The Happiness of the Katakuris Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Shinji Takeda

Director: Takashi Miike

Format: Blu-ray, Color

Language: Japanese

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Arrow Video

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Run Time: 113 minutes

 

 

        If you’re the type of person who wonders what The Sound of Music would be like if it included a zombie dance sequence, The Happiness of the Katakuris is the answer. The dark comedy with musical numbers and trippy claymation sequences was directed by Takashi Miike in 2001, as a much lighter entry compared to his other films during that period (include 1999’s Audition). And yet, it still has the distinct stamp of the filmmaker, particularly in the moments of macabre. The best comparison I can make is that The Happiness of the Katakuris is to Miike’s filmography what The Trouble with Harry was to Alfred Hitchcock’s.

 

Pandas: The Journey Home Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Joely Richardson (Narrator)

Director: Nicolas Brown

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Color, 3D, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Virgil Films and Entertainment

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Run Time: 40 minutes

 

 

        Like most Imax short-subject documentaries, Pandas: The Journey Home attempts to make up in spectacle what it lacks in narrative depth. Unfortunately, much of this is lost in the transfer from massive screens to home entertainment. In an effort to compensate for the loss of scope, the high definition presentation of the Blu-ray offers both 2D and 3D versions of the film, with a second disc including the DVD format.

 

A Master Builder Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Wallace Shawn, Julie Hagerty, Lisa Joyce

Director: Jonathan Demme

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

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Criterion Collection (Direct)

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Run Time: 127 minutes

Long-winded and overly theatrical cinematic adaptation

        There is a clear theatricality to all of the cinematic collaborations between Wallace Shawn and André Gregory, most notably with the two classics directed by the former French auteur, Louis Malle (My Dinner with Andre [1981], Vanya on 42^nd Street [1994]). This was true of My Dinner with Andre despite being an original concept, mostly because of the single-location and dialogue-heavy screenplay, which featured discussion of the art form from the two playing versions of themselves. Gregory was an established theater director and Shawn also worked heavily in the medium as a playwright and actor (though he was best known for playing character parts onscreen). They then lent these talents to their own stage adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Dyadya Vanya,” which became the subject of Malle’s film about a play, adapted for the screen by David Mamet.

 

My Dinner with Andre Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Wallace Shawn, André Gregory

Director: Louis Malle

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

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Criterion Collection (Direct)

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Run Time: 111 minutes

Two artists question the meaning of existence and their work, while eating quail.

        My Dinner with Andre (1981) is a film about a conversation meant to inspire further discussion from the audience. It is art that discusses the philosophy of art and how life interacts with the process, while encouraging viewers to follow the filmmakers down the rabbit-hole of logic and apply it to their own lives. Deliberately pretentious and decisively contradictory, My Dinner with Andre imitates life by presenting two artists playing themselves in a fabricated sense of realism. In the end, it is only the ideas we can trust to be entirely true, though even these are merely theories meant to be deliberated rather than decided upon. It is somewhat like Michael Winterbottom’s recent food-driven series, The Trip (2010) and The Trip to Italy (2014), without the focus on food or bad jokes and irritating impressions to attempt lightening the mood.

 

Wild Tales Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Ricardo Darín, Oscar Martinez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Erica Rivas, Rita Cortese

Director: Damián Szifron

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: Spanish

Region: All Regions

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

Dark satirical anthology offers six clever stories of revenge.

 

        Wild Tales doesn’t bother setting up its premise or explaining the connection in themes between the six individual short storylines; it begins with a furious energy and never quite lets up the suspenseful feeling that anything could happen until the final frame. The final skit has less impact than those preceding it, but this may have been a calculated choice to provide the audience some sense of closure in an otherwise rage-filled series of set-ups and punch-lines. These six individual stories involve different characters and a variety of situations, but they all share in common a sense of helplessness in the machine of modern society, as well as the catharsis of revenge.

 

Chappie Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Hugh Jackman, Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Ninja

Format: Blu-ray, Ultraviolet, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: All Regions

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: June 16, 2015

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2018

Run Time: 90 minutes

Robocop meets Wall-E

 

        Still riding off of his success with District 9, Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi action thriller has many of the same themes and similar visions of a future/alternate world. District 9, Elysium, and Chappie would make an extremely coherent and obvious triple-feature, and it would also show the fast decline of Blomkamp. I can only hope that this isn’t a sign of what he will do to the Alien franchise, which is set as his next project.

 

Justified: The Complete Final Season DVD Review

     Actors: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy

Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 3

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: June 2, 2015

 

 

Based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by crime novelist Elmore Leonard, “Justified” worked as an adaptation with room for growth. Timothy Olyphant carries the narrative as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, bringing a familiar gunslinger swagger to the western set-up, though this FX series is far more similar to “Sons of Anarchy” than “Deadwood.” With his personal knowledge of Harlan County, Kentucky, Raylan is perfect candidate to take down a local crime family. This location becomes the primary premise for the series, along with Raylan’s vendetta against local criminal legend, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).

