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You are here: Community Film DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for May 11, 2018

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for May 11, 2018

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Welcome back, it’s time for a look at new releases coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD.  This time out we have an unusual mix of Hollywood fare, with some independent and documentary features too. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

Big New Releases!

Batman Ninja - This animated effort from DC is a standalone feature about the famous superhero. However, in this film the Gotham City setting has been changed to feudal Japan. After passing through a time displacement machine to the earlier era, Batman becomes an armored ninja. The hero ends up facing off against infamous foes, including Catwoman, Two Face, and the Joker. The title has only received a few reviews thus far. They state that the movie is visually gorgeous and the concept is intriguing, but that viewers will have to contend with a rather poor story and some awkwardly realized elements. The English voice cast includes Roger Craig Smith, Tony Hale, Grey DeLisle, and Tara Strong.

Dayveon - A 13-year-old boy in Arkansas attempts to process the death of his older brother by joining a local gang and escaping into their violent world. The boyfriend of the protagonist’s sister attempts to step in and act as a role model for the child. In the process, the youngster struggles as he is pulled in two different directions. Write-ups for this small, independent feature were generally good. A few didn’t appreciate the very low-key and realistic approach to the material, but more complimented the film. Those reviews suggested that the feature built up considerable momentum and had a specific and unique style. It features Devin Blackmon, Dontrell Bright, and Lachion Buckingham.

Fifty Shades Freed - The final chapter in the Fifty Shades of Grey series continues the unusual relationship between its two lead characters as they decide to tie the knot. Despite the pair thinking that they have left their pasts behind, they are confronted with a threatening individual or two out to ruin their lives. As expected, notices were just as bad this time out as for previous installments. A scant percentage called it amusing trash, but most complained that the attempts in the thriller mold failed. They also asserted that the characters lacked chemistry and weren’t likable, instead coming across as entitled jerks. It stars Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson, Eloise Mumford, and Rita Ora.

Human Flow - The global refugee crisis is the subject of this non-fiction film. A documentary filmmaker travels to 23 individual countries and chronicles the stories of over 65 million who have left war torn nations, extremist regimes, disaster zones and general devastation in order to find a new home. Critics were very impressed with what they saw. One or two didn’t think it was as involving as it should have been, but most complimented the movie for putting individual faces to a bigger issue and sharing their horrific trials with the public. Some also complimented it for simply allowing the poetic images and examples of mass exodus speak for themselves.

Blasts from the Past!

There are plenty of interesting cult flicks arriving on Blu-ray this week. MVD has a two-disc special edition of the campy sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing (1989). This low-budget follow-up brings back the original film’s villain (played by Louis Jordan). Apparently, he’s still attempting to find a magic formula that can reverse the aging process. When the antagonist decides to experiment on his stepdaughter (Heather Locklear), Swamp Thing (Duck Durock) emerges to save the day. The set includes a 2K restoration of the film on Blu-ray and DVD along with numerous extras. There are interviews with the filmmaker, editor, composer, and executive producer, along with two director commentaries (one of which is brand new), trailers, TV ads, promo reels, Greenpeace PSAs, publicity photos, and more.

Shout! also has some Blu-rays of note. Caged Fury (1990) is a B-movie about an innocent woman locked up in a female penitentiary. To earn her freedom, she has to fight a corrupt warden and some nasty guards. Roxanna Michaels, Erik Estrada, and Michael Parks appear in this grindhouse title. The disc comes with a trailer.

Kino has a Special Edition Blu-ray of the comedy/drama Roommates (1995) about a young man who is adopted by his very elderly grandfather. It comes with a commentary track featuring star D.B. Sweeney. They’re also putting out the Merchant Ivory-produced period drama, Feast of July (1995). This one includes a commentary with director Christopher Menaul.

Finally, independent horror studio Full Moon is releasing Blu-rays of The Creeps aka Deformed Monsters (1997) and Puppet Master: The Legacy (2003). These discs will most certainly include plenty of extras along with the main feature.

You Know, For Kids!

Here are a couple of titles for the kids.

Bubble Guppies: Bubble Puppy’s Awesome Adventures (Nickelodeon)

Bunnicula: Season 1

On the Tube!

And here are the week’s TV-themed releases.

Bunnicula: Season 1

Dear White People: Season 1

Midsomer Murders: County Case Files

Police Woman: The Final Season

Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In: Season 4

By Glenn Kay

For the Sun