“Rebel Without a Cause: Special Edition”
Warner Bros., $26.99
WHO’S IN IT: James Dean, Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo.
RECAP: The styles have changed, but in many ways, “Rebel Without a Cause” remains the definitive troubled teen film as well as Dean’s most iconic role.
BEST EXTRA: The wardrobe and screen tests, plus a number of deleted scenes. A close runner-up is the documentary “Defiant Innocents,” which gets to the bottom of the 1955 film’s lasting appeal.
SECRETS REVEALED: Natalie Wood wanted the role of a juvenile delinquent so badly, she acted out in real life to draw the attention of director Nicholas Ray.
FEATURE TO SKIP: Considering his auto-collision death, the “Drive Safely” mini-film–with Dean’s eerily prescient advice–is as creepy as it is fascinating.
TRIVIA: James Dean actually kicked, punched and damaged the police station desk in his first scene.
IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: “East of Eden” and “Giant,” the other two films in the new “Complete James Dean Collection.”
RATING: 4 REMOTES
“Boogeyman”
Sony, $28.95
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WHO’S IN IT: Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Lucy Lawless.
RECAP: A by-the-numbers horror movie, produced by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, who should know better.
BEST EXTRA: A selection of animatics, basically animated storyboards that provide the blueprints for the boring CGI fest to come.
SECRETS REVEALED: Hard as it is to believe, the included alternate ending shows that as terrible as the actual ending is, the filmmakers made the right decision.
FEATURE TO SKIP: “The Making of Boogeyman,” a long but light puff piece.
TRIVIA: Not coincidentally, Lawless is married to producer Tapert.
IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: “Jeepers Creepers,” a more original take on killer childhood boogeymen.–joshua klein is a redeye special contributor.
RATING: 1 REMOTE
COMING SOON
In stores next week:
– “Beyond the Sea”
– “The Machinist”
– “D.E.B.S.”
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Drew Sottardi ([email protected])