Krasinski’s well-drawn screenplay, written with Bryan Woods and Scott Beck, follows a farm family struggling to survive in a future overrun with alien creatures that kill anything they can hear. These fast-moving, seemingly indestructible beings are blind but act upon hearing even a footstep – making things difficult for Krasinski’s Lee Abbott and his wife Evelyn, whose children include a pair of young sons and their deaf older sister (Millicent Simmons). Trying to stay silent is hard for anyone – but doing so with kids while simultaneously trying to survive makes for a tension-filled affair where a wrong move means nearly instant death.
Though it’s not a profound film with much on its mind other than providing tension for its 90 minutes, “A Quiet Place” is still one of the best movies of recent years. Driven by a tightly constructed, well-written script that gives every character a purpose, Krasinski — working on-screen with real-life wife Blunt – confidently moves cinematically through a realistic world refreshingly free of snarky dialogue (there’s hardly any) and with every scene conveying something important, either from a character or narrative standpoint, that connects at the end.
It’s really more suspense than horror, with the director playing to a hilt several dynamite set-pieces that are likely to linger long in the memory, without the need of excessive gore and violence. That element is certainly praiseworthy on its own (and undoubtedly one reason the film has been such a hit), but equally commendable is how Krasinski draws the viewer in not with a lengthy prologue about the aliens and how they got here, but rather how perilous every day is for the family. This is a movie that stays in its lane and doesn’t feel the need to plant constant “franchise seeds” in the hopes of establishing a “new cinematic universe,” but rather is driven to entertain and keep the viewer on the edge of their seats with character-driven tension.
While it’s easy to overrate a movie like this in today’s lackluster cinematic climate, “A Quiet Place” nevertheless is bravura filmmaking on its own scale – and that’s nothing to stay quiet about.
New on 4K UHD
If westerns are hard to come by, good ones are an even scarcer commodity. That makes Scott Cooper’s HOSTILES (**½, 134 mins., 2017, R; Lionsgate) such a frustrating experience, as this beautifully filmed picture, backed by a compelling story, is also undone to a degree by a leaden pace and questionable leadperformance.
In 1892 New Mexico, an army captain (Christian Bale) is tasked with transporting a dying Cheyenne chief (Wes Studi) to his tribal home in Montana; en route, the group is attacked by Comanche savages who’ve also slain Rosamund Pike’s husband and young children. From there, Cooper’s story, based on a treatment by the late screenwriter Donald E. Stewart, follows this disparate group through meetings with hostiles of all persuasions, as well as a conclusion both bloody and ultimately redemptive.
“Hostiles” is undeniably gorgeous in terms of its visuals, with Cooper and Masanobu Takayanagi’s naturalistic lensing capturing the vastness of the Plains in a potent widescreen presentation. It’s also finely acted, particularly by Pike in one of her more sympathetic turns, as well as Studi and a capable supporting cast (Jesse Plemons, Ben Foster, Adam Beach). More problematic, however, is Bale, who’s dialed back so much here that there are times he threatens to nearly vanish off the screen. No doubt the actor and Cooper sought to curtail the actor’s inherent energy and “immerse” him in the role, but it’s a tactic that doesn’t entirely pay off, with Bale often appearing listless in scenes that feel as if they needed more energy.
That’s also the main issue with the film as a whole, even though the picture has a lot of good things going for it. The premise is compelling and Cooper’s script surprising in its depiction of its main characters – eschewing simple black-and-white clichés, Cooper believably draws both the white settlers and the Native Americans in three-dimensional terms, so much that the eventual (and expected) “change of heart” moments come off as well-earned. And yet, the movie moves so slowly at times, meandering through dialogue sequences and restrained emotions that viewers could mistake for a bloated Terrence Malick mess. The end result is a movie with some potent moments – and a story that builds to a satisfying resolution – that’s hampered by a ponderous, self-indulgent pace.
4K Rundown: Lionsgate’s 4K UHD of “Hostiles” is out next week. This is a wonderful HDR-enhanced transfer with a nice DTS MA 5.1 mix featuring an occasionally impressive Max Richter score. A full hour-long look at the production is the sole special feature with a Blu-Ray and Digital Copy rounding out the release. Still worth a look for western fans, in spite of its shortcomings.
