Another stack of reviews for some of the latest titles available now on DVD and Blu-ray. Among the gems this week are this years Oscar-winning best picture, an Australian tv series well worth your time, a remake of a beloved Korean cult film that’s actually worth your time and the best performance ever from the late Paul Walker.
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week.
The Visitor
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| New Video Group / Released 3/4/14 |
In this unforgettable assault on reality – fully restored and presented completely uncut for the first time ever in HD – legendary Hollywood director/actor John Huston (The Maltese Falcon: Treasure of the Sierra Madre) stars as an intergalactic warrior who joins a cosmic Christ figure in battle against a demonic 8-year-old girl and her pet hawk, while the fate of the universe hangs in the balance. Multi-dimensional warfare, pre-adolescent profanity and brutal avian attacks combine to transport the viewer to a stat unlike anything they’ve experienced… somewhere between Hell, the darkest reaches of outer space, and Atlanta, GA. The Visitor fearlessly fuses elements of The Omen, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Birds, Rosemary’s Baby, The Fury, and even Star Wars, creating the most ambitious of all 70s psychedelic mindwarps. Its baffling all-star cast includes Shelley Winters (Night of the Hunter), Glenn Ford (Superman), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), Franco Nero (Django) and Sam Peckinpah (director of The Wild Bunch). Extras include trailer, interviews and a 16 Page Booklet.
Last Word: Hoo boy. If you don’t know anything about this oddity, brace yourself. It’s a fairly batshit hodgepodge of a bunch of other more popular movies. I first caught this movie (in a truncated cut) when I was 13. It was very late at night during the summer, long after my mom had gone to bed, and we had a free HBO weekend. I just knew it was a sci-fi/horror film with an interesting cast. Well, I enjoyed it, though I had some criticisms about the filmmaking and writing (I was a huge Spielberg fan at the time, so I was used to Hollywood polish). I just watched it again (in a longer cut) for the first time in over 30 years – and I enjoyed it. Though I had some criticisms about the filmmaking and writing, natch.
The Visitor has developed a cult reputation over the years for combining so many disparate story threads and ideas and for making little sense. This is all true, but there’s something about this movie….while it’s loaded with cheese and is rather baffling, it’s got some truly cool moments and genuinely stylish and effective scenes mixed in with the awkward dialogue and bombastic score. The film starts off with John Huston (yep!) on what appears to be a stark, oddly beautiful planet where he faces off with Satan (nee Sateen, an evil alien) who then turns into a little girl before snow (I think?) mutates her face and a flock of birds fly around and….oh, hell, I dunno, but I certainly wasn’t bored. Then Jesus (I think?) shows up, played by Italian mainstay Franco Nero, telling us – and a group of bald children — that Sateen is planning to dominate the world with his plan of impregnating a bunch of Earth women with his evil seed. Then we meet Lance Henriksen at a very surreal pro basketball game where a sinister little girl seems to be guiding the outcome of the game with her mind and…again, it’s never boring.
The Visitor is a mess, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s not an atrocious/wonderful laughfest along the lines of The Room or Troll 2. Not all of the enjoyment comes at the film’s expense. For film buffs, it’s a hoot to see Nero, Huston, Henriksen, Joanna Nail (Switchblade Sisters), Mel Ferrer, Glenn Ford, Shelley Winters and Sam Peckinpah (!). With actors like these, the class factor goes up a bit, even if they’re all slumming (though Winters is actually good). As the evil little girl, Paige Connor is uneven, but I think it’s more the fault of language barrier (director Michael J. Paradise – a pseudonym – refused to speak English on set) and wacked-out script. When she’s good, she’s really good, and she’s easy to hate, so kudos, young lady.
And, oh, that bombastic score. At times it resembles a funky take on “Thus Spake Zarathustra” and at others like the score to a cheap 70s superhero movie. It kicks in almost randomly, and stops abruptly more than a few times. There’s a great moment when we are led to believe a major character has been killed, but when said character is revealed to be unharmed, the score kicks in full force, causing me to laugh out loud and clap in goofball cinematic bliss. Also, the film has an indelible dreamlike quality. Like many Italian genre films of this era, The Visitor operates on a sort of “dream logic”. Critics would often deride filmmakers for claiming this as laziness when it comes to attributing, you know, actual logic and believable character motivation to their films. But in the right frame of mind, these types of films can be thoroughly enjoyable as movies. They’re all about vision and sound and maybe not much else, but hey! That’s movies, gang. Obviously, I wouldn’t want all the movies I see to be like The Visitor, but let’s not bitch when something so entertaining exists, yeah?
Drafthouse Films has just released a blu-ray of The Visitor and while there’s certainly dirt on the print here and there, it looks pretty damned great. And it looks like FILM. Light grain and all. As far as extras, there’s a fun reissue trailer, a very amusing interview with screenwriter Lou Comici, and a terrific, albeit brief, remembrance with Lance Henriksen. Both Henriksen and Comici seem to think the final result is terrible, but neither can talk about it without smiling or laughing. (– Dean Galanis)
12 Years a Slave
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| 20th Century Fox / Released 3/4/14 |
From acclaimed director Steve McQueen comes this Academy Award Best Picture, based on the true story of Solomon Northup. It is 1841, and Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor in a gripping performance), an accomplished, free citizen of New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery. Stripped of his identity and deprived of all dignity, Northup is ultimately purchased by ruthless plantation owner Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) and must find the strength within to survive. Filled with powerful performances by an astonishing cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years A Slave is both an unflinching account of slavery in American history and a celebration of the indomitable power of hope. Extras include interviews and featurettes.
Last Word: This recent multiple award winning film deserves every accolade that it’s won with it’s powerful depiction of the one of the most horrific sins in American history. At the core of the story, is a dark, heartbreaking atrocity that is so emotionally overwhelming, that often the film is difficult to watch, much less digest. Performances are all spectacular, including Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and star Chiwetel Ejiofor and an ensemble which includes Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Sarah Paulson, Brad Pitt, Alfre Woodard, Scoot McNairy, Taran Killam, Michael K. Williams, Garret Dillahunt and Quvenzhané Wallis. It’s easy to say that 12 Years A Slave isn’t a particularly easy watch, but it is one of the more important ones of this or any other year and truly is a must see.
Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor
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| BBC America / Released 3/4/14 |
In this hugely anticipated follow-up to the record breaking Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, we bid adieu to Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith and welcome Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It, The Hour) in his first televised appearance as the new Doctor. Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. And amongst them – the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe. This landmark episode is bound to be a thrilling adventure for the ages! Extras include behind the scenes, a tribute to Matt Smith and Tales from the TARDIS.
Last Word: Another year, another Christmas Special that plays into the overall mythology. It’s Matt Smith’s final performance and the launch of Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor that changes the status quo and sets off the upcoming new season in a new direction. Unfortunately, it’s one of the weaker episodes and Smith is given an unceremoniously disappointing send-off. Die hard Whovians likely have a strong opinion either way, but it’s a must have for them, regardless.
Venture Bros: Complete Season Five
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| Warner Bros / Released 3/4/14 |
The fifth season of The Venture Bros. picks up moments after the stunning climax of season four and hits the ground running for a season of globe-trotting adventures and stay-at-home suspense. But no matter where it runs—from the steamy jungles of Central America, to the sparkling sands of the Greek Islands, to the seedy back alleys of Tangier, to the jagged cliffs of By-Golly Gulch—the Venture family can’t escape the treachery of enemies old, new, and within.
The Venture Bros. Season Five features the guest voice talent of Aziz Ansari, Paget Brewster, Wyatt Cenac, Kevin Conroy, Bill Hader, John Hodgman, Gillian Jacobs, Kate McKinnon, Tim Meadows, J.K. Simmons, and Brendon Small. Extras include “A Very Venture Halloween” and “From the Ladle to the Grave: The Shallow Gravy Story” as well as deleted scenes and episode commentaries.Last Word: The latest season of The Venture Bros. once again plays with a number of pop culture conventions with smart and often hilarious results. Creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer are the closest thing we’ve got to a post modern Mad Magazine, creating their own distinctive takes on modern and retro references with a tongue planted firmly in cheek. With the season delivering several epic stories with varying degrees of success, it’s unfortunately the final episode, “Devil’s Grip” where it fizzles. Hopefully, an upcoming sixth season will consistently great all around. At the end of the day, The Venture Bros. remains one of the more imaginative series on television, and despite any hiccups with this season, it’s an easy recommendation.
Hours
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| Lionsgate / Released 3/4/14 |
Nolan Hayes (Paul Walker) arrives at a New Orleans hospital with his pregnant wife, Abigail (Genesis Rodriguez), who has gone into early labor. Things quickly spiral out of control when the birth goes tragically wrong and Hurricane Katrina hits, ravaging the hospital and forcing an evacuation. With his baby dependent on a ventilator and no one around to help, Nolan faces one life-and-death decision after another and must fight to keep his daughter alive.
Last Word: Paul Walker delivers his best performance before his untimely death. With a limited set consisting of a hospital hallway and room, Hours is primarily a one man show, focusing on Walker fighting to save his sickly infant daughter during the chaos of Hurricane Katrina. The film is heartbreaking and much of that comes from Walker’s work in the film, which conveys both the character’s exhaustion and emotional duress. A wonderful last gift from an actor, who certainly in this performance, showed he had more range and potential then previously given credit for. Recommended.
The Grandmaster
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| Starz/Anchor Bay / Released 3/4/14 |
From the acclaimed director/writer Wong Kar Wai comes an epic tale inspired by the life of the warrior hero who taught Bruce Lee. Asian superstar Tony Leung portrays legendary kung fu master lp Man, who survived the turmoil of 1930s China to change the world of martial arts forever. Ziyi Zhang and Chang Chen co-star in this visually stunning saga of love, honor and vengeance, featuring breathtaking action choreography by Yuen Wo Ping. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: With The Grandmaster, I had zero idea of what to expect, besides Bruce Lee. If you have the same expectation, you will be sorely disappointed as — spoiler– there is very little Bruce Lee to be had. I, however, enjoyed myself for the cinematography and the beautifully choreographed martial arts matches that one might expect from the great Wong Kar-wai. The story revolves around Ip Man (Tony Leung) who is introduced as one of the greatest martial artists circa early 20th century. The narrative moves jerkily along, probably due to the editing of the movie from its original 4 hours to 2 hours. The result is a biographical tale that sometimes features the central character coming off as more of a supporting actor. His love interest, Gong Er (Ziyi Zhang), is introduced fairly late in the movie to somewhat steal the show. She is the last member of her family to practice a particular Martial Arts style.
After their worlds are turned upside down by the Japanese Occupation of China during World War 2, Ip Man and Gong Er separately leave mainland China for Hong Kong and the promise of a new, prosperous life. The preceding portion of the movie is fantasy like as the leader of 12 styles of Martial Arts tries picking a successor and then the Japanese arrive. The movie in Hong Kong feels like an afterthought, though several important plot points are coming to a head here.
The fight scenes are some of the most artful action scenes this side of John Woo. Wong Kar-wai takes historical figures and transforms them into living gods. Hopefully, this is enough of a showpiece that this director will break out to a wider audience. More importantly, I would love to see him get a shot at a superhero movie of some sort here in the states; perhaps without the issue of an audience reading subtitles for 4 hours, Wong Kar-wai will get his chance to shine in the West. (– Joe Yezukevich)
Ancient Aliens: Season 5 Vol 2
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| A & E Home Entertainment / Released 3/4/14 |
Ancient Aliens: Season 5 – Volume 2 from History investigates the topic from many angles.
Emperors, Kings and Pharaohs explores whether ancient leaders, usually attributed with divine powers, were actually connected to extraterrestrial forces. Alien Operations examines advanced medical procedures practiced in the ancient world, as evidenced by wall carvings and skeletal remains. Did these skills come from an otherworldly source? Archaeologists ponder the healing power of ancient objects like sacred bones in Mysterious Relics and luminous, skull-shaped crystals in The Crystal Skulls. Do these controversial artifacts hold the secrets to the universe? And were giant-winged deities known as Anunnaki responsible for ancient Sumerian leaps in advancement? Find out in The Anunnaki Connection. This provocative collection also includes The Satan Conspiracy, The Power of Three and The Magic of the Gods.
Last Word: More Chariots of the Gods than The X-Files, Ancient Aliens continues to spin theories and make connections to ancient civilizations and visitors from other worlds. It’s fairly harmless (but it’s no In Search Of…) and the series is well produced and provides some interesting ideas. Recommended.
Oldboy
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| Sony / Released 3/4/14 |
From director Spike Lee comes this chillingly dark tale of vengeance bursting with unforgettable twists and turns. Kidnapped and kept in solitary confinement for 20 years, Joe Doucett (Josh Brolin) has suddenly been set free without a word of explanation. Obsessed with finding those who imprisoned him, Doucett wreaks havoc upon his captors, unaware his freedom is part of a plan and his true punishment’s about to begin. Starring Samuel L Jackson, Elizabeth Olsen, Michael Imperioli and Sharlto Copley. Extras include making of, featurettes, a workout video and alternate and extended scenes.
Last Word: Though not as shocking or intense as the original film from filmmaker Park Chan-wook, Oldboy is certainly an unnecessary remake, but it is an entertaining one. This is not a better film than the original, but for American audiences, it’s more accessible. Which certainly needs to be taken into account. The emotion, violence and depth has been neutered a bit from Chan-wook’s version. Spike Lee’s version, tries capture the spirit of the original and for the most part, fails. The twists are obvious, the character’s motivations don’t feel genuine and the performances lack a necessary amount of depth and commitment needed to make the film believable.
But, I did like it. I found it entertaining and thought both Brolin and Olsen delivered solid performances. And despite, the stigma of the remake, it’s twists and ending are both fairly unconventional for American audiences. Recommended.
Mr. & Mrs. Murder: Series 1
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| Acorn Media / Released 3/4/14 |
Fun-loving and flirtatious couple Nicola (Kat Stewart) and Charlie Buchanan (Shaun Micallef) run a cleaning service for crime scenes. They love their business – and each other – and find that closing cases comes just as naturally as cleaning them up. Their work leads them to clues the police overlook, and their anonymity provides cover to follow-up on their hunches. Nicola’s intuition and Charlie’s head for arcane facts make them the perfect crime-solving team. With help from their straitlaced niece, Jess (Lucy Honigman), and the indulgence of overworked police detective Peter Vinetti (Jonny Pasvolsky), they crack cases involving people from all walks of life, from zookeepers to plastic surgeons. Intricate mysteries and witty, romantic banter make these 13 episodes irresistibly entertaining.
Last Word: Tremendously entertaining, with sharp dialogue reminiscent of The Thin Man or Moonlighting, Mr. & Mrs. Murder is an extremely fun series. As crime scene cleaners, the couple discover overseen clues and then investigate the cases independently. And despite the grimness of the reality (they are cleaning up murder scenes), the show is charming with likable characters, snarky dialogue and fantastic performances. Quirky and clever, this one is a must see. Highly recommended.
