Jennifer’s Body Blu-ray Review

Jennifer’s Body is a December 29th Blu-ray (with Digital Copy) release from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  It is a horror thriller story about an alluring cheerleader, Jennifer (Megan Fox of Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), who becomes possessed with a demon after an ambitious band mistakenly believes see is the virgin they need to sacrifice to the Devil to make themselves relevant.  Jennifer’s Body is written by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody (Juno) and directed by Karyn Kusama.

The story evolves after Jennifer and best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried of Mamma Mia!) are at a bar where a budding young rock band is playing.  As a fire burns down the bar, Jennifer hops in a van with the band.  After a while, she senses trouble and tries to get out.  Instead, she is taken to a remote spot where the bandmates tie her up and brutally ’sacrifice’ her to the Devil (details of which are actually learned later in the film), which they believe is secret to their progression as a band.

Jennifer returns to her friend, bloodied and bloodthirsty.  When local teens begun to turn up eaten and dead, Needy starts to realize what is going on.  She confronts Jennifer for the story and she lays it out for her.  Now, it is up to Needy to do what she must to keep Jennifer from killing anyone else.  Oh, by the way, she has her sights set on Needy’s boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons of Hotel for Dogs).

Chalk Jennifer’s Body up in the column of overachievers.  It is one of those movies that conjures up images of an unsophisticated cheesy, pseudo-soft porn movie designed to sell skin packaged as a horror film.  No doubt, there is skin being sold, particularly that of Megan Fox, but there is also an intense, semi-captivating horror story that plays out in a well-presented way.

Megan Fox did not leave her time on the Transformers set with a reputation as a brilliant actress, but she actually does deliver a bit more than just her “body”.  There is nothing subtle about this movie’s title.  There are other options, but the “subliminal” message is pretty much on the table.  You know Megan Fox’s aesthetic appeal is being marketed to young men.  Still, to the director and Fox’s credit, everything is not on display as Fox is never presented nude, despite a skinny dip scene and a couple sexual encounters.

While Fox is a little better than expected, which makes the movie much more credible, Amanda Seyfried as solid, perhaps as expected based on her prior TV (HBO’s “Big Love”) and film success.  Together, they drive the Jennifer’s Body story and help create a moderately entertaining horror flick and a satirical comedy undertone.

Killer Jennifer’s Body Blu-ray bonus features include an unrated extended cut packed with more sex and terror in addition to writer and director commentary, deleted scenes, gag reel, video diaries, a Megan Fox PSA and much more.

Actors: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried

Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Soundtrack, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Number of discs: 2

Rating: R (Restricted)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Blu-ray Release Date: December 29, 2009

Run Time: 102 minutes

Jennifer’s Body Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

500 Days of Summer Blu-ray Review

One of the most brilliantly annoying romantic comedy movies of 2009 released on Blu-ray with Digital Copy December 22nd from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Director Marc Webb - (500) Days of Summer.  This very original film tells a very resonating and real story about a young greeting card writer, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and his new co-worker, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), whom he believes might be “the one”.

Tom is a romantic who grew up watching soap operas and dreaming of finding his soulmate.  Summer is a very intriguing, eccentric girl who takes interest in Tom after she begins work at his company.  Tom’s naivety initially makes things awkward, but he and Summer eventually embark on the honeymoon phase of a budding relationship.

The movie, (500) Days of Summer, chronicles from their first to last encounter, the 500 days of the relationship between Summer and Tom.  However, in very smart fashion, the story maneuvers back and forth from the early days of passion to the later days of reality, showing the audience what is to come and what has come in a way that is sure to hit home with many.

Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are amazing together and make their characters as realistic as possible.  Tom’s innocence and awkwardness are very genuine to any many who dreamed of finding his soulmate.  Though her character is portrayed as the antagonist in the story, Deschanel still manages to make Summer extremely relevant.  Summer tells Tom early that she does not want a serious relationship, a damper on his spirits.  Yet, she manages to move beyond “friend zone” and tease his desire for romance just enough to keep him emotionally engaged.  This is what makes her annoying to many viewers.

