Final Destination 5 Blu-ray review

            Very little has changed throughout the Final Destination franchise. I’m not even certain that these can be considered sequels, but instead are simply a series of films which are closer to remakes than a continuation of the story. Then again, often horror sequels simply repeat the established formula, keeping only the killer/villain as a common strain. Although the killer in the Final Destination films is not visible, it has remained the same throughout the whole series. The only interesting thing Final Destination 5 does is implement a new rule which allows for a little more help with the killing.

            Final Destination 5 begins with the obligatory large tragedy, which this time is a collapsing bridge. We see the entire disaster through the eyes of our protagonist, only to pull back and discover that it was merely a premonition. This vision is enough to save a group of workers on a bus on the way to a corporate retreat. These coworkers all believe that they are lucky survivors, but one after another they begin to die from mysterious accidents. As is always the case, we must sit through several gruesome deaths before the daft victims realize that they are dying in the same order that they were meant to die in the bridge accident.

            The new piece of the puzzle this time around is the revelation that by killing someone else instead, the survivors can find a way to dodge the nonstop attacks from the omnipresent Death villain which always survives for the sequel. There is no way to kill Death, and even the latest trick of surviving comes with its own ironic twist. Hopefully this revelation and the full circle of the film’s narrative can finally wrap up this franchise. The first film was clever, and every one since has lacked the same creativity in anything other than the death scenes.

            The Blu-ray includes alternate death scenes, some of which are more gruesome than those in the film. There is also a featurette on two of the tragedies in the film, and the special effects behind their creation. There is also a featurette which looks at the realism of the deaths in this film, as well as the outlandish ones of the franchise’s past. The Blu-ray combo pack comes with a DVD and an Ultraviolet Digital Copy.

Kidnapped DVD review

            Kidnapped is a brutal and often unrelenting in its more graphic images. It is a story of undeniable power because of the fear it can strike in all of us. What Kidnapped doesn’t have is any original moments. The plot has been done numerous times, from both versions of Funny Games to Joel Schumacher’s Trespass. The graphic images have also already been seen, in Irreversible and numerous others since. So while Kidnapped is a brutal and unrelenting film, it is also not as enjoyable as any of the films which it resembles.

            The film begins with the routine of a family as they move into their new home. Jaime and his wife Marta are busy with the details while their teenage daughter Ilsa is only concerned with going out with her boyfriend. This is the exact same plot as Trespass, only the family is renovating rather than moving. The move allows for several strangers to be inside of their new home, and it comes as no surprise when they are invaded and taken hostage later that evening. Held hostage in their own home, the family must struggle to stay alive. The invaders only want money, but their plan is not too clear. Soon things fall apart and violence erupts, with family members pitted against violent criminals.

             Though the journey bored me and the final resolution disgusted me, there are some technical achievements within this film worth mentioning. In particular there is one sequence which joins a split screen between two separate characters and it is pure poetry to watch. After this moment, I desperately wanted to like Kidnapped, but found myself completely turned off by the ending. The filmmakers got the effective response, but I did not enjoy it. The DVD includes a trailer gallery and a making of featurette.

The Smurfs Blu-ray review

            With The Muppets being revived, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles already solidly revamped and nearly every comic strip character brought to life, it is no surprise to see The Smurfs thrown into the mix. Next it will be The Care Bears or Gummy Bears. What makes The Smurfs a curious film is the quickness in which it pulls out of the Smurf world and into Manhattan. This also takes away from the material that is being adapted a great deal, and makes this less than impressive for a film about the little blue heroes at the height of three apples.

            The story only makes room for a handful of the Smurfs, who are unlucky enough to get sucked through a portal while chased by the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria). They come out the other side in Central Park and somehow find their way into the lives of a young couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Sofia Vergara). Our world is a mystery to these small blue visitors, and this provides the typical fish-out-of-water humor until the arrival of Gargamel leads to a big fight and the happy resolution.

            The animation is cutting edge and The Smurfs actually look pretty good. If I had my choice I still would have preferred a stop-animation Smurf over these CGI ones, but they really looked best in 2D. One of the reasons to see this film on Blu-ray is the way that these effects look in high definition, and the rest of the reasons are in the special features.

