It’s time for another look at the highlights coming your way on DVD and Blu-ray. This list includes a couple of big summer releases as well as plenty of independent fare. Be sure to click on any links to read full length reviews. 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!
Beep: A Documentary History of Game Sound – Like video games? Seems like you’d better if you want to appreciate this non-fiction effort. Over the two hour running time, the filmmakers trace the history of music and sound in games, starting all the way back in Victorian penny arcades and following it through the decades to modern times. It also features interviews with composers and sound designers. There aren’t any reviews available for this release, but you should probably already have an idea of whether or not it’ll be of interest to you.
Blood Father – An ex-con and recovering alcoholic gets a shock when he learns that his wayward 17-year-old daughter is being hunted down by a drug cartel. Dad steps in, using his own criminal past and connections to make sure they don’t go down without a fight. Critics were complimentary about this pulpy, violent action-thriller. While they stated that it wasn’t the most original story in the world, they called it an effective little B-movie with strong, charismatic performances from its leads. They include Mel Gibson, Erin Moriarty, Diego Luna, Michael Parks, William H. Macy and Miguel Sandoval.
Les Cowboys – The Cowboys is a French film with an intriguing idea – a modern Gallic drama with a western tinge. This tale of a estranged family follows the efforts of a father (who loves all things cowboy-related) and his attempts to find his lost daughter. His son also ends up taking on the search, which takes him to the Middle East. Notices were quite strong for this release, calling it unusual and unpredictable, with interesting insights into a post 9/11 world. Foreign-language film fans might want to give it a try. It stars François Damiens, Finnegan Oldfield, Agathe Dronne and John C. Reilly.
Ghostbusters – This reboot sure caused a lot of controversy among bloggers and got plenty of press as well – I supposed many didn’t realize just how beloved the original was. In the newest incarnation of the story, two physicists form a paranormal investigation business and square off against an occultists attempt to raise the supernatural. Reaction was all over the map, but more gave it a pass. While admitting it wasn’t as strong as its inspiration and was only intermittently funny, several enjoyed the laughs that did work. The cast includes Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth and Cecily Strong. To read this site’s review of the movie, click here.
Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party – Well, the audience for this effort is pretty specific; the far, far, far right. It’s a dubious “documentary” that posits bizarre theories about the Democratic Party and the current Presidential nominee’s motivations. And almost no members of the press liked the movie, criticizing it for being pure rhetoric and lacking in coherence or even basic facts. Frankly, you know things are bad when newspapers with a perceived conservative bias have even had issues with the film. You should probably just ignore this one, regardless of your affiliation.
Ice Age: Collision Course – With a meteor threatening their existence, a group of dinosaurs travel to outer space to impede the rock’s progress. The fourth sequel in the animated family series and it has garnered the worst reviews thus far. Despite the eventual trip to a new environment, it has been described a rather dull and poorly written affair that meanders and lacks new or interesting arcs for its characters. Apparently, it will entertain only the youngest of viewers. The voice talent includes Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez and Adam Devine.
The Infiltrator – Based on a true story, a US Customs agent is sent undercover as a businessman in the hopes of infiltrating the world of drug cartel Pablo Escobar. As expected, the job endangers the man’s life at every turn as goes deeper and deeper as he interacts with bigger figures in the organization. Write-ups were generally positive about the drama, complimenting the cast’s work as impressive… even if several felt the story was a bit generic and could have gone into more behind-the-scenes detail. It stars Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Diane Kruger, Benjamin Bratt, Amy Ryan and Olympia Dukakis.
The Legend of Tarzan – The classic Edgar Rice Burroughs character gets a modern update in this new adventure. The plot involves the newly married Lord Greystroke being lured with wife Jane back to Africa. The pair get into trouble after investigating a nasty entrepreneur and his mining operation. Critics were split on this updating, with more leaning towards the negative. While a few enjoyed its attempts at modernization, more believed that the character’s return had not been asked for and didn’t work in a blockbuster framework. The cast include Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson, Djimon Hounsou, Ben Chaplin and Jim Broadbent. To read the site’s review of the film, just click here.
Blasts From the Past!
It’s another great week for introducing classic titles in high definition. Arrow Films is a distributor that has been mention before in this column. This week, they have two great scare flicks arriving on Blu-ray. Dark Water (2002) is actually a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, meaning you get the film on both formats. This is an effective little supernatural horror flick about a divorced mom and her young child who move into a creepy apartment complex with plenty of water leaks. They also begin seeing a ghostly figure in the halls. It’s an effective tale with great atmosphere. Besides a stunning new transfer, this release includes some great extras, including a brand new interview with director Hideo Nakata (Ring), new interviews with novelist Koji Suzuki and cinematographer Junichiro Hayashi, an archive interview with actress Asami Mizukawa, an original Making of documentary, as well as the theatrical trailer.
They also have a Blu-ray for the Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, the Scream series and countless others) horror classic, The Hills Have Eyes (1977). It’s about a family whose camper breaks down in the desert. They’re soon targeted by a nasty group of feral characters and must fight for their lives. It’s an incredibly intense and effect picture that was very disturbing and edgy in its day. This “Limited Edition” release includes boasts a 4K restoration of the film, making it sharper than you’ve ever seen before. There are so many other bonuses this is a must own for fans. Just some of it includes 6 postcards with images from the movie, a limited edition booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Brad Stevens and a consideration of the Hills franchise by Ewan Cant, illustrated with original archive stills, an audio commentary with Wes Craven and Peter Locke, a The Hills Have Eyes making-of documentary featuring interviews with Craven, Locke, actors Michael Berryman, Dee Wallace, Janus Blythe, Robert Houston, Susan Lanier and director of photography Eric Saarinen, a brand new interview with composer Don Peake, the film’s Alternate ending in HD for the first time, trailers and TV spots, an image Gallery and the original Screenplay (as BD/DVD-ROM bonus content). Wow!
Criterion have a couple of new films as well. These include a new, extras-packed Blu-ray of Richark Linklater’s coming-of-age drama, Boyhood (2014). For those who don’t remember, this film chronicled the life of its main character from childhood to adulthood, all in “real time” over a period of 12 years. The movie has received a director approved video and audio transfer, as well as a new audio commentary with the filmmaker and cast/crew members, a new documentary on the production, a new discussion on the film with Linklater, Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane, a video essay about the use of time in the director’s movies and other bonuses.
They are also bringing the Robert Altman (MASH, Nashville, The Player) western McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) to high definition. This one is a about the goings on at a frontier town brothel and features Warren Beatty and Julie Christie as the title characters. The movie is renowned for its unusually gritty, realistic and yet beautiful photography. If you pick it up, you’ll be rewarded with a new 4K restoration of the film elements, along with an audio commentary from 2002 featuring director Robert Altman and producer David Foster, a new making-of documentary featuring members of the cast and crew, a conversation about the film and Altman’s career between film historians Cari Beauchamp and Rick Jewell, a 1970 featurette from the film’s 1970 production, a Q&A from 1999 with production designer Leon Ericksen, archival interviews with cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, a gallery of set stills by photographer Steve Schapiro, excerpts from two 1971 episodes of The Dick Cavett Show featuring Altman and film critic Pauline Kael, as well as promotional materials.
That’s already plenty to choose from, but there’s more coming your way. Shout! Factory have a couple of fantastic scary flicks that they’re giving the special treatment to. They’ve put it out before, but never quite like this. Carrie (1976) is one of the most famous horror flicks of its time, about a telekinetic high school student who eventually turns on the nasty student body. This latest Blu-ray is a 2-disc set comes with hours of new material; it includes an acting feature with Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, William Katt, Piper Laurie, Edie McClurg and P.J. Soles interviews, lengthy interviews with screenwriter Lawrence Cohen, editor Paul Hirsch, director of photography Mario Tosi, casting director Harriet B. Helberg, composer Pino Donaggio and a visit to the film’s original locations. There are more extras with Brian De Palma, Jack Fisk, Lawrence D. Cohen, Paul Hirsch and advertising materials as well.
And they’re giving the same treatment to John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982). Another classic (and one of the best remakes ever) this tale involves a group of researchers in Antarctica who find an alien mimic infiltrating their base, copying them and wiping each person out one by one. The paranoia between characters, as well as the cold and uniquely remote environment really set this one apart from others of its ilk. The movie has come out before on Blu-ray with a great feature-length documentary on its production and a great Carpenter/Kurt Russell commentary. This 2 disc “Collector’s Edition” includes all of the previous releases bonuses, as well as a plethora of all-new special additions. Besides a sharp, newly restored transfer of the film, there are new commentaries with cinematographer Dean Cundey and one with co-producer Stuart Cohen. There are so many new featurettes that there isn’t enough space to list them all here – but it’s about two and a half hours of new interviews. After this, that’s pretty much all you could ever hope to learn about the movie.
