With Fall arriving, the first of the summer’s big movies is hitting Blu-ray and DVD. As for those uninterested in giant robots smashing one another to bits, there are still plenty of other options. Here are the numerous highlights. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure and give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Are You Here – Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner directs his first feature in this comedy about two siblings embroiled in a legal battle over their father’s estate. It received a limited release only a couple of months back and was roundly blasted by critics. They called it a huge misfire that lacks a focus and more importantly just isn’t funny. Still, the cast alone may make it worth a look. It stars Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, Melissa Rauch and Peter Bogdanovich.
Chef – This low-budget comedy from Hollywood actor/director Jon Favreau marks a return to his independent film roots. He stars as a chef who quits his job, buys a food truck and takes his cooking skills on the road. It was a surprise success, slowly building solid box office returns over the busy summer. The press were very positive about the title too. They called it a kind-hearted, fun, feel-good comedy. The cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Sophia Vergara, John Leguizamo, Amy Sidaris, Oliver Platt and Russell Peters.
Cold in July – A Texan shoots a home intruder and is hailed as a hero by the local media, until the victim’s father arrives in town looking for revenge. This twisty indie suspense flick got a limited release early in the year and didn’t get a lot of attention, but it made a great impression on reviewers. They praised the work as a tense and disturbing neo-noir thriller featuring great cinematography and plenty of surprises. Might be one to catch up on. Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard and Don Johnson headline the cast.
Grow Up, Tony Phillips – Those who remember the documentary Zombie Girl (about a 12-year girl named Emily Haggins setting out to make a horror movie), may want to catch up with the latest effort from the now 21 year old writer-director. The Kickstarter funded movie is a coming-of-age story about a high school outcast still obsessed with his childhood Halloween traditions. It played at film festivals like SXSW and received positive notices with many praising the acting.
Leprechaun: Origins – We know you’ve been waiting for this one (or perhaps not). Yes, the horror series Leprechaun has been rebooted with this original story that reportedly boasts a much darker tone. Two couples hitchhiking across Ireland take shelter in a small countryside cabin, only to come into contact with the evil gold-hoarding monster. Unfortunately, it’s been slammed by the horror press as being dull, shoddily put together and sorely lacking the high energy presence of original Leprechaun star Warwick Davis.
Lucky Them – This independent comedy/drama follows a music journalist who attempts to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend, a once famous musician. It stars Toni Collette, Thomas Hayden Church and features Oliver Platt and Johnny Depp in supporting roles. Reviews were mildly positive about the effort, with most calling it a slight and forgettable but well-acted comedy. They uniformly stated that the great comedic performance from Church ends up saving the movie.
Sniper Legacy – Another sequel that no one necessarily asked for is this fourth sequel in the Sniper series that originated way back in 1993. Tom Berenger returns as the title character (but Billy Zane remains absent). Once again, he’s out to hunt down an assassin and presumably… snipe him. This is a straight-to-video effort that hasn’t been screened for anyone, so don’t expect anything much from it.
Space Station 76 – Here’s a novel concept for a low-budget indie feature – a comedic melodrama set in a space station inspired by futuristic 70’s sci-fi films. There were more positive write-ups than negative upon its limited release. Some reviewers found the approach inaccessible and weren’t sure exactly what was being parodied, but more seemed to find it funny and enjoyed the original and novel approach to a sci-fi comedy. It stars Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer.
Third Person – Oscar-winner Paul Haggis (Crash) directs this romantic drama which weaves together the trials and conflicts of three different couples in New York, Paris and Rome. Unfortunately, critics were less than impressed with the film. While they called it an ambitious effort, many cited it for being too slowly-paced and self-involved. The star-studded line-up includes Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Olivia Wilde, Adrian Brody, James Franco, Maria Bello and Kim Basinger.
Transformers: Age of Extinction – The second highest grossing hit of the summer (domestically, at least) arrives on home video. Picking up several years after the previous installment, all transformers have disappeared from the Earth. End of story, right? Nope, they come back after a new robotic threat emerges. So basically, nothing has changed. The movie was widely panned – reviewers called it a story-challenged flick filled with endless action scenes that end up numbing the senses. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer and Nicola Peltz. Read the site’s full-length original review here.
Blasts From the Past!
