REAL MOVIE NEWS

Ticket to Paradise Blu-ray Review

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

MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

Release date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2022

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

The Good Boss Blu-ray Review

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

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

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

Entre Nous Blu-ray Review

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

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

A Knife in the Head Blu-ray Review

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

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

Alienoid Blu-ray Review

MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Release date ‏ : ‎ December 6, 2022

For those who think that Hollywood is the only film industry to capitalize on big, dumb, spectacle-driven films, Alienoid is solid proof that this isn’t true. Not only is this South Korean full of overblown action sequences, tons of special effects, and cheesy humor, it is also a cliffhanger with the sequel already filmed and planned for future release. Because the sign of a successful blockbuster is no longer a stand-alone film but the potential for a franchise, Alienoid could be seen as accomplishing this assuming audiences are interested enough to return for the continuation of the narrative. Personally, I found myself underwhelmed. Then again, I have had the same experience with a majority of thriving Hollywood franchises as well.

Monsieur Hire Blu-ray Review

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

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

Emergency Declaration Blu-ray Review

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

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

Hansan: Rising Dragon Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Kim Han-min
Actors ‏ : ‎ Park Hae-il, Byun Yo-Han, Ahn Sung-Ki, Son Hyun-Joo, Kim Sung-Kyu
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 10 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2022
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Following up The Admiral: Roaring Currents, Hansan: Rising Dragon is a prequel and the second in a planned trilogy about the naval battles led by Joseon Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (Park Hae-il). Given the massive box office success of the first South Korean historical epic, Hansan wisely does not try to reinvent the first film’s structure, but instead just recreates another famous military battle at sea. While there is action and spectacle to satisfy the audiences, Hansan also has a meticulous eye for historical accuracy in every aspect of the storytelling, similar to Ron Maxwell’s American Civil War films, Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

The Witch 2: The Other One Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Park Hoon-Jung
Actors ‏ : ‎ Shin Sia, Park Eun-Bin, Seo Eun-Soo, Jin Goo, Sung Yu-Been
Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ South Korea
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 18 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ November 8, 2022

For many years we could see the impact of cinema on television, with sitcoms shifting from the staged three-camera theatrical set-up to the open style of single-camera shows and the finality of limited series. In more recent years, it has also felt like television has had an impact on movies, with loose ends intentionally left for sequels and opening up possibilities for cinematic universes. This sequel to The Witch: Subversion has this impact, beginning a new strand of the narrative rather than continuing the original story. The Witch 2: The Other one adds more to the existing universe, but audiences may be disappointed to find that the primary purpose seems to be setting up the next film.

No Escape Blu-ray Review

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

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

Going Places Blu-ray Review

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

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

A Fugitive From the Past Blu-ray Review

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

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

Drive Ultra HD Review

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

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

Beast Blu-ray Review

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

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

Outlander: Season Six Blu-ray Review

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

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

Massacre at Central High Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Renee Daalder
Actors ‏ : ‎ Robert Carradine, Kimberly Beck, Andrew Stevens, Derrel Maury
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
Distributer ‏ : ‎ Synapse Films
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 28 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ September 13, 2022

Although the title sounds like a slasher film, the killer of Massacre at Central High is never a mystery to anyone, audience included. Instead, the film plays out like an after-school special about bullying with excessive violence and nudity. You can almost imagine how it could be remade today as a heavy drama in the same vein as We Need to Talk About Kevin, but is instead an odd mix of camp and self-serious teen melodrama in this 1976 release. Even though the film approaches the narrative more realistically than a slasher, there is nothing remotely believable about Massacre at Central High.

Preman: Silent Fury Blu-ray Review

Director ‏ : ‎ Randolph Zaini
Actors ‏ : ‎ Khiva Iskak, Muzakki Ramdhan, Kiki Narendra, Paul Agusta, Gilbert Pattiruhu
Media Format ‏ : ‎ Subtitled, Widescreen
Studio ‏ : ‎ Well Go Usa
MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Indonesia
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 32 minutes
Release date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2022

Often it is more significant what the protagonist does in an action film, rather than what they say. For this reason, the hero being deaf in Preman: Silent Fury allows for the emphasis to remain on the action elements. For much of the buildup, the protagonist is a silent observer, until he decides to make his stance known through violence. This is a wonderful setup for an action movie, but it is unfortunately let down by the execution of Preman’s narrative.

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