REAL MOVIE NEWS

Cyrano Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Joe Wright
Actors ‏ : ‎ Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison, Jr., Ben Mendelsohn
Writers ‏ : ‎ Erica Schmidt
Producers ‏ : ‎ Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Guy Heeley
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Digital_copy
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 4 minutes
Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2022
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

An element of film production that doesn’t often get discussed is unity, how all the individual elements work together. It is impossible to review Cyrano without considering the film’s unity. Each of the individual elements in Joe Wright’s adaptation of Erica Schmidt’s musical are fantastic. Wright’s direction is full of formalistic embellishments, Peter Dinklage gives an emotional performance as the title character, and there are several memorable songs. At the same time, these fantastic elements rarely work together, leaving a film that feels like a collection of individual elements.

My Afternoons with Margueritte Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jean Becker
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 23 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2022
Actors ‏ : ‎ GÉRARD DEPARDIEU
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

My Afternoons with Margueritte takes the type of feel-good narrative expected to come from Hollywood but approaches it with a European sensibility. There are no big emotional speeches or contrived relationships. Everything feels grounded and lacking the melodramatic trappings one might expect. Even when sad or tragic events occur, they are handled with subtlety and play in an understated manner.

Twisting the Knife: Four Films by Claude Chabrol Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Claude Chabrol
Actors ‏ : ‎ Nathalie Baye, Benoît Magimel, Henri Attal, Suzanne Flon, Isabelle Huppert
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 6 hours and 59 minutes
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 4
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 26, 2022

Claude Chabrol was a highly significant name in French cinema for half a century, even contributing to the legendary Cahiers du Cinéma during its peak in the 1950s. Among these contributions was a critical analysis of Alfred Hitchcock’s work (co-authored by Eric Rohmer), which clearly influenced his own filmography throughout his career. When he wasn’t attempting to imitate the murder mysteries of Alfred Hitchcock, Chabrol was often focused on the depiction of upper-class lifestyles, which is a commonality between each of the films in this collection.

Jigsaw Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Val Guest
Actors ‏ : ‎ Jack Warner, Ronald Lewis, Yolande Donlan
Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film Collection
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 48 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 5, 2022

This 1962 film by Val Guest is often referred to as an example of British film noir, but Jigsaw is a police procedural above all else. Based on Hillary Waugh’s novel Sleep Long, My Love, the story itself was ripped from the headlines, inspired by the Brighton Trunk Murders of the 1930s. As such, there are fewer elements connecting Jigsaw with the film noir genre as there are connecting it with the formula modern audiences are accustomed to seeing implemented in crime TV shows.

Rogue Cops and Racketeers: Two Crime Thrillers By Enzo G. Castellari Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Enzo G. Castellari
Actors ‏ : ‎ Glauco Onorato, Marcella Michelangeli, Orso Maria Guerrini, Renzo Palmer, Sal Borgese
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours and 18 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2022
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

Well known is the Italian western genre that was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, even resulting in Italy temporarily surpassing Hollywood in film production. While Spaghetti Westerns were popularized worldwide, thanks in part to American stars like Clint Eastwood, the poliziottesco (sometimes referred to as “Macaroni Crime”) films were less successful exports. Often containing themes of corruption that had parallels in modern Italian society, these crime films were more popular in Italy than elsewhere, despite a high level of violence and similar exploitative elements to those found in the Spaghetti Western genre.

Oranges and Sunshine Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Jim Loach
Actors ‏ : ‎ Emily Watson, David Wenham, Hugo Weaving
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 46 minutes
Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group.
Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 12, 2022

Bringing true stories to screen can be a delicate balancing act, with a dedication to accuracy expected alongside the need to keep the audience entertained. In trying to achieve both, Oranges and Sunshine feels somewhat perfunctory. It doesn’t help that the tragedy is so large in scope, and the decision to view the events entirely through a second party only creates more of a distance for the audience. As a celebration of social worker Margaret Humphreys, Oranges and Sunshine is a success, thanks to Emily Watson’s performance. Unfortunately, it fails to capture the full scope of the case she is best known for.

Barbarians Review

Barbarians plays with audience expectations established by countless home invasion narratives of recent past. There are several different approaches to the horror sub-genre, and tropes that have developed from their repeated use. The filmmakers of Barbarians seem to realize this and utilize tropes from two different approaches in order to keep the audience guessing. The use of MacGuffins helps disguise the true motivation of the invaders but may also leave some audience members disappointed that the threat alluded to is nothing more than a distraction.

An American Werewolf in London 4K Ultra HD Review

Director ‏ : ‎ John Landis
Actors ‏ : ‎ David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, Jenny Agutter
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 37 minutes
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 15, 2022
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video

Following his massive success with the college comedy Animal House and musical comedy The Blues Brothers, John Landis made the unexpected decision to switch to the horror genre for his next project. While there are some comedic elements to connect the director’s other work to An American Werewolf in London, it was the creature transformation scenes that the film was initially praised for. Rick Baker’s work aside, Landis’ werewolf film revised and reinvigorated the sub-genre of horror.

Come Drink With Me Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ King Hu
Actors ‏ : ‎ Cheng Pei Pei, Yueh Hua, Yang Chih Ching
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, Widescreen, NTSC
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 31 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Those who watched Mulan and praised the use of a female driven narrative may be surprised to know that this was merely a return to a popular trope from the martial arts genre. The story of Hua Mulan has a long history of cinematic adaptations, but that was not the only story with a female heroine at the center, nor was it the only one with a protagonist hiding her gender from other characters. Following Mulan Joins the Army (1939) and the emerging popularity of the wuxia sub-genre pioneered in Shanghai, Hong Kong and the Shaw Brothers contributed with Come Drink with Me.

To Sleep So as to Dream Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Kaizo Hayashi
Actors ‏ : ‎ Morio Agata, Kenji Endo, Fujiko Fukamizu
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 23 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Japan
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

As a film critic, or even just someone who watches far too many movies, I find that I am rarely ever surprised anymore. To Sleep So as to Dream is the exception. This is the kind of film that can keep even the most avid film viewer on their toes. At the same time, it is a film made for film fans, specifically those familiar with the history of Japanese cinema.

The Long Night Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Rich Ragsdale
Actors ‏ : ‎ Scout Taylor-Compton, Nolan Gerard Funk, Jeff Fahey, Kevin Ragsdale, Deborah Kara Unger
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 32 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ April 5, 2022
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

There have been enough home invasion films released in the last two decades to establish the tropes of the sub-genre, and The Long Night contains many of them. A couple travel to a remote location before they are trapped in a home by invaders, who seem to have the ability to enter the house any time they want. Phone lines don’t work, pets are early victims and warnings of violence to come, and the sudden arrival of additional visitors leads to their demise. The Long Night adds in occult and supernatural elements, but it is far from the first home invasion film to do this. It isn’t even the only home invasion film I watched this week to use this hybrid revision.

The Problems with The Batman

Monkey Kung Fu Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Mar Lo
Actors ‏ : ‎ Chiu-Sing Hau, Siu-Tung Ching, Hui-Huang Lin, Feng Kuan
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 29 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Studio ‏ : ‎ 88 Films
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Monkey Kung Fu feels like a Jackie Chan film in the way the fight scenes were choreographed. Not only are everyday items integrated into the fight scenes, but there is also a comedic tone to the entire endeavor. It makes for a highly enjoyable and entertaining experience all the way through, while also being one of the more impressive of the Shaw Brothers kung fu films. Released as Stroke of Death in North America, Monkey Kung Fu is hardly the most famous Hong Kong martial arts movie, but it deserves to be better known. Hopefully the new 88 Films Blu-ray release will introduce the 1979 film to new audiences.

