Happy Valentine’s Day! Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. Even though the big February holiday is here, it isn’t all romance features. In fact, there is a wide variety of titles coming in many different genres. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies or need to stay indoors this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS – At the beginning of this romantic comedy, a young woman is rather cruelly dumped by her boyfriend as he leaves for a trip. The lead is even more surprised when her ex’s parents call and ask that she spend the holidays with them. After confirming that her old boyfriend won’t be there, she agrees and travels to the countryside. The initial awkwardness dissipates quickly and sparks fly when the single cousin of the lead’s ex suddenly visits. This effort didn’t garner a lot of positive press. About one-third of reviewers enjoyed the work of the cast. They thought that the end result delivered laughs and poked fun at Hallmark titles with unexpectedly raunchy humor. Sadly, the majority complained that it was all predictable and that the shift in tone from romance to crudeness didn’t work at all. The movie stars Brittany Snow, Justin Long, Alex Moffat, Julia Duffy and George Wendt.
DARK GLASSES – 82-year-old Italian horror maestro Dario Argento (Deep Red, Suspiria) returns with this gory shocker set in Rome. The story follows a serial killer who uses cello wire to strangle escorts at a luxury hotel. When an intended victim is chased through the streets and is stuck by a car, she suffers permanent blindness and the maniac temporarily retreats. But he soon continues his pursuit as the protagonist attempts to adjust to living without sight. The final results split the press. Half thought that while the film had its moments, it was still a collection of similar bits and pieces from the filmmaker’s earlier, and better, cinematic efforts. Yet the same number (and a couple more) thought that the opening sequence was stellar, the lead performance was strong and that the feature was one of Argento’s stronger recent efforts. The cast includes Ilenia Pastorelli, Asia Argento, Andrea Gherpelli and Xinyu Zhang.
DEAR ZOE – When a teenage girl tragically loses a sibling, she and her family struggle to deal with the terrible loss. While others in the household use therapy and conventional means to grieve, it doesn’t work for the rebellious lead and looks for support in unconventional places. This includes her biological father from the other side of the tracks, as well as a dangerous juvenile delinquent who lives nearby. Reaction towards this drama was positive overall. Nearly one-third of critics commented that the writing wasn’t strong and that the feature felt overly melodramatic and ineffective. Still, more complimented the lead performance and thought it was a sweet film about grief that included plenty of moving moments. It features Sadie Sink, Theo Rossi, Jessica Capshaw, Justin Bartha, Kweku Collins and Vivien Lyra Blair.
DECISION TO LEAVE – This foreign-language crime/drama from South Korea involves the sudden and mysterious death of a man who falls from a mountain peak. A policeman arrives to investigate and determine whether the man committed suicide or was murdered. He quickly begins to suspect the man’s wife of being the responsible, but finds himself drawn closer to her as things progress. Reviewers raved about the movie and it was nominated for several awards by critic groups (however, it did not receive an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature). A handful wrote that it was a slow-moving and ineffective homage to Alfred Hitchcock. Everyone else stated that it was beautifully shot and thrilling to watch. They also referred to it as incredibly clever and praised an unexpected twist near the close. Park Hae-il, Tang Wei and Lee Jung-hyun headline the feature.
THE FABELMANS – The latest from Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones series, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan and many more) is a semi-autobiographical story about a young man in Arizona who aspires to become a filmmaker. While he pursues his dreams, a major family conflict arises and he attempts to use movies to deal with a troubled reality. For the most part, the press gave the film high marks and it has been nominated for nine Academy Awards. A small contingent didn’t think the story was particularly compelling, and noted that it presented the youthful lead as an almost flawless individual. Still, the consensus was that the cast was exceptional and that the story did a fine job of depicting the inspirational power of movies. The film will be available in a variety of formats, including 4K Ultra HD and regular Blu-ray. It stars Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle and Judd Hirsch.
HOUSE PARTY – House Party starring Kid ‘n Play was a successful 1990 comedy that earned solid reviews and inspired a series of sequels through the 90s and beyond. This remake features a new cast of young leads. The story involves two best friends and aspiring club promoters who spend their days working as house cleaners in Los Angeles. When they are asked to clean the mansion of NBA star LeBron James, they use the gig as an opportunity to host a huge party and make connections. Reviewers largely panned this new take on the series. A small number appreciated the fact that it attempted to do something different with the original concept and thought it delivered enough laughs to entertain. Alas, most complained that it wasn’t as funny or heartfelt as the original. They also suggested that fewer and fewer of the jokes worked as it progressed. The cast includes Jacob Latimore, Tosin Cole, DC Young Fly, Karen Obilom, Melvin Gregg, Rotimi and Kid Cudi.
