Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Blu-ray Review

Format: Blu-ray, Subtitled

Language: English

Subtitles: German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese

Dubbed: German

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Sony

Release Date: December 2, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2014

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

        The Poverty Row studio Columbia Pictures won 13 Academy Awards in the 1930s, and 11 of them were directed by Frank Capra. Capra was a filmmaker both loved and despised for his saccharine handling of social issues in film, each making grand statements in themes with the help of likeably quirky characters. Some criticize this style, while others revel in the pure emotional pleasure of films like It’s a Wonderful Life and You Can’t Take it With You. While there is an incredible amount of realism in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, including a recreated set of the Senate chamber, it also has the unmistakably familiar touch of Capra sentimentality.

 

Justified: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Subtitles: English, French

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 3

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Release Date: December 2, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2017

Run Time: 607 minutes

 

        Based on the short story “Fire in the Hole” by crime novelist Elmore Leonard, “Justified” works as an adaptation with room for growth. Timothy Olyphant has a strong presence as the lead, and he has plenty of experience carrying a western-type show, though this FX seriesis far more similar to “Sons of Anarchy” than “Deadwood.” The premise had begun to run a little bit thin by the third season, though the inevitable final season in sight has increased the stakes of the drama. He is still a lawman who often operates outside of conventional law, and surrounded by corruption this is often a necessary approach.

 

Dead Snow: Red Vs Dead Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Vegar Hoel, Organ Gamst, Martin Starr

Director: Tommy Wirkola

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Dubbed: Norwegian

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Run Time: 100 minutes

 

        I have a vague recollection of enjoying Dead Snow, but little about the actual film stands out in my mind. The main problem is the cookie-cutter co-ed characters and set-up that resembled numerous other horror movies. The familiarity of this set-up was only off-set by the creativity and tone of the film’s violence, though the first act forces the audience to spend far too much time with a predictable premise and disposable characters. This problem is immediately resolved in the sequel, which begins where the first film ended, with solitary survivor Martin (Vegar Hoel) battling zombies after accidentally killing his girlfriend and sawing his own arm off. This fast-paced beginning only lets up for moments, but once again filmmaker Tommy Wirkola’s strength lies in the creatively gory action.

 

What If DVD Review

     Actors: Daniel Radcliffe

Format: Multiple Formats, Subtitled, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: November 25, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2017

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

        I desperately wanted to like the romantic comedy spoof, They Came Together, because few genres of film are as formulaic and predictable. The problem with that film was the inability to exceed the sheer ridiculousness of the popular date movie narrative. Even in the attempt to mock romantic comedies, They Came Together simply resembled the worst, most contrived, formulaic and cliché of the genre; like What If. If you picture any stereotypical romantic comedy scenario, it is presented unironically somewhere in the 98-minute running-time of this fluff art.

 

Doctor Who: The Complete Eighth Series DVD Review

     Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, NTSC

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 5

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: December 9, 2014

Run Time: 602 minutes

 

 

        The world of “Doctor Who” has many rules and technicalities to the storyline, no doubt adjusted to continue the franchise from generation to generation. Among these are the specifics behind the doctor’s changing appearance through the years since his arrival in pop culture in 1963. Apparently there are a certain amount of incarnations of the same doctor over the years, which explains the change in actors playing him. The episode, “The Time of the Doctor,” marked the departure of Matt Smith and the introduction of Peter Capaldi for the eighth season. Unfortunately, “The Time of the Doctor” hasn’t been included in this collection, despite past seasons making a habit of including the traditional Christmas special.

 

Guardians of the Museum DVD Review

     Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC

Language: English (Stereo)

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: November 25, 2014

Run Time: 112 minutes

 

 

        Merely looking at the cover of the “Guardians of the Museum” DVD, one might automatically assume that this was some type of British rip-off of the popular Hollywood film franchise adapted from children’s books, A Night in the Museum. The artwork looks far too similar to go unnoticed, although the content could not be much different. Even with a cover that borders on plagiarism, “Guardians of the Museum” is a rather unique children’s educational game show. Directed at a younger audience, this show gives lessons while simultaneously using special effects and a somewhat contrived narrative to add some elements of fantasy into the historical trivia show.

