STUDIO: Universal
RELEASE DATE: November 25, 2008

JARHEAD
STARRING: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Chris Cooper, and Jamie Foxx
WRITTEN BY: William Broyles Jr.
DIRECTED BY: Sam Mendes
FEATURES: Feature Commentary with Director Sam Mendes
Feature Commentary with Screenwriter William Broyles Jr. and Author Anthony Swofford
My Scenes: Collect Your Own Movie Clips!

Universal has put together some excellent starter packs for Blu-Ray shoppers this holiday season including a horror set with The Thing, Land of the Dead, and Dawn of the Dead, a comedy set that includes the three Judd Apatow movies - The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall - and the Gangster Giftset with American Gangster, Casino, and Eastern Promises. The latest "Starter Pack" is being called a "Hi-Def Action Thriller Starter 2-Pack" and features the most unusual two-fer of the year - Peter Berg's The Kingdom and Sam Mendes' Jarhead. It could have been called the "Chris Cooper 2-Pack" considering the excellent actors appearance in both. Actually, it probably should have been called "Modern Warfare 2-Pack" but that might have been seen as tacky during the holiday shopping season. There's another thing that the two have in common in this critic's eyes - they were both given a bad rap. Both films were seen as critical and commercial disappointments that were undeserved. Check 'em both out on Blu-Ray this month.

JARHEAD (2005)

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes has a film that is more of what fans expect of him this holiday season called Revolutionary Road but I think Jarhead threw American Beauty and Road to Perdition fans for a loop. It's a movie about the boredom of wartime. About sitting around waiting for engagement and about how Marines are what you make them. The title Jarhead refers to how a Marine is what you put in the jar and if you let antsy, aggravated young men sit around in the Middle East with sudden bursts of activity, it's going to lead to problems in their jar. Stuck in a war they don't understand against an enemy that the can't see, the Marines in Jarhead are a fascinating bunch and the film features great performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jamie Foxx. Oscar-winner Roger Deakins' gorgeous cinematography is reason alone to see Jarhead, especially in Blu-Ray HD, but the special features are a little lacking. There are no behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, or U-Control features - just two commentaries and the ability to collect your own movie clips. Now you two can save a clip of flaming oil wells.

THE KINGDOM (2007)

The Kingdom got an even harder rap than Jarhead and I don't get it. I think this is actually Peter Berg's best work, blending his visceral, action style with his more serious side. The final twenty minutes of The Kingdom is as heart-pumping as anything in the last few years. It's not a perfect film, but it's worth your time if you haven't seen it, especially with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to really wake the neighbors. The Kingdom stars Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer garner, and Jason Bateman as a group of elite FBI agents who are sent to Saudi Arabia after a horrible mass murder reveals a new terrorist on the loose. They have to stop him before he kills again. The Kingdom is a very simple, three-act movie with a shocking opening act, a procedural/red-tape middle act, and a straight-up action scene for the last twenty minutes. I think people expect every Middle East movie to change the world. The Kingdom doesn't set out to do that but it is a well-made, entertaining ride that's even better on Blu-Ray. This release features an extensive collection of special features, including Universal's great U-Control, which allows the viewer access to information about the making of the film while it's airing. It's a fantastic Blu-Ray release that really allows fans behind the scenes.