Our last column for 2013 features more than enough material to allow you to watch some movies instead of imagining sugar plums dancing their hearts out. There’s stuff in here for cinegeeks of all ages to fill their stocking with so
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week!
Fast & Furious 6
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| Universal / Released 12/10/13 |
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez lead a cast of returning all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed delivers the biggest adrenaline rush yet. Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled drivers, whose mastermind (Luke Evans) is aided by the love Dom (Diesel) thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal mercenaries from stealing a top secret weapon is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks for the help of Dom and his elite team. Payment for the ultimate chase? Full pardons for all of them and a chance to make their families whole again. Extras include commentary, featurettes, extended cut of the film, and deleted scenes.
Last Word: The latest chapter in this continually evolving franchise wraps up several story threads including Han Leu’s ultimate fate. Ridiculously entertaining, Fast & Furious 6 continues the pattern of evolving the series’ characters and mythology while providing some over the top set pieces and car chases. More than ever, the series is about family, and the warm camaraderie amongst the ensemble is palpable and genuine. In fact, it might be the most family friendly franchise being released today, with very little in the way of sex, violence and language and instead focusing on pure action. It’s hard not to watch the film and not reflect on the sudden loss of co-star Paul Walker. Fast & Furious 6 under the helm of returning director Justin Lin is once again an absurd, over the top summer movie that’s a whole lot of fun. Highly recommended.
Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special: The Day of the Doctor
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| BBC Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Doctor Who: The Day of The Doctor, written by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, sees the Doctors (Matt Smith and David Tennant) embark on their greatest adventure across space and time. In 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him. Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt, this is the event fans have been waiting for. The special also stars Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, daughter of legendary Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and Joanna Page as Queen Elizabeth I. Extras include retrospective, two mini-episodes, featurette and trailers.
Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition
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| WDSHE / Released 12/10/13 |
Released from the Disney Vault in celebration of its 50th Anniversary this beloved classic shines like never before on Blu-ray with an all-new digital restoration. Winner of five Academy Awards (1964), including Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and Best Special Visual Effects, Mary Poppins is a movie experience your family will enjoy over and over again.
“Practically Perfect In Every Way” Mary Poppins flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns every chore into a game and every day into a “Jolly Holiday.” Share the music, the magic, and the joy of Mary Poppins with a whole new generation for the first time on Disney Blu-ray. Extras include a conversation between composer Richard Sherman and actor Jason Schwartzman, deleted scene, sing-along, reunion and making of.
Last Word: One of the Disney classics makes it’s way to Blu-ray in a must-have release. Mary Poppins features all of the caveats of the Disney machine including wonderful animation, memorable songs and rich performances. This release features an impressive presentation and fantastic supplemental features which makes it a must have for any cinegeek’s collection. Highly recommended.
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/10/13 |
Attention, easily brainwashed citizens of Earth! You are now under the control of Futurama: Volume 8 – the highly animated sci-fi comedy from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Packed with mind-altering, brain-exploding extras not shown on TV, this outrageous collection includes 13 mesmerizing episodes featuring maniac street racers, robot grave robbers, and nerve-wracking nose transplants. You’ll watch – you’ll laugh – you’ll obey. The Hypnotoad commands it! Extras include commentaries, deleted scenes, and featurettes.
Last Word: The final batch of episodes, Futurama flies off into the sunset until another hopeful resurrection. Guest voices this time out include Larry Bird, George Takei, Robert Wagner, Dan Castellaneta, Burt Ward, Adam West, Tom Kenny, Frank Welker, Seth MacFarlane, Sarah Silverman, Tara Strong, and Emilia Clarke. This release includes some truly funny episodes, great commentaries and a happy ending for Planet Express. Recommended.
Teen Wolf: Season Three, Part 1
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/10/13 |
Four months after the events that nearly ended Jackson’s life and resurrected Peter Hale’s, teen wolf Scott McCall and his friends begin their junior year of high school unaware that a new threat has arrived in Beacon Hills: A pack of Alpha werewolves intent on bringing Derek into their fold, while destroying his young pack.
Last Word: Still entertaining, but truly missing out on the van surfing that gave the film the much needed edge.
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
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| Warner Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Danny Kaye stars as the mild-mannered mouse who imagines himself to be a number of daredevil heroes in this whimsical adaptation of James Thurber’s short story. It’s a fantasy tale the entire family will love. Extras include interview and trailer.
Last Word: Kaye and Virginia Mayo star in this charming adaptation of James Thurber’s short story that envisions Mitty as a pulp magazine proof-reader who imagines himself in a series of adventures. Among the supporting cast is screen legend Boris Karloff and Fred Flinstone voice actor Henry Cordin. His daydreams collide with reality when Mitty finds himself in the center of a conspiracy concerning concerning stolen jewels, a gorgeous woman and yet still has time for a music number or two. Terrific fun and recommended.
The Great Muppet Caper And Muppet Treasure Island: Of Pirates & Pigs 2-Movie Collection
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| WDSHE / Released 12/10/13 |
A treasure trove of hearty laughs is yours when two of the funniest, most action-packed Muppet movies of all time make their Disney Blu-ray debut in this heartwarming 2-Movie Collection.
From the special star-studded lunacy in Muppet Treasure Island to the jewel-heist hilarity of The Great Muppet Caper, these two classic comedy-adventures are packed with music, mirth, mayhem and, of course, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Fozzie, Gonzo and all your Muppet favorites.
Loaded with unforgettable music and sparkling special effects, this restored and remastered collection is a 2-movie treasure you won’t want to miss! Extras include featurettes, commentary and music video.
Last Word: A mixed bag, in my opinion. On one hand, you’ve got The Great Muppet Caper, the first sequel to the original The Muppet Movie, bringing the gang to England. Familiar faces this time out include Charles Grodin, Diana Rigg, John Cleese, Peter Falk, Jack Warden and Peter Ustinov as the film finds Kermit and Fozzie as reporters sent to write about a jewel robbery. Soon enough, after meeting, another robbery occurs framing Miss Piggy as the culprit, leaving Kermit and Fozzie to uncover the truth (which of course they do).
Muppet Treasure Island finds the characters interpreting an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s seminal pirate story. Co-stars include Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Billy Connolly and Jennifer Saunders. It’s not the strongest Muppet release, but the duo provide more than enough entertainment for viewers of all ages. Recommended.
Big: 25th Anniversary Edition
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/10/13 |
Have you ever had a really big secret? Two-time Oscar Winner Tom Hanks received his first Best Actor Nomination for his disarming turn as a 12-year-old man-child in Penny Marshall’s timeless delight. Tired of being a kid, Josh Baskin wishes he was big. When he wakes up the next day, he’s an adult! Now, Josh must hold down a job – and please a new boss (Robert Loggia). Tougher still, he must convince his best friend that he’s still himself, and explain to a beautiful woman (Elizabeth Perkins) who falls for him, that he’s not. Soon, Josh just wants to be a kid again, but can he? Extras include audio documentary, featurettes and deleted scenes with intros by director Penny Marshall.
Last Word: One of the last times Tom Hanks seemed to be having fun onscreen, Big is a cautionary fairy tale that manages to capture the magic of childhood and the harsh reality of adulthood while making both of them seem exciting and scary. In addition to Loggia and Perkins, the cast is truly terrific with standout performances from John Heard, Jon Lovitz, Mercedes Ruehl, Jared Rushton as Josh’s best friend Billy and David Moscow as young Josh. Big is as special today as it was during it’s initial release. Highly recommended.
Man of Tai Chi
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| Anchor Bay / Released 12/10/13 |
In the midst of Beijing’s urban bustle, ambitious young ‘Tiger’ Chen Lin-Hu (Tiger Hu Chen) works as a lowly courier; but after work, he is a young martial arts star, rising through the ranks representing the Ling Kong Tai Chi tradition. He has crafted the stealthy, peaceful movements of Tai Chi and sculpted them to suit martial arts’ competitive fighting world. Jumping to another central city of pandemonium and chaos, Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves) is evading the police in Hong Kong while running an underground fight club where cold hard cash is made by defeating one’s opponent in a no-holds barred fight privately broadcast to wealthy patrons. Looking for a new ‘star’, Donaka tries to lure Tiger with the promise of easy money. Entrance into this world brings out the darkest side of Chen Lin-Hu, but he needs the cash. His skill saves him in the ring but can he fight and maintain his integrity and good nature?
Stella Dallas
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| Warner Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Barbara Stanwyck gives one of her best performances as a social-climbing mother from the wrong side of the tracks. It is a memorable and heartbreaking tale of a mother’s love and ultimate sacrifice — with one of Hollywood’s greatest finales. Extra includes 1925 silent version.
Last Word: Stanwyck is phenomenal as the mother with such hope and unconditional love for her daughter that she sacrifices everything. King Vidor’s soap operatic feature is dated, but still effective with a marvelous supporting cast which includes John Boles, Anne Shirley, Barbara O’Neil and Alan Hale. Stella Dallas is a melodramatic, yet universal story that remains both timely and emotionally moving. Recommended.
Adore
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| Paramount / Released 12/10/13 |
Escape to a close-knit seaside community where friendship, love and lust collide. Starring Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts and Golden Globe nominated actress Robin Wright, Adore is a sensual yet thought provoking drama in which two lifelong friends find themselves entangled in passionate sexual relationships with each other’s sons. As they struggle to make sense of conflicting emotions and desires, the lines between family, friendship and morality are blurred. When powerful bonds reach their breaking point, discover what truly keeps us connected.
Saving General Yang
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| Well Go USA / Released 12/10/13 |
Northeast China, early Northern Song dynasty, AD 986. The Khitan army takes its revenge for a past massacre, abducting General Yang Ye (Adam Cheng) and leaving his wife and seven sons to rescue him – and fall into their deadly trap.
Led by the first son (Ekin Cheng), the seven – two of whom have never seen combat – set out with a small band of fighters to face an army of thousands, brave the treacherous Wolf Mountain, face the nemesis of their shared history, and find the way back alive – all to bring their father home. Extras include interview and making of.
