Advertisement

Jason Bourne 4K Ultra HD Review

  • Actors: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles
  • Director: Paul Greengrass
  • Format: 4K
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (DTS:X Master Audio), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (DTS:X Master Audio), Spanish (DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1), Spanish (DTS:X Master Audio)
  • Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated:
    PG-13
  • Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2018



        After to an unsuccessful attempt at making a Jason Bourne film without Matt Damon or its title character, the franchise has returned to business as usual, even if it just feels like a collection of deleted scenes from the original trilogy. Director Paul Greengrass also returns to the franchise in order to provide the same nausea-inducing shaky camera work that he used in the first two sequels, along with a barely significant storyline making transparent modern-day commentary on issues of online privacy. None of this really matters, however, because the film is more interested in endless chase scenes than it is the narrative.

        We join Jason Bourne (Damon) punishing himself for past indiscretions by enduring endless bouts of underground boxing in Greece. When former CIA employee Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) hacks into the government mainframe, she discovers a secret folder about Bourne’s background with the company, as well as evidence that a similar program has been started back up. Taking this information to Bourne, Nicky unintentionally brings the attention of the intelligence community back on the former operative who has taken extreme measures to remain hidden.

        In charge of this investigation in Langley is the head of the Cyber Ops Division, Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander with an often uncomfortably forced American accent). Although Lee appears to be an advocate for reasoning with Bourne, the director of the CIA (Tommy Lee Jones) secretly undermines her by siccing another one of his trained assassins (Vincent Cassel) on the operation, with the sole purpose of eliminating Bourne altogether. The primary reason for getting rid of him is to avoid allowing the former operative to discover a conspiracy by the government to use a social media platform (clearly modeled after Facebook) in order to spy on the American public.
       
        While the integration of online privacy issues into the world of Jason Bourne updates the film’s relevance, it often feels forced in a movie that is otherwise occupied with more secrets in the title character’s background. At this point, one can only hope that all of the secrets in Bourne’s past have been revealed. But even with these two competing storylines, Jason Bourne ultimately feels light on reasons for existing. There is little else for Bourne to do but follow and be followed, with the screenplay giving the main character less than 50 lines in the entire two-hour run-time.

Even the action scenes begin to feel redundant. There are only so many times we can see Jason Bourne being followed with jerky camera movement and tense musical scores before it becomes clear that style is over-riding substance. It would be far more endurable if the style were not so unpleasant, including camera work which makes discerning the action more difficult than rewarding. Even an impressively spectacle-driven climactic car chase on the Las Vegas strip isn’t enough to save the film from feeling like a watered down repeat.

        The 4K Ultra HD release for Jason Bourne has its strengths, but it also makes the film’s weaknesses somewhat more apparent. The visuals are just not than impressive, though I admit to having little objectivity when it comes to the unnecessary shaky camera work and heavy use of a zoom lens within Greengrass films. And there just isn't enough color in the photography to warrant the upgrade, save the final showdown in Vegas.  What does feel greatly enhanced is the immersive audio, as this often has more impact that the disorienting visuals. Even if I often had trouble telling what was happening, at least it sounded cool.

        This release also comes with a Digital HD copy, as well as a Blu-ray disc, which includes the film’s special features. There is a three-part feature about the fight training, choreography, and its relevance to the narrative. There are also several featurettes on the film’s chase scenes, including the one taking place in Athens and the one shot on the Las Vegas strip. The last extra is a generic featurette which discusses the elements of the film, focusing primarily on the return of Damon and Greengrass.

Entertainment Value: 7/10
Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical Significance:  5/10
Special Features: 6.5/10


Dead Rising: Endgame Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Keegan Tracy, Jessica Harmon, Marie Avgeropoulos, Billy Zane, Jesse Metcalfe
  • Director: Pat Williams
  • Producers: Tim Carter
  • Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: French, English
  • Region: Region A/1
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Rated: Not Rated
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Run Time: 96 minutes




        With the flood of bad to mediocre zombie films released regularly, the first Dead Rising film adaptation stood apart thanks to a bit of creative filmmaking and a few relevant allegories for modern society. Planned merely months after the release of the first film, Dead Rising: Endgame continues a pattern of fairly transparent political commentary, especially for those living in terror of a xenophobic Trump administration. The irony is that Dead Rising and its sequel were both made in Canada.

The Hollars Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Anna Kendrick, John Krasinski, Richard Jenkins, Margo Martindale, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
  • Director: John Krasinski
  • Producers: John Krasinski, Tom Rice, Ben Nearn, Allyson Seegers
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Mandarin Chinese, English, Japanese
  • Dubbed: Japanese
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Rated:
    PG-13
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2019
  • Run Time: 88 minutes




        Considering how innovative actor John Krasinski’s directorial debut was, I was surprised to find his second attempt somewhat derivative. With Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, he had the near-impossible task of adapting a collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace into a coherent narrative, and he succeeded with artistry and skill, which is why The Hollars feels so blandly uninspired. Instead of trying to do something new, Krasinski has chosen to work in a narrative that has all but become the official genre of independent filmmaking: the dysfunctional family dramedy.

