Terraferma Blu-ray Review

     Director: Emanuele Crialese

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

Language: Italian

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Cohen Media Group

Release Date: January 14, 2014

Run Time: 88 minutes

 

 

        Immigration is a topic clearly close to the heart of filmmaker Emanuele Crialese, first with his remarkable portrayal of Italian natives on their journey to Ellis Island in The Golden Door and now with an examination the same topic in modern Italian society. The message of Terraferma often feels heavy-handed and predictable in the melodrama of specific plot twists, mostly due to the fact that Crialese is able to convey his ideas more than adequately through the use of contrasting imagery.

 

        Like Respiro, Terraferma takes place on a remote island located near Sicily. This island is a remote vacation spot during the summer, and otherwise a difficult home to fishermen dwindling in numbers as quickly as the fish are in the sea. The film follows the struggle between an old code of the sea which the fishermen uphold and the conflict this has with modern immigration laws. Immigrants traveling from Africa by rafts are to be left in the sea, but one family finds their livelihood in danger after rescuing a mother and her child from the sea.

 

A Single Shot Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, Ted Levine, Kelly Reilly, Jason Isaacs

Director: David M. Rosenthal

Format: Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: January 14, 2014

Run Time: 116 minutes

 

 

        A Single Shot provides a moderately engaging viewing experience, mostly because of way that even the film’s narrative twists and turns seems comfortingly familiar. There are no real surprises in this film and little beyond the performances stands out in the memory after it has been watched. The rest almost seems to be there simply to service these wonderfully colorful characters that the actors play.

 

        Sam Rockwell gives a wholehearted performance as John Moon, a backwoods poacher who has seen bad luck that lost him his family farm and wife in a short period. This streak of bad luck continues when Moon accidentally shoots a woman while hunting for deer, and while stashing her body he discovers a box full of cash. This seems to be a stroke of luck until his newfound wealth brings all sorts of unwanted attention from some out-of-town visitors.

New to Blu-ray: Sunrise (1927)

   Format: Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Full Screen, Subtitled

Language: English (Mono)

Subtitles: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: January 14, 2014

Run Time: 94 minutes

 

        The integration of sound into cinema came in a transitional period of stages, with an all-out dialogue-filled film being the end result. Before that were scenes of dialogue or music in an otherwise silent film, and even after the advent of sound there were silent films being made. Some of these utilized soundtracks before they did dialogue, because the sound effects could be added after the filming was already completed as a way of enhancing the silent film for audiences on the cutting edge.

 

        Sunrise utilized the groundbreaking Fox Movietone sound system to provide the audience with a soundtrack to match the magical visuals in F. W. Murnau’s melodrama masterpiece. This 1927 film was released only a month after The Jazz Singer, which contained cinema’s first spoken (and sung) words. Though Sunrise was a technical masterpiece with groundbreaking soundtrack work, it failed to impress audience because it had no spoken words.

 

New to Blu-ray: In the Heat of the Night (1967)

     Format: AC-3, Blu-ray, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Mono), Spanish (Mono)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: MGM

Release Date: January 14, 2014

Run Time: 110 minutes

 

                Filled with stark and profound images of racism over the backdrop of a murder mystery and the winner of five Oscars, including Best Picture, In the Heat of the Night is more than deserving of an anniversary edition release on Blu-ray. As MGM celebrates their 90^th Anniversary, this classic from 1967 is transferred to high definition. The special features are simply transferred over from the 40th Anniversary DVD release.

 

Throne of Blood Blu-ray Review

     Format: Black & White, Subtitled

Language: Japanese

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Run Time: 109 minutes

 

 

        The films of Akira Kurosawa offer endless bounty of rewards with repeat viewings and the more historical background is uncovered. His films are like eating an artichoke, finding layer upon layer until the heart is finally revealed. Even those who stop before reaching the center will be satisfied, with skilled filmmaking carrying a classic narrative, though this is no comparison to the delectable morsels at the center.

 

        It would be easiest to refer to Throne of Blood as Kurosawa’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and knowing only the story of the Scottish King from this tale would be enough to make Throne of Blood entertaining. Kurosawa made the change in setting from eleventh-century Scotland to sixteenth century Japan, recognizing a similarity in the times, but even more significant was the parallel the filmmaker saw in modern times. Rather than simply adapting Shakespeare's masterpiece, Kurosawa uses the play as a launching point, adding layers to the already complex tale of power and greed.

