![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/DVD-after-class-1024x590.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter Class<\/em> \u2013 A New York college professor gets into\ntrouble at work due to his unusual teaching methods and decides to head home after\nlearning about the imminent death of a family member suffering from an illness.\nHis stay gets more complicated when he discovers that his sister, unable to\ncope to the stress of losing a parent, has unexpectedly gotten back together\nwith her ex-husband. Overall, critics were very positive about this little\nindependent comedy. One write-up suggested that while generally appealing, the\nmovie wasn\u2019t essential viewing. However, all others found the feature to be a\ncharming, accurate and well-acted story of a clan dealing with change and\ntransition. It features Justin Long, Fran Dresher and Richard Schiff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arctic Dogs<\/em> \u2013 In this animated family film, an Arctic\nFox works in a post office mailroom, but yearns for a life of adventure as a\ncourier. In order to prove his worthiness to the Husky sled dogs, he decides to\ntake on a special delivery across the wintery wilderness all by himself. On the\nway, he uncovers a plot by an evil mastermind to melt the Arctic ice and take\nover the world. Reviews were very poor for this effort. A few stated that the\nvillain was so entertaining that his character alone made up for the film\u2019s\nshortcomings. Still, almost everyone else complained that the animation wasn\u2019t\nstrong and that the end results were uneven and uninspiring. The voice cast\nincludes Jeremy Renner, Heidi Klum, James Franco, Omar Sy, Alec Baldwin,\nAngelica Huston and John Cleese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Burning Kentucky<\/em> \u2013 This independent feature is described as a southern-noir set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. When a bootlegger\u2019s house goes up in flames, the only survivor is his daughter. The son of the town\u2019s sheriff soon begins dating the young woman and the pair come under scrutiny from locals. Pressure intensifies as the two begin to learn more about what really caused the blaze that killed the young lady\u2019s family. This little movie played at a few film festivals over the past year and received an upbeat reaction from those who saw it, earning some awards. It hasn\u2019t received many write-ups, but more will be able to see it now that it is debuting on disc. John Pyper-Ferguson, Nick McCallum, Nathan Sutton, Augie Duke and Emilie Dhir headline the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctor Sleep<\/em> \u2013 On of the major releases this week is\na sequel to the iconic horror film, The Shining<\/em>. Also based on a Stephen\nKing novel, the movie picks up many years after the events of the original,\nwith a grown-up Danny Torrance living on the fringes of society. When he learns\nthat a group of killers with similar powers are targeting a young girl with who\nmay be more powerful than all of them, he agrees to help her fight back.\nRemarkably, the press was reasonably happy with what they saw. About a quarter\nof them commented that while it had its moments, the movie couldn\u2019t match its\npredecessor and felt unnecessary as well as a little drawn out. But more\nthought that the cast were exceptional and so much fun to watch that they\noutweighed parts of the story that didn\u2019t work. It stars Ewan McGregor, Rebecca\nFerguson, Kyliegh Curran and Cliff Curtis. To read this site\u2019s review of the\nfilm, click here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dragonheart: Vengeance<\/em> \u2013 Way back in 1996, Universal\nscored a minor hit with the fantasy flick Dragonheart<\/em>, starring Dennis\nQuaid and a dragon voiced by Sean Connery. Since that time, there have been a\nnumber of sequels (featuring neither of the original stars), set in the same\nworld and made for the direct-to-DVD market. The latest chapter tells the story\nof a young farmer who loses his family to raiders. Seeking revenge, he takes to\nthe road, befriending a dragon and a mercenary who accompany him on his\njourney. No one has seen this effort, but it would be wise to assume that it\nprobably is only for the biggest of Dragonheart<\/em> fans (if there still are\nany out there). The cast includes Joseph Millson, Jack Kane and the voice of\nHelena Bonham Carter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everybody\u2019s Everything<\/em> \u2013 This documentary chronicles\nthe life of musical artist Lil Peep, who died tragically of a drug overdose at\nage 21. He was noted for his remarkable blending of various music genres,\nincluding punk, emo and trap. Executive produced by Terrence Malick (Badlands<\/em>,\nThe Tree of Life<\/em>, A Hidden Life<\/em>), the film promises an intimate\nand humanistic portrait of a young man who seemed determined to create a sound\nthat would satisfy and entertain all tastes. The picture impressed reviewers,\nreceiving nothing but praise. They stated that the man\u2019s story was artistically\npresented, using techniques that would remind viewers of its producer. They\nalso mentioned that it presented a full and detailed picture of the figure, his\nups and downs in life, and the trials of being a young celebrity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Good Liar<\/em> \u2013 An aging con man who lives off of the\nfortunes of those he targets finds a new mark in a recently widowed woman worth\nseveral million dollars. He charms her and the two begin a relationship, much\nto the chagrin of the lady\u2019s son. However, as the two seniors get even closer\nand become more entwined, the scheme becomes even more dangerous and\ncomplicated than anticipated. Notices were decent for this thriller. Those who\ndidn\u2019t care for it noted that while they enjoyed watching the leads, in the end\nthey didn\u2019t buy into what their characters were doing or the motivations for\ntheir actions. Still, the majority thought that while it was more cerebral than\nexciting, audiences would be engaged and intrigued throughout. It stars Helen\nMirren, Ian McKellen, Russell Tovey and Jim Carter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grand Isle<\/em> \u2013 A hurricane provides the backing for deceit\nand murder in this thriller. After a couple take in a visitor during the storm\nand a tragedy follows, the survivors are visited by a suspicious detective\ndetermined to sort out what really transpired on the property. As more and more\nquestions are raised and layers are peeled back, a clearer and more disturbing\npicture begins to appear. Sadly, this picture was not well received by critics.\nIn fact, there aren\u2019t any positive notices out there as of yet. They criticized\nthe movie for not fully embracing its B-movie potential and, for the moist\npart, playing out in a disappointingly pedestrian manner. It features Nicolas\nCage, KaDee Strickland, Luke Benward and Kelsey Grammar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The House That Jack Built<\/em> \u2013 Danish writer\/director\nLars von Trier has been prodding audiences for decades with projects like Breaking\nthe Waves<\/em>, Dancer in the Dark<\/em>, Antichrist<\/em> and numerous\nothers. His latest caused such a stir during its premiere in 2018 that, besides\nplaying in North American cinemas for one night in November 2018, it has taken more\nthan a year to find its way to disc uncut. Set in the US, it\u2019s about a clever\nsociopath\/serial killer who brutally murders victims of all ages and fashions\nthem into art pieces. Apparently, audiences will need a strong stomach to\nendure it and press reaction has been polarizing. Nearly half called the film\ntediously long, difficult to sit through and narcissistic. Slightly more asserted\nthat it was hard to watch and believed that was the point of the film, also noting\nthere were deeper themes and ideas bubbling under the surface. The cast\nincludes Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz and Uma Thurman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hunt for Vlad the Impaler<\/em> \u2013 Also known as Deliler<\/em>,this foreign-language fantasy\/action picture from Turkey involves seven\nDeliler warriors of the Ottoman empire who are given an impossible task\u2026 to\nlocate, fight and kill Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler. Given that the name of\ntheir unit roughly translates to the word \u201clunatics\u201d, they might stand a chance\nand accomplishing their task. While the film was a big production in its\nhomeland, it hasn\u2019t been seen in this part of the world. That means that there\naren\u2019t any reviews available for it from these parts. However, according to\nIMDB it did win plenty of awards in Turkey and even earned a Golden Palm for\nBest Actor at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Cem U\u00e7an, Erkan Petekkaya and Nur\nFettahoglu headline the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Christmas<\/em> \u2013 This romantic comedy follows a young\nimmigrant to the UK. She\u2019s an aspiring singer struggling to succeed and disappointed\nto be working as an elf in a year-round Christmas store. When the holiday\nseason arrives, the bitter employee finds her job even more annoying. All that\nchanges when she unexpectedly meets the man of her dreams, who tries to help\nher find joy in life. The movie is said to be inspired by the George Michael\ntune of the same name and its melody has split critics. About half thought the\nstory was formulaic, but thought the leads were charming enough to earn the\nfilm a recommendation. Just as many complained that it was nothing more than a\nbig budget version of a Hallmark TV-movie. It stars Emilia Clarke, Henry\nGolding, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Mandela Effect<\/em> \u2013 For those curious about the title, this term refers to a collective memory possessed by a large group of people involving events that did not happen or have been incorrectly remembered. In this independent sci-fi picture, a man attempts to get at the bottom of the phenomena. As his research continues, he uncovers more and more examples that eventually lead him to question reality itself. This feature played at a film festival or two and received a limited release, but there aren\u2019t any write-ups available. Curious viewers will have to take a chance and find out for themselves whether the movie can bend their brains. The cast includes Charlie Hofheimer, Aleksa Palladino, Robin Lord Taylor and Clarke Peters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nightingale<\/em> \u2013 The latest from Aussie writer\/director Jennifer Kent (The Babadook<\/em>) is set in 1825, when parts of Australia were used as penal colonies for Great Britain. It follows a young Irish woman in Tasmania who finishes her seven-year sentence, only to learn that her master has no intentions of freeing her from servitude. After the protagonist\u2019s husband arrives to get her, a brutal crime takes place. Seeking revenge, she enlists the tracking services of an Aboriginal. Notices were strong for this picture as well. A small percentage had some issues with the pacing and thought it was too blunt and obvious in delivering its message. Yet far more thought that even if some elements didn\u2019t work and that it was grim, the results were compelling and would cause much discussion between viewers. It features Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin and Baykali Ganambarr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Playing with Fire<\/em> \u2013 A stiff and officious fireman and\nhis team of compatriots become the guardians of a group of children after a\ndevastating wildfire leaves the kids temporarily under the unit\u2019s care. As it\nturns out, keeping up with the youths and their needs end up being far more\ntrouble than these tough-guys ever could have anticipated. The press completely\nroasted this family comedy. One or two suggested that it was specifically made\nfor younger viewers and would serve them well. However, the overwhelming\nmajority called it painfully corny and thought that no adult viewer would care\nor connect to any of the characters being presented. John Cena, Keegan-Michael\nKey, John Leguizamo, Brianna Hildebrand, Dennis Haysbert and Judy Greer\nheadline the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rabid<\/em> \u2013 This remake of the 1977 David Cronenberg horror picture of the same name involves a seamstress working in the fashion industry who harbors resentment at the attention her modelling friends receive. When she is scarred in an accident, the figure retreats even further, until a doctor proposes and experimental plastic surgery procedure. It turns her into a stunning beauty, but also causes an insatiable hunger for blood. Critics were divided on the end results. About half claimed that it was inferior to the original and didn\u2019t offer up much that was new or intriguing. Yet just as many thought the lead actress carried the film well and noted that it did offer a variation or two on the original. The cast includes Laura Vandervoort, Benjamin Hollingsworth and Ted Atherton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Serendipity<\/em> \u2013 Artist Prune Nourry serves as both the\ndirector and subject of this documentary. The film introduces newcomers to the\nFrench-born, New York-based artist and her time creating works that deal with\nwomen’s bodies and female fertility. When she is diagnosed with breast cancer,\nNourry decides that a documentary on her treatment process is the next logical\nstep in her career. She also details the effect that the experience has on her\ncontinually-evolving artwork. The picture generally earned good reviews. A\ngroup did feel that while the movie helped viewers understand her treatment\nprocess, it also felt like a blatant advertisement for the artist. Still, most\nthought it made for an intimate and interesting introduction to Nourry\u2019s work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trauma Center<\/em> \u2013 A woman who witnesses a crime and takes a bullet in the leg is assisted by a veteran policeman who takes her to a hospital. However, it isn\u2019t long before the killers realize that the slug in her appendage will be traced back to them. They arrive at the infirmary and trap the woman and detective inside a locked-down isolation ward. This action\/thriller got a limited release last month, but very few people reviewed it. The write-ups that have appeared are fairly tepid in their reactions. One wrote that it was a reasonable, competently made little B-movie. Other notices weren\u2019t as favorable, suggesting that the movie was routine and completely forgettable. Bruce Willis, Nicky Whelan, Steve Guttenberg, Tito Ortiz and Texas Battle are lead performers in this picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Waves<\/em> \u2013 Set in South Florida, this arthouse drama follows the lives of a suburban African-American family, led by a well-intentioned but forceful father. Their dreams, struggles and daily lives are captured as they come together following a tragic event and must find a way to heal from the experience. The press generally had very good thigs to say about the picture. A small percentage did criticize the second half of the movie, suggesting the latter sections weren\u2019t nearly as gripping as the start was. However, the majority said that while not every beat hit the mark, there are magnificent moments and that the feature was worth seeking out. It stars Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Alexa Demie, Lucas Hedges, Ren\u00e9e Elise Goldsberry and Sterling K. Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n White Snake<\/em> \u2013 This animated family adventure film\nfrom China presents a new take on one of the country\u2019s most famous fairy tales.\nIt begins with a snake catcher rescuing a young woman suffering from amnesia. Romantic\nfeelings develop between the pair as the hunter escorts the lady and tries to\nhelp her find out who she is. Their discovery leads to an unexpected hitch in\ntheir relationship. Overall, the press was upbeat about this feature. A minor\ncontingent had some complaints about the story and characters not translating\nwell in this part of the world. However, most thought that the animation was outstanding\nand that the movie served as an interesting introduction to a celebrated folk\ntale. Apparently, this release includes both the original Mandarin audio with\nEnglish subtitles, and an English-language version of the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blasts from the Past!