Sightseers
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| MPI Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Chris (Steve Oram) wants to show his new girlfriend Tina (Alice Lowe) his world and he wants to do it his way – on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved RV. Tina has led a sheltered life and there are things Chris simply needs her to see. But it doesn’t take long for annoying tourists, overbooked campsites and Tina’s meddling mother to spoil Chris’ dream. Now he’s out to prove that hell truly hath no fury like a vacationer scorned – and he and Tina quickly bond by murdering everyone who rubs them the wrong way. Sightseers – from director Ben Wheatley and executive producer Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End), and written by stars Oram and Lowe – cleverly mixes pitch-black humor with over-the-top violence to create an uncomfortably hilarious portrait of a seemingly normal man pushed over the edge.
Last Word: An uncomfortable dark comedy that mixes gore with genuine laughs. There aren’t an awful lot of serial killer comedies, by Sightseers is certainly among the best, reminiscent of Natural Born Killers takes a holiday. The film meanders a bit, and could certainly use a tighter script, but overall, it’s an interesting and entertaining look how evil likes to vacation. Recommended.
Berberian Sound Studio
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| MPI Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Mild-mannered sound engineer Gilderoy (Toby Jones) arrives in Rome to work on the soundtrack to a film called The Equestrian Vortex, a tale of witchcraft and murder set inside an all-girl riding academy. Before long he becomes entranced by the film’s mysteriously terrifying allure, and the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur. Now Gilderoy’s own mind has become the battleground between his horrifying delusions and his desperate grasp on the real world. Tense, claustrophobic and featuring a tour-de-force performance by Jones, Berberian Sound Studio is an electrifying portrayal of a man’s descent into the darkest pit of madness.
Last Word: Berberian Sound Studio is a film I sort of liked, but desperately wanted to love. It felt like Brian De Palma doing a tribute to filmmaker Dario Argento, which on paper sounds enticing, but in execution never really comes together. When I sit down to watch a narrative, I expect a somewhat understandable storyline, not a film that almost entirely is left to interpretation. It’s not nearly as clever or as smart as it wants to be, but it’s certainly more pretentious than it deserves to be. For lovers of foley sound and giallo devotees only.
The Angel’s Share
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| MPI Home Video / Released 12/10/13 |
Winner of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, revered filmmaker Ken Loach’s The Angel’s Share is a comic fable about wasted talent and what happens when we are given a second chance. It would be hard to see Robbie (Paul Brannigan) as a man worthy of redemption. He’s constantly watching out for a gang of thugs looking to settle a family grudge, his girlfriend is giving birth to a baby while her father offers him money to leave Glasgow, and he’s serving 300 hours of community service. But when Robbie meets Harry (John Henshaw), the gruff but benevolent man in charge of his sentence, he finds a hidden talent for Scotch whiskey – and a new chance at life. For distillers, the “angels’ share” is the whiskey lost to evaporation each year, and that little fact makes a rare cask of whiskey the perfect target for a heist. The Angel’s Share is a strikingly realistic slice of life from director Ken Loach (The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Kes, Raining Stones) and his frequent screenwriting collaborator Paul Laverty.
Last Word: The eternal question of freewill vs. destiny is the heart of The Angel’s Share. Can you break away from the world that you are both used to or expected to be a part of? There are metaphors aplenty, but more importantly, The Angel’s Share is a good film that deserves to find an audience. It’s one of those films that manages to be life affirming, but with a solid sense of humor, in no small part to the ensemble of somewhat wacky characters. With a plan to steal some priceless whiskey (aka “the angel’s share), we’re left with a bit of a heartwarming tale of a man trying to change his life after the birth of his child, who just keeps trying to make things right. Recommended.
Silent Night, Bloody Night
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| Film Chest / Released 12/10/13 |
In Silent Night, Bloody Night, a young man inherits a mansion once used as an insane asylum … and in which his grandfather died in a fire. When he puts it up for sale, an axe-wielding madman – who has been hiding in the residence – threatens anyone who comes near. Who is this deranged murderer … And why are the local townspeople acting so strange? A ’70s drive-in, B-movie flick, Silent Night, Bloody Night gained notoriety in the mid-1980s when it was featured on Elvira’s Movie Macabre, gaining a dedicated cult following.
Starring John Carradine, Patrick O’Neal and Walter Abel. Directed by Theodore Gershuny (TV’s Tales From the Darkside).
The Gene Autry Show: Complete TV Series: Collector’s Edition
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| Shout Factory/Timeless Media / Released 12/10/13 |
For the first time, all 91 episodes from the show’s five season run, uncut and fully restored from Autry’s personal film and television archive, will appear together in a 15 DVD box set. The collection also boasts a bevy of bonus content, including select episodes of Autry’s Melody Ranch radio show, vintage Autry commercial appearances, film trailers and photo galleries; as well as a bonus DVD showcasing classic episodes from Autry’s other Flying ‘A’ Pictures television series The Range Rider, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Jr. and The Adventures of Champion.
Originally airing on CBS from 1950-1956, The Gene Autry Show features a wide range of guest stars, including Gail Davis, Denver Pyle, Sheila Ryan, Clayton Moore, Donna Martell, Alan Hale Jr., Elaine Riley, Harry Lauter, William Fawcett, Gloria Winter, Lee Van Cleef, Lyle Talbot, Chill Wills, John Doucette, Fuzzy Knight, the Cass County Boys, and Dick Jones.
The Seasoning House
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| Well Go USA / Released 12/10/13 |
The Seasoning House – where young girls are prostituted to the military. Angel (Rosie Day), an orphaned deaf mute, is enslaved to care for them. She moves between the walls and crawlspaces, planning her escape. Planning her ingenious and brutal revenge. Extras include making of featurette.
Gatchaman Complete Collection
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| Section 23 Films / Released 12/10/13 |
Using amazing weapons powered by super-science, the international terrorist organization known as Galactor is out to steal all of Earth’s resources for itself and its inhuman masters. Mankind’s only hope? The International Science Organization and their elite strike force, the Science Ninja Team! But these five young heroes will have their work cut out for them as they take on the seemingly impossible task of defeating GALACTOR’s horrific arsenal of mechanized weapons of mass destruction and endless armies of henchmen. Can costumed commandos Ken the Eagle, Joe the Condor, Jun the Swallow, Jinpei the Sparrow and Ryu the Owl really overcome such overwhelming odds? Utilizing the incredible technology and fighting techniques created by Dr. Nambu, and with the mighty ship the God Phoenix at their command, they just might!
It’s time for the bad guys to get old-schooled science-ninja style as Japan’s original super team defeat evil, one flying kick at a time, in the legendary, one and only Gatchaman! Includes the previously unreleased Gatchaman OVAs.
Last Word: I spent countless afternoons watching Sandy Frank’s American syndicated version, Battle of The Planets, which substituted the violence for the more quaint commentary of 7-Zark-7 and 1-Rover-1 as they looked over the members of G-Force; Mark, Jason, Princess, Tiny and Keyop. This unedited release is without a doubt a better presentation of the show, but the nostalgiac geek in me misses Hoyt Curtain’s opening theme. For someone who grew up in the Seventies, this set is like weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings in a single box set. Highest recommendation.
The Rooftop
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| Well Go USA / Released 12/10/13 |
Taiwanese pop sensation Jay Chou is Wax, a cocky drifter who lives a happy but oppressed life among the rooftops of Galilee. But a chance meeting with his dream girl, Starling (Li Xinai), takes him on a thrilling journey to change his fate.
Chou’s second feature film, The Rooftop is a story of friendship, romance, rivalry and destiny, filled with song and dance numbers that will delight audiences for years to come.
Post Tenebras Lux
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| Strand Releasing / Released 12/10/13 |
Post Tenebras Lux (“light after darkness”), ostensibly the story of an upscale, urban family whose move to the Mexican countryside results in domestic crises and class friction, is a stunningly photographed, impressionistic psychological portrait of a family and their place within the sublime, unforgiving natural world. Reygadas conjures a host of unforgettable, ominous images: a haunting sequence at dusk as Reygadas’s real-life daughter wanders a muddy field and farm animals loudly circle and thunder and lightning threaten; a glowing-red demon gliding through the rooms of a home; a husband and wife visiting a swingers’ bathhouse with rooms named after famous philosophers. By turns entrancing and mystifying, Post Tenebras Lux palpably explores the primal conflicts of the human condition.
The Lone Ranger
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| WDSHE / Released 12/17/13 |
From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski, the filmmaking team behind the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, comes Disney/ Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “The Lone Ranger,” a thrilling adventure infused with action and humor, in which the famed masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Native American spirit warrior Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid (Armie Hammer), a man of the law, into a legend of justice-taking the audience on a runaway train of epic surprises and humorous friction as the two unlikely heroes must learn to work together and fight against greed and corruption
Last Word: Gore Verbinski presents another gritty adventure that I thought was simply epic.
The Lone Ranger is rich with twists and good-hearted lessons (not to mention great witty banter) from the classic tale of the Masked Man, John Reid and his companion, Tonto. Plus a bunch of suggestively brutal violence.
The movie opens with a fast-paced train heist that immediately thrusts the viewer into a nonstop adventure. The quick pace only slowly down for brief expository flashbacks. The extreme long shots of the Wild, Wild West accompanied by Han’s Zimmer’s musical brilliance is absorbing and nostalgic. Through the gritted and dusty lens of Gore Verbinski, this film is a raw and visceral illustration very similar to and just as fun as Pirates of the Caribbean.
Verbinski has a talent for presenting stories in brutal barbaric settings. Right and wrong aren’t always clear and the tone can be dark. But don’t worry, when it gets really violent and sad (or someone eats a piece of raw human flesh) – boom! – horse in a tree! It’s funny for the young viewers. And as it’s Disney, there isn’t too much blood. But with a chilling performance by William Fichtner as Butch Cavendish, Verbinski reminds us that some bad guys, are just bad – there are merciless power seekers and it’s easy to compromise morality at the right price. This evil was a bit refreshing as lately villains are so lovable (Bane, Khan, etc).
As with Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp makes the supporting role the main attraction in his portrayal of Tonto. Johnny Depp disappears into his make up and envelops a culture. Depp resurrects an icon while bringing attention to a much neglected and sensitive subject – the exploitation of Native Americans during railroad expansion.
Verbinski wasn’t shy in loading intense subject matter into the movie. To that effect, Depp’s Tonto is not a stereotypical sidekick, but an intelligent person very capable of hurt, regret, and vengeance. Tonto’s past not only thickens the plot but legitimizes what would otherwise be a silly and clichéd character. He has different quirks and motives than John Reid, but their similar heartbreak makes them complimentary partners.I wasn’t sure what to expect from Armie Hammer. Still oogling over watching two of him in The Social Network (yes, still), my expectations were low for him to rise above pleasant eye candy. But he is incredible as a genuinely nice guy upholding the law as his hometown’s new deputy prosecutor. His innocence is quickly robbed from him as he witnesses his brother’s murder. Hammer gives real depth to John Reid. The character development across the movie is steady and impressive.
Experiencing the journey with Hammer is hilarious and touching. The chemistry between he and Depp is surprisingly electric and I never felt Hammer dominated scenes just for being large and handsome. The Lone Ranger feels like a new classic, which I find is rare in this age of trilogies. And as with the Pirates franchise, I look forward to (and hope to not hate) the inevitable sequel and finale. (– Caitlyn Thompson)
One Direction: This is Us
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| Sony / Released 12/17/13 |
One Direction: This Is Us is a captivating and intimate all-access look at life on the road for the global music phenomenon. Weaved with stunning live concert footage, this inspiring feature film tells the remarkable story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis’ meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to conquering the world and performing at London’s famed O2 Arena. Hear it from the boys themselves and see through their own eyes what it’s really like to be One Direction. Directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) and produced by Simon Cowell, Adam Milano, Spurlock and Ben Winston.
Justified: The Complete Fourth Season
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| Sony / Released 12/17/13 |
The Emmy Award-winning Justified returns for its fourth season with U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) picking at the thread of a cold case over 30 years in the making and unraveling a riddle that echoes all the way back to his boyhood and his criminal father’s bad dealings. Meanwhile, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) finds his own criminal grip on Harlan County loosening due to a Pentecostal preacher with a penchant for theatrics and a knack for manipulation. Developed by Graham Yost, Justified is based on the works of crime novelist Elmore Leonard, including Leonard’s short story “Fire in the Hole.”
Elysium
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| Sony / Released 12/17/13 |
In the year 2154, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) will stop at nothing to preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium – but that doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in by any means they can. Max (Matt Damon) agrees to take on a life threatening mission, one that could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
Last Word: If anything were to strike you first while watching Elysium, odds are it will be the scale. A sweeping shot across the futuristic wasteland of Los Angeles makes the city look like one giant, overpopulated trash heap.
Set in 2154, director Neill Blomkamp paints our planet with such apocalyptic despair that one half-expects WALL-E to be picking up the pieces in five to ten years. The wealthy and privileged live on Elysium, a gorgeous creation in the sky that strongly resembles the cyclical space station of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey if it were to be blown up and turned into an entire planet. The result is downright stunning, and through visual prowess alone Blomkamp knocks Elysium — his second feature as one of cinema’s most interesting and endlessly promising science fiction storytellers — out of the ballpark and into another universe. He delivers, through and through.
Elysium is an epic tale of one man, named Max (Matt Damon), who dreams of a better world than the squalor he grows up in. As a boy, he looks at the mythical Elysium in the sky and knows, one day, he will be destined to go there. How Max ends up on this adventure is something I wouldn’t care to spoil—a classic hero’s journey involving an awesomely-designed body suit that turns Max into something of a human weapon, a thrilling “data” heist, and one of the most exciting climaxes I’ve witnessed in theaters thus far in 2013. What stands out most after sitting back and truly soaking in Elysium, is that Blomkamp’s vision is undeniably pure.
As writer/director, he has crafted indelible worlds in both Earth and Elysium, and beautifully, almost effortlessly, brings these visions to the visual form. While I admired District 9 for its bold ideas, tragic hero, and visual inventiveness, Elysium’s ideas are bolder, its hero even more tragic, and palette even more rich. A cartoonish performance by Jodie Foster as Elysium’s dictator-esque villain mucks up the vibe a bit, but a killer job by District 9’s Sharlto Copley as a deranged mercenary tracking Max brings everything back to an even balance.
Elysium, in the end, is destined to be a staple of the science fiction genre in film. Blomkamp isn’t just a filmmaker to look out for anymore, but rather someone whose work we are indubitably going to look back on. And something tells me he’s only getting started. (– Greg Vellante)
The Family
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/17/13 |
Academy Award Winners Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones star in this action-comedy from executive producer Martin Scorsese and acclaimed director Luc Besson. A Mafia boss and his family are relocated to a sleepy town in France under the Witness Protection Program after snitching on the mob. Despite Agent Stansfield’s (Jones) best efforts to keep them in line, Fred Blake (Robert De Niro), his wife Maggie (Michelle Pfeiffer), and their children Belle (Dianna Agron) and Warren (John D’Leo), can’t help resorting to old habits by handling their problems the “family” way. Chaos ensues as their former Mafia cronies try to track them down, and scores are settled in the unlikeliest of settings. Extras include featurettes.
Burn Notice: Season Seven
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/17/13 |
It all comes down to this-the thrilling final season of one of television’s hottest shows, where everything is finally revealed. Separated from his friends and family, and on the verge of losing it all, Michael Westen goes deep undercover, joining forces with a mysterious woman and infiltrating a sinister terrorist network. With time running out, Michael must do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect his loved ones; but now, he may be forced to go too far. Packed with explosive action and exciting plot twists, Burn Notice Season Seven comes fully equipped with exclusive bonus features available only on DVD.
Family Guy: Volume 12
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 12/17/13 |
Family Guy reaches new heights of hilarity in this outrageous collection of 22 uncensored episodes, including fan-favorite Into Fat Air, where the Griffins rock Mount Everest, plus the comedy jackpot Roads to Vegas and the milestone 200th episode Yug Ylimaf, in which Brian and Stewie develop a curious case of reverse aging thanks to a time machine foul-up. It’s a complete season of laughs with celebrity guest voices Johnny Depp, Jon Hamm, Sofia Vergara and more!
Last Word: The entire eleventh season arrives on Blu-ray for the first time. This time, the Griffin’s tackle such innovative plots as Lois’ ex-boyfriend, becoming a Nielsen family, time travel paradoxes, midlife crises, an accidental space launch, sexual misunderstandings and terrorism all under the guise of eighties pop cuture nostalgia. Elizabeth Banks, Sandra Bernhard, Jon Hamm, Michael Clarke Duncan, J.J. Abrams, Patrick Stewart, Jim Parsons, Will Sasso, Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds, Bruce McGill, Drew Barrymore, Julie Hagerty, Sofia Vergara, Robert Romanus, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Loggia, Jennifer Tilly, Padma Lakshmi, Drew Barrymore, Julie Hagerty, Robert Romanus, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Loggia, Jennifer Tilly, Padma Lakshmi, Mike Judge, Bill Maher, Carly Simon, Sean Bean, Hank Azaria, Nick Cannon, Sharon Osbourne, and Tom Hiddleston all guest star, trying to either convince themselves that they are funny, and playful with their image. If you’re a fan, it’s a well done set. If you’re not a fan of creator Seth McFarlane or his humor, welcome to hell.
Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark
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| Paramount / Released 12/17/13 |
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is no ordinary archeologist. When we first see him, he is somewhere in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet (complete with an over-sized rolling boulder) to fetch a solid-gold idol. He loses this artifact to his chief rival, a French archeologist named Belloq (Paul Freeman), who then prepares to kill our hero. In the first of many serial-like escapes, Indy eludes Belloq by hopping into a convenient plane. So, then: is Indiana Jones afraid of anything? Yes, snakes. The next time we see Jones, he’s a soft-spoken, bespectacled professor. He is then summoned from his ivy-covered environs by Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to find the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, it seems, are already searching for the Ark, which the mystical-minded Hitler hopes to use to make his stormtroopers invincible. But to find the Ark, Indy must first secure a medallion kept under the protection of Indy’s old friend Abner Ravenwood, whose daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), evidently has a “history” with Jones. Whatever their personal differences, Indy and Marion become partners in one action-packed adventure after another, ranging from wandering the snake pits of the Well of Souls to surviving the pyrotechnic unearthing of the sacred Ark. A joint project of Hollywood prodigies George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with a script co-written by Lawrence Kasdan and Philip Kaufman, among others, Raiders of the Lost Ark is not so much a movie as a 115-minute thrill ride. Last Word: One of my favorite movies of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark, comes to Blu-ray as an individual release (as do The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusdae). I can’t even begin to explain why you need to see, own or treasure this film, but you do and you will. On that note, here are a dozen lines/exchanges from the film that instantly bring me back to the darkened theater where I watched Raiders well over a dozen times. Highest recommendation.
- “Whiskey…”
- “Bad dates.”
- “Asps. Very dangerous. You go first.”
- “Throw me the idol, I’ll throw you the whip.”
- “Good God!” “Yes, that’s what the Hebrews thought.”
- “Didn’t you guys ever go to Sunday School?”
- “It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”
- “So once again, Jones, what was briefly yours is now mine.”
- “Hello, Marion.”
- “I’ll tell you everything!” “Yes, I know you will.”
- “They’re digging in the wrong place!”
