Welcome to another edition featuring highlights of what is new of DVD and Blu-ray. There should be something below to pique your interest. Remember, should you see any films that catch your eye and feature links, click on them to read more. So if you can’t make out to the movies this week, be sure and give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
American Sniper – One of the biggest box office behemoths of the past year was this biopic directed by Clint Eastwood. It tells the story of Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle and his difficulty adjusting to life away from the frontlines. The drama earned some Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), and received solid (though not exemplary) reviews. It seems everyone felt differently about the intent. Some found it to be an impressive, even-handed take on the material featuring a great performance, while others believed that its political view was too simple were too pronounced. It stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller.
Cymbeline – This modern day retelling of the Shakespeare play of the same name uses the same text, but places it in the modern world with plenty of technological bells and whistles. The plot involves a bitter war between cops and a drug kingpin. Overall, critics were not taken by the approach. They suggested that the present day setting and its cell phones felt anachronistic and forced into the slow-moving narrative. The impressive cast includes Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, Dakota Johnson and Anton Yelchin.
Despite the Gods – American director Jennifer Lynch (Boxing Helena, Surveillance) sets out to make a Bollywood-Hollywood film in India, but encounters enormous problems over the course of an eight-month shoot. The documentary captures the ordeal as the project begins to unravel. It received generally good reviews from the press, although many noted that the production troubles seemed to stem from the artist herself more than random acts of fate. Still, it sounds like an interesting project. To read a full-length review of the film, click here.
Girlhood – A girl with no prospects in life quits school and joins a gang in this French drama. While things don’t necessary improve within her new world, the young woman attempts to find some sense of identity and self moving forward. The film did very well on the festival circuit, earning some Ceasar and Lumiere nominations back in its homeland. Many felt it effectively portrayed the trials of being a teenager with naturalistic performances from its mostly green cast. Karidja Toure plays the main character.
Hellmouth – In this low-budget Canadian indie picture paying tribute to genre titles of the 50s, a cemetery custodian finds the door to Hell and attempts to save the soul of a young woman. There aren’t many reviews available, but it reportedly features some trippy effects as the mentally-troubled near-retiree bounces into different and bizarre environments. Stephen McHattie is the lead, with Siobhan Murphy, Boyd Banks and Pontypool director Bruce McDonald all making appearances.
Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – A surprise hit comedy receives the sequel treatment once again, although this time without the original’s main character. This time out, the remainder of the gang attempt to stop the murder of one of their own. However, they accidentally travel into the future. The press blasted this installment, calling it a lazily hashed together effort in poor taste. They also stated that it that lacked the likable spirit of the first movie. Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke and Chevy Chase return, receiving help from new co-stars Adam Scott, Gillian Jacobs and Kumail Nanjiani. To read more about this title, click here.
Leviathan – This Russian effort was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at last year’s Academy Awards. The drama is set in a fishing village and concerns a local who fights the work of a corrupt mayor out to take his land away for profit. It received almost unanimous raves from reviewers. While many warned that the subject matter was very heavy and that the movie itself lengthy, they called it a brilliant and emotionally gripping effort that effectively displays many of the horrors of bureaucracy. Sounds like a winner for foreign film enthusiasts.
Maya the Bee Movie – Maya The Bee may be unknown in this part of the world, but the children’s character is a very recognizable in other countries. This German/Australian animated feature involves the title insect, a mischievous bee who won’t follow the rules. She gets herself into trouble when she attempts to visit her hive’s enemies, the hornets. In the process, she clarifies a deep misunderstanding between the two parties. US critics weren’t charmed, calling it far too nice and gentle. However, reviews elsewhere have described it as a solid effort that teaches co-operation to the preschooler crowd. The English-language cast features Noah Taylor, Richard Roxburgh, Jacki Weaver and Miriam Margolyes.
Blasts From the Past!
It’s a busy week for older films on Blu-ray and DVD, with plenty of great ones to choose from.
Olive Films have four releases this week. If you like science-fiction and horror, you’ll be pleased to learn that It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) is coming your way. It’s a classic B-monster movie about a space crew who discover a murderous alien on board. The nasty stowaway attempts to kill them off one by one. There has always been talk about this movie inspiring the Ridley Scott film Alien (1979), and there are notable similarities in the plot structure. Sci-fi enthusiasts should definitely get a kick out of it.
When will people learn to just stay away not only from space stations, but also the water? Speaking of monster movies, a more recent genre title is Peter Benchley’s Creature (1998) aka Creature. Based on the bestseller by the author (who also wrote Jaws), it was a miniseries about a mutant shark terrorizing the residents of a local seaside town. Presented on the disc is the complete three-hour version that stars Craig T. Nelson and Kim Cattrall – creepy, cheesy, or a bit of both, this looks like it could be an awful lot of fun.
Extremities (1986) is a searing drama based on a stage play that features Farrah Fawcett as a woman seeking revenge on a man who assaults her. Finally, on a lighter note, Flawless (1999) tells the tale of a conservative police officer (Robert De Niro) who suffers a stroke and is nursed back to health by a transvestite neighbor (Philip Seymour Hoffman). All of the films are being made available on Blu-ray and DVD.