 

The Wonder Years: Season Three DVD Review

     Actors: Fred Savage

Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Color, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 4

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Time Life Records

DVD Release Date: May 26, 2015

 

 

        “The Wonder Years” was one of those shows I thought would never make it to DVD, mostly because of how much great music from the show had copyright issues. Not only has it finally made its way onto DVD for the first time ever, it comes with the originally broadcast music, including Joe Cocker’s memorable rendition of The Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends. In total, there are over 50 classic songs included from the original broadcast of season three. But this is a show that is much more than the fantastic soundtrack, though just as much of a classic as the hits that took so long to get copyrighting for.

 

Welcome to Sweden: The Complete First Season DVD Review

     Actors: Greg Pohler, Josephine Bornebusch, Patrick Duffy

Director: Carl Astrand

Format: Multiple Formats, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: Swedish

Dubbed: English

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Entertainment One

DVD Release Date: May 19, 2015

Run Time: 220 minutes

        The IMDB page for “Welcome to Sweden” is filled with user praise, primarily from those who are Swedish or have been exposed to the culture through relationships. If you were to only judge this series based upon the realism of the humor about an American attempting to bond with the family of his Swedish girlfriend along with the fish-out-of-water narrative of adapting to a new culture, it certainly is deserving of some praise. The rest of the show is a complete failure, only possible because of the nepotistic connections of creator and star Greg Poehler, who seems far too reliant on sister Amy Poehler to produce, guest star, and provide a variety of famous cameos that would not have been obtained on the show’s merits alone.

 

Turbo Fast: Season One DVD Review

     Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 3

Studio: Dreamworks Animated

DVD Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 599 minutes

 

        Turbo was a mildly successful CGI animated film about a snail that fulfills his dream to race against cars when he accidentally absorbs nitrous oxide. This was a quite transparent message to children that they should always follow their dreams regardless of how impossible they seem (even if you need to take enhancement drugs), but this Netflix produced spin-off series leaves the message behind for some good-old-fashioned cartoons. More irreverent than inspirational, “Turbo Fast” is fast-paced comic fun that will keep the attention of most children without irritating the parents too much.

 

Free the Nipple DVD Review

     Actors: Lina Esco, Lola Kirke, Casey LaBow

Director: Lina Esco

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: June 9, 2015

Run Time: 79 minutes

 

 

        I took pages of notes watching this movie, marking down all of the particular lines and scenes that irritated me. I could list them all, but I think it is more effective to simply say that this movie changed my stance on the whole “Free the Nipple” campaign which inspired the film. While I was on the fence before, having to endure this dull and contrived hipster film and hearing plenty of bad dialogue and ill-logic in defense of the issue, I can now say that I am absolutely against the cause. This movie is responsible for that, as well as having people like Lena Dunham and unfortunate celebrity offspring Scout Willis and Miley Cyrus as the cause’s advocates. But the worst offense of the film is blatant hypocrisy within the drifting message of the cause. 

 

Camp X-Ray Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Kristen Stewart, Peyman Moaadi, Lane Garrison

Director: Peter Sattler

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 117 minutes

 

 

        How successful Camp X-Ray is as a film is entirely dependent upon how willing each audience member is to sit through nearly two hours of understated dialogue between two characters separated by walls, glass, and fences, despite knowing where the storyline is inevitably headed. The fact that the material is not more cloying is a testament to writer/director Peter Sattler, though it is thanks to the two leads that the realism in the screenplay feels sincere. The entire film is a balancing act between realism and a contrived relationship, meant to offer introspection over complicated issues of duty and standard operating procedures within the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention camp. While the film falls flat in a somewhat over-inflated running-time, Camp X-Ray earns most of its emotional payoff with a well-researched script and dedicated performances from its actors.

 

Asmodexia DVD Review

     Actors: Albert Baro, Pepo Blasco, Marta Belmonte

Director: Marc Carreté

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: Spanish

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: MPI Home Video

DVD Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 81 minutes

 

 

 

        At the very least, Asmodexia has a somewhat original plot that deters from most other exorcism horror films, though it still revels in all of the typical visual tropes of the genre. Young girls, elderly people and children are subjected to the usual demon-possession sequences, though the film eventually offers a thinly veiled twist on the narrative which removes faith and Christianity from the equation altogether. Even though the misdirection of the movie’s early sequences are fairly transparent, Asmodexia is ultimately brought down by an overcomplicated screenplay trying too hard to surprise the audience with mystery. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who is good or bad; the movie relies almost entirely on the style of individual exorcism sequences.

 

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Orson Welles

Director: Chuck Workman

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Cohen Media Group

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Run Time: 94 minutes

 

        Orson Welles was a fascinating person, as were his films, so any documentary about him has that element already going for it. Chuck Workman’s film, Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles, provides all of the necessary stories and career points of the iconic actor/director, serving as a concise introduction for those unfamiliar with his work. As for those already fans, much of the content will seem redundant and lacking any new insight. Workman realizes that Orson is interesting enough on his own, and fails to insert any viewpoint or unique opinion of his own. This is more like a documentary that you’d expect to find in the DVD special features of an Anniversary release for Citizen Kane.

 

McFarland, USA Blu-ray Review

Actors: Kevin Costner, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Carlos Pratts

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS-HD High Res Audio), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: Spanish, English

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG 

Studio: Walt Disney Studios

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 129 minutes

 

        Sports movies released under the Disney logo are usually predictable from the trailer alone, following a formula that hasn’t changed much since the horribly contrived Remember the Titans. While McFarland, USA boasts a slightly better screenplay, nearly every aspect of the film aligns with this specific group of films. Based on a true story, dealing with issues of diversity, and centering on a group of underdogs, McFarland, USA feels like a paint-by-numbers Disney sports film, but that doesn’t always detract from its charms. Audiences going into a film like this know what they are getting, and this one delivers what is expected; no more and no less.

 

Monsters: Dark Continent Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Sofia Boutella, Joe Demspie, Johnny Harris, Sam Keely, Nicholas Pinnock

Director: Tom Green

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 122 minutes

        What happens when you try to shoehorn a monster movie into the failed screenplay for a Hurt Locker rip-off? You get the sequel to Gareth Edwards’ indi-hit, Monsters (which was good enough to land him Godzilla). First of all, the reason movies like The Hurt Locker, Lone Survivor and American Sniper are successful seems reliant on the fact that they are based on true stories, so these original screenplays trying to mimic the success are doomed from the start. The choice to then take the film even further from reality by adding monsters as the enemy may sound like a solid solution. The only problem is that the monsters aren’t the enemies in Monsters: Dark Continent.

 

10 Years Ranting: Uwe Boll 2005 Interview Revisited

        In 2005 I gave my first interview as a professional film journalist, and nothing has quite matched that experience. Sure, I’ve met and interviewed filmmakers and celebrities that I admire greatly, but they have all been within the sterile environment of press junkets, red carpets, and other typical Hollywood events. The primary concern for each of these interviews has always been the promotion of a film being released, and even the most candid responses to my questions felt slightly self serving. My interview with German filmmaker Uwe Boll was nothing like this.

 

The Taking of Tiger Mountain Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Zhang Hanyu, Lin Gengxin, Tong Liya, Tony Leung Ka-fai

Director: Tsui Hark

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

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Run Time: 136 minutes

 

        The Taking of Tiger Mountain uses history as its starting off point, and then switches to the realism of a superhero film for the action sequences. Laws of gravity and what the human body is actually capable of are dismissed in favor of spectacularly stylized fight scenes that are far more fun than the plot demands. However, somehow seasoned filmmaker Hark Tsui manages to do this without losing any of the emotional resonance in the film’s non-fiction material. 

 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Udo Kier, Marina Pierro, Patrick Magee

Director: Walerian Borowczyk

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC

Language: French

Number of discs: 2

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Arrow Video

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

 

          As familiar as the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde may be, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne is far from traditional in its narrative. Written and directed by Walerian Borowcyzk, who was known for his sensational and sexually explicit filmmaking, this version seems to have been inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s first attempt at the narrative. Stevenson was engaged to a woman named Fanny Osbourne, who was said to have been so horrified by this early draft that the writer destroyed it before starting over to create the narrative we now know. Borowcyzk uses his imagination in creating a perverse adaptation that is easy to imagine would have been shocking enough for destruction.

Island of Death Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Robert Behling, Jane Lyle, Jessica Dublin

Director: Nico Mastorakis

Format: Blu-ray, Color

Language: English

Number of discs: 2

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Arrow Video

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Run Time: 101 minutes

 

 

          Island of Death is a film best known for being banned, though the shock value has diminished greatly with time and the obvious lack of production values. The concept alone remains horrifyingly grotesque, but ideas are not enough to shock today’s desensitized audiences; they need to be shown the horrors. Lack of budget and Greek filmmaker Nico Mastorakis’ clear intentions in making an exploitation B-film keep Island of Death on the fringes of film history. Mastorakis even admits in the detailed interviews of the special features that the 1976 film was merely made for money, intended to cash in on the schlocky success of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).