Welcome back to another look at some of the highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a very busy edition with numerous flicks being made available in a wide variety of genres. So, since you can’t, or likely shouldn’t, go out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
ARCHENEMY: This science-fiction comedy follows an alcoholic bar-hopper who tells everyone around him that he’s actually a superhero from another planet who has lost his powers. Naturally, locals ignore the man, except for a teenager who enjoys listening to his fantastic stories. When the youth is kidnapped by a local gangster, the drunk decides that it’s time to save the day and prove to others that he is who he claims to be. Response toward this independent feature was upbeat.
A small group thought that the movie was too unfocused and at times didn’t seem sure of what it was parodying. However, the majority thought that there were a lot of enjoyable story elements that were entertaining and stated that it had an infectiously rebellious spirit. It stars Joe Manganiello, Skylan Brooks, Paul Scheer, Amy Seimetz and Glenn Howerton.
ELYSE: A troubled woman unable to get over the death of her son takes her various psychological issues out on her surviving family. After a particularly nasty encounter with them, she has a blackout and awakens to learn that she has committed vehicular manslaughter on one of her children and the nanny. The lead is institutionalized and a psychiatrist and nurse do their best to help the woman recover her sanity and move forward with her life. This indie drama split reviewers right down the middle.
About half of them complained that they didn’t find the writing or characters believable and couldn’t buy into the drama. The other half thought that while the storytelling was flawed, the supporting performances were excellent and noted that they admired the movie for attempting something a little different. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Lisa Pepper, Aaron Tucker and Tara Arroyave.
HORROR NOIRE: A HISTORY OF BLACK HORROR: The steaming horror-movie site Shudder premiered this documentary on its site a year or two ago. Now, the feature is debuting on disc. It tells the history of black horror movies and the role that African American filmmakers have played in the genre since its origins. Writers, directors, and performers who have made and been inspired by various productions are interviewed, sharing their insights.
Critics gave the picture uniformly excellent reviews. They wrote that it does a great job of championing the genre and showing how many black-themed features over the last several decades have both delivered chills and addressed important social issues. The movie includes interviews with Rusty Cundieff, Keith David, Ernest R. Dickerson, Ken Foree, Jordan Peele, Tony Todd and dozens of other onscreen and behind-the-scenes talent.
THE LEGEND OF BARON TO’A: A young Tongan man struggles to live up to the legacy of his father, a professional wrestling superstar. He visits his deceased pop’s home to clean things up and sell the property, but soon discovers that his dad’s championship belt has been stolen by a local gang. The lead must rise to the challenge and recover the heirloom in order to close this chapter of his life and move forward. This indie comedy from New Zealand received solid reviews in its homeland, but hasn’t been seen by many yet in this part of the world.
Critics from Australia and New Zealand stated that it was a sweet and amusing little comedy that would entertain those who shared its quirky sense of humor. It stars Uli Latukefu, Nathaniel Lees, Jay Laga’aia, Shavaughn Ruakere and John Tui.
TRIBES ON THE EDGE: Filmmaker Celine Cousteau (granddaughter of renowned sea explorer Jacques Cousteau) travels to Brazil to shoot this documentary about tribes in the Brazilian rainforest. She was invited to the locale by Indigenous Peoples to capture their struggles and witness their fight for survival as invading groups move into their land. Cousteau shares their traditional way of life and hears incredible tales from her interview subjects about the ongoing threats affecting them. These challenges include illegal hunting, diseases, gold mining and deforestation among other issues.
There aren’t many write-ups currently available for this title in this part of the world, but those curious about the plight of the Brazilian ecosystem will likely find some ideas here to inspire them.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
There are some interesting Blu-ray upgrades of older titles arriving. Kino has a 2K remaster of the Eartha Kitt drama, Anna Lucasta (1958), about a lady of the night who falls for a sailor (played by Sammy Davis Jr.). The disc also includes a trailer. They also have the thriller Dark Intruder (1965) which tells the story of cops trying to solve a series of killings committed by a cult.
This title stars Leslie Nielsen (who would later become known more for his comedic work) as a detective on the case. The disc includes a 2K restoration of the movie, a film historian commentary, an interview with the son of the make-up effects artist and a trailer.
The movie underperformed when it was released some 20 years ago, but was actually a lot of fun and deserves to continue building an audience. It’s now premiering on Blu-ray. The studio is also releasing the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005) with Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo.
Another studio releasing some catalog titles is Universal Pictures. This week, it has new Blu-rays of The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1974), Circle of Friends (1995), a 4K edition of Do the Right Thing (1989), the Fifty Shades Trilogy (2015-2018), Kissing a Fool (1998), Prime (2005) and That Funny Feeling (1965).
Finally, Scorpion is releasing a Blu-ray of the action picture, The Norseman (1978). It stars Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) as a Viking warrior taking down enemies. The disc includes a trailer.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here are some titles that may appeal to youngsters.
Llama Llama: Fun with Friends (With Happy B-Day Llama Llama Book)
Magic School Bus Rides Again: All About Earth
Sesame Street: Elmo’s World - Things Elmo Loves
ON THE TUBE!
It’s a quieter week for TV-themed releases, but there is one made-for-cable title arriving on shelves.
Country at Heart (Hallmark)
VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun