Hot new DVD and Blu-Ray releases this week (July 8, 2008)

July 16th, 2008 The Smart Guy Posted in Movie Reviews |

Batman Begins

(2005) PG-13
After training with a ninja (Ken Watanabe) in Asia following his parents’ brutal murder, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham City and finds it overrun with crime and corruption. Discovering a cave under Wayne Manor, Bruce assumes a new identity and wages a one-man war against the criminals that plague the city. Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson and Morgan Freeman co-star. Christopher Nolan directs. DVD | HD-DVD | Blu-Ray | Blu-Ray (Limited Edition Gift Set) | CD (Soundtrack)

Batman: Gotham Knight

(2008) PG-13
Batman takes on Deadshot, Killer Croc and other deadly foes in six anime-inspired short films. Together, the interlocking tales bridge 2005’s Batman Begins and its 2008 sequel, the Dark Knight, and illuminate our anti-hero’s troubled psyche. The powerhouse writing team includes Oscar nominee Josh Olson, Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer, comic book writers Greg Rucka and Brian Azzarello, and “Batman Beyond” creator Alan Burnett. Blu-Ray | DVD (2-disk Collector’s edition) | CD (Soundtrack)

The Ruins

(2008) Unrated
An idyllic vacation in Cancun takes a dangerous turn for four young Americans when they’re persuaded by a mysterious tourist to join an archaeological dig and subsequently find themselves lost within the cursed ruins of a forgotten city. Adapted by Scott B. Smith from his own novel, this bone-chilling thriller from director Carter Smith stars Jonathan Tucker, Laura Ramsey, Jena Malone and Shawn Ashmore. DVD | Blu-Ray

Stop-Loss

(2008) R
After a tour in Iraq, decorated hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns home to his small Texas town and tries to readjust to civilian life. But when he’s called up again as part of the military’s controversial stop-loss program, he decides to go AWOL. Directed by Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry), this poignant drama co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Channing Tatum as Brandon’s war buddies and Timothy Olyphant as his superior officer. DVD | Blu-Ray | CD (Soundtrack)

Superhero movie

(2008) Unrated
The team behind Scary Movie takes on the comic book genre in this tale of Rick Riker (Drake Bell), a nerdy teen bitten by a radioactive dragonfly. Imbued with superpowers, Riker assumes a new identity as the Dragonfly. And because every hero needs a nemesis, enter Lou Landers (Christopher McDonald), who leads a double life as the villainously goofy Hourglass. Spoof veteran Leslie Nielsen and Marion Ross co-star as Drake’s doting uncle and aunt. DVD.

Also, these TV series are out on DVD:

Enjoy.