Tomorrow’s Halloween, so if you aren’t dressing up or handing out candy, checking out a new release might be a good idea. This week’s offerings include the latest from Pixar, Neil Jordan’s latest as well as some smaller titles that might strike your fancy.
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week!
Monsters University
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| WDSHE / Released 10/29/13 |
Disney-Pixar proudly presents the hilarious story of how two mismatched monsters met and became lifelong friends in a movie screaming with laughter and oozing with heart. Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer – and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. With their dreams temporarily dashed, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Pull an all-nighter with hours of exclusive bonus extras, including an inside look at the world of monsters and the animated theatrical short film The Blue Umbrella, commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and gallery.
Last Word: Who would’ve known? Mike Wazowski and James Sullivan weren’t always best pals. Billy Crystal and John Goodman return as the voices of these two characters, except way back when…they weren’t friends!
Monsters University tells the tale of how these different and disagreeing college youngsters came to be the team that inspired screams and laughter from children (on and off screen). Usually I find sequels and prequels of children’s movies to be intolerable, but Monsters University was great. While seeing the first, Monsters Inc., facilitates understanding references made in MU, the film is strong all on its own. It’s heartfelt, funny and has an incredible message: embrace your unique differences that may set you apart while being your biggest strength.
Can you really go wrong opening in the young years of adorable tiny monsters with adorably high voices? Not really. And though little Mike is sadly outcast by his classmates, he still expresses a gargantuan amount of ambition to be a great Scarer. And it’s ADORABLE.
Mike Wazowski has big dreams of becoming a top Scarer and heads to Monsters University to learn how. We get a few scenes with initial roommate, Randy Boggs – Steve Buscemi sounds so charming as an insecure geek – and then immediately are thrust into the competitive college challenge of surviving the Scare Program. In the first class they are startled when told by Dean Hardscrabble that most will not make it through. Helen Mirren’s voice illuminates the Dean – a creepy monster who has hundreds of creepy little legs and she flies – a sort of pretty cockroach. She’s awesomely scary as the woman in charge. Enter Jimmy Sullivan, a cocky, strut-your-stuff-I’m-cool-because-my-dad-was-famous dude. He’s a typical college bromonster who has relied on nothing but his large ego and one good roar to get by thus far. Contrasting the small and studious Mike, these two are born rivals.
Early on both dreams are squandered when they fail the first big Scare Exam. Sully didn’t study and Mike just isn’t naturally scary. How to get back in the program?! Enter the annual Monsters University Scare Games! The entire premise of these sort-of Olympics is that the winning team is deemed scariest bunch in school and guaranteed a spot in the Scare Program. Of course Mike enters with the sorriest fraternity compiled of an odd bunch of outcast monsters. He believes his brain will carry the team and Sully joins them solely for the chance to reenter the Scare Program. Their fraternity/team name is Ooza Kappa (OK). “We’re okay!” “We’re Okay!” Another fun message for the kiddies – you don’t have to be in the popular crowd to be considered awesome. You can be OK and totally awesome too! The crew is a charming collection of characters. Pixar has a knack for making the geeky goof funny and lovable.
What follows as The Games begin is a delightful and comedic adventure of learning to use individual differences to make the strongest team. The collegiate tone was impeccable and Pixar, your animation is gorgeous. The detail of grass alone is astoundingly beautiful. But the overall college atmosphere may be lost on the children (but perhaps who cares?) From the attitudes of different stereotypical college cliques, frat parties, cool kids, and weird monsters, to the singing of the Alma Mater – it is very poignant and hilarious. ( – Caitlyn Thompson)
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| MPI Home Video / Released 10/29/13 |
A run-down coastal resort becomes the epicenter of unimaginable evil when two mysterious women suddenly appear there seeking refuge. Alluring Clara (Gemma Arterton) and schoolgirl Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) meet local loner Noel (Daniel Mays) and take up residence in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Before long Eleanor befriends another local, Frank (Caleb Landry Jones) and reveals to him the lethal secret the two women share: they were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. As knowledge of their secret spreads, their shared past threatens to catch up to them with deadly consequences. A uniquely fresh take on the vampire myth, Neil Jordan’s Byzantium is a stylish and affecting look at the loneliness and isolation that come with the price of immortality. Extras include interviews and trailer.
Last Word: Director Jordan’s second vampire film (following 1994’s Interview With a Vampire) is both stylish and beautiful (helped immensely by the stunning Gemma Arterton). Not quite a horror film, Byzantium examines both relationships and other aspects of the traditional mythology with fresh and interesting perspectives. Slow, precise and ultimately fulfilling, Byzantium is a more than worthwhile entry into an old genre that deserves a look. Recommended.
Family Tree: The Complete First Season
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| HBO Studios / Released 10/29/13 |
Finding himself. One relative at a time. From Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock comes a comedy series about the journey of 30-year-old Tom Chadwick (Chris O’Dowd) as he sets about finding himself, one relative at a time. After inheriting a mysterious box of belongings from a great-aunt he never met, Tom starts investigating his family lineage and uncovers a whole world of unusual stories and characters and a growing sense of who he is and who his real family are. The series also features Carrie Aizley, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr., Tom Bennett, Nina Conti, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Jim Piddock, Kevin Pollak, Don Lake, and Fred Willard. Extras include bonus scenes and featurettes.
Bounty Killer
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| Arc Entertainment / Released 10/29/13 |
Its been 20 years since the corporations took over the world s governments. Their thirst for power and profits led to the corporate wars, a fierce global battle that laid waste to society as we know it. Born from the ash, the Council of Nine rose as a new law and order for this dark age. To avenge the corporations reckless destruction, the Council issues death warrants for all white collar criminals. Their hunters — the bounty killer. From amateur savage to graceful assassin, the bounty killers now compete for body count, fame and a fat stack of cash. They re ending the plague of corporate greed by exterminating the self serving CEO and providing the survivors of the apocalypse with retribution. These are the new heroes. This is the age of the Bounty Killer. Extras include Behind The Scenes and trailers.
Free Samples
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 10/29/13 |
For law school dropout Jillian (Jess Weixler), life is an ongoing spiral of suck. But when her best friend (Halley Feiffer) begs a hung-over Jillian to fill-in working her rundown ice cream truck, Jillian will be forced to deal with an oddball collection of locals, lunatics and a guy named ‘Tex’ (Jesse Eisenberg) who she may have passed out with the night before. For a snarky girl who’s chosen to lose herself in slacker L.A., could one day dispensing free soft-serve lead to the most unexpected discovery of all? Jason Ritter and Hollywood legend Tippi Hedren co-star in this smart and surprising indie comedy featuring original music by the band Say Hi.
Snow Queen
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| BBC Home Entertainment / Released 10/29/13 |
Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved fairy tale comes to life in this astonishing adaptation, featuring a blend of live performances, stunning animated backgrounds and powerful music. When Gerda and her mother take in the homeless boy, Kay, powerful forces come into play that will take both children on a magical journey and test their friendship to the extreme. One cold winter night, a splinter of ice pierces Kay’s eye, turning his heart cold. He is enchanted by the Snow Queen and taken to her palace in the frozen North. Gerda decides that she must do whatever she can to rescue her friend. Faith, love and courage lead her on a perilous quest through many strange lands. Featuring Juliet Stevenson, Kenneth Welsh and the voice of Patrick Stewart, this heart-warming fairy tale celebrates childhood, innocence and the power of love to transcend evil. Extras include featurettes.