THE POST 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (**½, 116 mins., 2017, PG-13; Fox): Steven Spielberg tries his hand at an “All The President’s Men”-styled affair with Tom Hanks essaying Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and Meryl Streep the newspaper’s publisher in an original script by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer that looks at how the duo fought to release the Pentagon Papers. Hanks and Streep both do their usual thing here in a movie that often comes off as pretentious and artificial even with its historical account of crusading media members, no doubt trying to say something important about the power of a free press in today’s Trumpian world. Watchable yet not on the level of Spielberg’s better recent work (“Bridge of Spies”), “The Post” makes its debut this week from Fox on both 4K UHD and Blu-Ray, each featuring a number of featurettes typical for most Spielberg home video releases – these chronicle various elements of the production, including John Williams’ unobtrusive score.
4K Rundown: Subtle use of HDR permeates Fox’s 4K presentation of “The Post,” which also includes the Blu-Ray. On that end, the 1080p transfer (1.85) is closely aligned to its 4K counterpart and will suffice for most, while the 7.1 DTS MA sound on both discs is perfectly functional for the film. A Digital HD copy is on tap on both sets, while a DVD also accompanies the Blu-Ray.
SOURCE CODE 4K UHD Combo Pack (**½, 94 mins., 2011, PG-13; Lionsgate): This Canadian-lensed production posits a twisty, though mostly predictable, “Twilight Zone”-type of scenario involving Air Force colonel Jake Gyllenhaal, who tries to prevent a train disaster outside the confines of Chicago by remotely entering the body of one of its passengers: a teacher traveling with a female companion (Michelle Monaghan).
The good news for Gyllenhaal is that he’s able to scientifically attempt this as many times he needs to – the bad news is that he has only eight minutes to do it at a time, necessitating a series of “Groundhog Day”-like mishaps in order to find out where the bomb on the train is, which one of the passengers is responsible, and how he can manage to complete the mission while working with a shady scientist (Geoffrey Wright) with questionable motives. Along the way, he’s guided by a fellow military advisor (Vera Farmiga) who can only divulge the true nature of Gyllenhaal’s current physical situation one step at a time.
Ben Ripley’s premise is intriguing and director Duncan Jones keeps things moving, yet there’s just something about “Source Code” that prevented me from really embracing the film. Perhaps it’s because of the story’s structure that you just know Gyllenhaal is going to blow his early attempts at finding the bad guy, making the first half of the film feel longer than it actually is, and that there’s more to Gyllenhaal’s actual fate than the story lets on. When the latter revelations are explained, it’s not much of a surprise, while the picture even boasts a bit of heavy-handed Political Correctness (when Gyllenhaal targets a man with a Middle Eastern appearance, Monaghan even scolds him for racial profiling!). “Source Code” works decently as a one-time rental, with an ending that pleasingly backs off of a big action climax (even though it sets things up for a sequel), but it’s not a whole lot more than moderately entertaining.
4K Rundown: “Source Code” comes to 4K UHD on May 8th in a typical Lionsgate UHD catalog release, boasting HDR and a modest enhancement in quality over its Blu-Ray, which is also included. As with that prior BD, the disc also includes a commentary and scene-specific special features, while the “5 Things You Might Have Missed” feature is exclusive to the 4K platter.
Warner Archive New Releases
BLACK SCORPION (88 mins., 1957) debuts on Blu-Ray this month from the Warner Archive, offering some mixed news for movie buffs.
On the plus side, B-movie fans of the Golden Age – and especially undemanding Giant Monster buffs – should enjoy this US/Mexican production in which giant scorpions go on the attack after a volcano erupts South of the Border. The bad news is that, for anyone else, “The Black Scorpion” doesn’t exactly provide “Them!”-styled thrills – more like one of Ray Harryhausen’s dated early efforts, but with even more static storytelling and marginal performances. If you’re a genre aficionado regardless, Warner’s Archive Blu-Ray is a winner with its B&W 1080p (1.78) transfer and dual-channel DTS MA mono sound. Extras include the Harryhausen featurete “Stop Motion Masters” and the Harryhausen-animated dinosaur sequence from “The Animal World.”