 

Badges of Fury Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Jet Li, Wen Zhang, Collin Chou, Cecilia Liu

Director: Wong Tsz ming

Format: Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen

Language: Chinese

Subtitles: English

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Run Time: 98 minutes

 

 

        The cover art for Badges of Fury is widely misleading. With a stern-faced Jet Li facing forward and adjusting his cuffs with a somber gun-wielding Wen Zhang standing behind him, and a large explosion silhouetting the both of them, you might come to the conclusion that this is a buddy action film. In reality, this is simply a comedy that utilizes action for some of the jokes. All of the violence in the film is cartoonish, even when deadly, making the style of action more along the lines of a Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle) film.

 

        The film even flirts with the supernatural when a series of gruesome deaths in Hong Kong are seemingly unexplained. Several men die with the same mysterious smile on their face, leading two troublesome cops in an unconventional investigation. Detective Wang is a young and reckless rookie with more zeal than intelligence, which is the opposite of his seasoned partner, Huang (Li). These two have different methods, but both are unafraid to go against police protocol to close a case.

 

Don Jon Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore

Director: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Format: AC-3, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Dubbed: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Run Time: 91 minutes

 

        The ideas about romance buried within the screenplay of Don Jon are far from original, to the point that each of the film’s twists can be seen far in advance, but the presentation of these ideas come through unique characters and original plot points. At the center of the film is a simple argument that Hollywood romantic comedies are just as unhealthy for the female mind as pornography is for the male mind, essentially setting both up for disappointment when life does not live up to their fantasy for cinematic perfection.

 

        Jon Martello (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) would be a likely candidate for a new “Jersey Shore” cast member, spending every day working out and cleaning so that he can spend every night trying to get laid in clubs. The one thing we don’t see Jon do much of is work, though his hours as a bartender would likely be during the very time we see him constantly gallivanting. When Jon meets Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson) he wants to sleep with her because she is the most beautiful girl he’s ever met, but she is high maintenance and leads Jon into a relationship by dangling sex like a carrot. The problem comes when Jon finally gets what he wants and is still left unsatisfied. Jon’s reliance on pornography to fulfill sexual desires is in complete contradiction to the Hollywood image of romance in Barbara’s fantasy, causing a rift in their relationship.

 

The Ultimate Life Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Drew Waters, Ali Hillis

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

Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: December 10, 2013

Run Time: 110 minutes

 

        The Ultimate Life is the follow-up film to The Ultimate Gift, both adapted from the best-selling Christian books by Jim Stovall and made for nobody but fans of the franchise. The faith-based film industry often makes these movies with missionary attempts at saving mainstream audiences, but they make the films in such a way that insures only an ability to preach to the choir, so to speak. This type of insipid tale of religious affirmation hits the same notes repetitively in an overlong screenplay and dull direction. In other words, this film is suitable only for your religious grandmother who’s TV always seems stuck on the Hallmark Channel.

 

         The themes of The Ultimate Life are rather clear, repeating what was already learned the first time around. Money cannot buy happiness. If you truly need a film that is nearly two hours long and filled only with poorly written dialogue that is stiffly presented by the cast to tell you that money won’t buy happiness, this film may be able to teach you something. I imagine that this kind of lesson will only be interesting to those who don’t need it, as is the case with most Christian entertainment.

 

The Lone Ranger Blu-ray Review

   Actors: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Helena Bonham Carter

Director: Gore Verbinski

Writers: Justin Haythe, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio

Producers: Gore Verbinski, Chad Oman, Eric Ellenbogen, Eric McLeod

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

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 149 minutes

 

        The Lone Ranger may not be a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a far more interesting failure than you might imagine from the overwhelming mass of critical disparagement. It should be noted, however, that I had no previous attachment to previous radio, television and film incarnations of The Lone Ranger, so I was able appreciate this film as a standalone piece of entertainment without judgment about significant alterations made in the adapting process.   

 

        All of the criticisms made about this film are most definitely true; the budget was outrageous and all in an obvious attempt at harnessing some of the success from the previous Disney/Bruckheimer/Verbinski/Depp collaboration, The Pirates of the Caribbean. The film is also over-long with some structural issues, like much of Gore Verbinski’s filmography, and Johnny Depp’s elaborate performance overshadows the title character and hero of the film. I also saw some unexpected assets buried beneath all of the excess the film has to offer.

