{"id":21756,"date":"2020-12-14T17:11:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T01:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=21756"},"modified":"2020-12-14T17:11:25","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T01:11:25","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-december-15th-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=21756","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for December 15th, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome to another edition detailing some of the Blu-ray and\nDVD highlights coming your way. The holidays are arriving, which means that\nthere are a great many new releases too that include one of the biggest films\nof the year. So, since you can\u2019t or likely shouldn\u2019t be going out to the movies\nthis week, be sure to give one of these titles a try! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Big New Releases!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-abrakadabra-basket-FIXED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21757\" width=\"235\" height=\"131\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Abrakadabra<\/em> \u2013 This independent co-production between\nMexico, Argentina and New Zealand pays homage to Italian \u201cGiallo\u201d thrillers of the\n1970s and 80s from filmmakers like Dario Argento (<em>The Bird with the Crystal\nPlumage<\/em>, <em>Deep Red<\/em>). The story involves a washed-up magician with a\ndrinking problem who becomes the prime suspect the murder of a woman. The\nperformer sets out to prove that he has been framed and find the real culprit.\nThis movie has been released in most countries over the past couple of years,\nbut is only now arriving in North America. There aren\u2019t a great many reviews for\nit here just yet, but those from the rest of the world have been reasonable.\nThey suggested that while some of the story aspects are a little clunky, the\ntone and mood of this stylish flick is spot on and should impress fans of the\ngenre. It features Germ\u00e1n Baudino, Eugenia\nRig\u00f3n, Gustavo Dalessanro and Clara Kovacic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-alone-lead.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21759\" width=\"279\" height=\"157\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Alone<\/em> \u2013 Scheduled to be released on disc earlier in\nthe year, this title disappeared at the last minute and is finally arriving on\nshelves this week. A widow in the Pacific Northwest endures great hardship\nafter being targeted by a serial killer. She is kidnapped and taken to a remote\ncabin in the woods. After breaking free into the wild with no idea where she\nis, the protagonist must survive the harsh elements and escape from the\npursuing psychopath. The press was positive about this indie thriller. One or\ntwo of them griped that the story was much too familiar and that the lead\nwasn\u2019t well-written enough to make us care about her plight. However, most\nthought the performances were solid and stated the movie was expertly shot and\nedited, maintaining tension throughout the running time. It stars Jules Wilcox,\nMarc Menchaca, Anthony Heald and Jonathan Rosenthal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-audrey-hepburn-1024x599.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21760\" width=\"286\" height=\"167\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Audrey<\/em> &#8211; Actress, fashion icon and humanitarian\nAudrey Hepburn is the subject of this documentary. The film details her\nremarkable life, beginning with early years in which she was abandoned by her\nfather and forced to live in Holland under Nazi occupation. It details how\nthese traumatic events shaped her as her career progressed and she won an\nAcademy Award at the remarkably young age of 24. Response to the feature was\nmixed-positive. A sizable group thought that the movie was overly sweet and\ndidn\u2019t do much but provide a series of interviews about note how wonderful the\nstar was. However, slightly more felt that while the moviemakers didn\u2019t dig\ninto the figure\u2019s life as deeply as they could have, this was still an\ninteresting portrait detailing the many efforts of an altruistic and noteworthy\nindividual.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-aviva-dance.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21761\" width=\"290\" height=\"161\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Aviva<\/em> \u2013 An online relationship between two very\ndifferent dancers on opposite sides of the globe develops into something more\nin this independent drama with musical elements. The two become romantically\ninvolved and the feature follows the love affair and marriage that follows.\nNaturally, the pair face hurdles as they come together, facing internal and\nexternal cultural struggles as they attempt to build their new life together.\nResponse was largely upbeat towards this effort. A few did complain that the\nmovie tried to tackle too much and ended up feeling unfocused and\nunderdeveloped. Still, the majority commented that most of the experiments\nworked, resulting in a unique effort with impressive dancing scenes. It stars Zina\nZinchenko, Tyler Phillips, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-battle-of-the-bulge-winter-war-1024x508.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21762\" width=\"246\" height=\"121\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Battle of the Bulge: Winter War<\/em> \u2013 One of the major\noffensive campaigns near the end of WWII was the Battle of Bulge, in which\nGerman soldiers mounted one last surprise attempt to seize control northern\nEuropean coastlines (that including Belgium and France). This biopic follows a\ngroup of American soldiers tasked with protecting a vital supply depot. With\nforces encroaching, the men do their upmost to fight and slow down Nazi forces.\nThis picture had a video streaming premiere a few weeks back and is now\ndebuting on disc. Thus far there are no reviews for it, with the exception of a\ncouple of online notices from a few who rented it. These write-ups suggest that\nthe low-budget limitations and historically inaccurate elements negatively\nimpact the production. The cast includes Tom Berenger, Billy Zane, Steven Luke\nand Aaron Courteau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-beach-house-1024x554.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21763\" width=\"275\" height=\"149\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Beach House<\/em> \u2013 This thriller involves a couple\nwith relationship troubles who decide to head out on a romantic getaway in\norder to reconnect. When they arrive, they unexpectedly run into their parent\u2019s\nfriends who are staying nearby. The two try to be pleasant and spend a bit of\ntime with the older couple, but events and interactions become more and more\nthreatening after the introduction of a strange infection at the vacation site.\nOverall, response towards this independent film was positive. A couple of\nnotices suggested that the movie ran out of ideas and thrills as the story\nprogressed. However, the majority called it an eerie and effective little\ncreeper that offers viewers plenty of unsettling surprises. It features Liana\nLiberato, Noah Le Gros, Jake Weber and Maryann Nagel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-beasts-clawing-at-straws-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21764\" width=\"276\" height=\"155\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Beasts Clawing at Straws<\/em> \u2013 A struggling restaurant\nowner caring for his unwell mother discovers a large bag of cash in a locker.\nMeanwhile, a customs official finds himself in serious trouble after his\ngirlfriend disappears with a large sum of money he borrowed from a gangster. As\nyou might have guessed, both of these stories eventually intersect, leading to\na lot of danger for the protagonists. This foreign-language feature from South Korean\nplayed at several film festivals around the world this year and won many\naccolades. The press also enjoyed the picture. They admitted that some of the\ncharacters were simple archetypes, but called the movie an exciting and\nengaging suspense picture that moved at a zippy pace and reminded then of early\nworks by the Coen Brothers. It stars Jeon Do-Yeon, Woo-Sung Jung and Sung-Woo\nBae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-call-shaye-FIXED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21765\" width=\"271\" height=\"153\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Call<\/em> \u2013 Horror fans might be curious about this\npicture, which some will note features a couple of familiar faces. Set in 1987,\nthe story begins with a group of friends getting into a tragic accident. They\nhurry from the scene to a nearby home to try and get help, but find that the\noccupants are less than helpful, and perhaps even dangerous (there is even some\nsuggestion of some kind of demonic possession). The youngsters must survive the\nnight and try to find their way back to safety. There currently aren\u2019t many\nreviews available for this picture. A few have popped up online, but they\naren\u2019t very positive. In fact, many have complained that the story takes too\nlong to get going and doesn\u2019t deliver the necessary chills. The cast includes\nLin Shaye, Tobin Bell, Chester Rushing and Erin Sanders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-chick-fight.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21766\" width=\"280\" height=\"168\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Chick Fight<\/em> \u2013 A woman in a funk and struggling to\nturn her life around is introduced to an all-female fight club. She joins and\nbecome involved in their unusual competition, only to discover that she is more\nconnected to the history of the organization that she ever could have imagined.\nNo double this comedy is inspired in part by the popular 1999 drama, <em>Fight\nClub<\/em>. Unfortunately, reaction towards the feature has been less than\nenthusiastic. One or two reviewers called it an entertaining and fun B-movie.\nHowever, most referred to the feature as a dull and routine effort that doesn\u2019t\ntake any chances and deals with the issues it raises in an insincere and\nless-than-amusing manner. Malin Akerman, Bella Thorne, Dulc\u00e9 Sloan, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Nash and Alec\nBaldwin headline the film. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-dark-and-the-wicked.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21767\" width=\"291\" height=\"163\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Dark and the Wicked<\/em> \u2013 In this independent horror\nflick, several relatives arrive at a secluded farm in a rural town to visit a\ndying family member. The mood is already somber between them, but things take\nan even darker turn when the group begin experiencing waking nightmares and\nvisions. They soon start to believe that a dark force may be trying to take\nover the entire brood. The press wrote that this little creeper was very\neffective. A small contingent found it so downcast and uneventful that they\ndidn\u2019t find it very tense. However, most appreciated the focus on character and\nmood rather than graphic shocks. They believed that the eeriness on display\nwould make an impression and stay with you long after the credits roll. It\nstars Marin Ireland, Michael Abbott Jr., Julie Oliver-Touchstone, Lynn Andrews\nand Xander Berkeley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-echo-boomers-shannon.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21768\" width=\"286\" height=\"160\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Echo Boomers<\/em> \u2013 Loosely based on a true story, this\nheist film follows a group of struggling college graduates in debt with various\ntuition fees and expenses from school. After finding the economy and corporate\nworld unfair and build on a lie, the group plot an elaborate scheme. They\ndecide to steal from Chicago\u2019s richest citizens and redisperse the funds to\nthemselves. Naturally, after setting the plan in motion, they find the cops on\ntheir tail. Thus far, critics have had more complaints than compliments for\nthis feature. One thought it was a well-acted little flick that followed a\nfamiliar formula but did so with aplomb. However, most felt that the themes weren\u2019t\nwell formed and the drama didn\u2019t suspend audience disbelief. The cast includes Michael\nShannon, Lesley Ann Warren, Alex Pettyfer and Patrick Schwarzenegger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-fishermans-friends-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21769\" width=\"261\" height=\"146\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Fisherman\u2019s Friends<\/em> \u2013 This British comedy follows a London\nrecord executive searching for the next big thing. The cynical protagonist\nleaves the city in frustration for a stag at a remote Cornish village. One of\nhis pals pranks him by telling him to sign a group of local, shanty-singing\nfishermen to their label. Over the course of his stay, he befriends the\neccentric performers and begins to question his own career choices. Reaction\ntowards this picture has been mixed-positive. Some found the characters and\nstory too predictable and formulaic to recommend. Others found it entertainingly\nsweet and heartfelt, while another faction thought the musical performances\nwere so good that it made up for any script issues. James Purefoy,&nbsp;Meadow\nNobrega, David Hayman and Maggie Steed headline the picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-hello-world.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21770\" width=\"175\" height=\"141\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Hello World<\/em> \u2013 When computer software development\nbegan, it was a mostly women-led industry. Over time, the employees and leaders\nslowly evolved into a white male and Asian majority. This documentary follows\nthe beginnings of the industry and how the work force slowly changed, eventually\ntackling the topic of why women, as well as many minorities don\u2019t pursue\ncareers in software design. The makers hope to demystify the profession and\nencouraging those of all backgrounds to become involved in this ever-growing\nfield. This interesting title is debuting on disc and on iTunes for streaming\nthis week. As of right now, no one has seen it so is no critical consensus on\nthe picture. Interested parties will just have to take a chance on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-here-on-out-cast.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21771\" width=\"320\" height=\"173\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Here on Out<\/em> \u2013 Here\u2019s another independent production\nthat little information is available for. According to the press synopsis, it\u2019s\nabout a group of childhood friends celebrating their college graduation by\ngoing to a cabin in the woods\u2026 bad idea! As hope for the future gives way to terror\nof the unknown, the party start to suspect that something sinister may be\nstalking them. Believe it or not, it isn\u2019t a horror movie but instead is\ndescribed as more of a thriller. Again, there aren\u2019t many reviews available for\nit, but a couple have appeared online. Surprisingly, the write-ups state that\nthis movie, while made with limited funds, does offer good performances and a\nfew surprises. It features Nicole Brydon Bloom, Austin Larkin and Claire Lord. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-infidel-leads.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21772\" width=\"295\" height=\"164\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Infidel<\/em> \u2013 One of the higher-profile releases this\nweek is this thriller set in Cairo, Egypt. An American man is asked by a friend\nto travel to the city and speak to an audience about the nation\u2019s recent\nmilitary uprisings. Unfortunately, he soon finds himself kidnapped and held\nhostage by a fringe group. His wife decides to head off to Egypt and attempt to\nfree her husband from the captors. Reaction towards the thriller was slightly\nmore positive than negative. Those who disliked the picture stated that it was\nall over the place tonally and had so many contradictory ideas that it was\ndifficult to determine what the message was. A slightly higher percentage wrote\nthat while it didn\u2019t make the most of its concept, the cast were excellent and\nthe movie delivered enough thrills and action to earn it a pass. The movie\nstars Jim Caviezel, Claudia Karvan, Hal Ozsan and Stelio Savante.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-last-sermon-drinks-1024x558.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21773\" width=\"267\" height=\"145\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Last Sermon<\/em> \u2013 This documentary comes from two\nfilmmakers who were patronizing a bar in Tel Aviv, Israel back in 2003. A\nsuicide bomber suddenly appeared out of the blue and almost killed the pair.\nYears later, the two men travel across Europe to learn more about terrorist\ngroups and what inspires their acts. Notes about the film state that while\nvisiting refugee camps and mosques, the two encounter dynamic characters,\nhealing music and a tragedy that pushes them forward in their quest. This title\nis debuting on streaming services and on disc at the same time, so very few have\nactually seen the finished product. It did earn some accolades at the Queens\nWorld Film Festival earlier in the year, picking up a pair of awards there. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-opening-act-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21774\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Opening Act<\/em> \u2013 The plot of this comedy follows a\nstruggling comic who finally gets a break from his stand-up hero when is asked\nto be emcee on a tour. It doesn\u2019t take long for the protagonist to experience\nsome shocking realities as his favorite comedian deals with hecklers, drunken\ngroupies and other unexpected issues. The lead realizes that even if he can\nmanage to survive the chaos, he still has to find a way to prove himself\nonstage. Reaction was quite upbeat towards this feature. A few didn\u2019t think\nthat the story was detailed enough in depicting life on the road. However, the\noverwhelming consensus was that while the movie unexpectedly teetered towards\ndrama at certain points, it was a sweet, fascinating and funny flick that felt\nauthentic. The film stars Jimmy O. Yang, Alex Moffat, Cedric the Entertainer, Bill Burr, Ken Jeong, Jermaine\nFowler, Whitney Cummings, Tom Segura and Iliza Shlesinger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-reason-cast-1024x618.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21775\" width=\"277\" height=\"166\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Reason<\/em> \u2013 Universal Pictures are releasing this\nfaith-based drama this week exclusively on DVD. The story follows a mysterious\nstranger who arrives in a small town. He introduces himself to locals, who are\nsuffering from all kinds of personal problems. There\u2019s a five-year-old boy who\nhas leukemia as well as a blind pastor who hasn\u2019t spoken in nearly 40 years.\nMiracles soon begin occurring, with the unusual visitor bringing citizens\ntogether with the power of faith. Subtlety does not seem to be emphasized in\nthis religious drama and as of right now no one has seen it. It will be\ndebuting on disc, so anyone interested will simply have to go in trusting that\nthe movie is a quality product. The cast includes Lou Gossett Jr., Tatyana Ali,&nbsp;Beverly\nTodd, Kelly Carlson and Burgess Jenkins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-tenet-street-1024x636.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21776\" width=\"279\" height=\"172\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Tenet<\/em> \u2013 The big release of the week (or year, for\nthat matter) is this thriller from writer\/director Christopher Nolan, known for\nfeatures like <em>Memento<\/em>, <em>The Prestige<\/em>, <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>, <em>Inception<\/em>,\n<em>Interstellar<\/em> and <em>Dunkirk<\/em>. This tale follows a nameless man who\njourneys on a time-bending mission involving international espionage in order\nto save the planet from a menacing threat. The press responded favorably to the\nlatest adventure from the filmmaker, although not quite as strongly as they have\nfor some of his other works. A small group didn\u2019t think there was much\nemotional heft to the proceedings and were confused by the numerous twists.\nStill, most commented that the movie was a technical accomplishment with plenty\nof wild thrills. They also commented that it possessed an unexpected sense of\nhumor. The movie features John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth\nDebicki, Kenneth Branagh, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Himesh Patel\nand Michael Caine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-waiting-for-the-barbarians.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21777\" width=\"321\" height=\"180\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Waiting for the Barbarians<\/em> \u2013 This period drama is set\nat an isolated outpost in an unnamed country run by a colonel magistrate. When his\nown nation\u2019s army arrives on site with the intention of interrogating locals\nabout an impending uprising, the lead is horrified by the cruel and vicious\nmethods. He begins to suffer a crisis of conscience and tries to figure out\nwhat he can do to help those being tormented by his superiors. Critics were\nsplit about the finished film. Almost half thought the movie was slow and\nheavy-handed in its approach. offering simple and obvious solutions to complex\nproblems. However, just as many noted the it effectively depicted some of the\nhorrors of colonialism and felt it benefitted from impressive performances. The\ncast includes Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson, Greta Scacchi and\nDavid Dencik.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-wolf-of-snow-hollow.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21778\" width=\"304\" height=\"170\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The Wolf of Snow Hollow<\/em> &#8211; A werewolf begins causing\ntrouble for a small mountain town after a murder victim is found during a full\nmoon. Of course, the town sheriff isn\u2019t initially convinced that this is the work\nof a monster, instead fearing that a psychopath is rampaging through his\ncommunity. He sets out to identify the culprit before the lives of more citizens\nare taken. This picture played at drive-ins earlier in the year and is now\narriving on disc and streaming platforms. Word on the movie was very upbeat. A\nsmall contingent complained that they didn\u2019t care for the tone and exaggerated humor.\nRegardless, most said that once you got on its wavelength, it was an enjoyably\noddball low-budget effort that effectively mixes humor and horror on its own\nterms. It stars Jim Cummings, Riki Lindhome, Robert Forster, Chloe East and Will Madden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Blasts from the Past!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-tremors-rock.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21779\" width=\"307\" height=\"164\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s an equally busy time for older flicks getting\nhigh-definition upgrades. Arrow Video are releasing a Special Edition Blu-ray\nthe fantastic cult classic, <em>Tremors<\/em> (1990). This is a comedy\/horror\nflick about giant worms who attack a small desert town, trying to eat up the\nlocals. Two handymen (played by Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward) team with a\nscientist and local citizens to survive the rampaging threat. It\u2019s a near\nperfect popcorn flick with hilarious performances and plenty of entertaining\nmonster action. The movie\u2019s following has grown so much over the years that the\npicture that has inspired an entire series of sequels which, well, don\u2019t match\nthe quality of the original. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-tremors-wall-1024x555.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21780\" width=\"341\" height=\"183\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the movie has been released on Blu-ray before, the\ndisc was criticized for its poor picture quality. That problem has now been\nrectified. The Blu-ray has a 4K restoration of the film from the original\nnegative that has been approved by the director and cinematographer. The set\ncomes with two new commentary tracks (one with the filmmaker and a second with\nan expert on the series) and a lengthy documentary that includes recent\ninterviews with the cast and crew. There\u2019s also a separate discussion with the\nco-producer who details the movie\u2019s rocky road to the big screen. If that\nweren\u2019t enough, there are also individual talks with the director of\nphotography, the associate producers, the film\u2019s composers and funny clips of TV\nairings with the swear words replaced. You\u2019ll also get all of the bonuses from\nthe earlier releases, including another documentary, deleted scenes, promo\nmaterial and other extras. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olive films have a Blu-ray of <em>Nelson Algren Live<\/em>\n(2016). It\u2019s a recording of a celebration of writer Nelson Algren (perhaps best\nknown for his novel, <em>The Man with the Golden Arm<\/em>) on what would have\nbeen his 100<sup>th<\/sup> birthday. Many celebrities appear to do readings,\nincluding a standout moment from Willem Dafoe. The disc comes with essays on\nthe Algren, a photo essay and trailers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those looking for some action can pick up <em>Guncrazy<\/em>\n(1992) on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual. The movie is about a pair of young\nlovers who go on a killing spree. It stars Drew Barrymore and James LeGros.\nThis release includes a feature-length making of, a feature on the director as\nwell as a commentary featuring the filmmaker. You\u2019ll also get behind-the-scenes\nclips, a 1992 making-of featurette, and publicity materials for the feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-castle-in-the-sky-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21782\" width=\"322\" height=\"180\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VCI have a Blu-ray of the drama, <em>Mutiny<\/em> (1952), about\nsailors plotting against one another to steal some loot during the War of 1812.\nThis title arrives with an upgraded transfer, as well as a newsreel about the\nmovie and a gag reel.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shout! Factory are digging into the vaults to release some\nanimated features from Japan. They have new Blu-ray Steelbooks of the Hayao\nMiyazaki films, <em>Castle in the Sky<\/em> (1986) and the Oscar-winner, <em>Spirited\nAway<\/em> (2001). These titles feature all of the expected extras in impressive\nnew packaging. You can also purchase <em>From Up on Poppy Hill<\/em> (2011), which\nMiyazaki co-wrote. This film tells the story of a group of Yokohama teens who\ntry to save their school from being torn down for the 1964 Olympics. This disc\narrives with extras as well, including both the Japanese and English-language\nversions, a well as features on the production and voice acting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kino are always good for some interesting older flicks and\nthis week is no exception. They\u2019ve got a Blu-ray of the Phoebe Cates\/Bridget\nFonda\/Tim Roth\/Eric Stoltz drama, <em>Bodies, Rest &amp; Motion<\/em> (1993).\nYou\u2019ll get a 4K restoration of the movie, a director commentary,\nbehind-the-scenes footage and plenty of publicity materials. The distributor\nalso has the thriller, <em>Diary of a Mad Housewife<\/em> (1970). This title comes\nwith a commentary featuring the screenwriter and a film critic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-ladybug-ladybug.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21783\" width=\"286\" height=\"182\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They also have <em>Ladybug Ladybug<\/em> (1963), a drama about\na school forced to contend with panic after sirens going off warning the\nfacility of an imminent nuclear attack. This film has been given a 2K\nrestoration and also includes a trailer. And they are releasing a Blu-ray of\nthe Faye Dunaway drama, <em>Puzzle of a Downfall Child<\/em> (1970). This release\nfeatures an interview with the director, a film historian commentary, a\nrestored theatrical trailer, an alternate opening scene and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blue Underground, run by filmmaker William Lustig, always do\nan exceptional job of remastering great genre pictures. This week they have new\n4K Blu-rays of two Lustig cult greats\u2026. The psycho killer flick <em>Maniac <\/em>(1980),\nas well as the action movie <em>Vigilante <\/em>(1982) with Robert Forster and\nFred Williamson. Both of the features are said to look stunning with their new\nupgrades and come with so many extras that it might take several days to get\nthrough them all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-ip-man-quad.