dvd

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's new sci-fi DVD releases:

The Fourth Kind (DVD and Blu-ray)
Milla Jovovich stars in this sci-fi flick that, sadly, doesn't involve her firing two machine guns at once or kicking zombies in the face. But The Fourth Kind makes up for its lack of Resident Evil-style action with some decent chills and genuinely creepy moments. Jovovich plays a psychologist investigating a string of alien abductions in Nome, Alaska. But despite the fun scares, the film mostly falls apart when trying to balance its grainy "actual" footage of alien abduction craziness with its overstylized "reenactments."

Astro Boy (DVD and Blu-ray)
I don't know much about Astro Boy, the mega popular Japanese manga series first published in the 1950s. But I do know that Astro Boy fans were mixed over this derivative if ultimately good-hearted CGI kid's flick.

Also new this week: Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVII and Clash of the Gods: The Complete Season One.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's new sci-fi home video releases:

2012 (DVD and Blu-ray)
Watch Roland Emmerich destroy the world with some spectacular CG magic in this fun and bloated schlockbuster starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet and a whacked-out Woody Harrelson.

Where The Wild Things Are (DVD and Blu-ray)
Director Spike Jonze and novelist Dave Eggers cook up a raw, spirited and innovative flick about a rowdy kid and his imaginary monsters, based on Maurice Sendack's beloved kid's book.

Alice (DVD and Blu-ray)
Syfy's hit-and-miss quasi-sequel to Lewis Carrol's classic tale is worth a rental, if only for Primeval's Andre Lee Potts' charming performance as the clever Hatter. Banking on this week's theatrical release of Tim Burton's Alice, the 1966 Alice in Wonderland starring Peter Sellers as the King of Hearts also hits stores today, along with the 1933 version with Cary Grant, Gary Cooper and W.C. Fields.

Cold Souls (DVD)
Paul Giamatti is great (no surprise there) and David Strathairn is hilarious in this dark, twisted and meandering indie that sees Giamatti (playing himself) putting his heavy soul in deep-freeze storage.

Clash of the Titans (Blu-ray)
The campy '80s stop-motion classic gets the high-def treatment, just before the slick new CG version hits theaters.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's sci-fi DVD releases:

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (DVD and Blu-ray)
You can always count on DC's animated DVD flicks to deliver solid superhero action, but early word says Crisis packs brains and brawn. A superstar cast (James Woods, Mark Harmon, Gary Cole, Firefly's Gina Torres) voices the classic comic characters as they battle with their evil doppelgangers in a parallel dimension.

The Box (DVD and Blu-ray)
Director Richard Kelly's latest mindfrak isn't quite as ambitious or as messy as Southland Tales, nor is it as compelling or as charming as Donnie Darko. Instead, The Box offers a tense genre tale that spirals out of control as Kelly packs on his trademark mix of dark wit, absurd moments and outlandish surprises.

Flash Forward: Season One Pt.1 (DVD)
It looks like this ambitious ABC drama didn't turn out to be the next Lost after all. Still, the first half of Flash Forward's season one offers a compelling mystery, some genuinely thrilling moments, and even some dark humor in almost every episode. Catch up in time for its return to TV on March 18.

The Crazies (Blu-ray)
Catch George Romero's original '70s pandemic creepshow before the remake hits the big screen. The director does commentary on the Blu-ray.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's new sci-fi home video releases:

Halo Legends (DVD and Blu-ray)
Fans of the popular game franchise won't want to miss this set of anime shorts set in the world of Halo and produced by Japanese animation studios. The rest of us? I think its OK to skip it (and maybe pop in that copy of Batman: Gotham Knight for old times sake). There's a ton of new anime hitting stores today, including Claymore: The Complete Series on Blu-ray, the second half of Bleach Uncut: Season 4, and the Heroic Age complete series set, also on Blu-ray.

Small Wonder: The Complete First Season (DVD)
A scientist creates a creepy little Cylon girl and brings it home to live with his family. Instead of killing it with fire, they're charmed by her monotone computer voice and her ability to shoot sparks out of her ears. Hey, it was the '80s. How were they supposed to know that she'd grow up to start a war and wipe out humanity in the name of the one true god?

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi home video releases.

Stargate Universe: 1.0 (DVD and Blu-ray)
Relive or catch up with the first ten hours of Syfy's latest Stargate series with this three-disc set (two disc on Blu-ray), featuring commentaries from the cast and crew and behind-the-scenes video diaries.

Running Man (Blu-ray)
Watch Ahnold crush the competition as a contestant in a brutal futuristic game show in this late '80s favorite, remastered and updated with a 7.1 DTS-HD soundtrack.

The Phantom [Blu-ray]
Every flop has its fans, as proven buy this new high-def release of 1996's The Phantom, starring Billy Zane as the purple-clad do-gooder and a pre-Zorro Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi home video releases.

Zombieland (DVD and Blu-ray)
From its witty opening scene to its bloody final act, Zombieland packs plenty of fun, surprises and enough gory lunacy to satisfy even the most jaded zombie movie addict. Pick it up tonight, have a blast, and start anticipating the sequel along with the rest of us.

Doctor Who: The Complete Specials (DVD and Blu-ray)
Relive David Tennant's last act as The Doctor with the final four specials bundled together in one package. They're sold separately too, so you can pick up your favorites and leave the stinkers on the shelf.

Planet Hulk (DVD and Blu-ray)
I'm not convinced that this release – or any of Marvel's recent animated DVD movies – is worth a buy. Still, watching cartoon Hulk smash up a bunch of giant space monsters sounds like a mighty good time, doesn't it? Plus the special features (available on the two-disc edition) include some cool-looking comic-to-screen docs and Marvel motion comics.

Universal Soldier: Regeneration (DVD & Blu-ray)
And speaking of a mighty good time ... Jean-Claude Vane Damme and Dolph Lundgren strap on the ol' cyborg armor for ninety minutes of frontal lobe-numbing action. The latest Universal Soldier flick is sure to be a straight-to-DVD favorite.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi home video releases.

Surrogates (DVD and Blu-ray)
Bruce Willis and Terminator 3 director Jonathan Mostow team up for this serviceable but ultimately disappointing futuristic action flick based on the Top Shelf comic. Willis plays a cop investigating a murder in a world where everyone uses super-powered robot avatars. Bruno is badass as usual, but despite the cool setting and fun effects, the story plays out like a stock crime procedural.

Highlander: Immortal Edition (Blu-ray)
Who says there can be only one? After dropping on DVD in 2002, Anchor Bay is finally releasing Highlander: The Immortal Edition on Blu-ray. The HD disc repeats some of the special features from the old DVD release – commentary, trailer, deleted scenes – and boasts an interview with star Christopher Lambert and a three-part "making of" doc.

Sherlock Holmes (DVD)
The latest Asylum mockbuster pits Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved detective against dinosaurs, sea creatures and a steam-powered robot! Call it a "loose" adaptation. Torchwood's Gareth David-Lloyd somehow got roped into playing Dr. Watson, and Star Trek: Enterprise's Dominic Keating hams it up as baddie Spring Heeled Jack.

InAlienable (DVD)
Star Trek: TOS's Chekov, Walter Koenig, wrote and produced this low-budget sf-tinged drama about a dude who's impregnated by an outer space "rock thing." Koenig recruited a long list of veteran sci-fi actors for the project, including Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Marina Sirtis (Star Trek: TNG), Erick Avari (Stargate), Alan Ruck (Star Trek: Generations), and J.G. Hertzler (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). It's produced by Renegade Studios, the same folks that gave us the ultimate Trek fan flick Star Trek: Of Gods and Men.

The Real Ghostbusters, Vol. 2 (DVD)
The Real Ghostbusters is my favorite animated series of all time. It has everything – intelligent scripts, compelling drama, mystery, wit, slime, Arsenio Hall. Everything! This set collects 31 episodes of the '80s feature film spinoff plus some great bonus material, including visual commentary tracks and a documentary.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi DVD and Blu-ray releases:

Gamer (DVD and Blu-ray)
Gerard Butler continues his post-300 slip with this tired and flashy action flick about a prisoner forced to compete in a futuristic Running Man-esque game. Every move he makes is controlled by a bratty 17-year-old kid, which isn't nearly as entertaining as Michael C. Hall's over the top performance as the film's nutty big bad.

