Money Monster Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Emily Meade, Caitriona Balfe, Christopher Denham, Giancarlo Esposito, Lenny Venito
• Director: Jodie Foster
• Producers: George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Lara Alameddine, Daniel Dubiecki
• Format: AC-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French, Portuguese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Indonesian, Cantonese, Thai, Spanish, English
• Dubbed: Portuguese, French, Thai, Spanish
• Audio Description: English
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  R 
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Release Date: September 6, 2016
• Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2019
• Run Time: 99 minutes

        Money Monster is a movie that works a bit too sufficiently within the larger money-making system of the filmmaking business for any commentary on the shallowness of cable news to carry any righteous anger. While the film is efficiently made with a talented cast and crew, it lacks the soul and the passion that the subject matter deserves. Ultimately, this ends up resembling an episode to any number of police procedural television shows, with a star-studded cast to distract from the derivative qualities of the screenplay. This may have been less disappointing had the message of the film carried less relevance to our times.

Equals Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Bel Powley, Guy Pearce
• Director: Drake Doremus
• Format: NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: LIONSGATE
• Release Date: September 6, 2016
• Run Time: 93 minutes

        It is no wonder that many critics assumed that this was some type of a remake or re-imagining of the 1984, because although Drake Doremus believes that this film comes from his own original idea, it resembles dozens of other science fiction films. If not 1984, it simply reminded me of Equilibrium with romance rather than Matrix-style action, which itself resembled Fahrenheit 451. There were also elements similar to The Giver, The Lobster (without the humor), and countless other science fiction films. In other words, as hard as the filmmaking tries to resemble something new and fresh, Equals largely feels like a forgettable rehashing of familiar science fiction tropes mixed with the melodrama of a star-crossed lovers narrative.

The Bodyguard Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Sammo Hung, Andy Lau
• Director: Sammo Hung
• Format: Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen
• Language: Chinese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  Unrated
• Studio: Well Go USA
• Release Date: September 6, 2016
• Run Time: 99 minutes

        The Bodyguard is a typical martial arts movie in many ways, set apart by the age of the leading action star. Directing and starring in the film, 64-year-old kung-fu legend Sammo Hung proves that he still has the ability to carry a film and choreograph exciting action sequences. It may be a more subdued narrative than the international marketing campaign suggests (the title was changed from My Beloved Bodyguard, along with more action-oriented cover artwork), but there are still some heavy punches thrown within the sentimental story.

Night of the Living Deb Blu-ray Review

• Actors: Maria Thayer, Michael Cassidy
• Director: Kyle Rankin
• Format: Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region A/1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  Unrated
• Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
• Release Date: September 6, 2016
• Run Time: 84 minutes

        Zombie movies are so outplayed that even the idea of a zombie romantic comedy is somewhat derivative at this point. There have been Blockbuster releases such Zombieland, foreign imports like Shaun of the Dead, zom-rom-coms with a love story between human and monster (Warm Bodies), a break-up rom-com (Life After Beth), and even adaptation of classic literature with zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). Night of the Living Deb offers a mildly clever title and a comedy with none of the typical dramatic stakes found in a zombie narrative. This isn’t a parody of the zombie horror film so much as an indi comedy utilizing the popularity of the sub-genre.  

Center Stage: On Pointe DVD Review

• Actors: Peter Gallagher, Sascha Radetsky, Ethan Stiefel, Kenny Wormald
• Director: Director X.
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish, English
• Region: Region 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  PG
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: September 6, 2016
• Run Time: 92 minutes

        Center Stage is a franchise that has somehow stayed alive, despite the mediocrity of the original movie. As far as dance films go, these have always been a bit more sophisticated than the Step-Up films, though this latest sequel begins the inclusion of contemporary dance styles. The original film also featured some truly impressive dancing because of the casting of dancers over actors. While Center Stage: On Pointe has learned from this tactic by casting actual actors, making for far better scenes of dialogue, it also means that the dancing is far less impressive to watch.

King Jack DVD Review

• Actors: Danny Flaherty, Charlie Plummer, Christian Madsen
• Director: Felix Thompson
• Format: Color, Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated:
  Unrated
• Studio: Well Go USA
• DVD Release Date: September 13, 2016
• Run Time: 81 minutes

        King Jack doesn’t offer much new to the coming-of-age narrative; despite the modern addition of sexting, the behavior of teens hasn’t changed much over the years. What the debut feature film from writer/director Felix Thompson does have to offer is authenticity. Even if the story resembles countless others, the ability to create sympathy for these specific characters shows strengths in filmmaking which is never forceful or contrived. In the end, believing these characters could exist is more important than having an original story.