It’s time for another edition detailing the highlights coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. There are a multitude of great options, ranging from the independent scene to Hollywood blockbuster. As always, be sure to click on any links to read more about them. 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!
Being Canadian – This documentary follows a man who has moved from Calgary to LA. Once there, he struggles to separate himself from Canadian stereotypes and mounts a cross-country trip through the Great White North to provide worldwide viewers with a more detailed picture of his homeland. Along the way, he interviews countrymen like Seth Rogen, Cobie Smulders, Kim Cattrall, Mike Myers, Nathan Fillion, Will Arnett, Dan Ackroyd, Dave Foley, Catherine O’Hara, William Shatner, Martin Short, Malcolm Gladwell and many, many others. Critical reception was a little muted. Most explained that the movie was cute, but didn’t delve deeply enough into its subject matter and seemed more interested in joking around than actually giving new insight into the country.
Captain America: Civil War – The summer’s first tent-pole release remains the highest grossing film of the year so far. This second sequel follows the superhero as he uncovers a conspiracy to split The Avengers apart. Along the way, more characters with exceptional abilities are introduced. The movie generated solid reviews. While some didn’t feel it was quite as strong as the previous entry in the series, they commended the airport superhero mêlée and called it an entertaining genre picture overall. It stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Sebastain Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, William Hurt and Daniel Bruhl. To read the site’s review of the film, click here.
The Conjuring 2 – This sequel was another big hit over the summer. It follows the two paranormal investigators from the first film as they take on a new assignment in London, England. They come face to face with a nasty spirit tormenting a family. Besides being a box office success, the flick also scared up positive notices. Some suggested it was a little bloated and didn’t have quite the same impact, but most admitted that when it got going, it provided plenty of thrills and chills. The cast includes Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O’Connor, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Franka Potente and Simon McBurney. To read a full review, just click here.
De Palma – Over the course of his lengthy career, visionary director Brian De Palma has made some remarkable movies, including Sisters, Carrie, Blow Out, Dressed to Kill, The Untouchables, Carlito’s Way and Mission: Impossible. In this documentary, Noah Baumbach interviews the filmmaker. They go through his titles chronologically and new behind-the-scenes details are revealed about the movies and the director himself. The critics gave it near unanimous praise, stating that while it wouldn’t convert those who aren’t fans of the man’s work, it provides incredible insight and some great stories from of the most underappreciated filmmakers out there. To read more about the movie, you can click here.
The Fits – Reviews were pretty exemplary for this small, independent drama that runs a scant 72 minutes. It’s about a young girl taking dance lessons at a community center. Suddenly, she and others begin experiencing strange fainting spells. They soon attempt to find out exactly what is happening and why. It has been called a completely unique and beautifully shot feature that includes an absolutely incredible performance from its young lead. If you like indie movie, this one sounds like it is worth checking out and it won’t take up a lot of your time to do so. The movie features Royalty Hightower, Alexis Neblett and Makyla Burnam.
Marauders – This action flick involves a police team investigating a bank heist. They initially suspect the bank manager, but events soon take unexpected twists and turns when more robberies begin occurring across town. The critics weren’t all that fond of the picture, which received a limited release at theaters a few months back. The complained that after an interesting start, the story devolved into silliness and the end result was bland and unmemorable. It stars Bruce Willis, Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista, Adrian Grenier and Lydia Hull.
The Measure of a Man – An unemployed factory worker struggles to keep afloat in this French drama. He attempts all sorts of training courses and seminars to try and find a new gig, but is stymied at every turn. A position arises, but the man is forced to deal with serious ethical questions about what he will be doing. The movie got great reviews from the press; they described it as a subtle and powerful character piece. It also earned its lead, Vincent Lindon, an award at the Cannes Film Festival, and later a French Ceasar trophy for Best Actor. It also features Karine de Mirbeck.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – Notices were also positive for this goofy summer comedy from the Lonely Island collective (known for their numerous musical spoofs that appear on Saturday Night Live). In this feature-length tale, a hugely popular, egotistical rapper is forced to reinvent himself after his sophomore album flops. While there were some who felt the flick was uneven, the majority thought this pop music satire featured enough funny moments and celebrity cameos to recommend. It stars Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, Akiva Schaffer, Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Joan Cusack and Imogen Poots. To read a detailed review, click here.
