Welcome back to this week’s look at new releases on DVD and Blu-ray. I’m not quite sure how this happened, but it seems as though last week’s column got a lot of hits. If you’re new to the site or a regular coming back once again, thank you for your patronage. Another point of interest: last week I wrote about the release of I Origins. Well, it was pushed back a week, so sorry for the misinformation. Now, let’s get on with the highlights. As always, click on the links to read full reviews of the titles listed. Remember, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these flicks a try!
Big New Releases!
Calvary – Well, it isn’t exactly a feel-good flick, but this independent Irish drama contains a serious dose of black humor. The story follows a priest in a small town who is told he will be murdered at the end of the week by one of his parishioners. He attempts to talk to nasty locals and come to terms with his imminent end. Brendan Gleeson, Kelly Reilly, Chris O’Dowd, Dylan Moran and M. Emmett Walsh star. Generally, critics were very positive about this effort, praising the work of Gleeson and the bigger issues (like sacrifice and compassion) explored. Read a full review of the film right here.
Dead Snow 2: Red Vs Dead – Horror/comedy fans will be happy to see this sequel to the 2009 Norwegian cult hit. It follows the lone survivor of the first film, who awakes in a hospital with a zombie-arm fused where his old appendage used to be. The angry protagonist forms a squad to take down the rotting Nazi villains any way he can – reportedly, this includes raising his own undead army. Reviews were strong for this effort, calling it an imaginative and enjoyably over-the-top splatter-fest in the vein of Evil Dead 2. Vegar Hoel and Martin Starr headline the cast.
Dolphin Tale 2 – This sequel continues the story of a dolphin with a prosthetic tail. Still recovering in an institute, it faces new challenges after the death of the mammal it has been paired with. The aquarium must pair it with a new partner and prepare them for release back into the wild. The press gave this family flick a few more positive notices than negative ones. They suggested that while it was sentimental and predictable, the flick provided reasonable entertainment for families and featured some impressive underwater photography. It features Harry Connick Jr., Naomi Judd, Morgan Freeman and Kris Kristofferson.
Frank – Here’s another independent effort that garnered a lot of attention upon its release earlier in the year. Loosely based upon a real performance artist, it tells the tale of an experimental band with a mysterious and eccentric front man who continually wears a paper mache head. Critics admittedly that it may be too strange for some tastes, but most called it an interesting experiment that frequently subverts expectations and presents some engagingly oddball characters. Michael Fassbender stars as Frank (beneath the mask for the majority of the running time), along with Domhnall Gleeson, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Scoot McNairy. Read a whole lot more about the movie here.
Guardians of the Galaxy – This week marks the release of one of the year’s biggest hits – an adaptation of one of the more obscure Marvel comic book titles. In it, a rag tag group of outlaws attempt to stop a megalomaniac from destroying a planet. Despite the leads being a human goofball, an alien assassin, a slow-witted muscle-head, a talking raccoon and a walking tree, it connected with reviewers and audiences alike. They wrote that the movie’s tone effortlessly combined zany gags with heartfelt moments, providing action thrills and a great story about misfits banding together. The cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly and features the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Read a full-length review of the movie right here.
I Origins – It was mentioned last week, but here it is one more time. A biologist studying the human eye makes a startling discovery in this independent sci-fi drama. While the press notes don’t get into specifics, the ramifications of his research change the way one thinks about science and religion. This ambitious effort completely split critics and couldn’t have gotten a wider variety of reaction. Some called it messy but well acted and engaging, others felt that it collapsed under its own weighty ideas, while a few called it pretentious nonsense. Who knows what any reader will make of it? For those willig to give it a try, the movie stars Michael Pitt and Britt Marling.
When the Game Stands Tall – This inspirational drama tells the true story of a small high-school team that went on an unprecedented 151-game winning streak, and how they overcame adversity after an unexpected tragedy. The press weren’t particularly fond of this attempt at a feel-good flick. They called it blandly produced and very hackneyed with an awkward spiritual message shoehorned into the narrative. If you’re still curious about it, the movie features Jim Caviezel, Michael Chiklis, Laura Dern and Clancy Brown.
Blasts From the Past!
It’s a very busy week for retro releases. First off are a few notable Blu-rays from the Criterion Collection. The 1981 fantasy/comedy Time Bandits is an early effort from notable director and Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam (Brazil, The Fisher King, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). It follows a young boy who encounters a gang of thieves and time travels with them through various periods in history. This cult film features a phenomenal cast and is a great deal of fun, but has a very dark sense of humor – its unusual tone and approach is probably more suited to adults than children. The Blu-ray features a new, director supervised restoration, commentary track, interviews and promotional appearances from its release as well as a new feature about the film’s elaborate production design.
