Welcome to the highlights of new releases on DVD and Blu-ray. As always, be sure to click on any links to read more about the titles. There’s a lot to go through, with plenty in a wide variety of genres. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try.
Big New Releases!
Bound to Vengeance – In this horror/exploitiation flick, a young woman is kidnapped and locked in a basement by her captor. She escapes and quickly works to free other victims and enact an elaborate revenge plot. Reviews were very poor for this independent effort. While many admired the ;performance of its lead actress, most found it tonally imbalanced and dramatically unbelievable. It stars Tina Ivlev.
Duran Duran: Unstaged – A Film by David Lynch – The 80s new wave band appear in this concert film that wouldn’t normally be mentioned in this column if it weren’t for the famed director involved. Reportedly, Lynch (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Dr.) uses smoke and projected images of dolls to add a unique sense of texture to the performance. And naturally, it includes live takes of some of the band’s biggest hits. If you’re a fan of either the band or filmmaker, you may want to check it out.
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck – HBO Productions are responsible for this documentary chronicling the life of the famed “grunge” musician and Nirvana front-man. It’s an authorized account, meaning the Cobain’s family was heavily involved in the production. Critics were positive about the movie. They complimented the storytelling techniques (that include animated sequences) and stated that the doc helped reveal more insight into the mind of the late artist. It also includes interviews with Courtney Love, Dave Grohl and Kurt Novoselic.
Mr. Holmes – An elderly Sherlock Holmes suffering from memory loss attempts to put the pieces together and solve the final (and unfinished) case that resulted in his retirement. The mystery revolves around a husband who suspects his wife of sinister activities. members of the press responded well to this take on the famed literary character. While some found the story somewhat insubstantial and approach too muted, all praised the performance of star Ian McKellen. The cast also includes Laura Linney and Milo Parker. To read a full review of the film, just click here.
Pay the Ghost – Viewers curious to see what Nicholas Cage is up to will have to check out this suspense/horror film about a professor whose son disappears during a Halloween celebration. A year later, the dad searches desperately to find out exactly what happened. Write-ups were incredibly poor, suggesting that headlining actor Cage still hasn’t found his way out of low-budget, B-movie schlock-fests. The main criticism seemed to be that the story was slow-moving and preposterous (apparently, it even features a haunted scooter). Sarah Wayne Callies, Veronica Ferres and Lyriq Bent also appear.
Self/less – In this sci-fi action effort, a wealthy but terminally ill man has his consciousness implanted in a young man’s body. While he’s thrilled with the immediate results, the lead soon begins experiencing flashbacks to a previous life and wonders if the body arrived via legal means. While many complimented the visuals of this effort, reviews were still weak overall. Most wrote that it failed to live up to the interesting promise of its concept. The movie stars Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode, Ben Kingsley and Victor Garber. To read more about our take on this flick, click here.
Tangerine – Renters interested in edgier fare may want to give this independent comedy/drama a try. Set during Christmas Eve, the plot concerns an angry young transgender sex trade worker just releases from prison who sets out to find and confront her cheating pimp. The press raved about this low-budget effort at various film festivals, calling it a unique, high energy film that is impressively acted and consistently entertaining. It features Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Mya Taylor, Karren Karagulian and James Ransome.
Terminator Genisys – Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to the franchise that made him famous in this fourth sequel. When the evil robots of the future figure out how to travel back in time and alter history, the Terminator and his human counterparts spin off onto a new timeline and attempt to save the future. Reaction was quite poor – it was felt that the story became overly convoluted…. frankly, many called it an uninspired cash-in on the famous property. Emilia Clarke, Jason Clarke, Jai Courtney and J.K. Simmons also appear. To read a full review of the movie, click here.
Trainwreck – In this comedy, a career-oriented woman who doesn’t believe in monogamy is forced to reassess her beliefs when she begins dating a genuinely nice guy. But will the heroine be able to curb her wild, partying antics and slow down? This summer hit garnered a lot of positive press. It’s been described as an amusingly raunchy comedy with a strong cast that only falters when it adheres to the typical romance film formula. It stars Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Colin Quinn, Brie Larson, Mike Birbiglia and plenty of notable celebrity cameos.
We’ll Never Have Paris – This love-triangle comedy follows a couple who have been together since high school. When a co-worker makes advances towards the male lead, he questions whether or not he should remain in his current relationship. After realizing that he has made the wrong choice, he attempts to win back his sweetheart by following her to Paris. Reviews were terrible, stating that while the movie was well-produced, the characters were thinly written and hard to like. The cast includes Simon Helberg, Melanie Lynskey, Maggie Grace, Zachary Quinto and Alfred Molina.
Wild City – Hong Kong director Ringo Lam (City on Fire, Twin Dragons, Maximum Risk) returns for his first feature in 8 years. The story involves a bar owner who finds himself thrust into a violent gangster plot after befriending a customer. Reactions from critics were mixed for this foreign-language feature – while most noted it was nice to see the filmmaker back and that the movie had a couple of good action scenes, many felt that it came across as one of his more pedestrian efforts. Now viewers can make up their own minds. It stars Louis Koo.
Blasts From the Past!
Beach movie fans, this is your week. A couple of classic, goofy teen titles are arriving on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) stars Vincent Price as a mad scientist who creates swimsuit clad female robots to take over the world… only Frankie Avalon’s secret agent can stop them. They’ve also for the sequel, Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1966) arriving. It also stars Vincent Price as the same character using essentially the same female robots to take out the world’s leaders. Fabian steps in as a new agent recruited to get to the bottom of things. Kino also have the French sci-fi time-travel drama, Je t’aime, je t’aime (1968) coming your way.
Criterion are releasing Code Unknown (2000), another unusual dramatic effort from Michael Haneke (Funny Games, Cache). It involves a street incident between a couple of men and a beggar that changes the lives of all parties. The Blu-ray contains a new transfer, a new interview with the director, an introduction to the film, a making-of documentary, interviews with scholars on its importance and other bonuses.
The French, Isabelle Adjani drama One Deadly Summer (1983) is also arriving on Blu-ray courtesy of Bayview Entertainment. Extras include two interviews with its star and its director (one at the time of release, and one from 2007). Cohen Media are delivering Two Men in Town (1973), a well-received, slow-burn crime picture from the same country about a ex-con who is repeatedly harassed by a cop after getting out of prison. If the story sounds familiar, there was an English-language remake of the film released last year that wasn’t well received. This release comes with a commentary track.
In honor of the original film’s 20th anniversary, Sony have a Bad Boys 1 & 2: 20th Anniversary Collection. There are no new bonuses, only the extras the previous Blu-rays had. However, this version does boast new 4K remasters of the films themselves, meaning there should be a upgrade in picture quality for fans of these titles.
Finally, Warner Archives have a couple of new Blu-ray releases too. Deep in My Heart (1954) is a musical biography about composer Sigmund Romberg and Passage to Marseille (1944) is a war flick that features Humphrey Bogart as a French journalist who is framed for murder, escapes prison, joins the resistance movement and helps fight some Nazis.
You Know, For Kids!
There’s a lot of interesting variety for the kids as well. Read below to find out what’s new.
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Alvin’s Wild Adventures
Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs Are Different (PBS Kids)
Galtar and the Golden Lance: The Complete Series
Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: The Complete 2nd Season
Super Sentai – Gosei Sentai Dairanger: The Complete Series
On the Tube!
Oh yeah! If anyone reading this is looking for gift ideas for, well, me, you could do much worse than picking up either of the cheese-ball 80s series that are arriving on DVD this week. Maninal (1983) was an absurd action show about a socialite who had the power to turn into wild animals – he used his powers to stop various criminals. It only lasted one brief season, but provided those who watched it (myself included) with plenty of bizarre laughs. The show was simply ridiculous, definitely falling into the category of so-bad-it’s-good.
Speaking of silly, Automan (1983) was another failed TV show about a police “computer expert” who creates a digital superhero to help the force fight crime – much to the chagrin of his captain. It’s goofy datedness should please though looking for laughs (unintentional or otherwise). In their honor, the openings to both series are presented below. Enjoy!
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Alvin’s Wild Adventures
American Masters: Pedro E. Guerrero – Photographer
Automan: The Complete Series
Better Call Saul: Season 1
The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Remastered Series
A Few Good Pie Places (PBS)
A Few Great Bakeries (PBS)
Galtar and the Golden Lance: The Complete Series
The George Lopez Show: The Complete 6th Season
Jane Fonda’s Workout Collection
Justice League Unlimited: The Complete Series
Manimal: The Complete Series
Maude: Season 4
Mind of a Chef: Gabrielle Hamilton (PBS)
Nathan For You: Seasons 1 & 2
Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone (PBS)
Nature: Nature’s Miracle Orphans (PBS)
On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam (PBS)
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest: The Complete 2nd Season
Rebus: The Ken Scott Collection
Restless: The Complete Series (BBC)
Super Sentai – Gosei Sentai Dairanger: The Complete Series
WKRP in Cincinnati: Season 3