Desert Island Films: Zombie Movies

 

 

        Despite the widespread popularity and success of the sub-genre today, the zombie film remained on the outskirts of Hollywood horror until the 1960s, perhaps due to the fact that they were unsympathetic creatures that merely “shambled around at the will of other people” (Halliwell 246, 248). These first cinematic zombies were initially only reanimated with the control of an evil scientist, as was the case with White Zombie (1932), which is often sited as the first American zombie film.

 

Through the 1950s the zombie was created by a mad scientist, such as The Creature with the Atom Brain (1956),[1] which used a mad scientist combined with atomic radiation to return the dead to life. In this film the mad scientist is also an ex-Nazi. Many thought Dead Snow (2009) was the first Nazi zombie film, but even in classic horror films they were often symbolically connected to this particular monster, using the zombies as soldiers in their mindless army, as in Revenge of the Zombies (1943).

 

See This Film: American Jesus DVD Review

     Directors: Aram Garriga

Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC

Language: English

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Shelter Island

DVD Release Date: May 13, 2014

Run Time: 94 minutes

 

       

        With the legalization of gay marriage and marijuana constantly debated, I have been told repeatedly that we are currently in a culture war, and if I am a Christian that apparently means that I must align with the conservative views on political matters. I find this infuriating, as I don’t like being lumped in with every viewpoint of any group with which I am connected. As a Christian, I don’t think all of the same things as every other Christian across America any more than I would agree with every liberal in the United States. American Jesus may be the first piece of art I have come across that captures the unique and personal relationship each individual can have with Christ.

 

The Freshman Blu-ray Review

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Run Time: 76 minutes

 

       

        Charlie Chaplin’s onscreen persona of the Little Tramp is one of an outsider, though not always one eager to conform and join the rest of society. He often lived with a relative amount of bliss playing by his own rules, never seeming particularly concerned with what society thought of him. Buster Keaton’s roles also had a bit of rebellion in them, leaving Harold Lloyd to stand out with characters that worked hard to fit in with society. In Safety Last! he is a hardworking store clerk trying to make it in the big city, and in The Freshman he is an eager new college student trying to become the most popular kid in school.

The Past Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Tahar Rahim, Ali Mosaffa, Berenice Bejo

Director: Asghar Farhadi

Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Run Time: 130 minutes

       

        The most difficult part of watching an Asghar Farhadi film, in my opinion, is getting in the theater or putting the disc in my player. The filmmaking is undeniably captivating, and I am easily drawn into the stories once they begin, but the plot of each makes it a difficult thing to desire seeing. Once again returning to the battleground of emotions amongst lovers who have gone separate ways, The Past is a worthy follow up to Farhadi’s last success, A Separation. The melodrama unfolds in a manner that almost makes the narrative a mystery as well, which helps immensely in making the difficult story more fascinating.

 

The Truth About Emanuel Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jessica Biel, Kaya Scodelario, Aneurin Barnard

Director: Francesca Gregorini

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen, Dolby, Subtitled, THX

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: March 25, 2014

Run Time: 96 minutes

 

 

        Kaya Scodelario is making her move into the big leagues of Hollywood filmmaking after establishing herself early on as a child actor in the British television series, “Skins.” Following this film will be her big break in yet another “teenager in danger in a dystopian future society” narrative based on a young adult book franchise. Hopefully The Maze Runner provides more opportunities for Scodelario than The Truth About Emanuel, otherwise her career in Hollywood may be short-lived.

The Wrath of Vajra Blu-ray Review

     Actors: David Kurata, Shi Yanneng, Nam Hyun Joon, Steve Yoo

Director: Law Wing-Cheong

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen, Dolby, THX

Language: Mandarin Chinese

Subtitles: English, French

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: March 18, 2014

Run Time: 115 minutes

 

 

        The Wrath of Vajra is a martial arts action film similar to many others in many ways. This does not take away from enjoying the spectacle of the well-choreographed fight sequences, though there is little in the film to set it apart as anything more than 111 minutes of entertainment. It is a combination of many typical themes found in martial arts films, along with a fighting competition plot to fuel each of the one-on-one battles.

 

Machine Head DVD Review

    Actors: Alana O'Mara, Cristina Corigliano, Morissa O'Mara, Nicole Zeoli, Sharon Hinnendael

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014

Run Time: 82 minutes

 

       

        At first appearance, Machine Head looks to be your average under-average ‘straight-to-video’ slasher horror film, complete with the cast too attractive to ever consider taking an acting class. In a lot of ways, Machine Head fits in the category, though it does so with a lot less violence and gore than the genre has come to expect over the last few decades. Instead, it hinges everything on a twist ending better than the whole of the film.

 

Atlantis: Season 1 DVD Review

     Actors: Jack Donnelly, Mark Addy, Robert Emms, Jemima Rooper, Juliet Stevenson

Directors: Alice Troughton, Justin Molotnikov, Declan O'Dwyer, Jeremy Webb

Writers: Howard Overman, Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy

Format: Box set, Color, NTSC

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: March 18, 2014

Run Time: 585 minutes

 

        “Atlantis” reminds me of what fantasy shows once were, particularly in the 1990s, long before shows like “Game of Thrones” made the genre so popular with the mainstream audiences. This series does not take itself quite so seriously, aligning more comfortably with “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Princess Warrior” in its ability to shrug off logic and source material for the sake of each episode’s spectacle.

 

Monsters: The Complete Series DVD Review

    Actors: Tempestt Bledsoe, Lili Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Gina Gershon, Deborah Harry

Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, NTSC

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 9

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Entertainment One

DVD Release Date: February 25, 2014

Run Time: 1560 minutes

 

       

        Before “Tales From a Darkside,” executive producer Richard P. Rubinstein already had this horror anthology series under his belt. “Monsters” had three seasons starting in 1988, cashing in on the huge success the genre had seen in box office sales in the 1980s. The anthology had long been established, and many of these episodes contain stories that easily could have been a lost teleplay from “The Twilight Zone,” but what makes this show uniquely fun is apparent in the very title.

 

See This Film: The Raid 2

 

       

        Genre films interact with each other, building off of trends and techniques from similar releases of the past. This is clearly apparent in the recent trend adapting young adult literature with revolutionary storylines in an apocalyptic future. Without The Hunger Games, there would be no Divergent or the upcoming adaptation of The Maze. Films play off of each other, but there is always an original source that the trends can be traced back to, and The Raid 2 is a film which is destined to blaze trails in the action genre for years to come. Whether it is gunplay, martial arts, or chase scenes, The Raid 2 reaches for the stars and achieves many moments of utter brilliance.

 

Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Asta Paredes, Catherine Corcoran, Vito Trigo, Clay von Carlowitz, Zac Amico

Director: Lloyd Kaufman

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: March 18, 2014

Run Time: 85 minutes

 

        I don’t think anyone was asking for another film in the Class of Nuke ‘Em High franchise, much less two of them. Regardless, we have been thrust back into the sub-culture of Troma with another release from filmmaker of prolific bad-taste, Llloyd Kaufman. Upon the suggestion of grindhouse cinema connoisseur Quentin Tarantino, Kaufman has split his campy piece of trash cinema into two parts. Return to Nuke ‘Em High Volume 1 contains the first half of this slimy satire, which has enough exploitation for the entire franchise.

 

The Book Thief Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Sophie Nélisse, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson

Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Run Time: 131 minutes

 

        For a film about the Holocaust narrated by death, The Book Thief was less depressing than I was anticipating. It is still far from being a feel-good family film, but at least manages to handle the difficult subject manner with an adequate amount of restraint. This often comes at the expense of realism, blurring the lines between true story and fantasy more than is often permitted with this material, resulting in something mostly family-friendly despite difficult content.

 

The Patience Stone DVD Review

     Actors: Golshifteh Farahani, Hamid Djavadan, Hassina Burgan

Director: Atiq Rahimi

Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: March 11, 2014

Run Time: 102 minutes

 

       

        In Hollywood it is often apparent that the female point of view is often overshadowed and ignored, which is what makes the recent rise in feminist films from Middle-Eastern countries even more remarkable. Wadjda was the first feature made entirely in Saudi Arabia, and it was simultaneously their first film with a female director with a narrative that encourages women’s rights in a society where they are treated as second-class citizens. The Patience Stone continues this trend in international cinema, both with its feminist narrative and willingness to allow the film to be carried by a female protagonist and performer.

