New in Home Entertainment
May 24, 2016
Risen
Rated PG-13 for Biblical violence including some disturbing images
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From Sony and Waterworld director Kevin Reynolds comes this faith based Biblical epic about a Roman Tribune (Shakespeare In Love’s Joseph Fiennes) who is tasked by Pontius Pilate to investigate the disappearance of the body of Jesus shortly after his crucifixion. While the story of Christ has been told many different times and in many different ways, none has ever been approached from the point of view of the Romans left to try to put the pieces together. It’s a brilliant take on the greatest story ever told and the project was expertly executed. While the budget was modest, the film sure doesn’t look it. The production is top notch and the majority of the cast are made up of very solid actors. Overall I just loved that Fiennes was placed to be our eyes and ears, witnessing an event that was on its way to reshape the world. The whole thing is an enlightening experience to anyone who wants it to be one. As an aside, I’ve always thought that most Christian or faith-based films are made exclusively for Christians and are usually lower in quality productions with poor in-your-face scripting and even worse acting. That is not the case with Risen where the script, production and acting are all on a much higher level and the film can be watched, interpreted and appreciated by Christians and non-Christians alike. A-
The Finest Hours
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of peril
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 63%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In 1952 a daring Coast Guard crew set out on a rescue mission to bring back a group of men whose ship was destroyed in a blizzard. It is one of the most famous rescues in Coast Guard history and in this family-friendly rescue film from Disney, the tale is immortalized with Chris Pine and a talented group of actors behind it. Unfortunately, even though the film is less than two hours, it feels much, much longer. The back story and personal life of the hero feels forced and the sequences with the crew on the destroyed ship aren’t nearly developed enough, giving you the feeling that a lot of time is wasted. You get the sense that a great rescue took place but I lost interest long before it did. C
How to Be Single
Rated R for sexual content and strong language throughout
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The latest in the multiple story comedy sub-genre is this tale of four single women in various life stages living single in NYC. Starring Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann and Alison Brie, the film has some very funny moments but the project pales in comparison to the far superior Sex and the City and Girls franchises which serve up much better images of practically the same tales. C+
Zoolander 2
Rated PG-13 crude and sexual content, a scene of exaggerated violence, and brief strong language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 24%
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
15 years after the events of the surprisingly good Zoolander, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell are back for another round of fashion thriller comedy madness. This time out, Derek Zoolander (Stiller) comes out of hiding and is forced to team up with his former partner/now rival Hansel (Wilson), to once again stop the evil plot of the fashion uber-villain Mugatu (Ferrell). I’m not sure anyone was screaming for another Zoolander film but one was churned out anyway only to be met with a lousy box office and rightfully lousy reviews. The jokes are stale (fifteen years stale to be exact), and the whole movie is completely irrelevant with hardly a laugh to be found anywhere. F