Phantasm IV: Oblivion Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Angus Scrimm;A. Michael Baldwin;Reggie Bannister
• Director: Don Coscarelli
• Disc Format: Digital Sound, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Language: English (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Rated: R
• Studio: Well Go Usa
• Release Date: September 18, 2018
• Run Time: 90 minutes

        Easily the most confusing film since the original, I had no idea what was happening through much of Phantasm IV: Oblivion. It does the familiar plot structure lifted from the previous films in the franchise, which mostly features Reggie hitting on young women he meets on his journey to find/help Mike. There is creative gore and some beyond surreal sequences, with none of the coherence from the previous two films. Fans of filmmaker Don Coscarelli’s bizarre world may appreciate the continuation of carnage, but most will recognize that the ideas that were once boldly original must continually be reinvented, and Phantasm IV is not always successful in this endeavor.

Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Angus Scrimm;A. Michael Baldwin;Reggie Bannister
• Director: Don Coscarelli
• Disc Format: Digital Sound, Dolby, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Rated: R
• Studio: Well Go Usa
• Release Date: September 18, 2018
• Run Time: 92 minutes

Although it may mostly just be more of the same bizarre supernatural horror as the first sequel, and in some ways it is an even more blatant attempt to recapture some of the successful elements of the first film, I tend to like Phantasm III more than any of the other sequels in the franchise. Even though they had distribution established, Phantasm III was made independently of a studio, allowing director Don Coscarelli to retain his artistic freedom once again. This meant the return of A. Michael Baldwin, as well as some of the franchise’s most graphic scenes of violence.

The Escape DVD Review

• Actors: Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper
• Director: Dominic Savage
• Disc Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: IFC Independent Film
• DVD Release Date: August 14, 2018
• Run Time: 101 minutes

        Despite a title that sounds like a thriller or action vehicle of some sort, The Escape is as minimalistic as filmmaking gets. It is a character study that only allows us an outside view of the character. Although we spend nearly all of the running time with a single character, it is possible to get to the end of the film without having much insight into what is going on internally. The Escape is singularly focused on the depression of a mother and wife in London, but it only allows the audience a surface view of the emotional distress, and the result is often less than sympathetic.

Operation Red Sea Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Zhang Yi;Huang Jingyu;Hai Qing;Du Jiang
• Director: Dante Lam
• Disc Format: Color, Digital Sound, Dolby, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Language: Mandarin Chinese (Dolby Digital 5.1), Mandarin Chinese (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Well Go USA
• Release Date: July 24, 2018
• Run Time: 139 minutes

        Although not quite a sequel, Operation Red Sea is the continuation of a franchise, of sorts, following up 2016’s Operation Mekong. The films don’t share characters or continue any storylines from the previous film, but both are based on true stories of Chinese military heroics and directed by action filmmaker Dante Lam. The films are both patriotic, to the point of nearly feeling like recruitment videos for military service, and are dedicated to creating realistic battle scenes.

Traffik Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Paula Patton, Omar Epps, Laz Alonso, Roselyn Sanchez, Dawn Olivieri
• Director: Deon Taylor
• Disc Format: NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R
• Studio: Lions Gate
• Release Date: July 17, 2018
• Run Time: 96 minutes

        Traffik may be well intentioned in its message, but it is contradictorily sordid in its approach. While the film may be book-ended with reminders of the ugly truth about sex trafficking in the United States, most of the content in the film is far more interested in ridiculous B-film thrills than an accurate depiction of the social issue of choice. Even more disconcerting in a film about the buying and selling of women is the blatant objectification of the female form along the way. There is nothing wrong with a little eroticism, but steamy sex scenes and a constantly bra-less heroine just feels tasteless in a movie about sex trafficking.

Blockers Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, John Cena
• Director: Kay Cannon
• Writers: Brian Kehoe, Jim Kehoe
• Producers: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, James Weaver, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
• Disc Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: R
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: July 3, 2018
• Run Time: 102 minutes

        Ever since the teen film re-emerged from the days of James Dean to the coming-of-age films of the 1980s, the genre adopted a far franker discussion of sex. Sex and teen films often go hand-in-hand now, and after nearly three decades of movies about teenagers losing their virginity, one would think that there is nothing new left to discover. Some reviewers have pointed out the gender reversal of the typical sex comedy as the defining new element of Blockers, but I actually found the inclusion of the parental figures a far more original element of the film. Not only is the film about the teenagers, but an equal amount of time is spent with the parents as they come to terms with their daughters growing up, in the most haphazard and comical ways possible.

Flower DVD Review

• Actors: Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Tim Heidecker
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R
• Studio: Lions Gate
• DVD Release Date: June 19, 2018
• Run Time: 90 minutes

        Flower sold itself as a coming-of-age film, albeit one that’s primary goal seems to be creating a protagonist whose amoral behavior is intentionally shocking. But as transparent as this character development may be, it does little to prepare the audience for a complete shift in tone and story in the final act. Flower isn’t one movie, but two crammed into the same narrative, and the really sad thing is how completely it manages to fail at both of them.

