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An exhilarating ride into the Old West, “Silverado” (Sony, 1985, $28.95), tops this week’s lengthy list of titles released on Blu-ray.
“Silverado” has everything to make for an entertaining Western — smoke-shrouded gun battles, tense showdowns, galloping hoofbeats and even a stampede. It’s the old good-guys-vs.-the-bad-guys scenario done with plenty of class.
It doesn’t waste any time getting into the action. The film opens with Scott Glenn shooting it out successfully with several guys trying to sneak up on his cabin. Not long after that Glenn is joined by Kevin Kline, his reckless brother who is determined to be the fastest on the draw and Danny Glover, who has vowed to avenge his father’s death.
When the four are united in the town of Silverado, they find it is ruled by Sheriff Brian Dennehy who would just as soon see the quartet get out of town. Dennehy dishes out the law as he sees it. It’s obvious that he and the four will eventually clash. Also in the cast are Jeff Goldblum, Lynn Whitfield and Linda Hunt.
When “Silverado” was released in 1985 the Western had fallen out of favor, but director and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan did everything to pump new life in the genre and make it fun again. Bruce Boughton’s music score adds greatly to the enjoyment of the film.
Westerns, with their often breathtaking landscapes, seem like the perfect fit for the high-definition format. It makes you wonder why there have been only about 20 Westerns released on Blu-ray. “Silverado” is highly recommended.
Other Blu-ray releases:
“The New World: Extended Cut” (New Line, 2005, $28.99): A beautiful-looking film with nature taking a leading role. Colin Farrell plays Captain John Smith and Q’orianka plays Pocahontas in a screenplay that attempts to be as factual as possible. It also examines the 17th century relationships and conflicts between the English settlers and Native Americans. Highly recommended.
“The Office: Season 5” (Universal, 2008-09, $69.88): A series that focuses on typical days at an office with the usual ego clashes, competition and boredom. This season begins with Michael (Steve Carell) urging the workers to lose some weight and Pam (Jenna Fischer) leaving for art school. The set contains 26 episodes.
“Fringe: The Complete First Season” (Warner, $79.99): FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) investigates unusual cases in this sci-fi series. The first case comes when a commercial flights lands in Boston with none of the crew or passengers alive. The set contains 21 episodes.
“Requiem for a Dream” (Lionsgate, 2000, $29.99): Four people see their lives falling apart as they become more and more dependent on drugs. The film gets into the “world” their minds see when they are on drugs. Among those in the cast are Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto and Marlon Wayans. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Recommended.
“The Quick and the Dead” (Sony, 1995, $28.95): Gene Hackman plays Herod, who rules a town in the Old West. Every year he holds a shootout contest in which everyone is killed except the last man standing. And every year, Herod wins the contest. Into the town rides Ellen “The Lady” (Sharon Stone), who plans to enter this year’s contest. Also in the cast are Russell Crowe and Leonardo DeCaprio.
“The Postman” (Warner, 1997, $28.99): In the year 2013, war has devastated the earth. Means of communications are gone. One man, The Postman (Kevin Costner), decides to try to re-establish the postal system. Pretty goofy movie.
“Over the Top” (Warner, 1986, $28.99): Sylvester Stallone wins back the respect of his young son by participating in an arm-wrestling contest. The only thing missing is the theme from “Rocky.”
“Freddy vs. Jason” (New Line, 2003, $28.99): It’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” meets “Friday the 13th” as the killing machines for both films square off.
“Creepshow” (Warner, 1982, $28.99): Inspired by the 1905s EC horror comics such as “Tales from the Crypt” and “The Vault of Horror,” this film consists of five stories designed to send chills up your spine. George Romero directed and Stephen King contributed the screenplay. Among those in the cast are Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Leslie Bielsen, E.G. Marshall and Ed Harris. Recommended.
“Dead Calm” (Warner, 1989, $28.99): Here is an exercise in tension and terror. During a trip on their sailing yacht, Sam Neill and wife Nicole Kidman encounter mass murderer Billy Zane on a schooner in the middle of the ocean. Zane, who has killed all of the crew, manages to make off with Kidman while leaving Neill on the sinking schooner. Recommended.
“Crank 2: High Voltage” (Lionsgate, 2009, $39.99): A Chinese mobster replaces Chev Chelios’ (Jason Statham) heart with a battery-powered gadget that needs an electric charge or two. Somehow Chelios has to figure out how to take the mobster down.
“Dance Flick” (Paramount, 2009, $39.99): Damon Wayans Jr. plays Thomas Uncles, a street dance who hooks up with Megan White (Shoshana Bush). The two soon enter a mega dance contest with high hopes of winning. A comedy that falls flat.
“Catwoman” (Warner, 2004, $28.99): Halle Berry looks terrific in the all-black costume and that might be the only reason to watch this movie. The plot has something to do with a cosmetic company making cream that will keep women eternally young. Once they quit using it, however, they turn really ugly. Also in the cast are Sharon Stone, Benjamin Bratt and Lambert Wilson.
“Sphere” (Warner, 1998, $28.99): A research teams is sent to the middle of the Pacific where a spaceship, believed to be 300 years old, has been discovered. Because a sound is coming from the alien craft, the suspicion is something might be alive inside. The film has a promising start, but boredom soon sets in.
“Menace II Society” (Warner, 1993, $28.99): Caine (Tyrin Turner) is a young black man who is now a small-time drug dealer. He also very cynical, and little wonder: As a boy, Caine saw his father murdered and his mother die of a drug overdose. But an event that ends in someone’s murder shakes Caine’s carefree attitude. Recommended.
“Set It Off: Deluxe Edition” (Warner, 1996, $28.99): Four black women, all treated badly by society, take off on a bank-robbing spree. Closely bonded at the beginning of their crimes, the personality of the four begins to change as the dough piles up. Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith and Kimberly Elise star.
