Welcome once again to another editing focusing on the highlights of what is arriving this week on DVD and Blu-ray. As always, you can click on any links to read extensive reviews of the films in questions. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, but sure and give one of these titles a try!
Big New Releases!
Birdman – This satire of actors and the theater world was a massive sensation with critics earlier in the year and seems likely to win at least an Academy Award or two this weekend. The plot involves a desperate performer who attempts to mount an ambitious production on Broadway to revitalize his career. He soon finds his strange inner voice influencing his decisions. While a select few members of the press found the humor too actor-centric and the ending a bit abstract, others loved every minute of it. In the end, all found the camera-work and performances exceptional. It stars Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.
Dumb & Dumber To – Some 20 after the first film, the original stars return for this sequel that find two of the dopiest guys on the planet learning that one has fathered a son. They go on a cross country trip to find her. There were more negative reviews than positive for this effort. Most admitted it was better than expected and that there were a few laughs, but the majority found the film too hit and miss to recommend (although there were a few exceptions). It features Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Kathleen Turner, Rob Riggle and Laurie Holden. Read the site’s original full-length review right here.
Dying of the Light – Here’s a strange tale of a project that spiraled into turmoil. This independent but high-pedigree effort from director Paul Schrader (Affliction, Auto-Focus) featured Nicolas Cage, Anton Yelchin and Alexander Karim in thriller about a flawed and obsessive CIA agent driven to take down his biggest adversary before retirement. Reports have suggested producers didn’t like the dark tone and Schrader was locked out of the editing room. The director and cast have since disowned the film. Reviews were tepid for the released version, calling the new cut bland and the film only bolstered by its star performer’s eccentric mannerisms.
The Homesman – There was some Oscar buzz surrounding this western directed by Tommy Lee Jones, but it never quite caught hold with audiences. From a personal perspective, that was unfortunate. Frankly, it is a very strong effort featuring some great performances. This very downbeat tale involves a woman enlisted to move three women suffering from insanity across the west. She hires an experienced frontiersman to help, but the two find the task to be much more challenging than expected. Critics were very positive, calling it a grim but captivating film that depicts the true harshness of the old west. The movie stars Jones, Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep.
The Interview – It’s already available on Netflix, but viewers now have the opportunity to rent or own this controversial, gross-out comedy on video. A pair of tabloid journalists manage to land an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and become involved in a plot to assassinate him. The press were split about the film. Some (myself included) found it too scattershot and felt that it ultimately never capitalized on the concept’s satiric potential. Others found that there were enough amusing moments to earn it a pass. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Lizzie Caplan and Randall Park lead the cast.
Life Itself – This documentary was one of the favorites to land an Oscar nomination in its category. Although that didn’t happen, reviews were unanimously strong for the film that chronicles the life (warts-and-all) of popular Chicago-based film critic Roger Ebert. All called it heartfelt and inspiring. They suggested that it also provides fantastic, never-before-seen insight into his personal struggles and on a more amusing note, features some hilarious outtakes from his days as a nationally televised movie critic. Anyone with an interest in the film’s subject will likely come away from it pleased.
St. Vincent – Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts headline this coming-of-age comedy/drama that follows an awkward latchkey kid taken under the wing of his hard-drinking and very cranky neighbor. Despite the babysitter’s best intentions not to become too friendly, they begin to form an emotional bond while taking part in questionable activities. The movie was nominated for a couple of Golden Globes and generally received positive notices. They wrote that while the plotline was predictable, the talent kept things fresh and managed to deliver a few big laughs.
The Tale of Princess Kaguya – From the cofounder of Ghibli Studios in Japan comes this animated folk tale about a girl found in a stalk of bamboo who quickly grows into a young princess. It’s currently nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Oscars and stands a decent chance of upsetting the more popular choices. Reviews were unanimously upbeat. Writers stated that it was old-fashioned but gorgeously drawn with watercolors, and that it dealt with more complex themes than typical films of its ilk. This English-language version features the voices of Mary Steenburgen, James Caan, Chloe Grace Moretz and Lucy Liu.
The Theory of Everything – Speaking of Academy Awards, a Best Picture nominee is also making its way to video. This biopic drama tells the personal life of famed physicist Stephen Hawking and the struggles encountered in his personal life. It stars Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones and David Thewlis. The press were positive about the love-story/drama, praising the work of the cast for convincingly portraying their real-life counterparts. However, some critics took issue with the film’s shifting focus and felt it skimmed on the important details. To read a lengthy review of the film, click right here.
V/H/S: Viral – Horror fans will likely be interested the second sequel of this popular independent horror franchise. This time out, the anthology revolves around a police chase occurring through the streets of LA. As this occurs, five tales of terror unspool upon viewers. Critics were largely negative about this follow-up. They claimed that while there was a welcome emphasis on suspense over explicit gore this time out, the handheld-camera action scenes and very choppy editing made the film extremely difficult to follow or become fully engaged in. Now viewers can make up their own minds.
Blasts From the Past!
Wow, it’s time for another lengthy column detailing some of the classic and not-so-classic flicks arriving on Blu-ray.