 

Elysium Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna

Director/Writer: Neill Blomkamp

Producers: Neill Blomkamp, Bill Block, Simon Kinberg, Stacy Perskie, Sue Baden-Powell

Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 109 minutes

       

        Neill Blomkamp took everyone by surprise with his debut feature, District 9, able to combine cutting-edge action sequences within the socially and political relevant science fiction storyline. Elysium has all of the same things that made District 9 a success: heavy science fiction, special-effects-driven action, and a heavy-handed political message under the surface. Aside from the fact that this feels a bit more forced the second time around, District 9 was a film made in the filmmaker’s home country of South Africa with a message that was obviously personal in nature. Elysium is a Hollywood feature which makes some transparent social statements about the United States in the narrative. I found this a bit smug coming from an outsider, and Elysium tends to feel heavy-handed with cinematic soap box themes weighing the spectacle down.

 

        The biggest problem with the allegories and political subtext in Elysium is how blatantly transparent it is. The story takes place in the dystopian future year of 2154, in which Earth is ravaged and only the wealthy can afford to live a healthy life on the man-made space station called Elysium. This space station also provides perfect health care, which none of the impoverished citizens of the United States can get. It is already clear that the film is dealing with issues of universal health care and immigration, which is pounded into the audience’s head even more obviously by the fact that apparently all citizens on Earth are Hispanic and all on Elysium are white. This is an obvious attempt to advance the liberal agenda of addressing the health care and immigration issues the Unites States deals with in regards to our impoverished southern neighbors in Mexico. This entire film could have used a bit more subtlety and intelligence.

 

Insidious: Chapter 2 Blu-ray Review

     Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 24, 2013

Run Time: 106 minutes

 

 

        James Wan has made a career as a horror director by simply focusing on creepy dolls and haunted houses, and it has done wonders for him and the box office sales. 2013 alone saw two haunted house installments from Wan, including the period film based on a true story, The Conjuring, and the follow-up to 2010’s Insidious. Insidious: Chapter 2 is not as consistent as either The Conjuring, but even amidst a mediocre film from Wan we are able to see his skill and confidence as a director in this medium has increased. The over-all film is uneven, but there are still some terrifying sequences and original ideas sprinkled in this sequel.

 

        The Lambert family endured a battle with the spirit world in the first film when one of their children is under threat from a ghost wanting to take his body. In Insidious: Chapter 2, we learn more about this hereditary trait that allows members of the family to travel to the spirit world in their dreams. Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) has the same abilities as his son, learned and then forgotten in his troubled childhood, and returned to threaten his family once again in an Amityville Horror type transformation of personality. Meanwhile Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) does all that she can to protect her family from the ongoing threat.

 

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Blu-ray Review

    Actors: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Nathan Fillion, Douglas Smith

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Writers: Marc Guggenheim, Rick Riordan

Producers: Bill Bannerman, Chris Columbus, Karen Rosenfelt, Mark Morgan, Michael Barnathan

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 106 minutes

 

 

         The second in the film franchise adaptation of the popular young adult book series, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, has plenty of action and excitement to match the first film. At the same time, it almost just feels like filler material in-between a much larger story. The first film gave us necessary introductions, and while a few significant characters make their appearance within the storyline of Sea of Monsters, little within the plot of this movie seems to hold any relevance by the film’s close. Characters have a way of undying after being killed off, which makes much of the action nearly irrelevant. If each book includes a quest of some sort, this is one which has all of the urgency and none of the relevance from the first film.

 

        The mission this time around isn’t even a quest that has been given to Percy Jackson, but instead to one of the other competitive demigods. There is a barrier surrounding and protecting the camp where the half-human, half-gods train and live, and that magical shield is caused by a tree that grew where one of them was killed many years earlier. After the tree is poisoned by a familiar enemy from the first film, the only hope to save it is with the Golden Fleece, which rests on the shoulders of a brutal Cyclops. Another new addition to the storyline is Percy’s half-brother, another demigod who also happens to be a Cyclops.

