Welcome back to the latest roundup of new releases coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s another week chock full of great stuff. As always, you can click on any links to read more. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Diablo – This indie western follows a Civil War vet who goes on the warpath to retrieve his wife after learning that she has been kidnapped. The synopsis suggests that audience sympathies begin to shift as more information is revealed. Most critics felt the same way about the film – they didn’t care for it, stating that the idea was interesting but the screenplay wasn’t strong and the overall execution fell short. They wrote that end result wasn’t particularly memorable. It stars Scott Eastwood (Clint’s son), Walter Goggins, Camilla Belle and Danny Glover.
Entertainment – A questionably talented middle-aged comedian struggles his way through a tour across the Mojave desert in this dark comedy/drama. In the process, he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Reviews were pretty decent for this effort. Some claimed the movie was a bit uneven, but generally they found it to be a weirdly fascinating film that is completely unique in its approach (if you’re willing to accept the bizarre). The cast includes Gregg Turkington (better known to comedy fans as Neil Hamburger), John C. Reilly, Michael Cera, Tye Sheridan, Dean Stockwell and Kalia Prescott.
Extraction – In this straight-to-video action flick, a government analyst learns that his CIA field operative father is being held hostage by a terrorist group. Desperate to get him back, he launches his own rescue operation. Notices for this effort were absolutely awful and the film currently holds a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been called a dull, routine and forgettable flick that can’t even be saved by established leads Bruce Willis, Kellan Lutz, Gia Carano and D.B. Sweeny. Yikes!
Frankenstein – Set in present day, this independent adaptation of famous story is told from the perspective of the Monster, left for dead by the scientists who created him and lost on the cruel and nasty modern day world (specifically, Los Angeles). Despite being directed by veteran Bernard Rose (Paperhouse, Candyman, Immortal Beloved), it’s coming straight-to-DVD in these parts and there aren’t any official reviews. With absolutely no word surrounding it and a minimal release, I wouldn’t expect too much. Carrie-Anne Moss, Tony Todd, Xavier Samuel and Danny Huston appear.
The Good Dinosaur – The latest animated effort from Pixar starts with the idea that the comet that wiped out all the dinosaurs out missed the Earth. It follows a little Apatosaurus with self-esteem issues that gets lost from its family; he must survive the elements and find his way back home. Along the way, the lead befriends a human boy. Critics generally liked the movie, although they thought it was a long way from the studio’s best work. Personally, I thought that while the backgrounds looked fantastic, the characters as written weren’t particularly engaging. Jeffrey Wright, Francis McDormand, Steve Zahn, Anna Paquin and Sam Elliott provide the voice talent.
Moonwalkers – This independent, English-language comedy from France follows a CIA agent in the 60s who is tasked with faking the moon landing. First, he attempts in vain to enlist the aid of director Stanley Kubrick. The official is eventually forced to team up with a unscrupulous band manager to get the job done. The press were split over the final product – some found it enjoyably silly and called it a future cult classic, while just as many thought the jokes and violence were too over-the-top to be amusing. Guess it all depends on your sense of humor. It stars Rupert Grint and Ron Perlman.
Secret in Their Eyes – This US remake of the 2009 drama from Argentina involves a cop obsessed with finding the man who killed his partner’s child. When he believes that he’s solved it, he enlists the aid of his old allies. However, he has trouble convincing them. Unfortunately, more critics disliked this retelling than appreciated it. The majority thought that despite the excellent cast’s best efforts, the filmmakers muted the original’s thrills and twists, resulting in a rather flat and perfunctory retelling. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Dean Norris and Alfred Molina. To read a full review of the movie, just click here.
Spotlight – The subject of this biopic is the team of Boston Globe reporters who uncovered various cases of sex abuse within the Catholic Church. We follow the reporters as they tirelessly research and then attempt to reveal the details of the crimes. It is currently nominated for several Academy Awards (and is favored to win a couple) and has received critical acclaim, praising the cast and the movie’s focus on the process of investigative journalism. Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci, Billy Crudup and John Slattery headline the film. To read a detailed review, click here.
We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! – Yep, the 80s metal band behind the songs “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock” are chronicled in this documentary. Viewers will see the humble beginnings of the band in Long Island, NY and follow them as they persevered, ultimately resulting in chart toppers and mainstream success. There aren’t too many reviews floating around. However, the ones that have popped up suggest that it’s a decent musical non-fiction effort (if somewhat perfunctory in approach) that will please fans of the band.
Blasts From the Past!
Shout! Factory have plenty of releases arriving this week. They include a Double Feature Blu-rays of low-budget horror titles. The first is very loosely based around the H.P. Lovecraft story “The Colour of Outer Space.” It’s called The Curse (1987), stars Wil Wheaton and is based upon the H.P. Lovecraft story “The Color of Outer Space.” Appropriately enough, it has been paired with Curse II (1989) aka Curse II: The Bite. This is an even goofier horror flick that has absolutely nothing to do with its predecessor – Jamie Farr takes on the co-lead role in this production.
