The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension [Collector’s Edition] (Blu-ray)
Neurosurgeon. Physicist. Rock Star. Hero. Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) is a true 80s renaissance man. With the help of his uniquely qualified team, The Hong Kong Cavaliers, Buckaroo is ready to save the world on a moment’s notice. But after his successful test of the Oscillation Overthruster — a device that allows him to travel through solid matter — he unleashes the threat of “evil, pure and simple from the 8th Dimension”… the alien Red Lectroids. Led by the deranged dictator Lord John Whorfin (John Lithgow), the Lectroids steal the Overthruster with the intent of using it to return to their home of Planet 10 “real soon!” But no matter where you go, there Buckaroo Banzai is ready to battle an interdimensional menace that could spell doom for the human race.
This is one of those movies that may cause many to wonder what the creators were smoking when they came up with the concept; but that also makes it one of the most off-the-wall, entertaining pictures of the ‘80s. Without its budget, this film would’ve been a bargain-basement mess of poor effects and goofy characters. But a decent amount of money and a lot of caring, creative people instead make it a movie you’ll tell your friends about simply so they can share in the experience. Lithgow is hilarious, adopting a strange Italian accent and taking advantage of the free reign he was clearly provided. Weller, similarly, is a far cry from his RoboCop character, portraying a hero that also knows how to have a good time.
Special features include: commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda; commentary by director W.D. Richter and writer Earl Mac Rauch; alternate opening sequence (with Jamie Lee Curtis); deleted scenes; “Into The 8th Dimension”; “Buckaroo Banzai Declassified”; and theatrical trailer. (Shout Select)
The Affair: Season Two (DVD)
Shifting between the perspectives of Noah (Dominic West), Alison (Ruth Wilson), Helen (Maura Tierney) and Cole (Joshua Jackson), the story now reveals the complex family ties, passionate betrayals and vengeful emotions that have resulted from the illicit summer liaison. And as the two estranged couples try individually to plan for the future, a new series of deceptions will once again force them to question everything they believed.
While the first season was told entirely from the perspective of the cheating spouses, this season also includes the point-of-views of their jilted partners. Each episode is still restricted to two sides of the story, but it does provide greater variety in the narrative. As a result, this season is actually far more interesting than the first as it creates more space for drama and intriguing character paths. In addition, the plot is working towards the “future” trial in which Noah is accused of running over Cole’s brother; therefore, audiences are engaged in knowing how the two would have crossed paths again and if it’s once more related to Noah’s daughter.
Special features include: character profiles; tour of Montauk; and “Memory Lanes.” (Paramount Home Media Distribution)
Almost Holy (DVD)
Gennadiy Mohknenko is a Ukrainian pastor who fights against child homelessness by abducting street kids. His tough love approach has made him a hero to some and a lawless vigilante to others.
Filmed over several years, the documentary begins with a young, idealistic Mohknenko who has a vision for a Ukraine free of child homelessness and harm. To make this dream a reality, he patrols the streets at night, raiding known hangouts and forcing the underage drug addicts to come to Republic Pilgrim, a government-funded rehab and home for youths. He offers them food, shelter, education, a father-figure and a possible future in exchange for their sobriety; some run away, while others embrace the opportunity to be cared for by someone. On the flipside, Mohknenko is not afraid to get physical with abusive husbands and pedophiles before eventually handing them over to the police. However, at the dawn of the “Ukraine Spring,” he worries he is only saving these children from one death for another.
Special features include: commentary by director Steve Hoover, producer Danny Yourd and cinematographer John Pope; deleted scenes; “The Attack on Our Crew”; and wild moose visual montage. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
The Angry Birds Movie (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
In an island paradise populated entirely by happy, flightless birds – or, almost entirely – hot-headed Red (Jason Sudeikis), speedy Chuck (Josh Gad), and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders. But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to in order to save their home.
This is basically the origin story for the world’s most downloaded app, explaining how the war between the birds and pigs began — and the birds definitely have a reason to be upset. Red is a very amusing character who kind of tries to fit in, but also accepts his differences and happily lives on the outskirts of the cheery village. When the pigs arrive at their shore, they bring with them a party lifestyle the birds have never experienced. They give a speech equivalent to selling Springfield on the Monorail and create more distractions than a magician to get what they want. It’s never really explained why certain birds have certain abilities, but the origin of the slingshot that gives them the opportunity to display their talents is revealed.
