assessment of the Kirk-based Star Treks a few years ago. Early in the episode “Where No Fan Has Gone Before,” Fry says, “Hey, you know what six films average out to be pretty good? The first six Star Trek movies.” Later, in reminding someone of the original series, he pleads, “Remember, 1966–69, 81 episodes, about 30 good ones?” Anyway, you should watch that new trailer, and check out some classic Trek. This episode should warm you up for the new movie.
New Releases From the Box
WALL-E
Pixar’s latest simply astounded me on the big screen. It is not only a heartfelt and clever screwball comedy, it is also one of the most beautiful and meticulously detailed animated films I have ever seen. On disc, since I lack an HDTV or a Blu-Ray player, I have to admit that some of the magic was lost. The “space dancing” scene between WALL-E and his “girlfriend” EVE was breathtaking on the big screen, but on my small projection television and cheap DVD player, it wasn’t much to speak of. I guess it’s time for me to upgrade.
But as I’ve hinted, WALL-E is one of Pixar’s best films and one of the best of the year. On the DVD, be sure to check out Presto, the short film that preceded WALL-E in theaters. The additional short film, BURN-E, feels like a haphazard assembly of deleted scenes (actually more like a deleted joke) from the film. Most of the other special features are mostly there for the kids, but everyone will enjoy WALL-E, especially if you’ve got a Blu-Ray Player and a 1080p HD television.
Monty Python’s Holy Trinity
I didn’t get the time to scope out a lot of this week’s DVDs, so you’ll have to tell me how Tropic Thunder, Encounters at the End of the World and Priceless are. But I can recommend this new box set of Monty Python’s three best films. Of course we’ve all seen Holy Grail, but Life of Brian and Meaning of Life, the latter especially, are underrated gems from the surreally genius sextet. Life of Brian may be their best film. Originally titled Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory, the film sends up Western religion, government and even revolutionary movements in a way that would make it nearly impossible to finance. And it was. However, thanks to a large investment by former Beatle George Harrison (see if you can spot his cameo in the film), Monty Python was able to complete the film, just in time for it to be boycotted by Christians and fail at the box office. It has gained in popularity and regard since then, but the almost equally genius Meaning of Life needs some love.
You won’t find much new material in this box set; it’s comprised of just previous editions of the three films repackaged and discounted. But if you don’t already own these movies and never stopped loving Monty Python just because you grew up, then you should buy the box set. For me.
Next Week on From the Box:
The Criterion Collection finally releases Chungking Express on Blu-Ray and DVD … or do they? This release has been pushed back so many times I don’t know if I’ll ever get to hear Faye Wong sing Cranberries songs again. Expect me to avoid Fred Claus, Space Chimps and Meet Dave, but share how dull Hancock> is.