Good afternoon all, and welcome to this week’s rundown of all that is new on home video. Frankly, it’s a busy week and there isn’t any time to waste. Remember to click on the links where available to read more detailed reviews of some the titles. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure and give one of these flicks a try!
Big New Releases!
All Cheerleaders Die – This independent horror/comedy depicts a group of high school cheerleaders that are killed and return from the grave to enact revenge. Director Lucky McKee (May, Red, The Woman) is well respected in the scare field, but this particular effort met with very mixed reviews. Some members of the press found it an amusingly ambitious if not entirely successful effort. Others suggested that it was jumpy, unfocused and sadly ended up being full of the same negative stereotypes that it was attempting to satirize.
Blue Ruin – Critics raved about this small independent suspense film about a mysterious loner who receives word about a man from his past being released from prison. The protagonist goes on a single-minded quest to confront the parolee. Reportedly, it’s a real slow burner with a lot of twists and turns as motivations are revealed. As mentioned, the press praised this effort, calling it a beautifully shot, stark and minimalist tale sure to stay in the brain long after the credits roll. It certainly seems like one worth checking out.
Dom Hemingway – A violent, foul-mouthed safecracker is released from prison and returns to his old haunts in this quirky flick from the UK. He attempts to make a new start with his estranged daughter, but old habits may throw a wrench in the works. Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Demian Bichir and Emilia Clarke headline the cast. The movie received more positive than negative notices upon its release. While some found the character hard to like and the movie a little overwritten, more stated that the sharp dialogue and lead performance resulted in an entertaining effort. Read the site’s full-length review here.
Heaven Is for Real – Pious viewers will likely enjoy this religion-based flick based on a bestselling book. It follows a young child who has a near death experience and attempts to convince his family and others that he visited Heaven. Reviews were very mixed, with more falling under the negative side. They stated that the movie was well mounted with a solid cast, but it featured little in the way of conflict or drama, and that the afterlife material should have been presented in a more subdued and suggestive manner. It stars Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Thomas Hayden Church and Connor Corum.
Made in America – Ron Howard directs this documentary about the music festival of the same name created by rapper Jay-Z. Numerous bands and musicians make appearances, including Rita Ora, Kanye West, Eddie Vedder, Run DMC, Passion Pit and The Hives. The press gave it mixed reviews. They found it to be an agreeable enough documentary, but critiqued it for being more of a puff piece about Jay-Z and advertisement for the festival than a detailed examination of its subject matter.
Make Your Move – Get on your dancing shoes. Here’s a flick in the vein of the Step Up series about New York based performers from different clubs engaged in a heated rivalry… that can only be settled with a dance off! Of course, two of them fall in love, causing further complications. This was actually a relatively big production that didn’t get a push in theaters. Notices were mostly negative, suggesting that while the dance sequences were impressive, the loved story oozed a smothering amount of cheese. For those who want to get down, it features Derek Hough and South Korean pop star BoA in the lead roles.
The Returned – This independent horror movie is set after the containment of a zombie outbreak. Thanks to a new medicine that stops all symptoms of the virus, the infected live normal, productive lives. A threat comes in the form of an angry militant group still afraid of the infected and reports of medicinal supplies running out. More reviews were positive than negative – why most found it a bit stiff and lacked the more pointed allegory of a George A. Romero flick, several found it an interesting effort and praised it for attempting a new spin on well worn zombie tropes.
Sabotage – Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the lead in this action/mystery/thriller. This time out, he plays the leader of a DEA task force. When a drug lord’s money goes missing during a sting operation, suspicion falls upon the entire group. Critics were not impressed. They wrote that while there was an interesting twist or two, this effort was so brutally violent and hard-boiled that it veered dangerously close to parody. It does feature a great supporting cast, including Sam Worthington, Terrence Howard, Josh Holloway, Mareielle Enos, Joe Manganiello and Olivia Williams. Read our original review of the film right here.
The Suspect – An ex-field agent takes a job as a driver for a powerful corporate CEO and is given a mysterious pair of glasses. Almost immediately, his boss is murdered and he finds himself on the run from thugs as he attempts to find out why the spectacles are valued so highly. This South Korean action flick has a lot of positive word of mouth going for it, with many reviews stating that it may not be a classic for the ages, but that it is a fun B-movie with incredible stunts and action.
Transcendence – This highest profile release of the week landed with a thud at theaters – now is your chance to catch up with it. It’s about a brilliant scientist who develops artificial intelligence. After a tragic accident, he fuses his mind with the system. However, others become concerned that it has its ideas on how to improve the world may threaten humanity. Numerous complications ensue. Critics slammed the movie, saying that it ruins its interesting premise on a choppy and unfocused narrative. Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, Kate Mara and Cillian Murphy star. Check out our big review of the film here.
Blasts From the Past!
Once again, it seems like viewers are being inundated with so many classic reissues, it’s hard to keep up. Regardless, it’s a good thing considering many of these films have been out-of-print for some time and very difficult to find.