 

A Very Funny Christmas DVD Review

     Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC

Language: English (Stereo)

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: November 18, 2014

Run Time: 124 minutes

 

 

        Based on the books by David Walliams, these two hour-long adaptations are not directly related to the holidays despite the conveniently titled package. “A Very Funny Christmas” merely contains two adaptations of stories by Walliams that happen to take place during the holidays. The irreverently imaginative children’s narratives could easily be watched any time of the year, but packaging them this way enhances the timeliness of the stories and sets the DVD up for holiday purchases.

 

Cartoon Network: Holiday Collection DVD Review

Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Cartoon Network

DVD Release Date: October 7, 2014

Run Time: 44 minutes

 

 

        It is that time of year again, which means many home entertainment releases that would be deemed inconsequential released during any other season. These theme DVDs are a regular occurrence year-round, but they only truly make sense with the holiday collections. Clearly designated as a stocking-stuffer gift, this collection comes with four Christmas-themed episodes from three popular Cartoon Network series.

 

A Belle for Christmas DVD Review

     Actors: Dean Cain, Kristy Swanson, Haylie Duff

Director: Jason Dallas

Writer: Jake Helgren

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: ANCHOR BAY

DVD Release Date: November 4, 2014

Run Time: 91 minutes

 

        This is a little bit strange, but as I prepared to review this typically overly-saccharine holiday film involving a dog I couldn’t help but notice that star Dean Cain has a longstanding relationship with both holiday and canine-themed family films. Along with this film, Cain has many other holiday films on his resume, including A Christmas Wedding (2006), A Nanny for Christmas (2010), The Case for Christmas (2011), Merry ExMas (2014), Small Town Santa (2014), Defending Santa (2014).

 

Premature DVD Review

     Actors: John Karna, Craig Roberts, Alan Tudyk

Director: Dan Beers

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: November 4, 2014

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

 

        Premature is a predictably typical sex comedy in nearly every way, with the exception of the time loop narrative that makes it resemble Groundhog’s Day or The Edge of Tomorrow for a high school virgin. And even the use of a time loop somehow does little to motivate originality in the screenplay, which is content to re-use the same vulgar gag repeatedly as the only source of entertainment within the film. Characters are little more than props for the repeat sex jokes and predictable outcomes, with female characters sketched out in a two-dimensional manner to fit into the male fantasy.

 

Bound by Flesh DVD Review

     Actors: Lea Thompson, Nancy Allen

Director: Leslie Zemeckis

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: October 28, 2014

Run Time: 90 minutes

 

 

        Bound by Flesh is strongest when delving into the historical context of the freak show rather than the personal lives of conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton. It isn’t that their lives aren’t interesting, but we are given very little content to help us understand or relate to them as people, beginning with the essential choice to remain conjoined despite having no medical reason to stay that way. These sisters chose to remain attached to each other, even long after their fame and careers in the entertainment industry had passed.

 

The Paradise: Season Two Blu-ray Review

    
     Format: Blu-ray, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Run Time: 464 minutes

 

        “The Paradise” is a new BBC series which has the feel of a classic literature adaptation, filled with savory melodrama and colorful characters in an immaculate Victorian setting. Season one of this delightful romance could stand alone as a miniseries by the way the story is neatly wrapped up in eight episodes, though the narrative continues with this second season. While the narrative may not be so neatly contained in a second season, the characters are increasingly endearing through a new series of obstacles and conflicts.  

 

Miss Marple Blu-ray Review

    Actors: Joan Hickson

Format: Blu-ray

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Run Time: 527 minutes

        Agatha Christie’s iconic character of Miss Marple has been played by many actresses, from Margaret Rutherford to Angela Landsbury with more adaptations inevitably on their way, but none are likely to surpass the success of the original interpretations by Joan Hickson in the 1980s and early 90s. Hickson was 78 when she was cast as Miss Marple in 1984, making her one of the oldest actresses to ever take a lead role in a television series. This collaboration resulted in twelve television film adaptations of Christie’s classic works starring Hickson, before her retirement eight years later.

 

Last Heroes of D-Day DVD Review

   

     Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: November 4, 2014

Run Time: 100 minutes

 

 

        “Last Heroes of D-Day” is a 2-part World War II documentary special about the events leading up to D-Day on June 6^th, 1944. Utilizing interviews from surviving veterans, reenactments and special effects, this special gives the top secret stories of espionage and planning that went into the calculated attack in Northern France by the Allied Forces. It is all very cutting edge and flashy, including hip young host Dan Snow.

