Bet you didn’t see this coming so quick! This installment features the latest offerings from Marvel Studios, the latest take on the King of Monsters, the most exhaustive release of the modern Star Trek mythos, several tv series, a found footage Bigfoot movie and more!
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
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| Disney/Marvel / Released 9/9/14 |
Following the battle of New York, Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to modern life. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague is attacked, Steve is caught in a web of intrigue that threatens the entire world. Now Captain America, Black Widow and the Falcon must join forces to overthrow their insidious enemy’s most mysterious and powerful “weapon” yet – The Winter Soldier. Extras include featurettes, commentary, gag reel and deleted scenes.
Last Word: The First Avenger is back in his blockbuster sequel, joining Iron Man and Thor for in-between The Avengers movies solo ventures. Chris Evans is back as Captain America Steve Rogers, and in contrast to the introduction of the character, the movie is set in present day, after the events in New York in The Avengers. Flashbacks occur to move the story along, and are welcome callbacks to the WWII story of Cap and Bucky vs. Hydra, but there is much more going on with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and introducing Sam Wilson as Falcon (Anthony Mackie) as the Scooby Gang of espionage S.H.I.E.L.D. is on watch.
Former Community/Arrested Development producer and director team Anthony and Joe Russo add humor to the mix in a subtle way, but more importantly pack so much action and tension into this chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that we hope to see more from them with Cap 3. While closest to Iron Man conceptually, the flavor of this Marvel Movie is all espionage Cap and Secret Avengers—a combination sure to make comics fans as well as Avengers fans excited, intrigued and headed to the theatre more than once for a taste of this non-stop action. This is certainly the most meaty of stories and filled with the most Avengers since the franchise took off.
Nick Fury and Black Widow have a lot of screen time, and introduction of Stan Lee and Gene Colan’s Falcon as Captain America’s wingman makes for a great team. While this is still a superhero movie, we are taken to the world that Ed Brubaker established in his run on Cap. Throw in the main, practically unavoidable spoiler that Winter Soldier is in fact Cap’s erstwhile partner in justice Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and you have a complicated past mixed with a technologically advanced future. The Capsicle humor is kept to a minimum, as in these past months Rogers has been catching up on the Internet, music, and even 1983’s War Games. In fact, he carries around a list of things he needs to catch up on (including Star Wars/Trek, Nirvana, I Love Lucy).
I probably don’t need to mention this but the cast is in amazing shape and looks sexy all around, making the two girls next to me titter every time Mackie was on screen as Falcon and Stan revealed himself behind his Winter Soldier mask. Yes, Evans kept the pecs from the Super Soldier serum. Are they selling that at Walgreens yet? ScarJo, Smulders, Emily VanCamp (Agent 13) are not only knockout gorgeous but also kick ass as well, transforming these ladies from bombshells to real action heroes! Robert Redford plays Alexander Pierce, a S.H.I.E.L.D. higher up at the head of a Helicarrier program INSIGHT, meant to keep the world safe. As they say with absolute power, he is somehow corrupted and the plans go astray.
Counting in some other notable Marvel 616 cameos are S.H.I.E.L.D. S.T.R.I.K.E. team head Jack Rollins (Callan Mulvey) as well as opening sequence bad dude Georges Batroc (Georges St. Pierre). The expert in savate, a French form of kickboxing, Batroc the Leaper gives Cap one of the coolest choreographed fight scenes we’ve seen on screen in a while (on par with TV’s Arrow) and great service to the Marvel fanbase. Keep an eye out for Easter Eggs and clues about the other movies (no, not the post-credit sequence, but if I need to tell you to stick around you are headed to the wrong movie!). For the first time, Marvel’s goal seems to be working, to have these properties all intertwine and exist on the same plane. From Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to the big screen, we have certain elements and familiar looking structures. Though we won’t likely see the Triskelion on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., you may see some agents with familiar faces, or at least uniforms.
A subtle note tying Black Widow to Hawkeye is a diamond arrow pendant around her neck. There has to be more so keep those peepers glued open for this flick, you won’t want to miss a thing! The action was real, explosions and hand to hand combat as opposed to sci-fi or magic. And finally, it just looked great and felt like the comic book movie we’ve been waiting for as fans since the beginning of time. (– Clay N Ferno)
Godzilla
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| Warner Bros. / Released 9/16/14 |
In this gritty, realistic sci-fi action epic, Godzilla returns to its roots as one of the world’s most recognized monsters. Directed by Gareth Edwards and featuring an all-star international cast, this spectacular adventure pits Godzilla against malevolent creatures that, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. Extras include featurettes.
Last Word: With fans screaming in anticipation for the kaiju as equally as for the return of Bryan Cranston since the end of Breaking Bad, 2014’s Godzilla delivers all of that and more. Is it time to relegate the 1998 film to the archives and stop complaining about it like oh so much Burton’s Planet of the Apes? The answer is yes!
Let Pacific Rim be your ersatz prequel for this summer giant monster movie that digs deep into the Toho Co. archives for meaning behind Godzilla’s motivations and where he ranks on the good monster vs. bad monster scale. Is he better thank Neutral Good? You will need to get out and see Godzilla vs. M.U.T.O. to judge for yourself! Bryan Cranston stars as Joe Brody, an American scientist living in Japan with his wife and young son Ford (CJ Adams). When testing seismic readings, he discovers an anomaly and heads to the nuclear power plant where he works with his wife, Sandra (Juliette Binoche).
An accident befalls the plant, with tragic loss of life, and then the scene jumps to ten years later. Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has joined the Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist and has just returned to his wife Ellie (Elizabeth Olsen) and son Sam. A call from Japanese police confirm that his dad Joe has been arrested for trespassing. On a recon mission, we discover that Joe’s suspicions about a resurgence of the same readings from that fateful day have occurred. It is not too long after we discover that our new monster, the first to appear in the film, M.U.T.O. (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) is feeding off of the radiation on in the plant to gain power. Many policemen in hardhats scurry as M.U.T.O. rips through high tension wires meant to contain the creature! And we’re off!
Masterful actor Ken Watanabe plays the esteemed Dr. Serizawa, a callback to the original 1954 film. From here on out, the movie takes off. An origin of sorts for the monsters are revealed, and it appears that all of our Pacific atomic bomb testing in the 50s was really attempts to kill Godzilla! The monster is a force of nature, to be sure, and acts as a metaphor for environmental concerns of our day. The action moves from one side of the Pacific to the other, as monsters converge near the final theatre for the battle. In San Francisco Bay, our military heroes, including Ford strategize how to take care of an inhuman threat causing tsunami’s, power outages and of course massive city-wide destruction rivaling only that of Transformers 3 or Man of Steel.
Man of course turns to ‘The Nuclear Option’ with the aid of Lt. Ford Brody, EOD specialist. As teased in the trailer, a C-4 plane of paratroopers drops in as a last ditch human effort. Director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) takes us on a fun ride here, an effects man himself has taken care to give fans what they want from Godzilla’s roar to M.U.T.O.’s scream all the way to how the monster acts in key points of the film. Is Godzilla an ally to the people of Earth, or is he a monster to be feared as his crushing claw feet squish Hilton Hotels like juice-boxes? One thing is for sure, the acting is top notch, the story teases monsters straight out of the gate but patiently waits to get there in time. And when it is time to smash and roar you get plenty of it. Some genuinely scary moments have you wishing our heroes were not in so much danger but in one Jurassic Park homage, they duck out of sight of our M.U.T.O.! The bottom line is that the movie has everything from train fights to monsters to someone heroically saving a school bus full of kids. Oh, and tanks and explosions. (– Clay N Ferno)
Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 1
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| Disney/Marvel / Released 9/9/14 |
In the wake of The Battle of New York, the world has changed forever. An extraordinary landscape of wonders has been revealed! In response, mysteriously resurrected Agent Phil Coulson assembles an elite team of skilled agents and operatives: Melinda May, Grant Ward, Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons and new recruit/hacker Skye. Together, they investigate the new, the strange, and the unknown across the globe, protecting the ordinary from the extraordinary. But every answer unearths even more tantalizing questions that reverberate across the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe: Who is “The Clairvoyant”? What is Hydra’s sinister master plan; what dark secret lies behind Skye’s puzzling origins, and, most importantly of all, who can be trusted? Extras include featurettes, commentaries, bloopers and deleted scenes.
Last Word: Whether or not it was the plan from the very beginning, but the Marvel took a risk with the first half of the season. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. came across as little more than a franchise series, a NCIS: Marvel. The characters were “types”, the storylines unengaging and the overall feel for the series was uninspired. That was until the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which changed the status quo of the cinematic Marvel Universe, and was immediately reflected in a series, which for the first time felt like an essential part of the Marvel storyline. Characters suddenly had purpose, threads suddenly came together and several new characters (Bill Paxton’s Agent John Garrett, B.J. Britt as Agent Antoine Triplett and Adrian Pasdar as Glenn Talbot in particular) established strong ties to the greater Marvel universe. By the time the first season ends, some questions have been answered (“Tahiti, it’s a magical place”, “Who is the Clairvoyant?”) and others (The fate of several characters, the rebuilding of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Coulson’s blackboard writings) are still yet to be resolved. If you had asked me if Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was worth watching, you would have gotten two different answers between mid-season and after the season finale. Slug through the first dozen episodes, then settle in for some fun. Highly recommended.
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| Kino Video / Released 9/16/14 |
Burt’s Buzz takes an intimate look at the world of Burt Shavitz, the face and co-founder of Burt’s Bees, exploring his fascinating and utterly unique life. Wise and wry, ornery and opinionated, the reclusive Shavitz is committed to living off the land and keeping true to his humble beginnings despite his celebrity status. The film chronicles Burt’s life as a photographer, beekeeper, and brand spokesman, following his complicated relationship with the company, his fans, and the world around him. Exposing the collision between business and personal values, Burt’s Buzz is a compelling and fascinating portrait of this highly idiosyncratic pioneer, and a revealing study of what it mans to be a living icon. Extras include Burt Talks to the Bees shorts by Isabella Rossellini and trailer.
Last Word: With the sick amount of Burt’s Bees products that line the bottoms of most of my bathroom drawers you would think that co-founder and “Face” of the company, Burt Shavitz, would be rolling around in a huge beehive made of moolah, but, like most things that happen in life, that is not the case. Sure, Shavitz’s iconic grizzled visage might grace most every product of the Burt’s Bees line, but somewhere along the road to success the man got shafted…shafted hard, and while the point of this documentary isn’t so much an expose about that fateful day when Shavitz’s business partner, Roxanne Quimby, bought him out of his very own company in the early 90s (and then sold it to Clorox- of all places- for a staggering sum of money of just under a billion dollars in 2007), it also doesn’t have a whole lot to say about the man himself, other than to create a particular mythos of a simple dude who is just happy to live off the land and eschew commerce.
Which would be fine, except, well, that doesn’t seem to be the case either. You see, for all the talk about how Shavitz is just a simple hippy who just so happens to enjoy hanging out with bees and living the simple life, there is also an underlining feeling of bitterness that permeates the entirety of film which is completely justified. But the tempered anger that runs underneath the surface of Shavitz about losing a company that he co-founded isn’t made so much a plot point as it is turned into a minor inconvenience. Which seems to a little odd considering that the guy who was ousted from his very own company now gets to shill for it like a paid spokesman (Yep, Clorox understands that a buying public wants to know that there’s an actual dude name Burt roaming the world and they are not afraid to pay him for the privileged of making even more money off of him) .
Yes, that actually happened…and if you wanna see what a real fuck over looks like, try watching a 79 year-old man handing out lip gloss to Target customers with a pained smile on his face. Which brings me to my greatest criticism of the film. The story of Burt Shavitz is truly an interesting one, but the documentary does little in actually giving us a deeper picture of the man or the issues surrounding his company (and subsequent loss of it), which is a shame, for Shavitz is one of those crazy, inventive, all-American characters who deserves the kind of creative narrative that a great documentary can give him. Unfortunately, this isn’t it…but I’m guessing that’s the least of his problems. (– Elizabeth Weitz)
Victim
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| Well Go USA / Released 9/9/14 |
Tyson (Ashley Chin), an east Londoner in his 20s, looks after his sister by day, and robs luxury flats at night. But his sister’s classroom encounters with an inspirational teacher (David Harewood) suggest that even very difficult lives can be turned around. Meanwhile, Tia (Ashley Madekwe), a girl from the other side of the tracks, enters Tyson’s life and allows him to consider another way to survive. Extras include interviews and trailer.
Supernatural: The Complete Ninth Season
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| Warner / Released 9/9/14 |
How do you deal with a fallout of heavenly proportions? With the angelic Host’s descent to Earth, Sam and Dean are now facing a world inhabited by thousands of powerful beings, who soon form their own chaotic agendas. Before tackling the threat of the “loose nukes” roaming the globe, however, the Winchesters engage in their most personal conflict yet. Meanwhile, Castiel finds he’s more vulnerable – and yet capable of more humanity – than ever. As the threat escalates, a way must be found to reopen the gates of Heaven and head off a demon insurrection in Hell. Throughout, darkness leaves its mark on Dean: has he finally crossed the line to protect his family? Extras include commentaries, SDCC panel, featurettes, unaired scenes and gag reel.
Vampire Diaries: The Complete Fifth Season
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| Warner / Released 9/9/14 |
After a sizzling summer with Damon, Elena leaves Mystic Falls and moves into a dorm with her roomie Caroline, ready for new adventures and new friends. But dark thoughts gnaw at Elena, and soon familiar faces are back in the girls’ lives. There’s Stefan with his shadow self Silas, plus Katherine, with a diabolical agenda and a jaw-dropping transformation. As the Doppelgangers test destiny, tearing lovers apart and pitting the Salvatore brothers against each other, the student body count rises, evidence of powerful forces on campus. Anchors, Rippers, Passengers and Travelers struggle to survive alongside witches and werewolves, teaching our favorite vampires painful lessons along the way. Extras include featurettes, gag reel and unaired scenes.
Words & Pictures
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| Lionsgate / Released 9/9/14 |
Prep school English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) laments his students’ obsession with social media and good grades rather than engaging with the power of the written word. A one-time literary star, Jack has not published in years filling his spare time with drink versus the art of language. He meets his match in Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) – an abstract painter and new teacher on campus, who was once celebrated for her art. From the start, the two flirt and provoke each other with equal relish. Extras include commentary, behind the scenes featurette and trailer.
God’s Pocket
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| MPI / Released 9/9/14 |
After Mickey Scarpato’s (Philip Seymour Hoffman) stepson Leon (Caleb Landry Jones), is killed in a construction “accident,” Mickey quickly tries to bury the bad news along with the body. But even in the gritty, blue-collar neighborhood of God’s Pocket, PA, no secret can stay hidden forever. When a local columnist (Richard Jenkins) comes sniffing around for the truth, Mickey quickly finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle compounded by a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please, and a debt he can’t pay. Featuring a top-tier cast including John Tuturro and Christina Hendricks, acclaimed actor John Slattery’s impressive directorial debut God’s Pocket is a winning dark comedy that marks the emergence of an inspired directorial presence. Extras include deleted scenes, commentary and trailer.
Little House on the Prairie: Season 3
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| Lionsgate / Released 9/9/14 |
The third season of Little House on the Prairie is filled with some of the show’s most memorable moments. Whether the Ingalls family is caring for Charles’s recently widowed father, facing an outbreak of mountain fever, helping a runaway child, or dealing with Laura’s mischievous billy goat, they display the kindness, courage and good humor that their fan cherish – in 21 complete and uncut episodes, newly restored and remastered for matchless picture and sound quality.
Last Word: A staple of seventies television, Little House on the Prairie hits all of the nostalgiac notes in this wonderful release. Starring Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Pamela Sue Anderson and Lindsay Sidney Green Bush, Little House chronicled the adventures of the Ingalls family as they settled and prospered in Walnut Grove. Guest stars included Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Bonnie Bartlett, Kyle Richards, Mark Lenard, Burl Ives, Rance Howard, Willie Aames,James Shigeta, and Todd Bridges. With solid writing and performances, this period drama is as watchable (and as enjoyable) today as it was when it first aired. Highly recommended.
Willow Creek
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| Magnolia / Released 9/9/14 |
A young couple find themselves face-to-face with a terrifying evil when they venture into the heart of Bigfoot country in Willow Creek, director Bobcat Goldthwait’s (God Bless America, World’s Greatest Dad) unique spin on the horror genre.
Looking to make a splash with his research videos into the existence of Bigfoot, Jim (Bryce Johnson) and his girlfriend Kelly take a camping trip to the mountains surrounding Willow Creek, California, a small town where infamous footage of the supposed Sasquatch was filmed. Before long the headstrong couple are lost in the woods and discover that someone – or something – is stalking them. With each passing night bringing unknowable danger, the two must use all of their cunning to try to make it out of the forest alive. Extras include commentary, deleted scene, making of and trailer.