 

Flu DVD Review

     Actors: Jang Hyuk, Soo-Ae

Director: Kim Sung-su

Format: Color, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen

Language: Korean

Subtitles: English

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: CJ Entertainment

DVD Release Date: March 18, 2014

Run Time: 122 minutes

 

        At first glance Flu looks like dozens of other films that have come out in the last decade, all apocalyptic films about a spreading infection that takes out an entire population. At basic premise, Flu fits into this category perfectly, standing out with a modicum of realism which does not have the plot result in zombie-like symptoms from the victims. In Flu, the only monsters are the political figures making rash decisions in a seemingly noble attempt at keeping the infection contained. The fear comes from the chaos resulting from mass panic caused in a society helplessly quarantined with the diseased, and there is horror in the physical effects of the infection.

 

In Fear Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech

Director: Jeremy Lovering

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Run Time: 85 minutes

 

       

        Horror films are about clever ideas and solid execution. Even with bad acting or little else to praise, a small horror movie can be effective if it manages to touch upon a universal fear. In Fear has a simple set-up that is relatable and extremely effective, despite very little feeling original about it by the time the credits have rolled. It is essentially Funny Games set in a car, relying on an atmosphere of dread rather than blood and gore.

 

Commitment Blu-ray Review

 

     Actors: Choi Seung-hyun, Han Ye-ri, Jo Sung-ha

Director: Park Hong-soo

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen, Dolby, THX

Language: Korean

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Run Time: 113 minutes

 

       

        As far as social or political issues are concerned, Commitment really has nothing of significance to say about the constant struggle between North and South Korea, but it does provide some undeniably impressive action sequences with Korean rap/pop superstar Choi Seung-Hyun (aka T.O.P.) heading up the cast. In other words, this is a blockbuster with plenty of entertainment and very little concern for realism or social relevance. Fans of South Korean action films, particularly the popular sub-genre of professional killer crime films recently released, will find this a worthwhile endeavor. 

 

George Washington Blu-ray Review

     Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: March 11, 2014

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

       

        David Gordon Green’s debut feature set the tone for his entire body of work, proving immediately that he was a voice of significance in the world of American independent cinema. Green’s latest film has received praise and attention already, particularly due to the early death of one of its performers. Using non-actors within his cast to give nuanced performances began with George Washington, and it is a technique he still utilizes with great effect.

 

Lost in Thailand Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Wang Baoqiang, Fan Bingbing, Huang Bo, Xu Zheng, Tao Hong

Director: Xu Zheng

Format: Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Run Time: 105 minutes

 

        Lost in Thailand is currently the highest-grossing film in China’s history, though this should not necessarily be a badge of quality. Take into consideration the films which are often the biggest box office winners in Hollywood, and how few of those are simultaneously critically praised or award-winners. 12 Years a Slave just won Best Picture at the 2014 Academy Awards, despite having very little impact on ticket sales in comparison to many other films in 2013. Lost in Thailand is a very safe film, filled with irreverent comedy and mayhem comparable to an inoffensive Chinese take on The Hangover type humor.

 

You Will Be My Son Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Niels Arestrup, Lorànt Deutsch, Patrick Chesnais

Director: Gilles Legrand

Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Cohen Media Group

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Run Time: 102 minutes

 

         I was captivated by You Will Be My Son, from the opening scene to the last. Unfortunately, once I reached that last scene it was with a certain amount of disappointment. The film builds spectacularly upon its characters and the spectacular performances, which make every plot twist and every conversation compelling, though this does not save the ending from feeling somewhat bleak and pointless. As competent as the drama within the film’s narrative may be, it ultimately leads the audience to an almost pointless conclusion which feels somewhat unresolved.

 

The Artist and the Model Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jean Rochefort, Claudia Cardinale

Director: Fernando Trueba

Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Cohen Media Group

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Run Time: 105 minutes

 

        There are some great sequences within this meditation on art and life set during Nazi occupation of France in the summer of 1943, combined with beautifully fitting black-and-white photography by Daniel Vilar. Scene to scene, The Artist and the Model is a thoughtful and elegant film, but the overall product left me feeling somewhat under-whelmed. Rather than dig into the emotional and personal connections in the material, the narrative ends up feeling far more philosophical and theoretical instead. Even with the inclusion of dramatic story elements involving the struggle against the Nazis and hidden Spanish resistance fighters, The Artist and the Model stays too emotionally detached from its characters for any real suspense to form.