Pina 3D Blu-ray review

Actors: Pina Bausch
Director: Wim Wenders
Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Studio: Criterion Collection
Release Date: January 22, 2013
Run Time: 103 minutes

 

 

            It may seem that an art house film, and a documentary no less, would be among the least likely to utilize the technological advances of 3D to enhance the spectacle of a film. Often spectacle is far from predominant in art house films, though this is hardly the case for Pina. Pina belongs in the category of films that were created due to the spectacle of 3D, which finally allow audiences to experience on film what is better seen live. The same could be said of any Cirque Du Soleil filmed performances, which always seemed to lack the same magic they had live. Now these performances can come alive in a new way onscreen.

 

            Though the 3D dancing is quite amazing in Pina, it is not what one might conventionally expect from dance performances. This is not to be compared to the type of 3D dancing you might find in a Step Up franchise film. The legendary Pina Bausch created modern dance works of art that are intensely emotional and experimental. The spectacle is marvelous, though often the meaning is complexly hidden within each viewer’s interpretation. These dances must be seen on their own to be fully appreciated, whereas this documentary is more of a love letter for the departed dancer and choreographer for those who are already familiar with her work.

 

            No one is more familiar with Pina’s work than her longtime friend and fan, filmmaker Wim Wenders. Wenders and Pina had planned a film collaboration for years, though it wasn’t until Wenders watched a 3D concert film of U2 that he realized the potential for the medium. They were in the process of bringing this vision to life when Pina passed away, and the project became something of a memorial for the marvelous German dance pioneer. The film is part performance homage and part bio-documentary, with interviews from loved ones and footage of her performances.

 

            The 2-Disc Blu-ray release includes a Blu-ray 3D disc, as well as a standard 2D Blu-ray disc, both with a high definition digital master approved by the director, Wenders, who also contributes a commentary track to the feature film and the deleted scenes. Special features also include a making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes footage and a booklet insert with essay, a company list, and a guide to the dances performed in the film.

Officer Down Blu-ray review

Actors: Tommy Flanagan, James Woods, Dominic Purcell, Walton Goggins

Director: Brian A. Miller

Format: Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: January 22, 2013

Run Time: 97 minutes

 

 

            Officer Down plays like dozens of dirty cop films before it, with a few twists taken from countless heist films. Though I have a predilection for originality in my film-viewing experiences, occasionally a predictable film is constructed in such a way which is alternately satisfying. A captivating actor or compelling cinematography can take a simple film to new depths. Unfortunately, Officer Down doesn’t have much to offer that is memorable, much less mesmerizing.

 

            Stephen Dorff stars unconvincingly as Detective Callahan, a dirty cop who is saved by a seemingly selfless stranger. We join him when he is already on the straight path as a loving husband and father, not to mention a dedicated cop. There is no explanation for his behavior previous to the revelation, nor do we see the transformation. For this reason, the two versions of our protagonist seem so starkly different that it is hard to accept them as the same.

 

            When our morally righteous Callahan is approached by a man claiming to be the one who saved his life that night, he feels an obligation to help him. The favor asked has to do with a man attacking women at a local strip club, but as Callahan investigates, he becomes further entangled. All the while, he goes rogue on a secret investigation; Callahan must use some of the dirty tricks he learned to keep his involvement from his co-workers.

 

            This film drags for far too long before giving the final twisted explanation is divulged. By the time I had reached that point, I hardly cared. The acting isn’t terrible. It just isn’t great. Same can be said for the cinematography and just about every other aspect of this film. The Blu-ray has no special features.

All Superheroes Must Die Blu-ray review

 

Actors: James Remar, Lucas Till, Jason Trost

Director: Jason Trost

Format: NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Release Date: January 29, 2013

Run Time: 78 minutes

 

 

            Credit must be given to filmmaker Jason Trost for his low budget enthusiasm. After creating the absurdly melodramatic futuristic comedy about a Dance Dance Revolution type gang war, The FP, Trost returns with much of the same gang to make this unconventional superhero film. All Superheroes Must Die contains the same melodramatic acting as The FP, although this time it doesn’t appear to be for humor’s sake. This weighs down the film, even when the creativity of the entire endeavor is admirable.