And that’s not all, folks. It isn’t a great picture, but those with a taste for B-movie drive-in fare can now pick up The Astro Zombies (1968) on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino. Film Movement Classics have a high definition transfer of the Japanese cult flick Violent Cop (1989), which marked the first starring role for actor Takashi “Beat” Kitano. It’s never been released on Blu-ray in North America before and comes with a few extras, including a 20-minute documentary on the movie.
Warner Archive have several made-to-order DVDs arriving as well. They include the comedy Heart Condition (1990), starring Bob Hoskins as a racist cop. After a heart attack, he gets a replacement organ from a murdered lawyer (played by Denzel Washington) who decides to haunt him until he catches the killers and changes his ways. There’s also the first ever rap musical, Krush Groove (1985) which stars the likes of Sheila E., Run-DMC and The Fat Boys. That one looks like it’ll be a lot of fun to catch up with. Ready to Rumble (2001) is a goofball comedy about two pals and WCW fanatics who attempt to help their favorite wrestler reclaim his title.
The Salton Sea (2002) is a great little thriller with Val Kilmer as a trumpeter hanging in the seedy, drug-addict underbelly of Southern California. However, viewers soon find he has ulterior motives for his actions. Strictly Business (1991) is a romantic comedy that stars Halle Berry in an early role. Surviving the Game (1994) is an action thriller about a homeless man being hunted to the death as sport. Of course, he fights back and eventually gets the better of his pursuers. That one has a great cast that includes Ice-T, Rutger Hauer, Charles S. Dutton, John C. McGinley, Gary Busey and F. Murray Abraham.
As for classic studio fare, Paramount is releasing It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) in a “Platinum Anniversary Edition” Blu-ray. Unfortunately, the specs on this Jimmy Stewart film are unavailable, so you’ll have to check online or at your store to see if there’s a new and improved transfer or if any bonus content is offered on the disc.
And at Universal, your can pick up a couple of box sets and both definitely include some classics. The Clint Eastwood 4 Movie Thriller Collection includes exactly what it claims to. The pictures are The Beguiled (1971), Coogan’s Bluff (1968), The Eiger Sanction (1975) and Play Misty for Me (1971). The same studio are also releasing the Gregory Peck Centennial Collection, which includes two titles – Cape Fear (1962) and To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). Both come with plenty of bonus features as well.
You Know, For Kids!
Listed below are some choices that might appeal to youngsters.
Adventure Time: Season 6 (Cartoon Network)
Doctor Strange (Marvel Animated Fetures)
Ice Age: Collision Course
The Kwicky Koala Show: The Complete Series (Warner Archive)
Pokemon: Master Quest: The Complete Collection
On the Tube!
Here are the week’s TV-themed selections. Fans of The Twilight Zone (1959-64) can pick up a complete Blu-ray set or just pick out a season or two (available separately), all in high definition. And there’s another season of Portlandia, which is always a good excuse to put in the clip below.
Adventure Time: Season 6 (Cartoon Network)
Beowolf aka Beowolf: Return to the Shieldlands (British miniseries)
Bitten: The Complete Series
Brain Games: Season 7
Death Valley Days: Season 2
Degrassi Junior High: The Complete Series (30th Anniversary)
Feed the Beast: Season 1
Good Witch: Season 2
Hannibal: The Complete Series
Impractical Jokers: Season 4
Knight Rider: The Complete Series
Kolchak: The Night Stalker: The Complete Series
The Kwicky Koala Show: The Complete Series (Warner Archive)
Miami Vice: The Complete Series
Mike & Molly: Season 6
Mike & Molly: The Complete Series
The Musketeers: Season 3
The Night Shift: Season 1
The Night Shift: Season 2
Nurse Jackie: Seasons 1 & 2 Combo
Portlandia: Season 6
The Royals: Seasons 1 & 2 Combo
Scott & Bailey: Season 5
Shaun the Sheep: Seasons 1 & 2 Combo
Sliders: The Complete Series
SuperMansion: Season 1
The Twilight Zone: The Complete Collection (individual seasons are also available)
Weeds: Seasons 1 &2 Combo