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That Time of The Week – DVD/Blu-ray Releases From 4/8

Documentaries, Dragons, Boxing, Drag Queens, Big Ensembles, Horror Sit-Coms, and Nursesploitation.  There’s something for everyone this time out!

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Warner Bros. / Released 4/8/14

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.  Extras include production videos, set visit, featurettes, trailers and music video.

Last Word: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is the second installment in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit series.  Highly disappointing.  It’s a long, unclear compilation of tidbit stories overridden by special effects that poorly compensate for the slow-moving and tonally inconsistent plotlines.  Peter Jackson did an excellent job with the Lord of the Rings films.  Three movies for three books, so each film was self-contained and exciting. Desolation of Smaug doesn’t have a clear story. It’s middle ground that’s murky and unfinished. The group of dwarves travels, they get into trouble, they meet some elves, orcs are ever-presently growling, and they meet Smaug, the dragon. The little backstory that’s meant to intrigue falls flat and sappy.

In Desolation of Smaug, the elves are overly made-up drama-queens, the setting looks like just that, a set, and the movement of characters switches to full-on animation so often that it looks like you’re watching a video game segment. Similarly, the Orcs look ridiculous and completely fake. To those in charge of choreographing those claustrophobic fight-scenes, actual stuntmen and realistic movements are helpful in suspending disbelief.

The reason Jackson’s previous series worked well was because each film told a story, each added to the next, but were still strong enough to stand alone. Desolation of Smaug cannot stand on its own. It doesn’t add anything to the previous story, the characters are forgettable and don’t inspire sympathy. I was rooting for Aragorn in Two Towers. But I couldn’t care less about Thorin Oakenshield. I know he’s supposed to be important. But he’s not lovable. Bilbo is the enjoyable character, but even still, Martin Freeman’s performance feels tired and uncreative.

The biggest highlight was seeing Watson and Sherlock, excuse me, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch interact as Bilbo and Smaug. And Smaug was beautiful. All of the special effects efforts must have been poured into the creation of the fantastic beast. From his dilating pupils to the sagging skin beneath his enormous jaw, the dragon was incredible. It’s just a pity that Smaug is the only memorable character in Desolation – Fili and Kili are a sad substitute for Merry, Pippin, and Samwise.   If you’ve read the book a hundred times, you’ll enjoy the show and actually appreciate the few hidden jokes that fly completely over the remaining viewers’ heads.  Otherwise, read the book, it’ll go quicker. (– Caitlyn Thompson)

Grudge Match

Warner Bros. / Released 4/8/14

Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone star as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match. On their first encounter in decades, their long-festering feud erupts into an unintentionally hilarious melee that instantly goes viral. The sudden social media frenzy transforms their local grudge match into a must-see HBO event. Now, if they can just survive the training, they may actually live to fight again.

Last Word: Somehow, Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta and Rocky Balboa are pitted against each other in a fight to end a 30 year rivalry while both are in their golden years.  Grudge Match is directed by Peter Segal and surprises audiences with funny performances by DeNiro and Stallone alongside Kevin Hart, Alan Arkin and Kim Basinger.  This film is funnier and classier than the initial pitch sounds, with family moments and longtime rivalries being at the center of the tension in the film.  An ersatz sequel to Rocky Balboa (2006), this comedy starts with a theme of that movie.

Dante Slate, Jr. (Kevin Hart) is the son of late 70’s boxing promoter Dante Slate, and he approaches Henry ‘Razor’ Sharp to provide motion capture for a new boxing game. Also appearing in the game, Billy ‘The Kid’ McDonnen (DeNiro). The appeal of extra money convinces Razor to join in—as long as his rival The Kid is not at the studio. Something happened in the past that is unforgivable, and the 30 year grudge weighs on both of the older gentlemen.

We flash over to a bar owned by ‘The Kid’, where Billy is running a comedy act with help from Jabby The Puppet. This Raging Bull reference could be lost on a younger audience, whereas the Philadelphia steel mill and working class settings of Stallone’s backdrop are very familiar to fans indeed. Razor is making art out of metal scraps and welding in his spare time, The Kid is sipping scotch, womanizing, dealing used cars and running a several successful businesses. Henry (Stallone) is laid off of his job and it is revealed at least part of the conflict is that years ago, Billy The Kid stole away with Kim Basinger’s Sally and got her pregnant. Stallone’s character takes this to heart and becomes reclusive, living below his means and potential below a bridge on the edge of town.

A drag out fight in Green Man motion capture suits between the two boxers (If you’ll remember, Rocky Balboa also featured a video game). Promoter Dante Slate, Jr. promised the two men wouldn’t be in the same studio at once, but The Kid decided to show up early. A video of the two boxers wrecking the motion capture studio with a fracas goes viral on YouTube.  Of course, this prompts some convincing on Slate’s part to do right by his father’s legacy and get the two in the ring together. Everyone thinks it is a joke — until the press conference!

After the announcement, Billy (DeNiro)’s son B.J. (Jon Bernthal, Mob City, Walking Dead) by way of Sally (Basinger) shows up at the ring to help train, but The Kid has other plans. After resolving some issues over The Kid’s breakfast of scotch and pancakes, the two reluctantly train together and attempt to patch up abandonment issues, but can it last?  Razor’s trainer Louis ‘Lightning’ Conlon is played by 79 year old Alan Arkin. The senior’s role, played for comedy with hearing aid jokes and the ‘cranky old man can’t get along with staff at the nursing home’ trope wears you out after a while, but his performance does add to the movie as Stallone’s straight man/cutman.

Burgess Meredith’s Mickey in the original series was a badass retired boxer and crusty old man, whereas Arkin plays the trainer as a genuine grandpa, obsessed with Dancing with The Stars (though he still makes Razor drink a pint of raw eggs)! Training is of course illustrated by a series of montages (complete with pulling a tractor trailer in a junkyard), but also publicity stunts employing the two boxers to get the word out and sell tickets to the event that Philadelphia has been waiting for. There’s a skydiving scene and also the two boxers take on UFC/MMA fighter Chael Sonnen in a debate about the evolution of the two sports and the old guys get to prove a point to their fans.

The love triangle resolves itself by Sally and Razor getting together after 30 years before the fight. Our old man Arkin breaks himself out of his Lark to be the corner man for Razor’s fight. B.J. and his young son support The Kid in his corner for the final bout. HBO Boxing announcers are ringside as well as genuine boxing judges. Fans of boxing movies will be happy with the way the fight was shot.

Grudge Match is a fun boxing movie with classic actors, perfect for the entire family this holiday season.  Segal made this movie by playing with pop culture references but also great relationships between all of the characters. As shaky as the initial concept might seem to some, they really pulled it off.  (– Clay N. Ferno)


Snake & Mongoose 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 4/8/14

Start your engines for the incredible true story of the greatest rivalry in drag racing history: Don “The Snake” Prudhomme (Jesse Williams) versus his longtime friend and nemesis Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen (Richard Blake). From the fiery days of early speedways through the explosive peak of their popularity, these are the personal triumphs and tragedies behind the legendary races and Hot Wheels partnership that created a global phenomenon. Ashley Hinshaw, Kim Shaw, Fred Dryer, Ian Ziering, Tim Blake Nelson and Noah Wyle co-star in this nitro-burning drama of the two men who battled business and each other to change motorsports forever.  Extras include featurette.

Last Word: An unremarkable, although extremely entertaining film that combines vintage footage with newly shot material to chronicle the friends-posing as rivals duo of Don Prudhomme and Tom McEwen. Full of drama, action and solid performances, Snake and Mongoose is easily recommended.

I Am Divine

Wolfe Video / Released 4/8/14

Packed with great interviews and clips, this dynamic, fun and often poignant portrait of the legendary Divine brings to life a complex understanding of John Waters’ favored muse Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, from his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally recognized drag superstar. Interviews with John Waters, Ricki Lake, Tab Hunters, Mink Stole and more.  Extras include commentary with Director/Producer Jeffrey Schwarz, Producer Lotti Phariss Knowles and Mink Stole, 30 Minutes of Deleted Scenes, and trailer.

Last Word: A wonderfully charming documentary of a sweet man who longed to be a star.  As Divine, Harris Milstead took on a larger than life persona that took him to both center stage and the center of the party.  What’s even more touching is the vast number of lives that Milstead touched through friendship, kindness and sometimes, pure outrageousness.  I Am Divine chronicles a man who dressed like a woman who became an icon.  Highly recommended.

Earthflight: The Complete Series

BBC Home Video / Released 4/8/14

David Tennant (Harry Potter, Doctor Who) narrates this exhilarating adventure, filmed over four years with help from camera-carrying birds, drones, paragliders and remote-control microflight planes. Feel your heart pound as you scramble with snow geese to escape the talons of a bald eagle above North America. Soar with cranes over Venice and the white cliffs of Dover. Sail over South American mountains, jungles and waterfalls with hummingbirds and condors. Circle with vultures high above African plains, and navigate a dangerous Himalayan pass with demoiselle cranes on their way to India. This wondrous aerial spectacle will make your spirits soar.

Last Word: This overwhelmingly beautiful collection is a bold reminder what a small part of the world humans are and that even the smallest creatures can soar in ways that border on unimaginable.  Stunning photography and engaging throughout (in no small part to narrator Tennant), Earthflight is a must own addition to every disc library.  Highest recommendation.

Ben 10 Omniverse: Duel of the Duplicates

Cartoon Network / Released 4/8/14

Watch for almost two action packed hours as heroes Ben, Rook and Max try to stop Albedo from absorbing Azmuth’s intelligence and taking over the galaxy in Ben 10 Omniverse: Duel of the Duplicates. Featuring a 3 part episode story arc plus two action-packed bonus episodes, Ben 10 fans are sure to enjoy the fourth volume DVD release from the Ben10 Omniverse franchise.  Includes the episodes The Ultimate Heist, A Fistful of Brains, For a Few Brains More and bonus episodes Evil’s Encore and Return to Forever.

Holy Ghost People

XLrator Media / Released 4/8/14

A Southern Gothic thriller about a teenager searching for her lost sister in the Appalachian Mountains, where she encounters a snake-handling religious cult and eventually learns the truth about her sister’s fate.

Last Word: Interesting if minor film examines a way-off-the-grid religious sect. Charlotte (Emma Greenwell) pays an alcoholic ex-Marine and Afghanistan conflict vet (Brendan McCarthy) to drive her to the Church of One Accord to find her estranged, drug-addicted sister.  What they find is a cloistered, seemingly well-meaning group of religious fanatics who employ snake-handling into their worship.

Holy Ghost People is always interesting, if mostly low-key, yet in the end, it doesn’t add up to much. Still, it’s very much worth seeing, for its palpable backwoods atmosphere and for a detailed look at a very specific sect.  The only major problem I had with the film involved the snakes. Most of the serpents used in the snake handling scenes appeared to be pythons and boas, and yet we always hear rattling on the soundtrack. There are even scenes where we can see apparently CGI rattles on the ends of said pythons and boas!   Huh?  I ain’t no herpetologist, but I can tell the difference between a boa and a rattlesnake.  As someone who works in the industry – and certainly in light of the recent Sarah Jones incident – I’m all for “safety first”.  But I imagine something else could have been done to remedy these moments.

Faults aside, Holy Ghost People has many more fine qualities than debits.  The acting is across-the-board impressive, with a special mention for Joe Egender, who plays the de facto leader of the sect, Brother Billy.  It’s a magnetic performance by the relative newcomer, who could easily play Giovanni Ribisi’s brother, by the way.  He can play charismatic and persuasive one moment, then repulsive and frightening the next.  Methinks he’s got a great career ahead of him. Character actor Don Harvey (Casualties of War) also makes a strong impression as well in a small, but juicy role. It’s also nice that Holy Ghost People avoids many clichés of backwoods melodramas while still being creepy and unsettling. Again, nothing to write home about, but it’s an engrossing, nifty little movie. (– Dean Galanis)

Bad Ass 2: Bad Asses

20th Century Fox / Released 4/8/14

Danny Trejo (Machete) and Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon) deliver twice the Bad Ass action in this hard-hitting, butt-kicking sequel to the original cult favorite! Vietnam vet Frank Vega (Trejo) now runs an East L.A. community center where he trains young boxers to survive in and out of the ring. But when his prize student falls in with the wrong crowd and turns up dead, Frank teams up with his pal Bernie (Glover) to take matters into their own fists and prove that justice never gets old.

Norma Rae

20th Century Fox / Released 4/1/14

In an Oscar-winning performance, Sally Field is unforgettable as Norma Rae, the Southern millworker who revolutionizes a small town and discovers a power in herself she never knew she had. Under the guidance of a New York unionizer (Ron Leibman) and with increasing courage and determination, Norma Rae organizes her fellow factory workers to fight for better conditions and wages. Based on a true story and co-starring Beau Bridges, Norma Rae is the mesmerizing tale of a modern day heroine.  Extras include trailer and documentary.