 

            In many ways this appears to be the type of superhero film that a group of brainstorming writers was able to create on a shoestring budget. Our heroes awake at the beginning of the film in confusion, discovering that all of their superhuman abilities have vanished due to the manipulations of an evil villain. This is a rather convenient and clever way of avoiding special effects. The other wise money-saving decision was to cast a name actor as the villain, and then shoot all of his scenes in one set with hardly any other interaction with the other cast members.

 

            Unfortunately, creativity alone is not enough to make a good film. There are admirable qualities to All Superheroes Must Die, but the seriousness and overbearing melodrama makes the shining qualities a little duller. Perhaps if Trost spent more time behind the camera instead of in front of it, there may have been more focus in the acting. Instead we have a bunch of unknown actors showcasing their abilities and overshadowing the minimalist elements of the film which work. James Remar is easily the most effective actor I the film, but not because he is able to play a sad scene better. All of the unknown actors seem to be playing for the serious scenes, whereas Remar has a comical time. Despite being the villain, he is able to lighten the film up a bit in a much needed way.

Tai Chi Zero Blu-ray Review

 

 

 

 

            I feel that it may have been helpful to have known that this was just the first installment of a continuing story, because I was left slightly unsatisfied with Tai Chi Zero until a trailer for the sequel was played at the close of the film. This is not to say that Tai Chi Zero is a bad film, but simply one which is not fearful of getting sidetracked in the storyline, leaving many issues unresolved even at the film’s conclusion. Fortunately, Tai Chi Zero is so frantically entertaining that it doesn’t matter if the storyline doesn’t quite reach a point of satisfaction. If anything, it just delays an inevitable onslaught in the sequel.

 

            Our title protagonist is Lu Chan, a man referred to as “the freak” because of his ability to fight with abnormal strength when hit on the birthmark he wears on his head. He travels to the legendary Chen Village to learn how to harness this ability with the Chen Style Tai Chi, but is turned away for being an outsider. After repeat attempts and repeat failures, the outsider’s persistence pays off slightly. He befriends an old man who doesn’t teach him, but instead offers advice on how to win the favor of the town.

 

            This is where the film shifts focus some, with the introduction of the film’s villain. A former son of the village returns in a steam powered machine and plans to build a railway right through his former home. This is objected to by the village, leading to an all-out fight. Lu Chen sees an opportunity to be useful to the village and does his best to contribute. The film is not action-packed, leaving room for humor and slight romance as well. It is a quirky kung-fu film with much more than just good action, although there certainly is some of that as well.

 

            The Blu-ray includes a behind-the-scenes feature, music videos and a trailer gallery, but the highlight of the package is the high definition presentation of this enigmatically visual film.

 

The Man Who Knew Too Much Blu-ray review

Actors: Peter Lorre

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Format: Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: January 15, 2013

Run Time: 75 minutes

 

 

            Beginning with his first major Hollywood production, Alfred Hitchcock began a familiar formula within his films which made for countless successes. He very often used ordinary people, put into what he called extraordinary situations. In the case of The Man Who Knew Too Much, Leslie Banks stars as the ordinary man and title character. Once discovering a plot for a political assassination, an otherwise average man is thrown into a thrilling case of international intrigue.

 

            The recently released biopic about Alfred Hitchcock is primarily focused on the risks that he took when making the film Psycho, which essentially started the slasher genre and changed the direction of horror pictures forever more. This was certainly an interesting point in Hitchcock’s career, but mostly because it was later on in his career and many thought that his best pictures had already been made. The truth is, even from this first Hollywood production, Hitchcock was not afraid to take risks.

 

            One of these risks comes in the casting of the film’s most memorable villain, Abbott (Peter Lorre). This would be Lorre’s transition into English-speaking roles, though it came at a time of desperation. Although Lorre was an admired and respected actor after M, the war had put a hold on a film career in Germany. The Man Who Knew Too Much was a saving grace for Lorre’s career, and a risk that paid off well for Hitchcock. So much so that it is hard not to miss Lorre most of all in Hitchcock’s admirable second attempt at this film decades later.

 

            The Blu-ray release for The Man Who Knew Too Much includes a new digital restoration of the film, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. There is also an optional audio commentary with film historian Philip Kemp and a new interview with fan and filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro. Archived material includes a 1972 interview with Hitchcock and audio excerpts from Truffaut’s legendary interview from 1962. There is also a short featurette with a restoration demonstration and a booklet insert featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme.

