The Tank Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Scott Walker
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Luciane Buchanan, Matthew Whelan, Zara Nausbaum, Regina Hegemann
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS 5.1)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ New Zealand
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ June 27, 2023

         Creature features are often such a straightforward sub-genre of horror that it largely dependent on the success of the creature design and execution. Even the best script is irrelevant if the monster is unbelievable or constructed with poor CGI effects. On the other hand, The Tank proves that having believable and effective practical effects and a unique creature doesn’t mean much if the story and the characters are blandly unengaging.

 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ScreenX Review

 

         When Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released in 2008, I was certain its failures would mean the end of the franchise. Instead, plans were almost immediately made to release a fifth and final swashbuckling adventure starring everyone’s favorite archaeologist hero, though they would take 15 years and multiple rewrites to reach fruition. Finally, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has reached theaters, with Steven Spielberg stepping down as director for the first time in the franchise and James Mangold taking the helm in a production that mostly feels content to capture the style of the series without any major alterations.

 

Sakra Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Donnie Yen, Kam Ka Wai
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Donnie Yen, Chen Yuqi, Cya Liu, Wai Ying Hung, Wu Yue
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS 5.1)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 11 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ June 13, 2023
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     Donnie Yen still has the ability to amaze with his martial arts ability and onscreen charisma, as was recently proved by his scene-stealing role in John Wick 4. Unfortunately, the films Yen has made recently in Hong Kong have not been nearly as impressive, though this is more an indicator of the decline of this national cinema (especially when they are co-productions with China). Criticisms of Chinese cinema lately is similar to the complaints many have about the bloated blockbusters of Hollywood. This comparison is even more apt in Yen’s latest Hong Kong/Chinese co-production, which has the structure of a classic kung fu film and the visual excess of a poorly made superhero blockbuster.

 

Bone Cold Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Billy Hanson
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Jonathan Stoddard, Matt Munroe, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jennifer Khoe, Shaan Sharma
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS 5.1)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 49 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ June 13, 2023

         Sometimes it can feel like there are no new or original ideas for film plots, and the steady stream of studio blockbusters looking to capitalize on the latest trends does nothing to discourage this feeling. Often even the cash-grabbing sequels in popular franchises become aware of this problem, and the quickest fix is by blending in unexpected genre elements. Bone Cold also seems to be taking this approach, creating a hybrid narrative that combines an action film with the tropes of a horror movie.

 

Fast X: 4DX Review

Years ago, Universal announced their intentions of ending the Fast and Furious franchise with the tenth movie. In order to continue the series without going back on their word, Fast X then turned into a two-film conclusion. Just before the release of the tenth installment, however, it was announced that the two-part finale was being stretched out into three films. While I would normally bemoan the money-grubbing practices of studios and the obnoxious practice of cliffhangers in film franchises, Fast X is enough fun to leave me wanting plenty more.

 

Let It Be Morning Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Eran Kolirin
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Juna Suleiman, Salim Daw, Ehab Salami, Khalifa Natour
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 2.39:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Israel
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 7, 2023

 

         Jewish Israeli filmmaker Eran Kolirin is best known for his 2007 film, The Band’s Visit, a film about an Egyptian band who becomes stranded in a small town in Israel. Let It Be Morning also deals with confinement in a small community when Israeli military forces block the only road out of a village. A Palestinian family with Israeli citizenship is stuck in the village along with others who were in the area for a wedding. There are clear political themes running throughout Kolirin’s film, but more impactful are the relatable human moments. To consider Let It Be Morning as a film either implicitly or unintentionally addressing Covid-era themes seems like low-hanging fruit, however accurate. At the center of the film are a group of people longing to fix the mess that they have made from their lives, while also being limited in what choices are available due to the circumstances of their situation.

 

Secret Defense Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Jacques Rivette
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Sandrine Bonnaire, Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Gregoire Colin, Francoise Fabian
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 54 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2023

 

Although there are secrets at the center of the plot of Secret Defense, which also contains multiple murders within the story, the film is less a mystery film and more a family drama unfolding with moments of violence. Though many have noted that Secret Defense is one of director Jacques Rivette’s most formulaic narratives, there is still a large gap between this and traditional genre filmmaking. There may be elements expected from a thriller, but it is so leisurely paced that all danger and suspense has been diluted.

 

Cocaine Bear Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Elizabeth Banks
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Ray Liotta, Keri Russell, Margo Martindale
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ French, Spanish
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, Spanish
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Studio Distribution Services
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Blu-ray
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 96 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ April 18, 2023

 

         Some films are so high concept that the title tells you everything you need to know about the plot. For some reason, several of these films involve animals, including Snakes on a Plane, Sharknado, and now Cocaine Bear. Although Cocaine Bear differs from the rest because it is based on true events, this does not mean it is any more grounded in realism. This is completely campy cinema, and that is entirely the point.

 

All Quiet on the Western Front 4K UHD Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Edward Berger
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Aaron Hilmer, Moritz Klaus
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ MPI Media/Capelight Pictures
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Germany
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 147 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ March 28, 2023

         Based on the novel by German author Erich Maria Remarque, the 1930 adaptation of All Quiet in the Western Front remains one of the most impactful anti-war films to ever be made, so I was instantly skeptical at the announcement of a new adaptation (the third, following a TV movie adaptation in 1979). On top of having to compete with the original masterpiece, the German adaptation would also inevitably be compared to recent successful war movies, like 1917. While these comparisons are fair, I was surprised at how much All Quiet on the Western Front stood on its own, playing off of successful war narratives rather than trying to imitate them.

 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 4K UHD Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Tobe Hooper
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Mpi Home Video
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2

• Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, NTSC
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 83 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ February 28, 2023

 

         When forced to choose a favorite horror movie, which is a near impossible task, I typically end up saying either The Night of the Living Dead or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Both were defining films ahead of their time, both enjoyable in a visceral and entertaining way and equally fascinating to analyze. Although Psycho (1960) and Peeping Tom (1960) are often referred to as the first slasher films, the sub-genre didn’t really take off until The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in 1974. It is a film that is so terrifying that audiences often mistakenly remember it as more graphically violent than it actually is. Belonging to a group of cynical and disturbing Vietnam-era horror, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has layers of depth and meaning, but none of this prevents it from simply being a thrilling viewing experience.

       

The Fabelmans 4K UHD Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Steven Spielberg
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Studio Distribution Services
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Digital_copy
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 151 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2023

         As disappointed as I was to hear Quentin Tarantino announce his intended retirement from filmmaking due to beliefs that directors often begin to slip in the twilight of their careers, each new Steven Spielberg film seems to confirm this as a true statement for me. Spielberg is still a highly competent filmmaker who releases polished products, but nothing in the last two decades comes anywhere close to the first two decades of his career as a director. Perhaps it is not fair to compare The Fabelmans to Jaws or Schindler’s List, but I would be disappointed even if merely judging Spielberg’s latest on its own merits alone. Despite all of the praise that has been thrown at The Fabelmans by critics, I found myself in the minority of people unimpressed with the screenplay supposedly based on Spielberg’s own adolescent experiences.

 

Satan’s Little Helper Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Jeff Lieberman
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Katheryn Winnick, Amanda Plummer, Alexander Brickel
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Synapse Films
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Widescreen, Surround Sound, Anamorphic
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ October 25, 2022

 

         The dark premise for the horror film Satan’s Little Helper is boldly original, with just enough social satire to go with the carnage expected from the slasher sub-genre. Suspension of disbelief is a must to be able to enjoy the plot, which is more than a little absurd at times. In some ways that actually adds to the campy fun of the film, while other times it just feels like a cheaply made straight-to-DVD horror film that was sloppily thrown together. While the premise is great, the execution often leaves something to be desired.

       

Marquis de Sade’s Justine 4K UHD Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Jesús Franco
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Romina Power, Klaus Kinski, Jack Palance, Maria Rohm, Mercedes McCambridge
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Blue Underground
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ X (Mature Audiences Only)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 4 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023

 

         The Marquis de Sade served as an inspiration for many of the films made by Spanish filmmaker Jesús Franco, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s he made two adaptations of his literary work. The first of these was Marquis de Sade’s Justine, a period film set in 1700 France and tracing the two diverging paths taken by sisters after they are orphaned in Paris. Justine was Franco’s largest budget to that point, including recognizable cast members such as Klaus Kinski and Jack Palance in supporting roles. It also kicked off a preoccupation Franco had with the sexual depravity of humanity, which he would continue in some form for much of his career.

 

Philosophy in the Boudoir (Eugenie) 4K UHD Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Jesús Franco
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Christopher Lee, Marie Liljedahl, Maria Rohm, Jack Taylor, Paul Muller
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Blue Underground
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ X (Mature Audiences Only)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ UK
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 27 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023

 

        In 1969, Spanish filmmaker Jesús Franco released his first adaptation of a Marquis de Sade book, Justine. This started a tradition of exploitation films made by Franco, often influenced by the perversion found in the Marquis de Sade’s literary work. Only a year after the release of Justine, Franco would once again adapt a book by the Marquis de Sade, this time Philosophy in the Boudoir. The British film was released as Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion and was only the first attempts by the Spanish filmmaker to adapt this particular novel. Along with a continued fascination with the author, Eugenie represents the type of film Franco is best known for, containing a fascination with sexuality combined with the violence and shock value of horror.

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ScreenX Review

 

         With a cumbersome title and promises of storylines to come, Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicks off with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Although critics and audiences have begun to show franchise fatigue when it comes to the MCU, die-hard fans will likely find plenty to love. Although I have watched all of the films and TV shows, I wouldn’t consider myself anywhere close to a fan of Marvel entertainment, so I can relate to much of the criticism placed on recent films. On the other hand, I go into these movies with very low expectations. This is junk food cinema (even calling it cinema may be a stretch, as Martin Scorsese has argued), but this also may be exactly what some audiences long for after sitting through the high-brow releases of award season. And if you are going for pure immersive entertainment, ScreenX is a fun option for ways to experience Quantumania.

 

The Grandmaster of Kung Fu Blu-ray Review

 

• Director ‏ : ‎ Cheng Si Yu
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Du Yu Hang-Dennis To, Gao Xue-mei, Yang Yong-feng, Li Ruo Xi, Zhuang Han
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS 5.1)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2023

         At just 75-minutes long, The Grandmaster of Kung Fu barely feels like a feature-length movie, despite fitting in plenty of the tropes associated with the martial arts movie. It simply moves at a brisk pace, only really slowing down the plot to savor the fight sequences, understanding that this the likely reason most enjoy the action sub-genre. By leaning on well-worn tropes, The Grandmaster of Kung Fu is able to rely on the audience’s awareness of the familiar structure, focusing instead on the fun stuff.

 

A Fish in the Bathtub Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Joan Micklin Silver
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Mark Ruffalo, Jane Adams, Missy Yager
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 38 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

 

         Along with belonging in a group of 1990s independent comedies that feel like mild imitations of Woody Allen, often set in New York and involving partner-swapping without veering into melodrama, A Fish in the Bathtub also has the feeling of a sitcom. This is not just because the cast is made up of several actors who have played parents in memorable half-hour comedies, but also because the narrative is highly episodic and has a resolution which restores everything back to the way it began, much like the formula of nearly every sitcom. It can make A Fish in the Bathtub feel slight and irreverent, but that may be the point of enjoyment for some.

 

The Ballad of the Sad Café Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Simon Callow
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Vanessa Redgrave, Keith Carradine, Rod Steiger
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Film
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, Blu-ray
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2022

 

         Not every story works in all formats. While I am certain there is something about Carson McCullers novella that worked, possibly even adapted well to the stage play written by Edward Albee, I found it difficult to ever get on board with the film adaptation, The Ballad of the Sad Café. While the novella must have had the benefit of the author’s narration and the play must have had dialogue to tell the story, the film directed by Simon Callow relies almost entirely upon imagery, but this often leaves the audience with little insight into the internal world of the characters.