Among Warner Archive’s new DVD releases this month is MGM’S THE BIG PARADE OF COMEDY (90 mins., 1963), producer-director Robert Youngson’s 1963 compilation of comedic highlights from the MGM archives. With audiences back in the ‘50s and ‘60s not having the ability to head to the video store (much less dial up a movie on their phone in a matter of seconds), clip anthologies became popular both in theaters and TV, as they circulated favorite moments from pictures viewers may not have seen in years (if at all). Youngson had already produced two other highlight reels of classic comedy when he tackled “The Big Parade of Comedy,” working in sequences featuring the Marx Brothers, Three Stooges, Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy and many others – all in MGM appearances. Warner’s Archive DVD preserves the movie’s 1.33 B&W frame in its first DVD release.
’30s Pre-Code Shenanigans: George Arliss first brought Alexander Hamilton to Broadway in a play that captivated audiences in 1917. While Arliss himself was far too old for the role, he nevertheless reprised his stage triumph in Warner Bros.’ 1931 version of ALEXANDER HAMILTON (70 mins.), which is now — undoubtedly thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends — out on DVD for the first time from Warner Archive. Arliss and Mary Hamlin penned the original stage play which this film version was derived from, and while fairly static in its cinematic attributes, this early WB/Vitaphone effort comes off as an interesting view for history buffs. Warner’s DVD includes a 1.33 B&W transfer and mono sound…Prolific tunesmiths Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote a trio of songs for the early screen musical THE HOT HEIRESS (79 mins., 1931), a First National/Vitaphone production that charts the Cinderella relationship between the title heroine (Ona Munson) and a construction worker (Ben Lyon) who saves her from a fire in an unfinished skyscraper. Walter Pidgeon co-stars as Munson’s stuffy fiancée in a fun and lighthearted affair. Meanwhile, Carole Lombard stars as a gold digger showgirl who gets wrapped up with organized crime in MGM’s THE GAY BRIDE (80 mins., 1934), a screwball affair co-starring Chester Morris and Zasu Pitts. Both “Hot Heiress” and “The Gay Bride” offer B&W 1.33 transfers and mono sound from the best surviving elements.
Early ’40s Drama: John Gielgud essays Benjamin Disraeli in THE PRIME MINISTER (94 mins., 1941), a fascinating biopic that utilizes its historical figure as a parallel to Winston Churchill trying to chart England’s course into the dark tide of war at the outset of WWII. Enjoyable propaganda moonlighting as history, with Gielgud a lot of fun. The 1.33 B&W transfer and mono sound are both fine on this WB/First National picture…Finally, James Stephenson and Geraldine Fitzgerald earned critical kudos for their performances in SHINING VICTORY (80 mins., 1941), an adaptation of A.J. Cronin’s play about a brilliant research psychiatrist (Stephenson) who finds his work on dementia treatment stolen by a rival professor in Budapest. He subsequently moves to a sanitarium in Scotland and meets a medical missionary (Fitzgerald) who heals his wounded pride in an Irving Rapper film scored by Max Steiner and featuring an early Bette Davis appearance. Warner’s Archive release again boasts a 1.33 B&W transfer and mono sound.
Also New & Noteworthy
ALOHA, BOBBY AND ROSE Blu-Ray (88 mins., 1975, PG; Scorpion Releasing): Outside of the “Jaws” phenomenon, Summer 1975 had its share of box-office disappointments – the Jack Nicholson/Warren Beatty dud “The Fortune,” Charles Bronson’s “Breakout” and the Gene Hackman/Richard Brooks western “Bite the Bullet” chief among them. One of the season’s surprise hits – even though it’s basically been forgotten as years have passed – was Floyd Mutrux’s “Aloha, Bobby and Rose,” a doomed romance/road trip pic with a killer soundtrack and stylish cinematography by William A. Fraker.
This independently produced effort, shot in 1973, was picked up by Columbia Pictures for release nearly two years later. Paul LeMat, coming off “American Graffiti,” plays Bobby, a Hollywood auto mechanic seemingly drifting aimlessly through his existence when he meets Dianne Hull’s Rose, a single mother who’s attracted instantly towards him. The duo head out for a night of hot-rodding and fun when a prank Bobby plays at a liquor store turns tragic. After hitting the road, the duo find they can’t outrun the cops merely with their affection for one another.
Elton John’s “Benny and the Jets” and a myriad of instantly recognize songs from major artists dominate the soundtrack of Floyd Mutrux’s film. Between them and Fraker’s superb lensing, it’s not difficult to see why “Aloha, Bobby & Rose” attracted audiences looking for a then-contemporary love story/character drama, with LeMat and Hull sharing a good amount of on-screen chemistry and the film functioning today as an effective time capsule of its era – back when billboards used to advertise hot Billy Preston LPs and “Hello Dolly” was playing on the Sunset Strip.
Scorpion’s Blu-Ray of “Aloha, Bobby and Rose” looks nifty with its 1080p (1.78) transfer and DTS MA mono sound. This 2017 scan deftly preserves the smoky, effectively lit look of the film as well as its song-laden soundtrack. Extras include new interviews with Mutrux (who once wishes contributed a commentary), co-star Robert Carradine and an almost unrecognizable LeMat.
Also new this month from Scorpion is ENIGMA ROSSO [RED RINGS OF FEAR] (85 mins., 1978), a late-era giallo starring Fabio Testi as a cop investigating murder and mayhem at a girls’ boarding school. This was the third entry in a loose series of Italian thrillers that also included the more widely-seen “What Have You Done to Solange?” and “What Have They Done To Your Daughters?” Fans of the genre will be most receptive to Scorpion’s Blu-Ray of this outing, which most critics believe was inferior to the pictures that preceded it. In addition to a new scan (2.35) of the original negative, the disc includes commentary from friend Nathaniel Thompson and either the English soundtrack or Italian audio with English subtitles.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 – Season 11 Blu-Ray (21 hours, 2017; Shout! Factory): Despite the adjustment period needed to get used to new cast members Jonah Ray, Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt, this crowd-funded revival of MST3K managed to perform reasonably well on Netflix upon its release last year. The Satelitte of Love returns here with 14 new episodes, mostly culled from MGM and Roger Corman properties, as Ray fills in for the likes of Joel Hodgson and Mike Nelson before him, while Day and Oswalt provide the “villainy” – albeit to very uneven (and mostly unfunny) degrees. The movies themselves provide most of the humor, with Ray, Tom Servo and Crow riffing on Reptilicus, The Loves of Hercules, Yongary, Cry Wilderness, The Time Travelers, Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1 & 2), Avalanche, The Beast of Hollow Mountain, Carnival Magic, Star Crash, The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t, The Land That Time Forgot and At The Earth’s Core.
This certainly isn’t MST3K in its prime, with both the host segments and cameos from the likes of Joel McHale and Mark Hamill feeling more forced than a natural extension of the original series, but once the movies kick in, it’s modestly entertaining, even with its predictable Trump riffs (which are likely to date this entire revival badly). Shout’s Blu-Ray set offers 1080p transfers/DTS MA audio for the episodes across eight discs along with an hour-plus documentary on the series’ return.
Also Upcoming From Shout: “Psycho” writer Robert Bloch penned the horror anthology THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD (102 mins., 1971, PG), a genre exercise similar to other films (“Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors,” “Torture Garden,” “Tales From the Crypt”) from the era. Bloch’s four stories offer a framing story and appearances from viewer faves Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, future “Dr. Who” Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt, plus Denholm Elliott and Joss Ackland, in a movie that hasn’t been circulated as much as its genre brethren since it’s a Cinerama property. Fortunately Shout has come to the rescue of this moderately entertaining, if routine, affair with a 1080p (1.85) transfer, radio spots, a still gallery, the trailer, DTS MA mono sound and a new commentary from Troy Howarth lending insight into the film’s creation…Also due out May 1st from Scream Factory is Rupert Jones’ KALEIDOSCOPE (99 mins., 2016, Not Rated), the story of a just-released parolee (Toby Jones) who reawakens a buried trauma when he sees his stifling mother (Anne Reid) again. A psychological thriller that works best a showcase for Toby Jones’ off-kilter performance, “Kaleidoscope” comes to Blu-Ray as an IFC Midnight title, with Shout’s Blu-Ray offering a Making Of, “Working in the Studio” featurette, “Keeping Up With The Joneses” segment, the trailer, a 1080p (1.85) transfer and 5.1/2.0 DTS MA sound.
