Archive Page 369
November 17th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Witness a vision of the techno-philosophical future from visionary director Terry Gilliam (Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) when THE ZERO THEOREM debuts on Blu-ray™ and DVD Jan. 20 from Well Go USA Entertainment and Amplify. Two-time Academy Award® winner Christoph Waltz (Best Supporting Actor: Inglourious Basterds, 2009; Django Unchained, 2012) plays a computer hacker whose goal is to discover the reason for human existence, but continually finds his work interrupted when Management sends a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him. The extraordinary film also stars Academy Award winner Matt Damon(Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Good Will Hunting, 1997), Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (Best Supporting Actress, Michael Clayton, 2007), David Thewlis (Harry Potter franchise) and Melanie Thierry (Babylon A.D.) The acclaimed Sci-Fi film was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2013 Venice Film Festival and Gilliam received a Special Mention for the Future Film Festival Digital Award.
Continue reading ‘Discover THE ZERO THEOREM on Blu-ray & DVD January 20!’
November 17th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
A group of close friends gather for a wedding, but their celebration is shattered by apocalyptic events in the supernatural thriller from AFFIRM Films, THE REMAINING, available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD Jan. 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. This rapture film directed by Casey La Scala (Grind) follows five friends who are forced to scramble for safety as a series of cataclysmic events starts to occur. The survivors are forced to re-examine life, love and belief as they must choose between faith and survival. THE REMAINING stars Alexa Vega (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Shaun Sipos (“The Vampire Diaries”), Johnny Pacar (“Make It or Break It”), Italia Ricci (“Chasing Life”) and Bryan Dechart (Step Up 3D).
Continue reading ‘THE REMAINING Available January 27 On Blu-ray’
November 17th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
I totally missed out on the 25th Anniversary of Ghost in the Shell but it was reviewed here by our very own Aaron Neuwirth. The Blu-ray Gods smiled upon me and blessed me with this Ghost in the Shell Arise series – episodes 1 & 2. This is a two-disc collector’s set. Each episode is stored in its very own case, along with the DVD version, booklet, in a nifty collector’s box. FUNimation doesn’t play around when it comes to packaging and Arise is testament to it especially for being a 2-episode set spread out in two cases. I’ve got zero complaints, so read on and find out if Ghost in the Shell Arise is worth your time and money. Continue reading ‘Ghost In The Shell Arise: Borders 1 & 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
November 17th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
The cutting-edge studio behind Afro Samurai brings to life the sexy, stylish, and undeniably-badass video game vixen who prowls the shadows of your wildest dreams. Based on the best-selling franchise, this pulse-pounding feature length anime shows you a side of Bayonetta you’ve never seen before! Twenty years after her awakening, the hottest witch in gaming history is still searching for clues that could help unravel the mysteries of her dark past. Aided in her quest by the clandestine weapon smith Rodin – and his deadly creations: Scarborough Fair – Bayonetta continues to leave a trail of angel corpses in her irresistible wake. Her search for answers leads to encounters with a mysterious – and eerily familiar – little girl, a vengeance-obsessed journalist, and a deadly white-haired beauty that seems to know more about Bayonetta than the witch herself. Fans of the franchise won’t want to miss this chance to see their favorite fantasy come to life in a killer flick packed with mind-blowing action and scandalous scenes of seduction! Continue reading ‘Bayonetta: Bloody Fate (Blu-ray Review)’
November 17th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Reclaim, which stars Ryan Phillipe, Rachelle Lefevre and John Cusack, was primarily a Video OnDemand release back in September. It did see release in a very limited fashion theatrically. This is the second film of this kind of ilk that I’ve caught to review recently that had John Cusack. The other was The Prince, which featured him prominently on the cover art, but he was barely in the film. That isn’t the case here in Reclaim, as he has a pretty significant part in this with plenty of screen time. Reclaim is yet another example of an adult thriller with actual stars hitting pretty much directly for the OnDemand market, whereas a similar film probably would have featured a wide theatrical release in the 1990s. Continue reading ‘Reclaim (Blu-ray Review)’
November 17th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Take that, Marvel! The Norwegians have beat you to Ragnarok by a whole four years and before you even had a chance to mutter up the words. Enjoy your little copycat adventure Thor, Loki and Jane Foster! Okay, okay, so this film is likely to not resemble that upcoming third Thor film in the slightest, but I thought I’d take that open opportunity and run with it. Although, funny enough, in the opening moments of the film, the name “Odin” is indeed referenced. No, this film comes from the director of Cold Prey 3 (A Norwegian slasher series that is pretty darn good, even if that was the weakest entry in it so far), so I was pretty interested from the get go on this one. In fact, this is Mikkel Brænne Sandemose’s follow up to that film, which was his feature film directorial debut. Continue reading ‘Ragnarok (Blu-ray Review)’
November 17th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Into The Storm came out this summer during the reign of Guardians Of The Galaxy. The film had a pretty solid opening weekend, but in the end couldn’t manage to recoup its budget from the domestic audience. However, overseas this movie seemed to work like gangbusters. To date, it has taken in $112 million. And that makes sense. Its a movie based on big disaster action sequences that play on their own without having to follow that in depth of a plot. The only thing that would have worked it even better would be the addition of having it released in 3-D over there. Steven Quale directs his follow up to Final Destination 5 (The best film of that series), showing even more penchant for disastrous attack situations. If you’re not familiar with Quale, he comes from the James Cameron tree, in terms of background leading up to directing. He’s done various crew and second unit work for Cameron’s films like Avatar, True Lies and The Abyss. Continue reading ‘Into The Storm (Blu-ray Review)’
November 16th, 2014 by Brian White
Way back when I wrote my theatrical review of The Expendables 3 I talked about how I initially promised myself I would have nothing to do with this movie after I learned about the abysmal PG-13 rating the filmmakers trimmed it down to be to comply with requirements of the much feared MPAA in order to get it out to a wider audience (more about that later). If it had not been for a trip up to Cleveland, OH to visit all my family and friends I can pretty much guarantee that I would have never partaken in a screening of The Expendables 3. I subjected myself to the theatrical experience to kill two birds with one stone, visit my most favorite Cleveland marketing team leader (she knows who she is) and also my favorite theater ever, that of Cinemark Valley View. I have so many memories there and obviously now The Expendables 3 is one of them. So let’s dispense with all the filter and formalities I’m employing here and talk about Barney (Stallone) and his old and new gang, and what does and does not happen here. Continue reading ‘The Expendables 3 (Blu-ray Review)’
November 15th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Love and loss. Sorrow and joy. Olive and Henry Kitteridge know there’s no such thing as a simple life. A tour de force in storytelling, the four-part HBO® Miniseries drama Olive Kitteridge debuts on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD on February 10, 2015. The Blu-ray also features a Digital HD copy. Headlined by an all-star cast including Academy Award® winner Frances McDormand, Academy Award® nominee Richard Jenkins and Golden Globe winner Bill Murray, the mini-series is based on Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. Olive Kitteridge is a poignant tale spanning 25 years in the life of a middle-school math teacher in Maine and the turbulent relationships with her family and friends. Hailed as “soaring and inventive” (The New Yorker), “ingeniously constructed” (USA Today) and a series that provides McDormand with “a wonderful role that stands among the most complex and memorable of her career” (Hollywood Reporter), Olive Kitteridge is not to be missed. Continue reading ‘HBO Entertainment Announces OLIVE KITTERIDGE’
November 15th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
An imaginative animated tale for the pre-school/kindergarten set, THE HERO OF COLOR CITY chronicles the adventures of a diverse band of crayons that come alive in a little boy’s room when he drifts off to sleep. In support of the December 2 release, Magnolia Pictures has partnered with the non-profit organization, The Crayon Collection. The group collects crayons from national and regional restaurant chains to donate to children in need.
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Continue reading ‘Imaginative Animated Tale THE HERO OF COLOR CITY Arrives December 2’
November 14th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
So I didn’t laugh all that much. It is irritating to have to be on the defensive for an opinion of a film that really does not need critical weight to determine if someone wants to see it or not. If I was not writing film reviews, I would have still no doubt seen Dumb and Dumber To, because I like the first one, I like the actors, I like the Farrelly Brothers, and I would be happy to embrace my curiosity on this thing. As it turns out, I did not like this movie. It is a mix of dialing up the antics and raunchiness, as any comedy sequel would be prone to do, while also relying on rehashes of what was believed to make the first film work. This results in a film that is a little meaner (odd for the generally sweet Farrellys) and lot less funny. Sure it is subjective and I have no shame in saying that I laughed a good few times, but overall, it mostly fell flat.
