Posts

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – August 27, 2013



New in Home Entertainment

August 27, 2013

Pain & Gain
Rated R for bloody violence, crude sexual content, nudity, language throughout and drug use
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
So what was my biggest surprise this summer in theaters?  This little comedy by tentpole extraordinaire Michael Bay about the dumbest bodybuilders you’ve ever witnessed (Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson) who attempt to kidnap a local businessman and steal his life.  Oh yeah – and it’s based on a true story.  It’s the most unbelievable true story you can possibly imagine.  I went in sure I was going to hate it and ended up having a blast.  And it was still fun the second time watching it at home.  A-

Kon-Tiki
Rated PG-13 for a disturbing violent sequence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on the classic novel by Thor Heyerdahl, this Academy Award nominated film (Best Foreign Language Film – Norway), follows Thor and a group of adventurers who attempt to prove that Peruvians could have been the first inhabitants of Tahiti by taking a balsa wood raft and floating there using only the winds and currents to guide them.  Masterfully directed and produced, the film is a fascinating and beautiful two hour adventure.  And if you hate subtitles, the filmmakers actually made an English language version at the same time they made the Norwegian, so you won’t have the distraction of dubbing.  A

Amour
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material including a disturbing act, and for brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
French with English Subtitles
From acclaimed director Michael Heneke comes this story about an elderly couple that undergoes an extreme hardship when the wife becomes terminally ill.  This heartbreaking drama won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.  Personally I found it to be lovely but rather dismal.  Like most of Heneke’s films, this one is challenging to watch but still beautiful in its own regard.  A-

The Great Gatsby
Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Director Baz Luhrmann’s (Moulin Rouge) visionary new production starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the famed Gatsby is one of the few movies I would ever suggest the need for 3D.  Luhrmann’s style is far from subtle but it is unique and stunning at times.  The performances are rather good, but just like the famous book it’s based on, the film is pretty darn depressing after the partying is over.  Still, this is definitely the kind of film that could grow on you and it is certainly one you’ll want to show off your 3D TV with.  B

The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
I was certain that after creator Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) left the project that this zombie serial would run into a wall, but it turns out the writing is still strong and and performances are even stronger.  And boy do I love the twists!  I’m not alone when I say that this is one of my favorite things to watch on TV and can’t wait to see what’s in store for season 4.  A

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – August 20, 2013

New in Home Entertainment

August 20, 2013

Epic
Rated PG for mild action, some scary images and brief rude language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
When a teenage girl is forced to live with her eclectic scientist father, she accidentally finds herself miniaturized and forced into a battle between good and evil in the natural world.  On first hearing about this new animated film I was very excited and had the highest hopes.  While the movie didn’t live up to my expectations, it did deliver an action-packed  adventure that felt geared almost more to adults than children.  I also fully expected a preachy environmental film and refreshingly, that was far from the case here.  Instead of a message, you simply get a story that is fun enough to keep you entertained for about a hundred minutes.  B-

Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Third Season
Rated TV-MA
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) is back in HBO’s hit series about Atlantic City during the prohibition era.  It’s hard to build on a season like number two with its shocking conclusion, but the third takes it up a notch, largely due to the introduction of the absolutely insane  and unpredictable Bobby Cannavale.  While Michael Shannon’s side story seems a little far-fetched, the rest of the show keeps you biting your fingernails for twelve thrilling episodes, just in time to set you up for season four starting on September 8th.  A-

Posted on

Jobs

Jobs
Starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad and Dermot Mulroney
Directed by Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote)
Rated PG-13 for some drug content and brief strong language

    Apple founder Steve Jobs is easily considered to be one of the most important people in modern history and telling his life’s story on film had to be a daunting challenge.  In this new biopic Ashton Kutcher takes on the iconic role telling the tale of the infamous Apple founder and what brought him to greatness.  

    I’m sure many will predict that Kutcher will be the reason for the film’s failure without even seeing it.  After all, he’s not exactly known as being one of the greatest actors in Hollywood.  Surprisingly, his performance here is good enough.  And that’s saying a lot.  He looks and talks the part just fine and doesn’t distract from the story.  Mind you, he’s not as good as the excellent Josh Gad who plays Jobs’ partner Steve Wozniak, but my level of respect for Kutcher has risen.  

