Wow! It’s a very busy week with some big releases coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. Of course, click on any links you might see to read more about them. A wide variety of genres are represented – it appears as if there’s something for just about every taste. 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!
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi – Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon) has dramatized an actual event in his latest action film. The story follows the security team who endured an assassination and several attacks on a US compound in Libya in 2012. Reaction to the finished product was polarized. Those with a taste for Bay’s chaotic action films admired the fight sequences, while others found it to be a confusing, underdeveloped mess that lacked character development and anything noteworthy to say over its two and half hour running time. It stars Jon Krasinski, James Badge Dale and Pablo Schreiber.
The Abandoned – A woman with psychological problems unwisely takes on a night security guard position at an abandoned apartment complex in this independent horror picture. It isn’t long before real and imagined monsters begin to manifest in the shadowy corridors. Reviews for this scare flick were split. Some felt the story was a too generic and predictable to recommend, yet several found the mood and atmosphere strong enough to earn it a pass. The cast includes Louisa Krause, Jason Patric and Mark Margolis.
Anomalisa – Alienation is a theme of this very eccentric, Oscar nominated, stop-motion animated film from Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation). Viewers will experience a mundane business trip through the eyes and ears of a man with severe psychological issues that render all around him to sound like the same person. While a select few couldn’t get on the wavelength of this dark and grim film, the majority of critics found it eerie, fascinating and strangely compelling. David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Thomas Noonan provide voices. To read a detailed review of the movie, click here.
Every Thing Will Be Fine – The latest arthouse indie from acclaimed German director Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire, Buena Vista Social Club, The Salt of the Earth) involves a novelist who gets into an argument with his girlfriend. After driving off, he hits and kills a small child. This drama deals with the traumatic aftermath. There were more negative notices than positive ones. While the majority were impressed with the photography, many had issues with the pokey pacing and tone. Strangely enough, it was originally shot in 3D, so the 2D disc may mute the impact of the cinematography on the small screen too. It features James Franco, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marie-Josee Croze, Peter Stormare and Rachel McAdams.
Hail, Caesar! – This period comedy involves a Hollywood mogul who is challenged with fixing a variety of issues on the studio’s latest epic, not the least of which is the sudden disappearance of the film’s star. The majority of press members enjoyed it, although several felt it didn’t quite reach the heights of previews titles from filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (Raising Arizona, Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men) it still provided enough amusing moments to recommend overall. The feature stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Francis McDormand, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson and (recently cast by Disney as Han Solo) Alden Ehrenreich. Read a full review of the film here.
Kill Your Friends – Set in 1997, this black comedy from Britain satirizes the music industry. It focuses on a talent scout who uses every means at his disposal to find the next Britpop sensation, like Blur or Oasis. Reviews weren’t particularly strong, although there were a few who enjoyed the performances and nasty undercurrent of the recording business. It seems that the rest found the characters so pungent that they couldn’t get invested in their trials. The cast includes Nicolas Hoult, Craig Roberts, James Corden and Rosanna Arquette.
Mr. Right – A quirky lady who has just endured a devastating breakup rebounds with an even stranger relationship after she begins seeing a professional assassin. When his employer sets out to eliminate the hit man, the new woman in his life does what she can to protect him. Critics weren’t ecstatic about this tale. While most felt that the talented cast generated some funny moments out of nothing, the majority wrote that it was a bit of a scattershot jumble that missed its target more often than hitting the bulleye. Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell and Anson Mount headline the film.
Touched With Fire – This drama tells of a budding romance between two poets suffering from bi-polar disorder. Unfortunately, the new relationship also pushes the two to manic extremes in their work and personal lives. There were more positive notices than negative ones for this feature. While many believed that the script could have lessened the melodrama and done a bit more to deal with its subject directly, most found it to be an honest and heartfelt effort. It stars Katie Holmes, Luke Kirby, Christine Lahti and Griffin Dunne.
A War – Known as Krigen in its homeland, this effective drama from Denmark earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. It follows the hardships of a Danish commander stationed in a dangerous Afghan province, as well as the trying situation for his family back home. Reviews were exceptional, praising the movie for its focused, low-key approach to drama that builds a palpable sense of tension, delivering a powerful climax. Pilou Asbaek, Soren Malling, Tuva Novotny and Charlotte Munck lead the cast.
Zootopia – One of the biggest hits of the year thus far was this animated effort from Disney. Its set in a city of animals and follows a cop and con artist who team to stop a conspiracy. Almost every critic was over the moon about the film, calling it a smart effort with important undertones – many have guaranteed that this will get an Oscar nom for Best Animated Film next year. Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk and Shakira provide the character voices. If you’d like to read a detailed review from this site, click here.
Blasts From the Past!
“Khaaannnnnnn!!!!!!!” This title has been released on Blu-ray before, but never quite like this. Paramount are finally putting out the Director’s Cut of the sci-fi favorite Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn (1982). For those unfamiliar with the original series, this one is still the best of them all. It has everything, including solid action, a great scenery-chewing villain, some amusingly theatrical Shatner line deliveries and, surprisingly enough, a lot of heart.
The plot involves the crew facing off against an old adversary who is out for revenge. Of course, there’s a whole lot more to it as many of the characters come to grips with their mortality. This release also includes the Theatrical Cut, although the “Director’s Cut” is the superior version. It also comes with all previously released extras, including multiple commentaries and production featurettes and publicity materials. There’s even a brand new 30 minute documentary called, “The Genesis Effect: Engineering the Wrath of Kahn.”
Mill Creek are putting out a Blu-ray of the eccentric kid’s flick, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953). This marked the first big screen foray of children’s author Dr. Suess, who created and co-wrote this feature. The tale follows a young boy who hates his piano lessons and imagines himself trapped in surreal prison by his instructor. While the film encountered many production problems, reshoots (apparently the first version of the movie was deemed too dark by the studio), as well as negative critical and box office reaction, it has now become a cult film. There aren’t any extras, but it’s an inexpensive disc that reportedly features a very strong image that will please fans. If only someone out there could find and reassemble the original work-cut!
Neil Young fans will be happy to see two of the musician’s films hitting high definition via Reprise. Human Highway (1982) was co-written and directed by Young (under the pseudonym Bernard Shakey) and is one of the oddest pictures you’re likely to see – think of a low-budget musical with a tone similar to a feature from David Lynch. It is set at a diner next to a leaking power plant and it obviously voices the filmmaker’s worries about the dangers of nukes and radiation. The movie stars Young, Russ Tamblyn, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Hopper, Sally Kirkland and the band DEVO. The new Blu-ray includes a director’s cut of the movie and includes numerous sound mixes for the audiophile.
If you’re more a fan of the music, you can now pick up the Neil Young and Crazy Horse concert film, Rust Never Sleeps (1979). Shot in California, the acclaimed performance includes tracks like “After the Gold Rush,” “Needle and the Damage Done” and “Cinnamon Girl.” Like Human Highway, the picture and audio has also been newly remastered.
Arthouse aficionados can now pick up Michelangelo Antonioni’s drama Le Amiche (1955), courtesy of Critieron. It follows a young woman who returns home to Turin and attempts to open a fashion salon. Besides a new restoration, the disc includes interviews and conversations with film scholars on the importance of this title.
If John Wayne is more your speed, Warner Brothers are putting out Blu-rays of two of his later efforts. Chisum (1970) is a Western in which the star plays a rancher who teams with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett to fight a land war. McQ (1974) is a gritty cop film about an aging Lieutenant who uncovers drugs and corruption at his local precinct. Naturally, he sets out to stop it and meets with resistance. Finally, the studio are re-releasing the last year’s hit sci-fi film The Martian (2015) in an extended edition, which includes an additional 7 minutes of footage as well as numerous bonus features.
You Know, For Kids!
Here are some of this week’s releases that youngsters may be interested in.
Cartoon Network: Steven Universe: The Return Vol. 2
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Friends and Family
Sofia the First: The Secret Library (Disney)
Strawberry Shortcake: Campberry Stories
On the Tube!
And there are even a good number of television releases arriving this week. They’re all listed below, as well as some clips related to this week’s column.
A Bone To Pick: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (Hallmark TV movie)
Cartoon Network: Steven Universe: The Return Vol. 2
Duck Dynasty: Season 9
Kroll Show: Season 3
Perry Mason Double Feature: The Case of the Grimacing Governor/The Case of the Jealous Jokester
Perry Mason Double Feature: The Case of the Wicked Wives/The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle
Quantum Leap: Season 1 & 2 Combo
Rick and Morty: Season 2
Rizzoli & Isles: Season 6
Roots: The Complete Original Series
The Shannara Chronicles: Season 1
The Spoils Before Dying: The Mini-series
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Complete Series
Vinyl: Season 1
When Sparks Fly (Hallmark TV movie)