Why So Blu?

DVD Roundup – 3 New Indie Titles (DVD Reviews)

Time once again to scour the DVD bargain bin to find out if there are any gems buried way down deep.  (And I don’t mean the dust bunnies either!)  These are what I refer to as quick fix flicks – they either satisfy or sour the good movie seeking cinefile and fast.  This time we’re covering two docs on both iconic former films and music watering holes and scary outing that doubles as as a warning for those seeking to buy a horror home.  Check out the DVD Roundup reviews of All Things Must Pass, Back In Time and A House Is Not A Home below!  (Again, tech specs provided at the end for those with a DVD demand!)

 

ALL THINGS MUST PASS
(MDV Visual)

Helmed by actor turned doc director Colin Hanks, this flick about the rise and fall of the famed Tower Records empire sees the newbie filmmaker doing the right thing – focusing on the subject. (Hanks remains solely off and behind the camera!)  And it’s genuinely passionate and loving tribute to the former record store culture movement, complete with stories of sin (they used to light up and have parties in the back room!), fame (Elton John talks of his love going in and spending hours scouring the shelves!) and even some dirt slinging (former employees get real candid about the end events!) all in the effort to paint a complete and all engrossing picture of a place that was known and loved.  Plus for maximum nostalgia Hanks skillfully uses everything from archival pics and video to first hand interviews with colorful founder Russ Solomon to show that Tower Records, much like this tasty doc that chronicles it, was not merely something to see – it was an experience.

BACK IN TIME
(MDV Visual)

The good news for Back to the Future fans is that the new doc Back In Time covers everything – from on-set stories to fan events gone crazed.  The bad news – Back In Time covers everything. Meaning there is little cohesion in terms of what the doc encompasses or focuses on since it tries to add everything and be all things to everyone.  You get slight peaks into many different things like the restoration of the car and folks working on actual hoverboard technology plus the addition of standard movie making stuff.  It’s a massive mouthful for sure and at times feels a little like biting off more than you can chew.  (Minus a favorable finale mind you!)  There are more stand alone docs that do enhance individual subjects (see the docs on the 30^Th Anniversary set, plus the full car doc Outatime!) but if you’re looking to simply sample a little bit of everything, Back In Time offers an average overview that wets the whistle.

A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME
(MDV Visual)

A ludicrous horror mess, this supernatural turkey about a family trapped inside their new haunted home tries way too hard.  Putting its gamey genre foot in every scary scenario for good measure including ghosts (a creepy Richard Grieco stalks the family unseen complete with bad zombie make-up!), ancient artifacts (this house has a dining room table that looks like it was designed by Leatherface – let’s eat!), paranormal encounters (if I see another entity pulling someone off the bed scene I’m gonna scream!), creepy characters (Bill Cobbs plays a realtor – from hell!) and even demonic toys (there’s some ominous dolls thrown in for good measure!), this feels like a cinematic ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ kind of deal.  When even My Name Is Earl’s Eddie “Crabman” Steeples can’t add extra ominous as a glassy-eyed voodoo priest, there’s trouble in the terror indeed.

Video

Encoding: MPEG-2 AVC

Resolution: 480i

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Audio

Audio Formats(s): 5.1 Surround. 2.0 Stereo

Subtitles: English

Video

Encoding: MPEG-2 AVC

Resolution: 480i

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Audio

Audio Formats(s): 5.1 Surround. 2.0 Stereo

Subtitles: English

Video

Encoding: MPEG-2 AVC

Resolution: 480i

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Audio

Audio Formats(s): 5.1 Surround. 2.0 Stereo

Subtitles: None

Extras

Audio Commentary with Gerald Webb and Christopher Douglas-Olen Ray

Behind The Scenes – A House Is Not A Home Press Kit (SD, 10:25)

Trailer (SD, 1:13)