Pacific Rim Uprising 4K Ultra HD Review

• Actors: John Boyega;Scott Eastwood;Jing Tian;Cailee Spaeny;Rinko Kikuchi;Burn Gorman;Adria Arjona;Jin 'Max' Zhang;Charlie Day
• Director: Steven S. DeKnight
• Disc Format: 4K, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: PG-13
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: June 19, 2018
• Run Time: 111 minutes

        Some sequels are never asked for, because the original was never so loved that it demanded more screen time. But Pacific Rim Uprising doesn’t feel like a sequel, despite a few minor characters returning. Instead, it feels like a complete reboot of the idea, complete with new protagonists and focus shifted even more towards escapist entertainment. And one would also have to be extremely naïve not to realize the extent that Pacific Rim Uprising is tailor-made to be exported to the Asian film markets. Despite the American cast, the Pacific Rim franchise is built upon the giant monster (Kaiju) sub-genre that was first popularized in Japan.

Unsane 4K Ultra HD Review

• Actors: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Jay Pharoah, Juno Temple, Aimee Mullins
• Director: Steven Soderbergh
• Writers: Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer
• Producer: Joseph Malloch
• Disc Format: 4K, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: R
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: June 19, 2018
• Run Time: 99 minutes

        Steven Soderbergh is a director as comfortable making popcorn entertainment as he is experimenting with the medium, and sometimes he even accomplishes these two things simultaneously. Having already been one of the innovators of digital cinema, Soderbergh’s decision to shoot Unsane entirely on iPhones is not entirely surprising, although it also runs the risk of being more distraction than asset to the narrative. Even though I respect Soderbergh’s creativity, the approach in this film feels more like a gimmick, which is even more disappointing by the fact that he is not even the first to do this (Academy-Award-nominated Tangerine was also shot on an iPhone in 2015).

Will & Grace: The Revival: Season One DVD Review

• Actors: Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally
• Disc Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Portuguese (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: Portuguese, French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 12, 2018
• Run Time: 337 minutes

        If you watched and loved the original “Will & Grace” series, there is plenty to get excited about with their return. The writing is as witty as it ever was, and the characters haven’t changed much despite the lengthy hiatus and the inevitability of aging (at least outside of Hollywood). But this also may be something of a double-edged sword, if only because the return of these characters basically dismisses the resolution of the original series. If you truly cared about these characters during their first run, the need to return them to a dysfunctional state in order to create the necessary drama for the series feels a bit lazy.

Love, Simon Blu-ray Review

• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Surround)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: Spanish, French
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: PG-13
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Release Date: June 12, 2018
• Run Time: 110 minutes

        I’ll admit, I was skeptical of Love, Simon upon first viewing the trailer. Arriving on the heels of last year’s award season, which included a LGBT coming-of-age drama and an independent high school comedy, the release of Love, Simon felt perfectly timed, whether coincidental or opportunistic. Ironically, I found myself enjoying Love, Simon more than either of the award-season films it resembles. There is a sincerity to this film which aligns it closer to a John Hughes film than any number of other imitators we’ve had since the 1980s.

The Two of Us Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Michel Simon, Roger Carel, Paul Preboist, Luce Fabiole
• Director: Claude Berri
• Disc Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: French
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: May 29, 2018
• Run Time: 87 minutes

        Long before Roberto Benigni combined the tragedy of the Holocaust with the comedy of physical humor in Life is Beautiful, French filmmaker Claude Berri made his directorial debut with The Two of Us. Groundbreaking in its depiction of a terrifying time through the filter of childlike wonder, The Two of Us is sentimental and heartwarming without ever sacrificing a sense of realism. Few films are able to give this period such respect without relying on heavy melodrama and tragedy, but even fewer are able to capture the humor without ignoring the tragedy.

The Strangers: Prey at Night Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman
• Director: Johannes Roberts
• Writers: Bryan Bertino, Ben Ketai
• Producers: James Harris, Wayne Marc Godfrey, Mark Lane, Robert Jones, Ryan Kavanaugh
• Disc Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
• Subtitles: Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: June 12, 2018
• Run Time: 86 minutes

        Horror movies seem to have the highest likelihood for sequels out of each of the genres. This can require an uphill battle for the screenwriter, however, as most horror movies end with the death of the villain. Although The Strangers is a unique horror movie in that none of the villains were dispatched by the conclusion, the sequel has still reinvented the formula somewhat. The first film built up the suspense by creating empathy for the characters. That way the horror was tied to the audience caring for the characters in danger, rather than any graphic blood or gore. Although the premise of home invasion remains the same, the emphasis on what is important has shifted from emotions to pure visceral thrills for the long-awaited sequel.

