Quantum of Solace
Blu-ray
Directed by Marc Forester
Starring Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 24, 2009

The James Bond series could very well go on forever. Even after 20 films, it is possible to reinvigorate the series, as the films starring Daniel Craig have proven. Honestly, I have never been a big fan of Bond and hearing that the series was going to be rebooted with Craig didn’t seem to be anything worth getting excited over. Well, I was wrong, and happy to admit it.

Though it may be sacrilegious to say so, doing away with the cheesy gadgets, the overly suggestive character names, and even the one-liners have saved this series, and it’s obvious the new Bond will not be anything like the old ones. A scene in Casino Royale really established the mentality of the new series in relation to the old, as a bartender asks Bond if he wants his martini shaken or stirred, he snaps back “Do I look like I give a damn!?” The new bond is darker, more realistic (not that that is a stretch), and much more intense.

Quantum of Solace continues this new spirit with style. As an emotionally tortured Bond continues his quest for vengeance, details emerge about a mysterious and far-reaching shadow organization. The movie not only brings closure to many elements of Casino Royale, but establishes a strong foundation for the sequels that will obviously be made.

Dexter
Season 1 – Blu-ray Edition
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, Lauren Velez
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: January 6, 2009

Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is quite possibly the most interesting anti-hero character on TV. The vigilante serial killer uses his day job as a blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police Department to help put criminals in their place. At night, he uses the training his cop father (James Remar) gave him to kill those who slip through the cracks.

In the first season of the critically acclaimed Showtime series, we’re introduced to Morgan and his methods as he engages in a game of cat and mouse with another serial killer known as The Ice Truck Killer. Along the way, we’re introduced to his step-sister (and fellow cop) Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and her numerous relationship troubles, his “damaged” girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz), and his aggressively suspicious co-worker Sgt. James Doakes (Erik King) whose sixth sense makes him a constant antagonist for Dexter.

Religulous
DVD
Directed by Larry Charles
Starring Bill Maher
Lionsgate Entertainment
Release Date: February 17, 2009

Bill Maher isn’t shy about his disdain for religion. Though raised by a Catholic father and a Jewish mother, Maher has since renounced his faith and has since turned his sharp wit into combating organized religion.

With Religulous, Maher travels the world, visiting (and frequently being kicked out of) the holiest locations on Earth. Along the way, he makes stops and religious museum and amusement park while taking time to speak to Jews, Christian, Muslims, and Mormons.

Religulous is not an attempt to scientifically disprove all of the world’s major religions. It is a comedy, it is meant to poke fun at religion, all religion, but in the end has a serious reason for doing so. Watching this film for the first time, I got the strong impression that most people of faith will not watch it. I can’t blame them, as they would be almost certainly setting themselves up to be offended.

Death Race
Unrated Blu-ray Edition
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Joan Allen
Universal Home Entertainment
Release date: December 21, 2008

The suggestion that Hollywood is out of ideas seems more and more prevalent these days, especially with the proliferation of remakes. So it’s not surprising that a remake of a film from over 30 years ago isn’t going to have much originality. However, for a mindless action flick, Death Race isn’t bad. You really can’t think too much about this one or your head might start to hurt. It’s basically Twisted Metal: The Movie.

Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is a former professional driver living in the United States after an economic collapse has changed everything about the way the country works. Prisons have become privately run businesses, one where life is expendable in the name of profits and entertainment. The Death Race is 3-part battle/race between prisoners shown on pay-per-view where participants can die but a five-time winner is promised their freedom. Jensen is framed for murder, sent to prison, and offered a place in the competition. Naturally, it’s not that simple, as the prison warden (played by Joan Allen) is conniving and manipulative to serve her own purposes.

My Bloody Valentine 3D
Directed by Patrick Lussier
Starring Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsy Rue
Rated R
Release Date: January 16, 2009

Movies get made on a single gimmick all the time. It’s a shame when creative writing takes a back seat to an idea that gets people into seats just to see it play out. Sometimes, it’s the pairing of two well-known actors, sometimes it’s a single actor playing a nontraditional role, sometimes it’s just visual gimmick. In the case of the remake of My Bloody Valentine 3D it’s the latter, but that should be obvious from the title.

I have to admit that the 3D aspect of the film is the only thing that got me interested to see what would otherwise be a typical slasher flick with a masked mystery man. Though the original may have gathered a strong following two decades ago, the remake is one of those in a long line of remakes that probably should not have been made.

3D has been done before, so it’s nothing to get terribly excited about. Friday the 13th part 3 was in 3D, as was the climax of Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare. Though the latter only had a small portion of the film driven by this effect, the former looks downright silly when watching it with the added dimension. So I can only imagine the same will be true when this version of My Bloody Valentine is released on DVD. I’m only able to guess because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to sit through the entire film again, even though I was allowed to keep my 3D glasses when I left the theater. Sure, some of the scenes looked pretty cool, but not enough to warrant a second viewing.