New on DVD/Blu-ray: Robert Zemeckis Returns with 'Flight'; Disney Breaks 'Peter Pan' Out of the Vault

By Peter Hall Feb 05, 2013

New Movie of the Week:

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood. Full cast + crew

It's easy to see why Denzel Washington got a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a compulsive, selfish, destructive airline pilot who saves the lives of 90-plus people while drunk and high on cocaine. He's incredibly magnetic throughout the entire film and does a stellar job of elevating the script, which is often a bit too heavy-handed with the way it handles addiction. It's easy to buy Washington as an alcoholic; it's a bit harder to buy the gorgeous Kelly Reilly as a heroin junkie, and the relationship the two form is a bit on the nose. Still, even with the film's problems, Flight is a worthwhile, welcome return to live action from Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future). See it for Washington's performance and the intense plane crash alone and you'll be satisfied.

Special Features: "Origins of Flight" (10 minutes); "The Making of Flight" (11 minutes); "Anatomy of a Plane Crash" (eight minutes); Q&A highlights (14 minutes)

Catalog Release of the Week:

Peter Pan - Three-Disc Diamond Edition, Two-Disc Blu-ray Combo

Director: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried, Heather Angel, Paul Collins

Disney has once again opened its magical vault and given a classic film a worthy Blu-ray upgrade. Peter Pan may not hold up as the type of movie that's going to lure in adults who had no relationship with the film as a child, but if you're already fond of the film or have youngsters of your own around, it's a must have. I have a two year old and finding quality animated films that he enjoys that don't also drive me crazy can be a bit problematic, but I'm happy to say that classic Disney animation still works.

Plus, Disney's loaded this set with a nice bundle of extras worth pressing play on:

Special Features: Intro by Diane Disney-Miller; Roy Disney commentary track; "Growing Up with Nine Old Men" (41 minutes); deleted scenes and songs (15 minutes); nearly 90 minutes of "Classic DVD Bonus Features;" Sing-Along Mode; DisneyView Side Bars

Other Notable Releases:

BD, DVD

Having recently found myself on a nostalgic kick for '90s police thrillers, I was really looking forward to Alex Cross, the latest film featuring the detective at the heart of Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Unfortunately there's no trace of the charm and intensity that either of those Morgan Freeman-led films have. You can blame Tyler Perry if you want, but it's just an all-around disappointing movie. Still, if you love the character, you may want to give it a shot.

Also out this week: The indie relationship comedy Celeste and Jesse Forever, starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg; Keanu Reeves' documentary Side by Side, about the decline of film and the rise of digital filmmaking; Bob Fosse's Cabaret starring Liza Minnelli; and the film noir Laura, starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Vincent Price.

Everything Else: