|
OnVideo's Weekly Guide to Home Video Releases
February 20:
Black Code: Gripping documentary examines the global impact the Internet has on free speech and privacy. (DVD: Day & Date)
Born in Flames: The 1983 movie that rocked the foundations of the early Indie film world -- a thrilling classic fantasy of female rebellion set in America 10 years after a social democratic cultural revolution -- newly restored in high definition on its 35th anniversary. (VOD)
Lady and the Tramp: Disney’s cherished animated classic joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection. (Blu-ray release: February 27)
Murder on the Orient Express: When a murder occurs on the train he's travelling on, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case, based on Agatha Christie's famous novel. (DVD, Blu-ray release: February 27)
Thor: Ragnarok: Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. (DVD, Blu-ray release: March 6)
Too Cold to Swim: In D.W. Young’s new dramatic feature, a man crossing Maine at the end of a solo cross country bicycle trip strikes up an unlikely friendship with an ex-Marine and his oddball younger sister. (VOD)
February 23:
Flesh and Blood: A man just released from prison returns home to his impoverished neighborhood in Philadelphia and attempts to rebuild his life and reintegrate into the community, but he struggles with staying sober, forging a bond with his half-brother, and mending a strained relationship with his mother. (VOD)
Half Magic: Three women use their newly formed sisterhood to fight against sexism, bad relationships and low self-esteem. (VOD, Digital)
An Actor's Revenge
(1963 -- Japan) A uniquely prolific and chameleonic figure of world cinema, Kon Ichikawa delivered a burst of stylistic bravado with this intricate tale of betrayal and retribution. Set in the cloistered world of 19th-century kabuki theater, the film charts a female impersonator's attempts to avenge the deaths of his parents, who were driven to insanity and suicide by a trio of corrupt men. Ichikawa takes the conventions of melodrama and turns them on their head, bringing the hero's fractured psyche to life in boldly experimental widescreen compositions infused with kaleidoscopic color, pop-art influences, and meticulous choreography. Anchored by a magnificently androgynous performance by Kazuo Hasegawa, reprising a role he had played on-screen three decades earlier, "An Actor's Revenge" is an eye-popping examination of how the illusions of art intersect with life. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc with new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray. Extras: Rare 1999 Directors Guild of Japan interview with director Kon Ichikawa, conducted by critic and filmmaker Yuki Mori; new interview with critic, filmmaker, and festival programmer Tony Rayns; an essay by critic Michael Sragow. (The Criterion Collection).
Black Code
(2016) Nicholas de Pencier’s gripping documentary examines the global impact the Internet has on free speech and privacy. Based on Ronald Deibert’s 2013 book of the same name, "Black Code" offers a startling report on how governments control and manipulate the internet in order to censor and monitor their citizens. With stories from exiled Tibetan monks circumventing China’s surveillance apparatus, Syrian citizens tortured for Facebook posts, Brazilian activists using social media to distribute alternative news, and Pakistani online violence against women, we see firsthand the high-stakes consequences that our unprecedented level of digital communication can produce. As this battle for control of cyberspace is waged, our ideas of citizenship, privacy, and democracy will be challenged to the very core. Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Human Rights Watch discussion with Ronald Deibert and Edward Snowden; filmmaker Q&A from Nicholas de Pencier from Hong Kong International Film Festival. (Music Box Films).
Daddy’s Home 2
(2017) Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, John Cena, John Lithgow, Mel Gibson. Father and stepfather Dusty and Brad from "Daddy's Home" join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children, but their newfound partnership soon gets put to the test when Dusty's old-school, macho dad and Brad's gentle father arrive to turn the holiday upside down. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo,VOD, Digital. Extras: "Making a Sequel," "Look Who’s Back," "Co-Dads: Will & Mark," "The New Dads in Town: Mel & John," "Captain Sully," deleted/extended/alternate scenes, gag reel. (Paramount).
The Florida Project
(2017) Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto, Caleb Landry Jones. Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World. featurette, Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Extras: “Under the Rainbow: Making The Florida Project” featurette, bloopers and outtakes, cast and crew interviews. (Lionsgate).
The Girl Without Hands
(2016 -- France) Beautiful and dreamlike take on the Brothers Grimm story, hand-painted with lush, evocative details and featuring the voices of Anaïs Demoustier and Jérémie Elk. It's the story of a young woman who is sold to the devil by her miller father in return for a river of gold. She is so pure of heart that she is able to elude him, but not before losing her hands. So begins her long journey towards the light … but in spite of her resilience and the new protection of a handsome prince’s estate, the Devil devises a plan of his own. Formats: Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: "The Making of The Girl Without Hands," interview with director Sébastien Laudenbach, short films by Laudenbach, theatrical trailer. (GKIDS/Shout! Factory,).
Rise of the Footsoldier Part II
(2017) Ricci Harnett, Craig Fairbrass, Charlie Heaton. The follow-up to 2007’s cult hit "Rise of the Footsoldier," follows football-hooligan-turned-professional-criminal Carlton Leach, who’s still mourning the loss of his friends and is convinced that it’s only a matter of time before he’s next. For him, the only way out is to go back in and work his way back up the criminal ladder…but the higher he gets, the more violent the jobs become, until his quest for power turns into an obsession. With life and family on the line, can he hold his nerves together one last time in order to get out alive?
Formats: DVD, VOD, Digital. Extras: Director’s commentary, “Making of Rise of the Footsoldier Part II” featurette. (Lionsgate).
Same Kind of Different as Me
(2017) Renée Zellweger, Greg Kinnear, Jon Voight, Djimon Hounsou, Olivia Holt. International art dealer Ron Hall must befriend a dangerous homeless man in order to save his struggling marriage to his wife, a woman whose dreams will lead all three of them on the journey of their lives. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, VOD, Digital. Blu-ray extras: Commentary by director Michael Carney, writer Ron Hall and writer Alexander Foard; "Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind -- The Making of Same Kind of Different As Me"; "Filming in Mississippi"; deleted and extended scenes. (Paramount).
The Star
(2017) Voices of Steven Yeu, Aidy Bryant, Keegan-Michael Key, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Kelly Clarkson, Anthony Anderson, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Christopher Plummer. A small but brave donkey and his animal friends become the unsung heroes of the first Christmas. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray/DVD Combo, VOD, Digital, UltraViolet (cloud). Extras: "Star-aoke: Sing-Along with Bo & Friends"; "Life Is Good Dance-Along"; "Lyric Sing-Along Videos": “The Star” by Mariah Carey, “Can You See” by Fifth Harmony, “Children Go Where I Send You” by Kelsea Ballerini, “We Three Kings” by Kirk Franklin, “Life Is Good” by A Great Big World; craft video "Sweet and Sparkly Stars": Create star-themed cookies to be enjoyed year round; craft video: "Star Mason Jar Votives": Let the light shine with this simple craft; "Faith All Year Round with DeVon Franklin": A children’s sermon discussing the themes of the film; "An All-Star Cast": Meet the stars. (Sony).
© 1996 -- 2018 OnVideo. All rights reserved February 18, 2018 (ISSN 1094-3676). |
|