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You are here: Community Film DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for Oct. 12, 2018

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for Oct. 12, 2018

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As always, it’s another busy week with plenty of intriguing Blu-ray and DVD arrivals. 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!

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot - This biopic tells the story or cartoonist John Callahan, an alcoholic and paraplegic who eventually began finding a creative outlet in his art and whose work became a regular fixture of a Washington newspaper. The drama follows the man before and after his life-altering car accident. Reviews were generally good for the feature. Everyone found the lead performance impressive. A percentage complained that this real-life story had difficultly translating to the big screen and felt a bit forced, although more thought the eccentric artist’s tale was effectively rendered. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black.

Eighth Grade - The trials and tribulations of an introverted youngster are chronicled in this coming-of-age drama. We follow her progress during the trying final week of her Grade-8 class before moving to high school. It also details how the lead character attempts to use social media to work her way through personal issues. This independent effort earned raves from the press, with few negative reactions. Almost all comments suggested that this was a perceptive and compelling little film that expertly incorporates modern and unique touches into what could have been a series of tropes. The cast includes Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton and Emily Robinson.

Gold Star - A troubled young woman wanders aimlessly through life after dropping out of music school. When her father suffers a debilitating stroke, the ex-student returns home to serve as his primary caretaker. Through these strange circumstances, the two are forced to reconnect and deal with the various problems in their life stages. Reaction to this indie drama was also largely positive. There was a small group who didn’t care for the central character or her plight, but the majority said the leads were good and the film presented a likable, affirming tale of redemption. It features Robert Vaughn and Catherine Curtin.

Hotel Artemis - The first hotel-themed release of the week involves a Los Angeles establishment that caters to cold-blooded killers, serving mainly as a hospital for attendees after their violent activities. When a wounded gang of bank robbers arrive with a mob boss and police in pursuit, tension rises at the location. Notices were fairly mixed on this action/sci-fi entry, with a few more writers recommending the feature than panning it. Jodie Foster, Sterling K. Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Tyree Henry, Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto, Charlie Day and Dave Bautista lead the cast.

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation - Box-office returns were big for this family friendly animated feature. It’s s a sequel involving a family of monsters who are also proprietors of a hotel. This time, the clan also decides to take their own vacation on a cruise ship that caters to creatures. They soon learn that the ship’s captain harbors a dark secret. The movie earned OK notices with slightly more positive reviews than negative ones. Pans called it nice to look at but strictly for kids with bland, juvenile jokes. More upbeat reviews felt it was pleasant family fare. The voice talent includes Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez.

Skyscraper - In the latest action picture featuring Dwayne Johnson, the performer plays a veteran now working as a security expert. When the lead arrives at a massive new skyscraper in Hong Kong hoping to sell his skills, he and his family become trapped after a fire breaks out and the building is engulfed in flames. The protagonist attempts to save them while facing off against the sinister persons who started the blaze. The press were mixed about this title. Nearly half thought the star was fun to watch and the movie presented a few enjoyable thrills. Slightly more noted the story was lacking and there was nothing here that disaster-movie aficionados hadn’t seen dozens of times before. It stars Neve Campbell, Chin Han and Noah Taylor.

Blasts from the Past!

It’s once again a busy time for Blu-rays of older titles. The MVD Marquee Collection has an interesting one called Art School Confidential (2006). This dark comedy about students competing to win a prize from their illustrious art school program is from director Terry Zwigoff and comic book creator Daniel Clowes, who were also responsible for Ghost World (2001).

They’re also putting out the Denzel Washington title, Out of Time (2003). In this thriller, the actor plays a detective investigating a murder in a small Florida town. This Blu-ray includes an audio commentary with the director, numerous featurettes, outtakes, cast screen tests and publicity materials.

American Film Genre Archives has an interesting little oddity arriving exclusively on DVD. It’s Ninja Zombie (1992), a little no-budget feature made many years ago by a youngster on Super 8 film. Apparently, it intersperses zombies, ninjas and other genre tropes in a way only a kid’s mind could imagine.

Shout! has some films of note coming your way, too. They include a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the remake of House on Haunted Hill (1999). The plot involves a group of visitors challenged with visiting a creepy, old mansion and surviving the night... doing so will net them $1 million dollars. The disc comes with a 2K scan of the film, new interviews with the director, composer and visual effects supervisor.

The Shout Select line is delivering The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) on Blu-ray in a 20th Anniversary Edition. This well-regarded Three Musketeers tale with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and Gerard Depardieu has been given a new 4K scan from the original camera negative, as well as new interviews with the film’s producer and production designer, a director commentary, featurettes and a theatrical trailer.

Perhaps the most anticipated Blu-ray coming this week from Shout! is Trick ‘r Treat (2007). This very effective Halloween-themed anthology has become a real cult item and has developed a huge fan following despite Warner Brothers barely releasing it to theaters a decade ago. This Collector’s Edition is being released with a new, director approved 2K scan of the original film elements. There are so many new features that it’s impossible to list them all here, but some of them include new interviews with crew members discussing the production and the growing fan base, a 2K scan of a short film from the director, publicity materials and a filmmaker commentary track.

You can really tell the fall is here, as there seem to be more horror-related releases. This includes a Blu-ray of The Unnamable (1988) from Unearthed Films. Based on an H.P. Lovecraft tale, this film involves a group of college students who retreat to a country house and are attacked by a vicious female beast. This small, independent horror flick has been out-of-print for a long time and arrives in high definition with a cast and crew commentary, interviews with the make-up effects team as well as performers in the movie.

Remember the teen comedy, Can’t Hardly Wait (1997)? Well, if you don’t you’ll be forgiven, as it has been some time since this original release of this graduation party feature. Mill Creek are putting out a “20 Year Reunion Special Edition” of the film with some extras included.

S’More Entertainment is bringing viewers a couple of obscure little genre films to DVD. They include the Drew Barrymore horror picture. Doppelganger (1993). The plot involves a man who falls for a young woman, only to wonder if he’s dating the same woman that he fell for or a sinister, psychopathic double. They are also putting out a DVD of the zombie-comedy, Ed and His Dead Mother (1993). This small, hard-to-find film is quite funny and comes recommended. It stars Steve Buscemi as a nebbish introvert whose mom passes away. He makes a deal with a traveling salesman who can return her from the dead. However, while she looks normal, her behavior is bizarre and she develops an abhorrent taste for flesh.

You Know, For Kids!

It’s all about ponies this week in kid-friendly entertainment.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Season 7

On the Tube!

And here are the highlights of TV-themed releases.

The 100: Season 5

America the Beautiful: Complete National Parks Collection - 10 Part Series with Bonus

Constantine: City of Demons: The Movie (animated DC Superhero TV-movie connecting short episodes)

Eight Hours Don’t Make A Day (1972 West German TV-miniseries)

Killing Eve: Season 1 (BBC)

POV: Dark Money (PBS)

Private Eyes: Season 1

By Glenn Kay

For the Sun