Guilty of Romance<\/em> – This Japanese production mixes elements of drama and horror. It follows a cop who uncovers various dark secrets while investigating a brutal murder in the “love hotel” district of Tokyo. Reviews were mixed on this foreign language effort – while most called it bizarre, outlandish and at times interesting, many felt that it wandered off on too many tangents and was overlong (the running time is listed at nearly 145 minutes). It doesn’t help that the movie was completed in 2011 and is only now finding distribution in North America.<\/p>\n Persecuted<\/em> – A devout evangelist opposes a US Senator seeking religious reforms in this Christian flick. Apparently, the government official feels his best option is to frame his foe for murder. The less than subtle premise met with terrible reviews from the press. They called it silly, heavy-handed, jumbled and nonsensical. Additionally, they chided the filmmakers for wasting a shockingly good cast that includes James Remar, Dean Stockwell and Bruce Davison. Expect this title to be on many “worst of the year” lists.<\/p>\n Venus in Fur<\/em> – Director Roman Polanski’s latest movie is an adaptation of a two-person play. The story follows a stage director and an actress whose roles become reversed during a lengthy and intense audition. Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric are the leads and only actors in the entire production. Critics were very positive about this French-language effort, praising the darkly comic and compelling performances of the two stars. Read the site’s original review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blasts From the Past!<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"DVD-last-supper\"](\"http:\/\/www.cinemastance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/DVD-last-supper.jpg\")
<\/a>The Last Supper<\/em> – Described as an epic period war flick, this Chinese production tells the tale of the beginnings of the Han Dynasty. It’s debuting on DVD and Blu-ray in North American, so local critics haven’t seen it yet. Reports from other parts of the world suggest that it’s a far artier movie than expected, with an interpretative approach to the material between its battle scenes. Seems to be hit and miss with viewers, although most have agreed that if nothing else, it is a beautiful looking film. <\/p>\n<\/a>Mr. Peabody & Sherman<\/em> – Family audiences will likely be interested in this animated update of the Rocky & Bullwinkle<\/em> characters. This effort follows the dog and boy as they go on a time travel adventure and drop goofy puns and one-liners along the way. Reviews were very positive for the film. A few voices didn’t feel the remake had the charm of its source material but most found it to be a fun and zippy trip boosted with colorful animation. The voice cast includes Ty Burrell, Leslie Mann, Max Charles, Stanley Tucci, Stephen Colbert, Patrick Warburton, Dennis Haysbert and Mel Brooks. Read the site’s full-length review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Mystery Road<\/em> – This independent Aussie crime flick with a decidedly western feel involves an officer with an Aboriginal background. When he investigates the murder of a teenage girl in the outback, he faces all sorts of troubles with the prejudiced locals. It has received raves from critics. Many called it a leisurely paced but tense and effective slow-burn thriller with a deep message. It stars Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten. <\/p>\n<\/a>X-Men: Days of Future Past<\/em> – One of the biggest hits of the summer was this comic book adaptation that serves as both a prequel and a sequel. When a new menace threatens the lives of not only mutants but all humanity, Wolverine is sent back in time to alter history. To do so, he must convince enemies to join forces for the greater good. Notices were excellent, calling it one of the franchise’s best films. The incredible cast includes Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen as well as Peter Dinklage… and that’s just scratching the surface. Read our more detailed review of the movie here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/a>It’s a big week for classic releases from Universal Pictures. The Steven Spielberg Director’s Collection<\/em> contains 8 noteworthy films. They include the fantastic thriller Duel<\/em> (1971), the Goldie Hawn comedy\/drama The Sugarland Express<\/em> (1974), Jaws<\/em> (1975), both the theatrical and extended cuts of the wacky John Belushi comedy 1941<\/em> (1979), E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial<\/em> (1982), Always<\/em> (1989), as well as Jurassic Park<\/em> (1993) and its sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park <\/em>(1997). In addition to the hi-def transfers of some of the lesser known films of the director, there are extras like documentaries and deleted scenes that are also included. Sounds like a great package.<\/p>\n