Standing Tall – Known as La Tete Haute in its homeland, here’s another French arthouse drama for foreign film fans. This one involves a boy who is taken out of juvenile detention by an adoptive family. The boy struggles with the change until he meets a peer and the two begins to form a deeper understanding. Reviewers generally liked what they saw; while a few called the screenplay a bit confused about where it was going, more referred to it as a well performed and slowly absorbing piece that makes a strong impact by the close. The cast includes Ron Paradot, Catherine Deneuve, Benoit Magimel and Sara Forestier.
Blasts From the Past!
It’s pretty much a guarantee that anyone looking for some great older titles will find something to fit the bill this week. Once again, Olive Films have a great slate arriving on Blu-ray. They’ve got the silent film The Captive (1915), about a romance that blossoms during a war between a female farmer and her captive worker. It’s from director Cecil B. Demile (who would later helm Cleopatra, The Greatest Show on Earth and The Ten Commandments).
Olive are also releasing Commander Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953), a goofy serial that was originally filmed as a TV series – it involves a heroic man of action who eventually puts on a rocket-suit who takes on alien and robotic threats. Looks like a lot of fun.
But that’s not all. The Horrible Dr. Hitchcock (1962) is an Italian scare flick about a mad scientist who accidentally kills his wife. When he remarries, his new bride discovers his secret. Namely that the previous mate is somewhere within the estate, and that the doctor plans on draining the newlywed’s blood to resurrect the deceased. It stars Barbara Steele. Speaking of crazy scientists, Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again (1982) is a comedy loosely based on the famous Robert Louis Stevenson story. Only in this version, Dr. Jekyll’s experiments turn him into his alter ego, a wild and crazy party animal. Want to read more about this lost flick? Click right here for a full review.
But that’s not all. We’ve reviewed the eccentric several flicks from B-movie maverick Ted A. Prior in the past. Now Olive are delivering another gem in the form of Mankillers (1987), about a female CIA agent who leads an all-women army of convicts on a raid of a drug cartel’s base. And yes, you can read all about that one here.
As if that isn’t enough, they’ve also got The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959) coming your way. It’s about a creature from the sea (re: a guy in a goofy-looking rubber monster suit) terrorizing a nearby village. This is another title that has been long out-of-print but is now being made available in high definition… and man does it look good. Read all about the movie’s silly charms right here. And finally, Olive Films are putting out a Blu-ray of the Lucille Ball/Henry Fonda comedy, Yours, Mine and Ours (1968). It’s about a widow and widower who tie the knot and amalgamate their 18 kids from previous marriages under one household.
Shout! Factory also have a couple of notable titles arriving on Blu-ray. Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983) is a cheesy sci-fi picture set in a grimy future, where a ranger attempts to stop an monstrous dictator from sacrificing a young woman to his magical crystal… Sure… Anyway, the most important piece of news is that the movie has been re-mastered in its original 3D. If you saw this in the theater, you’ll remember spiked objects and streams of acid being hurled out of the screen – now for the first time ever, you can see it fly at you while sitting in your living room! A 2D version is also present on the disc, along with a lengthy documentary on the feature and a load of promotional materials that include the theatrical trailer.
Even better (and tying in with the release of the De Palma documentary), Shout! also have a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of Raising Cain (1992). This is a pulpy thriller from the director that stars John Lithgow is a psychologist with an obsessive streak. When he learns that his wife has rekindled a relationship with an old flame, she finds that various members of her husband’s family are after her for revenge (but of course, there’s a twist to the events). This isn’t among the greatest of De Palma’s career, but it is a very entertaining thriller that features a couple of memorably choreographed chills. The bonuses include the theatrical cut, as well as a new director’s cut with rearranged scenes. It also includes new featurettes on the film and interviews with cast members.
If you were a kid in the 80s, Transformers toys were a huge deal. Shout! are putting out a 30th Anniversary Edition of Transformers: The Movie (1986), an animated feature that marked the big screen debuts of these “robots in disguise.” The film has become a cult item, perhaps also for its bizarre casting – Orson Welles, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Idle and Robert Stack providing the voices! The disc comes with loads of extras, including a new comprehensive documentary on the movie along with original featurettes on elements created for the release. There’s also a commentary track with the director, archival featurettes and publicity materials.
Kino have a couple of titles arriving on Blu-ray as well. They include Fritz Lang’s Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler (1922), and the Richard Widmark film noir Road House (1948), about a small town club owner who falls for a new singer and gets himself into all sorts of trouble.
Criterion have some arthouse favorites arriving this week. The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum (1939) is a Japanese film about an upper class man who falls for his servant. The disc includes a newly restored 4K transfer of the feature and a film critic interview about the work of the film’s director, Kenji Mizoguchi. They also have Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman (1962); it’s a massive, 9 disc set containing all 25 of the famous character’s films made between 1962 and 1973 The Blu-ray includes new restorations of all of the features, and too many other extras to go into here.