- “I don’t know, I’m makin’ this up as I go…”
Shameless: Complete Third Season
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| Warner Home Video / Released 12/17/13 |
Season three of Shameless picks up 137 days since viewers last spent time with the Gallaghers. Fiona (series star Emmy Rossum) is scrounging for cash and finds herself in a succession of jobs, including club party promoter, grocery store cashier, and office worker. Lip is sentenced to community service after stealing a laser, while Ian struggles to prevent Mickey from marrying a woman his father is forcing him to wed. Jimmy contemplates returning to medical school; Veronica and Kevin are determined to have a baby; Carl becomes part of a scheme to cheat a children’s foundation; and Frank, after partying harder than usual, wakes up in Mexico without the papers or cash to get back home. As if their daily struggles weren’t enough, Fiona and her siblings have to deal with Child Protective Services threatening to take away the kids. Extras include featurettes and deleted scenes. Last Word: If there were ever a series that’s both an acquired taste and deserving of a wider audience, it’s Shameless, a raunchy family dramedy focused on the very bottom of the 99%. William H. Macy plays alcoholic patriarch Frank Gallagher, father of six. Emmy Rossum plays his eldest daughter, Fiona, who is the substitute mother for her five younger, and often delinquent siblings. Based on the British series of the same name, Shameless‘ characters are basically awful people, doing fairly awful things. But they are likable, and the series is addicting to watch. Unrelenting; dark, twisted and funny and highly recommended.
The Beast Within
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| Shout! Factory / Released 12/19/13 |
A teenager is experiencing growing pains of a most shocking kind in this exciting, tense and all-too-real story of a human-into monster transformation. 18-year-old Michael MacCleary – the progeny of an unholy union between his mother and a swamp beast – is on the verge of becoming a man. And as the inherited evil in his blood gnaws at his soul. Michael must return to the swamp to uncover the terrifying identity of his father – before his nasty natural tendencies force him to feed on the locals! Ronny Cox (Robocop), Bibi Besch (Tremors), Paul Clemens (Communion), L.Q. Jones (The Wild Bunch) and R.G. Armstrong (Race With The Devil) star in this terrifying thriller. Extras include commentary tracks.
Ain’t Them Bodies Saints
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| MPI Home Video / Released 12/17/13 |
Academy Award Nominees Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck star as a pair of doomed lovers separated by prison bars and miles of desert wasteland in this moody collision of love and crime in the tradition of Bonnie and Clyde. Four years ago, impassioned young outlaw couple Bob Muldoon (Affleck) and Ruth Guthrie (Mara) were apprehended in the Texas hills during a shootout that left a local officer wounded by a bullet from Ruth’s gun. Taking the blame, Bob was sentenced to 25 years in prison. After having engineered a daring escape, Bob is now determined to reconnect with the love of his life and meet the daughter who was born while he was incarcerated. But the journey back won’t be easy, and the powers that be threaten to keep the two lovers apart forever. Co-starring Ben Foster and set against the gritty landscape of 1970s Texas Hill Country, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is a breathtaking and exquisitely photographed meditation on the fragility and transience of love. Extras include making of documentary, featurettes, music video, teasers and trailer and St. Nick, the first feature from director David Lowery. Last Word: Reminiscent of the work of Terrence Malick, Ain’t Them Body Saints is a captivating and engaging thriller featuring some solid actors in truly great performances. Although Lowery romanticizes the outlaws (hints of Malick’s Badlands), it doesn’t detract from the deliberate pace and dense narrative. Unfortunately, the film reeks a bit of pretension and self importance. If you can get past that, it does warrant a recommendation.
Crawlspace
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| Shout! Factory / Released 12/19/13 |
Between the wall and Hell…Landlord Karl Gunther (Klaus Kinski) seems like a conscientious landlord who looks out for his female tenants. What they don’t know is that he has an elaborate network of crawlspaces that he uses to watch their every move. Can a new prospective renter stop this apartment building’s rapid turnover rate… or will Gunther continue to make a killing? Also starring Talia Balsam and Tane, directed by David Schmoeller (Tourist Trap, Catacombs, Puppetmaster) and featuring a haunting score by Pino Donaggio (Dressed To Kill, Blow Out, Piranha), this disturbing and truly creepy film is driven by a compelling performance form Kinski. Extras include commentary, interviews, tv spots, trailer and short film.
Force of Execution
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| Anchor Bay / Released 12/19/13 |
Steven Seagal stars as mob kingpin Mr. Alexander, an old-school boss who rules his criminal empire with both nobility and brutality. But when a simple prison hit goes wrong, he’ll ignite a war between a cold-blooded gangster known as ‘The Iceman’ (Ving Rhames), a disgraced former protege (Taekwondo World Champion Bren Foster), a merciless Mexican cartel, and an ex-con shopkeeper (Danny Trejo) with some unexpected skills of his own. The lines are drawn. The fuse is lit. And in a citywide massacre measured in pain, fear, honor and vengeance, the ultimate power belongs to Force Of Execution. Extras include a featurette.