PROJECT WOLF HUNTING – This foreign-language action picture from South Korea involves a number of criminals being sent on a plane from the Philippines to the city of Seoul. The villainous masterminds plot a daring escape that quickly escalates into a bloody riot in the air. The officers onboard must not only deal with the thugs, but also the villain’s allies on the runway after they land. The final product received more upbeat write-ups than negative pieces. Some did comment that the movie seemed like 1997’s Con-Air on steroids and was so overly violent that it reminded them of a video game. Still, many more were amused by the action and geysers of blood flying across the screen with reckless abandon, claiming that it delivered craziness they couldn’t help but enjoy. It features In-guk Sei, Dong-yoon Jang, Dong Il Sung and So-min Jung.
SAVAGE SALVATION – In a small town where the two biggest interests are its church and/or oxycodone, a sheriff and detective attempt to keep their small town safe. When a newly engaged couple with connections to the leads ask for help in getting clean, the officers are happy to assist. But when one of them is discovered dead, the pair end up with two problems on their hands. The first is finding out who was responsible, and the second is keeping the significant other from going on a vengeance-filled rampage. There are only a few reviews available so far for this low-budget action film and they haven’t been complementary. The write-ups have all called the film a waste of a great cast, stating that it was a by-the-numbers effort worsened with an awkwardly put-together climax. Jack Huston, Robert De Niro, John Malkovich, Willa Fitzgerald, Quavo and Dale Dickey.
SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A HERO DOG – Also released under the title Shepherd: The Story of a Jewish Dog, this co-production between Hungary and the US has taken a couple of years to arrive in North America. The story begins in 1935 and follows a Jewish boy in Berlin whose beloved German Shepherd is taken by Nazi forces when the Nuremberg Laws come into effect. The dog is trained by an SS Officer to be a vicious guard dog at a concentration camp. But the animal becomes confused when its young owner arrives as a prisoner. The boy and pooch reconnect and attempt to escape together. Notices for the family-friendly war drama were good. A handful found it too obvious and emotionally manipulative to be effective. Regardless, the consensus was that the film would appeal to dog-lovers and that its inspirational message subtly and effectively conveyed the horrors of war to youths. August Maturo, Ken Duken and Ayelet Zurer headline the feature.
STRANGE WORLD – This animated tale follows a family led by a legendary explorer. After he and his son have a blow out and go their separate ways, the patriarch disappears. The boy grows up and uses his botany skills to power his community. Many years later, his own teenage son begins to feel an urge to explore the world around him. When an environmental issue threatens their land, the two head out to search for an answer. The press generally enjoyed this feature from Disney. About one-quarter of reviewers stated that the visuals were great, but that the human drama was not. They also called some of the movie’s messages contradictory. Still, most thought that the title environment was phenomenal and that there were plenty of thrills, excitement and laughs to be had. This title can be purchased in an assortment of formats, including 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combos and regular Blu-ray editions. The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Alan Tudyk, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu. Read a full review of the film here.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
Looking for some older titles? You have plenty of options to choose from. Arrow Video is presenting the Giallo Essentials box set, which contains three previously-released Italian thrillers in one box set. It contains The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (1971), The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire (1971) and The Suspicious Death of a Minor (1975). This edition includes 2K restorations of all of the titles as well as every single extra included in earlier versions, including film historian commentaries, video appreciations, interviews and much more.
Love on the Ground (1984) is a well-regarded French comedy about a play within a play within a play. When a viewer hires the cast of a stage show to create a story about his own life and then perform it in his home, the line between reality and fiction blurs for all involved. Cohen Media Group is releasing this Blu-ray, which comes with a 4K restoration of the title, a director commentary and a re-release trailer.
Since it’s February, Criterion is putting out a Blu-ray of one of the oldest and best-known love stories ever written. Romeo and Juliet (1968) from filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli is considered by many to be the greatest cinematic adaptation of the play about two doomed young lovers. This version contains a 4K picture restoration, an excerpt about the movie from a 2018 documentary on the director, interviews with cast members Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting from 1967 and 2016, a trailer, as well as an essay on the film.
Kino is putting out plenty of Blu-rays this week, including The Bride Wore Black (1968). It’s a French thriller from François Truffaut with Jeanne Moreau as a woman who attempts to murder five specific men. The disc features a film historian commentary track and trailer. Additionally, the distributor is presenting the François Truffaut Collection Blu-ray set, which contains The Wild Child (1970), Small Change (1976), The Man Who Loved Women (1977) and The Green Room (1978) on two discs. It comes with trailers for all four titles.
Mississippi Mermaid (1969) is yet another title from the same filmmaker. This one is a period piece about a plantation owner who falls in love with a mail-order bride. Unfortunately, she may have nasty plans for him. The Blu-ray comes with a movie expert commentary and a trailer. The Story of Adele H. (1975) is another feature from, you guessed it, François Truffaut. Isabelle Adjani plays a woman who obsesses over and stalks a lieutenant, following him from continent to continent. This disc also comes with a critic commentary and a trailer.
Kino is also putting out the pre-Code drama, White Woman (1933) – their one title this week not made by Truffaut. Carole Lombard plays a nightclub singer who marries an abusive plantation owner and tries to escape his clutches. The Blu-ray presents a 2K master of the movie and includes a film historian commentary track.
Enjoy science-fiction B-movies? Then you should consider picking up Sci-Fi from the Vault: 4 Classic Films on Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment. The set presents the fun atomic-zombie picture Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), the monster movies It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955) and 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), as well as The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). This reviewer wasn’t familiar with the last title until looking it up. It is a parody of the 1958 Warner Bros. title Attack of the 50 ft Woman. The comedy stars Lou Costello as an inventor who accidentally turns his girlfriend into a giantess and then must find a way to shrink her back to normal size.
Mill Creek is also releasing Thrillers from the Vault on Blu-ray. This one includes a lot of Boris Karloff titles. The set includes The Black Room (1935), The Man They Could Not Hang (1939), Before I Hang (1940), The Man with Nine Lives (1940), The Devil Commands (1941), The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942), The Return of the Vampire (1943) with Bela Lugosi and the nuclear holocaust flick, Five (1951). All but the last two listed feature Karloff as the star.
Paramount is delivering 3 Days of the Condor (1975) on Blu-ray. In this thriller, Robert Redford plays a bookish CIA codebreaker whose team is murdered. He must save himself and try to stop the killers. If you’re looking for laughs, the studio is also re-releasing the comedy Blades of Glory (2007) on Blu-ray, in which Will Ferrell and Jon Heder play competitive figure skaters.
Additionally, Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992) is receiving the Paramount Presents treatment. The low-budget feature depicts a black high-school girl in Brooklyn trying to escape her street-corner life. It slowly has built up a following over the years and is now arriving on Blu-ray. The disc contains a 4K restoration of the film, an audio commentary with the director, a featurette on the filmmaker, and collectable packaging featuring a foldout image of the movie’s theatrical poster.
Powerhouse films are an international outfit, but have recently begun making inroads in the North American Blu-ray market. Enter Santo: The First Adventures of the Silver-Masked Man is a Blu-ray set containing the Mexican features Santo vs. Evil Brain (1961) and Santo vs. Infernal Men (1961). The films have received 4K restorations from the original camera negative, a feature-length documentary on director Jorge Garcia-Besné and his contributions to the history of Mexican cinema. There are also archival interviews and publicity materials.
Let’s Hope It’s a Girl (1986) aka Speriamo che sia Femminais arriving on Blu-ray from Raro Video. This Italian comedy involving family disagreements about an upcoming arrival won many awards in its homeland during its original release.
Martial arts movie fans can pick up the Jet Li Double Feature: The Legend of Fong Sai Yuk 1 & 2 (1993) on Blu-ray from Ronin Flix. The disc appears to be an exclusive Ronin release available only on their website. The first film is a hugely popular one and its sequel (which was made the same year) has never been released on Blu-ray in North America. Both feature film expert commentary tracks plus all of the bonus material from the original title that was released on the previous editions.
Finally, Shout! Factory is also getting into martial arts this week with their Blu-ray of Iron Monkey (1993) starring Donnie Yen. Pictured above and to the left, it’s a period film about a chivalrous robber who steals from the rich and redistributes his newly acquired wealth to the poor. Of course, he ends up having to use his cunning and fighting skills to evade capture. The disc includes a 2K restoration of the film, a commentary with a Hong Kong filmmaker and academic, featurettes on how the title found its way to the west, as well as a look at the rise to stardom of lead actor Yen. You’ll also get archived cast and crew interviews, trailers, TV spots and more.
Zu: Warriors from Magic Mountain (1983) is a classic that introduced many in North America to cinema from Hong Kong. It is a fantasy/adventure about a young man who learns kung-fu in order to take on a powerful demon and its army of vampires. This is a wild, crazy and memorable film with phenomenal visuals that has influenced many of today’s action filmmakers. The cast includes Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung and it marked an early effort from writer/producer/director Hark Tsui (the Once Upon a Time in China franchise, The Blade, the Black Mask series and, more recently, the Detective Dee movies… he also produced the above title, Iron Monkey). The disc presents a 2K restoration of the film, a Hong Kong movie academic commentary, an analysis of the movie, a look at its landmark visual effects, archival cast and crew interviews, as well as publicity materials. You’ll also get an alternate export cut that was prepared for European theaters. Sounds like a fantastic Blu-ray!
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
This week sees the release of a new Disney animated title. Additionally, Shepherd: The Story of a Hero Dog is an option, but the WWII backdrop may make it inappropriate for younger children so it hasn’t been listed below.
Strange World (Disney) 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, Blu-ray only and various other editions
ON THE TUBE!
Here are all of the week’s TV-themed releases.
American Gigolo: Season 1 (Paramount) Blu-ray
Dawson’s Creek: The Complete Series (Mill Creek Entertainment) Blu-ray
Longmire: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.) Blu-ray