Call of Heroes Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Sammo Hung, Eddie Peng, Louis Koo, Wu Jing
  • Director: Benny Chan
  • Format: Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen
  • Language: Chinese
  • Subtitles: English
  • Rated:
    Unrated
  • Studio: Well Go USA
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Run Time: 120 minutes




        Though firmly planted in the wuxia tradition of martial arts narratives, Call of Heroes has a story that most resembles the western genre. A small group of moral individuals must stand up to invading bullies in a rural village, who are threatening to harm innocent citizens. And these elements of the film work fantastically, though there are pacing problems and an uneven tone that occasionally drag the dependable narrative down.

Don’t Breathe Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Dylan Minnette, Jane Levy, Stephen Lang, Daniel Zovatto
  • Director: Fede Alvarez
  • Producers: Fede Alvarez, Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert
  • Format: Subtitled, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: Spanish, English
  • Dubbed: Spanish
  • Audio Description: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    R
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: November 29, 2016
  • Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2019
  • Run Time: 88 minutes




        Studios may be narrow-mindedly focusing on making films that create or extend franchises, from prequels and sequels to remakes and spin-offs, but they really should pay more attention to horror movies if profit is truly their largest concern. Don’t Breathe was made for a mere $10 million dollars (for perspective, the Independent Spirit Awards will allow films to be categorized as an independent with a budget as high as $20 million) but made $140 million at the box office. Horror movies are incredibly lucrative, partially because they don’t require the budget of a Marvel or a Star Wars film.

Hell or High Water Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Katy Mixon, Kevin Rankin
  • Director: David Mackenzie
  • Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region A/1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated:
    R
  • Studio: Lionsgate
  • Release Date: November 22, 2016
  • Run Time: 122 minutes





        The film industry has become a strange beast in recent years, where Award-winning directors such as Charlie Kaufman are unable to get studios to take a chance on his critically acclaimed visions, but they will recklessly pillage any and all franchises for unoriginal dribble in hopes that it will become an international cash cow. It would be easy to become disheartened by the lack of creativity in the film industry, if independent filmmaking hadn’t found a way to pick up the slack. Kaufman eventually funded the award-winning Anomalisa through crowd sourcing, and Hell or High Water was made independent of the creatively-crippled studio system.

Howard’s End Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Helena Carter, Joseph Bennett, Prunella Scales, Adrian Magenty, Jo Kendall
  • Director: James Ivory
  • Format: AC-3, Dolby, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: French, English
  • Region: Region A/1
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Run Time: 143 minutes




        Howard’s End was the third adaptation of an E. M. Forster novel by longtime film team, James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, and may very well be their greatest success. It was an unlikely choice, especially since Forster himself admitted to disliking all of the characters within his own story, but the nuanced Merchant Ivory production somehow makes them all more sympathetic without removing any of their many flaws. And despite some ugliness in the personalities of the characters, this is contrasted by the beautiful photography of the film, which has been given a wonderful new 4K restoration for its 25th Anniversary release.

The Secret Life of Pets 4K Ultra HD Review

  • Actors: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper
  • Director: Chris Renaud
  • Writers: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch
  • Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy
  • Format: 4K, Digital_copy
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Rated:
    PG
  • Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
  • Release Date: December 6, 2016
  • Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2018




        Illumination Entertainment (an animation production company owned by Universal Studios) has established a distinct style in their releases, offering a welcome variation from the type of animated movies being made by Disney and Pixar. This is similar to the contrast that Disney once had with Warner Bros. animation, which makes sense considering how much the Illumination Entertainment titles seem to resemble the classic Looney Tunes style of comedy chaos. This was a welcome return to style, especially since Warner Bros. have been far more interested in the superhero franchise and have dedicated most of their attention on a string on animated comic book movies (even including a Lego Movie spin-off dealing exclusively with the toy version of Batman).

Baked in Brooklyn Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Alexandra Daddario, Josh Brener, Al Sapienza
  • Director: Rory Rooney
  • Format: Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    Not Rated
  • Studio: Well Go USA
  • Release Date: November 29, 2016
  • Run Time: 85 minutes





        For a film that is trying as hard as it is to appeal to the hipster crowd, Baked in Brooklyn is remarkably outdated. And even if it weren’t too late to jump on the overcrowded bandwagon filled with films and TV shows about marijuana, Baked in Brooklyn isn’t really about marijuana at all. Even worse, it isn’t very good. While too disconnected from real life to effectively carry out any of the dramatic elements, it is an even bigger crime that a film being sold as a stoner comedy has absolutely no humor.

Cardboard Boxer Blu-ray Review

  • Actors: Thomas Haden Church, Terrence Howard, Johanna Braddy
  • Director: Knate Lee
  • Format: Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated:
    Not Rated
  • Studio: Well Go USA
  • Release Date: November 15, 2016
  • Run Time: 89 minutes




        The acting is so phenomenal in Cardboard Boxer that it makes the laziness of the screenplay all the more shameful. Rather than relying on the brutal realism of the situation, first-time screenwriter and director Knate Lee (who previously worked as cinematographer and producer on the Jackass movies under the name of Knate Gwaltney) forces contrived situations onto his characters. No matter how powerful Thomas Haden Church’s performance is or how admirable the message of Lee’s screenplay might be, no amount of the film’s strengths can make up for the emotional manipulation used to get that message across.