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Arrow Video released a couple of elaborate Limited Edition\nBlu-rays over the past year for a couple of cult horror films. Now they\u2019re\nbeing rereleased as Special Editions. The New York-set, parasite horror\/comedy Brain\nDamage<\/em> (1988) is the first. It originally came as a Blu-ray and DVD combo\npack, but now arrives as a Blu-ray only. It includes all of the original\nbonuses, including a director commentary, a great documentary on how the movie\nwas made, featurettes on the make-up and visual effects, a discussion with the\nstill photographer, a look at the locations used and how they\u2019ve changed, and a\nlengthy Q&A with the director from a screening of the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same goes for their Special Edition Blu-ray of Evil\nEd<\/em> (1995), about an editor cutting violent footage who becomes mentally\nunhinged. Like the previously released combo pack, this version is a Blu-ray\nonly but includes the same extras, including a director and editor intro to the\nfilm, interviews with the creators, an extensive documentary on the production,\ndeleted scenes, as well as clips showing how this new, improved and uncut\nversion of the flick was put together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kino are releasing plenty of Blu-rays as well. It\u2019s a great\nweek if you\u2019re hoping to pick up some Spike Lee movies \u2013 they have five of his\nfeatures. The first is Lee\u2019s star-studded Clockers <\/em>(1995), a crime drama\nabout the murder of a drug dealer; the prime suspect in the case and two police\ndetectives must find the truth about who is really responsible for the slaying.\nThis disc comes with a film critic audio commentary and trailer. They are also\nputting out Crooklyn<\/em> (1994), Lee\u2019s semi-autobiographical portrait of\nlife in Brooklyn during the 70s. The release includes a trailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jungle Fever<\/em> (1991) is also coming your way on\nBlu-ray. This is a drama that explores interracial relationships. Mo\u2019 Better\nBlues<\/em> (1990) is a drama starring Denzel Washington about a musician\nstruggling to choose between two girlfriends. This title also includes a film\nhistorian commentary track. And Summer of Sam<\/em> (1999) follows several characters\nin New York in 1977 at the height of the \u201cSon of Sam\u201d murders. This Blu-ray comes\nwith a new interview with co-star John Leguizamo, and a commentary track\nfeaturing Spike Lee and the actor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s not all Kino have in store. When I was a kid, I really\nwanted to see the strange, sci-fi romantic comedy, Heartbeeps<\/em> (1981).\nThe movie had the backing of Universal Pictures and starred Andy Kaufman and\nBernadette Peters as two robots who fall in love, decide to ignore their\nprogramming and try to run away together. I never got the opportunity to see it\nand apparently it isn\u2019t great, but it does look like a fascinating oddity. At\nleast I can now catch up with it on a Blu-ray that probably makes the movie\nlook better than it did at theaters. Bonuses on the release include a new audio\ncommentary with the director, and the film\u2019s trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Oscar<\/em> (1966) is a drama about an actor who\ncelebrates after being nominated for an Academy Award. Viewers find out that he\nhas stepped on just about everyone in his quest for fame and fortune. The movie\nwas nominated for a couple of Oscars and arrives on Blu-ray with a new 4K\nrestoration. It also includes a film historian audio commentary, another track\nfeaturing fans Patton Oswalt, Josh Olson and Erik Nelson, and a bunch of\ntrailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Universal are giving Here Comes Peter Cottontail<\/em>\n(1971) a high definition upgrade. This is a Rankin-Bass stop-animation\nhour-long TV special about the title rabbit trying to get a job as the next\nEaster Bunny. The set includes both a Blu-ray and DVD of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Scorpion are putting out a Blu-ray of the 80s sex-comedy,\nFraternity Vacation<\/em> (1985). It\u2019s set during Spring Break and involves\nmembers of an Iowa fraternity who befriend a nerd in order to win them a nice\ntrip to Florida. While at a resort, they all compete to bed a woman. The movie\nfeatures Tim Robbins, Amanda Bearse, John Vernon and Barbara Crampton in\nsupporting roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You Know, For Kids!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for some kid-friendly entertainment, there\nis plenty to choose from. Highlights are presented below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arctic Dogs<\/em> On the Tube!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And here are the week\u2019s TV-themed releases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bob the Builder<\/em>: 20 Episode Can-Do Crew Pack ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/DVD-arctic-dog-1024x547.jpg\")
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Blaze and the Monster Machines: Knight Riders<\/em> (Nickelodeon)
Bob the Builder<\/em>: 20 Episode Can-Do Crew Pack
Here Comes Peter Cottontail<\/em> (1971)
Llama Llama: Family Fun Collection<\/em> (with Llama Loses A Tooth book)
Looney Tunes Parodies Collection<\/em>
Peppa Pig: Peppa Celebrates<\/em>
Playing with Fire<\/em>
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mania<\/em>
Sonic Boom<\/em>: Season 1, Volume 2 (With Knuckles and Tails Figures)
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here Comes Peter Cottontail<\/em> (1971)
Keeping Faith<\/em>: Series 2
Masterpiece: Howard\u2019s End<\/em> (PBS)
Masterpiece: Sandition<\/em> (PBS)
My One & Only<\/em> (Hallmark)
NOVA: Decoding Da Vinci<\/em> (PBS)
Sonic Boom<\/em>: Season 1, Volume 2 (With Knuckles and Tails Figures)
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt<\/em>: The Complete Series <\/p>\n\n\n\n