Robocop Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley

Director: José Padilha

Writers: Joshua Zetumer, Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner

Producers: Marc Abraham, Eric Newman

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13

Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Run Time: 117 minutes

        The original 1987 Robocop franchise was science-fiction action, with equal emphasis on both genres built evenly into Paul Verhoeven’s dark cult hit. Much of the darkness remains in José Padilha’s remake, as well as the action, but rather than blend the two genres together, they stay separate from each other. This makes for a few high-octane action sequences void of much significance beyond the eye candy, and a remaining film that aligns more with classic Hollywood horror creature-features more than anything else. There is certainly a lot of intelligent discussion and political allegories amidst the screenplay written by Joshua Zetumer, and then rewritten by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, but none of it blends with the genre aspects of the film. Basically, this Robocop is either fun or intelligent, but never both at the same time.   

 

Son of God Blu-ray Review

Actors: Gary Oliver, David Rintoul, Paul Knops, Sebastian Knapp

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: English (DTS 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)

Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Dubbed: English, French, Spanish

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Run Time: 138 minutes

 

        I’m stuck between having nothing to say and too much to say about Son of God. I have nothing to say about the film itself, which is an inoffensive and entirely unnecessary Sunday-school adaptation of Jesus’ greatest hits from the Bible. I have too much to say about the production (or post-production, as that is all that was needed for this film’s creation), the producers, the marketing campaign, and the backlash from many prior to even seeing the film. I just don’t know how any of what I have to say is relevant, and I don’t want to talk about the film itself for fear that it will be half as dull as the actual experience of watching it. 

 

Pretty Little Liars: The Complete Fourth Season DVD Review

     Actors: Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson

Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Color, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 5

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Release Date: June 3, 2014

Run Time: 963 minutes

 

        Even though there are slight differences to the characters and setting, “Pretty Little Liars” has been done before. It is “Desperate Housewives” for the “Gossip Girl” age group. The mystery and the melodrama surround a group of young looking but sexually promiscuous teenage girls. They are accurately portrayed to be rather idiotic, but what makes no sense is how stupid all of the adults are in the show. It feels like a series written for teens by teens, reeking of naivety and unoriginal storylines from decades past.

 

Most Hated Movies: 24 Exposures DVD Review

     Actors: Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett

Director: Joe Swanberg

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Rated: Unrated

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: May 27, 2014

Run Time: 77 minutes

 

 

Joe Swanberg helped cultivate the mumblecore movement in the recesses of low-budget independent cinema alongside the far more successful Duplass brothers, and I have to disclose my barest distaste for these films. With that being said, Swanberg’s attempt to blend the style with a typical serial killer narrative ends up resulting in a film that is only shades off from being softcore porn, from the nonsensical male fantasy narrative to the bad acting between cheesy sex scenes. The film’s only decently written dialogue comes from the main character, whose distasteful choice in art-form is defended by his claim that it needs no defending, which is most definitely a stand-in for Swanberg’s explanation for why his films are so shitty.