{"id":21637,"date":"2020-11-23T12:28:49","date_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=21637"},"modified":"2020-11-23T12:28:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:28:49","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-november-24th-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=21637","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for November 24th, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome back to another look at new Blu-rays and DVDs hitting store shelves. There are plenty of releasees new and old, meaning that you should certainly find something of interest here. So, since you likely shouldn\u2019t head out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Big New Releases!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After We Collided<\/em> \u2013 Based on a popular series of\nromance novels, this feature is a sequel to the 2019 release After<\/em>. After\na break with a character from the previous film, the protagonist is getting on\nwith her life and working at a publishing house. She heads off to a conference\nwith a co-worker who could be a potential new boyfriend, but comes into contact\nwith her old flame, bringing old feelings back to the forefront. The press\nslammed this effort in much the same way they panned the previous entry. A few\ncalled it campy fun and stated that the drama was enjoyably over-the-top.\nEveryone else groused that the end results were corny, clich\u00e9d and terrible to\nwatch. The movie stars Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dylan Sprouse\nand Louise Lombard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All I Can Say<\/em> \u2013 Those who remember music of the 1990s\nwill no doubt be familiar with alt-rock band Blind Melon, who were responsible\nfor the hit single, \u201cNo Rain\u201d (although \u201cGalaxie\u201d was a pretty darn great song too).\nThis documentary uses home video diary footage and other old recordings to tell\nthe story of lead singer\/songwriter Shannon Hoon, who passed away tragically from\na drug overdose following the release of the group\u2019s second album. Overall, reviewers\nwere positive about this picture. A small group didn\u2019t find the subject of the\nfilm or his music interesting and as a result didn\u2019t appreciate the feature.\nHowever, the majority were impressed by the rare footage of Hoon and found that\nthe film painted a bittersweet and honest portrait of a talented young man faltering\nunder the immense pressure of being a rock star. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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All Roads to Pearla<\/em> \u2013 A Texas teenager on a school\nwrestling team falls in with a drifter and her psychopathic lover. As one might\nguess, the youngster finds himself falling for her and begins driving the woman\naround town, only to become unexpectedly embroiled in some highly illegal and\ndangerous activities. This independent crime flick played at various film\nfestivals where it garnered some attention. It hasn\u2019t received a great many\nnotices as of yet, but a few have appeared online recently. A couple of these\nnotices complained that plot elements weren\u2019t resolved in a satisfactory\nmanner. Still, just as many complemented the cast, found that it possessed\nplenty of style and atmosphere and summed up by saying that this was a strong debut\nfeature film. It features Alex MacNicoll, Addison Timlin, Dash Mihok and Corin\nNemec.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ava<\/em> \u2013 A deadly and lethal assassin begins to feel\nguilty about her work and complains to superiors. Naturally, they become concerned\nand after she hesitates in executing a high-profile target, put her on their\nhit list for breaking protocol. The lead must fend off numerous highly skilled\nkillers in order to survive and try to change her profession. Critics were less\nthan impressed by this action film. A tiny contingent thought that the onscreen\ntalent managed to salvage something interesting from the routine plot. However,\nthe overwhelming majority complained that while the movie could have provided\nsome crazy fun, the story was too routine, dull and unbelievable. They stated\nthat it ultimately felt like a knock-off of the John Wick<\/em> action series.