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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDECISION TO LEAVE \u2013 A man plunges from the top of a mountain\npeak in South Korea. Soon after, a detective arrives on the scene and must\ndetermine whether the death was a suicide or murder. The investigation leads to\nthe deceased man\u2019s wife, but the lead finds himself torn between doing his job\nand fulfilling his own desires with the lady. This South Korean drama earned\ncritical praise and is currently being considered by the Academy for a Best\nInternational Film Oscar nomination. A small number of reviews complained that\nthe story borrowed heavily from the work of Alfred Hitchcock and that the\nsecond half faltered and didn\u2019t maintain tension. Still, everyone else called\nit a beautifully shot, twisty, clever and engrossing thriller that benefitted\nfrom excellent performances. It stars Tang Wei, Park Hae-il and Lee Jung-hyun\nKyun. Interested parties should note that the disc\u2019s release is specially\nscheduled for February 14th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THE ESTATE \u2013 After learning that their wealthy aunt is\nterminally ill, a pair of cash-strapped sisters decide to visit their relative.\nThey try to charm and cozy their way into the will. Little do they realize that\nevery member of their extended family has very the same idea. They all gather\ntogether and struggle to try and impress the dying woman. This comedy boasts an\nimpressive cast but didn\u2019t win the favor of reviewers. About one-third of them\nadmitted that the game performers managed to deliver some laughs at the expense\nof the greedy characters and enjoyed it for that reason. But the majority\nthought that the screenplay was unfunny and the comic timing was off (due to\nthe poor editing). They also found the story unoriginal and predictable. For\nthe time being, this title is only available on DVD. The cast includes Toni\nCollette, Anna Faris, David Duchovny, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston and\nKathleen Turner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THE FRIENDSHIP GAME \u2013 A group of teenagers attend a garage\nsale and purchase a strange object that is said to be a strange game. They are\ninstructed to gather around the item and share their innermost desires with\neach other. If they can stay friends and get through the ordeal that follows,\nthey win. It doesn\u2019t sound like a fun time, but the kids decide to play anyway\nand experience horrors beyond anything they could have imagined. Notices were\nvery poor for this chiller. It looked like one reviewer appreciated the work of\nthe young cast and gave it a recommendation based on their performances.\nEveryone else commented that the screenplay was completely nonsensical and the\nmeaning of the film was lost in all of the preposterous story turns. It\nfeatures Peyton List, Brendan Meyer, Kelcey Mawema, Jennifer Copping and Miriam\nSmith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GERRY ANDERSON \u2013 A LIFE UNCHARTED \u2013 For those unfamiliar\nwith British producer Gerry Anderson, this figure was responsible for some\niconic children\u2019s programs, most notably the Thunderbirds<\/em> series\nstarring a cast of puppets. But behind the scenes, the man endured personal\ntragedy and his blunt personality made his work-life tumultuous – the man\ncreated just as many enemies as fiends in the business. His son uses archival\nclips with the man and those who worked with him to try and get a clearer\npicture of the individual. This independent production hasn\u2019t been seen by many\nin this part of the world, but online notices from abroad were positive. They\nthought it was an interesting, bittersweet and very candid account of the life\nof a man responsible for an iconic series. For the time being, this is a\nDVD-only release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019M TOTALLY FINE \u2013 This independent comedy\/drama involves a\nwoman attempting to deal with the sudden death of her best friend and business\npartner. The protagonist ventures out of town to try and regroup, but ends up\nreceiving a shock when an extraterrestrial appears and takes the form of her\ndeceased bestie. The strange situation allows the lead to deal with her trauma,\nwhile the alien tries to learn the strange ways of human behavior. Write-ups\nfor the movie were more positive than negative. About one third of critics\ncalled it one-note and didn\u2019t think it addressed any of the themes it raised in\na meaningful or even amusing way. But the majority believed that while odd, the\nleads were likable and that the eccentric film was original and delivered\nplenty of chuckles. Jillian Bell, Natalie Morales, Blake Anderson and Harvey\nGuill\u00e9n headline the feature. This title is a DVD-only release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PIGGY \u2013 While on summer holiday, an awkward teenage girl is\ntormented by other youths who make fun of her weight. One day, she witnesses\none of those abusers being kidnapped and chooses to do nothing about it. More\nof the nasty bullies vanish, and the teen and killer continue to keep quiet\nabout the crimes. Feeling guilty for doing nothing and realizing that she is\nnow an accessory to the psychopath, the lead tries to figure out what to do\nnext. The Spanish, foreign-language chiller earned raves from the press. A tiny\ncontingent argued that while nuanced, it was still an exploitation flick that\ndidn\u2019t delve deeply enough into the lead character\u2019s psyche. Everyone else\nwrote that the movie was an impressive homage to 70s horror. They complimented\nit for dealing with complex teenage emotions in new (and disturbing) ways and\nwere also impressed by the lead performance. The film stars Laura Gal\u00e1n and\nCarmen Machi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n POKER FACE \u2013 A tech billionaire and gambler prides himself\non his ability to read competitors and get the better of them. He decides to\nhost a high-stakes poker game between himself and friends. As the evening\nprogresses, it becomes clear that the host is plotting something strange.\nThings get even more complicated when armed thieves appear and threaten the\nlives of all the attendees. This picture stars and was directed by Russell\nCrowe. Unfortunately, it didn\u2019t get much love from critics. A handful said the\ncast was fine and that it was better than many recent action B-movies. However,\nthe consensus was that there were fewer surprises from the script than hoped\nfor and that the final product was unmemorable. The cast also includes Liam\nHemsworth, RZA, Elsa Pataky, Brooke Satchwell and Aden Young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER: FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE \u2013\nCountry music fans may appreciate this documentary featuring two popular\nartists from different eras coming together and collaborating. After music star\nBrandi Carlile expresses her love of Tucker\u2019s music and realizes that her idol\nhasn\u2019t recorded any new material in 15 years, she sets out to find the star and\nconvince her to record another album. Viewers learn the reasons that Tucker\nstepped away from the spotlight and watch the pair work together on new\nmaterial. Response was upbeat towards the feature. A small number didn\u2019t think\nthey weren\u2019t getting enough details about Tucker and wrote that it all felt\nlike a commercial for the two artists. Still, most found it fascinating to\nwatch the pair of icons work together and found the experience interesting and\nengaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SHE SAID \u2013 This biopic tells the story of New York Times\nreporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who broke the story about the horrible\nacts committed by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. After receiving and\ninvestigating reports of sexual harassment committed by the powerful figure,\nthe two conduct interviews and discover a shocking series of wrongdoings. They\ncompel the victims to stand together and contend with legal threats from\nWeinstein. Reviews were very good for this picture. A small number noted that\nwhile the story being told was important, this depiction was dramatically flat\nand thought it fawned over the New York Times too much. Still, the majority\nstated that the lead performances were excellent and that the movie effectively\ndepicted the importance of investigative journalism and the diligence of those\nwho uncovered the truth. It stars Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson,\nAndre Braugher, Jennifer Elhe, Samantha Morton, Angela Yeoh and Ashley Judd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VESPER \u2013 Set in the future, this science-fiction effort\ntakes place after the collapse of Earth\u2019s ecosystem. As most plants and humans\ndie out, an oppressive oligarchy takes over. In the meantime, a clever teenager\nand her father try to eke out a new life in the wild. When a government ship\ncrashes near them, the girl discovers a survivor. Using her bio-hacking\nability, she attempts to create plant life and save the planet. This\nEnglish-language European production was well-received. A few thought that the\nmovie looked great but that the story didn\u2019t involve them in the plight of the\nmain character. Yet the general consensus was that the film was not only moody,\noriginal and visually stunning, but also thrilling in its depiction of\ncharacters trying to salvage something out of an apocalypse. The cast includes\nRaffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan, Rosy McEwen and Richard Blake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VOODOO MACBETH \u2013 This drama tells the story of director\nOrson Welles. Before he shot to fame directing the 1941 classic Citizen Kane<\/em>,\nthe aspiring 20-year-old filmmaker was hired to direct the first all-Black cast\nstage production of Macbeth<\/em> by William Shakespeare. The story follows\nthe filmmaker as he changes the setting of the play to 19th<\/sup> century\nHaiti, adds voodoo elements and unites a cast to perform a new adaptation. This\nindependent feature was a USC student project made by students and it was\ngenerally well-received. Nearly one-third of critics found the film admirable,\nbut asserted that with so many figures behind the camera, it was clumsily made.\nStill, most were impressed by the work of those involved and thought the movie\nwas an interestingly dramatized and important story. Inger Tudor, Jewell Wilson\nBridges. June Schreiner and Jeremy Tardy headline the film. NOTE: This title\nmay have been delayed until next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BLASTS FROM THE PAST!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoy older picture, you have plenty to choose from\nthis week. 88 Films is delivering the fantastic Hong Kong action picture Dragons\nForever<\/em> (1988) starring Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. It is arriving in a 4K\nUltra HD and Blu-ray package. The story follows a pair of lawyers who are hired\nby a chemical company. When they realize what their employers are doing, they\nfight back. You\u2019ll get three different versions of the movie with remastered\npicture, a film expert commentary, outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage,\ndeleted scenes, shorts and archival programs about how the movie was made and\nthe careers of its stars, tons of publicity materials and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also pick up a later Jackie Chan effort called Gorgeous<\/em>\n(1999). A lovely woman falls for a businessman played by Chan, but the two face\nobstacles when the lead\u2019s lifelong rival targets the lovers. This is a Special\nEdition that contains the Hong Kong cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, Magnificent Warriors<\/em> (1987) with\nMichelle Yeoh is also arriving on disc. It\u2019s an adventure picture set against\nthe backdrop of World War II. It is also said to be a Special Edition, although\nextras haven\u2019t been listed. There are also rumors on online chat boards that\nthere might be a release delay, so you might be advised to watch just in case\nthere is a problem. Whenever these arrive, it\u2019s great to see the pictures\nreceiving Blu-ray releases in North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arrow Video is presenting The Dunwich Horror<\/em> (1970)\non Blu-ray. This is a well-received H.P. Lovecraft adaptation that came on the\nheels of the Paramount hit Rosemary\u2019s Baby and deals with students using a copy\nof the Necronomicon<\/em> to potentially release some sinister forces. The\ncamera negative was given a 4K scan for this release, meaning that the picture\nquality has been improved dramatically. You\u2019ll also get a film historian\ncommentary, a conversation with critics discussing Lovecraft, a featurette on\nthe movie as well as the score, a trailer and an image gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sonny Chiba is a well-known figure to movie fans. Arrow is\nalso releasing The Executioner Collection<\/em>, which contains The\nExecutioner<\/em> (1974) and Executioner II: Karate Inferno<\/em> (1974). They\nlook like two fun, action-packed Japanese efforts. Bonuses include a film\nhistorian commentary, a featurette on Chiba\u2019s career, trailers, image galleries\nand more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The award-winning French\/Swiss drama The Gang of Four<\/em>\n(1989) is arriving on Blu-ray from Cohen Media Group. It\u2019s about four acting\nstudents who must deal with a difficult teacher and a police investigation\ninvolving a former roommate. The disc contains a 4K restoration of the movie, a\nfilm professor commentary and a trailer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Imitation of Life<\/em> (1934) is arriving on Blu-ray from\nCriterion. It\u2019s a melodrama detailing the lives of two struggling mothers. The\nmovie has been given a 4K restoration for this release. Extras include\nfeaturettes with critics discussing the picture, a trailer and an essay on the\nmovie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kino is delivering a new HD master of the David Janssen\ncrime picture, Warning Shot<\/em> (1967). The story follows a sergeant who\nshoots an armed suspect that turns out to be a respected doctor. After being\ncharged with manslaughter, he attempts to prove his innocence. The disc\nfeatures a film expert commentary track and trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mondo Macabro is presenting the Japanese genre picture House\nof Terrors<\/em> (1965) and the bizarre Italian effort In the Folds of the\nFlesh<\/em> (1970), which features a family of amorous maniacs. Both of these\ndiscs will likely include bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paramount has slowly been rereleasing Friday the 13th<\/sup><\/em>\ntitles in Steelbook packaging. This week, it\u2019s Friday the 13th<\/sup>:\nThe Final Chapter<\/em> (1984) arriving in a sleek, hard case. Obviously, it\nwasn\u2019t the last installment, but it is one of the better sequels in the series\n(thanks to some over-the-top make-up effects from Tom Savini) and should please\ngenre fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shout! Factory is giving the horror picture Ouija<\/em>\n(2014) a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release. In addition to the upgraded picture\nquality, all of the previously featured extras will be included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The highlight of the week might be a 30th<\/sup>\nAnniversary Edition of Groundhog Day<\/em> (1993) from Sony Pictures. The\ncomedy is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set, meaning it\u2019ll look better\nthan it ever has before (and perhaps even sharper than it did when it played on\nthe big screen). The comedy stars Bill Murray as a crabby weatherman covering a\nholiday event in a small town. He is soon forced by powers beyond his\nunderstanding to relive the same day over and over again. It\u2019s a hilarious\nclassic with great performances and plenty of amusing situations as the\nexasperated lead deals with an unusual dilemma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Warner Archive is releasing Blu-rays of the Joan\nCrawford drama Our Dancing Daughters<\/em> (1928) and the western, Rancho\nNotorious<\/em> (1952).<\/p>\n\n\n\n YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a slow edition for kid-friendly titles, but rest\nassured that more are coming soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ON THE TUBE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are all the week\u2019s TV-themed releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crossword Mysteries: 2-Movie Collection \u2013 Terminal\nDescent & Riddle Me Dead<\/em> (Hallmark) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear the Walking Dead<\/em>: Season 7 (Lionsgate) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good Girls<\/em>: The Complete Series (Universal) Blu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Man Who Fell to Earth<\/em>: Season 1 (Paramount)\nBlu-ray<\/p>\n\n\n\n NATURE: Woodpeckers \u2013 The Hole Story<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOVA: Can Psychedelics Cure?<\/em> (PBS) DVD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Season Of Love Double Feature \u2013 Harmony from the Heart\n& An Autumn Romance<\/em> (Shout!) 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