            The 3-Disc Holiday Blu-ray and DVD Gift Set comes with a bonus DVD of an all new mini Christmas movie starring The Smurfs. This is a wonderful addition to the package which gives it relevance for the holidays as well. The DVD with the feature film on it also comes with a Smurf game, whereas all of the rest of the features are included on the Blu-ray disc. There is a spectacular feature for playback with a second screen, for all of those ipad owners. For the rest of us, there is another Smurf game and a number of featurettes. There are also deleted scenes and two commentary tracks.

5 Days of War Blu-ray review

            Renny Harlin is a director best known for his brutal action films. From Stallone crushing hijackers in Cliffhanger to Willis using an icicle to finish off a terrorist in Die Hard 2, Harlin seems always attached to the more shocking moments in action films. For this reason it seems a perfect pairing to place Harlin at the helm of a good war film. While 5 Days of War is more of an action film plot set within the confines of an actual historical event, it has the feel of war mixed with 80s action.

            Taking place during the five-day war between Russia and Georgia in 2008, 5 Days of War follows an American journalist (Rupert Friend) and his cameraman (Richard Coyle) as they get caught in the middle of the conflict. Though the international press is not covering the story with as much attention as expected, these journalists discover evidence of Russian brutality that contradicts their side of the story. War crimes are committed and caught on tape and it is up to these two journalists to get the truth out to the world before they are hunted down and killed by the Russian army.

            Pitting the entire Russian army against a couple of journalists is a classic action storyline, though the end result is not the creative fight that would have resulted in a Die Hard film. Instead these two must avoid fighting. Some of the storyline borders on silly with the amount of coincidences that we are expected to buy amidst the combat zone. There is even a love interest when a young woman (Emmanuelle Chriqui) at a wedding gets pulled into the fight to bring the truth to light. Val Kilmer is also thrown in for humor.

            The Blu-ray includes a high definition presentation of all the explosive action scenes, as well as an audio commentary with director/producer Harlin. A few deleted scenes are also included.

Triple Tap Blu-ray review

            Triple Tap is not high adrenaline action. It is slow burning suspense film, more police procedural and mystery than gunfight or chase-filled. There is some action, but it is all extremely essential to the storyline. Knowing this will make for a much more enjoyable viewing experience, because Triple Tap is a solid film beneath the marketing campaign which makes it seem like something it is not.

            The film begins with a marksman competition. Officer Jerry Chong (Daniel Wu) nearly wins the competition with a record-breaking score, only to be surpassed by the reigning champion, Ken Kwan (Louis Koo). This rivalry/friendship is what adds an extra element of confusion to the events which follow. Kwan comes across an armored van robbery after the competition, and he takes out his competition pistol to kill the four robbers after they shoot a highway cop.

            Although many find Kwan to be a hero, he is charged with the use of a gun in gun-controlled Hong Kong. This makes him appear even more as a martyr and hero, though Chong soon begins to find holes in the story. The mysteries behind the real reasons for the shooting become clear with the arrival of a surviving criminal out on the loose.

            The bonus features on the Blu-ray disc include deleted scenes, interviews and trailers. The high definition presentation of the film only truly becomes noticeable in a few sequences, with the rest of the film moving at a slower pace.

Life Above All review

            Life Above All is an intimate drama which still manages great scope in its subject matter. Filled with brave performances and confident direction, this is a film worthy of being sought out. Based on the award-winning novel “Chandra’s Secrets” by Allan Stratton and directed by Oliver Schmitz (Paris, Je T’Aime), Life Above All is a powerful little film which is unlike any other coming-of-age tale I have ever seen.

             After the death of her newborn sister, twelve-year-old Chanda witnesses a radical change in her family. Her philandering father breaks down and her mother also becomes ill, which causes scandalous gossip to spread around their small village near Johannesburg. Chanda senses that her mother may have AIDS, but superstition leads all that are infected to deny this to be true. As a result, Chanda’s mother pretends to be cursed rather than ill and leaves her family. Chanda is left to care for her step-siblings until she refuses to hide from the truth any longer, seeking her dying mother out.

