{"id":23792,"date":"2021-11-08T00:53:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T08:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/?p=23792"},"modified":"2021-11-08T00:53:58","modified_gmt":"2021-11-08T08:53:58","slug":"blu-ray-dvd-roundup-for-november-9th-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=23792","title":{"rendered":"Blu-ray\/DVD Roundup for November 9th, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to another look at some of the highlights arriving\non Blu-ray and DVD. It\u2019s another remarkably busy week with big Hollywood titles\nand independent features from numerous genres. So, if you can\u2019t or shouldn\u2019t be\nheading 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

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

BAD CANDY \u2013 In this independent horror anthology flick, two\nNew Salem, Massachusetts radio station hosts working a Halloween late shift\nrelate scary stories over the air. The chilling segments involve a young woman\nwhose monstrous drawing come to life, a morgue worker using illicit substances\nto get through their night shift and several more. Unfortunately, the press was\nsplit on effectiveness of the movie. About half thought that the tales were not\nmemorable and that the film felt messy and cobbled together. Still, just as\nmany claimed that enough of the individual segments were atmospheric and enough\nof them worked to earn the feature a modest recommendation. The cast includes Corey\nTaylor, Zach Galligan, Derek Russo and Haley Leary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

COMING HOME IN THE DARK \u2013 A high school teacher, his new\nwife and two stepchildren decide to take a trip to the remote coast in this\nAustralian horror picture. Of course, it turns out to be a terrible idea. While\nreturning home, the family come across two threatening, psychopathic drifters while\non the road. They are taken hostage by the creeps and attempt to escape their\ncaptors. As this occurs, the lead discovers that there is a past connection\nbetween himself and the threatening figures. Critics were chilled to the bone\nby this picture. A handful of reviewers complained that the movie was too cold\nand cruel to recommend. However, the vast majority called the film well-acted,\nextremely tense and very frightening from beginning to end. It stars Daniel\nGillies, Erik Thompson, Miriama McDowell and Matthias Luafutu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

DARK BLOOD \u2013 After murdering the man who killed his son, a\nfather awaits trial in a Columbian prison. With no criminal record, he quickly discovers\nthat the facility is a brutal and horrifying place. The protagonist must\nimmediately deal with nasty and brutal guards, as well as attacks from other\ninmates. Viewers witness the man slowly change, slowly hardening the longer he\nis forced to endure these extreme conditions. There haven\u2019t been a great deal\nof write-ups for this Spanish-language picture so far, but of the ones that\nhave appeared online have been more positive than negative. A few have said\nthat the picture tries too hard to upset viewers and almost appears to take\npleasure in piling on the indignities. Slightly more called it powerful and\nshocking, benefiting from a documentary-style approach and excellent\nperformances. John Leguizamo takes on the lead role.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

THE EMPEROR\u2019S SWORD \u2013 This period action film from China\ninvolves a magical sword with power so immense that it is broken into pieces\nand hidden by an emperor. Many years later the leader passes away and a\nsinister rebel seizes the throne. Naturally, he decides to locate the\nincredible weapon and possess its power. He begins massacring those who stand\nin his way. The young daughter of a great general is the only one who can stop\nthe power-mad tyrant. This foreign-language feature hasn\u2019t received many\nreviews so far, but those that have appeared online have been positive. They\ncall it a fast-paced and fun throwback to old-fashioned \u201cWuxia\u201d flicks with\nimpressive swordplay and plenty of performers leaping great heights on wires.\nThe cast includes Feng-Bin Mou, Yilin Hao and Qiyu Yang. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

FOUR GOOD DAYS – Based on a true story by Pulitzer\nPrize-winning Washington Post writer Eli Saslow, this drama follows a\n31-year-old woman battling a heroin addiction that has completely derailed her\nlife. She asks for assistance from her mother, who has all but given up on her.\nThe parent decides to try one last time to work with her child in the hopes of\ngetting her off drugs. This feature divided the press. Almost half of them\nthought the cast were good but that the writing let the performers down,\noffering no new take on the material and ultimately coming across as cornball.\nHowever, just as many suggested that this was an important film that would\nresonate with many viewers, complimenting the work of the cast as exceptional\nand engaging. It stars Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Stephen Root and Chad Lindberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A GIFT FROM BOB \u2013 Also released under the title A\nChristmas Gift from Bob<\/em>, this is a sequel to the 2016 British drama, A\nStreet Cat Named Bob<\/em>. The original was about a drug addict who turns his\nlife around after befriending a stray cat. It was successful enough to warrant\nthis holiday-themed follow-up, which features an animal welfare organization\nstepping in to try and separate the main character from his feline pal.\nResponse towards this feature was generally upbeat. A small group of reviewers complained\nthat the follow-up was sugary and much more sentimental than the original,\nlessening its impact. Still, most thought the cat was adorable and that it\nprovided plenty of entertainment for the entire family. The cast includes Luke\nTreadaway, Anna Wilson-Jones, Stephen McCole, Nina Wadia and Bob the Cat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

MY SALINGER YEAR \u2013 A young, aspiring writer finds herself\nworking as an assistant to a literary agent for J.D. Salinger. She is assigned\nto read fan mail for Salinger and send form letters in return. However, after taking\nin the heartfelt words and messages from his readers, she decides to\npersonalize responses and use the famous writer\u2019s name. She begins to find her\nown voice crafting the letters, but naturally begins to cause trouble when\nothers figure out what she has been up to. This drama received more positive\nnotices than negative ones. A quarter of critics disliked the screenplay,\nstating that the characters and situations felt phony. However, the majority\nthought the film was well-produced, well-acted and complimented the cast for\nselling the story\u2019s predictable elements. It features Margaret Qualley, Sigourney\nWeaver, Douglas Booth, Se\u00e1na\nKerslake and Colm Feore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

OLD HENRY \u2013 This western follows a widowed farmer who finds\nan injured stranger at his doorstep. He takes the man in and discovers that the\nwounded person is carrying a satchel of cash. A group of figures claiming to be\nlawmen arrive on the property, demanding the man and his money. The homeowner\nmust decide who he should believe. As tension builds, viewers discover that\nfarmer may have a history as a sharpshooter. Critics were very impressed with\nthis picture. One or two did state that the movie was too low-key and slow for\ntheir liking. Almost everyone else said that the lead performance was\nexceptional and that the film was tense and worked tremendously well as a\nminimalist western. Tim Blake Nelson, Scott Haze, Gavin Lewis, Trace Adkins and\nStephen Dorff headline the picture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

REMINISCENCE \u2013 In the future, global warming results in the flooding of major cities. One individual in Miami works as a private investigator of the mind, using special equipment to step into a person\u2019s memories and learn important facts for them. When a beautiful new client befriends the lead and disappears, the protagonist sets out to figure out what happened to her. He uncovers a conspiracy, but also must deal with terrible side effects from overusing the technology. The press largely panned this science-fiction feature. A small contingent enjoyed the concept, called the movie clever and complimented the photography and visual effects. Still, the majority called the movie overstuffed and dramatically inert, saying that they eventually got tired of unraveling the complicated mystery. The cast includes Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Thandie Newton, Cliff Curtis and Daniel Wu. Read a full review of the movie here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

RESPECT \u2013 Famous singer\/songwriter Aretha Franklin is the\nsubject of this biopic. It focuses on her rise from a child singing in her\nfather\u2019s church\u2019s choir, to signing to a major record label and earning\ninternational superstardom. We also see glimpses of her personal life and\nmarriage to her producer, which results in domestic violence. Additionally, the\nfilm shows what inspired Franklin\u2019s biggest-selling album, Amazing Grace<\/em>.\nResponse towards the finished product was more positive than negative. Those\nwho disliked the picture stated that the movie was too long and glossy, noting\nthat it didn\u2019t deal with some of the darker aspects of its subject\u2019s life.\nHowever, more admired the lead performance and thought the film served as a\ndecent introduction for those unfamiliar with the performer. It stars Jennifer\nHudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron and Titus\nBurgess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

SURGE \u2013 An introverted man working a difficult, soulless job\nas an airport security worker feels depressed and listless. He eventually experiences\na psychotic break, deciding to cut loose for 24 hours and act instinctively.\nCrimes and violent acts like robberies are committed as he rampages through the\nstreets of London. About three quarters of reviewers appreciated this gritty\nand gloomy feature, while the rest were unimpressed. Those who gave it a poor\nwrite-up thought that the movie never managed to make viewers care about the\nplight of the protagonist. However, the consensus was that the lead actor was\nfantastic and the movie tense, keeping one glued to the screen as the lead\u2019s\nmind slowly snaps under pressure. Ben Whishaw, Ellie Haddington and Hammed Animashaun headline the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

TINA \u2013 This documentary chronicles the life and experiences\nof popular singer, songwriter and actress Tina Turner. Using a wealth of\nnever-before-seen footage, audio tapes, personal pictures and new interviews,\nshe describes growing up and how she began her career. The artist details her\ninitial success and marriage to Ike Turner. After escaping from this abusive\nrelationship, viewers see her newfound popularity as a chart-topping solo\nartist. This movie earned excellent reviews overall. There were a couple of\nnotices that said it was a standard tribute that spent to much time focused on\nher troubled relationship with Ike Turner. Still, all others suggested that it\neffectively managed to juggle dark personal trauma with upbeat experiences,\nultimately serving as an inspirational ode to a talented figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

VAL \u2013 Speaking of documentaries, interested parties can also\npick up this picture that details the life of actor Val Kilmer. We learn that\nthe performer was an early supporter of film and home video technology, recording\nhundreds of hours of himself at home, as well as footage taken working on\nvarious projects. This unseen material is cut together with Kilmer narrating\nvarious elements of his life, from his roles on stage and screen, as well as\nhis marriage and battle with throat cancer. Reaction was very positive for this\neffort. A handful of critics thought the fact that the actor provided all of\nthe material and narration meant that the film had a biased perspective on the\nindividual. Still, all others were impressed with the incredible\nbehind-the-scenes footage and new details about the thespian, stating that it\npainted a clearer picture of who Kilmer really is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

WATERLILY JAGUAR \u2013 A popular novelist desires more accolades\nfrom critics. He sets out to write a new, dramatic book that will wow everyone.\nUnfortunately, his obsession with creating the perfect novel begins to cause\nfriction at home. His marriage becomes strained and his behavior begins to have\nnegative effects on everyone around him. Write-ups for this independent drama\nwere split, earning a wide variety of responses. Some found the character\ndifficult to root for and complained that the narrative lacked proper form and\nstructure. However, just as many praised it for its unusual approach, stating\nthat it effectively captured the mind of a writer going through a mid-life crisis\nand trying to create a great work of art. It stars James Le Gros, Mira Sorvino,\nStacey Oristano, Dominic Monaghan and Christopher Backus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

WHITE AS SNOW \u2013 This French, foreign-language comedy\/drama\nwas released in its homeland back in 2019, but is only now arriving on disc in\nNorth America. The film itself is a modern update of Snow White<\/em>. It\ninvolves a woman of beauty who is targeted by a stepmother, who wants her dead.\nThe lead is rescued from a murder plot by a man who lives on a farm. She stays\nthere, enrapturing seven village locals who want to help her out. The press was\nnot wowed by this feature. A few believed that the movie provided an interesting\nnew take on the fairy tale and even had some curious subtext. However, the\nconsensus was that it was clumsy and didn\u2019t work, wasting a great cast with\nsubpar material and little in the way of a clear message. The cast includes Lou\nde La\u00e2ge, Isabelle Huppert and Charles\nBerling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While plenty of new films are hitting store shelves, there\nare just as many older titles receiving high-definition upgrades. Arrow Video\nare rereleasing the extremely enjoyable independent monster movie, C.H.U.D.\n(1984). The story is about cannibal creatures who live in the sewers and eat\nNew Yorkers during the evening hours. It was released as a \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d\nBlu-ray a couple of years back, but it went out of print. Now, it\u2019s being made\navailable again in a \u201cStandard Edition\u201d. Presumably, it\u2019ll have at least some\nof the same great extras that were on the previous edition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The highlight of the week for this distributor is a \u201cLimited\nEdition\u201d 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray of The Hills Have Eyes<\/em> (1977). This is\nan early classic from director Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street<\/em>, Scream<\/em>)\nabout a family who are attacked by a feral family while camping in the desert.\nYou\u2019ll get a new 4K restoration of the film with improved picture quality,\npostcards, a reversable fold-out poster, a 40-page booklet on the movie, three\narchived audio commentaries (one with the cast, another with director Craven,\nas well as one with a film critic), a lengthy-making of documentary, an\ninterview with the composer, outtakes, an alternate ending, publicity materials\nand more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

MVD Visual are presenting a couple of new Blu-rays. They\nhave an interesting title from the legendary horror filmmaker Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator<\/em>,\nFrom Beyond<\/em>) and acclaimed writer David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross<\/em>).\nEdmund<\/em> (2005) follows a fortune teller who gets mixed up with an\nassortment of shady characters. The movie has an all-star cast including\nWilliam H. Macy, Julia Stiles, Joe Mantegna, Rebecca Pidgeon, Mena Suvari,\nJeffrey Combs and George Wendt. The Blu-ray includes a commentary with Mamet\nand a second track featuring Gordon and two of the producers. It also comes\nwith a featurette, deleted scenes and a trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where the Red Fern Grows<\/em> (2003) is a family film\nabout a boy and his hunting dog. This movie arrives on Blu-ray from the same\ndistributor with a featurette on the production, a special on the animal stars\nand a trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kino are making Blu-rays available of three W.C. Fields\ncomedies this week. Specifically, The Bank Dick<\/em> (1940), It\u2019s a Gift <\/em>(1934)\nand The Old Fashioned Way<\/em> (1934). They all come with film historian\ncommentaries and a trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MPI Media Group are presenting a \u201cCollector\u2019s Edition\u201d\nBlu-ray of the South Korean period drama, The Concubine<\/em> (2012). It\ninvolves an illicit love triangle unfolding in a king\u2019s palace. This release\nincludes a Blu-ray and DVD with trailers, as well as a booklet on the film with\ndirector\/actor profiles, photos and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If action and kung-fu movies are more to your liking, 88\nFilms have a Blu-ray of The Chinese Boxer<\/em> (1970). This is film from the\nlegendary Shaw Brothers production house and the story involves a Chinese man\ntaking revenge after his martial arts school is attacked by Japanese thugs.\nBonuses includes a film historian commentary and featurettes on the action\nscenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horror fans can also pick up Media Blasters\u2019 \u201cEncore\nEdition\u201d Blu-ray\/DVD of the independent horror film, Wicked Lake <\/em>(2008).\nIt follows a group of women who travel to the mountains, only to be attacked by\nhillbillies. This 2-disc edition comes with the uncut theatrical version and a new,\nre-imagined director\u2019s cut with the original language track, as well as other\nbonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mondo Macabro are releasing Blu-rays of three Italian genre\nfilms. They have The Designated Victim<\/em> (1971), Human Animals<\/em>\n(1983) and It\u2019s Nothing Mama, Just a Game<\/em> (1974). All of the titles\narrive on disc with 4K transfers taken from the original film negatives. They\nalso arrive with cast and crew interviews, as well as trailers. The first movie\nlisted also includes an extended cut and alternate scenes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Code Red have a Blu-ray of the western One More Train to\nRob<\/em> (1971) with George Peppard and John Vernon. It\u2019s about a group of men\nwho decide to steal money and jewels from a train passing through California\u2019s\ngold mining country. The disc has an original trailer for the movie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Moon are presenting Mania Killer<\/em> (1987) aka Maniac\nKiller<\/em> on Blu-ray. It\u2019s a French horror flick with Bo Svenson and Chuck\nConnors and details a religious cult causing chaos in a small village. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of musical biopics being released this week\nand The Film Detective have another to add with their \u201cSpecial Edition\u201d Blu-ray\nof The Fabulous Dorserys<\/em> (1947). It stars Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey as\nthemselves, chronicling their rise up the charts with tunes like \u201cI\u2019m Getting\nSentimental Over You\u201d and \u201cTangerine.\u201d This disc includes a commentary track\nfrom an expert on the pair, as well as an original documentary on the music of\nthe era. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCI are presenting a Blu-ray\/DVD package of Sparrows <\/em>(1926).\nMary Pickford stars in this silent classic about a kidnapped orphan trying to\nescape from her nasty guardian and a gang of thugs. The movie was reconstructed\nfor this pressing by The Library of Congress and scanned in 4K. It also comes\nwith a newly composed orchestral score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lionsgate are celebrating the 30th<\/sup> anniversary of\nthe comedy L.A. Story<\/em> (1991) by presenting it on Blu-ray for the first\ntime in North America. It\u2019s about a Los Angeles weatherman dealing with trends\nand fads in the city while attempting to woo the woman of his dreams. The movie\nstars Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker\nand many more. Extras include deleted scenes and outtakes, numerous featurettes\non the production and director, as well as marketing materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paramount have several new titles as well. The Addams\nFamily<\/em> (1991) \u201cWith More Mamushka!\u201d is receiving a 4K Ultra HD release and a\nregular Blu-ray (each one is available separately, so make sure you pick up the\nright disc for your system). Both have theatrical and extended cuts of the\nmovie, a new intro to the longer version, a special on director Barry\nSonnenfeld (Men in Black<\/em>) and archival featurettes. No word on whether\nthe very funny sequel will eventually be getting the same treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The studio also has a Blu-ray of the amusing comedy, Evolution<\/em>\n(2001). David Duchovny and Orlando Bloom are college professors who team with a\ngovernment agent played by Julianne Moore to investigate alien phenomena.\nParamount are also putting out a new edition of The Ten Commandments<\/em>\n(1956). You can pick it up as a 4K Ultra HD Steelbook or a regular Blu-ray.\nBoth present a new and sharper transfer of the feature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you can purchase a \u201cSpecial Collector\u2019s Edition\u201d Blu-ray\nof the hit Tom Cruise picture, Top Gun<\/em> (1986). It deals with the trials\nand tribulations of young pilots in the Navy\u2019s prestigious fighter school.\nBesides the high-definition image quality, the disc contains a legacy\nfeaturette, a 6-part documentary on the movie, commentary by filmmakers, cast\nand naval experts, multi-angle storyboards, a look at real pilots who inspired\nthe flick, Tom Cruise interviews and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Warner Bros. are releasing a special 4K edition of the\nanimated DC superhero film, Batman: Year One<\/em> (2011).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That may please comic-book fans, but their big title of the\nweek is The Outsiders<\/em> (1983). Based on the S. E. Hinton novel, it\u2019s a\nperiod piece that follows the lives of a group of teens from the wrong side of\nthe tracks. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather<\/em>, Apocalypse\nNow<\/em>), the movie features an amazing cast of future stars like Matt Dillion,\nRalph Macchio, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise\nand C. Thomas Howell and is an effective and well-shot teen drama. Coppola\nlater recut the movie to more closely represent the original book – that\nversion has been released on Blu-ray, but the original theatrical cut has never\nbeen available in high definition. Frankly, I prefer the original cut, which is\nleaner and more effective. I even like the bombastic score in the earlier\nversion, which is grandiose but matches the heightened teen emotions on\ndisplay. Whichever version you prefer, this exclusive 4K Ultra HD + Digital edition\nthat presents both versions of the movie with the highest possible quality. And\nit comes with a ton of bonuses both new and old that are certain to please fans\nof the feature. Hopefully a regular Blu-ray version will follow in the near\nfuture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Warner Archives are making made-to-order Blu-rays\navailable through Amazon of the films, Fury <\/em>(1936), Ladies They Talk\nAbout<\/em> (1933) and The Last of Sheila<\/em> (1973).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the week\u2019s kid-friendly titles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spirit Riding Free: Spirit of Christmas<\/em> – Netflix-special
Where the Red Fern Grows<\/em> (2003) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ON THE TUBE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And these are all of the TV-themed releases arriving on\nstore shelves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Aliens<\/em>: Season 14
The Christmas Doctor<\/em> (Hallmark TV-movie) DVD
Christmas in Homestead<\/em> (Hallmark TV-movie) DVD
A Cookie Cutter Christmas<\/em> (Hallmark TV-movie) DVD
DC\u2019s Legends of Tomorrow<\/em>: Season 6 Blu-ray
Emily in Paris<\/em>: Season 1
FRONTLINE: America After 9\/11<\/em> (PBS) DVD
A Goodwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love<\/em> (Hallmark TV-movie) DVD
Muhammad Ali: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon<\/em> (PBS) Blu-ray
Saved by the Bell<\/em>: Season 1 (new 2020 series)
Snowpiercer<\/em>: Season 2 Blu-ray
When the Heart Calls Holiday Double Feature: Home for Christmas & The Greatest Christmas Wish<\/em> DVD
Younger<\/em>: The Complete Series <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n