Manglehorn Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Chris Messina

Director: David Gordon Green

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: Region A/1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Run Time: 97 minutes

 

 

        Manglehorn has a familiar plot structure, one which is not too far off from similar roles that Al Pacino has played recently (especially Danny Collins), but the sincerity in the material and his performance swept me up and allowed me to forgive any shortcomings in storytelling. Director David Gordon Green applies his type of unsentimental honesty to the familiar narrative, which is what made him a force in the world of independent cinema early in his career with films like George Washington and All the Real Girls. It is refreshing to find that both Pacino and Green returning to the type of art which showcases the talent which made them famous in the first place, and Manglehorn is easily the best thing either has done in years.

Dead Rising: Watchtower DVD Review

     Actors: Meghan Ory, Jesse Metcalfe, Keegan Tracy, Virginia Madsen, Dennis Haysbert

Director: Zach Lipovsky

Format: Multiple Formats, AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC

Language: English

Subtitles: English

Region: Region 1

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

DVD Release Date: October 6, 2015

Run Time: 118 minutes

 

        With the zombie sub-genre so fully saturated, both in blockbusters and these lower budget attempts, and the poor track record of movies based on video games, I was certain that Dead Rising: Watchtower was going to be a trying viewing experience. While it didn’t exact blow me away with any original ideas on the material, I was shocked to find that I never had the urge to fast-forward through the content, despite an uncharacteristically lengthy running time. Not only does the film have enough strength to survive the weaker aspects of the zombie narrative, this may be one of the more faithful video game adaptations.

 

We Are Still Here Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Barbara Crampton, Andrew Sensenig, Larry Fessenden

Director: Ted Geoghegan

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: Region A/1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Dark Sky Films

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Run Time: 83 minutes

 

 

        Part of the problem I have always had with haunted house movies is the logic behind the family’s refusal to simply move out when the haunting begins, and We Are Still Here sidesteps this by confining the horror action to the film’s climax. Once the truth about the house is revealed, it is too late to escape and an hour of slow build-up finally pays off with a chaotic final act. If only the journey to get to the explosive ending were a bit more competently made, I would have an easier time recommending We Are Still Here. As it stands, the last twenty minutes make a great short film, while the first hour feels like amateur filmmaking.

 

Tremors 5: Bloodlines Blu-ray Review

Actors: Jamie Kennedy, Pearl Thusi, Brandon Auret, Ian Roberts, Natalie Becker

Director: Don Michael Paul

Writers: Woodrow Truesmith, M.A. Deuce, John Whelpley

Producer: Ogden Gavanski

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

Language: Japanese (Dolby Digital 5.1), Italian (DTS 5.1), German (DTS 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), Portuguese (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Thai (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)

Subtitles: Arabic, Portuguese, Cantonese, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Swedish, English

Region: All Regions

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Number of discs: 2

Rated: PG-13

Studio: Universal Studios

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2016

 

 

        There is a difference between a good film and a fun film, and it is possible to be one without the other (explaining the success of movies like Sharknado). I expected the direct-to-home fifth installment of Tremors to be fun, with no anticipation of quality filmmaking. Perhaps it helped that I went into Tremors 5: Bloodline with such low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised at equal balance of quality and campy fun.

 

The Timber Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Mark Caven, Josh Peck, James Ransone

Director: Anthony O'Brien

Format: Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen

Language: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: October 6, 2015

Run Time: 80 minutes

 

        I don’t know if I was more bored or confused by The Timber, but both were a result of poor filmmaking. The screenplay is too smart for its own good, leaving the audience in the dark in a pretentious attempt at forcing them to piece together plot rather than providing exposition. The direction could also be blamed for failing to convey the story adequately amidst the purposefully sparse dialogue, with the editing also easily faulted for the incoherence of the film’s minimal action sequences. This is a film full of technical shortcomings, which destroy the attempt at intelligent storytelling. 

 

Black Coal, Thin Ice Blu-ray Review

     Actors: Fan Liao, Xuebing Wang

Director: Diao Yinan

Format: Blu-ray, Widescreen

Language: Cantonese

Subtitles: English

Number of discs: 1

Rated: Unrated

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Run Time: 110 minutes

 

 

        The magnificence of Diao Yinan’s abilities as a filmmaker lie in his ability to keep a film absolutely riveting, even in the moments where it is difficult to follow the narrative. Black Coal, Thin Ice is not a perfect film, but I wouldn’t change a thing about Yinan’s approach to the material. Every scene kept me engaged, and even if the screenplay demands more attentiveness from the audience than your typical neo-noir, this is only further reason for repeat viewings. And Black Coal, Thin Ice is a film I would not mind watching more than once.  

A Murder in the Park DVD Review

     Actors: Dexter Hammett, Dan Nachtrab

Directors: Christopher S. Rech, Brandon Kimber

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: Region 1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: September 29, 2015

Run Time: 91 minutes

        True crime stories are extremely popular right now, with the explosion of popularity behind the Serial podcast showing that an unbelievable narrative told well can often be more exciting than an action film. A Murder in the Park takes a unique approach, evolving from an investigative crime procedural to a story about corruption and deceit. To say that this story plays out in a satisfying way would be a stretch, though it remains consistently fascinating throughout every twist and turn.

 

Soul Boys of the Western World DVD Review

     Actors: Tony Hadley, John Keeble

Director: George Hencken

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen

Language: English

Region: Region 1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO

DVD Release Date: September 29, 2015

Run Time: 111 minutes

 

 

        Some music documentaries have the ability to tell human interest stories which are elevated beyond mere fan appreciation, to provide a narrative that can be fascinating to those unfamiliar with the band as easily as those who own all of their CDs. Soul Boys of the Western World is not one of those movies, instead made in a way that is likely only to appeal to those with a sense of nostalgia for this music. Though I was familiar with a few hit songs, my knowledge of Spandau Ballet prior to watching this film was virtually nonexistent. More importantly, after watching the documentary, I am no more a fan than I was before I wasn’t even sure who they were.