 

Force of Execution Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Steven Seagal, Danny Trejo, David House, Dylan Kenin, Jenny Gabrielle

Director: Keoni Waxman

Format: Color, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 99 minutes

 

 

        It would benefit these low budget action films to have a simple plot with minimal cast, but they are always convoluted and crammed with as many recognizable faces and names as possible. Even with a large cast, the story is never simple. It is always filled with a great many unnecessary scenes of serious-faced men proving how tough they are by the way they scowl. And when the action finally does arrive, it is never as impressive as you might hope. This may have something to do with the cast of veteran action actors who were in their prime two decades ago.

 

        Ignore the list of actors starring in this movie, such as Steven Seagal, Ving Rhames and Danny Trejo. They are all in this film, but can be considered no more than supporting actors to martial arts superstar Bren Foster, who is able to bring youth and speed to the action sequences while struggling to take a stab at the acting portion of the job. Foster stars as a hitman who is disgraced and dismissed by his mob boss, Mr. Alexander (Seagal), after a prison hit goes wrong. Years later he has the chance to redeem himself when he gets caught in the middle of a gang war with Mr. Alexander and a gangster known as ‘The Iceman’ (Rhames).

 

Jayne Mansfield’s Car Blu-ray Review

     Writers: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Anchor Bay

Release Date: December 10, 2013

Run Time: 122 minutes

 

        After the major critical and financial success of Sling Blade, Billy Bob Thornton’s filmmaking debut, he paired with Miramax and the Weinstein brothers to make his sophomore feature, All the Pretty Horses. That experience was such a debacle that it took Thornton over a decade to return to the role of writer/director, with infamous stories of Weinstein control being the reason for the film’s failure. Jayne Mansfield’s Car has some spectacular moments, most of which Thornton gives to himself, but it could have used a little more focus and direction. There must be a happy medium between the Weinstein’s way and Thornton’s tendency to over-indulge, but it was not found in this film.

 

        The story follows the unlikely pairing of two families in a wholly unique situation. These narratives are very often found in wedding films, when two different families are forced to endure and appreciate the nature of someone else’s ways. Jayne Mansfield’s Car instead uses a funeral, and the two families have specific reasons to have never met before. Jim Caldwell (Robert Duvall) is the patriarch to a large southern family living in Alabama in 1969 when he receives word that his ex-wife has died. Having left him for a new family in England married to Kingsley Bedford (John Hurt), Jim never remarried and hasn’t fully recovered from the loss. When he hears that his ex-wife’s request was to be buried in Alabama, Jim grudgingly invites her new family into his home for the funeral. 

 

Battle of the Year Blu-ray Review

 

Subtitles: English

Dubbed: French

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 10, 2013

Run Time: 110 minutes

 

 

        There are so many ways to attack this film, I have to stop for a second and choose which is first. I could take the obvious digs at casting for putting an atrocious role model like Chris Brown in this film, but that’s a little too obvious. I could point out that this movie is a blatant pop-culture scheme to make B-Boys popular again, though the commercial coating over every idea in the movie makes it feel endlessly contrived. There is the strange choice to have the dance sequences with mismatched music, if any at all. There is the awful acting amidst a terrible script filled with training sequences and contrived moments of coaching from “Lost” star Josh Holloway. The complaints I have with this film are endless, and there is only one thing within it that deserves even a modicum of praise.

 

        This is obviously not the type of film people go to see because of the acting or the story. We know that there are only two possible outcomes to the film, and one is less likely than the other. This movie is not about plot, story or acting. The only thing that this film is about is B-Boy dancing, and it has some impressive sequences of that. The biggest problem is that the most impressive moments occur near the end of the film, making the first hour a test of endurance. The most difficult part to endure was watching Chris Brown’s face every moment but the one in which it gets punched by a teammate.

 

Ain’t Them Bodies Saints Blu-ray Review

    Actors: Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster

Director: David Lowery

Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 96 minutes

 

 

        I can’t think of a way to discuss David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints without simultaneously addressing the career of Terrance Malick, and that’s somewhat disappointing on many levels. In some ways this is a poetic style of filmmaking which comes down to preference, though there are also issues of originality.

 

 On one hand, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is more reminiscent of early Malick in terms of story with the visuals of some of his later work, making for a more cohesive viewing experience than a film like To the Wonder. On the other hand, like much of Malick’s recent work, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints makes me long for the films it resembles more than enjoy I actually enjoyed this one. Style is no issue for Lowery, but it often overshadows what little narrative contained within his script.    