 

Walter’s War DVD Review

       
   Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: BBC Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: November 4, 2014

Run Time: 108 minutes

 

 

        Walter Tull was a successful professional football player prior to the First World War, where he was a heroic non-commissioned officer until his death in 1918. The television movie, “Walter’s War” focuses entirely upon Tull’s time in the war, and the 53-minute TV-movie feels incomplete because of these limitations in the screenplay. This wounds the telling of this true story, but it is the cliché racial obstacles within the narrative that deals a fatal blow to the derivative screenplay from actor-turned-writer Kwame Kwei-Armah.

 

It Happened One Night Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable

Director: Frank Capra

Format: Multiple Formats, Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Criterion Collection (Direct)

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Run Time: 105 minutes

 

        This was the film which catapulted the success of the screwball comedy genre in the 1930s, not to mention its impact on the sales of undershirts in America. Made just prior to the days of Production Code censorship and restriction, It Happened One Night has a sequence which doesn’t seem anything but mild by today’s standards, but might have been cut had the film been made a year later. The scene featured Clark Gable’s character undressing, and this dashing star’s missing undershirt in this sequence suddenly gave men all over the country to skimp on this article, either for fashion or frugality.

 

I Am Ali Blu-ray Review

     Director: Clare Lewins

Writer: Clare Lewins

Producers: Clare Lewins, George Chignell, Greg Hobden

Format: Blu-ray, Ultraviolet, Widescreen

Language: Portuguese (DTS 5.1), German (DTS 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)

Subtitles: Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, English

Dubbed: Portuguese, French, German, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Rated: PG

Studio: Universal Studios

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2016

Run Time: 112 minutes

 

        Certain cultural figures never truly leave the limelight, and it feels as though there is renewed interest in their celebrity every few years through various documentary and film projects. These icons most commonly include John Lennon, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. The latter of these three has been given another documentary feature to praise his accomplishments, though I Am Ali does little to add to the cultural significance of the man. Aside from the rehashing of familiar material, the main draw of I Am Ali is commentary from those closest to him and private recordings of personal conversations with family members. For those who have no need to hear one of the greatest boxers talking in a baby voice for his children, any of the other documentaries will likely suffice.

 

22 Jump Street Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Peter Stormare, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Wyatt Russell

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Color, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, French

Dubbed: French

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony

Release Date: November 18, 2014

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2017

 

        21 Jump Street seemed like a terrible idea, along with The Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky & Hutch and every other television-to-film adaptation from decades past. In the end, it was the film’s unwillingness to take the material seriously which was ultimately the saving grace, which is why it makes sense for the post-modern, self-referential style to carry the sequel into successful comedic territory. Rather than just creating a straightforward second installment in the franchise, this quickly becomes a comedy about the ridiculousness of all buddy-action sequels. The impact of this humor was also far greater before the news of another sequel in the works, especially since the end of this film is dedicated to poking fun at that very prospect.

 

Land Ho! Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Paul Eenhoorn, Earl Lynn Nelson

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Run Time: 95 minutes

 

        Road trip films are often far more interested in the journey than the destination, but the Icelandic setting of Land Ho! makes each step of the trip feel like an arrival of sorts. The plot is minimal between the two old friends on the trip together, so all focus is on the character development, and the scenery often feels as though it has a supporting role in the narrative. This is not unlike many other road trip/vacation buddy comedies, though it does begin to feel like a travelogue for Iceland at certain points in the meandering screenplay.

 

Iceman Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang, Eva Huang, Simon Yam

Director: Law Wing Cheong

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Dubbed: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: November 11, 2014

Run Time: 104 minutes

 

        Donnie Yen has somehow gone from one of the most impressive martial arts action stars working today to becoming nothing more than a celebrity face for the latest CGI-filled blockbuster in Chinese cinema. Iceman is the latest of these poorly constructed vehicles of mass entertainment, mashing up period costume drama with modern police procedural, all filtered through the expectations of logic usually lowered for a comic book movie. There is action and humor every fifteen-minutes, all meant to entertain while distracting from the ridiculousness bursting from every frame of this film. And just in case the open-ended resolution of the film’s climax doesn’t completely turn away the audience, there are plans for a sequel to follow.