Coinciding with the recent Leprechaun film is the Lionsgate Blu-ray release of Leprechaun: The Complete Movie Collection. Not only does it include the latest reboot, but also the original six films (yep, there were six of ’em!). Leprechaun 4: In Space… welcome to high definition! All of the films contain audio commentaries from the filmmakers as well as behind-the-scenes featurettes that contain never before seen footage and press photos. Truthfully, the price point is very good and it all works out to about five bucks per movie. If you enjoy the flicks and always wanted to own every last one of them on Blu-ray, this is definitely the way to do it!
It also appears to be something of an anniversary week with a few titles celebrating new editions on Blu-ray.
Warner Bros. is unveiling the Interview With the Vampire: 20th Anniversary Blu-ray. This very successful vampire film from Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) starred Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. While this has been released before, the latest edition includes all of the bonus features carried over from previous versions along with one new addition – a conversation with Anne Rice in which she’s asked about her influence on vampire culture. Whether this is worth the price is up to the individual.
While many film fans are more familiar with director Sergio Leone’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West, they might be well advised to seek his final film on Blu-ray. Once Upon a Time in America: The Extended Director’s Cut is 30 years old now and is finally making its way to high definition. While it’s leisurely paced at nearly 4 hours, this is an extremely well regarded period gangster effort. It features incredible visuals and a great cast that includes Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Danny Aiello, Joe Pesci and Jennifer Connelly. The movie is also ranked by IMDB uses as one of the top 250 films of all time.
Perhaps regarded with slightly less esteem is the 1979 Italian action/thriller Killer Fish, starring Lee Majors, Karen Black, Margaux Hemingway, James Franciscus (in addition to a lot of piranhas). Based on the still, the fish problem doesn’t appear to be too troubling to Majors. It was directed by Antonio Margheriti (Flesh For Frankenstein, Yor: The Hunter From the Future) so expect plenty of B-movie yuks. Scorpion is distributing the title on Blu-ray with a new widescreen HD master – it’s the first time that a properly framed version of the film has ever been released.
The Audrey Hepburn Collection Blu-ray set from Paramount contains a few of her previously released titles like 1954’s Sabrina, 1956’s Funny Face and 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s all together in one set.
Criterion has a couple of interesting arthouse classics on the way as well. Sundays & Cybele is a French tragedy-filled drama from 1962 about a young girl befriended by an emotionally disabled war veteran – the incorrect assumptions made by others about their relationship lead to violence. The Blu-ray boasts a 2K restoration, new interviews and short subject or two from the same filmmaker.
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul is a West German production from 1974 that was critically lauded upon its release 40 years ago. The Munich-set romantic drama (inspired somewhat by the films of director Douglas Sirk) involves a young Moroccan immigrant and older woman who fall for each other – they end up facing both prejudice from others and unexpected trials in their own relationship. The Blu-ray features a new digital 4K restoration, interviews and the short film that inspired the feature.
Finally, Mill Creek are re-releasing a number of old titles with no extras at low, low prices on Blu-ray. The include the 1983 action pic Blue Thunder, the teen-centric 1997 thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer, as well as the theatrical cut of the John C. Reilly 2007 comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. But they do have one flick that is making its debut on Blu-ray. It’s the weird and wild 1983 fantasy flick, Krull. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a cross between Excalibur and Star Wars. Amusingly, it features early appearances from the likes of Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s what’s available for the little tykes.
Beware the Batman: Dark Justice
Franklin & Friends: It’s Halloween, Franklin!
Monster High: Freaky Fusion
My Little Pony: The Complete Series
Team Hot Wheels: The Origin of Awesome!
On the Tube!
It’s finally slowing down in regards to television related releases. The highest profile title marks the return of Jack Bauer and 24. There’s also a lot of Sherlock Holmes arriving in the form of the British TV series Blu-ray box set. In addition to being part of the set, the differently named individual seasons and run of television movies are also being made available on their own. This show ran off and on from 1984 into the early 1990’s and many Holmes enthusiasts consider it the definite version of the character.
For your amusement here’s an ad from 1990 in which a different Holmes solves the “Mystery of the Furnace.” Enjoy!
24: Live Another Day
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series
– The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
– The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
– The Return of Sherlock Holmes
– The Sherlock Holmes Feature Film Collection
American War Generals (National Geographic)
Animal Fight Night: Season 1 & 2 (National Geographic)
The Big Burn (PBS)
Enemy of the Reich (PBS)
Fidel Castro Tapes (PBS)
The Mentalist: Season 6
Nova: Vaccines – Calling the Shots (PBS)
NYPD Blue: Season 7