REAL MOVIE NEWS

Fast X: 4DX Review

Years ago, Universal announced their intentions of ending the Fast and Furious franchise with the tenth movie. In order to continue the series without going back on their word, Fast X then turned into a two-film conclusion. Just before the release of the tenth installment, however, it was announced that the two-part finale was being stretched out into three films. While I would normally bemoan the money-grubbing practices of studios and the obnoxious practice of cliffhangers in film franchises, Fast X is enough fun to leave me wanting plenty more.

Let It Be Morning Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Eran Kolirin
Actors ‏ : ‎ Juna Suleiman, Salim Daw, Ehab Salami, Khalifa Natour
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Israel
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2023

Jewish Israeli filmmaker Eran Kolirin is best known for his 2007 film, The Band’s Visit, a film about an Egyptian band who becomes stranded in a small town in Israel. Let It Be Morning also deals with confinement in a small community when Israeli military forces block the only road out of a village. A Palestinian family with Israeli citizenship is stuck in the village along with others who were in the area for a wedding. There are clear political themes running throughout Kolirin’s film, but more impactful are the relatable human moments. To consider Let It Be Morning as a film either implicitly or unintentionally addressing Covid-era themes seems like low-hanging fruit, however accurate. At the center of the film are a group of people longing to fix the mess that they have made from their lives, while also being limited in what choices are available due to the circumstances of their situation.

Secret Defense Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jacques Rivette
Actors ‏ : ‎ Sandrine Bonnaire, Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Gregoire Colin, Francoise Fabian
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 54 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2023

Although there are secrets at the center of the plot of Secret Defense, which also contains multiple murders within the story, the film is less a mystery film and more a family drama unfolding with moments of violence. Though many have noted that Secret Defense is one of director Jacques Rivette’s most formulaic narratives, there is still a large gap between this and traditional genre filmmaking. There may be elements expected from a thriller, but it is so leisurely paced that all danger and suspense has been diluted.

Cocaine Bear Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Elizabeth Banks
Actors ‏ : ‎ Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ French, Spanish
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Spanish
Studio ‏ : ‎ Studio Distribution Services
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Blu-ray
Run time ‏ : ‎ 96 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 18, 2023

Some films are so high concept that the title tells you everything you need to know about the plot. For some reason, several of these films involve animals, including Snakes on a Plane, Sharknado, and now Cocaine Bear. Although Cocaine Bear differs from the rest because it is based on true events, this does not mean it is any more grounded in realism. This is completely campy cinema, and that is entirely the point.

All Quiet on the Western Front 4K UHD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Edward Berger
Actors ‏ : ‎ Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, Moritz Klaus
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ MPI Media/Capelight Pictures
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Germany
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Subtitled
Run time ‏ : ‎ 147 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 28, 2023

Based on the novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque, the 1930 adaptation of All Quiet in the Western Front remains one of the most impactful anti-war films to ever be made, so I was instantly skeptical at the announcement of a new adaptation (the third, following a TV movie adaptation in 1979). On top of having to compete with the original masterpiece, the German adaptation would also inevitably be compared to recent successful war movies, like 1917. While these comparisons are fair, I was surprised at how much All Quiet on the Western Front stood on its own, playing off of successful war narratives rather than trying to imitate them.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 4K UHD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Tobe Hooper
Actors ‏ : ‎ Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Mpi Home Video
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, NTSC
Run time ‏ : ‎ 83 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 28, 2023

When forced to choose a favorite horror movie, which is a near impossible task, I typically end up saying either The Night of the Living Dead or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Both were defining films ahead of their time, both enjoyable in a visceral and entertaining way and equally fascinating to analyze. Although Psycho (1960) and Peeping Tom (1960) are often referred to as the first slasher films, the sub-genre didn’t really take off until The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in 1974. It is a film that is so terrifying that audiences often mistakenly remember it as more graphically violent than it actually is. Belonging to a group of cynical and disturbing Vietnam-era horror, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has layers of depth and meaning, but none of this prevents it from simply being a thrilling viewing experience.