 

           

Frankenweenie Blu-ray review

Actors: Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan

Director: Tim Burton

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

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 4

Rated: PG

Studio: Buena Vista

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Run Time: 87 minutes

 

            Tim Burton once had a tumultuous relationship with Disney, though you would never know it from his recent ventures. In his younger days Burton was a bit too edgy for Disney, and he didn’t enjoy what little work he did with them. The main reason that The Nightmare Before Christmas was released through Disney was the fact that he had come up with the concept while working there, thereby contractually giving Disney ownership. These days Burton has become a much milder filmmaker, able to make films like Alice in Wonderland with Disney. It comes as little surprise that he adapted one of his early short films into a feature-length with them as well.

 

            Frankenweenie tells the tale of a boy who loves his dog so much that he brings him back from the dead. It is a clear claymation adaptation of the classic black-and-white Frankenstein from the 1930s, and borrows from several others along the way. Burton even goes so far as to film the entire movie in black-and-white, a bold choice for animation in the days of Pixar and technologically advantages. The countless classic film references are sure to keep adults entertained, while the younger audiences can experience the classic tale for the first time.

 

            In what clearly appears to be one of Burton’s more self-autobiographical films, Frankenweenie’s protagonist is a young aspiring filmmaker named Victor, who uses his dog Sparky as the star of his monster pictures. When an accident occurs, taking away Victor’s only friend and pet, a science experiment brings Sparky back. It also sets off a series of events that result in a series of monsters being unleashed on the town.

 

            The Blu-ray 3D package includes four discs; Blu-ray 2D, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy. The four-disc combo pack also includes a number of exclusive special features, most notable being an all-new short film featuring Sparky. The DVD special features include a look at the exhibit traveling the world comprising of the film’s artwork and models from the film’s production. There is also a music video. The Blu-ray has these features, as well as a tour of the London sets from the film’s production and the original live-action short film that inspired this movie.   

The Assassins Blu-ray review

Actors: Chow Yun Fat, Yifei Liu, Hiroshi Tamaki, Alec Su
Director: Linshan Zhao
Format: Dolby, THX, Widescreen
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Subtitles: English
Dubbed: English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Well Go USA
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Run Time: 106 minutes

 

 

            I’m not certain if there are more of these martial arts epics made in China than any other genre of film, or if these are simply the ones most exported to the United States, but either way we seem to have a new one on Blu-ray every other week. Sometimes it becomes difficult to distinguish between them, as many have similar plots and easily forgettable action sequences. Although The Assassins is not the most original or memorable film to be released, it is one of the better ones made in recent years.

 

The action is spectacular, choreography and cinematography working together to make many memorable sequences. The characters are also complex and well constructed. My only criticism would be directed at the film’s unwillingness to commit entirely to one character for inspiring sympathy from the audience. While trying to create an array of emotions, the filmmakers stretch this attempt too far and eliminate most sympathy from the distance created by so many characters complexly weaved into the story.

 

Though there are many unnecessary additions to the story, the focus quite clearly remains with Ling Ju (Crystal Liu Yi Fei), a female warrior trained since childhood alongside many other children. Though Ling is in love with fellow child soldier Mu Shun (Tamaki Hiroshi), this must be put aside for the mission they were trained for. After ten years of preparing, they are sent to assassinate the most powerful man in the world, Cao Cao (Chow Yun Fat). The reasons behind the assassination are much more complex than the emotional melodrama of Ling Ju and Mu Shun, but unfortunately their story is placed in the background and the family drama behind the assassination attempts is revealed.

 

As often is the case, there is some historical accuracy to the assassination attempts and the historical characters in the film, though I actually would have preferred more from the characters who were quite clearly fictional. There is a love story at the center of this film which is dismissed quickly into the story, which is disappointing considering how strongly the film begins. The action remains solid throughout the entire film, though there are large portions which remain focused on the espionage of betrayal instead. The Blu-ray includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer, but it is the visuals of the fights in high definition which makes this package worthwhile.   

Justified: Season Three DVD review

Actors: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel

Directors: Adam Arkin, Bill Johnson, Dean Parisot, Don Kurt, Gwyneth Horder-Payton

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

Language: English

Subtitles: French

Dubbed: Spanish

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: December 31, 2012

Run Time: 541 minutes

 

 

            I’m not sure how accurate the police work is in “Justified,” but it is certainly more compelling drama than most cop shows in recent history. In the opening sequence of the “Justified” pilot, Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) approaches a Miami drug cartel hit man that he has threatened to shoot if he doesn’t leave Miami. This promise is followed through, but only after the hit man pulls a weapon, making the shooting justified (get it?). Although the shooting was justified, Raylan is under investigation for his behavior, and he is sent back to his hometown as a punishment. With his personal knowledge of Harlan County, Kentucky, Raylan happens to also be the perfect candidate to take down a local crime family.

