The Ambush Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Pierre Morel
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Marwan Abdulla Saleh, Khalifa Al Jassem, Mohammed Ahmed, Abdulla Saeed Bin Haider, Saeed Alharsh
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ United Arab Emirates
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 52 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

The fact that The Ambush is a United Arab Emirates co-production with France may lead some to make assumptions about the quality and level of the filmmaking, but The Ambush has the polished look of a Hollywood film. Much of this comes from the level of the production values and director Pierre Morel, best known for large-budget Hollywood films like Taken and From Paris with Love, not to mention the impressive French action film, District B13. The Ambush is a much more serious film, however, tracing the true events in a military conflict between the UAE military and armed militants who ambush three Emirati soldiers on patrol in hostile territory.

 

The Woman King 4K Ultra HD Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Gina Prince-Bythewood
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin
• Producers ‏ : ‎ Julius Tennon, Cathy Schulman, Maria Bello, Viola Davis
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.40:1
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ Portuguese, Spanish
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Portuguese, Spanish
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

         For those who want more realism in their action than the CGI-filled silliness of Marvel films, The Woman King is a good option. At the same time, for a film about female warriors, the action is surprisingly sparse. Instead, the film veers into melodrama territory, complete with a severed mother/daughter relationship. There is also a tragic romance in the film. Even with some solid action choreography and an impressive performance by Viola Davis, it is a little disappointing that a female-led action movie spends so little time with the action and instead chooses romance and tear-jerker subplots to fill much of the run-time.

 

Ticket to Paradise Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Ol Parker
• Actors ‏ : ‎ George Clooney, Julia Roberts
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Studio Distribution Services
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

 

         If only because of how rare it is to see a theatrically released romantic comedy these days, not to mention one directed at an older demographic, Ticket to Paradise is a small victory. The reason why the film works is because of stars George Clooney and rom-com legend Julia Roberts. This is apparent in the fact that the gag reel at the end of the movie is entirely made up of them, despite an ensemble cast of supporting actors. The film would not work without these two, and it is only because of their charming movie star performances that all of the film’s flaws are forgivable. And as charming as they are, there are plenty of flaws.

 

The Good Boss Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Fernando León de Aranoa
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2022

 

         My expectations were quite high when I heard that The Good Boss earned a record-breaking 20 nominations at the 36th Goya Awards, winning six of them including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. While the filmmaking is undeniably solid, I was somewhat disappointed by the overly familiar path the narrative took in satirizing big business and the upper class. It is well done, but also contained little that hasn’t already been covered in many films before this one. If you don’t mind narrative tropes being recycled, however, The Good Boss has a lot to offer audiences onboard with a comedic take on bad behavior, both personal and in business.

 

Entre Nous Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Diane Kurys
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Isabelle Huppert, Miou-Miou, Guy Marchand, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Daniela Rocca
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film Collection
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.35:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 51 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2022

         Entre Nous is a biographical film from director Diane Kurys (Peppermint Soda) based on her parents’ relationship and the woman that came between them during her childhood. The dedication to events sometimes hinders the film, jumping forward in time periods quickly and without developing major events, starting with World War II. This abbreviated recounting of events is also primarily focused on a potential lesbian romance which never develops, which may have seemed groundbreaking when Entre Nous was released in 1983 despite feeling underdeveloped nearly forty years later.

 

A Knife in the Head Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Reinhard Hauff
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Bruno Ganz, Angela Winkler, Heinz Hoenig
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 54 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2022

 

         Part political thriller and part character-driven drama, the 1978 German film A Knife in the Head is difficult to pin down. It doesn’t adhere to a traditional narrative structure and the film’s themes are directly tied to a specific time and place. For those familiar with the politics and history of the country during this period, A Knife in the Head may be easier to understand, but there is also an ambiguity to the plot that may be off-putting for some. Even though I appreciated dissecting and analyzing the film, the lack of resolution made the viewing experience slightly unfulfilling.

 

Alienoid Blu-ray Review

 

• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2022
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         For those who think that Hollywood is the only film industry to capitalize on big, dumb, spectacle-driven films, Alienoid is solid proof that this isn’t true. Not only is this South Korean full of overblown action sequences, tons of special effects, and cheesy humor, it is also a cliffhanger with the sequel already filmed and planned for future release. Because the sign of a successful blockbuster is no longer a stand-alone film but the potential for a franchise, Alienoid could be seen as accomplishing this assuming audiences are interested enough to return for the continuation of the narrative. Personally, I found myself underwhelmed. Then again, I have had the same experience with a majority of thriving Hollywood franchises as well.

 

Monsieur Hire Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Patrice Leconte
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Michel Blanc, Sandrine Bonnaire, Luc Thuillier, André Wilms, Eric Berenger
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film Collection
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 19 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 25, 2022

 

         Based on the novel Les Fiançailles de M. Hire by Georges Simenon, Monsieur Hire is a 1989 French crime film directed by Patrice Leconte with a precise touch. The simplicity of the story is layered with excellent filmmaking that only improves with repeat viewings. The characters are complex and layered with ambiguity, leaving audiences with something of a puzzle even after all has been revealed. Comparisons to Hitchcock are not undeserved.

 

Emergency Declaration Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Han Jae-Rim
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Nam-gil, Yim Si-wan
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 27 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2022

         It wasn’t that long ago that Hollywood made movies like Emergency Declaration, with big budgets and spectacle involving everyday people put in extraordinary situations. Nowadays it seems like all of those budgets and spectacle are directed towards fantasy films, primary in the superhero subgenre, so it is a welcome change to see South Korean cinema providing some variety. Although the film was made prior to the Covid pandemic, Emergency Declaration has themes that perfectly encapsulate the current paranoia about public spaces, especially when traveling in a confined space like an airplane.

Hansan: Rising Dragon Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Kim Han-min
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Park Hae-il, Byun Yo-Han, Ahn Sung-Ki, Son Hyun-Joo, Kim Sung-Kyu
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 10 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2022
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
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        Following up The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Hansan: Rising Dragon is a prequel and the second in a planned trilogy about the naval battles led by Joseon Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (Park Hae-il). Given the massive box office success of the first South Korean historical epic, Hansan wisely does not try to reinvent the first film’s structure, but instead just recreates another famous military battle at sea. While there is action and spectacle to satisfy the audiences, Hansan also has a meticulous eye for historical accuracy in every aspect of the storytelling, similar to Ron Maxwell’s American Civil War films, Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

 

The Witch 2: The Other One Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Park Hoon-Jung
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Shin Sia, Park Eun-Bin, Seo Eun-Soo, Jin Goo, Sung Yu-Been
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 18 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2022
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         For many years we could see the impact of cinema on television, with sitcoms shifting from the staged three-camera theatrical set-up to the open style of single-camera shows and the finality of limited series. In more recent years, it has also felt like television has had an impact on movies, with loose ends intentionally left for sequels and opening up possibilities for cinematic universes. This sequel to The Witch: Subversion has this impact, beginning a new strand of the narrative rather than continuing the original story. The Witch 2: The Other one adds more to the existing universe, but audiences may be disappointed to find that the primary purpose seems to be setting up the next film.

 

No Escape Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Martin Campbell
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen, Ernie Hudson, Stuart Wilson, Kevin Dillon
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Unearthed Records
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 58 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 18, 2022

 

         Perhaps it’s a sense of nostalgia, or fatigue over the CGI-laden blockbusters being released today, but No Escape is a perfect example of the underappreciated action films of the 1980s and ‘90s. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is a fun and predictable bit of entertainment with committed actors and practical effects. I would take this over a majority of the blockbusters released in recent years.

 

Going Places Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Bertrand Blier
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Patrick Dewaere, Jeanne Moreau, Isabelle Huppert
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film Collection
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.66:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 58 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2022

 

         Co-written and directed by Bertrand Blier, adapted from his own novel, Going Places is a gleefully amoral French comedy about two low-level criminals living lives with no clear direction. While it was intended as a social satire commenting on the complacency of middle class in modern French society in the 1970s, many found the vulgarity hard to swallow. It wasn’t until critics reevaluated the film years later that some began to proclaim it as an underrated gem. While this may be true in terms of filmmaking, the foul behavior of the anti-heroes remains just as unpleasant today.

 

A Fugitive From the Past Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Tomu Uchida
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Rentarō Mikuni, Sachiko Hidari, Kōji Mitsui
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Arrow Video
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Japan
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours and 3 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2022

 

         Director Tomu Uchida established himself as a significant director making period films, until television threatened the popularity of the artform in the 1960s. In response, Uchida took on the adaptation of author Tsutomu Minakami’s modern detective story, which was released in serial form. The story follows the aftermath of a theft that Takichi Inukai (Rentarō Mikuni) inadvertently becomes an accomplice to. When Inukai kills the other two robbers in what was either an act of self defense or greed, depending on what the viewer chooses to believe, he attracts the attention of a persistent detective, Yumisaka (Junzaburō Ban).

 

Drive Ultra HD Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Steve Wang
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Mark Dacascos, Kadeem Hardison, John Pyper-Ferguson, Brittany Murphy, Tracey Walter

 

         Enjoyment of Drive will dependent entirely on the viewer’s appreciation of good fight choreography and tolerance for a derivative narrative. Released straight-to-video in the late 1990s, Drive wasn’t trying to reinvent the buddy action comedy as much as it was capitalizing on the success of the sub-genre. At the same time, the fight scenes in the film are often better than a majority of the theatrically released films from the decade, and certainly more impressive than the CGI-laden action dominating movies today. It may not be a masterpiece, but Drive is hidden gem sure to be appreciated by fans of action.

 

Beast Blu-ray Review

 

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• Actors ‏ : ‎ Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 93 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2022

 

         On one hand, the fact that the movie industry is moving away from using actual animals as a part of the filming process must be seen as progress. On the other hand, the computer-generated effects used to create the lions in Beast lack believability, which diminishes the effectiveness of the film’s suspense. This is not to say that Beast should have taken the approach of films from the past, but there is no ignoring the fact that it may have made for a more exciting film.

 

Outlander: Season Six Blu-ray Review

 

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• Actors ‏ : ‎ Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, Mark Jones
• Producers ‏ : ‎ Michael O'Halloran, Michael Wilson, Elicia Bessette, Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ French
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, French
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.78:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 4
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, Digital_copy, Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 8 hours and 48 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2022

         “Outlander” is a historical drama series based on the novel series by Diana Gabaldon, which has been a remarkable success for Starz since its premiere season in 2014. The show developed by Ronald D. Moore follows a former WWII military nurse named Claire Randall (Caitríona Balfe) as she is mysteriously whisked from 1945 back in time to 1793, leaving behind her unhappy marriage for a romance with Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). Despite bouncing back and forth between time periods, this romance remains the central focus of “Outlander.”