\nIt stars Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, Geena Davis, Ioan Gruffudd,\nJoan Chen and Colin Farrell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Getting to Know You<\/em> \u2013 A man who has been repeatedly\nfollowed and pursued for months by his drunken ex-girlfriend heads off to a\nsmall town to get away from it all. He checks into a hotel, only to learn that\nshe has followed him there. The desperate man asks a married woman staying at\nthe same establishment to pretend to be his new wife. She agrees and as the two\nspend more and more time together, they begin to fall for each other. This\nindependent romantic comedy hasn\u2019t been seen by too many people yet, but a couple\nof reviewers have managed to see it and share their thoughts. According to\nthese write-ups, it is a genial little flick with good performances and a few\nchuckles that may amuse rom-com fans. The cast includes Natasha Little, Rupert\nPenry-Jones and Rachel Blanchard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Irishman<\/em> \u2013 This movie may have premiered almost a year ago on Netflix, but the latest Oscar-nominated gangster story from director Martin Scorsese (Raging Bull<\/em>, Goodfellas<\/em>, Casino<\/em>, The Departed<\/em>) is only now hitting Blu-ray. This lengthy epic follows several decades in the life of a man serving as muscle for a mob outfit from the 1950s to the 1970s. It also focuses on his personal relationship with union leader Jimmy Hoffa. Response towards the crime drama was excellent. One or two complained about the length of the film, but all others thought that it was another masterpiece from the moviemaker. They praised the incredible performances of the actors and thought that this feature also added an element of regret and remorse that Scorsese\u2019s previous crime-based titles hadn\u2019t dealt with. It features Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale and Anna Paquin. To read this site\u2019s review of the movie, click here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Iron Mask<\/em> \u2013 This multi-national co-production between\nChina, Russia and the US is a period adventure about an English traveler trying\nto map the Russian Far East. The protagonist embarks on an incredible journey\nthat takes him to new lands where he encounters princesses, fantastic creatures\nand martial artists. While the movie garnered a wide release on the other side\nof the world, it didn\u2019t arrive with much fanfare on these shores. Critics in\nthis region weren\u2019t very taken with the film either. A couple commented that it\nwas a good, old-fashioned action flick for the entire family. However, most\ncomplained that its story didn\u2019t make much sense, the cast were wasted and that\nthere was an overload of subpar CGI effects. It stars Jason Flemyng, Jackie\nChan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Xingtong Yao, Anna Churina, Yuri Kolokolnikov,\nRutger Hauer and Charles Dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Last Blockbuster<\/em> \u2013 Remember the days of heading\nout to video stores and renting the latest new releases on VHS? This\ndocumentary tells the story of the Blockbuster franchise and focuses in on the\nonly location that is still in operation today. The filmmakers go to Bend,\nOregon and speak to the manager, who shares her struggles to keep the location\nopen. Celebrities also appear and tell their memories of the video chain. So far\nthere are only a couple of online reviews for the movie. They have been upbeat,\nstating that the feature tells the rise and fall of Blockbuster in an\ninteresting manner and will make one nostalgic for the golden age of video\nrentals. Kevin Smith, Ione Skye, Brian Posehn, Doug Benson, Paul Scheer, Jamie\nKennedy, Ron Funches and Lloyd\nKaufman share their memories for the amusement of viewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mags and Julie Go on a Road Trip<\/em> \u2013 Here\u2019s a little\nindependent film that has appeared out of the blue and is making its debut on\ndisc (and presumably on streaming platforms as well). There isn\u2019t much\ninformation to go on right now, but the official synopsis for the title says that\nit is a heartfelt, laugh out loud buddy movie written and directed by actress\nRyann Liebl. This film, in the vein of Bridesmaids<\/em> mixed with Grumpy\nOld Men<\/em>, takes the audience on a journey of what it means to be a woman and\nbalance life. That\u2019s all that has been stated and there are no reviews for the\nflick so far, so interested parties will just have to take this journey without\na map. In addition to Liebl, Elisabeth Donaldson, Wes Tank and Elisabeth\nDonaldson are also credited as co-stars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustenance<\/em> \u2013 This documentary arrives from the same\ndistributor as the previous title and details about the feature are also difficult\nto come by. According to what has been posted, the filmmakers are addressing\nthe subject of food. Specifically, a challenge is instigated by a group of\nfriends with different diets and eating habits that will take viewers on a\nglobal journey in search of the dimensions of sustainability. The\nfeature-length doc then investigates food’s journey around the world and the consequences\nof these procedures. It explores and debunks popular theories about sustainability\nand tries to shed light on the ethical aspect of food production relating to\nboth human beings and the ecosystem. There are no reviews currently available\nand nothing else is known about the picture.  \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula<\/em> \u2013 The 2016 South\nKorean foreign-language horror feature Train to Busan <\/em>was one of the\nbest zombie pictures of the past decade, making an impression with genre fans around\nthe world. Naturally, after four years a sequel has arrived. This tale\nintroduces all new characters trying to deal with a zombie outbreak. It focuses\non a team of soldiers tasked with preventing the spread of the virus. Of\ncourse, things do not go as planned and the group find themselves struggling to\nsurvive. Alas, the reception to this follow-up was not as strong as it was for\nthe first, dividing reviewers. About half thought that the movie was fast-paced\nand provided a decent number of B-movie shocks. Just as many asserted that it\nsimply repeated the same ideas from the first film in a repetitive and less\neffective manner. It features Gang Dong-Won, Jung-hyun Lee and Re Lee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Walrus and the Whistleblower<\/em> \u2013 This documentary\ndetails the work of former marine mammal trainer Philip Demers who worked at\nthe Marineland aquatic park in Niagara Falls, Canada. The figure developed a\nstrong bond with a walrus which garnered him media attention. He then quit his\njob and alleged that animals had been treated in a negligent fashion. Lawsuits\nagainst Marineland were investigated and dropped by prosecutors, but Demers\ncontinues to lead activist protests against the park, demanding he should be given\nguardianship of his favorite walrus. This feature tells his story and his\nclaims against Marineland. It was well-received at film festivals, but has\nreceived mixed notices from the press. They wrote that the film\u2019s message and\nneed for reform at the park was welcome, but also felt that the documentary should\nhave also questioned Demer\u2019s more eccentric ideas.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blasts from the Past!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s another very busy week for Blu-ray upgrades of older\ntitles. The first disc is Cinema Paradiso<\/em> (1988) from Arrow Video. This\nincredible and moving drama from Italy tells the story of a filmmaker and his\nrelationship with movies from the beginning of his childhood. The film won an\nAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and is currently the 51st<\/sup>\nhighest rated feature on IMDB. This Special Edition disc contains both the 124-\nminute theatrical release and the 174-minute Director\u2019s Cut. It also comes with\na director commentary, a 52-minute documentary on the filmmaker, a half-hour\nmaking-of, individual discussions about the movie\u2019s kissing scenes as well as\nvarious trailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also have a box set of B-movies called He Came from\nthe Swamp: The William Gref\u00e9 Collection<\/em>. For those unfamiliar with this\nfigure, he wrote, produced and directed a number of low-budget, drive-in\nmonster movies and genre pictures. This 4-disc Limited Edition Collector\u2019s Set\ncontains Sting of Death<\/em> (1966), Death Curse of Tartu<\/em> (1966), The\nHooked Generation<\/em> (1968), The Psychedelic Priest<\/em> (1971), The\nNaked Zoo<\/em> (1971), Mako: Jaws of Death<\/em> (1976) and Whiskey Mountain<\/em>\n(1977). All of the pictures are newly restored from the best surviving film\nelements and come with archival commentaries with the director, as well as multiple\nfeaturettes and all kinds of publicity materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Genre Film Archive or AGFA have a B-movie\ndouble feature Blu-ray coming your way that includes the crime flick She Mob<\/em>\n(1968) and The Girl from Pussycat<\/em> (1969). This disc has 2K preservations\nof each film from the only known 35mm theatrical prints in existence. Bonuses\nalso include a Q&A about She Mob as well as a number of short films about\ncrime sprees and some trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kino