    Where the film suffers greatly is in the story, or better yet, the parts of the story they decided to tell.  If you’re one of the millions who read the biography by Walter Isaacson, there are some obviously vital parts of his life that are simply brushed over here.  I agree that Steve’s college and Atari years, as well as his garage days building computers, was essential, but probably the most crucial part of his life was when he was fired from Apple and what he did next.  This part of the story is basically glossed over.          This is when he was responsible for the success of Pixar, the seeds of the modern Mac computer and the ideas that brought us what we think of when we hear the word Apple.  The humbling experience of getting kicked out of the company he created changed him in a way that sent repercussions throughout the world.  In this movie, the period is simply a title card telling us that years had passed.  Maybe the filmmakers thought that they didn’t have the time if they wanted to keep the movie to two hours, but without representing this period in his life, they really didn’t represent the part of his life that made him the man we know today.   

    Also, the film has a definite made for TV quality that seems a little out of place in a movie theater.  It suffers from having a fairly inexperienced director and a first-time screenwriter.  Under more experienced hands and with a better script, the movie would have been more impressive.  

    I still think the film has some merit and is slightly memorable, but I don’t think it’s the proper representation of the legendary figure.  C+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – August 13, 2013

New in Home Entertainment

August 13, 2013

Emperor
Rated PG-13 for violent content, brief strong language and smoking (historical)
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
During the U.S. occupation of Japan directly after their surrender during WWII, a young general (Matthew Fox) is assigned by General MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) to investigate war crimes and the possible involvement of the Japanese Emperor in the decision to attack Pearl Harbor.  The project feels like they really thought this was going to be a great, awards-worthy motion picture, but unfortunately everything plays flat and frankly a little boring.  Maybe they all lost their passion once they got on set or possibly in the editing room, or maybe they were just trying to be too cautiously sensitive with the material, but as a whole, the movie doesn’t really work all too well.  C+

To the Wonder
Rated R for some sexuality/nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Terrence Malick’s Tree of Life was one of my favorite films in recent memory, so I was excited to see how he would follow it up with his latest project about love and loss that takes place in my home state of Oklahoma.  In the picture, Ben Affleck falls for and brings back to Oklahoma a young European girl, played by Olga Kurylenko, but upon her exit he falls for a girl from town played by Rachel McAdams.  All the while a priest struggling with his faith, played by Javier Bardem, tries to help his community.  Unfortunately, Malick’s writing and directing style just doesn’t work well with this kind of movie.  For much of the film you get the sense that the characters only communicate through telepathy.  What should have been a beautiful and artistic film turns into an annoying and aggravating experience with lovely scenery.  Normally I would advise that this is a film for fans of the director only, but in this case I would advise against it since it could taint your image of him.  C

Girls: The Complete Second Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This anti-Sex and the City from HBO continues in its second season as the four entitled and annoying young girls from New York flounder around trying to find themselves.  While I really can’t stand the characters, I also can’t take my eyes off them.  Their escapades and adventures are more entertaining than anything you might find on Duck Dynasty and the show will, probably for the first time, make you wish they’d put some clothes on.  And yet I can’t seem to stop watching.  Watching Girls is like sticking to a bad habit that you just put up with even though you could easily stop it at any time.  B

The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition
Rated G
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Kermit, Ms. Piggy and the gang’s first adventure is finally getting the blu-ray touch up from Disney.  One of the first films I ever saw in theaters, the movie holds up surprisingly well and serves as not just a fun trip down memory lane but can also capture the attention and the imagination of the kiddos as well.  A-

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – August 6, 2013



New in Home Entertainment

August 6, 2013   

Mud
Rated PG-13 for some violence, sexual references, language, thematic elements and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Two young boys wandering the rivers of Arkansas befriend a man named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) who is hiding out from the law as he awaits the love of his life (Reese Witherspoon) to come to him.  This is simply a fascinating and surprising adventure full of great acting and superb writing.  McConaughey is on a roll with so many great films in the last two years and this one could finally get him a much-deserved Oscar nomination.  The story, revolving around three generations suffering from the disillusionment of love, is heartbreaking if not the slightest bit sexist.  But it is their story and it is so well-told you hardly care.  I love when a quiet little film like this makes such a huge impact.  A

