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Blu Tuesday: Fist Fight and More
/2017/05/30/blu-tuesday-fist-fight-and-more/
Tue, 30 May 2017 12:30:22 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Fist Fight”
Comedy works best when it’s grounded in real situations, but nothing about “Fist Fight” feels even remotely realistic, starting with its titular premise. Most of the teachers in this film wouldn’t pass a background check, let alone display the competence to run a classroom, while Ice Cube’s hot-headed teacher would have been fired long before swinging an axe into a student’s desk. (Side note: If he was already feared among everyone in the school, what kid would think that provoking him was a good idea?) Unfortunately, co-writers Van Robichaux and Evan Susser have put so little thought into the screenplay that the movie is filled with these kinds of questions. That might have been excusable if “Fist Fight” was actually funny, but not even Charlie Day’s manic energy can save this film.
Extras include a brief featurette on location shooting in Georgia and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Collide”
Though it features some pretty big names, this generic action thriller from director Eran Creevy is just as disappointing as his last movie, “Welcome to the Punch.” Nicholas Hoult still hasn’t convinced me that he’s leading man material (and the screenplay doesn’t help his cause here), while Felicity Jones is wasted as the damsel in distress. Not even the high-speed car chases are very good, although in keeping with the title, Hoult’s character does crash into a shit ton of stuff, including a major set piece on the Autobahn where he does about 20 barrel rolls and walks away with barely a scratch. If there’s any entertainment value to be found in “Collide,” it’s watching screen veterans like Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley compete to see who can chew more scenery as the film’s cartoonish gangsters. Spoiler alert: Kingsley wins.
Sadly, no extras have been included on the Blu-ray release. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Logan and More
/2017/05/23/blu-tuesday-logan-and-more/
Tue, 23 May 2017 12:30:04 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Logan”
Despite being the most popular character in the X-Men franchise, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine hasn’t had much luck when it comes to his solo outings. Though director James Mangold made half of a good film with “The Wolverine,” his second bite of the apple is a much-improved genre flick that finally gives the character his due. “Logan” may be a slower, more character-driven comic book movie, but it’s incredibly gritty and violent as well, easily earning its R rating with a handful of claw-slicing action sequences peppered throughout. While “Logan” certainly isn’t without its flaws (from the underwhelming villains to the overlong runtime), there’s enough great stuff here, including strong performances from Jackman and Patrick Stewart, to succeed both as a refreshing deviation from the typical superhero formula and a fitting end to Jackman’s remarkable 17-year run as Wolverine.
Extras include an audio commentary by director/co-writer James Mangold, a six-part making-of featurette, deleted scenes and a black-and-white version of the film titled “Logan: Noir.” FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Get Out”
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut may not be what fans were expecting from the comedian, but it’s a clever and confident genre mashup that expertly blends suspense and humor with biting social commentary on race relations. Heavily influenced by horror films like “The Stepford Wives” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” “Get Out” keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout its intense 104-minute runtime, utilizing extreme close-ups and Michael Abels’ eerie musical score to build tension and create an unsettling atmosphere of paranoia that effectively puts you in the protagonist’s shoes. Though Daniel Kaluuya and the rest of the cast are all great in their roles, the movie’s true star is Peele himself, whose singular vision makes “Get Out” one film that you won’t soon forget.
Extras include an audio commentary by writer/director Jordan Peele, a making-of featurette, a cast and crew Q&A, and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Great Wall”
Pairing one of Hollywood’s biggest stars (Matt Damon) with esteemed Chinese director Zhang Yimou might sound like an exciting idea on paper, but “The Great Wall” lacks the prestige that such a high-profile collaboration warrants. Though the film boasts some fantastic visuals and rousing action that’s entertaining in the moment, it’s a fairly generic monster movie (think “Starship Troopers” in Ancient China) that’s hindered by its formulaic and underdeveloped story. Yimou’s attempt to blend Western and Eastern sensibilities is admirable, but you can feel the strain as it tries to appease both audiences; it’s not bonkers enough and yet too silly to be taken seriously. Though it works just fine as a piece of mindless entertainment, “The Great Wall” should have been better considering the level of talent involved.
Extras include a series of behind-the-scenes featurettes on making the movie, a look at Matt Damon’s experience filming in China and deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Rock Dog”
Based on the graphic novel by Chinese rock star Zheng Jun, this Chinese-American co-production is every bit as generic as it looks, from the second-rate animation to the clichéd story, which unabashedly borrows from “Kung Fu Panda,” “Ratatouille” and other animated films. It’s hard to believe that director Ash Brannon got his start at Pixar, because not a single ounce of ingenuity can be found within this mediocre kid’s flick. (How he managed to convince bands like Radiohead and the Foo Fighters to license their music is a mystery). Granted, there are much worse movies out there than “Rock Dog,” but while it may keep your child distracted on a rainy afternoon, the chances that they’ll ask to watch it again are about as good as the film’s lone original song – which is to say, not very good at all.
Extras include a making-of featurette, as well as additional featurettes on casting, the music and the animation process. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Return of Xander Cage and More
/2017/05/16/blu-tuesday-return-of-xander-cage-and-more/
Tue, 16 May 2017 17:00:03 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“xXx: Return of Xander Cage”
Vin Diesel famously never made a sequel to 2002’s “xXx” because he didn’t believe in them, but that was before he became the go-to franchise guy with the “Fast and Furious” series, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and, to a lesser extent, the Riddick saga. However, it seems unlikely that “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” will reboot the stagnant franchise as intended, despite its blatant attempts to mimic the “Fast and Furious” films. Though it boasts the same over-the-top energy and its own multicultural cast, the movie comes off as nothing more than a second-rate rip-off with some truly ridiculous action sequences. It’s not a complete waste of time thanks to the involvement of Donnie Yen and Ruby Rose, but for a film that borders on so-bad-it’s-good territory for most of its runtime, “Return of Xander Cage” comes up short.
Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes on Vin Diesel’s return, the supporting cast, location shooting and stunts, as well as a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“The Space Between Us”
The basic premise of Peter Chelsom’s “The Space Between Us” – which follows a teenage orphan who comes to Earth after spending his first 16 years in a space station on Mars – is ripe with potential, but it’s largely spent developing a cheeseball YA romance that feels like an ill-advised mix between “Starman” and a Nicholas Sparks novel. Though it contains some solid performances from its cast, including Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson and Gary Oldman, they’re unable to save the movie from the minefield of plot holes (like how a couple of teenagers are able to stay two steps ahead of NASA scientists), tacky jokes (cue scene of Butterfield eating a Mars candy bar) and bad dialogue (“I didn’t get to choose where I was born, but I get to choose where I die.”) Houston, we have a problem, indeed.
Extras include an audio commentary by director Peter Chelsom, a featurette on the film’s various themes and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Return of the Dragon” / “Game of Death: Collector’s Edition”
Following Shout! Factory’s 4K restoration of “Fists of Fury” and “The Chinese Connection,” the indie specialty label has given the same treatment to Bruce Lee’s other two films not titled “Enter the Dragon.” Though they’re easily the weakest movies in his brief career, “Return of the Dragon” and “Game of Death” both have some redeeming qualities. For instance, Lee’s directorial debut may be best known for introducing Chuck Norris to the world, but it also features some excellent martial arts work from Lee himself. While the attempts at physical comedy don’t really succeed, at least they’re intentional, as opposed to the terrible Frankenstein monster that is “Game of Death,” a poorly cobbled together Bruceploitation film that only contains 12 minutes of the original footage shot before Lee’s untimely death. Granted, those 12 minutes are pretty great, but the rest of the movie is so bad (especially the ridiculous lengths that it goes to in order to shoot around its obvious stand-ins) that you’re better off just skipping straight to the end.
