Welcome once again to our summary of what’s new on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s another busy week with a great deal of variety – here are the highlights. As always, be sure to click on any link to read more detailed reviews of some of the films. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, but sure to give one of these new releases a try!
Big New Releases!
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – The summer may not even be over yet, but one of its big releases at theaters has already arrived on home video (in separate 3D and 2D versions). This sequel to the 2012 comic book hero reboot finds Peter Parker juggling his relationship with Gwen Stacy while facing off against numerous foes including Electro, The Rhino and Green Goblin. With so much on his plate, something’s gotta give for the superhero. The press were split on this latest installment. They called the action and effects impressive, but the story dark and overstuffed with too many characters. It features Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dane DeHaan, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti and Sally Field. Read the site’s original full-length review here.
Fading Gigolo – John Turturro directs and stars as a man who decides to become a male prostitute in order to help out a cash strapped friend (played by Woody Allen). Critics were evenly divided on the final product. They all found it silly in concept and felt that it ran out of gas by its final act, but admitted it garnered some crude laughs and enjoyed the chemistry between the two oddball leads. In addition to Turturro and Allen, the movie also includes appearances by Sophia Vergara, Sharon Stone, Vanessa Paradis and Liev Schrieber.
Go for Sisters – The latest drama from indie writer/director John Sayles (Lone Star, The Secret of Roan Inish, Passion Fish, City of Hope) follows two female childhood friends who reunite after one of their sons goes missing in Tijuana. They enlist the help of an ex-police detective to help them cross the border and attempt a rescue. It stars Lisa Gay Hamilton, Yolanda Ross and Edward James Olmos. Reviews were mostly positive, praising the subtle tone and strong work of the cast. However, they did admit that the pacing was slow and the film would appeal most those familiar with the director’s low-key approach.
Jarhead 2: Field of Fire – Be forewarned: this sequel-in-name-only to the well-regarded 2005 original war film appears to have been made exclusively for the straight-to-video market. It tells the tale of a unit trying to move an Afghan woman through war torn Afghanistan. The title has yet to be reviewed and based on the misleading titles looks like one you should approach with caution. Cole Hauser, Danielle Savre and Bokeem Woodbine lead the cast.
Only Lovers Left Alive – Independent art house film auteur Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, Samurai Dog, Broken Flowers) presents his bizarre spin on the vampire genre in this story about a pair of depressed, centuries-old lovers/musicians whose lives are uprooted by the appearance of a wild and irrepressible family member. The impressive list of actors involved include Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt, Anton Yelchin and Jeffrey Wright. It received mostly upbeat reviews. Many suggested that while being very slowly-paced (like most of the director’s other works), it is a hypnotic and memorably strange effort.
The Quiet Ones – Scare fans may appreciate this horror flick that emulates British Hammer efforts of the early 70’s. A professor and his students head to a remote mansion to study a young woman who seems to be able to communicate with the spirit world. Of course, it isn’t long before supernatural events begin to occur around the group. Although it did receive some positive notices, the majority of critics weren’t particularly fond of this effort. They suggested that while the jump scares were effectively handled, the film on the whole was too derivative of its cinematic inspirations. It stars Jared Harris, Sam Clafin and Olivia Cooke. Read the site’s full length review here.
Rosmary’s Baby – This remake aired as a three-hour NBC TV Miniseries and not a feature film, but it was such a high profile production that it has been including in this section. This modern adaptation of the famed suspense tale moves the setting to Paris but retains the same plot – a pregnant woman fears that there may be something unholy about both her neighbors and unborn child. It was extremely poorly received by reviewers. They called it a gory, schlock-ridden remake that possessed none of the style and artfulness of the original 1968 film. Zoe Saldana, Patrick J. Adams and Jason Isaacs headline the production.
The Sacrament – A pair of reporters looking for a missing sibling travel out to the boonies in this independent, found-footage horror flick from director Ti West (The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers). Once there, they encounter a large cult led by a charismatic but menacing leader. The press gave this effort a few more positive than negative write-ups. They agreed that the found-footage format did the story little favors and that the themes became confused and muddled by the close. However, many wrote that the first half of the film is extremely tense and that the film was frightening enough on the whole to earn it a pass.
