Hancock the hung-over superhero teamed up with "Iron Man" and "The Dark Knight" to make the summer of '08 a roaring successful for what was supposed to be a burned-out genre.
"Hancock" was the least of these superhero films, but by far the funniest. Will Smith's performance made the one-joke movie soar, at least until it took a curious 90-degree turn into the semi-dark places where superheroes like to lurk these days.
I'm thinking this isn't a film with a great deal of repeatability, but Sony's DVD and Blu-ray of "Hancock" should prove a treat for Smith's fans and for those who didn't catch the show last summer.
On Blu-ray,
this is one great-looking and -sounding video, backed by hours of extra features that roll out in crisp 1080p high def. (The on-set footage for the making-of docu was shot in HD.)
this is one great-looking and -sounding video, backed by hours of extra features that roll out in crisp 1080p high def. (The on-set footage for the making-of docu was shot in HD.)The Blu-ray's Dolby TrueHD track is loud, playful and full of explosions, perfect for alarming the neighbors.
"Hancock" is beautifully acted, with Smith, Justin Bateman and Charlize Theron in the key roles. It's the story of an L.A. homeless guy who happens to fly and fight crime in between hangovers and blackouts. A public relations man (Bateman) sees potential in cleaning up the reluctant hero's act, and welcomes him into his home. There, we meet the flack's beautiful stay-at-home wife (Theron), a woman with a few secrets of her own.
The best extra could be the visit to the PR guy's house, which looks all-Valley but is in fact built on the Sony backlot. Nothing unusual there, but in this case they constructed a whole freaking neighborhood on a cul de sac. The real Valley probably wouldn't stand for day and night explosions, the producers figured.
A time-lapse view of the house being built is followed by the "interior designer" showing off the artworks and nick-knacks in the house that plug into the wife's mysterious past. Bateman says he'd be pleased to live in the studio's "Hancock" house -- "Security would be great."
Another fun piece goofs on director Peter Berg, who appears to have well-earned the nickname DIrty Pete. "He's insane," actress Theron notes, and on-set footage backs her up. "This guy is Hancock," another co-worker says.
As expected, most of the bonus features deal with the special effects. The supervisor notes that effects usually are obsolete by the time a fantasy/sci-fi film is finished. "So you have to go in making assumptions about what you're going to be able to invent."
"Hancock
" comes in various versions. The DVD special edition and Blu-ray include digital copies as well as both the unrated and rated versions.
" comes in various versions. The DVD special edition and Blu-ray include digital copies as well as both the unrated and rated versions."A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All" unfurls in a snowed-in cabin where our host is menaced by a giant bear -- sort of a low-rent take on Chaplin's "The Gold Rush."
Elvis Costello, Feist, Jon Stewart, Toby Keith, John Legend, Willie Nelson and a familiar-looking Santa drop by. Country star Keith does a creepy number about saving Christmas from the ACLU and Stewart makes a pitch for Hanukkah.
Steven Colbert ("The Colbert Report") sings and dances a bit, offering up his own sweet 'n' cynical holiday song. Yes, he can carry a tune. (And so can you.) The special originally ran on Comedy Central.
"A Colbert Christmas
" wears out its welcome about the time the old boss stops by for the "Daily Show" reunion, but at least on the DVD there's a terrific extra that makes everything better.
" wears out its welcome about the time the old boss stops by for the "Daily Show" reunion, but at least on the DVD there's a terrific extra that makes everything better. Colbert offers his very own TV holiday fireplace, the kind on a loop. This one keeps the flames burning with a fresh supply of books, including "Fahrenheit 451." Horrify your friends and family -- the greatest gift of all.
New & Notable DVDs and Blu-rays:
Beverly Hills 90210: The Sixth Season (Paramount)
Bottle Rocket (The Criterion Collection)
Chungking Express (Criterion)
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold (Criterion)
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All (Paramount)
Hancock (Sony)
Meet Dave (Fox)
Pink Panther Ultimate Collection (MGM)
Ron Howard Spotlight Collection (Universal)
Space Chimps (Fox)
24: Redemption (Fox)
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