Extras include two audio commentaries by Asian cinema expert Mike Leeder, a pair of retrospective featurettes, deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Heat and More
/2017/05/09/blu-tuesday-heat-and-more/
Tue, 09 May 2017 13:00:06 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Heat: Director’s Definitive Edition”
Michael Mann’s 1995 crime thriller is one of the best films in the genre, and it’s aged remarkably well in the 20-plus years since its release. Though the movie is perhaps best known for the iconic diner sequence between stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, whose cat-and-mouse tension permeates the entire film despite only sharing two scenes together, “Heat” has so many memorable moments (including the opening heist and the climactic shootout) that it continues to be imitated to this day. Although there’s nothing different about the director’s cut featured here than the one that appears on the 2009 Blu-ray (for all intents and purpose, this is the official version of the movie), the new 4K remaster that was supervised by Mann is such a treat that it makes this rerelease a must-own for diehard fans.
Extras include an audio commentary by director Michael Mann, a three-part making-of featurette, the 2016 Academy panel with the cast and crew, a Q&A from the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Divorce: The Complete First Season”
HBO isn’t quite the domineering force that it once was, due in part to the rise of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, so it’s hardly a surprise that the pay channel has tried to recapture its foothold on the TV landscape by welcoming back one of its former stars. Unfortunately, while it’s nice to see Sarah Jessica Parker delving into darker material, there’s very little to enjoy about “Divorce.” In trying to mine humor out of a messy situation, the show just feels sad and misanthropic instead, especially in the way that it sides with Parker’s character by making everyone else that much more idiotic and horrible. Though Thomas Haden Church earns some laughs as Parker’s doofus husband, “Divorce” is lacking the necessary emotion to make you care about what happens to either of them.
Extras include audio commentaries on three episodes with star Sarah Jessica Parker, executive producer Paul Simms and writers Tom Scharpling and Adam Resnick. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Fifty Shades Darker”
The first installment in Universal’s “Fifty Shades” trilogy may not have been very good, but it at least made a concentrated effort to add a little class to its otherwise trashy source material. When the movie underperformed, however, author EL James was able to wrestle more control over the franchise (like hiring husband Niall Leonard to take over scripting duties), resulting in a sequel that’s so much worse. “Fifty Shades Darker” is melodramatic garbage of the highest degree that forces decent actors like Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan (who look as interested as their contracts obligate them to be) to deliver cringeworthy, soap opera-quality dialogue. The sex scenes still aren’t very sexy and the story is almost nonexistent, but at least there’s more to laugh at this time around, which is about the only thing this film has going for it.
Extras include a series of behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and a sneak peek of the final installment. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Gold and More
/2017/05/02/blu-tuesday-gold-and-more/
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Tue, 02 May 2017 12:30:36 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Gold”
Stephen Gaghan’s long-awaited follow-up to “Syriana” may not have been the awards contender that some predicted, but it’s a mildly entertaining adult drama – inspired by the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal – that boasts some great work from Matthew McConaughey. Though the Oscar-winning actor looks every bit the part as balding, potbellied has-been Kenny Wells, his performance is much more than the physical transformation he’s undergone. He carries the film every step of the way, exuding his trademark charisma to turn Kenny into the kind of loveable loser that’s hard not to admire. The movie itself has some major problems, but McConaughey is such a compelling presence, fervently chain-smoking and guzzling booze throughout the film, that “Gold” just about gets by on his performance alone.
Extras include an audio commentary by director Stephen Gaghan and a series of featurettes on the film’s origins, location shooting in Thailand and star Matthew McConaughey. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Red Turtle”
Following in the footsteps of Studio Ghibli (which co-produced the film), Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle” is a surprisingly poignant feature-length debut that proves animation can be just as effective as live action when done right. Using “Robinson Crusoe” as a starting point, this soulful and meditative tale about a shipwrecked man who washes up on a deserted island tackles some big themes like man vs. nature and the circle of life. The fact that Dudok de Wit accomplishes this without a single word of dialogue is impressive, giving “The Red Turtle” a picture book quality that thrives off its simple yet beautiful animation. Although the film’s more fantastical elements may leave some people scratching their heads, it’s such a mesmerizing experience that you’ll be thinking about it for days.