Speaking of silly, the sci-fi time travel flick Millennium (1989) is also arriving as part of a Double Feature Blu-ray. The plot involves a plane crash investigator who learns that warriors from the future are stealing accident victims to repopulate the planet. Kris Kristofferson plays the befuddled lead and Cheryl Ladd the time-traveling woman from another age that he falls for. I saw it as a kid and thought it was silly beyond words, but it has developed a cult following over the years. Perhaps I just didn’t appreciate it at the time. It comes to Blu-ray with the goofy biker flick R.O.T.O.R. (1987). Both Double Feature discs should provide plenty of B-movie fun for viewers in the right frame of mind.
The highlight of the Shout! release week is the criminally underrated Wes Craven zombie flick, The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988). An anthropologist travels to Haiti to research drugs used in voodoo rituals in the hopes of adapting them for medical use. Unfortunately, a violent revolution breaks out and the militia’s leader soon threatens the protagonist’s life. There are some fantastic and powerful hallucination sequences as well as some truly chilling moments as the lead is drugged by bad guys and goes through a memorably terrifying ordeal.
The movie only loses its way in the final few minutes when it turns explicitly supernatural, but it’s a high quality genre picture up until that point and remains a memorable film overall. Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae and Paul Winfield star. The Blu-ray includes a new HD transfer, feature commentary from Bill Pullman, publicity materials and a lengthy documentary on its production. It gets a full endorsement from this writer as being well worth any horror fan’s time.
Warner Archive have some phenomenal Film Noir titles coming your way on Blu-ray. The Big Sleep (1946) is a classic based on the Raymond Chandler novel that features Humphrey Bogart as detective Philip Marlowe and Lauren Bacall as one of the most memorable femme fatales in cinematic history. Equally impressive is Key Largo (1948), which pairs the same two stars in a tale of an ex-soldier who visits the title locale and must contend with a gangster while a dangerous hurricane approaches.
Criterion have some great films coming to Blu-ray as well. The Graduate (1967) is an Oscar-winner and one of the most famous American films ever made (featuring one of the most popular soundtracks of its day as well). This high definition release includes a new restoration and sound mix, multiple audio commentaries, new interviews with star Dustin Hoffman as well as with film historians, the screenwriter, producer, editor and others.
There’s also a short documentary on the making of the movie, publicity material from the time of release, an archived interview with director Mike Nichols, a Paul Simon television performance from the time of the film’s release and screen tests. Sounds like one worth picking up. They’ve also got a Blu-ray coming of the Italian drama I Knew Her Well (1965), about a young woman who moves to Rome to be a star. It comes with interviews, archival audition footage and a trailer.
VCI have the enjoyably campy, low-budget flick Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things (1972). It’s an early film from director Bob Clark (Black Christmas, Porky’s, A Christmas Story) about some theater students who perform a strange ritual for laughs and accidentally raise the dead. Despite the limited production funds, there are a few effectively ominous moments. The disc is reported to come with a commentary track from writer/co-star Alan Ormsby, a second cut of the film (for the UK) and other extras.
Kino Lorber have some silent German films hitting Blu-ray. Both are efforts from famed director Fritz Lang. The titles include the thriller Spies (1928) and the lighter sci-fi effort, Woman in the Moon (1929). These movies come right between two of the directors most famous films, Metropolis (1927) and M (1931) and will definitely be worth checking out.
Here’s some more classic B-movie craziness. The Bees (1978) came hot on the heels of several animals-on-the-rampage environmental disaster flicks. This time out, a swarm of South American bees find their way north into the US in and begin attacking. It’s up to scientists John Saxon and John Carradine to stop the threat – good thing Saxon’s character knows kung-fu. This is an incredibly bad but very funny title and is an excellent “bad movie night” selection. Arrow are releasing a Blu-ray. Besides a new restoration, it comes with a director interview and trailer.
Vinegar Syndrome have the equally dopey possession flick Demonoid (1981) aka Demonoid: Messenger of Death arriving on Blu-ray. Finally, Moon Moon are releasing the comedy Cannibal Woman in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1989) on Blu-ray, which features Shannon Tweed, Bill Mahar and Adrienne Barbeau.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s what’s being made available for kids!
Chuggington: Delivery Dash at the Docks
Gumby: The 60s Series Vol. 1
Shaun the Sheep: Season 2
Shaun the Sheep: Sheep on the Loose
Transformers Rescue Bots: Adventures in Space and Time
On the Tube!
An finally, here are some new release choices in the TV category. Included below are a couple of appropriate clips. The Gumby spot, as well as the Moody Rudy commercial (a toy from the creators of Gumby) may trigger some acid flashbacks. Enjoy anyway!
Dr. Who: The Husbands of River Song
Eureka: Season 4
Eureka: Season 5 – The Final Season
Fargo: Season 2
Gumby: The 60s Series Vol. 1
The Irish R.M.: The Complete Collection
Jesus of Nazareth: The Complete Miniseries
Racing Extinction (Discovery)
Shaun the Sheep: Season 2
Warehouse 13: The Complete Series