Continue reading ‘‘Dumb and Dumber To’ Too Much (Movie Review)’
November 14th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
How grim is too grim and when does it just start becoming a little humorous? Earlier this year we had a novel idea for a film in the form of A Million Ways to Die in the West. That film did not work for me overall, but the idea of making a western film that put emphasis on how terrible a time it could really be was a funny one. Tommy Lee Jones’ second directorial effort, The Homesman, based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, is a film that sits in grim territory, but pushes things so far that it becomes a strange sort of dark comedy. The film has a large cast of great actors, but they all provide merely decent to good performances. Hilary Swank stands out, but that makes sense, given that she does most of the heavy-lifting, with strong support from Jones to back her up. Really, the film seems confused by how sprawling it could be versus how effectively poignant it may be if the film felt a bit more consistent. The good news is, this film is far too interesting to write off.
Continue reading ‘The Homesman Is Surreal, Grim Stuff (Movie Review)’
November 14th, 2014 by Brian White
I honestly cannot believe it’s been twenty years since Dumb and Dumber almost made me piss my pants from laughter when I first saw it in the theater. I still remember it like it was only yesterday. My friend Bryan and I ventured out on opening night in Ohio to see this one theatrically and I remember the Ex-Lax related scene fondly because that was the one and only time I ever saw people in a theater literally fall out of their chairs laughing. I’ve seen people jump out of their chairs while scared out of their wits during a horror film, but I had never before then seen anyone fall out of their chairs and roll down the declining aisle cracking up. The Hangover is probably the closest I have ever come to seeing that ever happen again. It was close, but no cigar. Continue reading ‘‘Dumb and Dumber To’ Takes Us Down To Many Familiar Rodes (Movie Review)’
November 13th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
From the mastermind producer behind Insidious and The Purge comes the ghostly tale of Jessabelle. The haunting, supernatural thriller, directed by Kevin Greutert (Saw VI, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter), written by Robert Ben Garant (Hell Baby, Night at the Museum) and starring Sarah Snook, Mark Webber and Joelle Carter, will arrive on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD (plus Digital) and Digital HD on January 13, 2015 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The Jessabelle Blu-ray and DVD, including audio commentary with the filmmakers, a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes and an extended ending.
. Continue reading ‘Supernatural Thriller JESSABELLE Arrives on Blu-ray January 13’
November 13th, 2014 by Brandon Peters
Coming out this Tuesday on Disney Movies Anywhere and Blu-ray 3-D Combo Pack, Blu-ray and OnDemand December 9th pretty much everyone’s favorite film of the summer (If not close to the top of the list, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY! While you eagerly anticipate holding this puppy in your hands and gloriously displaying it on your television, here’s a trailer for the release of the film! If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, you can do so below. OOGA CHACKA OOGA CHACKA!
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. Continue reading ‘The GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Blu-ray Trailer Is Here!!’
November 13th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is funny when you have next to no reaction to a film, despite easily acknowledging so many great things about it. Foxcatcher is incredibly well acted, effectively directed in a chilling sort of manner as a sort of powder keg of tension, and likely worthy of even more praise, when one considers the level of detail brought to the film’s time period and setting. With that all in mind, while pivotal moments had a desired effect, I walked away only caring so much for the film. It tells the true story of a group of individuals that seemed to be boiled down to some basic elements, which left me feeling like I watched a film that I did not really need to see. Of course, given the built-in praise that came from its reception at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, I certainly wanted to see it, but now having done so, again, the film just didn’t leave me with much.
Continue reading ‘‘Foxcatcher’ Has Strong Performances, But A Loose Grasp (Movie Review)’
November 13th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Liam Neeson stars in A Walk Among the Tombstones, an action-thriller based on Lawrence Block’s bestselling series of mystery novels. Neeson plays Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator who reluctantly agrees to help a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens, TV’s Downton Abbey) hunt down the men who brutally murdered his wife. When the PI learns that this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that these men have committed this sort of twisted crime, he must blur the line between right and wrong as he races to track the deviants through the backstreets of New York City before they kill again. Continue reading ‘Take ‘A Walk Among The Tombstones’ on Blu-ray & DVD January 13th’
November 13th, 2014 by Nate Boss
Think about the great success James Cameron has had over the course of his career in cinema. A special effects and now camera wunderkind, the man is responsible for the top two grossing films of all time (not accounting for inflation), launching the careers of numerous Hollywood stars. Like King Midas, his every touch bestows gold, with a career trajectory that points ever higher upwards to previously unimagined heights…which is why his other passion is so fittingly ironic.
Continue reading ‘Deepsea Challenge (Blu-ray Review)’
