Category: DVD Review

New in Home Entertainment

Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
If you thought the first season of HBO’s hit show was big bad and bold, you ain’t seen nothing yet.  The second season sees the world in complete chaos with a seven-way game of deadly chess that is too close to call on after any turn.  HBO upped the ante with even bigger special effects and a huge battle scene.  Once again, the acting is as strong as the great writing and George R.R. Martin’s epic second book has created a season that has done nothing but make fans happy.  The set of discs itself is huge, especially with blu-ray which includes the series on DVD and digital copy as well as tons of special features sure to satisfy loyalists until March 31st when season three starts up.  A

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight – all involving teens
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Stephen Chbosky writes and directs this adaptation of his 1999 novel about a young teen starting his high school years.  While most high school movies pander to their audiences and thus turn out to be lousy movies, this story is extremely fresh and refreshingly challenging. Logan Lerman is excellent as the troubled teen while Ezra Miller and Emma Watson are perfection as his best friends.  What makes the film truly special, though, is the disturbing twist at the end that throws you for a huge loop.  I was engaged throughout the movie but was blown away by the third act.  High school films aren’t often done right, but when they are they are a highly rewarding experience.  A

Bully
Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, disturbing content, and some strong language – all involving kids
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Bullying in schools has always been an issue, but until recently it has been the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.  In this new documentary bullying is exposed and discussed in detail.  The filmmakers were able to observe some horrific moments that many kids across the country are forced to deal with and come away with some shocking situations that will have you in tears.  Originally rated R for language used, the film has been edited to get a PG-13 in order to obtain the much needed wider audience.  The movie does a good job of pushing emotional buttons and is ultimately a must watch for parents and students both.  A-

Skyfall
Rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In Bond’s latest adventure, Daniel Craig in his third outing as Bond finds himself paring up against an evil ex-agent (Javier Bardem) who is determined to seek his revenge against M (Judi Dench).  Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and photographed by the legendary Roger Deakins (The Shawshank Redemption) , the film, for the most part is expertly crafted with some very good performances.  In fact, it really feels like the best Bond yet until the very faulty third act which is full of errors and story problems.  My biggest issue is that from the moment you meet Bardem’s evil villain, he is dead set on a very intimate deadly encounter with M, but his penultimate attack comes from two waves of henchmen before he jumps in at the end.  I’m not trying to spoil anything, but if the story was consistent, we shouldn’t have even seen the henchman.  It’s stereotypical and a rather lazy way to end what should have been an awesome movie.  B-

Flight
Rated R for drug and alcohol abuse, language, sexuality/nudity and and intense action sequence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Denzel Washington puts on an Oscar-nominated performance in this film about a pilot addicted to alcohol and drugs who is investigated after making a dangerous maneuver that ended up saving the lives of most of the people on his plane.  While he is most definitely a hero for his actions, he has demons that so deeply effect him that its hard not to have mixed emotions on how you feel about his character.  Personally I found myself really disgusted by him but really wanting him to wake up and do right and live up to his potential.  To follow his character’s arch is extremely painful but highly rewarding.  So while this is not an easy film to watch, it certainly is a powerful piece of cinema worth checking out.  A

Paul Williams Still Alive
Rated PG-13 for drug references and brief strong language
Available on DVD
Fascinated with the life of Paul Williams, the multiple Oscar and Grammy award winning songwriter and 70’s icon, filmmaker Stephen Kessler set out to discover more about his life and death.  But then he discovered that he was actually still alive.  Following him around for a lengthy period of time, Kessler attempts to dive deep into what made Williams famous to begin with and what his life is like now.  While I had seen his face and heard his music, I had no idea who Paul Williams actually was before watching this documentary and I became very quickly fascinated.  His career took a nose-dive after years of alcohol and drug abuse but due to being sober for almost 20 years, his life has turned around and he is a much better human being, helping others who have been in similar situations.  It feels more like a television special than a theatrically released motion picture, but I do think it will be an enjoyable and nostalgic ride for many of his fans.  B-