Extras include an audio commentary by writer/director Michael Dudok de Wit, a pair of production featurettes and a director Q&A from AFI Fest. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
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Blu Tuesday: La La Land and More
/2017/04/25/blu-tuesday-la-la-land-and-more/
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 13:00:50 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“La La Land”
Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” was my favorite film of 2014, so the bar was set pretty high for his next project, a loving homage to the big, bold and colorful musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age featuring two of today’s brightest stars. Thankfully, “La La Land” is every bit as enchanting as you’ve heard. Though it doesn’t have the most original story, the movie gets by on the strength of its delightful musical numbers and the irresistible charm of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, who radiate the kind of old-school glamour that feeds into the film’s nostalgic spirit. For a movie about chasing your dreams in a town known for crushing them, “La La Land” is surprisingly optimistic until its bittersweet end, providing the kind of Technicolor escapism that the world needs more of these days.
Extras include an audio commentary by writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz, over an hour of behind-the-scenes featurettes (including a look at filming some of the musical sequences) and much more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Underworld: Blood Wars”
It’s pretty amazing that the “Underworld” series is still kicking after all these years, because from a creative standpoint, it ran out of steam three movies ago. Though you have to applaud Kate Beckinsale’s commitment to the franchise, she’s just as much to blame for keeping this crapfest going. What began as a slick and stylish genre flick with a clever twist on vampire/werewolf mythology has quickly devolved into a series of dull and moronic sequels, none more so than “Blood Wars,” which takes the cake for the way it so carelessly defies logic. Not even the action sequences (one of the franchise’s few saving graces) are very good this time around, although Selene does rip out a dude’s spinal cord, so it has that going for it.
Extras include a series of featurettes on production and the film’s various characters, as well as a digital version of the official graphic novel. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“The Girl with All the Gifts”
Based on the 2014 novel by Mike Carey (who also wrote the screen adaptation), “The Girl with All the Gifts” is a zombie movie with a heart. Newcomer Sennia Nanua is excellent as the young girl who may hold the cure to the fungal virus that has wiped out most of humanity, brilliantly conveying the internal conflict between her childlike innocence and animalistic urges, while Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine and Glenn Close provide great support as the survivors trying to protect her. Though it bears some resemblance to Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later” and the survival horror game “The Last of Us,” “The Girl with All the Gifts” does just enough – from its dynamic relationships to the intriguing moral questions that it poses – to distinguish itself as a unique and solid addition to the genre.
Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at making the film. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Animal Kingdom: The Complete First Season”
Loosely based on David Michôd’s Australian crime thriller of the same name, “Animal Kingdom” plays like a low-rent version of “Sons of Anarchy” minus the great writing and performances. Though Ellen Barkin was an inspired to choice to star as the criminal family’s tough matriarch (a role that earned Jacki Weaver an Oscar nomination for the 2010 film), the character has lost most of her bite in the transition to the small screen. The same goes for the rest of the cast as well, but that’s to be expected when you replace Joel Edgerton and Ben Mendelsohn with TV-friendly stand-ins like Scott Speedman and Shawn Hatosy. Although the actors do the best they can with the material provided, there’s nothing about this hackneyed macho soap opera that you haven’t already seen a hundred times before.
Extras include six featurettes on the characters, stunts and other aspects of the show, as well as some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Split and More
/2017/04/18/blu-tuesday-split-and-more/
Tue, 18 Apr 2017 12:30:18 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Split”
Contrary to what some people have suggested, M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film isn’t much of a comeback at all. Instead, it’s yet another case of the premise being better than the final product. A psychological thriller that’s largely devoid of actual thrills, “Split” owes much of its success to James McAvoy, who gets a chance to flex his acting muscles as a man with 23 distinct personalities. Though we only see a handful of them in action, each one is so unique (from their voices to their mannerisms) that it’s amazing to watch as McAvoy jumps back and forth between them, sometimes in the same scene. Unfortunately, Shyamalan’s inability to get out of his own way prevents “Split” from fulfilling its full potential, despite a killer last-minute twist that will excite fans of his early work.