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21785\" width=\"330\" height=\"219\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking of action, Well Go USA is also presenting a\nlegendary martial arts series in 4K. <em>Ip Man: The Complete Collection<\/em>\n(2008 \u2013 2019) presents all four films in the Donnie Yen franchise detailing the\nfamous Hong Kong figure. They\u2019re impressive action movies with great fight\nchoreography and now everyone can see every punch and kick with crystal clarity.\nApparently, the set includes a poster and a compendium book with facts about\nthe productions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally. genre film fans can pick up a Blu-ray of the\nthriller <em>American Rickshaw<\/em> (1989) courtesy of Cauldron Films. It\u2019s about\na Miami rickshaw runner who finds a mysterious VHS tape in his carriage and\nbecomes a target of killers who want to retrieve it. Experts say it\u2019s a\nbizarrely entertaining flick and horror veteran Donald Pleasance even puts in a\nbrief appearance. This picture was only released on VHS back at the end of the\n80s and is finally making a high-definition debut with a 2K restoration from\nthe original camera negative. You\u2019ll also get a film critic commentary, an\ninterview with the director and the production designer as well as a few other\nbonuses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full Moon Features are putting out a Blu-ray of the Paul\nNaschy flick, <em>Orgy of the Living Dead<\/em> (1973) with a new restoration. And\nDark Force are readying another in their series of Blu-ray B-movie pairings.\nTheir <em>Drive-in Double Feature #9<\/em> contains <em>Hollywood High<\/em> (1976) and\n<em>Teenage Mother<\/em> (1967), said to be two dubious features about unwanted\nteen pregnancies. And Media Blasters are presenting the slasher <em>Blood\nSisters<\/em> (1987) with a 4K restoration alongside a Special Edition of the\nJapanese monster movie, <em>Devilman<\/em> (2004). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-amores-perros.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21786\" width=\"315\" height=\"177\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking for something more in the arthouse mold? Criterion\nare delivering the Mexican feature <em>Amores Perros<\/em> (2000) on Blu-ray. This\nis the feature debut of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alejandro Inarritu, who made <em>21\nGrams<\/em>, <em>Babel<\/em>, <em>Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)<\/em>\nand <em>The Revenant<\/em>. It follows three unusual individuals whose lives\nintersect after a tragic event. The feature appears on disc with a new 4K\nrestoration, an interview with Inarritu, a documentary on the making of the\nfilm, rehearsal footage, a discussion with the composer, a video essay on the\ntitle with a movie scholar, music videos and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gravitas are presenting the Blu-ray debut of the documentary,\n<em>Sidemen: Long Road to Glory<\/em> (2016). Made a few years back and released\nexclusively on DVD, it details the lives of three musicians who played for\nfamed blues figures Muddy Waters and Howlin\u2019 Wolf. You can also pick up the\nMarx Brothers comedy, <em>A Night in Casablanca<\/em> (1946) on Blu-ray from ClassicFlix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/DVD-drowning-mona-cast-FIXED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21787\" width=\"317\" height=\"211\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While most movies coming down the pipeline are Blu-ray\nreleases, there are also a couple of DVDs arriving on shelves this week. Samuel\nGoldwyn Films is putting out <em>Drowning Mona<\/em> (2000) on DVD, which has been\nout of print since its original debut on disc. It\u2019s a comedy about an officer\ninvestigating the tragic passing of a cruel and obnoxious local woman\u2026 whom the\nentire town wanted dead. The movie flopped during its original release and it\u2019s\nfar from high art, but if memory serves it was an entertainingly brash dark\ncomedy. It features a great cast that includes Denny DeVito, Bette Midler, Neve\nCampbell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Casey Affleck, William Fichtner, Will Ferrell,\nMelissa McCarthy and Brian Doyle Murray. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Liberation Hall have a DVD of the hard-to-find, <em>Jane and\nthe Lost City<\/em> (1987), a tongue-in-cheek adventure flick based on a famous\nBritish comic strip about a pin-up model saving the free world during World War\nII. The cast includes Sam J. Jones (<em>Flash Gordon<\/em>) and Maud Adams (<em>Octopussy<\/em>).\nThe new DVD includes a director commentary track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And finally, Warner Archive has several new Blu-rays on the\nway. The first is for the Judy Garland musical, <em>The Harvey Girls<\/em> (1946).\nAdditionally, they are releasing the Kirk Douglas picture, <em>Young Man with a\nHorn <\/em>(1950) in high definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You Know, For Kids!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s plenty of entertainment for young children arriving\nthis week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Curious George: Go West, Go Wild<\/em> <br><em>LEGO Jurassic World: Double Trouble\ufeff<\/em> <br><em>Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales<\/em>: The Complete Collection  <br><em>Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2<\/em> (1942 \u2013 1957) Warner Archive  <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On the Tube!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Avenue 5<\/em>: Season 1 &#8211; Warner Archiveb&nbsp;  <br><em>The Expanse<\/em>: Season 4 <br><em>Kenny Rogers Double Feature: Coward of the County<\/em> \/ <em>Wild Horses\ufeff<\/em>  <br><em>Marseille<\/em>: The Complete Series  <br><em>Masterpiece: Roadkill<\/em> (PBS)  <br><em>Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales<\/em>: The Complete Collection  <br><em>Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2<\/em> (1942 \u2013 1957) Warner Archive  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tremors Official Trailer #1 - (1990) HD\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/liJfZvXdiTE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"From Up On Poppy Hill - Official Trailer\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9nzpk_Br6yo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Yip Man (2008) (Trailer)\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/djQ68oa-mvc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bette Midler -  Drowning Mona  -  Trailer\" width=\"1290\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fRmS61E2sP4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to another edition detailing some of the Blu-ray and DVD highlights coming your way. The holidays are arriving, which means that there are a great many new releases too that include one of the biggest films of the year. So, since you can\u2019t or likely shouldn\u2019t be going out to the movies this week, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":21790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[198,512,662,1137,1244,1274,1836,1961,2101,2366,2408,3067,3099,3202,3245,3986,4211,4932,5215,5563,5564,5848,6297,6316,6382,6672,7622,7979,7992,8731,9058,9108,9254,9802,9916,10296,11811,12025,13036,14440,14449,14667,14705,14710,14741,15322,15482,16501,18332,18372,18871,19669,19713,19998,20211,20416,20945,21277,21774,21997,22640,23241,23691,23784,23903,23986,24086,24672],"class_list":["post-21756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dvdblu-ray-reviews","tag-198","tag-a-night-in-casablanca","tag-abrakadabra","tag-alone","tag-american-rickshaw","tag-amores-perros","tag-arrow-video","tag-audrey","tag-aviva","tag-battle-of-the-bulge-winter-war","tag-beasts-clawing-at-straws","tag-blu-ray","tag-blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-december-15th-2020","tag-blue-underground","tag-bodies-rest-motion","tag-castle-in-the-sky","tag-chick-fight","tag-criterion","tag-dark-force","tag-december-15","tag-december-15th","tag-diary-of-a-mad-housewife","tag-drive-in-double-feature-9","tag-drowning-mona","tag-dvd","tag-echo-boomers","tag-fishermans-friends","tag-from-up-on-poppy-hill","tag-full-moon-feature","tag-guncrazy","tag-hello-world","tag-here-on-out","tag-hollywood-high","tag-infidel","tag-ip-man","tag-jane-and-the-lost-city","tag-kino","tag-ladybug-ladybug","tag-maniac","tag-mutiny","tag-mvd-visual","tag-nelson-algren-live","tag-new-blu-rays","tag-new-dvds","tag-new-releases","tag-olive","tag-orgy-of-the-living-dead","tag-puzzle-of-a-downfall-child","tag-shout","tag-sidemen-long-road-to-glory","tag-spirited-away","tag-teenage-mother","tag-tenet","tag-the-beach-house","tag-the-call","tag-the-dark-and-the-wicked","tag-the-harvey-girls","tag-the-last-sermon","tag-the-opening-act","tag-the-reason","tag-the-wolf-of-snow-hollows","tag-tremors","tag-vci","tag-vigilante","tag-waiting-for-the-barbarians","tag-warner-archive","tag-well-go-usa","tag-young-man-with-a-horn"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21756"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21756\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}