Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on DVD and Blu-ray. There are some hugely popular releases as well as noteworthy small films featuring recognizable casts. As always, be sure to click on any links to read all about them. 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!
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Two DC superheroes come to blows for two and a half hours in this gloomy follow-up to the previous glum reboot of the Superman character. Despite the promise of glowering, fighting and little in the way of resolution, many still lined up and forked over their money for the experience. Critics reacted just as despondently, suggesting that it wore the majority of them down and came across as an ineffective work of drama and entertainment. The cast included Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Diane Lane, Lawrence Fishburne, Gal Gadot and Jesse Eisenberg. You can read our take on it in detail right here.
Demolition – This character-based drama involves a successful businessman in a lowly personal state following the death of his wife. After a vending machine eats his money, the man is inspired to attempt unique methods to have his money returned as well as deal with his problems. Reaction was split – about half felt it was ponderous and pretentious, but just as many were impressed by the excellent performances and intriguing subject matter. Looks like your reaction to it will depend on your particular taste. The movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis and Heather Lind. To see the our review of the film, just click here.
Elvis & Nixon – The bizarre, real life story of a meeting between the famed musician and US President is recreated in this light comedy. Concerned about the future of America, Elvis goes to extreme lengths to meet Richard Nixon, get himself a badge and officially be appointed as a federal officer. The press praised the work of the two leads. The majority stated that even though the movie was disposable and didn’t provide much depth, it was fun to watch the performers take on these historical figures. It features Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Perryfer, Johnny Knoxville and Colin Hanks. Read a full-length review right here.
Kill Zone 2 – Marital arts expert Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) stars in this action sequel, known as Saat Po Long 2 in China. . He plays a prison guard whose job is to keep an eye on a mob boss that is fronting an underground organ transplant business. Believe it or not, our hero’s daughter has leukemia and the mobster is a suitable donor – unfortunately, the violent warden wants the crook dead. Reviewers admitted that the story was rather silly and took too long to get going, but they all liked it overall, stating that the fight scenes and stunt work were simply awe-inspiring to watch. Louis Koo and Zhang Jim also appear.
Miles Ahead – Jazz musician Miles Davis is the subject of this biopic that stars and was directed by Don Cheadle. When a reporter locates and befriends the reclusive artist, the journalist gets numerous details about the trumpet player’s elaborate back story and is tempted to steal unreleased recordings from him. Notices were good for the drama. Some felt it focused on the music and didn’t provide enough new information about the man, but all admired Cheadle’s impression of the legend and felt that fans would enjoy. The feature co-stars Ewan McGregor, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Michael Stuhlbarg and Keith Stanfield. To read a detailed review of the movie, click here.
A Perfect Day – This English-language Spanish production tells the story of a group of foreign aid workers stationed in a violent war zone in the Balkans. They’re followed for 24 hours as they must contend with not only wounded fighters but government red tape. More members of the press liked the feature than disliked it. Some found it scattershot, but more were impressed enough by the low-key work of the two male leads to give it a minor recommendation. The cast includes Benicio Del Toro, Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko and Melanie Thierry.
The Perfect Match – A womanizing playboy gets a taste of his own medicine in this comedy. When his best friend bets him to stay with the same woman for a month, the protagonist agrees believing that he can do it and stay completely immune to love. However, the tables are soon turned and as the month progresses he begins to develop feelings he never knew he possessed. Reviews were poor, calling it a formulaic effort that feels more like a TV-movie than a feature film. It features Terrence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, Donald Faison and Joe Pantoliano.
Rio, I Love You – Following in the footsteps of Paris, I Love You and New York, I Love You, this anthology is comprised of ten shorts from various directors (including John Turturro) all set within the city of Rio. Sadly, critics disliked the final product and called this chapter the worst of the series thus far. They thought the locations were beautiful, but found the segments lacking in drama and found that the end result was more of a commercial for the city than an engaging narrative. It stars Vincent Cassel, Rodrigo Santoro, Jason Isaacs, Fernanda Montenegro, Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Ryan Kwanten, Vanessa Paradis and Emily Mortimer.
Blasts From the Past!
What a busy week! As always, Olive Films have an interesting slate of titles arriving on Blu-ray. Gang Related (1997) is a crime flick featuring the final onscreen appearance of Tupac Shakur. It’s about corrupt detectives trying to cover their tracks from both authorities and criminals. This is the first opportunity to pick it up on Blu-ray; it’s an interesting one, so be sure to read all about the disc by clicking here.