 

            Based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by crime novelist Elmore Leonard, “Justified” works as an adaptation which allows room for growth. I suspect several more seasons will follow. Timothy Olyphant has a strong presence as the lead, and he has plenty of experience carrying a western-type show. This may not be “Deadwood,” but it is an enjoyable crime show nevertheless. The premise has begun to run a little bit thin by the third season, though all of the elements which made the first ones a success still remain. He is still a lawman who often operates outside of conventional law, and surrounded by corruption this becomes a necessary approach.

 

            All season three episodes are included in this 3-disc set. Special features include four cast/crew commentaries on nine episodes, outtakes, deleted scenes, a set tour and several featurettes. There are new bad guys and new storylines, but the drama in season three is no different than we have seen in previous seasons of “Justified.”

Premium Rush Blu-ray review

Actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon

Director: David Koepp

Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean

Dubbed: French

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 21, 2012

Run Time: 91 minutes

 

 

            If nothing else, Premium Rush is an original concept for a thriller. Being chased by a bad guy through the city is not new, nor is it original that he is a corrupt police officer. What makes Premium Rush stand out is the manner in which out protagonist is chased, which happens to be on a bicycle in the middle of Manhattan traffic. This promises some unique action sequences, which are delivered with a remarkably small amount of CGI utilized. Many of the action tricks are achieved through real stunt riding, which was apparently fun enough for star Joseph Gordon-Levitt to try. During the credits of the film there is behind-the-scenes footage of a crash he endured from a failed attempt at a stunt. 

 

Though not all aspects of the film live up to the premise of the film, the cast far exceeds it. Gordon-Levitt stars as Wilee, a name which is both fitting and without any subtlety. It also makes little sense, considering The Roadrunner was always the fast one in the cartoons. Wilee is a bike delivery messenger, and he rides a single-gear bike without any brakes. This makes for tricky maneuvering at all intersections, which he always rides straight through. This job is dangerous and pays minimal, but Wilee is an educated man choosing to ride in the streets for the lifestyle rather than the money or prestige.

 

When one particular delivery inspires interest from a plainclothes detective insisting one retrieving it before the delivery is made, Wilee finds himself the one being chased. Michael Shannon is effective as the cop with a personal need to get the package that Wilee is carrying, and these two actors are enough to overcome the weaknesses in the script. The Blu-ray captures all of the action chases through Manhattan in high definition glory. The special features include two featurettes; one on the cast and filmmakers, and the other on the action and stunts within the film.

Les Miserables Blu-ray review

Actors: Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, Hans Matheson

Director: Bille August

Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Arabic, Danish, Dutch, English, French, Norwegian, Swedish

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 11, 2012

Run Time: 134 minutes

 

 

            Just in time for the release of the new theatrical musical version of Les Misérables, the theatrical version of the adaptation of the book (as opposed to the musical) from 1998 has been released on high definition Blu-ray. Although it does not have the songs that many associate with the story, all of the characters and magic from Victor Hugo’s novel are included, for the most part.

 

            Liam Neeson stars as Jean Valjean, a convict who is transformed by an act of kindness and rises up to be a man of virtue. When a prostitute named Fantine (Uma Thurman) begs Valjean to raise her child, Cosette (Claire Danes), it is an opportunity for the convict to redeem himself. At the same time a determined police officer named Javert (Geoffrey Rush) is determined to put Valjean back behind bars, and all of this takes place during the French Revolution.

 

            The cast is wonderful and director Bille August is able to provide a concise telling of the story in just over two hours. Though the latest version is likely to be more popular, simply because of the musical aspects and a new cast, this is an admirable adaptation of Hugo’s classic tale. The Blu-ray includes a featurette, though the high definition presentation is the true reason for this Blu-ray. Even that is somewhat unspectacular, seemingly rushed just to have this on shelves in time for the new theatrical release. 