Not to be outdone, Shout! Factory have a pair of 90s titles as well. Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) is a goofy, old-fashioned action flick about a biker and cowboy out to stop a black trenchcoat-clad gang of drug-dealers from shutting down their favorite bar. If memory serves it’s pretty silly stuff, but does feature some offbeat casting in the form of Don Johnson and Mickey Rourke as the two heroes.
Stigmata (1999) is a horror effort starring Patricia Arquette as an atheist who begins to bleed out from her wrists for no reason. Worried about her stigmata wounds, she approaches a priest and they attempt to discover what is happening and why. This one isn’t a personal favorite, but the Blu-ray features loads of extras, including a director commentary, deleted scenes, alternate ending and making-of documentaries. That’s a whole lot here that should excite the movie’s fans – overall, it appears to be a great package.
Criterion are distributing Limelight (1952). This is Charles Chaplin’s last American movie, and features the actor as a fading comedian who tries to find meaning in his life with the help of a ballet dancer. It’s also notable for featuring Buster Keaton as the main character’s rival. The Blu-ray features a new restoration of the movie, outtakes, interviews and documentaries on the movie, as well as a couple of bonus Chaplin shorts.
The Rose (1979) is an epic, fictional biopic about a musician struggling with fame and drug addiction – Janis Joplin seems to be the obvious inspiration. Bette Midler stars and won accolades for her work – the film itself ended up receiving several Oscar nominations. The Blu-ray includes a director’s commentary as well as new interviews with cast and crew members.
Courtesy of Anchor Bay, there’s a new Blu-ray of The Osterman Weekend (1983) arriving. This strange but very engaging little thriller (based on the Robert Ludlum bestseller) marked the final feature of director Sam Peckinpah (The Getaway, The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs). In it, a man holding a party at his cabin in the woods is informed by government officials that some of his friends are KGB agents – it isn’t long before the paranoid guests start turning on one another. The impressive cast includes Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Craig T. Nelson, Dennis Hopper, Meg Foster, Helen Shaver and Burt Lancaster.
With the release of the Poltergeist remake on movie screens, MGM have wisely used the opportunity to distribute a Double Feature Blu-ray of Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergeist III (1988). Neither are particularly good follow-ups, but I will give props to the villain of the first sequel, who is one of the creepiest preachers ever committed to celluloid. It may be worth picking up just for his ten minutes or so of screen time – the remainder, including a trip to “the other side” and a character being attacked by his own braces, are less than thrilling. The skyscraper-set follow-up is even sillier. Still, this release will provide horror fans like me with plenty of campy entertainment value for their dollar. If you’re only interested in one of the titles, don’t worry, they’re each available separately as well.
Additionally, Kino Lorber are putting out a Blu-ray of the Mario Bava horror flick The Evil Eye (1963) aka The Girl Who Knew Too Much, about a tourist who witnesses a murder and becomes the target of the killer. Full Moon have Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth (1991) a low-budget action/sci-fi movie that boasts Helen Hunt and Jeffrey Combs in its cast.
Finally, VCI Entertainment have a Blu-ray of the Laurel & Hardy comedy The Flying Deuces (1939) which features the pair joining the Foreign Legion and piloting planes in order to impress a romantic interest.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s what’s coming for kids.
Babar: Ultimate Collection
The Berenstain Bears: Summertime Fun Pack
Maya the Bee Movie
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie’s Pet Salon
Wordworld: Outdoor Fun (PBS Kids)
On the Tube!
There’s even more arriving in the way of TV shows this week. I’ve decided to present some clips from two polar opposites on the spectrum. As listed above, there’s a disc featuring animated episodes of Babar from the early 80s. For those unfamiliar with the French books, he’s a elephant forced to move to the city so that he can evade death by hunters. After making his mark (and developing a taste for Parisian fashion), he returns to his homeland, becomes King and brings modern amenities to his animal friends. Below is the opening credits, depicting the title character relaxing by the fire with his family, a chimp, as well as a human friend (because that’s how Babar rolls).
It should also be noted that Mill Creek are releasing a very inexpensive 9-disc set containing every last episode of The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998). This landmark comedy series depicted all the craziness behind-the-scenes at a late night talk show. The clip below (which features some explicit language) features the great Robin Williams, who finds himself in the middle of a dispute between the host and his sidekick during a commercial break. It’s a hilarious show that is well worth checking out.
American Dad: Volume 10
Amish Mafia: Season 3
Babar: Ultimate Collection
Beauty & the Beast: Season 2
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Series
Call the Midwife: Season 4
CPO Sharkey: Season 1
Doctor Who: The Cyberman
Duck Dynasty: Season 7
Glee: The Complete Series
Glee: Season 6
The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series
Married With Children: Seasons 9 & 10
Midsomer Murders: Series 14
Midsomer Murders: Series 15
NewsRadio: The Complete Series
Orange Is the New Black: Season 2
Peter Benchley’s Creature (TV miniseries)
Rogue: The Complete 2nd Season
Welcome to Sweden: Season 1