Peter Pan: Diamond Edition
Rated G
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
The 1953 Disney classic is finally getting the hi def treatment in this new blu-ray release.  Following the adventures of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy and her brothers as they face the sinister Captain Hook, the movie obviously looks better than ever in this new crisp and clean edition.  Somewhat disappointing is the new documentary about what it was like to grow up with the Nine Old Men (the nicknames given to the infamous Disney artists).  There are some nice new features such as the artwork that frames the movie on your widescreen television.  B+

Side by Side
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
For those cinephiles out there that really want to know what the directors and cinematographers think about digital vs traditional film, this documentary is for you.  Keanu Reeves takes us on a journey interviewing filmmakers like James Cameron (Avatar), David Fincher (Social Network), George Lucas (Star Wars) and many other top names to get their takes on new vs old when it comes to capturing images for our movies.  For the right crowd, this is a fascinating and entertaining documentary.  For the other 90% of people out there – it will be nothing more than a boring and nerdy film class.  B+

Seven Psychopaths
Rated R for strong violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From Martin McDonagh, writer/director of the brilliant indie In Bruges, comes this equally dark little comedy about a struggling writer (Colin Farrell) who gets mixed up with his friend’s (Sam Rockwell) dog kidnapping racket.  When they accidentally kidnap the Shih Tzu of the meanest gangster in LA (Woody Harrelson), they find themselves in way over their heads.  The film has everything you expect in that its well-acted, well-written and darkly funny in a twisted and wrong way.  Where it doesn’t work is that the story itself, in regards to its title, isn’t nearly as clever or relevant as it thinks it is.  So while you laugh a lot and are completely engaged (and a little disturbed) you’ll most likely not regard the movie as a substantial piece of cinema, as In Bruges most certainly was.  B+

The Impossible
Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland
Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage)
Rated PG-13 for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity

    Based on a true story, a young family is vacationing in Southeast Asia when a brutal tsunami hits their resort, changing their lives forever.  Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play the parents of three young boys who are washed away during the tragedy and must somehow find each other again even though they are spread out all over the region that is touched with death and destruction.

    The first half of  this film is absolutely riveting.  The special effects are huge and the sets are very impressive.  The filmmakers set out to make you feel like you are in the water’s way and by the time things calm down you are out of breath and exhausted.  I can do nothing but applaud all of their efforts in the first half of the film.

    But then the second half hits.  My intention is to not give things away, but lets just say that the second half is just too convenient and too nice.  The film goes from being a huge blockbuster to a movie-of-the-week in rapid fashion.  The story is the story and if this is how this family turned out then they are to be congratulated for being so blessed.  Unfortunately the script suffers from it.  I think they could have handled this differently and created a much better finale, but that’s not what we get.

    Very deserving of her Oscar nomination for the picture, Naomi Watts is fantastic as the mother who would sacrifice anything to save her son.  It’s a touching performance and one of her best.  Left out of the awards season this year is the equally amazing Ewan McGregor who could bring anyone to tears in his turn as the desperate father and husband.  In fact there are many tear-inducing moments and even though most of them are brought on in a manipulative fashion, they are still earned, giving the movie a gravity that you almost expect but are ill-prepared for.

January 15, 2013

Farewell My Queen
Rated R for brief graphic nudity and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
French with English subtitles
Set during the French Revolution only a few days before Marie Antoinette and King Louis lose their heads, a young servant develops a close and dangerous relationship with the queen.  Starring Diane Kruger and Lea Seydoux, both former stars of Inglourious Basterds, this is a beautiful-looking film with an art-house feel due to all of the scenes taken from the point-of-view of the young maiden.  Having recently been to Versailles, I was particularly taken with the opulence and emptiness of the royal wing I experienced from the tour and the opposite feel of the grittiness and chaos of the servants’ area.  Its a fascinating picture with a phenomenal sense of dread of what awaits the unsuspecting royals.  I’m surprised they didn’t try to give this film an awards push being that it has received particularly good reviews, has a couple of known foreign actors and is overall a rather impressive period drama. B+

The Possession
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving violence and disturbing sequences
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After buying a unique antique box at a garage sale, a young girl becomes possessed by the demon hidden within.  This sort of Jewish Exorcist is led by the very capable Jeffrey Dean Morgan but the supporting cast is quite awful and the story is just lame.  I think the film has some potential, but it is unfortunately never realized.  C-