Jurassic Park: 25th Anniversary Collection 4K Ultra HD Review

• Actors: Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Chris Pratt, Laura Dern, Julianne Moore
• Directors: Colin Trevorrow, Joe Johnston, Steven Spielberg
• Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Peter Buchman, Derek Connolly, Alexander Payne
• Producers: Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, Kathleen Kennedy, Larry Franco
• Disc Format: 4K, Box set, Limited Edition, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: Japanese (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1), Portuguese (DTS 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: Portuguese, French, Japanese, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 8
• Rated: PG-13
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: May 22, 2018
• Run Time: 474 minutes

        In the age of digital copies and endless streaming options, there always seems to be something to watch. This leaves only a few reasons remaining for actual physical copies of films, and the latest release of the Jurassic Park collection hits them all. The first reason is the anniversary of a movie’s release, and this latest collection of the Jurassic Park franchise coincides with the 25^th anniversary of the first groundbreaking film. The second reason for a re-release is to coincide with a new installment in the franchise. This simultaneously gives fans the opportunity to refresh their memories before Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is released this summer, while also serving as retail advertising. Finally, the last reason to choose a physical copy over streaming is quality, and the 4K Ultra HD release is the best option for that.

Fifty Shades Freed 4K Ultra HD Review

• Actors: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson, Rita Ora, Luke Grimes
• Director: James Foley
• Writer: Niall Leonard
• Producers: Michael De Luca, E L James, Dana Brunetti, Marcus Viscidi
• Film Format: 4K, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: May 8, 2018
• Run Time: 111 minutes

        I mean, do I really need to say it. I feel as though every critic—amateur and professional—has already taken a shot at this film and the terrible trilogy that it completes. As much as I would like to go against the grain, to have an original opinion, Fifty Shades Freed does not make it easy for me. As bad as the last two films were, the last installment is something even worse: boring.

Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Jamie Kennedy, Tanya van Graan, Jamie-Lee Money, Michael Gross
• Director: Don Michael Paul
• Writer: John Whelpley
• Producer: Mike Elliott
• Film Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Rated:  PG-13
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: May 1, 2018
• Run Time: 98 minutes

        In the latest installment of a franchise that Universal has kept alive in their Home Entertainment division far longer than anyone asked for, Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell promises new twists, though it doesn’t always deliver. The desert-dwelling creatures are found in the frozen terrain of the arctic tundra, but even with a change in setting, the film mostly just provides more of the same silly comedy-horror nonsense. Even the new setting rarely feels original, as much of the movie takes place in an area of the arctic with absolutely no snow, and it just ends up looking like every other Tremors film.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson
• Director: Christian Gudegast
• Writer: Christian Gudegast
• Producers: Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Mark Canton, Tucker Tooley
• Film Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
• Subtitles: Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
• Rated: Not Rated
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: April 24, 2018
• Run Time: 149 minutes

        Originality is not the strong suit of Den of Thieves, but if it was going to be derivative, at least the film appears to be influenced by good movies. The end result is an entertaining if mostly forgettable crime film in the vein of Heat, The Town, and numerous other far better films. It is a bit too long for the entire film to sustain the level of macho energy that the cast tries to exude, and the action is too sparse for the amount that these scenes are built up in the plot. But if you like movies about skilled criminals or rule-breaking cops, there are worse choices for mindless entertainment.

Insidious: The Last Key Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Lin Shaye
• Director: Adam Robitel
• Producers: Oren Peli, Jason Blum, James Wan
• Film Format: AC-3, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Dubbed: Spanish
• Audio Description: English
• Region: All Regions
• Rated: PG-13
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: April 3, 2018
• Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31,
• Run Time: 103 minutes

        Most horror franchises stay alive due to the return of the monster, with a few rare exceptions following the protagonist from the original narrative instead. Insidious: The Last Key continues its story by instead returning to one of the supporting characters from the first films, and while elements from the past films can still be found, it is clearly an example of diminishing returns. In fact, the only notable thing about Insidious: The Last Key is the fact that it may be the first example of a horror movie for the Me Too movement.

Braven Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Jason Momoa, Zahn McClarnon, Jill Wagner, Stephen Lang
• Director: Lin Oeding
• Film Format: NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Rated: R
• Studio: LIONSGATE
• Release Date: April 10, 2018
• Run Time: 94 minutes

        Braven is an old school action film, but almost to a fault. The narrative has the simplicity of a lot of great 80s action films, relying greatly on the masculinity of its star and the creativity of its set pieces and fight choreography. While Braven rests easily on the persona of Jason Momoa, it is just a shame that the film doesn’t now what to do with him. The basic premise of the film and the action star all seem set up for success, and yet it never takes off the way it should thanks to uninspired action.

Molly’s Game Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong
• Director: Aaron Sorkin
• Writer: Aaron Sorkin
• Producers: Mark Gordon, Amy Pascal, Matt Jackson
• Film Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: Spanish, English
• Region: Region A/1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Rated: R
• Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: April 10, 2018
• Run Time: 141 minutes

        Molly’s Game is a fitting choice for Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut, filled with the type of intelligent characters and sharp dialogue that he is known for as a writer. Based on the book by Molly Bloom, the film follows the true exploits of a former Olympic skier who used her education and ambition to run a number of exclusive high-stakes poker games in Los Angles and New York. When the FBI arrests her for possible illegal activities in the games, Molly (Jessica Chastain) is forced to defend herself with the help of criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba).