DVD: KEN TUCKER'S FIVE WORST OF 2007
1. SAW III: DIRECTOR'S CUT
Everything on this Worst List represents you being ripped off in some way. Here, it's the horror-porn genre that debases movie culture and, on DVD, turns home-entertainment centers into dungeons of cruelty. I could easily have substituted Hostel: Part II or any number of other bloody bummers.
2. ZODIAC
As a theatrical release, David Fincher's Zodiac was an estimable film with terrific performances by Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo. On DVD, no major film this year cried out more ringingly for a director's commentary, so we might hear how and why Fincher so painstakingly re-created this '70s-era crime hunt. For that, you'll have to wait for the Director's Cut, due in January. Like I said: rip-off.
3. CINDERELLA III: A TWIST IN TIME
What better way to mar the reputation of a fine children's fairy tale than to market another unimaginative sequel?
4. WINGS: SEASON 5
I'm not picking on fine actors like Tim Daly or Thomas Haden Church. I'm simply asking...why? Why this DVD-industry absurdity of releasing late seasons of sitcoms long after their minimal initial charms have evaporated? Surely there weren't that many completists clamoring for Wings 5. I could also have chosen Mork & Mindy: Season 3 or, literally, scores of others.
5. BLOOD MONKEY
Above the title on the box: ''Starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham.'' I know a guy's gotta work, and many other talents churn out such straight-to-DVD fare (Michael Madsen and Tom Sizemore: Ready for your close-up!), but this cheesy thriller came complete with slogan stealing (''In the Jungle, No One Can Hear You Scream'') and minimal suspense. Not even worthy of a desperation midnight choice at Blockbuster.
See more of EW's Best and Worst of 2007:
Music: The 10 Best Albums of 2007
Music: The 10 Best Singles of 2007
The 10 Best Fiction/10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2007
You Might Also Like
- DVD Review Maude: Season 1 (Mar 20, 2007) | Ken Tucker
- Television News Bea Arthur: 1922-2009
- TV Spotlight Bea Arthur: 'Golden Girls' memories | Nicholas Fonseca