 

One Direction: This is Us Blu-ray Review

Language: English

Subtitles: Cantonese, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: December 17, 2013

Run Time: 199 minutes

 

 

        Somehow, I had higher expectations for this documentary when I heard that Morgan Spurlock had directed it. Up to this point there was a distinct style and approach to Spurlock’s films which I enjoyed, though you would hardly know of his involvement in this commercial 92-minute love letter to the boy band manufactured on British reality television. They treat the subject with such adoration that it is clear Spurlock took a paycheck to make this mindless fluff piece. It feels even less sincere than the film Spurlock made by selling to advertisers. At least that was direct and honest, whereas this one is mindless logic and stupid sequences of these young men acting like boys.

 

        The most frustrating thing about this documentary is how little material there is which has any significance beyond fan adoration. These boys don’t seem to have much personality that is their own, and what there is remains a mystery. We get to see as they are clothed by professionals, have their hair done for them, and given music to sing on a set other people designed for them. They are so uninvolved beyond their own moments in the spotlight that their security guards actually have to chase them down and carry them to the performances. Watching their behavior and the professionals feeding off of their success is like watching parents who don’t want to say no to their unruly children in public. It’s embarrassing.

 

The Smurfs 2 Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Katy Perry, Hank Azaria, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Raja Gosnell

Writers: David N. Weiss, David Ronn, J. David Stem, Jay Scherick, Karey Kirkpatrick

Producers: Ben Haber, Jordan Kerner

Format: Multiple Formats

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Dubbed: French

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Release Date: December 3, 2013

Run Time: 105 minutes

 

 

        The origins of Smurfette are widely discussed in the world of Smurfs. Why is there only one female Smurf and where did she come from? This answer has long been a part of the Smurf mythology, and answering it becomes wonderful idea for the basic premise of The Smurfs 2. Not only do we discover that Smurfette (voiced by pop star Katy Perry) was actually created by Gargamel (Hank Azaria) as a spy to be unleashed on the Smurfs, but there are additional creations by Gargamel called the Naughties. Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette to try and discover the magic that Papa Smurf used to make her into a real Smurf.

 

        This is where the plot detours from the origin Smurf story a bit, because it is magic that made Smurfette rather than simply the love and kindness given to her from the Smurfs. This allows for a reason to kidnap Smurfette, as Gargamel attempts to create his own Smurfs for stealing their essence and becoming the world’s most famous magician. The plot wears a bit thin, but there is plenty of Smurf humor and action to keep this film from being boring. The casting of the adult characters is more likely to engage the adult audience members, while the children viewers will be enamored by the magical CGI blue creatures.

 

The Simpsons: The Sixteenth Season Blu-ray Review

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: December 3, 2013

Run Time: 527 minutes

 

 

        The weirdest part about the delayed release of past seasons of “The Simpsons” is the gap in relevance for many of the pop-culture jokes and cameos. It’s somewhat like television time capsule, but not always in the most pleasant sense. This may be the longest running animated series on television, but you can feel the desperation in some of these episodes as the writers struggle to stay relevant in a world of “South Park” and “Family Guy.”

 

        The sixteenth season has moments which are sincerely funny, others which are very obviously done merely for shock value and to push the adult humor further than before, and then there are bits which are just bad. Fortunately, there are less of the bad jokes and more of the edgy humor, but not enough of it has the charm that “The Simpsons” once had. Some of the episodes almost feel like recycled material, redone with dirtier double-entendre jokes inserted.

 

Saving General Yang Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Adam Cheng, Ekin Cheng, Vic Chau, Li Chen, Yu Bo

Director: Ronny Yu

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

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

 

 

        Saving General Yang is a solid film, though it may lack the amount of originality that would set it apart from dozens of other Chinese war epics to be released in the last decade. As engaging as the storyline and action may be, there is trouble relating to any one character or even to properly distinguish each of them from each other. The story and action often take precedence, which lightens the emotional impact of the final sequences.

 

        The film takes place in Northern China during the early Northern Song dynasty, AD 986. The great General Yang Ye (Adam Cheng) long ago killed the leader of a clan in battle, and the surviving son is determined to enact revenge for his father. He kidnaps General Yang in order to carry out the revenge, at the same time that an invading army of thousands approaches the north. Led by his first son (Ekin Cheng), General Yang’s seven sons set out on an impossible mission to bring their father home.