Last Word:  Sally Field won her first Academy Award for her strong and sweet performance in 1979’s Norma Rae, establishing herself as a serious actress in Hollywood.   There’s a snapshot quality to the film, capturing a moment in time, in this case, 1979 in the South and features observations of racism, anti-Semitism, worker’s rights, women’s rights and the plight of America’s factory workers.  Unfortunately in the broad scope of things, many of these issues are still prevalent today.  With strong supporting performances from Beau Bridges, Ron Leibman, Pat Hingle, Barbara Baxley, and Gail Strickland, it’s Field’s amazing performance that anchors the film.  Norma Rae, surprisingly resonates today as it did thirty five years ago.  Recommended.

Nurse 3D

Lionsgate / Released 4/8/14

Paz de la Huerta (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) turns up the body heat in this wickedly entertaining story of a fatal attraction. By day, nurse Abby Russell (de la Huerta) lovingly attends to the patients at All Saints Memorial Hospital; by night, Abby prowls nightclubs, luring unfaithful men into dangerous liaisons. After Danni, a young, sensitive nurse, joins the hospital staff, Abby pursues her friendship. But when the friendship turns to obsession, Danni spurns Abby, unleashing Abby’s fury and a rampage of terror.  Extras include video diaries, making of and commentary.

Last Word: If you’re hoping for an over the top, ridiculous exploitation film, then look no further.  Nurse 3D is the All About Eve of the killer nurse field and rounds up an extremely fun supporting cast including  Katrina Bowden, Judd Nelson, Martin Donovan,  Kathleen Turner,  and Corbin Bleu.  With healthy doses of blood, boobs and bad, Nurse 3D is exactly what you think it might be, but thanks to the cast and the strange lead performance of Paz de la Huerta, it’s actually a bit better.  Recommended.

August: Osage County 

Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 4/8/14

Academy Award Winners Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts star in the darkly hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives converge when a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional mother who raised them. Based on Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, Director John Wells skillfully translates from stage to screen, leading an all-star cast that includes Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Margo Martindale, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Sam Shepard and Misty Upham.  Extras include commentary, deleted scenes and featurettes.

Last Word:  Well written and well acted by an amazing ensemble, the film version of this Pulitzer Prize winning play too often feels as if it’s being staged rather than filmed.  The performances are a bit more theatrical, and they all seem to be lacking a certain subtlety.  Wherein lies much of the problem.  The film never seems completely aware of it’s tone, ultimately never quite sure if laughter or tears are more appropriate.  It is at times a raw and difficult watch, but more often than not feels like a showcase for the headlining stars while the better performances arrive from the supporting actors.  Recommended.

Holliston: The Complete Second Season

Image Entertainment / Released 4/8/14

Following the events of the first season, Season Two ups the ante of outrageousness, taking Holliston to a wide range of unexpected places. Highlights include the series’ first animated episode, finding the town attacked by a giant blob; a Ringu-inspired J-Horror episode; a Found Footage episode; and a special season finale that will boast two special musical performances by the talented cast and a shocking final scene that will raise the dead. Season Two also features some surprising twists, amazing guest stars (Kane Hodder, Danielle Harris, Bailee Madison, James Gunn, Sid Haig, Seth Green, David Naughton, and more), and major developments for the four main characters that will have a huge impact on their lives and leave viewers anxious for more.  Extras include  commentaries, deleted scenes, bloopers, music videos, and featurettes.

Last Word: The incredibly entertaining Holliston delivers another spectacular season under the creative thumb of creators Adam Green and Joe Lynch.  Holliston is not only a horror sitcom, but also a true love letter to horror fandom in every aspect of it’s execution from casting, to writing to production.  The genuine care taken in producing the series is evident with each episode and it’s positive spirit is addicting enough to make the series a binge worthy candidate.  Holliston isn’t for every taste, but if you’re a horror fan and searching for something that will speak to you, look no further.  Highly recommended.

