New to Blu-ray and DVD “Fear and Desire” and “Magic Mike” (release date, October 23, 2012)

Director Stanley Kubrick, age 24, shooting “Fear and Desire.”

“Fear and Desire” (1953) directed, produced and edited by a then barely known talent, a 24 year-old filmmaker named Stanley Kubrick, comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week.  Kubrick, of course, would go on to direct such films as “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), “A Clockwork Orange” (1971), “Barry Lyndon” (1975), “The Shining” (1980), and others.

Kubrick, then an unproven commodity, did not have a large budget for “Fear and Desire.”  He smartly chose a story that would conform well to his low budget aesthetic. The story of “Fear and Desire” involves a group of American soldiers, one of whom is played by a very young Paul Mazursky (director and actor), trapped behind enemy lines during World War II.  All that was needed were some actors in uniform out in the woods and minimal indoor sets. 

Magic Mike

Channing Tatum and company in “Magic Mike.”

I have given up on director Steven Soderbergh, as of his latest film “Magic Mike.” Granted, a movie about male stripers would not normally be my first choice.  However, during the dog days of summer, when the pickings include either movies I have seen, or movies I did not want to see, and, with a deadline looming, a decision had to be made.  Besides, I reasoned, “Magic Mike” was directed by Soderbergh, who is considered to be a very good director.  Granted I have not particularly liked a movie of his since 2000’s “Traffic,” but there was hope that maybe “Magic Mike” would be good.