Purple Noon Blu-ray review

Actors: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet

Director: René Clément

Format: Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: French

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: December 4, 2012

Run Time: 118 minutes

 

 

            Before Anthony Minghella’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” French director René Clément made Purple Noon (Plein Soleil). Created just five years after the release of Highsmith’s novel, Purple Noon aligns much closer to the book than the later version starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, while adding a bit more believability and realism to the criminal acts than are found in literary form. The result is a fantastic film, both gorgeous and meticulous in detail, surely one of Clément’s best and the film which made Alain Delon a star.

 

            Delon stars as Tom Ripley, an American who has traveled to Rome in search of a trust fund young man named Philippe (Maurice Ronet) and convince him to return home to his father in San Francisco. Ripley is something of a savant, able to forge signatures and imitate others. He uses this ability to plot out a way to take over Philippe’s life in Italy, though this effort does not come without huge obstacles. The largest is Philippe’s unsuspecting on-again/off-again girlfriend, Marge (Marie Laforêt).

 

            What is truly remarkable about Purple Noon is the amount of effort taken to show us how Ripley would be able to accomplish what he does, without forcing the audience to sympathize with him or even understand why he would. There is no need for motive or explanation, as greed is quite clear to see. Delon is marvelous as a carefree Ripley, almost appearing as a child who is proud of his ability to fool others with lies and trickery. He marvels himself smarter than those around him, at one point even openly discussing his murderous intentions to his victim.

 

            The Blu-ray release of this classic French thriller comes with a new digital restoration presentation, including an uncompressed monaural soundtrack. The special features include a new interview with Clément scholar Denitza Bantcheva, as well as archival interviews with Highsmith and Delon. The package comes with a booklet insert with an essay by film critic Geoffrey O’Brien and an excerpt from an interview with Clément from the early 80s.

 

           

The Good Doctor Blu-ray review

Actors: Orlando Bloom, Riley Keough, Michael Pena

Directors: Lance Daly

Format: AC-3, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Run Time: 91 minutes

 

 

            The Good Doctor is a disturbing little thriller, understated in a way which makes it all the more believable and terrifying. I have never much cared for actor Orlando Bloom, but he gives a subtle and chilling performance as Martin Blake, a young doctor whose insecurities are matched only by his ambitions. This pairing of these two characteristics proves deadly in the hands of this unstable doctor, making for a smart little serial killer film. 

 

            Martin wants to be a doctor for all of the wrong reasons, caring little about human interaction and much more about the prestige that comes with the profession. Expecting everyone to fall at his feet now that he is a doctor, Blake is unsettled to find the nursing staff treating him as an equal and less. He becomes so disturbed that it throws him off of his ability to perform, which threatens his future ambitions. Unable to allow this, Martin finds a way to force an outcome he desires.

 

            When an eighteen-year-old girl named Diane (Riley Keough) with a kidney infection comes into the hospital, it provides Martin with the opportunity he needs. His desire to obtain Diane for himself is matched only by a desire to advance his medical career, and soon Diane’s safety is put at risk so that Martin can keep her in the hospital. Soon he must take further action to cover up what he has done. This is what Tom Ripley would look like as a doctor.

 

            The Blu-ray release includes a making-of featurette, as well as a short promotional video shown on TV and a theatrical trailer.

The Words Blu-ray review

Actors: Dennis Quaid, Bradley Cooper

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

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: December 24, 2012

 

 

            Story within story within story, and all about a fictional story which is actually more non-fiction, The Words is a literary Inception; it takes a simple idea and overcomplicates it somewhat unnecessarily. There are some fantastic moments within the film, as well as acting which keeps the story mesmerizing even when it never quite reaches a point of fulfilling the promise that the build up promises. There is little mystery or suspense in this movie, and if you have seen the trailer you already know the entire movie. Even if we are not told something until the very end, it is hinted at so obviously that only a fool would not know the truth before the third act.

 

            Aside from my annoyance with the fact that this film is being marked as a thriller rather than a drama and the overbearing repetition of story-within-story, I found myself enjoying much of The Words. Bradley Cooper is better than he usually is as Rory Jansen, a writer who finds a story in an old briefcase while on vacation and claims it his own. Even more captivating is Jeremy Iron, who plays the man who actually wrote the story. There is also an unnecessary storyline involving another writer (Dennis Quaid), who is the narrator of Janson’s story, though this framing story is almost not worth mentioning. It makes little sense, especially the addition of a young woman who nearly stalks him to find out more about his work. The role is played by Olivia Wilde, but the character is so unbelievable that it doesn’t matter who plays it.