The Place Beyond the Pines
Rated R for language throughout, some violence, teen drug and alcohol use, and a sexual reference
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This highly unusual film tells the story of a young man (Ryan Gosling) who is convinced to rob banks in order to provide for his child and the cop that gets in the way (Bradley Cooper).  Telling three very distinct stories, the movie is far more ambitious than you would imagine and leaves you wondering if you just saw something great or just pretentious.  Don’t get me wrong – the performances by all are strong and the screenplay is solid, and it is out of the box filmmaking but honestly, my mind is still figuring out the verdict.  B

West of Memphis
Rated R for disturbing violent content and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In 1993, the bodies of three young boys were discovered in West Memphis, Arkansas, and subsequently, three teens were ramrodded through the court system and found guilty of the crime.  When technology was able to prove the innocence of the three men convicted, they were finally able to be released but not completely exonerated of their supposed crime.  This doc explores the complete failure of the American justice system, not only in regards to locking up and ruining the lives of the wrong people, but also not getting the proper justice the murdered children deserve.  The pic is completely sobering and extremely angering.  More than anything, it is just simply hard to believe that something like this is allowed to happen in America.  A-

Disney’s Robin Hood
Rated G
Available on Blu-ray
I’m very fond of this 1973 Disney classic about the adventures of Robin Hood as he and his Merry Men steal from the rich to give back to the poor.  While the very thought of this is bound to get a Republican all riled up, this movie not only will serve to entertain the kids but will teach them a valuable lesson as well about what can happen when greed is allowed to run unfettered by law.  This new HD transfer is gorgeous, making the film look truly better than ever.  And in no time at all you’ll be singing along to the wonderful Roger Miller soundtrack.  Also being released this week from the Disney vault are the mediocre Oliver and Company and The Sword in the Stone.  B+

Posted on

Fruitvale Station

Fruitvale Station
Starring Michael B Jordan, Melonie Diaz and Octavia Spencer
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Rated R for some violence, language throughout and some drug use
I have to admit that I’m tired of hearing about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman.  I’m convinced it was a tragedy but I’m not sold on injustice.  What surprises me is how much coverage the Trayvon Martin case is getting and how little coverage this true story that took place in 2008 in Oakland got.  Telling the story of the last day of Oscar Grant’s life before a true injustice befell him at the Fruitvale BART Station in Oakland, the movie is a beautiful, poignant and horrific punch to the gut.  The screenplay is absolutely amazing and the directing by relative newcomer Ryan Coogler is sure to garner attention come awards season.  I was completely blown away and I have a feeling this one will be rattling around in my head for some time.  A

Posted on

The Wolverine



The Wolverine
Starring Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima
Directed by James Mangold (Knight and Day)
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, some sexuality and language
The first Wolverine solo outing proved to be a huge disappointment but this new adventure looked like it had all of the ingredients for a great comeback.  In this latest journey, Logan makes a trip to Japan to visit a dying friend only to find himself losing his abilities while attempting to save the man’s granddaughter.  For the first two acts the movie proves to be very enjoyable.  The set piece on the bullet train is especially thrilling.  Unfortunately, once the third act hits the movie runs out of steam and becomes incredibly inconsistent in regards to Wolverine’s powers.  The third act had so many problems that I had a tough time focusing on the story and basically become over-distracted by the bad filmmaking.  In addition, at the beginning of the third act Wolverine throws out a huge F-bomb that I’m sure parents will love.  I’m not a prude, but I don’t think this kind of language belongs in our super hero films targeting pre-teens.  C

Posted on

The Conjuring

The Conjuring
Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor
Directed by James Wan (Saw)
Rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror
Real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Wilson and Farmiga) have searched for evil activity in hundreds of homes but apparently this case of a demon haunting a family in Rhode Island is the one that they found to the most disturbing.  Personally, I was very scared watching it.  Easily Wan’s best film, this is a masterpiece of horror that relies on a credible and authentic look and feel rather than the torture porn normally passed off as horror nowadays.  The film is so well produced, written, directed and acted that there is no surprise that it is doing so well at the box-office.  So if you are like me and love it when the hair stands up on your neck, and you haven’t had that feeling in a while, you gotta check this one out.  A-