Shaolin Mantis Blu-ray Review

Actors ‏ : ‎ Chia-Yung Liu, David Chiang, Lily Li, Cecilia Wong
Director ‏ : ‎ Liu Chia-Liang
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 36 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Studio ‏ : ‎ 88 Films
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

The 1978 Shaw Brothers martial arts film Shaolin Mantis (also known as The Deadly Mantis) is almost like several films in one. While the first half is heavy on romantic and comedic elements, the second half provides nearly non-stop showdown sequences. Even with tonal inconsistencies and a twist ending that could be seen as frustratingly unearned, Shaolin Mantis is engaging from beginning to end.

The Outfit (2022) Review

6:45 Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Craig Singer
Actors ‏ : ‎ Michael Reed, Augie Duke, Armen Garo, Joshua Matthew Smith, Remy Ma
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 36 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 22, 2022
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

As many time loop narratives have been used in TV and film in recent years, new approaches to the trope are likely to be met with critical comparisons. This does not work in favor of 6:45, a horror film with a time loop set-up but none of the entertainment value found in Happy Death Day. At the same time, even if there was nothing to compare it to, 6:45 is unobjectively bad filmmaking.

A Journal for Jordan Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Denzel Washington
Actors ‏ : ‎ Michael Jordan, Chanté Adams, Jalon Christian, Robert Wisdom, Tamara Tunie
Producers ‏ : ‎ Michael Jordan, Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black, Steve Tisch, Denzel Washington
Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, Digital_copy
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ Portuguese, French, Spanish
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ Korean, Thai, English, Portuguese, French, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 11 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ March 8, 2022
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

When it comes to filmmaking, good intentions are rarely enough, and A Journal for Jordan is a spectacular example of that. Based on Dana Canedy’s memoir A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor, the film follows the former New York Times journalist’s romance with 1st Sergeant Charles Monroe King. While the true story is showed respect in the efforts to adapt it into a movie, this often comes at the expense of good filmmaking.

Hard Hit Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Kim Chang-ju
Actors ‏ : ‎ Ji Chang-Wook, Jo Woo-jin, Kim Ji-ho
Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Mpi Home Video
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 35 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2022

Hard Hit is a remake of Retribution, Dani de la Torre’s 2015 Spanish thriller, but the story transplants easily into South Korean culture. There have been a number of revenge-themed thrillers in Spanish cinema in recent years, though South Korea still seems to have the strongest hold on these themes. Along with being a remake, the premise shares similarities with a few American thrillers, like Speed, Vehicle 19, and Cellular. It should also come as no surprise that Hollywood also has plans to remake Retribution with Liam Neeson in the lead.

Deadly Games Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Scott Mansfield
Actors ‏ : ‎ Sam Groom, June Lockhart, Colleen Camp, Steve Railsback, Jo Ann Harris
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 32 minutes
Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen, Anamorphic
Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2022

The 1982 slasher Deadly Games begins like many others of its type, with the murder of a nubile young woman at the hands of a masked killer. Unfortunately, it is pretty much downhill from there. After an intense opening sequence, the narrative becomes more preoccupied with the bed-hopping going on with the local married couples. When the sister of the initial victim shows up, her efforts to find the killer are put on hold while she becomes entangled in the romantic sub-plots that threaten to take over the film. With too few kills to be a satisfactory slasher, and too obvious of a mystery to work as a whodunnit, Deadly Games is mostly a deadly bore.

Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Chia-liang Liu
Actors ‏ : ‎ Chia-Yung Liu, Kara Wai, Sheng Fu
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 49 minutes
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Hong Kong
Distribution ‏ : ‎ 88 Films
Release date ‏ : ‎ February 8, 2022

What’s surprising about Legendary Weapons of China, at least in comparison to most Hollywood films, is the fact that the younger martial artist performers in this film don’t end up being the hero. Or the villain, for that matter. By the time the final fight comes around, the young threat played by Gordon Liu quietly excuses himself. And the original protagonist (however confused and misguided he is for much of the film), steps back from the final fight. It comes down to the oldest member of the cast, who also happened to be director Liu Chia-Liang.

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