 

            Aside from a decent bit of dialogue and one interesting idea about literature which is pounded in time-and-time again, there is much to be desired within The Words. It builds suspenseful while never paying off with anything more than that one concept. The DVD includes an extended version of the film, adding a few minutes that don’t change much one way or another. There is also a behind-the-scenes look at one of the scenes and a look at the discovery of the material for the film.

V/H/S Blu-ray review

Actors: Calvin Reeder, Lane Hughes, Adam Wingard

Directors: Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg

Format: AC-3, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Magnolia

Release Date: December 4, 2012

Run Time: 116 minutes

 

 

            The found-footage sub-genre of horror has been done to the point that it has little of the effect which once propelled these films. We no longer look at these movies the way we did The Blair Witch Project, but the medium proves to have a few tricks remaining with this anthology horror film from some newcomer horror directors. Although I have never been much of a fan of anthology horror films, V/H/S has a few moments which shouldn’t be missed by any horror aficionados. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of moments in-between which are easily missed and even more easy to forget.

 

            A great deal of the film seems to be footage taken from the camera of men who use it in the most disgusting ways imaginable. Our wraparound storyline involves a group of pigs who videotape assaults on women in public, forcing them to flash the camera unwillingly. When they are offered a large sum of money to rob a house and find a videotape, they tape this hunt. They are slowly picked off, and in the meantime we are given the opportunity to watch several found footage tapes while they search for the one they were sent in to get. The storyline of the one VHS tape they are meant to retrieve is never really developed entirely, but it provides the necessary frame for all of the other short horror stories.

 

            Right away we jump into more vulgar men behaving badly on camera, this time determined to film a sexual act with an unwitting female brought home from the bar. When a strange and creepy woman comes back to their room with them, they end up with more than they bargained for. Another hotel room story involves a slow burning suspense story about a couple on a vacation when a nightly visitor starts intruding on their privacy. There are stories which range from serial killer horror all the way up into the most extreme paranormal horror tales. The most frightening sequence of the film is an escape from a haunted house, also the one film to show men on a more admirable note. The effects in the sequence are over-the-top, albeit fantastically achieved.

 

            At nearly two hours, this is a bit long for a horror film, and there are certainly sequences which seem to drag the film down. At the same time, I can’t help but recommend it for the moments that work really well. The Blu-ray only further enhances the stronger special effects in the film, with a ton of additional features to add to the experience. There is an alternate ending for one of the sequences, as well as additional footage for another. The film comes with an optional audio commentary with cast and crew members, as well as a number of making-of features and webcam interviews.

The Qatsi Trilogy Blu-ray review

Director: Godfrey Reggio

Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: December 11, 2012

Run Time: 274 minutes

 

 

            Godfrey Reggie’s Qatsi trilogy began with Koyaanisqatsi (1983), an unconventional film which utilized the visual aspects of cinema with a score by Philip Glass. The result was the creation of a new type of film, commonly referred to as Soundscapes. The trilogy was completed with Powaqqatsi in 1988 and Naqoyqatsi in 2002, though there have been many other films which have followed in the same footsteps of Reggie, Glass and cinematographer Ron Fricke. This trilogy is the epitome of soundscapes, and each of movies has a precise theme which is only clear upon the revelation the title’s meaning.

 

            Using spectacular photography and time-lapse effects, Koyaanisqatsi catalogues the marked changes in the environments of the Northern Hemisphere. From the shifts in nature to the increasing reliance on technology by humans, the photography and music allow an understanding of the themes without the need for dialogue. From a rocket lifting off to a simple aerial shot, there is a magnificence in the Qatsi trilogy that is more impressive than any of the Imax or 3D spectacles of today. The film is featured in a newly restored digital transfer, approved by Reggio with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The special features include an interview program with Reggio and Glass discussing the film, as well as new interviews with Fricke and Reggio. There is also an early demo version of Koyaanisqatsi.

 

            Powaqqatsi shifts to third-world countries when he chose to focus on the Southern Hemisphere for the follow-up to Koyaanisqatsi. The visual style is shifted somewhat also, with far more segments in slow-motion, forgoing the time-lapse photography which was essential to the first film. This film shows the ways of the Southern Hemisphere, before showing the manner in which these traditions are destroyed or altered for the sake of industry. Glass returned to score the film, though his sound also changed to adjust to this particular theme. The Blu-ray release includes a newly restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by Reggio, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The special features include an interview program with Reggio and Glass discussing the film, as well as new interviews with Reggio and an extra short film, Anima Mundi (1989). This is a film of over 70 animal species in 28 minutes, created by Reggio.