Last Word: Bobcat Goldthwait continues to impress as a filmmaker after the darkly funny World’s Greatest Dad and God Bless America with a straight-faced, found-footage horror flick (albeit one with a great deal of humor). Jim (Bryce Johnson), a lifelong Bigfoot enthusiast, has decided to make a pilgrimage to Willow Creek, the location where, in 1967, the infamous footage of the famed beast was captured.
Jim has, of course, decided to document his trip on video, and has coerced his girlfriend (and adamant non-believer) Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) into joining him. Along the way, the couple stops at the Bigfoot Motel, gnoshes on some Bigfoot Burgers, and interviews a handful of locals who have connections to Sasquatch, both tenuous and strong. The two bicker playfully and debate the big guy’s existence on their travels.
This is all slow-burn preamble to their trek to the wilderness location where the footage was filmed, where they intend to camp out and seek evidence of the creature’s existence. It’s then that the scary sounds – rustling, yowling, wood claps – kick in, most effectively in an unbroken, 19 minute shot of the couple’s faces as they sit, terrified, in their tent, listening to the mysterious noises. Johnson and Gilmore should be commended for their utterly natural, very appealing performances; while there are some motivation issues here and there, for the most part, they come across as intelligent, likable, funny people, and it’s a pleasure spending time with them as we await the scary stuff.
When said long take arrives, it doesn’t disappoint, and it approaches the same atmosphere of horror and dread that The Blair Witch Project seemed to effortlessly conjure fifteen years earlier. I hesitate to expand further on the last few minutes of the film; if you intend to watch the film – and I do recommend it overall – stop reading and give it a look. I won’t give anything away regardless, but suffice it to say that while the ending is very cool in and of itself, and is certainly in keeping with the tone of the build-up, I did feel a creeping letdown when the end credits rolled. This is due as much to the ending not having nearly the same satisfying nightmare quality of Blair Witch or REC, as it is to some unfortunate character motivation moments that I didn’t quite buy, as well as a half-baked steal from Blair Witch that felt completely organic and terrifying in the earlier film, but here feels tossed-in and borderline nonsensical here.
That said, Willow Creek is still an enjoyable, creepy ride, and a somewhat unexpected treat from the former standup. If you’re a found-footage junkie, or at the very least, you’re not entirely sick of the subgenre, Willow Creek is definitely worth 79 minutes of your time. (– Dean Galanis)
Star Trek: The Compendium
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| Paramount / Released 9/9/14 |
For the first time ever, J.J. Abram’ exhilarating films come together with a comprehensive array of insightful new and existing bonus features for the definitive Star Trek experience.
Includes:
Star Trek
When the Romulan Nero comes from the future to take revenge on the Federation, rivals Kirk and Spock must work together to stop him from destroying everything they know. On a thrilling journey filled with incredible action, the new recruits of the U.S.S. Enterprise will voyage through unimaginable danger in one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed movies of the year. Extras include commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, Starfleet Vessel simulator, gag reel and trailers.Last Word: By the time the iconic Trek monologue with it’s promise of exploring strange, new worlds and boldly going where no one has gone before arrives, J.J. Abrams has accomplished the impossible; he has reinvigorated the series with a fresh perspective, without ignoring or slighting what has come before.
Abrams uses a favorite Trek staple of time travel to establish an alternate timeline where his version takes place. Without a need for spoilers or an unnecessary plot synopsis, the movie delivers in a way that most “event” movies haven’t in a very long time.
It’s fun.
Now, keep in mind, Abrams and his creative entourage (including screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and producer Damon Lidelof) have not reinvented the wheel. It’s still Trek; but it’s fresher and more accessible than it’s been in decades. Abrams has declared that he was never a Trekkie, and planned to “Star Wars-fy” Trek, and in some ways he has; the action is faster and more intense, the “call to adventure” for Kirk isn’t a far stretch from Joseph Campbell’s treatise on mythology, and unfortunately, one of the characters has an alien sidekick that was not part of the original incarnation. The performances are all impressive, with Chris Pine taking on the swagger, devil-may-care attitude of James Tiberius Kirk, truly channeling the best of Shatner, while never resorting to an impression. Zachary Quinto creates a Spock we haven’t seen before; his struggle between his Vulcan and human sides help define him and his actions. Karl Urban captures DeForest Kelley’s Dr. Leonard McCoy and, I think it’s his best performance to date. John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood and Zoe Saldana are all excellent, truly embracing the characters and their trademark quirks and mannerisms, to admirable effect.
The performance that I was most afraid of, was the strongest, and that was Leonard Nimoy portraying “Spock Prime”, the lone character and actor from the original timeline, who serves as the lone witness to certain events and actions that are so different from his own established reality. Nimoy truely shines showing aged Spock’s wisdom, humor and intelligence as the result of a life of adventure, which complements, but never invalidates Quinto’s performance. Finally, Eric Bana portrays the Romulan villian Nero, who has travelled back in time, setting the course for this variant reality. Bana is servicable, but hardly memorable, serving as the film’s MacGuffin.
The plot of the movie is the reimagining itself. With the exception of the original series and films, I’ve never been a very big fan of the series. Nevertheless, I felt protective of the franchise and thought that a reimagining was unneccessary and redundant. This film is a revelation and it is a reminder of the pure joy and escapism that movies can provide. May this series live long and prosper.
Star Trek Into Darkness
When a ruthless mastermind known as Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) declares a one-man war on the Federation, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the daring crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise will embark on the greatest manhunt in history. It will take all of their skills and teamwork to defend Earth and eliminate Khan’s threat. Extras include enhanced commentary, featurettes, gag reel, deleted scenes, trailers.Last Word: As you should recall, the time-travel plot of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek set the rebooted series on an alternate trajectory. Unencumbered by the need to adhere to established canon, the new movies don’t necessarily have to follow in the precise tracks of the original television series or previous movies anymore. Among the more tantalizing prospects of the new and future Treks voyaging into undiscovered country was the possibility that, under slightly different circumstances, a nemesis from the original series might turn out to be an uneasy ally. And vice versa. Star Trek Into Darkness spends a lot of time toying around with this notion, incorporating nods to memorable elements and moments from the 1960s TV show and the theatrical films while at the same time subverting them with a tweak here, a reversal there and, in one pivotal instance, a double-screw twist that ought to keep even the most loyal and knowledgeable Trekkers on their toes.
Star Trek Into Darkness is not as good as 2009’s Star Trek. The plot this time is rather skimpy, and though the movie is exceptionally well made, there’s a feeling of hastiness to connect the dots and checkmark the boxes at the expense of story that parallels another recent hectic follow-up to a far superior predecessor/reboot: Into Darkness is the Trek equivalent of Quantum of Solace compared to Casino Royale.
One of the movie’s biggest shocks is its level of violence, which is bloodless but several notches more intense than we’re used to seeing in the Trek universe. There are the usual phaser battles, some roughhouse fisticuffs and an assortment of unfortunate red shirts who get sucked through blasted hulls into the void of space, but one particularly brutal moment boldly goes where no Star Trek episode or film has dared to go before. Later, when a falling starship takes out half of San Francisco, your mind will boggle at the collateral architectural damage and its inevitable—and astonishingly high—body count. Because the movie zooms along at warp speed, such daunting thoughts won’t linger too long during Into Darkness. In the end, the visual effects are amazing, the action is exciting, the cast is uniformly good and there’s enough humor and emotion to make up for its rather simple story. Lower your expectations based on the movie’s exemplary predecessor and you’ll have a blast. (– Steve Segal)
Compendium Last Word: The big draw to this set are the special features with Star Trek Into Darkness. Originally divided up as exclusives among various retailers, they (and a few new ones) are collected together for the first time. Also, the film changes aspect ratio to reflect Imax footage. If you’re a fan of the new Trek, it’s likely that you’re going to have the film already, but cinegeeks might want to grab this for their collection as it does have a plethora of special features, first rate picture and sound, and one solid (and one less than solid) film. Highly recommended.
Pumpkinhead
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| Shout! Factory / Released 9/9/14 |
When a group of teenagers inadvertently kill his only son, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) seeks the powers of a backwoods witch to bring the child back to life. But instead, she invokes “the pumpkinhead” (a monstrously clawed demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed’s bloodlust). But as the creature wreaks it’s slow, unspeakable tortures on the teens, Ed confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast: and realizes that he must find a way to stop its deadly mission before he becomes one with the creature forever. Also starring Jeff East, Joel Hoffman and Kerry Remsen, this atmospheric, moralistic tale delivers demonic horror at its blood-drenched best. Extras include commentary, featurettes, interviews, Stan Winston tribute, behind the scenes footage and trailer.
Last Word: Another first rate release from Shout!/Scream Factory, Pumpkinhead is a better than average Eighties horror film that stands out as part of the small filmography of special effects genius Stan Winston as a director. Pumpkinhead definitely has it’s moments and is genuinely entertaining, but never is memorable or iconic enough to be much more than that. Lance Henriksen is great, the supporting cast is solid and the effects work by Winston overshadows his role as director. Pumpkinhead is fun, but forgettable.
Killer Mermaid
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| Epic Pictures / Released 9/9/14 |
Two American girls travel to Montenegro on vacation to visit an old friend. While there they decide to venture to Mamula, an abandoned military fortress located on a remote island. During their exploration of the fortress they discover that they are not alone. Someone else is on the island with them and he will stop at nothing to protect it’s secrets. There is a darkness hidden beneath the island and the terror has just begun. Extras include interviews, bonus clip, trailers and featurette.
Teenage
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| Oscillioscope / Released 9/9/14 |
“Teenagers” didn’t always exist. They were invented. As the cultural landscape around the world was thrown into turmoil during the industrial revolution, and with a chasm erupting between adults and youth, the concept of a new generation took shape. Whether in America, England, or Germany, whether party-crazed Flappers or hip Swing Kids, zealous Nazi Youth or frenzied Sub-Debs, it didn’t matter – this was a new idea of how people come of age. They were dubbed “Teenagers.”
A hypnotic rumination on the genesis of youth culture, Teenage is a living collage of rare archival material, filmed portraits, and diary entries read by Jena Malone, Ben Whishaw, and others. Set to a shimmering score by Bradford Cox, Teenage is a mesmerizing trip into the past and a riveting look a the very idea of “coming-of-age.” Extras include commentary, featurettes, archival footage and trailer.
Regular Show: Rigby Pack
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| Cartoon Network / Released 9/9/14 |
Created by JG Quintel and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, Regular Show is the breakout comedy series that features Mordecai and Rigby, two groundskeepers at a park whose attempts to escape their everyday boredom take them to fantastical extremes. The job is so deadly dull that the two friends will do anything they can to avoid it. This doesn’t go over well with their boss Benson (an anthropomorphic gumball machine) — but their efforts often result in insane escapades that delight their co-workers and friends. This all new volume. The Regular Show: Rigby Pack, features 16 Rigby-centric, handpicked episodes from show’s creator J.G. Quintel. Includes the episodes Bank Shot, Don Fortune Cookie, Rigby In The Sky With Burrito, Return Of Mordecai And The Rigbys, Wall Buddy, Survival Skills, One Pull Up, Temp Check, Trash Boat, A Bunch Of Full Grown Geese, Journey To The Bottom Of The Crash Pit, The Heart Of A Stuntman, Fool Me Twice, Sandwich Of Death, and Rigby’s Body.
Bee People
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| E1 Entertainment / Released 9/9/14 |
For 100 million years, bees have provided sustainability on earth… yet these glorious pollinators are facing challenges and fading from our planet. Did you know the honeybee is responsible for one third of the items on your dinner plate? Bee People raises the bar and provides an in-depth look at the people who are facing the challenge on behalf of the bees, making a difference, and urging everyone to join them on a planet-saving mission! Who are these bee people? What compels them to do what they do? And most importantly, what is the solution they propose? Featuring Gregg McMahan aka “The Bee Guru”: One part rock-star, one part bee evangelist, Gregg is the most passionate member of the Bee People community you’re ever likely to meet. His dissertations on all-things-bees are mesmerizing, entertaining and highly educational. Extras include featurette.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
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| Shout! Factory / Released 9/9/14 |
This 1965 remake of the original 1957 version (which starred Julie Andrews) is one of the most treasured interpretations of this classic fairy tale. Filmed on videotape, it enjoyed repeated airings throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. Richard Rodgers was on board as Executive Producer, and he sanctioned the addition of a couple of Rodgers & Hammerstein songs to the score – most notably “Loneliness of Evening.” Generations of fans who grew up watching this version have passed on their affection to future generations – and now the experience will be even greater as the quality is restored to its original sparkling color and sound.