As always, leave it to Shout! Factory to deliver another cult title to rabid fans. If memory serves, The Phantom of the Opera (1990) is no masterpiece of modern horror (some cite it as a guilty pleasure), but it does feature genre veteran Robert Englund as the title creature and an early appearance from actor Bill Nighy. This darker take on the character contains a nice new transfer and plenty of extras including a commentary from director and star as well as a making-of documentary. If you’re a fan of 80s B-movie horror, you’ll likely get a kick out of it.
Along with Kino Lorber, Olive have been putting out a great many titles on Blu-ray and DVD. While their discs don’t often feature a great deal in the way of extras, the transfers are usually excellent and they should be commended making several out-of-print titles available in high definition.
This week, the titles include an adaptation of the D.H. Lawrence novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1981) and the Robert Downey Jr., Kiefer Sutherland and Winona Ryder drama 1969 (1988). The later involves a college student attempting to deal with his estranged, conservative father while protesting the Vietnam War.
Any fans of The Beatles may be interested in the slapstick comedy Caveman (1981), starring Ringo Starr and his wife, Barbara Bach. In it, the title character becomes ostracized from his tribe members and attempts to forge a new life with some wacky locals. If memory serves, much of the humor revolves around farting and falling into dinosaur droppings, but some may enjoy its cheesy charms. It also features early appearances by Dennis Quaid and Shelley Long.
Speaking of comedy, Olive are also bringing The Road to Hong Kong (1962) to Blu-ray and DVD. It is the last “Road To” movie team-up between Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. This edition satirizes James Bond and the Dr. No film, which had been huge hit earlier in the year. Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) is a romantic comedy from director Billy Wilder starring Dean Martin as a piano teacher trying to sell songs to a popular nightclub singer. In How to Murder Your Wife (1965), Jack Lemmon portrays a cartoonist whose personal life influences his illustrated series and causing a major misunderstanding when many misinterpret it.
Remember those old Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon “Beach Party” movies? Olive is releasing two of these musical comedies, including Muscle Beach Party (1964) and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). These flicks feature their teenage leads dealing with an influx of body-builders as well as a motorcycle gang (not to mention skydiving, if the poster is to be believed).
Olive are also bringing a couple of Bruce Dern titles to Blu-ray. This includes the biker flick The Wild Angels (1966) co-starring Peter Fonda, and the trippy San Francisco-set thriller Psych-Out (1968) that also features Jack Nicholson.
From Criterion comes the well-regarded An Autumn Afternoon (1962). It’s a Japanese film about an aging widower attempting to arrange his daughter’s marriage. The new Blu-ray includes a 4K digital restoration of the movie’s elements, a film historian audio commentary and other tidbits.
Finally, Kino Lorber are making available the French Jacques Rivette film La Pont du Nord (1981). That’s a whole lot of classic titles to choose from.
You Know, For Kids!
There’s plenty of old-school animation thanks to the fine people at Mill Creek Entertainment. They’re releasing a number of animated series from the 80s, 90s and 00s in budget-friendly collections featuring select episodes. These may end up being of more interest to nostalgic adults than today’s kids, but you can read them about them and make up your minds below.
Action Man: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
Blaze & the Glory Machines: Blaze of Glory (Nickelodeon)
Dungeons & Dragons: The Animated Series – Beginnings (Retro TV Toons)
Godzilla – The Series: The Heat is On (Retro TV Toons)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Adventures in Eternia (Retro TV Toons)
Jumanji: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
Pokemon the Movie 17: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction
Power Rangers: Super Sentai Zyuranger: The Complete Series
Scooby-Doo: Moon Monster Madness
Starcom: The U.S. Space Force: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego: ACME’s Most Wanted (Retro TV Toons)
Wish Kid: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
On the Tube!
The latest season of Game of Thrones is obviously the big release this week. But as mentioned previously, there are a great number of long-lost animated shows coming to DVD. Below is the opening for the 80s incarnation of Dungeons & Dragons and the series Starcom.
Further down is the extraordinarily cheesy opening to 90s show, Action Man. I have no familiarity with the show and have no idea a) why the characters are so happy to be in the middle of combat or b) why it keeps cutting away to a stunt show at the Universal Studios theme park lot. Enjoy the bizarreness!
The 60s: The Complete Series (CNN)
Action Man: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
American Experience: Klansville U.S.A. (PBS)
Breaking Amish: Los Angeles: Season 1
Dr. Who: Last Christmas
Dungeons & Dragons: The Animated Series – Beginnings (Retro TV Toons)
Game of Thrones: Season 4
Godzilla – The Series: The Heat is On (Retro TV Toons)
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Adventures in Eternia (Retro TV Toons)
Jumanji: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
Power Rangers: Super Sentai Zyuranger: The Complete Series
Sleepless in America (National Geographic)
Starcom: The U.S. Space Force: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)
Wahlburgers: Season 2
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego: ACME’s Most Wanted (Retro TV Toons)
Wish Kid: The Complete Series (Retro TV Toons)