 

            The final film in the trilogy takes on the digital revolution. Naqoyqatsi utilizes both slow motion and time-lapse, not to mention found footage and computer generated imagery. The film series comes full circle with the theme of a world shifting from a reliance on the natural to the artificial. The use of virtual reality within the creation of the film brings this message full circle in an embracement. This time around Glass is joined by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The Blu-ray release includes a newly restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by Reggio, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The special features include a making-of documentary as well as a video afterward by Reggio on the making of the trilogy. There is also a panel discussion on the film with Reggio and crew, as well as interviews with Glass and Yo-Yo Ma. 

The Forgiveness of Blood Blu-ray review

Actors: Refet Abazi, Tristan Halilaj, Sindi Lacej, Ilire Vinca Celaj

Director: Joshua Marston

Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Run Time: 109 minutes

 

 

            The Forgiveness of Blood is American filmmaker Joshua Marston’s follow-up film to the 2004 Oscar-nominated Maria Full of Grace. Although his debut was about a Columbian woman working as a drug mule and this film is about an Albanian blood feud, both films are coming-of-age tales. They tell the unique stories to specific regions, and are done with an accuracy which brings the audience into a different environment before watching as out protagonist finds a way of escaping for the sake of their own future. In Maria Full of Grace it was done through criminal activity, whereas the law has little significance within The Forgiveness of Blood. The customs within this film are much older and pay little heed to what the laws expect of them.

 

            Set in northern Albania, the film starts with a sense of tradition and routine, though changing times have made for some difficult growing pains. The dispute the entire film comes from is a simple one; there is a piece of land which was once owned by the family of a bread delivery man, and when it is redistributed he is forced to change the path he has taken in his cart every day for work. This dispute leads to blows, which we don’t actually witness. It isn’t important who is exactly to blame or what happened. All that truly matters is the aftermath of the altercation, with a father forced to go into hiding and a family left to deal with the aftermath.

 

            The blood feud says that if any male member of the family is seen in public, they can be killed as revenge. This is a real threat which forces our teenage protagonist into house arrest. Until the conflict is resolved, he is forced to remain at home and indoors. Meanwhile his sister must continue the bread delivery for her family to survive, as the only capable member allowed in public. The adults are secondary characters within this fictional film based on highly researched material, with the teenagers and their reaction to events out of their control taking the main focus in the story.

 

            The Blu-ray includes a new high-definition digital transfer, approved by the director of photography, Rob Hardy, with a 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The special features include an optional audio commentary with director and co-writer Joshua Marston, audition and rehearsal footage, and a series of interviews. The booklet insert has an essay by film writer Oscar Moralde.

Following Blu-ray review

Actors: Alex Haw, Lucy Russell

Director: Christopher Nolan

Format: Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: December 11, 2012

Run Time: 70 minutes

 

 

            Christopher Nolan may most recently be known for his contribution to the Superhero trend in films, more specifically for his direction in the revival of Batman and as a producer in the newest Superman film, but none of this would have been possible without Following. Few filmmakers have such a clear tendency towards a certain type of films, and Nolan showed an interest in non-linear and twist-filled stories from his debut, Following, made on a shockingly simplified budget. Before the revenge-mystery Memento, Nolan made this simple film noir on 16 mm.

 

            Despite being told out of sequence, Following is reminiscent of many classic Alfred Hitchcock films in the sense that it involves an ordinary man being pulled into a world he is unfamiliar with. When an unemployed aspiring writer (Jeremy Theobald) needs inspiration, he gets in the habit of walking around his London neighborhood. He follows strangers in search of inspiration for his writing, which comes in an unexpected manner. When the young man follows a man named Cobb (Alex Haw), who is a thief in the process of a home break-in when the writer first encounters him.

 

            These two develop a relationship, which eventually leads the young writer into a criminal world he is unprepared to handle. The only other characters in the film is a policeman and the film’s femme fatale, known in the credits only as Blonde (Lucy Russell). In many ways, even the non-linear way in which the story is told can be traced back to days of classic film noir, and is a tradition that Nolan would carry on in a more complex manner in his next film, Memento.