The Fabelmans 4K UHD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Steven Spielberg
Actors ‏ : ‎ Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen
Studio ‏ : ‎ Studio Distribution Services
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Digital_copy
Run time ‏ : ‎ 151 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2023

As disappointed as I was to hear Quentin Tarantino announce his intended retirement from filmmaking due to beliefs that directors often begin to slip in the twilight of their careers, each new Steven Spielberg film seems to confirm this as a true statement for me. Spielberg is still a highly competent filmmaker who releases polished products, but nothing in the last two decades comes anywhere close to the first two decades of his career as a director. Perhaps it is not fair to compare The Fabelmans to Jaws or Schindler’s List, but I would be disappointed even if merely judging Spielberg’s latest on its own merits alone. Despite all of the praise that has been thrown at The Fabelmans by critics, I found myself in the minority of people unimpressed with the screenplay supposedly based on Spielberg’s own adolescent experiences.

Satan’s Little Helper Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jeff Lieberman
Actors ‏ : ‎ Katheryn Winnick, Amanda Plummer, Alexander Brickel
Studio ‏ : ‎ Synapse Films
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Widescreen, Surround Sound, Anamorphic
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 40 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ October 25, 2022

The dark premise for the horror film Satan’s Little Helper is boldly original, with just enough social satire to go with the carnage expected from the slasher sub-genre. Suspension of disbelief is a must to be able to enjoy the plot, which is more than a little absurd at times. In some ways that actually adds to the campy fun of the film, while other times it just feels like a cheaply made straight-to-DVD horror film that was sloppily thrown together. While the premise is great, the execution often leaves something to be desired.

Marquis de Sade’s Justine 4K UHD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jesús Franco
Actors ‏ : ‎ Romina Power, Klaus Kinski, Jack Palance, Maria Rohm, Mercedes McCambridge
Studio ‏ : ‎ Blue Underground
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ X (Mature Audiences Only)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 4 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023

The Marquis de Sade served as an inspiration for many of the films made by Spanish filmmaker Jesús Franco, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s he made two adaptations of his literary work. The first of these was Marquis de Sade’s Justine, a period film set in 1700 France and tracing the two diverging paths taken by sisters after they are orphaned in Paris. Justine was Franco’s largest budget to that point, including recognizable cast members such as Klaus Kinski and Jack Palance in supporting roles. It also kicked off a preoccupation Franco had with the sexual depravity of humanity, which he would continue in some form for much of his career.

Philosophy in the Boudoir (Eugenie) 4K UHD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jesús Franco
Actors ‏ : ‎ Christopher Lee, Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Jack Taylor, Paul Muller
Studio ‏ : ‎ Blue Underground
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ X (Mature Audiences Only)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ UK
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 27 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023

In 1969, Spanish filmmaker Jesús Franco released his first adaptation of a Marquis de Sade book, Justine. This started a tradition of exploitation films made by Franco, often influenced by the perversion found in the Marquis de Sade’s literary work. Only a year after the release of Justine, Franco would once again adapt a book by the Marquis de Sade, this time Philosophy in the Boudoir. The British film was released as Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion and was only the first attempts by the Spanish filmmaker to adapt this particular novel. Along with a continued fascination with the author, Eugenie represents the type of film Franco is best known for, containing a fascination with sexuality combined with the violence and shock value of horror.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ScreenX Review

With a cumbersome title and promises of storylines to come, Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Although critics and audiences have begun to show franchise fatigue when it comes to the MCU, die-hard fans will likely find plenty to love. Although I have watched all of the films and TV shows, I wouldn’t consider myself anywhere close to a fan of Marvel entertainment, so I can relate to much of the criticism placed on recent films. On the other hand, I go into these movies with very low expectations. This is junk food cinema (even calling it cinema may be a stretch, as Martin Scorsese has argued), but this also may be exactly what some audiences long for after sitting through the high-brow releases of award season. And if you are going for pure immersive entertainment, ScreenX is a fun option for ways to experience Quantumania.

The Grandmaster of Kung Fu Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Cheng Si Yu
Actors ‏ : ‎ Du Yu Hang-Dennis To, Gao Xue-mei, Yang Yong-feng, Li Ruo Xi, Zhuang Han
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS 5.1)
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 15 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2023

At just 75-minutes long, The Grandmaster of Kung Fu barely feels like a feature-length movie, despite fitting in plenty of the tropes associated with the martial arts movie. It simply moves at a brisk pace, only really slowing down the plot to savor the fight sequences, understanding that this the likely reason most enjoy the action sub-genre. By leaning on well-worn tropes, The Grandmaster of Kung Fu is able to rely on the audience’s awareness of the familiar structure, focusing instead on the fun stuff.

