THE SCREENING ROOM

DVD: “Prometheus,” “Rock of Ages,” “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?”, And More!

Hooray for Hollywood! This week’s home entertainment lineup kicks off with Ridley Scott’s big-budget Alien prequel, Prometheus, and the all-star movie version of cheesy Broadway hit Rock of Ages. The Joan Crawford-Bette Davis classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? gets an extras-jammed Blu-Ray edition, as does Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, starring trailblazing gay actor Farley Granger.

And for subtitle-lovers, the Swedish rom-com Four More Years sees a married straight politician fall for a gay member of his rival’s cabinet. Timely, no?

 

http://youtu.be/dd1VqCtJY3E

Prometheus
($49.99 3D Blu-ray, $39.99 Blu-Ray; $29.99 DVD, Fox)

In the future, a handful of scientists head out to the great beyond, discover what could be the answer to humanity’s origins, and then make some really bad decisions. Though it doesn’t make much sense, Ridley Scott kinda-sorta prequel to Aliens features amazing special effects, thrilling set pieces, a deliciously shady Charlize Theron and ridiculously hot Michael Fassbender as a devious android. Presumably, all the logic flaws that drew fire from critics and snarky audience members will be addressed in the two commentaries featured here, in addition to deleted scenes, viral videos and, on the 4-disc 3D version only, an almost-four-hour long documentary.

 

http://youtu.be/-oXBQpTUjac

 

Rock of Ages
($35.99 Blu-ray, $28.98 DVD, Warner)

Adapted from the stupid-cute Broadway musical  built around 1980s and early ’90s hard-rock hits, this vehicle hitches itself to a wafer-thin plot about wannabe musicians trying to make it in L.A. Hairspray director Adam Shankman does get some fun turns out of  the cast—including Tom Cruise as an Axel Rose-esque burnout and Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand as a pair of closeted club managers—but a lot of the songs don’t sell their scenes. The theatrical release was a hot mess—good luck making it through the Blu-ray’s 136-minute-long extended edition. Extras include a documentary with real 1980s hitmakers, behind-the-scenes featurettes and a music video with Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis and Julianne Hough.

 

http://youtu.be/3k7qxUcbUwg

 

 

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 50th anniversary edition
($34.99 Blu-Ray, $14.99 DVD; Warner)

Do we need to even tell you anything about this one? Hollywood rivals Joan Crawford and Bette Davis teamed up for this oft-quoted tale of a twisted former child star who torments her wheelchair-bound sister. Quotable and campy, the anniversary edition Blu-ray offers a 40-page commemorative booklet, commentary with gender-benders Charles Busch and John Epperson (a.k.a. Lypsinka) and a featurette on the hatin’ going on between the film’s two legendary stars. Now eat your din-din!

http://youtu.be/nU1hP8fgJI0

 

 

Strangers on a Train
($19.99 Blu-Ray, Warner Bros)

Out actor Farley Granger co-starred in this Hitchcock classic about an unhinged man who attempts to rope a stranger into a quid-pro-quo murder scheme. This is one of the master’s most underrated works and this Blu-ray edition comes out the same day as the 3D Blu-Ray of another Hitchcock gem, Dial M For Murder. Extras include a slightly different UK version of the film, featurettes, and a commentary culled from well over a dozen personalities and filmmakers, including Jaws author Peter Benchley and Hitch himself.

 

http://youtu.be/27KswAKqrME

Four More Years
($17.99, TLA)

When he fails to win the election for prime minster, married politician David Holst finds more than his career aspirations shaken. While making the rounds to drum up support for another campaign, he falls for Martin, a younger, openly gay member of the rival party. Talk about a bipartisanship.

ALSO OUT ON DVD

Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut

The Raven

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition

A Cat in Paris

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