 

            The Blu-ray release of Following comes with a newly restored digital transfer of the film, supervised by Nolan, along with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack and a new 5.1 surround mix rerecording by mixer Gary Rizzo. The film comes with an option audio commentary by Nolan, as well as some new interviews and a three-minute short film by the director. The film is also available in a chronological edit on the Blu-ray, and an insert with an essay by film critic Scott Foundas.

           

             

Wu Dang Blu-ray review

Actors: Siu-Wong Fan, Wenzhuo Zhao

Format: Subtitled

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: Cantonese, English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: December 4, 2012

Run Time: 94 minutes

            Wu Dang is a rather typical martial arts film in many respects, with the right amount of action mixed with sentimentality. The execution of this average martial arts film is what makes it stand apart somewhat, and this is mostly due to action director Corey Yuen, best known for his work choreographing the action in The Transporter. There is a familiar brutality in the hand-to-hand combat of the opening scenes of Wu Dang, which eventually gives way to a more traditional style of Wu Dang Kung Fu.

            Part Indiana Jones and part Crouching Tiger, our hero is an American searching for lost treasures with his daughter during the early days of Republican China. His daughter is a prodigy in kung fu, and it is under the guise of a tournament in a sacred temple that these treasures are stolen. More important than their physical value is a supernatural ability which is said to come from their possession.

            Although I prefer the earlier action which resembles more of a realistic and creative style of fighting to the supernatural martial arts that take over by the end of the film, but Wu Dang is entertaining through and through. Although there is a bit too much forced melodramatic sentimentality, I was never bored or eager for the film to end. This is the sign of good filmmaking; when an average story somehow makes an above average film.

            The Blu-ray release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer.  

           

Silent Night DVD review

Actors: Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King, Donal Logue, Ellen Wong, Brendan Fehr

Director: Steven C. Miller

Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

DVD Release Date: December 4, 2012

Run Time: 94 minutes

            There have been a number of killer Santa Claus films recently, but none are more significant in the history of horror cinema as the original 1984 slasher film, Silent Night, Deadly Night. This controversial cult classic was banned across America, perhaps due to the fact that the killer dressed as Santa Claus before gruesomely destroying his victims. With several new killer Claus films recently released, a remake of Silent Night, Deadly Night is hardly likely to make the same waves it did in the early 80s.

            In a small Midwestern town which was once a vibrant community, a plant being shut down results in a rise in crime. There is a seedier element to the town, which explains why a serial killer dressed as Santa Claus decides to make an appearance, punishing those he deems naughty. From porn filmmakers in motels to a spoiled child whining about gifts, the killer Claus wreaks havoc on the community while the sheriff (Malcolm McDowell) and his deputy (Jaime King) attempt to hunt him down.

            The killer is mysterious, created from a story of an incident which happened long ago. Where this deviant Claus hides out the rest of the year is a mystery, but he is busy taking down the bad people of a small town during the holidays. These deaths are often gruesome, but not nearly creative enough to standout the way the original did. There are some good moments of suspense, but unfortunately there are just as many moments spoiled by terrible supporting actors.

            The DVD release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, as well as some deleted scenes.

Hope Springs DVD review

Actors: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: December 4, 2012

Run Time: 100 minutes

            Films like Hope Springs are among the rarest to come out of Hollywood. There is an unspoken rule, referred to as “the rule of 40.” It essentially only applies to female actors, and it says that their career ends at 40, and if anything you are resigned to playing the mother in supporting roles. If anyone were to break this rule continuously, it would be Meryl Streep, and nobody is better suited for this rare adult romantic comedy. Not only does it feature older actors in love and romantic (even sexual) situations, but they are a couple who have been married for decades.

            Kay (Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) have a seemingly ordinary and happy life for people of their age, though their relationship has become more routine than romance. In an effort to inspire a change in their rut, Kay spends her own saved money on a retreat to a couples therapist (played by Steve Carell). Although Arnold is reluctant, he goes along with the trip. Stubborn attitudes and a reluctance to let go prevents the couple from immediate success, but each of their sessions is a joy to behold. This is a film in which good acting is paired with a spectacularly thoughtful and eloquent screenplay by Vanessa Taylor.

            The DVD includes a number of great special features, with a gag reel to add even more humor to the package. There is also an informative commentary track by director David Frankel and a featurette about the stars playing the onscreen couple. There are alternate takes in replacement of deleted scenes.