Academy Award nominee Lesley Ann Warren is charming as the raggedy waif turned belle of the ball with Broadway star Stuart Damon as the Prince. Also starring Oscar nominee Walter Pidgeon and Academy Award winners Ginger Rogers and Celeste Holm, Cinderella will waltz into the hearts of the entire family and live happily ever after as one of the most irresistible musicals ever made. Extras include featurette.
Hannibal Season 2
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| Lionsgate / Released 9/9/14 |
Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) is locked in a mental asylum, accused of Hannibal Lecter’s (Mads Mikkelsen) crimes. Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) is dealing with his own feelings about Will, and whether his protege is in fact a cold-blooded killer. With Will locked up, Hannibal becomes Jack’s new consultant on cases. The deadly dance between these characters continues to turn in startling and unexpected ways, in a season that will show nothing can ever be the same again… Extras include documentary, featurettes, commentaries, deleted scenes and gag reel.
Last Word: Producer Bryan Fuller’s take on the Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter mythos might be television’s smartest and certainly most disturbing series. Last season ended with FBI Consultant Will Graham locked away, leaving the sociopathic Lecter as FBI Director Jack Crawford’s new consultant. The season begins with a physical and violent confrontation between two characters before flashing back twelve weeks. By the time we catch up with the flashback in the season finale, Fuller has emotionally exhausted his audience with the twists, turns and manipulations. Not only that, Fuller has taken what on the surface seem like liberties with Harris’ work, but then reimagines it in such a way that it’s not only faithful to the original source material, but also provides a modern, fresh take that’s ultimately as addictive as Dr. Lecter’s taste for human flesh. Highest recommendation.
The Midnight Special
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| StarVista Entertainment/Time Life / Released 9/9/14 |
Back in the early ’70s, the only ways for fans to see their favorite rock stars were in concert or in the pages of magazines like Rolling Stone or Creem. So the idea for The Midnight Special, which ran on NBC from 1972 to 1981, came to creator Burt Sugarman in a light-bulb moment. A veteran of producing Grammy Awards telecasts, Sugarman was frustrated by the network’s lack of programming after the The Tonight Show — the screen reverting to test patterns at 1:00 a.m. A next-door neighbor to Johnny Carson, Sugarman recognized this TV wasteland for what it was: a place where he could cater to an audience that craved seeing its latest rock ‘n’ roll heroes brought into their living rooms every Friday night. And, with the pilot, which premiered at 1:00 a.m. on August 19, 1972 with Johnny Rivers rendition of “The Midnight Special,” Leadbelly’s classic gospel song, he did just that.
The Midnight Special‘s eclectic lineup reflected the show’s commitment not only to rock, but also to mirroring the Top 40 melting pot of the 70s, including genres such as folk, blues, R&B, soul, country and pop. For much of the run, the show was presided over by the legendary, gravelly-voiced DJ Wolfman Jack (Brooklyn-born Bob Smith), who was recruited as a permanent announcer and made his debut in Episode 2; he would go on to become the living symbol of the show and a powerful draw for performers who were more than happy to share the stage with him. A variety of guest hosts appeared along with Wolfman Jack over the years including such ’70s music icons as the Bee Gees, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Loggins and Messina, Richard Pryor, The O’Jays, Electric Light Orchestra, KC & the Sunshine Band, plus frequent host Helen Reddy. Viewers and members of the studio audience were treated to one-of-a-kind concert events direct from The Midnight Special stages featuring anyone from Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Bee Gees and Earth, Wind & Fire to Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Jim Croce or John Denver, performing their biggest hits live. Additionally, The Midnight Special featured the day’s top comedic talents, such as Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Andy Kaufman, Steve Martin and Freddie Prinze, among many others. Featuring 96 live performances, The Midnight Special also includes featurettes and interviews.
Last Word: The good: some truly amazing performances capturing some of the best music of the Seventies. The bad: No episode is presented intact, we’re instead given a release akin to a clip show. Several dozen performances with no context. Keep in mind those performances are incredible, but without the show to support them, it feels a bit empty. But, seeing The Midnight Special in any capacity is a magical experience and music geeks will enjoy both the performances and the nostalgia they provide. Highly recommended.
