This Week on DVD & Blu-ray (10/08/13)

 

This week, there’s a handful of unsettling and provocative movies to choose from and that’s not just “The Hangover Part III” and “After Earth”. That M. Night Shayamalan sci-fi flick starring Will and Jaden Smith wasn’t nearly as bad as the recent dreck (“The Last Airbender”) from of the once-heralded filmmaker, but it did have its unintentionally laughable moments and suffered from being entirely too predictable. Still, it befits a specific demographic, that being young insecure tween boys and their athletic domineering fathers. Speaking of the genre, “The Purge”, released this past June, is considered a sci-fi thriller. Based on its plot, revolving around a reborn United States government which keeps its crime level low by allowing a 12-hour “purge” that allows criminal activity to run rampant (mandated catharsis?), it would seem somewhat timely. I’m most interested in finally catching up with “Leviathan” a 2012 documentary, which is finally getting released, about the North American fishing industry. It’s probably one of the most perilous occupations out there and the film’s waterproof cameras, obscure angles and almost dialogue-free approach has me curious. Plus, that poster…..

 

As mentioned, “The Hangover Part III”, a sequel that no one was clamoring for, is out this week. The Wolfpack returns to Vegas, for what is (hopefully) their last go round of inebriated craziness. Director Todd Phillips seems more interested in giving more screen time to action set pieces or Galifianakis and Ken Jeong’s irritating Chow than creating a clever or unique brand of comedy. It feels like all the funny bits could be found in the movie’s trailer.

 

Joss Whedon took a superhero break and released his version of  Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” this past summer. Which is interesting on many levels. I could be wrong, but the typical audience for “Marvel’s The Avengers” probably has no interest  in the writer/director adapting the classic play to a modern setting on a microbudget. Whedon filmed the movie at his home with a group of actor friends (Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, Ashley Johnson, Sean Maher, Reed Diamond, Tom Lenk, and Nathan Fillion, a standout as constable Dogberry) in 12 days. Resembling the screwball comedies of old and yet dealing with poignant issues like love lost and betrayal, it’s easy to see why Whedon chose the material as a blockbuster palette cleanser.  

I’m also interested in catching up with “Europa Report”, a sci-fi thriller from Magnolia’s Magnet label. In short. Although I’ve built an aversion to found footage films over the years, this looks interesting. It follows recently recovered video transmissions from a doomed space exploration to Europa. Of course, there’s a mystery as to what the crew (which includes Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu, Anamaria Marinca, Christian Camargo, and Sharlto Copley)experienced or encountered. The draw for me is a thriller in space and the cast, but also seeing what  director Sebastián Cordero (2004’s “Cronicas”) can bring to the genre beyond the typical doomed mission trope. Another curious draw are the Earth sequences, which has Dan Fogler and Embeth Davitz as NASA investigators.

 

As expected there are plenty of horror flicks getting rereleased or coming to Blu-ray for the first time. There’s also a new “Chucky” sequel (again, because you demanded it!) called “The Curse of Chucky” as well as “Chucky: The Complete Collection”. Cuddle up with your honey for that marathon. I have no idea what extra material comes with “The Exorcist: 40th Anniversary Edition – Extended Director’s Cut”, but it seems like there’s a new one of these coming out every year.  For something different (well, kinda) you can check out Danny Trejo going up against zombies in “Zombie Hunter” – and hey, it’s “Based on a True Story”!!

 

One film that seems like it could be a horror flick, but is actually a rom-com from 1942 is “I Married a Witch”. It’s getting the Criterion treatment and stars Veronica Lake as a witch whose plan for revenge doesn’t go as she planned one she encounters Frederic March – hilarity ensues.

 

Other releases new to Blu-ray: the sci-ci classics “Fantastic Voyage” and “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” as well as “Airplane II: The Sequel” and “Stalag 17”.

 

That’s it for this week! Previous reviews are highlighted below. Enjoy the Rundown!