appears to have licensed the rights to Buck Rogers<\/em>\nfrom Universal Television and NBC. Based on an old comic strip from the 1920s\nand 1930s, this science-fiction adventure program came on the heel of Star\nWars<\/em> and starred Gil Gerard as an astronaut who accidentally travels\nthrough time. When he arrives in the future, he must help save the Earth from\nvarious threats. There was a theatrical film that served double-duty as a TV\nshow pilot and the program ultimately ran for two seasons. All of these\nmaterials have been compiled for Buck Rogers in the 25th<\/sup> Century:\nThe Complete Collection<\/em> (1979 \u2013 1981). It contains everything related to\nthe franchise in high definition for the very first time. The set includes TV\nhistorian audio commentaries and a film expert commentary for the 1979\ntheatrical feature. There also interviews with series co-stars Erin Grey and\nThom Christopher as well as several other bonuses. And if you only want the\nmovie or one individual season, all of them are also being made available on\ntheir own… but then again, why would you want to deny yourself of any Buck\nRogers material?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They also have a Blu-ray of the Oscar-winning drama The\nLost Weekend<\/em> (1945) with Ray Milland as an alcoholic on a four-day drinking\nspree. This favorite has been remastered in 4K, comes with a film historian\ncommentary, a radio adaptation of the movie and trailers with some other\nextras. The distributor is also presenting the Australian cult classic Mad\nMax<\/em> (1979) starring Mel Gibson. You can pick up a 4K version that comes\nwith most, if not all of the previously released special features from previous\nedition and an all-new interview with director George Miller. Sounds like a\ngreat Blu-ray to pick up if you don\u2019t already own the picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Film Movement have some exceptional Blu-rays as well. Their\nbig title this week is the Blu-ray box set, The Ealing Studios Comedy\nCollection<\/em>. This contains the UK comedies Passport to Pimlico<\/em> (1949),\nWhiskey Galore<\/em> (1949), The Titfield Thunderbolt<\/em> (1953) and Maggie<\/em>\n(1954) aka High and Dry<\/em>. Many of these features were nominated for\nOscars and are beloved features. All of the titles have been digitally restored\nand include numerous featurettes, interviews and documentaries on the various productions.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The same company are releasing a 4K Blu-ray restoration of The\nKilling Floor<\/em> (1984), a well-regarded drama about a group of workers who\nstruggle to build an interracial labor union in the 1910s. The disc includes an\nintroduction to the film with director Bill Duke, a Q&A with cast members,\na making-of, an interview with the producer\/writer and essays about the\nimportance of the title from two different film professors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paramount are also delivering new Blu-rays. The first is a\nnew Collector\u2019s Edition 2-disc Blu-ray of the recent box office hit, Sonic\nthe Hedgehog<\/em> (2020). It contains exclusive new artwork, movie poster\ncollectable cards and is also said to have a few other bonuses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re more interested in classics, they are also\nreleasing the Humphrey Bogart comedy, We\u2019re No Angels<\/em> (1955). They also\nhave the Michael Douglas drama Wonder Boys<\/em> (2000), which won Bob Dylan\nan Academy Award for Best Original Song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you like Federico Fellini and have plenty of extra cash\nin your wallet? Then you\u2019ll be thrilled to see Criterion\u2019s new Blu-ray box set,\nEssential Fellini<\/em>. It contains 14 movies from the iconic Italian\nfilmmaker, including most of his most famous works. Specifically, you\u2019ll get\nthe films Variety Lights<\/em> (1950), The White Sheik<\/em> (1952), I\nVitelloni<\/em> (1953), La Strada<\/em> (1954), Il Bidone<\/em> (1955), Nights\nof Cabiria<\/em> (1957), La Dolce Vita<\/em> (1960), 8 \u00bd<\/em> (1963), Juliet\nof the Spirits<\/em> (1965), Fellini Satyricon<\/em> (1969), Roma<\/em> (1972),\nAmarcord<\/em> (1973), And the Ship Sails On<\/em> (1983) and Intervista<\/em>\n(1987). All of the features have been restored in 4K. The set also includes two\nfeature-length documentaries on Fellini, four behind-the-scenes docs on the\nmoviemaker, audio commentaries on six of the titles, in addition to archival\ninterviews with the director and many of the stars of the films and much, much\nmore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Those