If Westerns are your thing, Gun the Man Down (1956) is being released for the first time ever on Blu-ray. James Arness plays a robber out for revenge against the partners and girlfriend who set him up. Speaking of criminals, Hoodlum (1997) is a period gangster film with a great cast… it stars Lawrence Fishburne and features Tim Roth, Andy Garcia, Vanessa Williams, Cicely Tyson and Queen Latifa in supporting roles.
‘Neath the Arizona Skies (1934) is a very early effort from John Wayne. Long before Stagecoach (1939), he plays a cowboy out to help a young woman receive her rightful inheritance after her mother passes away. The Outsider (1979) is a drama starring Craig Wasson about a Viet Nam veteran who joins the IRA, only to come to the realization that he is being manipulated by his superiors.
Finally, The Ratings Game (1984) is a TV-movie about a trucking magnate who attempts to become a famous TV producer and sets about rigging the system to do it. It marks the directorial debut of Danny DeVito, who stars with Rhea Perlman, Gerrit Graham, Vincent Schiavelli, Michael Richards and Jerry Seinfeld. Besides a re-mastered image, this release also includes short films made by DeVito, deleted scenes and a featurette. You can read all about it in detail here.
Shout! Factory have some horror titles coming your way on Blu-ray. Bad Moon (1996) is a goofy but slickly produced werewolf flick starring Michael Pare as a beast who ingratiates himself with his sister’s family. The only one who can save the clan is the family dog… yep, you read that right… the pooch is the hero. The disc includes the theatrical version as well as a director’s cut and multiple commentaries. There are also documentaries on the feature as well as an unused opening scene. Sounds like a great package for B-movie fans.
One of the best horror/comedies of the 80s is the zombie flick, The Return of the Living Dead (1985). It’s a fantastic little film. Besides some memorable creatures and scare scenes, this one has a biting sense of humor and features some subtle digs at the military and government. Besides a sharp new transfer, the “Collector’s Edition” being released contains 2 full Blu-rays that chock full of bonus material. There’s so much that it literally would take pages to list. Rest assured that if you a fan of the movie, you’ll probably want to pick it up.
Criterion also has three Blu-rays coming your way. Muriel, or The Time of Return (1963) is French director Alain Resnais’s follow up to the arthouse classic Last Year at Marienbad (1961). It’s a drama about an antiques dealer, but of course, presented as a series of memories, which means that events are strangely choppy and inconsistent. They’ve got more coming from the same director as well. Night and Fog (1955) is a short and chilling documentary from the filmmaker about the Holocaust. The distributor is delivering both titles with new transfers and plenty of extras. On a different note, Criterion are releasing the 3 hour, Chinese martial arts masterpiece A Touch of Zen (1971) on Blu-ray. It comes with a 4K digital restoration and plenty of interviews with the movie’s director and cast members.
Kino have a Blu-ray of the Sean Connery period drama, Cuba (1979). In it, he plays a British advisor on the island nation who finds himself stuck between the dictatorial President Batista and rebel forces led by Fidel Castro. The lead also finds some time to romance a local lady.
Arrow always deliver quality and loads of extras in their Blu-rays. Their latest is the eccentric and erotic thriller from Ken Russell, Crimes of Passion (1984). It stars Kathleen Turner and Anthony Hopkins. The plot involves a fashion industry worker who discovers that a designer/co-worker moonlights as a prostitute. This Blu-ray/DVD combo features two cuts of the movie, director audio commentary, deleted/extended scenes, interviews and other bonuses.
Finally, silent film fans can, courtesy of Milestone, pick up a Blu-ray the western The Daughter of Dawn (1920), which is notable for a cast that includes real Native American tribes. And if you were interested in the two inexpensive William Castle Double Feature discs from Mill Creek that were slated to be released a week or two back, they are now available.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s what is being made available for youngsters.
Caillou: Caillou Goes for the Gold
Underdogs
On the Tube!
And these are the week’s TV releases. Enjoy some trailers for various classic titles featured in the Blasts From the Past! section below.
The 100: Season 3
Bitten: Season 3 (The Final Season)
ESPN 30 For 30: O.J.: Made in America
Fronline: Benghazi in Crisis (PBS)
The Magicians: Season 1
Orphan Black: Season 4
Person of Interest: The 5th and Final Season
Person of Interest: The Complete Series
The Ratings Game (1984 TV-movie)
Royal Pains: Season 8
Secrets of the Dead: Teotihuacan’s Lost Kings (PBS)
Sisters: Season 5