            Chanda’s bravery surpasses all the rest of the characters in the film, which is difficult concept considering her age. All of the villagers and even her mother’s own family and best friend are determined to lie about her illness. They are more concerned with reputation than with the woman dying, but Chanda is different. The Blu-ray disc includes a great making-of featurette, for a look at how this film was created.

Another Earth Blu-ray review

            Another Earth is an independent science fiction film, a welcome return to interesting concepts over big-budget special effects and effective 3D graphics. Films like Moon and Another Earth take back the essence of what the genre is, giving us solid and thoughtful filmmaking, and films which provide spectacular acting pieces for worthy actors.

            When a miraculous discover is made of a nearby planet which resembles Earth in nearly every way, it changes the way people think about the world in the same way the discovery of a round world once did. For some it changed their lives indirectly. One of these people is an irresponsible student named Rhoda (Brit Marling), whose drunken driving is distracted by the news of another earth which results in a tragic car accident. This changes the course of Rhoda’s life, and when she is released from prison years later all she wants to repair the damage she has done and to start over.

            The opportunity for this arises in further discovery of the mysterious planet which remained hidden behind the sun for so many years. It turns out that there is more than just the planet which is familiar with our Earth. When the similarities are so great that the planet is deemed Earth 2, it seems an opportunity for a new life to many people. Rhoda sees this as an escape and enters a contest for a trip to Earth 2, while also building a false relationship with the man she hurt the most by her careless actions (William Mapother).

            The Blu-ray combo pack includes the high definition disc along with a DVD and digital copy of the film. The special features are exclusively on the Blu-ray disc and include deleted scenes, two featurettes, a Fox Movie Channel special and a music video by Fall On Your Sword. One of the featurettes is a making-of featurette, while the other is about the science behind the film’s plot.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams Blu-ray review

            Werner Herzog has always given a great deal of his time as a filmmaker to documentary films. In the past it seemed always to be the unique qualities in individuals, and their actions because of the way they are different from the rest of us. The films themselves often were precariously made in the journey of discovery about an individual’s risky or unique lifestyle. With a film about the Antarctic and now one about a cave in France with the oldest markings by man which are known to exist, Herzog has found a way to document humanity and a remote location at the same time.

            It doesn’t get more remote than the Chauvet cave in France, mostly because of how inaccessible it is to the public. Even scientists are limited in the amount of time they are allowed in this cave which carries pristine markings from our ancient ancestors, which makes Herzog’s film a gift to humanity as well as a piece of entertainment. After being sealed for countless years, the cave contains untouched footsteps and markings all along the inner walls. After the cave was discovered it was though that the markings could not be real because of how fresh they looked, and now that we know they are real they provide the beginning of art history.

            The filming of these 30,000 year old drawings is spectacular at first, but by the end of the film we have looked at the same drawings half a dozen times. There may not be enough material here for a solid feature film, but it is admirable that one was made anyway in order to give the public a viewing of this incredible cave. It is even better in 3D for those with the capability to watch it at home. This Blu-ray release has both the 3D and 2D versions on one disc. The special features include a short film by Herzog and a trailer.

Vampires DVD review

            Every so often the trends in the horror genre shift. Something new arrives or is revived and remains popular until it has been done to death, at which point the subject is dealt with comically before moving on. Zombie films had Shaun of the Dead and the vampire trend of Twilight and its more gruesome counterparts are met with the Belgian mockumentary comedy horror, Vampires.

            Creating a new mythos which is more humor than horror, Vampires gets rid of the notion that vampires are scary, sexy or even interesting. They are just ordinary people who happen to drink blood. We enter a vampire household to see how they act, finding that the father is trying a little too hard to be Bela Lugosi while the mother seems to act more like a cat than a human being. Their children are an irresponsible young man and a teenage girl who wants to be human rather than a vampire.

            In this mythology the vampires are more political than anything else. They have all sorts of rules, including the requirement of children before a vampire family can have a home. They have another vampire couple living with them because of their inability to keep children without killing them. When rules are broken then it is the higher vampire authorities which make decisions, and our vampire family is inevitably banished to Canada for their crimes.

            The DVD includes a few deleted scenes and a trailer.

The Help

            The Help is a solid piece of filmmaking; a good story told well. In this case it was a story that had already brought the book by Kathryn Stockett to the #1 spot on the New York Times best seller list. The film adapted and directed by Tate Taylor is a vivid and warmly played interpretation of this story, possible only thanks to the ensemble of talented actors. Bound to be an Oscar contender, The Help is also a film of wonderful entertainment value. Even dealing with a difficult subject matter, there is plenty of inspirational hope and humor to match the darker moments.

            The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s, during a time where it was still dangerous to be black. Segregation was still enforced, and the treatment of black help is brutal and unfair. Although it is still illegal to write about equality for black people in Mississippi, one inexperienced journalist (Emma Stone) decides to take the risk and write a book with stories from the black help in Jackson. The first maid willing to take this risk (Viola Davis) soon brings more along to tell their stories. As the rest of the country seems to be changing with Mississippi still in the dark ages of segregation, these women were risking far more than reputation to tell their stories.

            It is impossible to single out anyone within this rich cast, though Davis certainly has the ability to carry the film with less dialogue spoken than most of the people surrounding her. Even her best friend (Octavia Spencer), who is also a maid, is more outspoken and lively. Also starring Bryce Dallas Howard in a despicable villain role and several other great actors in bit parts, The Help is a performance piece thanks to the actors involved.

            The Blu-ray combo pack includes a DVD version as well. The special features on the DVD include deleted scenes and a music video by Mary J. Blige. The Blu-ray has these features as well as additional deleted scenes and a making-of featurette, but the highlight is a featurette tribute to the real maids of Mississippi.

Three Colors Blu-ray review

           

            Certain filmmakers will forever be synonymous with their home country, almost as though they are ambassadors of the arts for their native home. Even when they leave to make films elsewhere, they shine like international stars but are forever tied to the country they came from. Ingrid Bergman will forever be tied to Swedish cinema, exalted for the way he elevated films both nationally and internationally. The same can easily be said of Krysztof Kieślowski and Polish cinema, and the Three Colors trilogy was his crowning achievement in a flawless career.

            After tackling the Ten Commandments in his 10-part TV film series, The Decalogue, Kieślowski was no stranger to themed narratives which also connect with each other. His decision to end his career with three films with themes based on the three colors of the French flag was a much simpler endeavor, though this merely allowed the filmmaker more freedom for attention to detail. The magnitude of detail already found in The Decalogue is astounding and endlessly thought-provoking, and Three Colors is nothing short of a masterpiece.

            Loosely based on the three colors of the French flag; red, white and blue, each of the colors has a national meaning. Blue stands for liberty, though the context is quite unexpected in the film Blue (1993). Liberty comes to our protagonist Julie (Juliette Binoche) when she loses her husband and child in a tragic car accident, surviving herself with healable wounds and a freedom to start her life over again. Visually stunning and immaculately acted, Blue is a brilliant piece of cinema.

            The second film, White, is a revenge comedy with unexpected and delightful twists and turns. While not directly political, White also has an interesting message with the theme being equality. Our protagonist is Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski), a Polish hairdresser who has married a French woman and moved to France only to find that he has become impotent and ridiculed by his wife. After she throws him out on the street, Karol desperately finds a way back to his home country with the intention of building himself a new life for a way to get back at his French wife (Julie Delpy). 

            The final film in the trilogy also ends in a way which ties all three together and suggests a happy ending for each. Red stands for fraternity, and it is a film about unlikely friendships. Valentine (Iréne Jacob) is a runway model with a jealousy driven long-distance relationship and endless work responsibilities. When she runs over a dog and takes him to the owner, Valentine makes an unlikely friendship with a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant) with the habit of eavesdropping on his neighbors.

            All three films have been put together in a box set for the Blu-ray release, along with a spectacular booklet with essays by film critics Colin McCabe, Nick James, Stuart Klawans and Georgina Evans. There is also an excerpt from the book “Kieślowski on Kieślowski” and reprinted interviews with the cinematographers, Idziak, Edward Kłosiński and Piotr Sobociński. The special features on the discs include three spectacular cinema lessons with Kieślowski, new interviews with longtime writer/collaborator Krystof Piesiewicz, composer Zbigniew Preisner and actors Julie Delpy, Iréne Jacob, and Zbigniew Zamachowski. Blue also has select scene commentary with Juliette Binoche. More than the discussion of the film by those involved, there are many features with others praising them, including video essays for each of the films and a full-length documentary featuring Kieślowski. Three of the filmmaker’s short films are also included; The Tram (1966), Seven Women of Different Ages (1978) and Talking Heads (1980).

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Blu-ray review

            Before Tony Scott’s hyper remake, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three was a comedy charged thriller directed by Joseph Sargent. And before that it was a best-selling novel by John Godey. All three versions of this story share the same plot points, but they all have different approaches. With Walter Matthau starring in this 1974 adaptation, the humor seems to come through stronger.

            Matthau stars as NYC transit chief Lt. Garber, a man unfortunate enough to be on the job when a group of criminals take over one of his trains and holds the passengers as hostages for a large ransom. The criminal gang is headed up by a mysterious and ruthless mastermind (Robert Shaw), and he threatens to kill one passenger for every minute that the money is late.

            Because much of the interactions are limited to the radio, Garber and the criminals never actually face each other until the very end of the film, and some of these interactions are quite anti-climactic. Although there is little action in this suspense film, which does not mean the high definition is not noticeable on the Blu-ray disc. What are missing are special features. 

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray review

            It is a shame that the western is not what it once was in popularity. Had this not been the case in the early 1990s, perhaps Tom Selleck and his moustache would have stuck around longer. After the 80s this star just seemed to go out of style, but his facial hair is timeless within a western. Selleck seems born to play a cowboy and Quigley Down Under briefly revitalized the genre and gave this actor one of his best roles. Now this classic can finally be seen on high definition Blu-ray.

            Moving the Wild West to Australia has been a way that westerns have stayed alive in recent years, but Quigley Down Under was way ahead of the game in this regard. Selleck stars as Matthew Quigley, an American sharpshooter who arrives in Australia with the belief that he has been hired to kill wild dogs. This is a strange job that he is willing to take, but when he discovers that the “dogs” are actually unwanted Aborigines living on the land a wealthy cattle baron has taken over, Quigley refuses his employer. Instead he pairs up with the Aborigines in a fight against his own boss.

            The sweeping visuals of Quigley Down Under match that of traditional westerns, with plenty of breathtaking scope to be captures in the high definition presentation of the Blu-ray disc. The special features include a documentary about the rebirth of the western, as well as a trailer and TV spot gallery.

The Big Country Blu-ray review

            The Big Country is a sweeping spectacle, a visual treat along with excellence in narrative. Truly a timeless picture, The Big Country is also a classic western with grand scenery for the action to take place. With a title this film has, anything less would have been unacceptable. And the cast matches the terrain, with a bigger than life Gregory Peck in the leading role. Charlton Heston co-stars, and the fist-fight these two share onscreen is still one of the best in celluloid history. Burl Ives also co-stars in a performance which garnered him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

            Four time Academy Award-winning director William Wyler directs this exhilarating 1958 western, which is about a civilized sea captain’s venture into the Wild West. Once the sea captain (Gregory Peck) arrives in the west, everyone insist on warning him of the vast nature of the land. They are all afraid that without landscape markings that he will find himself lost, though they never stop to consider how much larger the ocean must have been to navigate through. Equipped with a compass and a modest sense of pride, he comes across big egos and bitter rivalries. Determined not to be pulled into any fight he doesn’t believe in, the captain takes his own path.

            This 165 minute masterpiece is fit onto one Blu-ray disc, although this is with very few special features to crowd it. The highlight is not the bonus features, however, but the high definition presentation instead. All that is included beyond the film is a brief featurette and a few trailers. 

Flypaper Blu-ray review

            Flypaper is a surprisingly original crime caper, one which kept me entertained and guessing the whole way through. Colorful characters and a creative plot are fuelled by great dialogue and perfect acting. A simple bank robbery is complicated beyond belief, and one of the hostages compulsively insists on solving the mystery. Bank robberies have been done countless times on film, but none have ever been made that approach it the way Flypaper does, making the viewing of this film a refreshing change.

            Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) stars as a detail obsessed customer at a bank. When his interaction with a bank teller (Ashley Judd) is interrupted by two simultaneous bank robberies, the mystery of their arrival and one man’s death becomes an obsession for the quirky customer. One pair of bank robbers are high tech and after the vault, while the others are dim-witted hicks hoping to get into the ATM machines. With a bank full of customers and employees, both these pairs of crooks attempt to walk away richer, but instead their plans are fowled up.

            With a powerhouse cast that also includes Tim Blake Nelson and Mekhi Phifer as two of the opposing bank robbers and Jeffrey Tambor as the bank manager, Flypaper is constantly entertaining. There are no dull moments and comedy matches the suspense in the screenplay by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (The Hangover). The Blu-ray includes interviews and a trailer. The high definition presentation actually comes into use more than you might think, as there are a few action-packed moments.

           

30 Minutes or Less Blu-ray review

           

            The premise of this film is creative enough to sound promising, and it lives up to this promise for at least five minutes. Then the script fails the premise, never really finding stride or humor, even in humorous situations. A talented cast, previously successful director and a great idea somehow fails inexplicably in this unfunny action comedy. Directed by Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland), 30 Minutes or Less is again starring Jesse Eisenberg in an action comedy, this time missing the horror element along with the humor.

            Eisenberg stars as Nick, a small town pizza delivery guy without ambition or determination for a better life. When he takes a delivery to a trap, Nick is kidnapped and wired with explosives by a pair of wannabe criminal masterminds (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson). They want money to perform a hit, and they threaten to blow up Nick if he doesn’t rob a bank for them. Nick tracks down his best friend Chet (Aziz Ansari), an elementary school teacher, and together they make plans to rob a bank.

            There isn’t much more to the story than that, and at 83 minutes this feels like too much at times. There is so much promise in making of this film, but for some reason it just never made me laugh the way that I had hoped. The Blu-ray includes an exclusive featurette about the attempt to blend comedy and action. There is also a picture-in-picture commentary with Eisenberg, Ansari, McBride, Swardson and Fleischer. At times this is funnier than the film. There are also deleted scenes, outtakes and a cast and crew featurette.

Sarah’s Key Blu-ray review

            Adapted from Tatiana de Rosnay’s bestselling novel, Sarah’s Key unfolds with revelations that will keep you hooked to the story. They were somehow more absorbing on the page, though this is often the case. Filmmaker Gilles Paquet-Brenner manages to weave the storyline of discovery together in a way that makes passages of time seem irrelevant. The emotions tie the gaps in time together in an understated screenplay which allows the actors to tell some of the story with simply their expressions.

            When an American journalist is asked to cover the anniversary of France’s notorious 1942 Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup of Jews during World War II, she makes an awful discovery about her family and the apartment she is about to move into with her husband in Paris. Julia Jarmond (Kristin Scott Thomas) reacts differently than her husband Bertrand (Frédéric Pierrot) when the truth about the apartment is discovered, causing Julia to make a difficult decision.

            The secrets that Julia discovers lead her to find out a great deal about a young French girl named Sarah (Mélusine Mayance). Sarah’s journey gives Julia the strength to make the decision she needs to, once her need to find the truth has been completely satiated. The Blu-ray of this magnificently cathartic film includes a making of featurette.

Spy Kids All the Time in the World Blu-ray review

            The Spy Kids franchise is one which continues to give opportunity for Robert Rodriguez to make films. Every so often he releases an adult-oriented piece of exploitation entertainment, or the occasional family film not involving spy kids, but it is this franchise which has stayed constant for Rodriguez. Spy Kids: All the Time in the World revives the story with new children and spies, though this doesn’t prevent the old spy kids from returning. They are simply no longer children and have become regular spies. The Spy Kids franchise is like the James Bond franchise; it can be revived for each new generation with new casting.

            All the Time in the World has a storyline surprisingly similar to The Spy Next Door, with only a step-parent bringing the kids into the spy world instead of the two spy parents of the original three films. Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) marries a TV reporter (Joel McHale) with two children, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook). When Marissa has a baby of her own, she decides to stop working as a spy. This former occupation is kept hidden from her new family, even when her husband launches a new spy-hunting television program. Only the return of the maniacal time-obsessed super villain Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) is enough to bring Marissa out of retirement. In the process she inadvertently brings Rebecca and Cecil into the fight against the bad guy.

            This film is obviously directed at children, though there is enough to keep the adults mildly amused in the process. It is a silly film, but a fun one with plenty of bathroom humor and good actors giving up dignity to have a good time. The Blu-ray combo pack crammed with extras, even including a bonus 3D version, which I’m certain was the way this film was meant to be seen. I suppose this will be good to have in the off-chance that 3D TVs become a necessity in years to come. In the meantime it is an extra which can be used at some later date. There is also a DVD version of the film and a digital copy, making this a 4-Disc set.

            The special features include an interview with Rodriguez, along with a featurette on the new children and a featurette on the new gadgets. There are also trailers, deleted scenes and more miscellaneous bits and pieces. 

           

Our Idiot Brother Blu-ray review

            I’ve always liked Paul Rudd. Not every film he has made has been a masterpiece, but he always comes off as the type of person I would love to be friends with. Perhaps this is because he always seems to be playing some variation of himself onscreen. Even when he plays an extreme, like the hippy brother Ned of Our Idiot Brother, there is an essence of Rudd which remains. Even though I never would have imagined Rudd in a beard and long hair, I also can’t imagine any other actor playing Ned quite so sincerely.

            Ned is a constant nuisance to his three sisters, mostly because of his uncompromising trust for the humanity in people. This trust gets him arrested for selling drugs when he believes a uniformed cop’s sob story. After returning home to his vegetable farm, Ned finds that his girlfriend has replaced him and stolen his dog. With an optimistic plan to get back to his faithful friend, Ned moves in with each of his sisters living in the city. Mistakes are made but never because of Ned’s intentions. He has nothing but good feelings and good intentions for everyone around him, but this positive outlook doesn’t always work out in Ned’s favor.

Liz (Emily Mortimer) is the first to take him in, forcing her filmmaker husband (Steve Coogan) to employ him temporarily. Liz’s marriage isn’t going well and Ned unintentionally uncovers secrets which make matters worse. Next is Miranda (Elizabeth Banks), whose busy life and control issues keep her from a relationship with her neighbor and close friend (Adam Scott), who immediately becomes friends with Ned. The youngest sister is Natalie (Zooey Deschanel), who is endangering her longtime relationship with a lesbian partner (Rashida Jones) by continuing her self-destructive sexual ways.

 The Blu-ray includes a feature film commentary with director Jesse Peretz, along with a making-of featurette and a number of deleted/extended scenes.

Chillerama Blu-ray review

            Chillerama ends with a shot of The New Beverly Theater in Hollywood, where the marquee displays it as the film showing. This is fitting, as this particular theater is known for its B-film revivals. There have been Grindhouse film festivals and Dolf Lundgren marathons at this theater, and it has become a place where bad films are appreciated in a whole new way. These films were once just bad, but now they have unintentional entertainment qualities to them. Chillerama attempts to imitate these films, but it does so without much humor. The films from the past were funny without trying. Chillerama tries too hard and isn’t a fraction of the enjoyment, but the intention is admirable in the least.

Part of the problem I had with Chillerama was the forced vulgar nature of most humor in the film. With an anthology of smaller spoof films set within a zombie story at a local drive-in theater, there are a variety of different attempts. It just gets worse as the film progresses, until it is finally just images of feces in Deathication. Everything is over-sexualized or purposefully offensive, from a merging of The Diary of Anne Frank with Frankenstein to zombies who transmit the infection through sex rather than eating flesh.

The first film within the film is a perfect example. It is called Wadzilla, a play on Godzilla with a giant man-eating sperm. There is also I Was a Teenage Werebear, which is about a gay werewolf and his bad-boy buddies, Diary of Anne Frankenstein and Deathication. As each of these films play at the drive-in theater, the sexual zombie outbreak spreads. At two hours, Chillerama was a bit too long for me, even as an anthology film.

The special features include a directors’ video commentary as well as deleted scenes and trailers for each of the films within the film. There is also a behind-the-scenes featurette for the film, as well as one of the films within the film. Directors interviews are also included.