Login

Gallup Sun

Friday, Mar 29th

Last update12:57:39 AM GMT

You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for October 2, 2020

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for October 2, 2020

E-mail Print PDF

It’s time for another look at new Blu-rays and DVD arrivals. This week is a quiet one for big Hollywood titles, but it does promise some interesting independent films as well as another truckload of older features getting high definition upgrades. So, since you likely can’t or shouldn’t go out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

ALIEN ADDICTION: A young man living in a small town in the Waikato district of New Zealand gets the surprise of his life when an alien spacecraft crashes nearby. He takes the UFOs two occupants to his home and the group gets along famously, developing a close personal relationship in the process. Unfortunately, experts tracking down aliens soon arrive and threaten to reveal the man’s secret to the world. This wacky comedy is described as having a similar vibe to early Peter Jackson titles like Bad Taste and Braindead.

There currently aren’t a great many write-ups in this part of the world, but the ones that have appeared online from other parts are quite positive. They state that while the stoner gags do get repetitive, the movie is amusing and provides plenty of chuckles. It features Jimi Jackson, Thomas Sainsbury, Jojo Waaka, and Harry Summerfield.

THE LEGEND OF TOMIRIS: This Kazakhstan production is a historical epic. Told from the point of view of Greek historian Herodotus, it details the life of Queen Tomiri, leader of the Massagetae people. This woman not only trained herself to be a great warrior, but fought off invading forces led by Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. In fact, she eventually defeated his army and fought her enemy on the battlefield.

This picture won a prize at the L’Étrange Festival in Paris earlier in the year. The movie hasn’t been seen by a lot of critics outside of attendees at the festival. One or two articles have popped up online, describing it as a good film with impression production design. However, they did warn that it was overlong and as a result was not as exciting as it could have been. Almira Tursyn, Adil Akhmetov and Erkebulan Dairov headline the feature.

LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOT: This little independent comedy involves a woman desperately looking for Mr. Right. Unfortunately, her goal turns out to be far more difficult than originally thought. Over the course of the running time, the protagonist finds herself on a series of strange and comical misadventures with potential mates who all seem to be either inappropriate, unobtainable or unmanageable. The press synopsis describes the movie as Looking for Mr. Goodbar meets Sex and the City.

This feature is premiering on disc and as a result there are absolutely no press write-ups for it. So, like the lead character on one of her dating adventures, those interested will have to go in cold and hope for the best. The cast includes Isabelle Chester, David DeLuise, David Chokachi and Paul Rodriguez.

THE SILENCING: Frustrated with the modern world and still reeling from the disappearance of his daughter, a reformed hunter decides to live in isolation and run a wildlife sanctuary. Of course, he doesn’t stay a recluse for long after coming across a young girl and saving her from a serial killer. Much to his chagrin, authorities arrive and ask for his help in catching and bringing the psychopath to justice. Reaction toward this independent thriller wasn’t particularly strong.

One or two wrote that the feature was a passable little thriller with a few interesting characters. Unfortunately, everyone else seemed to agree that there was nothing about the film that was original and that this was a strictly by-the-numbers affair. It features Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Annabelle Wallis, Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Zahn McClarnon.

WELCOME TO SUDDEN DEATH: This unexpected arrival is described as a sequel to the 1995 Jean-Claude Van Damme action flick, Sudden Death. I’ll be honest and say that I was very amused by the original, which featured a fireman at the Stanley Cup hockey playoffs saving his children, the president and an arena full of hockey fans from a gang of nasty terrorists. This follow-up has an entirely new cast and follows a security guard battling some tech-savvy thugs who decide to take hostages inside a basketball arena. This is a DVD-only release through Universal and it has yet to be shown to critics.

It stars Michael Jai-White, Michael Eklund, Sabryn Rock, Anthony Grant and Nakai Takawira.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST!

While it’s slim pickings this week for new releases (don’t worry, folks, the next few weeks will be better), there is a truckload of interesting older titles receiving high definition upgrades.

 

Watch out for Aunt Martha! AFGA is putting out a Blu-ray of Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things (1971), an eccentric drive-in genre flick about a psychotic, cross-dressing bank robber. The movie has been given a 2K preservation from the only 35mm print in existence, comes with a film historian commentary, as well as some bonus movies (The Drag Queen’s Ball) and shorts (Gay-In III, Caught in the Can) and trailers for other genre titles with an LGBT theme.

 

Those looking for kid-friendly entertainment can now pick up a 20th Anniversary Edition of Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), the cinematic spin-off the popular series featuring Alec Baldwin and Peter Fonda. This edition includes a two-part documentary with the writer/producer/director of the film, interviews with several cast members (including Baldwin) and the score composer, as well as deleted story lines and a behind-the-scenes reel.

The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) is a comedy/fantasy with Chick Vennera, Ruben Blades and Sonia Braga that was directed by Robert Redford. It was a well-regarded feature that ended up winning an Oscar for best original score. The plot involves a farmer squaring off with a shady developer and authorities after one of their water valves breaks on his land, showering it with water and causing his crops to grow. It comes with a commentary track featuring Vennera and a movie expert, along with a trailer.

 

Criterion is delivering some heavyweight titles as well. The Elephant Man (1980) is a personal favorite. It is based on the true story of John Merrick, a disfigured man who was made to perform as a circus freak. When a doctor discovers Merrick and asks to study him, the physician learns that his guest is incredibly intelligent and sensitive. Directed by David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks), the movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards.

It is an incredible film with memorable performances by John Hurt as the title character and Anthony Hopkins as his doctor. Criterion is presenting a 4K restoration of the film along with archival interviews of most of the cast and crew, a 2001 documentary about the movie, an audio recording of a 1981 Q&A with Lynch, and footage of the filmmaker meeting with critic Kristine McKenna and reading from Room to Dream, a 2018 book they coauthored. Sounds like a fantastic disc.

And finally, Warner Archive is putting out a few made-to-order Blu-rays. The first is a 2-Film Collection containing Genesis II (1973) with Alex Cord and Planet Earth (1974) starring John Saxon. They also have the western Jeremiah Johnson (1972) and the war picture Memphis Belle (1990), which follows a group of young pilots on a dangerous bombing raid. It features plenty of familiar faces in the cast.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

There are lots of goodies old and new arriving for youngsters.

Abominable / The Boss Baby 2-Movie Collection

Dolittle / A Dog’s Journey 2-Movie Collection

Dreamworks 10-Movie Collection Abominable, The Boss Baby, The Croods, Home, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Shrek, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Trolls

The House with a Clock in Its Walls / Casper 2-Movie Collection DVD

Illumination Presents: 10-Movie Collection - Despicable Me / Hop / The Lorax / Despicable Me 2 / Minions / The Secret Life of Pets / Sing / Despicable Me 3 / Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch / The Secret Life of Pets 2

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups Super Pack! (Nickelodeon)

Sea Level / Sea Level 2: Magic Arch Double Feature

VeggieTales: All the Silly Songs - 60 Favorites

ON THE TUBE!

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

The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Series

Frontline: Opioids, Inc. (PBS)

Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America - Documentary Series

Humboldt: The New Season (Canadian TV Special)

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels: Season 1

Space Adventure Cobra: The Complete Series (anime)

Stargirl: Season 1

Supernatural: Season 1

Supernatural: Season 2

Supernatural: Season 3

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun