Felt DVD Review

     Actors: Amy Everson, Kentucker Audley, Brendan Miller, Elisabeth Ferrara

Director: Jason Banker

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Region: Region 1

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

DVD Release Date: September 1, 2015

Run Time: 80 minutes

         Felt is clearly a film made to inspire a reaction in its viewers, intentionally graphic and shocking in place of any actual work from the filmmakers. Sometimes these guttural reactions are enough to make a film memorable, but everything about this dark mumblecore thriller/drama is derivative to the point of being completely predictable, despite a minimalist approach to storytelling. The entire film feels hinged upon one inevitable climactic moment, which doesn’t feel earned or even appropriate for the rest of the film that director Jason Banker has given us. Nothing is earned, including the emotions of the audience. If you don’t develop a screenplay that provides character and story, there is nothing to become invested in prior to the exploitative final moments. Thoughtful themes treated lazily end up becoming trashy moments of unearned melodrama.

 

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yuen, Norman Reedus, Seth Gilliam

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Box set, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 5

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Run Time: 600 minutes

 

 

         What is there to say about “The Walking Dead” that hasn’t already been said. This cultural television phenomenon arrived with the successful revival of the zombie horror film, though it has outlasted the peak popularity of its cinematic counterpart. The post-apocalyptic television show has becomes something much more than just the usual horror trope, elevating the genre to something deeply profound and emotionally resonate. Not only is this series far better than nearly every zombie film in recent years, it is easily one of the best shows on television.

 

Wolf Warrior Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jacky Wu, Scott Adkins, Kevin Lee

Director: Jacky Wu

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

 

         Wolf Warrior is the Chinese equivalent of the American military action film, Act of Valor; it is well shot, filled with exciting action, with a plot so simplistic it is nearly nonexistent, and a tone so patriotic that it borders on propaganda. If you can excuse the silliness of the story or the transparency of the movie’s national pride, there is still some above average action to enjoy. In fact, I would say that this is one of the more exciting Chinese action films I have seen recently, though the emphasis remains on firepower rather than martial arts.

 

Lost After Dark Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Robert Patrick, David Lipper, Alexander Calvert

Director: Ian Kessner

Format: Blu-ray

Language: English (Dolby TrueHD 5.1)

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Region: Region A/1

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: September 1, 2015

Run Time: 85 minutes

         Lost after Dark is not only a slasher film with a plot resembling the popular horror sub-genre of the 1980s, it aspires to be mistaken as one of these forgotten B-films. The narrative takes place in the ‘80s, but more importantly is the faux grindhouse style that attempts to recreate the look of a slasher seen at the drive-in. This means intentional screen static, scenes missing, and a series of practical effects. While the film is never less than entertaining, there is not enough commitment to this idea for Lost After Dark to feel like a success. Large sections of the film seem to completely forget about the faux grindhouse style, and overall it just feels like a watered down attempt at doing was already accomplished by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez with their double-feature film, Grindhouse.