This week, it's all about action with a new entry in the Gears of War franchise and another 007 game. Or, if that's not your cup of tea, why not go for some laughs with comedies from Steve Carell and Jack Black. All the gory details can be found after the jump in Top Shelf Tuesday, our guide to what's flying off the shelves this week.
Games
The scarred star from the first title in the Gears of War franchise, Marcus Fenix, makes his grizzled return to the battlefield (bonesaw in hand) in Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360). A professional writer was brought on board to pen the script for Gears 2, which follows the rise of a second locust invasion that has to be battled underground. But don’t forget about the multiplayer mayhem. Play co-op against the locusts, or turn on your friends and unload on them. It's not available in stores until Friday, but you might want to start waiting in line now. It's that good.
Built on the same gaming engine as Call of Duty 4, Quantum of Solace (Xbox 360, PS3) is predicted to be an accurate movie-to-game translation of both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. The latter, being a true sequel, picks up 15 minutes after the first concludes. And, in game form, you’ll fight as 007 through a series of vivid FPS environs in much the same way as Call of Duty, but with a few MI6-esque additions like “takedowns” and “cover combat.”
DVD
Jack Black’s Kung Fu Panda is releasing as a single-disc DVD, a Pandamonium Double Pack two-disc edition, and a Blu-ray version. The single-disc edition includes filmmaker’s commentary, a How To Use Chopsticks video, “Kung Fu Fighting” music video and others. The two-disc edition includes the above features, as well as the Kung Fu Panda Activision Game Demo, Custom Printables and the Dumpling Shuffle. The Blu-ray version includes the Animals of Kung Fu Panda video, Dragon Warrior Training Academy, The Animators’ Corner and others features.
Starring Steve Carell, Get Smart is now available as a single-disc DVD, a 2 disc Special Edition DVD, and a single-disc Blu-ray Special Edition. There’s a single-disc DVD in widescreen and full-screen. The 2 disc Special Edition DVD includes Comedy Optimization Mode, which allows viewers access to over 20 minutes of outtakes, as well as a featurette on behind-the-scenes training and a gag reel. The Blu-ray Special Edition includes those features, as well as a bonus disc which features the Get Smart: Kaos Control DVD game.
Music
If All Goes Wrong is a double DVD commemorative package celebrating the recent reunion and 20-year career of the Smashing Pumpkins and is an absolute must-have for Pumpkins fans. The DVD set was directed and produced by Jack Gulick (Bruce Springsteen, Metallica) and Daniel E. Catullo III and contains the 105-minute documentary titled If All Goes Wrong.
The DVD also features The Fillmore Residency, a full concert filmed in late July and early August of 2007 over five of the band’s 11 sold-out shows at the famed Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California.
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