The Last Days on Mars
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| Magnolia Home Entertainment / Released 3/4/14 |
On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery – fossilized evidence of bacterial life. Unwilling to let the relief crew claim all the glory, he disobeys orders to pack up and goes out on an unauthorized expedition to collect further samples. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice and near certain death. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not yet dead. As the group begins to fall apart it seems their only hope is the imminent arrival of the relief ship Aurora. Extras include featurettes and trailers.
Last Word: A zombie movie on Mars that somehow makes John Carpenter’s uninspired Ghosts of Mars seem like cinematic gold. The problem is that we’ve seen everything before; it’s uninspired, predictable and ultimately, tired. Part of the problem lay in it’s budgetary limitations, as well as the limitations of it’s concept. It’s not horror. It’s not action packed. Unfortunately, good performances by an ensemble Liev Schreiber, Elias Koteas and Olivia Williams aren’t enough to save it.
Wicked Blood
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| Entertainment One / Released 3/4/14 |
The ultimate endgame. Hannah (Abigail Breslin) and her older sister Amber (Alexa Vega) are trapped in a dark Southern underworld of violence, drugs and biker gangs. Both live in fear of their “Uncle Frank” Stinson (Sean Bean), the ruthless leader of a powerful crime organization. But when Amber falls in love with Bill Owens (James Purefoy), an outlaw biker and Stinson family rival, Hannah devises a plan to pit one against the other in a cunning game of revenge. Extras include interviews.
Last Word: A surprisingly entertaining effort from writer/director Mark Young, Wicked Blood suffers from a bad title that makes the film seem like a crappy vampire film. Instead, we get a a better than average written Southern noir that benefits from some genuine tension and well written characters. Reminiscent of Boaz Yakin’s Fresh, chess plays an integral part of the film, letting it’s lead character play characters off of one another in a real life match. Abigail Breslin carries much of the film on her shoulders, but the rest of the ensemble which includes Alexa Vega, Sean Bean, James Purefoy and Jake Busey all deliver solid performances. Wicked Blood is a slow paced, intelligent thriller that’s well worth your time. Recommended.
Big Bad Wolf
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| Horizon Movies / Released 3/4/14 |
In this dark adaptation of The Three Little Pigs, Huff is an abusive stepfather to three teenage girls on the verge of a lucrative drug deal that will finally allow him to escape and retire to Mexico in style with his mistress. Huff’s plan begins to unravel when his battered wife sends her three daughters away with Huff’s drug money to seek better lives for themselves. This triggers a chain reaction of violence murder and rage-induced asthma attacks as Huff attempts to locate the three runaways and recover his money.
Last Word: The fairy tale reimagining of The Three Little Pigs starring Charlie O’Connell is everything that you’d expect, which is of course, pretty terrible. The film’s premise is neat, and reminded me of Matthew Bright’s fantastic film, Freeway, but never dares enough to push the film out of it’s safe and predictable execution.
Mr. Nobody
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| Magnolia Home Entertainment / Released 2/25/14 |
If you never make a choice, anything is possible. Mr. Nobody tells the life story of Nemo Nobody, a 118-year-old man who is the last mortal on Earth after the human race has achieved quasi-immortality. On his deathbed, Nemo shares his life story with a reporter and reviews the choices he made along the way. Yet even with his last breath, a pivotal decision awaits to conclude his destiny. Extras include making of, deleted scenes, and trailer.
Last Word: Academy Award winner Jared Leto stars in one of the more interesting films in recent memory, which focuses on the alternate life paths of Nemo Nobody and their place in the larger space/time continuum. Overall, the film is a mess. But it’s a visually stunning one. Director Jaco Van Dormael has put together an overlong, convoluted film that borders on pretentiousness. But, it is engaging and although often confusing, it’s a true cinematic experience that’s worth your time. Performances are all fantastic throughout and the effects are flawlessly executed. Mr. Nobody is a film without meaning, or it’s only about meaning. And that in particular is what makes it worthy of one’s time and one’s discussion. And best of all, it stays with you long after the film ends. Recommended.
