It’s time for another look at new Blu-ray and DVD releases. Once again, it is an incredibly busy edition with tons of new discs available in a wide variety of genres. 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!
12 Strong - Based on actual events taking place in Afghanistan after 9/11, this flick follows a group of Special Forces team members and their efforts to fight the Taliban. In this particular mission, they join up with a local warlord. Reaction towards this picture was split. Everyone agreed that the technical skills on display were impressive. About half suggested that the action was tense and the stars were likeable enough to overcome the routine caricatures. Others thought the story and narrative weren’t compelling enough to involve them on an emotional level. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, David Negahban, and Trevante Rhodes.
All I Wish - A struggling fashion designer turns 46, certain that the perfect man isn’t out there and that she will just have to accept a life of casual romantic relationships. But sparks fly when the lead meets a charismatic lawyer at her birthday party. Exactly one year later, the two are reunited and the protagonist begins to wonder if something lasting may actually be developing. Unfortunately, reviews were poor for this romantic comedy. All enjoyed the lead performance, but felt that the performers were saddled with clunky and cornball dialogue that undermined the entire feature. The cast includes Sharon Stone, Ellen Burstyn, Famke Janssen, and Tony Goldwyn.
Desolation - A mother heads out camping in the forest wilderness with her son and best friend, all in order to spread the ashes of her late husband. However, the group encounters a strange hiker who begins to follow them home. The threatening stalker soon forces the family to face family secrets when his real motivations are revealed. This indie horror/thriller earned decent notices from critics. A few of them felt that events were handled in too subtle a manner, but most found it creepy and appreciated the story’s focus on its characters instead of simply following genre tropes. It features Jami Page, Alyshia Ochse, Toby Nichols, and Claude Duhamel.
Don’t Talk to Irene - This independent feature follows an overweight student who doesn’t get on with other kids at her high school. When she’s suspended for acting out in class, the teen decides to aggressively pursue her dream of becoming a cheerleader by performing for a local senior citizen dance competition. Reaction was positive towards this quirky comedy. There were a few who suggested the screenplay could have done more with its unique concept, but the majority thought it was a sweet, warmhearted and enjoyably strange. It stars Michelle McLeod, Geena Davis, Bruce Gray, Anastasia Phillips, and Scott Thompson. This particular title is only arriving on DVD (and not Blu-ray) this week.
Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter’s book character gets updated in this animated feature. The plot involves the titular animal and his ongoing raids on a vegetable garden. When the original owner passes away and a relative takes over the property, the two go after one another, but their relationship changes with the arrival of an animal-loving neighbor. Reaction to the feature was mixed-positive. Some thought the movie failed to capture the spirit of the character and became mushy by the close. Others wrote that while it was no classic and was skewed towards kids, it offered a few enjoyable moments for adults. The live cast includes Domhnall Gleeson, Sam Neill, and Rose Byrne, along with the voices of James Corden, Sia, Margot Robbie, and Daisy Ridley.
Winchester - This horror picture is based very, very loosely on the life of Sarah Winchester (heiress to the famous gun manufacturer fortune). Certain that her house is haunted by the ghosts of those killed with the family’s products, company executives urge a doctor to assess the woman’s mental stability. After arriving at the Winchester estate, the doc experiences bizarre visions and soon believes that supernatural forces are out for vengeance. A few said that the jump scares worked, yet overall the press panned this chiller. Most were frustrated that the fascinating true story had been adapted into a routine ghost story B-movie. The cast includes Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook, and Angus Sampson.
Blasts from the Past!
If you remember the days of disco, then you might recall the cheesy musical, Thank God It’s Friday (1978), which managed to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The story involves a dance competition at a discotheque and features an amusing cast that includes Donna Summer, Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger, and The Commodores. Mill Creek is putting out a 40th anniversary Blu-ray, which includes a complete re-master of the film. Might be good for a laugh.
Kino is releasing a series of titles that have been released on Blu-ray before, but as special editions. Big Business (1988) is a fun flick starring Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin. It’s about two pairs of identical twins who are switched up at birth, with each living completely different lives. The foursome intersects in a Manhattan hotel, leading to plenty of confusion as they each get mistaken for their twin. This disc comes with a filmmaker’s commentary featuring director Jim Abrahams (Ruthless People, Hot Shots and co-director of Airplane! and Top Secret!) and a trailer. The distributor is releasing another comedy from Abrahams called Mafia! (1998), which includes the very same extras.
They also have a Blu-ray Special Edition of the Paul Newman picture, Blaze (1989). This film from director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham, White Men Can’t Jump) arrives with its own commentary track as well. Kino is also putting out Play It to the Bone (1999), another title from the very same filmmaker. As you might have guessed, Shelton lends his voice to an audio track on this disc too.
Finally, Kino is also distributing the Code Red release of the Italian action flick, The Violent Professionals (1973). This one is about a Dirty Harry-esque cop in Milan who is suspended from the police force for beating down crooks. When his boss is murdered by a crime syndicate, the lead goes deep undercover to infiltrate the organization and mete out justice.
You Know, For Kids!
Here is a listing of titles that children may enjoy.
Maya the Bee 2: The Honey Games
Paw Patrol: Summer Rescues (Nickelodeon)
Peter Rabbit
On the Tube!
You’ll find this week’s TV-themed releases below.
Broken (BBC)
Chan of Command (National Geographic)
Darrow & Darrow
Dear Murderer: Series 1
First Face of America
NATURE: Sex, Lies and Butterflies (PBS)
NOVA: First Face of America (PBS)
Trailer Park Shark (Syfy TV-movie)
When Calls the Heart: Hearts and Minds
The Wonderful World of Puppies and Kittens (BBC)
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun