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment -July 30, 2013



New in Home Entertainment

July 30, 2013

G.I. Joe: Retaliation
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of combat violence and martial acts action throughout, and for brief sensuality and language
Available on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D
Cobra is back and this time they have kidnapped the president and put an operative in disguise in the White House.  So, it’s once again up to the Joes to step in and rescue the world.  Insane plot doesn’t begin to describe this mess.  If you are in it for wall to wall action and zero in the brains department – by all means check this out.  Personally, it hurt my head trying to piece this one together.  It’s nothing more than a ludicrous story filled with tons of bloodless violence and muscle.  I’m sure if I were 13 again that might be just enough to keep me tuned in.  D+

Trance
Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence, some grisly images and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle tackles this story about a UK art auctioneer who foils an art heist only to be taken prisoner by the thieves until they can figure out how to clear up his amnesia and find where he hid the painting.  Part of the movie is deeply fascinating, such as the concept of stolen art and the fact that many stunning pieces have been taken and aregone forever.  Unfortunately, the story is so confounding that a good head scratch won’t come close to help you piece it together in time and by the moment you do, if you’re like me, you won’t care any longer.  Boyle has such a unique and seductive style to his filmmaking and its a shame it had to be wasted on this project.  C+

Posted on

New in Home Entertainment – July 23, 2013

New in Home Entertainment

July 23, 2013

Starbuck
Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material
French with English subtitles
Available on DVD
When a sweet loser discovers that through a sperm bank mistake he now has over 500 children wandering the streets, of whom 142 have filed a class action lawsuit to discover who he is, he tries to get to know them by secretly doing kind acts for as many as he possibly can.  Apparently when Steven Spielberg discovered this film at the Toronto Film Festival, he just had to make an English language version and thus hired Starbuck director Ken Scott to remake his own film in New York with Vince Vaughn titled “Delivery Man.”  But why wait until Thanksgiving?  This film is a perfectly lovable picture that in spite of its many flaws will have you glued to your chair with an intense smile.  B+

An Affair of the Heart
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
My music collection numbers in the tens of thousands of tracks, but I still remember the first record I ever bought.  I went to the local Sound Warehouse to pick up Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl single but it was sold out.  Instead I picked up the single I’ve Done Everything For You and played it, along with the B-side Red Hot & Blue Love until the record broke.    I’ll admit that both songs were inappropriate for a 9 year old but today’s hits can be far worse.  For some reason I have always had a strange attraction to Rick’s music and after watching this new documentary about his fans I am finding that I’m nowhere near to being alone in this.  While there is a good bit of music here, and it all rocks, most of the doc focuses on his rabid fan base that are truly dedicated to the star.  So I’m not as crazy as some of these ladies, but I loved watching the connections Rick has made with his fans.  And it appears I picked a good guy to follow as well since he seems to really be a caring and thoughtful individual who really gives back to his fans, making the relationship truly symbiotic.  But whether or not you like his music, the movie shows a unique underground of otherwise normal people with a highly unusual fixation.  This to me is what makes the film most entertaining.  A

Home Run
Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This little Christian indie focuses on a professional baseball player whose life is changed when a DUI that almost kills his brother forces him to commit to community service in the small Oklahoma town he grew up in by  coaching the local little league team and starting up a 12 step program for his alcoholism.  The script is a little stiff at times and the directing isn’t always the best, but the decent acting and overall production value really make this a film worth watching for the right audience.  Like many Christian films it can get a little preachy, but unlike most of them, it is not overly long and you don’t get a lot of the bad distractions from a film poorly made.  Also, the theme of recovery from addiction in its many forms is a welcome message for those deeply affected by it.  B

Babette’s Feast: The Criterion Collection
Danish, Swedish and French with English subtitles
Available on Blu-ray and DVD
This 1987 Oscar winner for best foreign film tells the story of two adult sisters in 19th century Denmark who take in a young French woman named Babette who is escaping her homeland.  In return for her safe keeping, the young woman offers her services as housekeeper and cook.  Years later, after Babette discovers that she has won the lottery, she decides to create a French feast for the village who have only experienced dull food their entire lives.  It’s a little slow going getting to the dinner but once there the film is enlightening.  It really shows how good food and wine can truly transform the soul.  While it might not be the best movie about food ever made, it is easy to tell that it has served as inspiration for other remarkably tasty films such as Chocolate, The Big Night and Ratatouille.  B+