Transformers Trilogy
They're certainly not the most intelligent movies of the last decade, but when it comes to giving your home theater an audio/visual workout, there's little fare better than the Transformers Trilogy ($90). This seven-disc set includes all three of Michael Bay's robot-on-robot battles, including Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon, all packaged in a trophy display along with a movie plaque signed by the infamous director himself.
Godzilla
Immerse yourself in the HD awesomeness of Ishiro Honda's 1954 classic Godzilla ($20). Presented here in definitive Criterion form, this legendary flick features Japanese audio, English subtitles, new interviews with actor Akira Takarada and Godzilla performer Haruo Nakajima, and original theatrical trailers. Gojira!
Bond 50
Sure, he's kind of an asshole, but you still love him. And you need all of him. To celebrate the golden anniversary of his secret agentness, MGM and Fox are releasing Bond 50 ($200), a gigantic collection that includes all 22 Bond films (and 6 James Bonds) along with over 130 hours of bonus features, all in Blu-ray quality.
Contagion
"Nothing spreads like fear" — a fitting tagline for both the GOP presidential primary and for Contagion ($23). Directed by all-around badass Steven Soderbergh and featuring an all-star cast that includes Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law, Lawrence Fishburne, and Gwenyth Paltrow, it rises above the typical disease outbreak fare to achieve a Traffic-like blend of suspense and intrigue, which isn't surprising considering Soderbergh was behind the camera for that one as well.
Homage T-Shirts
Behold the awesome old school goodness of these vintage-printed, buttery-soft Homage T-Shirts. They turn back the clock with shout outs to eclectic moments and personalities in sports, music, politics and popular culture. From Bruce Lee to Larry Bird, the tees tell stories of triumph, individualism and hustle. Pay Homage.
Moneyball
Don't be fooled by the baseball backdrop — oh, sure, Moneyball ($20) is technically about Billy Beane and his work as GM of the Oakland A's, using sabermetric principles to build good teams for little money. But what's it's really about is taking risks, and how to see them through once you've made your bet. Which doesn't sound like all that interesting a movie, unless of course that movie contains some under-hyped, legitimately good performances from Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In which case, it's pretty damned entertaining, even if you're not a fan of the game itself.
Drive
It's not the Scorpion Jacket — although it certainly doesn't hurt — that made Drive ($20) our favorite movie of the year. Instead, it was the solid directing from Nicolas Winding Refn, terrific turns by Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, and Bryan Cranston, mixed with a 90's-feel synth-driven score, summer-worthy action, and some awesomely gruesome deaths.
Eames: The Architect and the Painter
Longtime Uncrate readers know we're big fans of Charles and Ray Eames, the dynamic husband-and-wife team responsible for some of last century's most iconic designs. Eames: The Architect and the Painter ($24) goes beyond their designs to investigate their personal life and influence on American life, with interesting but nonetheless hit-or-miss results — but still, what else are you going to watch once football season is over?
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
It doesn't really matter if you've never watched the Charlton Heston-led original — this origin story doesn't require a knowledge of what comes later. That said, Rise of the Planet of the Apes ($30) does a good job of retaining the dark, cautionary tone of its predecessors, thanks to above-par acting from the always intriguing James Franco and a true gem of a performance by Andy Serkis as the super-smart chimp Caesar.
Rushmore
Finding it difficult to pass the time before the release of Moonrise Kingdom? Perhaps a little Rushmore ($28) can help you out. Thanks to a new high-definition transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, Wes Anderson's sophomore gem has never looked — or sounded — better, making it all the more enjoyable to watch the stellar performances of Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. And since it's a Criterion release, you don't have to worry about getting double-dipped — at least, until the 4K version comes out.
Scrooged
Look past the badly airbrushed photo of Bill Murray on the cover — we know it's difficult, but you can do it — and inside you'll find one of the naughtiest, funniest holiday movies of all. Scrooged ($20) is yet another retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but with Murray's asshole TV executive playing the role of Scrooge, and Manhattan serving as the site for memories of past, present, and future. Keep your eyes peeled for cameos by Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim, David Johansen — otherwise known as Buster "Hot Hot Hot" Poindexter — as the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Bob Goulet bringing you an Old Fashioned Cajun Christmas.
Super 8
Mix two parts Goonies with one part E.T., add in a pinch of Cloverfield plus a dash of Lost, and you have yourself a movie that rivals any of the adventure classics from the 80's. Super 8 ($25) is the result of an equally-super collaboration between J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, and while it's not entirely original, it is the most entertaining movie we've seen this year, and arrives with over two hours of special features that, speaking honestly, we'll probably never watch.
Planet Earth
Sure, odds are if you're a Blu-ray player-owning, HDTV detail-loving person, you probably already own it — but that hasn't stopped you from double-dipping before, has it? The instant classic mini-series Planet Earth ($60) is making a comeback in this six-disc special edition from the Beeb, which includes all 11 original episodes, as well as a host of new special features covering secret underground Mayan rivers, snow leopards, behind-the-scenes looks at how the crew captured some of the more iconic shots, and a three-part series on what the future might hold for animals, habitats, and ourselves.