Winged Planet: An Earthflight Film

BBC Home Video / Released 4/8/14

In this stunning natural history film, the 90 minute featurized version of BBC’s acclaimed Earthflight series, you can see what the birds see – snow geese dashing through Monument Valley and New York City, with their 3D wing tips stretching out of the screen … scarlet macaws racing through the rainforest as if it were a high-speed obstacle course … vultures soaring miles above the earth, then zooming down to scout wildebeest herds far below. Hold on for the ride of your life as you cruise just above the ocean. Great white sharks, dolphins and whales leap up at you – so close, you can almost touch them. A stunning and wondrous journey guaranteed to take your breath away, time and again.

Last Word:  Well done, but if you have more than a passing interest, then you should check out it’s source material, the much longer and more comprehensive Earthflight: The Complete Series.

Bear Family & Me

BBC Home Video / Released 4/8/14

Get up close and personal with powerful carnivores in this heartwarming documentary form the BBC Natural History Unit. Scottish wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan gradually earns the trust of a family of black bears as they emerge from their den in the spring. You’ll lose your heart to Lily, a young, easy-going mother bear, her playful cub, Hope, and their extended family. Enjoy the fun while the busy brood plays and searches for food and prepares for hibernation. Will they make it safely to their dens before hunters find them? And how far will Gordon go to protect the bears he cares about so much?

Last Word: A heartwarming and magical look at black bears at several different points of their life, including the abandonment of cub Hope and the crew’s intervention.  The BBC’s nature documentaries are second to none, but this one is one of the more emotionally engaging that I’ve seen.  A fascinating watch especially if your impression of bears is centered around danger and violence.  Highly recommended.

Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded 

Magnolia / Released 4/8/14

In the 1980s, ruthless Colombian cocaine barons invaded Miami with a brand of violence unseen in this country since Prohibition-era Chicago. Cocaine Cowboys is the true story of how Miami became the drug, murder and cash capital of the United States. But it isn’t the whole story… Pulling from hundreds of hours of additional interviews and recently uncovered archival news footage, Cocaine Cowboys has been Reloaded: packed with footage and stories that have never been told.  Extras include deleted scenes.

Last Word: A fascinating look at Miami’s drug trade, an inspiration of sorts for Miami Vice and Scarface, Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded chronicles the history of cocaine’s impact and the characters and criminals that emerged as a result of the infiltration of the drug into the culture.  Extremely entertaining and engaging and despite it’s two and a half hour running time, it’s never slow.  Recommended.

Best Night Ever

Magnolia / Released 4/8/14

The hangover will be the easy part. Bride-to-be Claire, her sister Leslie, fun-loving Zoe, and quirky new friend Janet set off to Las Vegas for a one-night bachelorette party that turns out to be more than they bargained for. A series of unexpected adventures rip them from the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas strip and places them smack dab in Vegas’ seedy underbelly. Determined to keep their bachelorette party dreams alive, the girls band together and embark on the wildest night in bachelorette party history that is destined to go down as the Best Night Ever.  Extras include interviews and deleted scenes.

Last Word: I know there’s a double standard, but I don’t find women being raunchy to be particularly entertaining, which leads me to the inevitable negative review for Best Night Ever.  With a cliché filled screenplay and a serious misstep of it’s target audience (I’m guessing women, but this feels aimed at an immature male adolescent), Best Night Ever mistakenly believes that shock equals funny.  It doesn’t.

Extreme Bears

BBC Home Video / Released 4/8/14

Watch grizzlies, brown bears, pandas and polar bears face incredible challenges in the name of survival in this bear triple feature from BBC! Satellites, hi-tech remotes, and camouflaged roving cameras showcase the brutal realities of bear life as you’ve never seen it before.  In Great Bear Stakeout witness the harsh reality of grizzly bear life and awesome stories of survival set against the stunning Alaskan wild.  Polar Bear Battlefield reveals the conflicts, battle plans and tactics of these polar warriors in a harsh and unforgiving world.  Bears – Spy in the Woods  presents the giant panda, brown bear, and polar bear within a paw’s swipe thanks to camouflaged roving cameras.

Last Word:  Like all BBC nature documentaries, Extreme Bears features stunning photography of bears in their natural elements.  Within this set there is some truly shocking and violent footage that’s amazing to witness from the safety of one’s couch.  The only real misstep in this collection is Polar Bear Battlefield which is saddled with a number of unnecessary graphics to try and predict the nature of survival.  It plays like a Discovery Channel special and is a definite step backward from the majority of the BBC output.  Nevertheless, that small misstep is more of a personal preference and in no way should dissuade you from checking out this highly recommended release.

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