Omnibus: Gene Kelly – Dancing: A Man’s Game
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| Entertainment One / Released 12/17/13 |
The complete Omnibus episode “Dancing Is a Man’s Game”, written, presented, and performed by Gene Kelly. The legendary actor, dancer, director, and choreographer won renown for his athletic, masculine style and as the foremost proponent of filmed dance. Especially memorable sequences from this innovative broadcast include appearances by Olympic skater Dick Button, baseball star Mickey Mantle, basketball hero Bob Cousy, boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson, football quarterback Johnny Unitas, and other celebrated sports professionals, whose characteristic movements Mr. Kelly incorporates into a solo dance sequence. The program also includes a stunning performance by Edward Villella, and an extended tap routine by Mr. Kelly and Mr. Robinson. This historic production aired just once on December 21, 1958, over the NBC Television Network. It remained publically unavailable thereafter, until now, on the eve of the 55th anniversary of the original broadcast. Extras include an interview with Patricia Kelly.
Devil’s Pass
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| MPI Home Video / Released 12/17/13 |
In February of 1959, nine Russian hikers ventured into a remote area of the Ural Mountains. Two weeks later, all of them were found dead. What happened is a mystery that has baffled investigators and researchers for decades. It has become known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. In the gripping new shocker Devil’s Pass, five ambitious American college students are issued a grant to return to the site of the original events. They gear up with the belief that they can uncover and document the truth of what happened to the supposedly experienced hikers, but what they find is more shocking than anything they could have imagined. Retracing the steps of the Russians’ ill-fated journey, the students are plagued by strange and increasingly terrifying phenomena that suggest that in spite of the desolate surroundings, they are not alone: The forces at work in the Dyatlov Pass Incident have been waiting for them. Director Renny Harlin’s film, starring Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe and Luke Albright, delivers unbearable suspense right up to its shocking final frame. Last Word: A “B” movie in every sense of the word, Devil’s Pass isn’t particularly good, but it’s well made and fairly entertaining. Another exercise in the found footage genre, veteran director Renny Harlin has some fun with the setup, firmly planting tongue in cheek before yelling, “action.” Certainly worth a watch for genre fans looking for both scares and laughs while eating pizza in front of the television. Recommended.
Toad Road
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| Artsploitation Films / Released 12/17/13 |
A different kind of American independent horror film, Toad Road from Executive Producer Elijah Wood and his genre-themed production company SpectreVision is a hallucinatory and hypnotic odyssey through mutating realities, drug use, urban legends, and nightmares. Imagine a fusion between the sexually candid naturalism of Larry Clark or Harmony Korine, and the backwoods creep-out of The Blair Witch Project, and you’d be halfway there. Stuck in a dead end town, young James kills time with his druggie friends, engaging in debauched chemical intake to the point of unconsciousness, until he meets Sara, a sweet new arrival to their group. However, Sara wants James to take her further into the world of narcotics experimentation (just as James was contemplating abandoning this lifestyle)…and she also wants him to introduce her to the sinister local legend of Toad Road, a spot deep in the forest that is apparently home to the Seven Gates of Hell. Writer-director Jason Banker’s fiction feature debut is an enigmatic and unique fusion of improvisational realism undoubtedly influenced by Banker’s work as a documentary filmmaker, and otherworldly, haunting rural terror. Unlike any other film you’ll see this year, Toad Road is mesmerizing.
Ghost Team One
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| Paramount / Released 12/17/13 |
Arouse the dead. When roommates Brad and Sergio accidentally arouse the dead, they team up with sexy amateur ghost hunter, Fernanda, to expose the evil inside their home. But just as the guys start to get close to their hot new partner, they discover that a horny demon wants in on the action. Now, cameras are up and more than fear is rising in this outrageous romp where only one thing is certain: someone is gonna get screwed. Extras include deleted/extended scenes, video diary, featurette and bloopers.
The Berlin File
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| CJ Entertainment / Released 12/24/13 |
A tense illegal arms deal in a Berlin hotel suddenly descends into mayhem after a “ghost” agent named Jong-seong (Ha Jung-woo) appears on the scene. Secretly watching the deal go down is embattled South Korean intelligence chief Jin-soo (Han Suk-Kyu), the North Koreans and the CIA, who are all left trying to decode whether the ghost is a double-agent or taking the fall for a more insidious plot. Myung-soo (Ryoo Seung-bum) a young, notorious North Korean agent jumps into these treacherous waters to investigate loyalties of all involved and begins to implicate Jong-seong’s wife, Jung-hee (Gianna Jun), a translator at the North Korean embassy in the German capital. Caught between his love of country and his wife, Jong-Seong must quickly prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.
I Love Lucy: Colorized Christmas
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| Paramount / Released 11/5/13 |
HO! HO! HO! HA! HA! HA! Lucy’s always been one of, if not the, funniest and most colorful characters in the history of TV. Now you and your family can own three I Love Lucy episodes in both colorized and their original Black & White versions.
Last Word: As a purist I’m vehemently against the colorization of older material. That being said, the efforts on this disc do look fantastic. Containing three episodes (“Lucy Goes to Scotland,”Lucy’s Italian Movie,” and “The Christmas Show”) available in both the original black & white and colorized versions (although the flashbacks in the colorized version of “The Christmas Show” are still in black & white) it’s hard to complain if it allows one of the funniest shows in the history of television to find a newer, younger audience. As long as both versions are available, I’ve got no complaints. Highly recommended.