Special features include: deleted and bonus scenes; “Dance Along Birds and Pigs”; “Creating the Real World of Angry Birds”; “Crafty Birds”; “Meet the Hatchlings”; “Meet the Birds”; “Meet the Pigs”; “Making Music! with Composer Heitor Pereira; Blake Shelton music video “Friends”; symphony mode; photo gallery and four Hatchlings shorts. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
The Binding (Blu-ray)
Sarah Iman (Amy Gumenick) is a young mother and faithful minister’s wife. Her religious devotion and idyllic home life, however, are put to the ultimate test when she is forced to uncover the truth behind her husband, Jeff’s, horrific visions. As tensions rise and secrets come to light, Sarah soon finds herself spiraling toward a terrifying choice between faith and blood.
This is a horror movie that uses its characters’ faith as the basis for its story. Jeff is a recovering alcoholic and pastor who becomes convinced God is speaking to him, though what he’s supposedly asking is unspeakable. However, at the same time questions of his mental stability are constantly being raised. They seek council from both a senior member of the church and a psychologist, but their solutions are rejected or ineffective in helping him. The first half of the picture is rather banal, but as the situation worsens the narrative grows more interesting until finally reaching its violent conclusion.
Special features include: commentary by writer/director Gus Krieger; deleted scenes; cast interviews with Amy Gumenick, Josh Heisler and Leon Russom; and teaser trailer. (Scream Factory)
Bite (Blu-ray)
While on her bachelorette party getaway, bride-to be Casey (Elma Begovic) gets a seemingly harmless bite from an unknown insect. After returning home with cold feet, Casey tries to call off her wedding; but before she’s able to, she starts exhibiting insect-like traits. Brought to the breaking point by both her ongoing physical transformation and her wedding anxiety, Casey succumbs to her horrifying new instincts. As her metamorphosis becomes complete, the bugged bride and all who cross her path discover that everything can change with a single bite.
Body horror and gross-out horror are sometimes interchangeable concepts. Though the logic of this story’s transformation may not be detailed, it is undeniably disturbing. Casey’s physical alteration is extraordinarily unsettling as her body begins to secrete various vile substances before drastically evolving. The origins of her new appendages are unknown as they appear to be a mishmash of whatever seems to work best in a given situation versus imitating some other existing creature. By the end neither Casey nor her former home are recognizable, both evolving into the nesting grounds for this foreign organism. As a metaphor for her emotions, it personifies how terrible she feels about everything and gives her further reason to shut out her loved ones. Writer/director Chad Archibald appears to have a solid grasp on how to make his audience uncomfortable and possibly nauseated; however they’re unlikely to care about the fates of most of the characters since almost none of them has any agreeable qualities, including Casey.
Special features include: commentary by writer/director/producer Chad Archibald; and five behind-the-scenes documentary shorts. (Scream Factory)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers [Collector’s Edition] (Blu-ray)
One by one, the residents of San Francisco are becoming drone-like shadows of their former selves. As the phenomenon spreads, two Department of Health workers, Matthew (Donald Sutherland) and Elizabeth (Brooke Adams), uncover the horrifying truth: mysterious pods are cloning humans and destroying the originals. The unworldly invasion grows stronger with each passing minute, hurling Matthew and Elizabeth into a desperate race to save not only their own lives, but the future of the entire human race.
This remake of the 1956 picture of the same name has an excellent cast and shifts the narrative from a Cold War metaphor to a distrust of authority. In spite of Matthew’s faith in the system, everyone he tries to call to warn about the attack refuses to listen or has already been replaced. Yet, they still try their hardest to follow protocol. In addition to those mentioned, Jeff Goldblum plays a young man panicked by the discovery and Leonard Nimoy portrays the scientific voice of reason who tries to explain away all they have witnessed. In spite of being a remake, this film differentiates itself from the original in a manner that allows it to stand on its own as an equal.
Special features include: commentary by director Philip Kaufman; commentary with author/film historian Steve Haberman; “Star-Crossed in the Invasion – an interview with actress Brooke Adams”; “Leading the Invasion – an interview with actor Art Hindle”; “Re-Creating The Invasion – An interview with writer W.D. Richter”; “Scoring The Invasion – an interview with composer Denny Zeitlin”; “Re-Visitors From Outer Space, Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Pod”; “Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod”; “The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects Pod”; The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematcenterhy Pod”; an episode of Science Fiction Theatre, “Time Is Just A Place,” based on Jack Finney’s short story and directed by Jack Arnold; photo gallery; TV and radio spots; and theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory)
Observance (Blu-ray)
Parker (Lindsay Farris) is a young man in the grip of grief following the death of his young son. His marriage on the rocks and nearing bankruptcy, he reluctantly returns to work as a private investigator. His assignment it to observe a woman (Stephanie King) from an abandoned apartment, and as her watches bizarre happenings surrounding her, he slowly becomes aware that the derelict building he is in has a dark presence which slowly threatens to consume him.
It doesn’t seem as if filmmakers want audiences to completely understand the movie’s narrative. While it’s more-or-less obvious early on that Parker is a P.I. rather than just a creep with a zoom lens, the purpose of his stakeout is foggy. Each new phone conversation with his employer reveals a little more, but viewers will likely still spend most of their time waiting to see what happens next and wondering what that occurrence means to the whole. In the meantime, Parker is becoming gravely ill and the longer he’s in the abandoned apartment, the worse his sickness becomes. Unfortunately, in spite of creating lingering interest throughout the picture, it lacks purpose and direction, which results in minimal payoff.
There are no special features. (Artsploitation Films)
Once Upon a Time: The Complete Fifth Season (Blu-ray)
When the Savior becomes the “Dark Swan,” the lines between good and evil blur as Emma (Jennifer Morrison) begins to relish the intoxicating taste of absolute power. Terrified she’ll succumb, Emma and Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) visit Camelot to find the one person who may be able to aid them: Merlin (Elliot Knight). Unfortunately, King Arthur (Liam Garrigan) proves treacherous and when he joins forces with a vengeful Zelena (Rebecca Mader), Emma and Hook’s hopes are shattered. Now Emma and her entire Storybrooke family must embark on a chilling descent to the Underworld of Hades, where they’ll try and rescue Hook from eternal damnation with “help” from Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle).
As has become typical of this series’ 24-episode seasons, there appears to be a split at the midway point; in this case, the story moves locations to the Underworld. Emma is obviously more torn over her designation as the “Dark One” than Mr. Gold ever seemed to be, but that doesn’t prevent her from using her new-found powers whenever she deems it necessary. Additionally, she’s more willing to hurt someone close to her if it means saving someone else she cares for too. New characters always equal bigger conspiracies and further betrayals, and Hades unsurprisingly ups the ante in both of these departments. However the change in locations does shrink the circle of involved personalities, resulting in slightly more intense interactions.
Special features include: commentary by cast and creators; deleted scenes; “Merida in Storybrooke”; “Tales from the Underworld: A Knight with Cruella”; “The Fairest Bloopers of Them All”; and “Once Celebrates One Hundred.” (NBC Studios)
Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues (Blu-ray)
Red Sonja (Misty Lee), the She-Devil with a Sword, intends to pay back a blood debt owed to the one man who has gained her respect… even if it means leading a doomed army to their certain deaths. She must also uncover the identity of Dark Annisia and how this fearsome warrior accomplished what neither god nor demon has been able to do: force Sonja to her knees in surrender.
This isn’t exactly a motion comic, but its style and source material are similar. Red Sonja is the female equivalent of Conan the Barbarian — surviving years of torture at the hands of her village’s conqueror and father’s murderer, Sonja emerges a tough, battle-weathered warrior who eventually retreats to solitude and alcohol. However as a plague decimates nearby populations, Sonja refuses to surrender to its sickness until she can exact her revenge on the one who infected her. The style of the picture is vibrant and striking, and Lee is an excellent choice to voice the powerful character.
Special features include: featurette. (Shout Factory)
Session 9 (Blu-ray)
Donning protective gear, the men of the Hazmat Elimination Co. venture into the eerily vast and vacant asylum that is filled with an evil and mysterious past. Rampant patient abuse, medieval medical procedures and rumors of demonic possession are some of the many dark secrets the hospital holds — but then so do each of the men.
Abandoned institutions make great locations for thrillers. The possibilities for the cause of a disturbance are so abundant and various as creators can choose between the living and the dead for their troublemakers. The horror stories of doctors experimenting on their helpless patients and the idea that their tormented souls may still lurk in the halls is already so captivating. In addition, buildings of that size make great hiding places for any number of menaces. A skilled filmmaker can take those possibilities and create a captivating movie like this, in which audiences are never quite sure what’s actually happening until all is revealed in the end.
Special features include: commentary by Brad Anderson and Stephen Gevedon; deleted and alternate ending with optional commentary by director Brad Anderson; “Return to Danvers: The Secrets of Session 9”; “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds”; “Story To Screen”; “The Haunted Palace”; and theatrical trailer. (Scream Factory)