Godzilla enthusiasts will find two classic titles arriving this week on Blu-ray from Tokyo Shock (a division of Media Blasters). Destroy All Monsters from 1969 features the big green lizard facing off against aliens who have taken control of all of his monstrous foes from previous films. The result is a series of action packed battles and one of the best entries in the original series. Even more exciting is the 1973 effort, Godzilla Vs. Megalon. Honestly, it’s considered the weakest entry in the series by many and geared more towards children than monster movie fans. But boy oh boy, is it hysterically funny. A cockroach with drills on its hands endangers the Earth along with another goofy monster named Gigan, so Godzilla fights the threat with the assistance of the size-shifting robot, Jet Jeguar. Not only will viewers see its green hero floor its opponent with a flying dropkick, but also dance a jig. What’s not to love? Note: These movies have now been pushed back from their original release date to August 26th.
As always, Shout! Factory have an interesting new title from their Scream division. Ginger Snaps (2000) is a werewolf movie that has developed a strong cult following over the years. The Canadian flick tells its tale from the perspective of a teenager who gets bitten by a werewolf and experiences all sorts of personality changes. Of course, it’s a metaphor for the teens dealing with puberty and the emotions involved. The disc includes multiple commentaries, new interviews, making of featurettes and deleted scenes among other special features. If you enjoy the film, you can’t go wrong with this package.
Criterion is also releasing a box set called The Essential Jacques Demy. It contains six 60’s French new wave flicks from the famed director. They’re also bringing the original Norwegian version of Insomnia to Blu-ray. Most will remember the Christopher Nolan remake starring Al Pacino, but those unfamiliar with the 1997 original may want to check it out as well. Stellan Skarsgård stars as the cop who struggles from the condition after accidentally shooting his partner while investigating a crime in the Norwegian Arctic. The movie has been universally praised by critics, and the disc includes a new restoration of the film and conversations with its star and director.
But that’s not all, folks. Olive is releasing more classic titles on Blu-ray, including the Barbara Stanwyk/David Niven romance The Other Love (1947) and Forever Female (1953) with Ginger Rogers. Of the two, Forever Female is the more highly regarded film. It’s a comedy about an aging actress forcing the screenwriter of her next film to make her into an ingénue, despite the fact that it couldn’t be a less appropriate role.
Kino is also providing classic film thrills with some highly regarded titles. This includes the Best Picture Oscar nominee Witness for the Prosecution with Tyrone Power. The 1957 production is a courtroom thriller based on the Agatha Christie short story and play. The 1968 Western The Scalphunters comes from director Sydney Pollack, and stars Burt Lancaster, Shelley Winters, Ossie Davis, Dabney Coleman and Telly “Who-loves-ya-baby!” Savalas. It’s been called an effective flick that plays and twists expectations, particularly with stereotypes of the day. There’s also Lee Van Cleef as a bounty hunter in the well regarded 1969 Spaghetti Western Sabata. And finally, one of the most critically acclaimed Sherlock Homles films comes to Blu-ray. Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes was released in 1970 and presents a more satirical take on the literary hero as he becomes involved in an investigation that includes conspiracies and the Loch Ness Monster.
Animated film aficionados may know of the 1977 Rankin/Bass production of The Hobbit. It’s a highly abridged version of the story, but those who grew up with it and remember it fondly will enjoy this remastered version.
Finally, Mill Creek Entertainment release a lot of bargain titles on DVD and Blu-ray. The quality varies in both the titles and the transfers, but most can be owned for pocket change and offer viewers an inexpensive way to revisit some great (and not so great) titles. This week, they’re putting out bare bones Blu-rays of Flatliners (1990), Last Action Hero (1993) as well as the ridiculous camp-fest Anaconda (1997). Perhaps most notable is their release of the very 80’s drama The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), because the disc features a bonus commentary with Helen and Christian Slater (they aren’t related, in case you were wondering).
Whew, that’s a lot of old flicks!
You Know, For Kids!
There are a few listing for the kids, including a new chapter in the American Girl movie series. Yep, it’s an actual series and a popular one, too. Apparently, this is the 8th film produced – the fourth, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, got a theatrical release a few years back. All feature stories from the collection of books by various authors.
An American Girl: Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight
Geronimo Stilton: Going Down to Chinatown
The Hobbit (Rankin/Bass)
Mike the Knight: Dragon Stories
Sesame Street: Learning Rocks
On the Tube!
And there’s plenty to check out on TV as well. The silly Syfy Channel flick Blood Lake has been getting some notice for its killer lampreys and the ignominious death scene of co-star Christopher Lloyd (his exit from the film has been featured on such shows as The Soup). Bad movie fans can check that out. And if you remember the incredibly popular Richard Chamberlain 1980 miniseries Shogun, you can finally pick it up too. There’s something for everyone this week. Here’s the opening to Xena: Warrior Princess, a show that sees its fifth season released tomorrow. Enjoy!
Blood Lake
Cesar 911 (National Geographic)
Dalziel & Pascoe: Season 10
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys – Season 5
The Numbers Game: Season 2
Shogun (miniseries)
Tanked: Season 1
The Wahlburgers: Season 1
Xena: Warrior Princess – Season 5