Paddington Theatrical Review

 

 

 

        The increase in digitally created characters saw an increase this past year, most notably with the revival of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and with the intelligent primates of Dawn of the Planet of Apes. Although these films feature cutting-edge effects and technology, it seems to me that the greatest indicator of their success is the ability to blend in. The narrative should not be secondary to the impressive technical abilities of the film, and Paddington succeeds in having the spirit of the source material taking precedence over flashy effects.

No Good Deed Blu-ray Review

     Format: Blu-ray, Subtitled

Language: English

Subtitles: French

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: Sony

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2018

Run Time: 84 minutes

 

        The biggest crime of No Good Deed is simply how dull and unimaginative it manages to be with the simplistic plot. Sure, it is absurd how the film connects the storyline with a ridiculous twist at the end. Yes, the narrative is dominated by unimaginative violence and terror perpetrated against attractive women in peril. The plot is contrived, the characters one-dimensional, and the dialogue asinine, but it is the lack of imagination that truly irritated me.

 

Traffickers Blu-ray Review

    Actors: Chang Jung Lim, Daniel Choi, Oh Dal-su, Jo Yoon-hee

Director: Kim Hong-seon

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Subtitled, Widescreen

Language: Korean

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: December 23, 2014

Run Time: 111 minutes

 

 

        Traffickers opens with an intense sequence, before even getting caught up in details of plot or character, and at its best moments returns to this suspenseful style of filmmaking. Unfortunately, the plot is never able match these glimmers of effective filmmaking. Despite some well-shot sequences, the final product is too uneven and jumbled. There are too many coincidences and twists, in an apparent attempt to create an exciting fictional storyline from real-world criminal events.