The trouble with many romantic comedy films these days is they seem to follow very basic and age old constructs.  You usually get a boy or a girl who longs to be with someone out of their reach (as is the case initially in 500 Days), you get a pursuit, ultimately success, but usually a final major obstacle or turmoil to work through.  This movie is different.  It does not follow the conventional script and does not have the same already crafted ending.

In one unique sequence in (500) Days of Summer, Tom goes to Summer’s apartment at her invite to a party.  The two had not seen each other for quite a while and Tom thinks she might want to restart their relationship.  As he approaches her apartment, the screen splits in two and the viewer sees “Tom’s Expected” scenario play out simultaneous to the “Real” telling, which ultimately moves toward the climax of the story.

If you are a fan of great romantic comedies and are tired of the same old stories being presented with different titles on the cover, (500) Days of Summer is a perfect fit for your Friday night date night.  It is a very unique and well-told story with a great pair of leading stars in Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel.

Blu-ray special features with (500) Day of Summer include:

• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Bank Dance, Directed by Marc Webb
• Mean’s Cinemash: “Sid and Nancy/(500) Days of Summer”
• Not a Love Story: Making of a Featurette
• Conversations with Zooey and Joseph
• Music Video: “Sweet Disposition” by the Temper Trap
• Filmmaking Specials: Summar @ Sundance, Audition Tapes
• Audio Commentary with Director Marc Webb and Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt
• Digital Copy of Film for Portable Media Players

Actors: Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Fox Searchlight

Blu-ray Release Date: December 22, 2009

Run Time: 95 minutes

Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

Extract Blu-ray Review

Office Space writer-director Mike Judge offers up another workplace comedy with the December 22nd Blu-ray release of his movie Extract, from Miramax Films.

Joel (Jason Bateman) is a successful businessman operator of a factory by day, and a sex-deprived husband by night.  When one of Joel’s employees is hurt on the job, a potential lawsuit threatens his business.

Cindy (Mila Kunis) is a young thief and scam artist who latches onto the chance to earn some coin by dating the employee and encouraging him to sue the company, hoping to pocket some of the money for herself.  Not realizing Cindy’s intentions when she takes a job at his company, Joel is immediately attracted to her.

With encouragement from his stoner friend (Ben Affleck), Joel decides to set up his wife Suzie (Kristen Wiig) to be seduced by the pool boy, thus freeing Joel from guilt should he move in on Cindy.

Things get a little hairy when the pool boy falls in love with Suzie and items begin disappearing from the factory.  Joel must fiend off financial ruin while trying to figure out what to make of his current relationship situation.

Extract is a Blu-ray movie that has great cover appeal.  The cast seems like a great fit for a Mike Judge comedy.  Jason Batemen is very undervalued as a comedy actor.  Mila Kunis is popular with the younger male audiences and fans of “That 70s Show”.  Kristen Wiig has SNL fame.  Ben Affleck is more polarizing as an actor, especially when it comes to comedy.

Unfortunately, the delivery of Extract is a bit of a let down compared to Office Space and pre-viewing expectations.  None of the actors really show off their strengths in roles that are underdeveloped.  There is a lack of on-screen chemistry among the key players as well which makes it difficult for the audience to get lured in.

One of the funnier moments in Extract is a small role by former Kiss band leader Gene Simmons, who plays the money-grubbing lawyer.  Otherwise, enter Extract with a modest level of laughing anticipation.

Extract Blu-ray special features include:

• Deleted Scene
• Extended Scenes
• Mike Judge’s Secret Recipe Featurette – The ingredients for a classic Mike Judge film

• Actors: Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Beth Grant, Jenny O’Hara, Gene Simmons
• Directors: Mike Judge
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Miramax Films
• Blu-ray Release Date: December 22, 2009
• Run Time: 90 minutes

Blu-ray Review by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

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