Extras include a making-of featurette, profiles on actor James McAvoy and writer/director M. Night Shyamalan, an alternate ending and deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“The Founder”
It’s no surprise that John Lee Hancock’s “The Founder” has garnered comparisons to “The Social Network,” but while there are definitely similarities between the two films, the former doesn’t even come close to rivaling David Fincher’s Oscar-winning drama. Though the story behind McDonald’s is fascinating on its own, the movie is an aggressively mediocre biopic that feels like it’s just going through the motions. Michael Keaton does a fine job as Ray Kroc – the perpetual loser who struck it big when he transformed a small yet successful burger joint in San Bernardino, California into a fast food empire – and the same goes for the rest of the cast, but between its unlikable protagonist and bland storytelling, “The Founder” is as forgettable as eating at McDonald’s.
Extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes on the story, characters and production design, as well as a press conference with the cast and crew. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Sleepless”
Swiss director Baran bo Odar’s English-language debut is a dull and cliché-ridden remake of the 2011 French crime thriller “Sleepless Nights” that fails to rise above its B-movie trappings. Fueled by an absurd chain of events involving an undercover cop, some stolen drugs and the internal affairs officer on his trail, “Sleepless” tries so hard to imitate peak Michael Mann that bo Odar even resorts to aping the director’s trademark visual style. Though the movie improves considerably in the latter half thanks to a handful of bruising fight sequences, it’s not enough to save it from the messy storytelling and uninterested cast. Jamie Foxx was undoubtedly hoping to get his career back on track with this no-nonsense genre flick, but it’s yet another disappointment in a string of recent flops.
Extras include a making-of featurette and deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Hidden Figures and More
/2017/04/11/blu-tuesday-hidden-figures-and-more/
/2017/04/11/blu-tuesday-hidden-figures-and-more/#comments
Tue, 11 Apr 2017 13:00:00 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Hidden Figures”
“Hidden Figures” is a crowd-pleaser in the purest sense – it’s a charming, heartwarming and inspirational tale that skillfully combines light-hearted comedy with racially-charged drama to shine a light on the African-American women who helped put John Glenn and others into space during a time when neither African-Americans nor women were given those kinds of opportunities. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe are excellent as the real-life mathematicians on which the film is based, while Kevin Costner provides good support as the NASA boss in charge of the space program. Although the movie hits a number of familiar beats along the way (after all, it’s basically an underdog sports drama for the STEM crowd), there’s nothing ordinary about the incredible true story at the heart of it.
Extras include an audio commentary by director/co-writer Theodore Melfi and actress Taraji P. Henson, a five-part making-of featurette and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Veep: The Complete Fifth Season”
There’s always been some truth to “Veep’s” exaggerated depiction of D.C. politics, but in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidency, the HBO comedy series feels downright prescient in the way that it satirizes incompetence within the U.S. government. Revisiting the show’s fifth season after the 2016 election is almost a completely different experience, although one that still works really well on a comedic level. The change in showrunner hasn’t affected the quality one bit; Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her co-stars remain the funniest cast on TV, and the writing is as sharp as ever, including another ballsy finale that pushes the series into uncharted territory once again. There’s a reason why “Veep” wins so many awards, and it’s because no other comedy has even come close to topping it.
Extras include cast and crew audio commentaries on six episodes, as well as some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Silicon Valley: The Complete Third Season”
It’s hard to imagine a better one-two punch on TV at the moment than HBO’s Sunday night comedy hour of “Veep” and “Silicon Valley.” Though it doesn’t rake in as many awards as the former, Mike Judge’s absurdist comedy series is a clever blend of lowbrow and highbrow humor that doesn’t hold back in its skewering of the tech world. Just like the first two seasons, the show’s junior year is filled with plenty of ups and downs, but the cast has such great chemistry that it’s easy to look past the flaws when you’re too busy laughing. Although the writers still don’t seem to know what to do with Josh Brener’s Big Head, the actor is so amusing in the role that it’s nice to see the show hasn’t given up on finding ways to keep him around.
Extras include a collection of deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Lion”
Based on the incredible true story of Saroo Brierly, an Indian orphan who used Google Earth to locate his biological family after getting separated from them 25 years earlier, “Lion” is a good old-fashioned tearjerker that boasts some powerful performances from its two leads. Dev Patel is great as the adult Saroo, showcasing an emotional depth and range that we haven’t seen from him before, while newcomer Sunny Pawar steals the show as his young counterpart. It probably helps that the first half of the movie, which covers Saroo’s childhood in India and eventual adoption by a kindly Australian couple, is the more interesting of the two, but Pawar is also just a really cute kid. Although “Lion” gets bogged down in some soapy melodrama in the latter half, there’s enough to like to forgive its faults.
