On DVD Today: Atonement

Atonement (starring Keira Knightley & James McAvoy) is released on DVD today! Be sure to get your copy!



Here are more details, from DVD Times:



Atonement (US HD DVD) in March


Universal Studios Home Video have announced the US HD DVD release of Atonement on 18th March 2008 priced at $39.98 SRP. From Joe Wright, the director of “Pride & Prejudice”, comes “Atonement” - adapted from the best selling novel by Ian McEwan. A British story of romance, misconception, jealousy, guilt and justice, Atonement stars James McAvoy and Keira Knightley as a mixed-class couple whose love is doomed by a child's lie and World War II.

Arriving day-and-date (March 18, 2008), features on this HD DVD Combo are detailed below…

Side A: HD DVD

• 1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and French Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround
• English SDH and French subtitles
• Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Joe Wright
• Bringing the Past to Life: The Making of Atonement
• From Novel to Screen: Adapting a Classic
• Feature Commentary with Director Joe Wright

Side B: DVD

• 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English, French and Spanish DD5.1 Surround
• English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
• Deleted Scenes with Commentary by Director Joe Wright
• The Making of Atonement
• Novel to the Screen
• Feature Commentary with Director Joe Wright
  
  
  Also, DVD reviews from EW.com:
  
  Compared with its grittier Oscar rivals, Joe Wright's lush period romance Atonement looked almost archaic. But his epic adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, about a foolish young girl (Saoirse Ronan) whose hasty judgments doom her sister's romance, boasts its own modern storytelling ingenuity. Repeat viewings highlight the meticulous camera work and editing, yet the impact of the lovers' sadness perseveres. EXTRAS In his commentary, Wright dissects the five-minute Dunkirk beach tracking shot. Fortunately, they nailed it in three takes, just before the Steadicam operator collapsed. A-

And from Amazon.com:

Amazon.com
Director Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice) gives Ian McEwan’s bestselling novel a sumptuous treatment for the screen that should come to be regarded as one of the defining films of the epic romantic drama. Indeed, everything about this film stems from those three words: there is little here that is not epic, romantic, and dramatic, and Atonement is a film that masterfully expresses the overarching sense of adventure and emotion that such stories are meant to convey. In this instance, the story centers around the love story of highborn Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and housekeeper’s son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy, in a star-making turn), in England shortly before World War II. Despite their class differences, they are powerfully attracted to each other, and just as their relationship begins Robbie is tragically forced away due to false accusations from Cecilia’s younger sister Briony (Saoirse Ronan). She has a crush on Robbie, too, and after reading a private letter he sent to Cecilia, and then witnessing the first expression of their mutual love but mistaking it for mistreatment, her resentment grows until it leads to her telling the lie that will send Robbie away. Soon World War II breaks out; Robbie enlists and is posted to France, Cecilia is a nurse in London, and Briony, now age 18 and aware of what she has done, tries to atone for her actions--but none of them will be able to get back what they have lost. Knightley and McAvoy are perfectly cast as the young star crossed lovers, and the young Ronan is particularly impressive, but it’s clear that the real star of this film is the director. Wright allows Atonement to revel in every moment of its story and each scene is compelling in its own way, but that now famous extended shot with Robbie on the beach at Dunkirk--filmed in one take and sure to be considered one of the great long tracking shots in film history--is the most memorable moment in this remarkable film. Atonement is an excellent example of what can happen when a great book meets great filmmaking. This is one that is not to be missed. --Daniel Vancini


Atonement available on DVD and HD DVD Now! Get your copy!