in the mood for something pulpier can pick up Scorpion\u2019s Blu-ray of King of the Mountain<\/em> (1981), a drama featuring Harry Hamlin about teens who take part in illegal races on the twisting and windy Mulholland Drive located in the hills of Los Angeles. So, if you ever find yourself up there, watch out for speedsters! The image quality comes from a new 2K master and disc includes interviews with Hamlin and the film\u2019s director. Looks like it could be fun for racing enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vinegar Syndrome are also prepping high definition releases of several B-movie genre pictures. They include Blood Games<\/em> (1990), which has been newly scanned and restored in 2K. This release comes with cast member interviews and promo materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cemetery of Terror<\/em> (1985) is a Mexican zombie picture starring Hugo Stiglitz. This Blu-ray presents the film in 4K from the original 35mm negative are arrives with a director commentary and a genre expert audio track. It also has an interview with the director as well as one with a cast member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also pick up the Spanish slasher Rest in Pieces<\/em>\n(1987) on Blu-ray. This title features a young woman who moves into a new\nneighborhood that houses some suspicious locals. She also must eventually\ncontend with an undead pursuer. This title has also been newly scanned in 4K\nand includes both the English and Spanish language versions. It also has an\ninterview with a cast member and a film historian commentary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Severed Arm<\/em> (1973) is about a young man who loses\nhis arm during a disastrous camping trip. Many years later, the other campers who\nwere with him find themselves being stalked, presumably by this friend who lost\nhis appendage. This Blu-ray also has a 4K upgrade and includes interviews with\na cast member and the producer. Vinegar Syndrome also have the horror flick, Whodunit?<\/em>\n(1982) aka Island of Blood<\/em>, which follows a group of actors being\nstalked by a killer while shooting a movie. The Blu-ray also has a 4K transfer\nof the flick and comes with numerous cast and crew interviews, as well as a\ncommentary track featuring slasher movie fans!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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VIC are presenting the old serial Riders of Death Valley<\/em>\n(1941) on Blu-ray and Fun City Editions have a high definition disc of the\ncreepy British thriller, I Start Counting<\/em> (1969). The release presents\nthe film with a 2K transfer and extras includes an introduction and interview\nwith star Jenny Agutter, a video essay on the picture, stories from the\ndirector, a film historian commentary and plenty more. And Film Detective are\ndebuting The Other Side of Madness<\/em> (1971) on Blu-ray, which mixes\ndocumentary and fictional reenactments of the Charles Manson family during\ntheir horrific killing spree. The Blu-ray also comes with bonuses including a\nCD featuring some of Manson\u2019s actual music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Archive have some made-to-order titles that\nyou can order through their website or through other retailers. This week, they\nhave Blu-rays of Libeled Lady<\/em> (1936) and The Pirate<\/em> (1948). You\ncan also pick up pressing of DVDs for For Me and My Gal<\/em> (1942) with Judy\nGarland, Kiss Me Kate<\/em> (1953), Meet Me in St. Louis<\/em> (1944) and Ode\nto Billy Joe<\/em> (1976). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You Know, For Kids!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There isn\u2019t much available right now for small fry, but\nthings should improve in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fishtales<\/em>: Season 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Tube!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here are some TV-themed releases that may pique your\ninterest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Babylon Berlin<\/em>: Season 3
Better Call Saul<\/em>: Season 5
Blinded<\/em>: Season 1
Buck Rogers in the 25th<\/sup> Century: The Complete Collection<\/em> (1979 \u2013 1981)
Fishtales<\/em>: Season 1
Frontline: Policing the Police<\/em> (PBS)
Hacking Your Mind<\/em> (PBS)
Mom<\/em>: Season 7
Monty Python’s Flying Circus<\/em>: The Complete Series
Riverdale<\/em>: Season 4
Strike Back<\/em>: The 7th<\/sup> and Final Season <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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