Welcome back for another edition of DVD and Blu-ray highlights coming your way. Some of the summer releases are starting to arrive, so there are plenty of big flicks hitting shelves. As always, readers can click on any links they see to read detailed reviews. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Free State of Jones – This Civil War biopic revolves around Newton Knight, a liberal Southern Unionist in Mississippi who rallied slaves, deserters and like-minded farmers to fight against the Confederacy. The movie itself had some trouble gaining supporters – reaction was split with a few more weighing unfavorably on the results. While the performers earned compliments, there was a feeling that the script was muddled and attempted to cover too much in too short a time. It stars Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali and Keri Russell.
Interrogation – WWE Films are responsible for this low-budget action flick peppered with pro-wrestlers. A criminal mastermind plays mind games with an FBI agent and computer hacker who must identify the villain and stop him from harming thousands of innocent citizens. It’s a staight-to-DVD title, so you won’t find any reviews of it anywhere as of yet. The cast includes C.J. Perry, Adam Copeland, Julia Benson, Erica Carroll and Patrick Sabongui.
Ma Ma – Penelope Cruz stars in this Spanish-language drama. She plays a woman whose husband leaves her for a younger woman. Even worse, she loses her job and develops a serious illness. Despite the tragedies, the lead attempts to find some joy in life. Notices weren’t particularly good, calling the screenplay a blunt and obvious tearjerker that’s as preposterous and melodramatic as it comes. They also stated that it wastes the work of its talented star. Luis Tosar and Asier Etxeandia take on supporting roles.
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising – This comedy sequel follows the family from the first movie. After managing to survive a male fraternity as next door neighbors, they now find a wild sorority moving in. While there was more positive reaction to the film than negative, critics were a bit muted on the final result. The majority liked the feminist streak and thought it had a few moments, but also admitted it was scattershot and didn’t hit the gross-out heights of the original. Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz and Ike Barinholtz star. To read a full review, click here.
Sacrifice – A couple who have just moved to the remote Shetland Islands make an unpleasant discovery… the body of a brutally murdered young woman with strange signs carved into her. As they attempt to learn more about the victim, their own lives are threatened. The press weren’t overwhelmed by this independent thriller; they complained that the final product was bland and the movie relied on too many genre clichés. Sounds like it might be better to rent The Wicker Man instead. The cast includes Radha Mitchell, Rupert Graves and David Robb.
Star Trek Beyond – NOTE: This title has been delayed until Nov. 1, 2016. The latest entry in this popular sci-fi series takes the crew of the Enterprise on a rescue mission. Unfortunately, soon after arriving the heroes find themselves under attack, stranded on a remote planet and separated from one another. Critics were fairly positive about this entry. They stated that while the movie wasn’t particularly thoughtful, it was an improvement over the previous chapter thanks to the well-staged action and strong chemistry between cast members. It features Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Idris Elba. To read a detailed review of the flick, just click here.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – The reptilian kung-fu protagonists return in this sequel to 2014 live-action reboot of the franchise. In this follow-up, villain Shredder escapes custody and teams with another nasty otherworldly character to take over the world. Only the turtles can save the day. However, the press weren’t having any of it. Very few liked this one. There were numerous complaints that it replicated many of the same mistakes made by the previous film and was loud, dopey and juvenile. It stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Laura Linney, Stephen Amell and Tyler Perry. To read more about the movie, click here.
The Witness – This documentary earned great praise upon its limited release earlier in the year. It tells the story of a crime in 1964, in which a young woman in Queens was brutally murdered on the streets. Despite the fact that 38 witnesses saw the event occur, no one came to her help or attempted to stop the attack. This exposé of apathy has been called thought-provoking and upsetting, but is also said to be gripping and even inspiring by its close. It looks like a must-see for viewers with an interest in non-fiction filmmaking.
Blasts From the Past!
Olive Films have a new imprint specializing in classics titles. It’s called Olive Signature, and the first two releases are debuting this week. Buyers can expect a Blu-ray package similar to something they might get on a Criterion disc. The first is the all-time great Western, High Noon (1952). It stars Gary Cooper as a Marshal on his last day after spending years cleaning up his local town from criminals. When a group of murderers announce word that they’re coming back to kill the protagonist, he attempts to round up some assistance. Despite his stellar service, none of the locals are willing to help. It’s one of the all-time greats, winning four Academy Awards. The disc includes a new 4K restoration, and featurettes on the production, the editing, the movie’s historical significance as well as the work of producer Stanley Kramer. To read a review of this impressive release, click here.
In the very same genre, they’ve also got Johnny Guitar (1954) which stars Joan Crawford as a saloon owner who becomes the target of a lynch mob after being set up for a crime she didn’t commit. She hires the title character to help train her to defend herself for an impending showdown. Besides a new 4K restoration, the amazing extras include an introduction from Martin Scorcese, a film historian commentary track, as well as some features in which critics comment on its impact on the genre and the use of role-reversal with a female gunslinger. Sounds like a great package.
Disney have a big Blu-ray re-release arriving as well. It’s a 25th Anniversary edition of the beloved animated musical, Beauty and the Beast (1991). In addition to owning the feature in high-definition, you’ll get a commentary track with the directors, producer and music composer, as well as featurettes on its production (with an emphasis on the creation of the popular tunes written for the film).
Speaking of anniversaries, it’s been 30 years since the late, great David Bowie donned spandex to join Jennifer Connelly in the Jim Henson fantasy picture, Labyrinth (1986). The rest is history and the film remains popular with those who were kids when it originally came to cinemas. Sony’s 30th Anniversary Blu-ray comes with a 4K picture restoration as well as some new bonuses that include a short on the Jim Henson’s legacy, an anniversary Q&A with fan Adam Savage and a Bowie retrospective. It also comes with features included on previous releases.
But that’s not all. Criterion also have a couple of great Blu-rays on the way. Blood Simple (1984) is the first movie from the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, excetera). It’s phenomenal little thriller with plenty of twists and turns that ended up jump starting a modern day film noir movement. The disc includes a sharp new transfer approved by the cinematographer and directors, trailers and several new conversations recorded with the directors about the movie and what they were attempting to achieve with the film’s look, production design and sound.
They’ve also got the Val Lewton/Jacques Tourneur horror classic Cat People (1942) in high definition. This beautifully shot chiller exudes atmosphere as it tells the tale of a woman who falls for a man, but believes that any intimacy with him will turn her into a… well… actual feline. This release comes with a running commentary from a film historian, a feature length documentary on Lewton, an archived interview with Tourneur, a talk with director of photography John Bailey (The Big Chill, In the Line of Fire, The Way Way Back) about the impressive look of the movie and some trailers.
Not to be outdone, Kino are releasing some eccentric titles on Blu-ray. Beware! The Blob (1972) is a low-budget sequel to the 1958 Steve McQueen scare flick The Blob that emphasizes comedy over scares. It pits Larry Hagman, Carol Lynley, Gerrit Graham and Dick Van Patten against the gelatinous killer. It’s not particularly great, but I do recall an amusing moment of two towards the close.
They’ve also got a couple of war films in high definition. Robert Mitchum stars in the WWII, Destroyer vs. U-boat flick The Enemy Below (1957), while Fixed Bayonets! (1951) finds a platoon coming under fire during the Korean War. Back on the horror front, The Rift aka Endless Descent (1990) is a low-budget underwater fright flick that arrived not long after the release of The Abyss, Deepstar Six and Leviathan. This one is the weakest of the lot – it’s a silly B-movie that involves a submarine crew who come under attack from aquatic monsters – Jack Scalia, R. Lee Ermy and Ray Wise play a few of the crew members.
Arrow are providing some B-movie thrills as well. Dead End Drive-In (1986) is an Australian post-apocalyptic action flick about a young couple who are put into a futuristic drive-in prison for undesirables, where they are fed diner food and watch exploitation movies on the big screen. The two plot a daring escape. This Special Edition package includes a restored picture, commentary with the director as well as an earlier short made by the filmmaker, a documentary about the stunt performers, and publicity materials. Looks like goofy fun.
Bayview Entertainment are releasing a DVD Double Feature that contains The Giant Gila Monster (1959) and The Killer Shrews (1959). They’re boasting enhanced widescreen transfer of the movies of 1.66:1 taken from the original 35mm film elements. These titles have made the rounds on home video before, but they’ve looked so awful that it will be great to see them given a nice upgrade in terms of visual quality. Can’t wait to check them out!
And there’s more! Shout! Factory have Fanny! (1961), a French-set romance story between a young woman and an aspiring sailor. Once childhood friends, the pair finally express their feelings for one another, but must choose between love and their careers. The movie was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture. The disc doesn’t include any extras, but fans will be happy just to finally be able to own in on Blu-ray.
Finally, Eastern Star are delivering Golgo 13: The Professional (1983). This is an animated feature from Japan about an oil baron hunting down the assassin who killed his son, who was set to inherit the lead’s estate. It’s a well-regarded effort that is being made available on Blu-ray for the first time ever.
You Know, For Kids!
Here’s what you can expect to find in the kid’s section of your local retailer.
Kate & Mim-Mim: The Mimiloo Zoo
The Lion Guard: Unleash the Power!
Little Charmers – Spooky Pumpkin Moon Night
On the Tube!
And you’ll find all of the TV-themed releases listed below. You’ll also find some fun clips. Enjoy!
Blue Bloods: Season 6
The Bob Hope Specials: Thanks for the Memories (Time/Life)
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders: Season 1
Doctor Who: Series 8, Part 1
ESPN Films 30 for 30: Doc & Daryl
Family Matters: Season 8 (Warner Archive)
The Good Wife: The Final Season
Gunsmoke: Season 12, Vol. 1
Gunsmoke: Season 12, Vol. 2
Midsomer Murders: Series 18
Modern Family: Season 7
The Originals: Season 3 (Warner Archive)
Rookie Blue: The Complete Series
Twin Peaks: The Original Series, Fire Walk With Me & The Missing Pieces Blu-ray