A Fish in the Bathtub Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Joan Micklin Silver
Actors ‏ : ‎ Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Adams, Missy Yager
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 38 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

Along with belonging in a group of 1990s independent comedies that feel like mild imitations of Woody Allen, often set in New York and involving partner-swapping without veering into melodrama, A Fish in the Bathtub also has the feeling of a sitcom. This is not just because the cast is made up of several actors who have played parents in memorable half-hour comedies, but also because the narrative is highly episodic and has a resolution which restores everything back to the way it began, much like the formula of nearly every sitcom. It can make A Fish in the Bathtub feel slight and irreverent, but that may be the point of enjoyment for some.

The Ballad of the Sad Café Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Simon Callow
Actors ‏ : ‎ Vanessa Redgrave, Keith Carradine, Rod Steiger
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, Blu-ray
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2022

Not every story works in all formats. While I am certain there is something about Carson McCullers novella that worked, possibly even adapted well to the stage play written by Edward Albee, I found it difficult to ever get on board with the film adaptation, The Ballad of the Sad Café. While the novella must have had the benefit of the author’s narration and the play must have had dialogue to tell the story, the film directed by Simon Callow relies almost entirely upon imagery, but this often leaves the audience with little insight into the internal world of the characters.

The Loneliest Boy in the World Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Martin Owen
Actors ‏ : ‎ Max Harwood, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Evan Ross, Ben Miller, Ashley Benson
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 31 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 20, 2022

Even though the inspirations behind The Loneliest Boy in the World are fairly obvious, it is a film with an identity crisis. The tone oscillates between gruesomely disgusting and sickly sweet, with both often actively working against each other. Even more confused is the sense of space, with a setting that is intended to be America despite being shot in a gloomy UK city. Having the story set during the 1980s for no discernible reason just adds to the confusion of the overall experience.

The Roundup Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Sang-yong Lee
Actors ‏ : ‎ Don Lee, Sukku Son, Gwi-hwa Choi
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Mpi Home Video
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 46 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

While Hollywood has been preoccupied with an endless stream of superhero films, South Korea has found its most successful blockbuster since the beginning of the Covid pandemic in a franchise-making sequel to The Outlaws. The Roundup, like the film before it, is a crime action-comedy that feels like something Hollywood would have made in the 1980s or ‘90s. And I mean that as the highest compliment. The emphasis is on a solid story bolstered by engaging characters and grounded (for the most part) action. There is no need for heavy CGI or a world-ending final battle. It is enough to let South Korean movie star Ma Dong-seok (or Don Lee, as he’s billed in the US) swing his mighty fists at a ruthlessly vicious villain.

The Ambush Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Pierre Morel
Actors ‏ : ‎ Marwan Abdulla Saleh, Khalifa Al Jassem, Mohammed Ahmed, Abdulla Saeed Bin Haider, Saeed Alharsh
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ United Arab Emirates
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 52 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

The fact that The Ambush is a United Arab Emirates co-production with France may lead some to make assumptions about the quality and level of the filmmaking, but The Ambush has the polished look of a Hollywood film. Much of this comes from the level of the production values and director Pierre Morel, best known for large-budget Hollywood films like Taken and From Paris with Love, not to mention the impressive French action film, District B13. The Ambush is a much more serious film, however, tracing the true events in a military conflict between the UAE military and armed militants who ambush three Emirati soldiers on patrol in hostile territory.

The Woman King 4K Ultra HD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Gina Prince-Bythewood
Actors ‏ : ‎ Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
Producers ‏ : ‎ Julius Tennon, Cathy Schulman, Maria Bello, Viola Davis
Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.40:1
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ Portuguese, Spanish
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Portuguese, Spanish
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Subtitled
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 15 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

For those who want more realism in their action than the CGI-filled silliness of Marvel films, The Woman King is a good option. At the same time, for a film about female warriors, the action is surprisingly sparse. Instead, the film veers into melodrama territory, complete with a severed mother/daughter relationship. There is also a tragic romance in the film. Even with some solid action choreography and an impressive performance by Viola Davis, it is a little disappointing that a female-led action movie spends so little time with the action and instead chooses romance and tear-jerker subplots to fill much of the run-time.

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