Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a very busy week with a wide variety of features in various genres. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
ALLEGORIA – In this independent horror film, a group of young artists that include a drama student, writer, painter, singer and sculptor strive to create their masterpieces. However, supernatural occurrences follow and they all find themselves facing off against an evil force as they try to finish their various works. This film is written and directed by Spider One, front man of the band Powerman 5000 and brother of Rob Zombie. There aren’t a lot of reviews for this picture yet and reaction appears split down the middle. Half wrote that the segments were underdeveloped and that the film simply wasn’t memorable. Just as many called it creepy and atmospheric, also appreciating the way that the filmmaker managed to incorporate heavy metal music into the feature. John Ennis, Krsy Fox, Adam Busch, Bryce Johnson, Scout Taylor-Comptom and Edward Hong headline the film.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE – Released under the title Avec Amour et Acharnement in its homeland, this French drama/thriller follows a middle-aged woman still obsessed with an ex-lover, who also happens to be the best friend of her long-time partner. When the figure re-enters their lives after ten years, the protagonist can’t help but be drawn towards this ex-flame. Tension escalates as the lady finds herself in over her head. Critics were generally positive about this film. A small contingent complained that there wasn’t much chemistry between the leads and that the story failed to generate suspense as a result. Still most thought it was well-acted and compelling, stating that it would get viewers debating the motivations of the characters and their actions. It stars Juliette Binoche, Vincent Lindon, Gregoire Colin and Bulle Cgier.
CHRISTMAS IN PARADISE – This little romantic-comedy involves a trio of sisters from England who go on the hunt for their estranged dad after he suddenly disappears. They end up locating their father in the Caribbean and decide to spend the holidays with him. Naturally, they also confront their pop in the hopes of convincing him to return and finding out why he left without warning. The title is debuting on disc (as well as on streaming platforms) right now and so there aren’t any reviews currently available for it. There are some familiar names in the cast, but the corny online trailer does the movie no favors and makes it obvious why it would not be screened prior to the release date. The cast includes Kelsey Grammer, Elizabeth Hurley, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nathalie Cox, Naomi Frederick and Victoria Ekanoye.
GIGI & NATE – After a horrible accident, a young man is left quadriplegic and finds it impossible to move forward. Things change when he is introduced to an unusual helper named Gigi. The service animal is a capuchin monkey and the two bond surprisingly quickly. Not only does the protagonist’s life begin to improve, but he also feels inspired by his new companion. While many thought the drama was well-intentioned, critics were not impressed by what they witnessed. A handful did find the feature sweet and thought it offered a couple of unexpected turns that kept them watching. Everyone else stated that the story was blandly delivered and that the drama was cloying, manipulative and ineffective. It features Charlie Rowe, Marcia Gay Harden, Jim Belushi, Josephine Langford and Diane Ladd.
HANSAN: RISING DRAGON – This period action/drama from South Korea is a sequel to The Admiral: Rising Currents, which was released back in 2014. The story depicts a major war in the late 16th century between Korean forces and Japanese invaders. It is set on the high seas and details Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his naval fleet as they attempt to save their Korean homeland by using a secret weapon. This foreign-language feature earned slightly more upbeat write-ups than negative ones. Those who panned the movie complained that there was no character depth to the protagonist and that it all felt like a video game. Slightly more complimented the spectacular action scenes and thought it told an interesting story that few on this side of the world would be familiar with. Park Hae-il, Yo-Han Byun and Hyang-gi Kim play the leads.
THE INHABITANT – A teenage descendant of notorious axe-murderer Lizzie Borden begins to experience paranoid delusions after learning about a series of violent slayings in her hometown. Of course, it doesn’t help that she decides to visit the site of the original killings and meet with spiritual mediums in an attempt to find out if she might be the responsible party. In general, this independent creeper was well-received by reviewers. About a third of them commented that the mystery itself wasn’t well handled and that the storytelling was confusing and ineffective. Yet the majority of critics called it smart. They liked the young protagonist and thought the film did a good job of detailing troubled family relationships and their effects on individuals. Odessa A’Zion, Leslie Bibb, Dermot Mulroney and Ryan Francis headline the feature.
JEEPERS CREEPERS: REBORN – The Jeepers Creepers trilogy of horror films began back in 2001 and wrapped up in 2017. After only a few years, the series has now been rebooted for new audiences. A couple familiar with the legend head off to a horror movie festival at the very site where the original killings took place. One of the leads begins to have premonitions of the Creeper’s return and attendees soon begin to disappear. Alas, no critic liked this update on the original concept and struggled to find anything positive to say about it. They called the movie an extraordinarily poor follow-up with terrible writing and weak performances that left them feeling completely uninvolved in the story. The cast includes Sydney Craven, Imran Adams, Jarreau Benjamin and Peter Brooke.
JERRY & MARGE GO LARGE – Based on a true story, this comedy tells the tale of a long-married couple. The husband feels a bit frustrated after being forced into retirement with little savings and uses his considerable math skills to find a loophole in a local lottery. His technique works and they decide the couple share their considerable profits with the town. Of course, this attracts the attention of those running the giveaway. Two-thirds of critics enjoyed this comedy. Naysayers thought the cast were solid but that the presentation of the story was flat and would have benefitted from an edgier approach. But most appreciated the performers, found the various quips to be funny and thought that the picture had a sweet message. It stars Bryan Cranston, Annette Bening, Larry Wilmore, Rainn Wilson, Lily Schlesinger, Jake McDorman and Michael McKean.
MOONAGE DAYDREAM – Famed musician David Bowie is the subject of this documentary. Using never-before-seen and rare footage, interview clips and other bits and pieces from his 54-year career, the filmmakers attempt to show a more detailed picture of the man and his creative process. This movie is also the only film that has been sanctioned by the estate of the family and presents remasters of 40 songs performed by the artist. The movie received a great deal of praise from those who saw it. A tiny number suggested that the 140-minute running time was too short to get all the necessary details about the subject. However, everyone else found the doc to be impressive, informative and visually impressive, helping fans and those unfamiliar with the man get a clearer understanding of his extensive work and lengthy career.
THE PASSENGER – A group of tourists being taken on a sightseeing ride in the country accidentally strike a lady hiking in the night. They all rush to collect the woman and take her to get help, but find that she may not actually be human. Soon, they are all attacked by this strange, mutating figure (in the process, some appear to become creatures themselves). This Spanish horror/science-fiction picture amused many genre film enthusiasts. A limited group thought that it aped gory horror/comedies like Dead/Alive and Evil Dead II but didn’t surpass or match them, rendering itself unnecessary. Still, the majority wrote that it was fun, fast-paced and amusingly gruesome with great practical effects, unique characters and plenty of outrageous moments. It features Ramiro Blas, Cecilia Suárez and Paula Gallego.
PEARL – This horror prequel focuses on the early life of the villain from the recent horror-hit X that only arrived at cinemas a few months ago. Set on the very same isolated farm, the story follows the title character and her efforts to escape her oppressive family and live a more fulfilling and glamorous life outside her hometown. Naturally, things don’t go well for the lead and she finds her ambitions and personal issues coming to head as relatives prevent her from moving. X received raves and notices for this feature were almost as strong. One or two found it predictable and didn’t think it truly was a needed or necessary backstory. However, the consensus was that this creeper was a very well-made, engaging and interesting character study with a great lead performance. It stars Mia Goth, David Corenswet, Tandi Wright and Matthew Sunderland.
R.I.P.D. 2: RISE OF THE DAMNED – R.I.P.D. was a 2013 science-fiction buddy picture with Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges about agents at an afterlife law enforcement agency. The movie tanked critically and commercially, but for some reason Universal Pictures has decided to produce a direct-to-disc sequel. It features new characters who are recruited into the organization and travel back in time to the old west. While there, they must face off against a killer and close a gateway to hell. There are very few write-ups currently available for this picture. Those that have appeared suggest that while the performers are likable, there isn’t much they can do to save a low-budget sequel that no one really wanted or needed in the first place. The cast includes Jeffrey Donovan, Rachel Adedeji and Penelope Mitchell.
SECTION 8 – Looking for more direct-to-disc low-budget action? In theory, you could try this effort about a former soldier who is sent to prison for life after avenging the death of his wife and child. He gets a surprise visit in jail from members of a shadow government agency who promise the protagonist freedom if he completes an off-the-books assignment for them. Our hero agrees, but discovers that the mission is more than he bargained for. Reaction towards the movie was poor. Roughly one-third said it was cliched but had a good cast and was nutty enough to earn a pass. All others wrote that while the script itself was reasonable, the technical specs were weak and that it didn’t deliver the required thrills. Ryan Kwanten, Dolph Lundgren, Dermot Mulroney, Scott Adkins and Mickey Rourke headline the picture.
THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING – A lonely scholar who specializes in narrative structure attends a conference in Istanbul, Turkey. While visiting an antique shop, she purchases an impressive lamp. After examining it, a Djinn (or genie) appears before her and offers three wishes. The woman is skeptical, knowing that these gifts often backfire. She begins questioning the figure, who tells the lead about himself and tries to convince her why she must believe him. Overall, the press appreciated this fantasy. A number of critics complained that there wasn’t much onscreen chemistry between the leads and that the story didn’t spark enough passion. Regardless, the majority thought it was visually spectacular, enjoyed many of the story segments and thought the film was an interesting, intellectual take on myths and storytelling. It stars Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. Read a full review of the movie here.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking to pick up some older titles on Blu-ray? You have plenty to choose from. Criterion is delivering The Infernal Affairs Trilogy, a box set containing the Hong Kong crime films Infernal Affairs (2002), Infernal Affairs II (2003) and Infernal Affairs III (2004). These movies were remade and expertly condensed by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese as The Departed in 2006. The movies essentially tell the same story of an undercover cop trying to navigate his way through the criminal underworld. All three are great, as is the US redo. The release includes 4K restorations of the films, commentaries with the co-directors and screenwriter on the first two flicks, an alternate ending for the first movie, new and archival interviews with cast and crew, making-of programs, deleted scenes, alternate takes, trailers and more.
Death Game (1977) aka The Seducers is arriving on Blu-ray from Grindhouse Releasing. It’s about a man who is seduced and abused by two young women. The picture has received a 4K restoration and includes the director and co-star Colleen Camp being interviewed by Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel). There are additional interviews with actors and crew members, a 24-page booklet with details about the movie, as well as publicity materials.
Kino is presenting the Henry Silva action picture Assassination (1967) on Blu-ray. It also comes with a 4K picture restoration, as well as a film historian commentary track and a trailer. The Diamond Wizard (1954) is an interesting crime picture about a treasury agent trying to stop thieves from creating and selling artificial diamonds made from sugar. The movie was originally released in 3D at theaters. This distributor is presenting the movie in 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray (as well as with an Anaglyph 3D version). They are also releasing a Blu-ray of The Valachi Papers (1972) with Charles Bronson. This disc includes a commentary with a Bronson biographer, in addition to multiple trailers, TV and radio spots for the movie.
Lionsgate is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Reservoir Dogs (1992) with a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray package. This darkly humorous and dramatic cult classic from Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) features a desperate group of crooks holed up in a factory after a botched job. Besides the improved picture quality, it also comes with deleted scenes and multiple featurettes.
The underrated follow-up Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) is being rereleased by Paramount on Blu-ray. It isn’t as good as the original Airplane! from 1980, but it does offer plenty of laughs and a hilarious supporting turn from William Shatner. The studio is also making available a Blu-ray of the Samuel L. Jackson/Christina Ricci drama, Black Snake Moan (2007).
The very entertaining comedy Wayne’s World (1992) is also celebrating its 30th Anniversary and Paramount is presenting a 4K Ultra HD only edition of the movie available. Alas, no Blu-ray is included in this set. If you are so included, you can also pick up this version in Steelbook packaging.
The exceptional Paramount Presents line is also adding a title to its roster. The Elvis Presley musical Blue Hawaii (1961) arrives in a package that contains the film in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. Presley plays a tour guide who wants to sing but whose family prefers that he work for the family pineapple business. It’s an enjoyable effort that features great musical numbers. Bonuses include a film historian commentary, a photo scrapbook of the production, collectable packaging with a fold out of the original poster, and plenty more.
Additionally, the Sonny Chiba Collection is a Blu-ray set arriving from Shout! Factory. It contains 7 titles featuring the star. You’ll get Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder (1972), Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences (1972), Bodyguard Kiba (1973), Bodyguard Kiba 2 (1973), Swords of Vengeance (1978), Samurai Reincarnation (1981) and Shogun’s Shadow (1989). Besides the upgraded picture quality, the discs come with trailers and there is a bonus interview with star Chiba too.
Used Cars (1980) is a wild little comedy that isn’t as remembered as it should be. Shout! is trying to change that with 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Collector’s Edition of the movie. Kurt Russell stars as a shady used car dealer trying to save his place of employment from a neighboring business run by his boss’s even more ruthless brother. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis (Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump).
Sony is presenting a big Blu-ray box set that contains all of the Spider-Man movies they have produced. The Spider-Man 8-Movie Collection contains the first trilogy with Tobey McGuire made between 2002 and 2007, the two Andrew Garfield Amazing Spider-Man pictures from 2012 and 2014 and the three recent Tom Holland efforts made from 2017 to 2021. One expects the discs include all of the previously released extras.
Finally, if you have a 4K set-up, you can also pick up The Bourne Complete Collection – 20th Anniversary Limited Edition (4K Ultra HD + Digital) from Universal as an Amazon Exclusive.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
It’s a slow week for kids, but you’ll find what is available listed below.
Gigantosaurus Season 2 – We’re in This Together (NCircle) DVD
ON THE TUBE!
And here are all of the TV-themed releases coming your way this week.
Darby and Joan: Series 1 (Acorn) DVD
A Discovery of Witches: The Complete Trilogy (3 Seasons) (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray
Doom Patrol: Season 3 (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray
Gigantosaurus Season 2 – We’re in This Together (NCircle) DVD
Hallmark 3-Movie Collection: Magical Christmas Ornaments / Snow Bride / The Christmas Cottage (Hallmark) DVD
Halo: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD or Steelbook 4K Ultra HD
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season 1 (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Season 2 (Paramount) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray
Why Women Kill: The Complete Series (Paramount) Blu-ray