DEN OF THIEVES Blu-Ray (140/149 mins., 2018, R/Unrated; Universal): The contrasting lives of both a LAPD Sheriff’s Department and a group of elite bank robbers are chronicled in this lengthy, ambitious – but only partially successful – outing from writer-director Christian Gudegast. Gerard Butler leads the law with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Pablo Schreiber and O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube’s son) on the other side; parts of this overlong film are entertaining yet Gudegast, who worked with Butler on “London Has Fallen,” often goes to extremes when less would’ve been more. Universal’s Blu-Ray is available next week, sporting a top notch 1080p transfer, 5.1 DTS MA sound, an alternate ending, numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes, a DVD and Digital HD copy as well.
Lionsgate New Releases: Star/producer Damon Dash toplines HONOR UP (84 mins., 2018, R), the story of a drug lord’s lieutenant (Dash) struggling to keep his crew together after a Harlem shootout. Dash and executive producer Kanye West assembled a crew of rappers including Cam’ron, Murda Mook, Blackface and Smoke DZA along with Nicholas Torturro for this rote urban drama. Lionsgate’s Blu-Ray is out this week featuring commentary from Dash and producer/co-star Raquel Horn, the trailer, a 1080p (2.35) transfer, 5.1 DTS MA sound and a Digital HD copy…Available April 24th is an adaptation of Heidi McLaughlin’s FOREVER MY GIRL (106 mins., 2018, PG), starring Alex Roe as Liam Page – a rising country star still haunted by the girl (Jessica Rothe) he left behind. When Page heads back to his small Southern town, he rekindles their relationship in a well-drawn romantic drama – something like a Hallmark movie with superior performances and character development. Lionsgate’s Blu-Ray is light on extras (just a photo gallery) but the 1080p (2.39) transfer and 5.1 DTS MA audio are both fine. A Digital HD copy rounds out the disc…Based on a true story, BACKSTABBING FOR BEGINNERS (108 mins., 2018, R) stars Theo James as an indealistic UN worker who uncovers the truth about his predecessor and further exposes a conspiracy that may implicate his boss (Ben Kingsley). Jacqueline Bisset appears in this A24 release that was based on a true story, as documented in Michael Soussan’s book. Available April 24th, Lionsgate’s Blu-Ray includes a look at the actual events that inspired the film, a 1080p (2.40) AVC encoded transfer, 5.1 DTS MA audio and a Digital HD copy.
Cohen New Releases: Now on Blu-Ray in a new 2K restoration from the Cohen Film Collection, SHAKESPEARE WALLAH (122 mins., 1965) marked the first of many collaborations between director James Merchant and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. This black-and-white drama touches upon Colonialism as per the relationship between Great Britain and India, as seen through the perspective of Geoffrey Kendal and his real-life traveling troupe of performers. Satyajit Ray scored “Shakespeare Wallah,” which has been fully restored in a crisp and superbly detailed new 1080p transfer with mono sound. Interviews with Merchant, partner James Ivory, and stars Shashi Kapoor and Felicity Kendall plus trailers are included in Cohen’s now-available Blu-Ray edition.
Well Go New Releases: Coming May 1st from Well Go, ONCE UPON A TIME (116 mins., 2017) is a gorgeously designed fantasy – an adaptation of a popular best-selling fantasy novel named “Three Lives Three Worlds” – that follows a goddess named Bai Quinn as she undergoes a trial to become a “High Goddess.” In the process, she meets and marries a man named Ye Hua, yet their relationship is constantly threatened in a movie with eye-popping colors and extensive CGI. Admittedly, the story unfolds at such a frenetic clip that it’s tough to follow unless you have some familiarity with the material (or use Wikipedia!). Well Go’s Blu-Ray does offer a glorious 1080p transfer and DTS X sound, making for a beautiful HD presentation of this well-known Chinese adventure (which was previously adapted as a TV series).
THE VIRGIN SUICIDES Blu-Ray (97 mins., 1999, R; Criterion):
Sofia Coppola’s debut feature chronicles the lives of five sisters (including Kirsten Dunst) in a Michigan suburb during the 1970s who rebel against their religious parents (James Woods, Kathleen Turner) and their surroundings – only to eventually take their own lives. Coppola’s adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides’ book touches upon issues involving conformity and sexual repression, framed through the lens of boys the sisters knew, reflecting on their lives – and the mystery surrounding the girls’ deaths – as adults. It’s an assured debut from Coppola that was released alongside other films about ‘70s suburban malaise like Ang Lee’s “The Ice Storm,” backed by a fine cast (Scott Glenn, Josh Hartnett, Danny DeVito). Criterion’s Blu-Ray benefits from a new 4K digital restoration supervised by cinematographer Ed Lachman (1.66) with 5.1 DTS MA sound, along with new interviews with Coppola, Lachman, Dunst, Hartnett, and Eugenides; a 1998 Making Of; Coppola’s 1998 short, “Lick the Star”; a music video and the trailer.
Family Finds
PADDINGTON 2 Blu-Ray Combo Pack (104 mins., 2018, PG; Warner): Sequel to the 2014 UK hit – that performed well at the U.S. box-office – met with decidedly lower receipts this time around. However, this amiable follow up offers more of the same, mostly gentle entertainment for kids, with Paddington having acclimated himself to domestic life with the Brown family – at least until he’s framed for stealing a pop-up book and goes to prison. Fortunately, the resourceful bear created by Michael Bond is able to work his magic and breaks out, ultimately going after the real culprit (a narcissistic actor played by Hugh Grant) with the help of his adoptive family. Paul King directed and co-wrote “Paddington 2,” which finds the original cast (Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington) back and most of the colorful action retaining the slapstick shenanigans of its predecessor. I still found most of this a bit overlong and some of the humor predominantly British in its sensibility, perhaps why the sequel didn’t meet expectations stateside. Warner’s Blu-Ray combo pack includes a music video, a few featurettes, a 1080p (2.41) transfer and Dolby Atmos audio. The DVD and Digital HD copy are also included.
WACKY RACES – Start Your Engines! DVD (113 mins., 2017; Warner): Cartoon Network series revives the old Hanna-Barbera cartoon, bringing back Penelope Pitstop, Peter Perfect, and Dick Dastardly as they join up with a series of newcomers including Patty Pending, Princess Mimi and Captain Crankshaft and the Skeleton Crew. Warner’s first volume of episodes from the new “Wacky Races” includes 10 episodes in 16:9 transfers with 5.1 soundtracks and streets April 24th.
MAYA THE BEE 2: THE HONEY GAMES Blu-Ray Combo Pack (85 mins., 2018, Not Rated; Shout! Factory): Genial sequel to the 2014 animated film is set after a slow harvest season, with the hive threatened and Maya and sidekick Willy heading to Buzztropolis. There, they’re challenged to participate in the Honey Games, with the future of their hive on the line, as a loss will send their honey entirely to the Empress! Teamwork, cooperation and responsibility are the main lessons conveyed in this kid-friendly adventure, a German production (like its predecessor) based on a comic book that was previously adapted worldwide, including a well-known ‘70s Japanese anime series. Shout’s Blu-Ray includes a Making Of, teaser/trailers, a digital download, attractive 1080p (1.85) AVC encoded transfer and 5.1 DTS MA English audio. (Available May 1st)
DISNEY ZOMBIES DVD (94 mins., 2018; Disney): Disney Channel original movie is set in suburban Seabrook High, where blonde cheerleaders and All-American football players mingle with few cares in the world…at least until some ramshackle kids from nearby Zombietown integrate into the school system, causing chaos for all! A romance between a Zombie guy (Milo Manheim) and a human gal (Meg Donnelly) is at the center of this bouncy Disney Channel movie filled with songs and upbeat messages about being yourself. Disney’s DVD includes bloopers, deleted scenes, audition footage, a 16:9 transfer and 5.1 sound.
PAW PAWTROL: SUMMER RESCUES DVD (97 mins., 2016-17; Nickelodeon/Paramount): The pups hunt for missing fireworks, ride the waves with windsurfers, head to the carnival and go camping in a brand-new, seasonal DVD compilation from Nickelodeon. Included in the single-disc DVD are the adventures Pups Save the… Fireworks, Carnival, Ferris Wheel, Camping Trip, Dude Ranch Danny, Chilli Cook-Off, Sleepover and Windsurfing Pig! 16:9 transfers and 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtracks are included in Nickelodeon’s DVD, out on May 1st.
Quick Takes
BALLERS – Season 3 Blu-Ray (300 mins., 2018; HBO): Third season of the HBO series stars Dwayne Johnson as a football star-turned-financial manager trying to replicate his magic in the game off the field. Rob Corddry is also back, working with Johnson’s Spencer Strasmore as he checks into rehab and returns to ASM, trying to deliver on his promises to clients and friends alike. HBO has crammed the entire third season of “Ballers” onto a single Blu-Ray disc, meaning there’s nothing here except DTS MA 5.1 soundtracks and a Digital HD copy – and no extras at all. Yet, the no-frills presentation is perfectly fine even with lower compression.
SHAMELESS – Complete Eighth Season DVD (662 mins., 2017; Warner): This long-running Showtime series has become pretty much a cult program, with its eighth season meeting with highly mixed reviews, even from fans. This time around, Frank (William H. Macy) is out of his haze and trying to make good with society — while constantly running into issues, though this time not entirely of his own doing. Emmy Rossum and the cast return for 12 more episodes of “Shameless,” now on DVD from Warner. Two new featurettes and unaired scenes grace Warner’s DVD set, which features 16:9 transfers and 5.1 soundtracks.
New From PBS: Coming May 1st from PBS is Nature’s vividly shot SEX, LIES AND BUTTERFLIES (53 mins., 2018), a documentary that charts the growth of a caterpillar from egg onto its butterfly form. Macro-filming captures the beauty and strange evolution of the butterfly through this Paul Giamatti-narrated hour-long production, one that looks superb on DVD with lovely 16:9 widescreen imagery and 5.1 sound…Also on May 1st, PBS releases the Nova documentary THE FIRST FACE OF AMERICA (60 mins., 2018), which attempts to find out how one of the earliest North Americans — in this case, a malnourished teenager who fell to her death at the bottom of a 100-foot pit inside a Yucatan cave — may have not only lived but also looked like. This Nova documentary is new to disc with a 16:9 transfer and 5.1 Dolby Digital sound.
THE CHAMBER DVD (91 mins., 2015, Not Rated; Cinedigm): Ben Parker’s independent film follows a special ops crew down to the bottom of the Yellow Sea to retrieve a top secret object, only to suffer an accident that causes their sub to overturn, trapping them all with a slim chance to survive. Cinedigm’s DVD of this 2015 production includes a commentary with Parker, a featurette, 16:9 transfer and 5.1 soundtrack…Coming May 1st from Cinedigm and Synkronzed Films is FOLLOWERS (83 mins., 2018, Not Rated), a horror effort concerning a couple of social media-hungry celebrities who are followed by a pair of aspiring filmmakers – with murder on their minds – on their camping trip in the woods. Cinedigm’s DVD offers a 16:9 widescreen transfer and 2.0 stereo sound...…New this week on Blu-Ray from Cinedigm, DEAR DICTATOR (90 mins., 2016) stars Odeya Rush as a teenage girl living with her mother (Katie Holmes) in everday suburban America when she meets the most unlikely of muses: an exiled dictator (Michael Caine) who promptly gives her incentive to overthrow the popular clique at her high school. Jason Biggs and Seth Green co-star in a weak and uneven film that surprisingly attracted a high-profile cast. Cinedigm’s Blu-Ray includes a 1080p transfer and 5.1 DTS MA audio.
GENIUS – Season 1 DVD (500 mins., 2017; Fox): The National Geographic channel’s first dramatic series, “Genius” provides a layered look at the life of Albert Einstein, with Geoffrey Rush portraying the adult genius and Johnny Flynn in his early years. Emily Watson co-stars as Einstein’s second wife, Elsa, in this production from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, which offers strong performances across its 10 episodes. Fox’s DVD includes a number of special features with extensive behind-the-scenes material, 16:9 transfers and 5.1 soundtracks.
THE FINAL YEAR DVD (90 mins., 2017; Magnolia): HBO documentary recounts the final year of Barack Obama’s presidency, from his controversies through his triumphs – all from a decidedly skewed perspective. Obama fans are likely to get the most mileage out of this insider’s view, with Magnolia’s DVD including additional scenes, a photo gallery, the trailer, a 16:9 transfer and 5.1 sound. (Available April 24th)
Film Movement New Releases: Maysaloun Hamoud’s IN BETWEEN (103 mins., 2017) profiles three Palestinian women living in Tel Aviv. Away from their families, they’re able to shed their cultural inhibitions in a character drama that netted strong reviews on the festival circuit. Film Movement’s DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, Hamoud’s earlier short “Scent of the Morning,” a 16:9 transfer and 5.1 audio in Arabic/Hebrew with English subtitles.
NEXT TIME: New Twilight Time releases & more! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!