Extras include deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery and Sia’s “Never Give Up” music video. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“War on Everyone”
A pitch-black satire of the buddy cop genre that’s rooted in some real-world criticisms of U.S. law enforcement, writer/director John Michael McDonagh’s “War on Everyone” tries a little too hard to be edgy and subversive. Though Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña make a great team as the smart-aleck cops who get their kicks from blackmailing and beating up criminals, the film itself is a bit of a mess. The subplot involving Tessa Thompson’s good-natured stripper distracts from the main storyline, while Caleb Landry Jones’ eccentric henchman (a David Bowie reject with an unnerving presence) seems to be in a different movie altogether. “War on Everyone” certainly has its share of laughs, but unlike McDonagh’s previous films, it fails to be anything more than a mild diversion.
Extras include a character featurette with cast interviews. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Monster Trucks”
Proving why it’s probably not a good idea to gamble $125 million on a film that was conceived by a studio executive’s four-year-old son, “Monster Trucks” is every bit as stupid and juvenile as you’d expect, like a B-movie version of an Amblin creature flick minus the charm. Though it’s clearly been made with a particular audience in mind (boys aged 6-12), “Monster Trucks” doesn’t really have much going for it apart from its solid ensemble cast. The visual effects are surprisingly shoddy for a film with such a big budget and the writing is laughably bad, defying logic at every turn. The biggest disappointment, however, is that it’s neither good enough nor campy enough to enjoy on any level. It just sort of exists, and what’s the fun in that?
Extras include a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes, production diaries, a gag reel and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
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Blu Tuesday: Rogue One and More
/2017/04/04/blu-tuesday-rogue-one-and-more/
Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:00:11 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
Despite rumors of reshoots and rewrites aimed at making it more commercially appealing, “Rogue One” feels every bit like the film that director Gareth Edwards promised, a slightly darker and grittier Star Wars movie that explores new territory for the franchise. Though it’s not without its flaws, “Rogue One” effortlessly fits into the Star Wars universe with an enjoyable one-off story that works both as a standalone film and a complement to the original trilogy. The action sequences are among the best in the series, while the ensemble is packed with instantly classic characters like Donnie Yen’s blind warrior monk and Alan Tudyk’s reprogrammed Imperial droid. Perhaps most impressive, however, is that despite already knowing how the story ends, “Rogue One” still manages to be suspenseful and surprising.
Extras include a trio of featurettes on the film’s origins, its visual style and the CG technology used to recreate Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin, as well as some character profiles, a look at the various Easter eggs and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
“Office Christmas Party”
Proving that not even a great cast can save a bad movie, “Office Christmas Party” is shockingly unfunny despite the wealth of comedic talent involved, including Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller, Olivia Munn and Kate McKinnon. It takes nearly 40 minutes before the first legitimate laugh-out-loud moment occurs (Jillian Bell on scene-stealing duty once again), and there aren’t many more to follow in the remaining hour. Though the film’s premise is ridiculously simple – it’s right there in the title – the ensuing orgy of debauchery isn’t as amusing or raunchy as you’d expect. In fact, it’s pretty boring. Judging from the outtakes during the credits, the actors certainly had a good time making this movie; it’s just a shame that it didn’t translate on screen.
Extras include an audio commentary by directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck, a making-of featurette, outtakes and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“Paterson”
Jim Jarmusch’s existential slice-of-life drama “Paterson” probably won’t win over many new fans, but longtime admirers of the director will absolutely eat it up. Adam Driver delivers an outstanding, soulful performance as the eponymous bus driver-cum-poet, and Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani is also great as his bubbly girlfriend, like a young Salma Hayek. But while the pair has a really sweet and supportive relationship (the kind you rarely see in cinema) that keeps you invested in the story, the rest of “Paterson” is a dull slog. Though Jarmusch attempts to showcase the poetic beauty of his protagonist’s repetitive and mundane life, it’s just not as captivating as he likely intended. The movie is definitely worth seeing for its lead performances, but your mileage will vary beyond that.
The Blu-ray release doesn’t include any bonus material. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Three”
Johnnie To is without a doubt one of the best directors in Asian cinema, but he also happens to be incredibly prolific and therefore not immune to making bad movies like “Three.” Though it features an intriguing premise and a game cast, To’s latest thriller is a hodgepodge of half-baked ideas that don’t quite come together. For an 89-minute film, “Three” spends too much time on the setup and building false tension instead of hurtling towards its violent conclusion. To’s stylized, slow-motion shootout is a sight to behold when it finally does arrive, but most viewers will have already checked out by then due to the lack of compelling (read: intelligent) characters and some poor attempts at comedy. To is much better than this, and he has the resume to prove it.
Extras include a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
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Blu Tuesday: Fantastic Beasts and More
/2017/03/28/blu-tuesday-fantastic-beasts-and-more/
Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:00:34 +0000
Every Tuesday, I review the newest Blu-ray releases and let you know whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping, along with a breakdown of the included extras. If you see something you like, click on the cover art to purchase the Blu-ray from Amazon, and be sure to share each week’s column on social media with your friends.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
As a fan of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” novels and the movies they inspired, it’s hard not to feel disappointed by her highly anticipated return to the Wizarding World. Though “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” serves as an interesting deviation from the typical Potter tale, it lacks the magic that made the previous films so great. None of the new characters are very memorable (save for Alison Sudol’s delightful Queenie), while the dueling narratives cause some minor identity problems, especially because Rowling seems more interested in the “B” story than her main protagonist’s journey. “Fantastic Beasts” isn’t exactly a bad movie – it retains a lot of the series’ charm and shows great promise for future installments – but it’s a rare misfire from a franchise that seemed incapable of doing wrong.
Extras include a making-of featurette, a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s characters, creatures and locations, some deleted scenes and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Patriots Day”
Much like “Lone Survivor” and “Deepwater Horizon,” director Peter Berg’s third collaboration with Mark Wahlberg – which retells the events of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing – doesn’t really have anything important to say politically, but it’s yet another gripping drama about real-life heroism. Wahlberg and the rest of the cast deliver good work in their respective roles, but where “Patriots Day” succeeds best is in the detailed reenactment of the investigation and city-wide manhunt. Although the measured buildup to the bombings is packed with tension, it pales in comparison to the way in which Berg captures the chaotic aftermath. “Patriots Day” could probably do with a bit more subtlety at times, but it’s a well-made memorial to the victims and their families that perfectly embodies the Boston Strong spirit.
Extras include a series of featurettes on making the film and the true stories that inspired it, as well as a pair of conversations between actors John Goodman and Jimmy O. Yang and their characters’ real-life counterparts. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Silence”
Martin Scorsese’s latest film may have been a longtime passion project for the director, but while it’s beautifully shot and contains some solid performances by Andrew Garfield and the largely Japanese cast (particularly Tadanobu Asano), it’s one of his weaker movies to date. Based on the novel by Shûsaku Endô about a pair of 17th century Jesuit priests who travel to Japan to locate their missing mentor, “Silence” attempts to tackle big ideas like faith and sacrifice but never really makes it beyond its opening argument, like a broken record playing different variations of the same scene over and over again. Although there’s some great stuff littered throughout, a lot of it’s lost amid the tedium and overindulgence of the film’s nearly three-hour runtime, which won’t test your faith so much as your patience.
Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at director Martin Scorsese’s decades-long journey to make the film. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“A Monster Calls”
Adapted from the YA novel of the same name, “A Monster Calls” is a movie without an audience. Though it’s clearly intended for a younger demographic (think of it as “Pan’s Labyrinth” lite), the film deals with such heavy subject matter, like how to process grief and accepting the death of a loved one, that it’s hard to imagine many teenagers flocking to see it. The allegorical stories that comprise the movie’s fantasy world are also laid on a bit thick, and it doesn’t do enough with its characters to maximize the emotional payoff. While the film keeps you engaged thanks to its inve