When I Saw You – This foreign film from Palestine, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates earned raves upon its limited release. Set in 1967, the drama follows a young boy who crosses the Palestine border with refugees and ends up trapped in an overcrowded camp. Desperate to meet his missing father who hasn’t shown up, he wanders back into the desert to locate him. Critics called it a powerfully understated film that uses its unique point-of-view to effectively convey a strong and humanist message.
Blasts From the Past!
As always, Shout! Factory always seem to have something interesting up their sleeves. This week their Scream Factory line brings the 1989 horror flick Leviathan to Blu-ray. It was part of a strange trend from the era that brought water-themed science-fiction and horror films to the big screen. Included were flicks like The Abyss, Deepstar Six and Endless Descent aka The Rift (I’m probably the only one out there who remembers that one!). Leviathan follows a deep sea mining crew who find a wreck and accidentally bring a life-form into their undersea quarters. Many criticized it for being a poor man’s mash-up of The Thing and Alien and the comparisons are noticeable. What’s surprising are the big names that appear in this film, including Peter Weller, Richard Crenna, Amanda Pays, Ernie Hudson, Daniel Stern, Hector Elizondo and Meg Foster. The cast do make the events more interesting than they have any right to be. It’s no masterpiece, but the end result is a cheese-ball ninety minutes of movie-watching fun that, one way or another, should amuse old-school monster movie fans. It’s been newly transferred to Blu-ray with a trailer as well as some interviews Elizondo, Hudson and the make-up team that brought the slimy sea monster to life.
Sci-fi fans on a budget may want to pick up a double-feature Blu-ray from Mill Creek that contains the 50’s B-movie flicks 20 Million Miles to Earth and It Came From Beneath the Sea.
Criterion is also releasing a pair of noteworthy Spanish-language titles. First up from Spain is Pedro Almodovar’s well-regarded bizarre black comedy Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! Released in 1989, it’s a very, very oddball effort that features an early performance from actor Antonio Banderas. It’s not for everyone but it does have its fans. The many extras on this elaborate Blu-ray include not only a recent digital restoration of the picture, but also a new documentary and interviews about the production.
Criterion are also bringing an early film from recent Oscar winning director Alfonso Cauron. Y tu Mama Tambien is a strongly-received Mexican coming-of-age drama from 2001 that received praise upon its original release. The Blu-ray features plenty of new interviews and includes deleted scenes. Both of these titles also include rewritten and improved English subtitles.
Finally, Olive is bringing the 1946 Ginger Rogers and David Niven drama Magnificent Doll to Blu-ray.
You Know, For Kids!
There isn’t a whole lot this week, but here are the highlights (which oddly enough feature subject matter more appropriate for Halloween).
The Boxcar Children
Toy Story of Terror
Scooby-Doo: Frankencreepy
On the Tube!
There are plenty of recent and popular shows coming out, so that viewers can catch up with a lot of programs before their upcoming season premieres. Also arriving is a box set of Three’s Company that contains the complete series. Yep, that’s all 172 episodes (along with the unaired pilot) of this late 70’s, early 80’s sit-com staple. Just to refresh your memory, here’s an opening that features Don Knotts (who was a late arrival to the program). Enjoy the show’s subtle comedy stylings!
37 Days (BBC Miniseries)
Boardwalk Empire: Season 4
Churchill’s First World War (BBC)
A Haunting: Season 6
The Millers: Season 1
The Mindy Project: Season 2
My Boy Jack (BBC TV Movie starring Daniel Radcliffe and Carey Mulligan)
NCIS: Season 11
Newhart: Season 4
Once Upon A Time: Season 3
Parenthood: Season 5
Parks & Recreation: Season 6
Revolution: Season 2
Rosemary’s Baby (TV Miniseries)
Royal Cousins at War (BBC)
Secrets of the Dead: The Mona Lisa Mystery
Three’s Company: The Complete Series