Pandorum (DVD and Blu-ray)
Dennis Quaid and the great Ben Foster add some dramatic heft to this low budget sci-fi horror flick. Pandorum was criticized for being derivative of far superior films like Alien, I Am Legend and The Poseidon Adventure. Still, flicks from Hollywood schlock master Paul W.S. Anderson, who produces here, are known for offering a few hours of dumb and violent fun.

Defying Gravity: The Complete First Season (DVD)
I bailed on this soapy astronaut drama halfway through the first season, and so did ABC. Even the mighty Ron Livingston couldn't save Defying Gravity from cloying romantic plots and tedious space drama.

Kingdom of the Spiders [Special Edition] (DVD)
No cloying romance or lifeless drama here. This campy '70s horror classic features a young William Shatner battling an army of aggressive arachnids in what's billed as "the ultimate man vs. spider showdown." The special edition boasts a new interview with Shatner that's probably worth the DVD's $15 price tag on its own.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi DVD and Blu-ray releases:

Super Friends: Season One, Vol. One (DVD)
The very first Super Friends TV show features Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman facing their greatest challenge yet -- babysitting Wendy, Martin and Wonderdog. This set collects the first volume of the 70s super show, including eight hour-long episodes and cameos from Plastic Man and Green Arrow.

Battlestar Galactica: Season One (Blu-ray)
The entire series was released on Blu-ray last July, but now you can nab season one on its own in high-def. The set features exclusive picture-in-picture bonus features, BD-Live capabilities, and zero The Plan-style penis shots.

Chuck: The Complete Second Season (DVD & Blu-ray)
NBC's beloved spy comedy really started to get good in season two. Pick it up and prep yourself for season three, premiering January 10.

Doctor Who: The Keys of Marinus and Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma (DVD)
Straight outta the sixties comes The Keys of Marinus, featuring the first Doctor (William Hartnell) facing off with the Voords. The Twin Dilemma sees '80s Doctor Colin Baker picking out a spiffy new coat and embarking on his first adventure.

Looking for something good and geeky to watch? Check out this week's notable sci-fi DVD & Blu-ray releases:

9 (DVD & Blu-ray)
I never got around to watching this dark animated feature produced by Tim Burton and Night Watch director Timur Bekmambetov. It features a great voice cast – Martin Landau, Elijah Wood, Crispin Glover, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly – and a suitable-looking post-apocalyptic setting. Sadly, 2009 wasn't the year of the tiny stitch people, since everyone else seemed to ignore 9's theatrical run too. Judging by the sophisticated visuals in the trailer, this looks like a good Blu-ray rental.

Paranormal Activity (DVD & Blu-ray)
Director Oren Peli's freaky no-budget fright fest gets two DVD releases, a standard edition and a "Limited Collector's Edition" featuring an unrated version of the flick and an "alternative ending" (or is it the film's original ending?), plus a goofy film cell and T-shirt. The Blu-ray also features both cuts of the film.

Princess of Mars (DVD)
Peter warned you about this Asylum cash-grab presumably based on Edgar Rice Burroughs's John Carter of Mars series back in August. If you can't wait until 2012 for Pixar's version of the story, Traci Lords and Antonio Sabato Jr. stand ready to punish you for your impatience in this Z-grade straight-to-DVD affair.

Jennifer's Body (DVD & Blu-ray)
Writer Diablo Cody and director Karyn Kusama attempted to make a smart and schlocky horror movie about the strange personal relationship between two very different girls. Critics balked and audiences stayed away, but Jennifer's Body has a few things going for it. Amanda Seyfried turns in a nice performance, Megan Fox looks good in, well, almost anything, especially a cheerleading outfit, and Adam Brody is a hoot as an arrogant and murderous pop singer.