Warner Archive are delivering a Blu-ray of the Oscar-winning biographical drama Love Me or Leave Me (1955). This title depicts the tumultuous relationship between jazz singer Ruth Etting and her manager. It stars Doris Day and James Cagney. They’re also making When a Feller Needs a Friend (1932) available on DVD. That’s one stars a young Jackie Cooper about a kid being bullied; he’s taught how to throw a punch and defend himself.
Speaking of DVDs, Shadowplay are releasing a couple of lost movies on the format that may be of interest to B-movie fans. The Legend of Frenchie King (1971) aka Frenchie King is a period western about two wild, outlaw sisters who inherit a ranch and cause all sorts of trouble in their new home town. It stars Bridgette Bardot and Claudia Cardinale as the ladies you don’t want to mess with, alongside Michael J. Pollard. Vengeance Valley (1951) features Burt Lancaster in a more old-fashioned tale of a cattle rancher and an adopted brother battling for control of their father’s empire.
If horror is more to your liking, you’re covered there as well. Synapse are releasing Tenebre (1982) on Blu-ray. This picture from Dario Argento (Deep Red, Suspiria) involves a successful writer who has just published his latest trashy thriller about a psychopathic killer. While on a book tour, a copycat begins wiping out victims in brutally violent ways; the protagonist decides to solve the case himself. The film is not for everyone, but it has incredible, stylized visuals, an interesting plot twist and a few memorably staged murders (there isn’t an inch of a condo’s clean, white walls that don’t get splattered in geysers of blood during the finale).
But that’s not all. Fox are putting a 30th Anniversary Blu-ray of Aliens (1986). A word of warning though; this release comes with some postcard stills, but otherwise doesn’t provide any new features. Instead, you may just want to splurge on the box set that came out a few years back. Lionsgate are releasing Evil Dead 2 (1987) on Blu-ray yet again, and Full Moon have Trancers III: Deth Lives! (1992) coming your way in high definition.
With fall approaching, Universal are slowly releasing some of their Classic Monsters on Blu-ray. This week they’ve got the Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection, which contains 8 movies. They cover everything from the original 1931 classic to 1948’s Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein and all of the features in between. It comes with loads of extras and the price point is very low for all of the great stuff you get. The studio also have The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection. This one includes 7 films ranging from 1941 to 1948 (although it doubles up on the previously mentioned Abbott and Costello flick, since the Wolfman is featured in the movie). Regardless of the overlap, these sets are great and well worth picking up.
Finally, Warner Brothers are releasing the Hammer Horror 8 Film Collection which provides an assortment of lesser-known studio titles made between 1960 and 1964. They include The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera, Paranoiac, The Kiss of the Vampire, Nightmare, Night Creatures and The Evil of Frankenstein. Looks like a lot of scary fun for your money.
You Know, For Kids!
There’s plenty for kids too. Read below to find out what’s coming out this week.
Back to the Future: The Animated Series: Season 2
Barbie: Star Light Adventure
Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants
Curious George: Outdoor Adventures
Littlest Pet Shop: Mysteries at the Pet Shop
Shaun the Sheep: Little Sheep of Horrors
Thomas & Friends: The Great Race: The Movie
On the Tube!
And there’s a wide variety of TV-themed releases as well. Also down below are some previews from Blasts From the Past! releases. Enjoy!
Back to the Future: The Animated Series: Season 2
The Big Bang Theory: Season 9
Chicago P.D.: Season 3
Children’s Hospital: The Complete 6th and 7th Seasons (Warner Archive)
Commander Cody: Sky Marshall of the Universe (1953) TV series (Olive Films)
The Doctor Blake Mysteries: Season 2
Empire: Season 2
Father Brown: Series 3, Vol. 2
Gunsmoke: One Man’s Justice (1994 TV movie)
Hawaii Five-O: Season 6
Little House on the Prairie: Legacy TV Movie Collection
Littlest Pet Shop: Mysteries at the Pet Shop
Law & Order: SVU: Season 17
Longmire: Season 4 (Warner Archive)
Madame Secretary: Season 2
Masters of Horror: The Complete Season 1
The Munsters: The Complete Series
Nazi Megaweapons: Season 3 (PBS)
Newhart: Season 6
Outlaws (BBC)
Quantico: Season 1
Saving Hope: Season 3
Scorpion: Season 2
Shaun the Sheep: Little Sheep of Horrors
Suspects: Series 3 & 4