The Other Dream Team
Available on DVD
Most everyone knows the story of the American Dream Team in basketball, but during the 1992 Olympics the newly free Lithuanians and their basketball team, along with the help of the Grateful Dead, became symbols of Lithuania’s independence movement when they took on the Soviet team for the bronze medal.  This documentary is an inspiring look at the struggle of the Lithuanian people and how a little sport was able to bring them back their dignity and national pride.  Well-filmed in a style that will keep even a non-sports fan glued to the screen, The Other Dream Team tells a moving story without once getting sappy.  A-

New in Home Entertainment

January 8, 2013

Frankenweenie
Rated PG for thematic elements, scary images and action
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
This year saw several horror-based animated films including Hotel Transylvania and ParaNorman but the one that was most impressive was the Tim Burton directed stop-motion animated movie based on one of Burton’s early short films.  This great coming of age story about a young boy who reanimates his dog after a tragic accident is a charming and fun-filled adventure that is easily enjoyable for anyone.  It took in a relatively small box office, probably due to being in good old scary black and white but the film is surprising on many levels.  What is most noticeable is the creativity that went into the project.  What is most shocking is the lack of Johnny Depp who didn’t voice a single character.  But never fear, Burton friends Winona Ryder and Martin Landau, among many others, turn in great voice performances.  A-

Looper
Rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality/nudity and drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This futuristic actioner follows Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a young assassin hired to kill folks who are sent back in time to be disposed of.  When he faces his older self, played by Bruce Willis, he botches the hit and must find a way to track him down and kill him before his criminal boss does the same to him.  This low-budget sci-fi flick proves that it doesn’t take big money to bring a big idea to screen.  The script by writer/director Rian Johnson is sure to get much awards play and overall the film is a trippy blast to watch.  A-

Total Recall
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, some sexual content, brief nudity, and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I’ll admit that I skipped this one in theaters simply because the trailers made it look like a very lame ripoff of the original 1990 Schwarzenegger sci-fi classic.  I’m a big fan of the campy original and didn’t want to see an unnecessary modern remake.  Since this new one was a dud at the box office, I can assume that many others felt the same way.  I was shocked then to see that this new re-imagining of the Philip K. Dick short story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale” is a completely different, almost unrecognizable story that really only relates to the 1990 version through character names and very basic ideas.  I was impressed with the huge set pieces and the futuristic creations.  I was unimpressed with Kate Beckinsale’s character (originally played by Sharon Stone) who has this uncontrollable urge to kill Colin Farrell (the film’s hero).  The motive seems weak and plot holes abound with this misstep.  Also, the film lacks any of the fun and perverse sense of humor of the original, which is one of the main reasons people loved it so much to begin with.  C+

Killer Joe: Unrated Director’s Cut
Unrated – contains strong and disturbing violence, sexuality, graphic nudity, drug use and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on the play by Tracy Letts, “Killer Joe” (Matthew McConaughey) is a Dallas detective who makes some extra money on the side as a hit man.  When Emile Hirsch hires him to take out his mother in order to collect her life insurance, a chain reaction of twisted bad luck ensues.  Directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist), the film is a demented and sick journey that is hard to take your eyes off of.  McConaughey is especially great in the title role and plays it to his over-the-top best.  B+

Arbitrage
Rated R for language, brief violent images and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When a wealthy hedge-fund magnate (Richard Gere) finds himself in a car accident which leaves his mistress dead, he runs away from the scene, afraid of what the events could do to his personal and professional life.  This little indie proves to be a riveting drama, giving Gere perhaps his best performance ever.  The well-written script by writer/director Nicholas Jarecki drives you to mixed emotions.  Gere is a detestable human being, but yet you can’t help but be fascinated at the lengths he will go to in order to clear himself from the crime.  B+

Sleepwalk with Me
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray 
Comedian Mike Birbiglia writes, directs and stars in this film about a young aspiring comedian who meanders in his relationship with his girlfriend (wonderfully played by Laruen Ambrose) and his career as he struggles with his dangerous sleepwalking affliction.  Funny, refreshing and reflective accurately describe this indie comedy which won the Audience Award at Sundance.  Overall it’s a light and highly enjoyable short movie that you’ll be glad you took a look at.  A-