DVD Pick of the Week: Ultraviolet

Welcome to this week's choicest cuts and its unwanted scraps, also known as my Pick of the Week. This week has a number of interesting looking disks, and I am sure that my pick of the week will not be terribly popular.

My most desired DVD this week is Ultraviolet. The film tanked at the box office and was panned by critics and fans alike, attested to by its current 10% ranking over at Rotten Tomatoes and 18 out of 100 at Metacritic, not to mention a 3.6 at IMDB.. This leaves me as one of a mere handful that even remotely liked this movie.

Ultraviolet is director Kurt Wimmer's follow up to the excellent, and vastly superior, Equilibrium. Wimmer has an interesting visual style and definitely knows how to stage an action sequence. This is cheese raised to the level of art. I doubt that is what it was originally aiming for, but I enjoyed every moment of it. There is the framework of an interesting story of a future vampire-like offshoot race that the rest of humanity fear and attempt to destroy. The concept is intriguing, but it is very slim. The film does boast a number of stylish fights featuring star Milla Jovovich. This should be at least worth a rental, but you cheese fans may want to add this to your shelf.

Also coming out this week:

• Angel Guts: Nami. This could be interesting, or revolting. It is a Japanese film that follows a reporter into her look at rape and the effects on the victim. Sounds rather disturbing....
• Annapolis. Disappointing outing from Justin Lin. Turns out, this is a boxing movie, not so much a military drama.
• Art of the Devil 2. Another horror film from Asia. I have heard some good things about this, and that it isn't that well connected to the first one.
• Burst City. A post apocalyptic future which has a gathering of punk bands to protest a nuclear power plant.
• Cache. Do you ever feel like you're being watched? This family receives packages proving it.
• Electric Dragon 80,000V. Another film from the director of Burst City. Another punk inspired film, this features a power charged investigator who uses his pwer surplus playing music.
• Failure to Launch. Surprisingly entertaining romantic comedy that hits a bit close to home.
• Find Me Guilty. Vin Diesel stretches his range in this true life story of the longest criminal case in US history. Turns out, the movie is actually pretty good.
• Masters of Horror: John Landis - Deer Woman. The MoH releases keep coming, this one from the director of An American Werewolf in London.
• Masters of Horror: Lucky McKee - Sick Girl. Here is the second one of the week, this from the director of the excellent May.
• Monk: Season Four. The defective detective in his fourth season. I love this series.
• Plan 9 from Outer Space. Yet another release of this Z grade classic. Features both the original black and white and a new colorized version. It also has a commentary from Mike Nelson (MST3K).
• Yakuza Graveyard. An action thriller from the 70s, and one of Quentin Tarantino's inspirations. Besides, I just love the title!

What are you getting this week?