Additionally, Criterion is bringing the 1995 Todd Haynes drama Safe. It stars Julianne Moore (in one of her first lead roles) as a meek homemaker who begins to feel sick and blames it on toxins and chemicals from the outside world. If memory serves, it’s an odd but well acted and unique art-house effort. This Blu-ray comes with plenty of extras including a new 4K restoration, commentary track and short film from director Haynes. Also from the distributor is the 1974 drama The Night Porter. Charlotte Rampling plays a concentration camp survivor who is reunited with her sadomasochistic tormenter while vacationing. It comes with a documentary on the movie and interview with its director.
Each and every week Kino-Lorber bring plenty of fine and forgotten titles back into the limelight, and this time out is no exception. Robert Altman aficionados will be happy to see his 1976 comedy/western Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson hitting Blu-ray. It stars Paul Newman as the title character in this satire of show business. It depicts the title character’s attempts at running a sideshow and propagating false myths of the old west. It may be forgotten by most, but it has a strong cult fan base. From the same year is another western with more dramatic overtones. The Missouri Breaks features Marlon Brando as a rancher out to hunt down and kill a horse thief (played by Jack Nicholson).
Those with a taste for action can check out their Blu-ray of Avenging Force. It’s a Cannon Films production from 1986 that stars Michael Dudikoff (yes, the American Ninja himself!). In this New Orleans-set story, an ex-military intelligence officer is out to stop a fanatical paramilitary group. Sounds like a flick with the potential for some over-the-top, fist-flying silliness. Also from that year is the solid buddy cop flick Running Scared. It tells the tale of two street-wise Chicago police detectives (played by Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines) attempting to take down a drug ring in between amusing wisecracks and one-liners.
There’s a big Blu-ray box set also coming down the pipeline. Fox Searchlight Pictures – 20th Anniversary Collection contains an impressive collection of 20 titles that span the studio’s entire history. The movies collected include Boys Don’t Cry, Sideways and Napoleon Dynamite to more recent fare like Slumdog Millionaire, Black Swan and 12 Years a Slave). There’s also a disc with a feature documentary detailing their accomplishments. It’s great way to pick up a number of excellent, award-winning titles in one package (although I kinda wish they had included the underrated Sunshine in there as well).
Warner Brothers are also putting numerous anniversary Blu-rays of older titles in “Diamond Luxe” editions – not all titles are actually from the studio, but the Warner Bros. people have secured the rights. These are essentially the same transfers of movies previously released to the format, but almost all contain one brand new bonus documentary feature. The six scheduled for release are Ben Hur: 55th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, Gremlins: 30th Anniversary, Batman: 25th Anniversary, Natural Born Killers: 20th Anniversary, Forrest Gump: 20th Anniversary and The Green Mile: 15th Anniversary. If you don’t already own any of these and want them in your personal library, you may as well get this version with the bonus extra.
You Know, For Kids!
Not a whole lot out there for youngsters, but here’s what is available.
Chuggington: Snow Rescue
Dolphin Tale 2
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures: Movie 4-Pack
Power Rangers Super Megaforce: Vol. 1 – Earth Fights
On the Tube!
There are a couple of new shows hitting store shelves, but most of the titles coming in this time out are older. If you were a little kid in the early 80s, you might remember the mystery series Hart to Hart. It featured an obscenely wealthy husband and wife team (played by the super-suave Robert Wagner and charming Stefanie Powers) as amateur sleuths who solve murders in their spare time. This somewhat cheesy show is definitely of its era and might provide a few chuckles for those seeking out some 80s thrills. But you’d better watch out. Apparently, “…when they met, it was murder!” so you might want to keep your distance. After all, it seems like someone always ends up dead when they’re around. Here’s the opening show opening below. Scroll further down for a spot-on recreation beneath featuring Adam Scott and Amy Poehler.
Barney Miller: Season 6
Doctor Who: Season 8
Family Guy: Volume 13
Hart to Hart: Season 3
Best of the Incredible Dr. Pol (National Geographic)
The Jeffersons: The Complete Series
Kroll Show: Seasons 1 & 2
Mind of a Chef: Magnus Nilsson: Season 3 (PBS)
Mister Ed: The Complete Series
Mork & Mindy: The Complete Series
Mork & Mindy: Season 4
Nature: Hummingbirds
Nova: Bigger Than T. Rex
Top Gear USA: Season 4
Under the Dome: Season 2
Until next time!