Damsel (DVD)
Samuel Alabaster (Robert Pattinson), an affluent pioneer, ventures across the American frontier to marry the love of his life, Penelope (Mia Wasikowska). As his group traverses the West, the once-simple journey grows treacherous, blurring the lines between hero, villain, and damsel.
This is definitely not the movie it appears to be at the start. Samuel is absolutely smitten with Penelope and cannot wait to marry her, thus he commissions a pastor to accompany him on his journey to be reunited with her. When they’re together again, he plans to give her his gift of a miniature horse, sing her his love song, propose with a very generous ring and wed immediately. It all sounds very romantic… until he actually finds her. What follows is a host of unexpected events that disappoint Samuel, infuriate Penelope and confuse the pastor. This is a twisted western in which it seems all the angriest people have guns, making for entertaining shenanigans.
There are no special features. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (Blu-ray & DVD)
Based on the local legends and stories of people who’ve visited the real-life abandoned hospital, the film follows the crew of a horror web show who plan to stream live from inside the asylum. To attract more viewers, the show’s host arranges some scares for the team, but as they move further into the nightmarish old building, they begin to encounter much more than expected.
This is a movie that’s been done countless times in the West since Blair Witch: a found footage movie shot in a location that’s notoriously haunted. In spite of being South Korean, this picture has more in common with its Western counterparts than most other horror movies from the country. The ragtag group of 20-somethings are all gung-ho to start, but as the phenomenon expand from the minor tricks setup by the crew they all begin to lose their wits. The centre of the horror is the impenetrable room 402, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be invited to enter eventually. The supernatural terrors change from subtle to undeniable fairly quickly and the ghost hunters become the prey for the evil that lurks on the property and are not contained by the walls. The effectiveness of each scene varies as some are inherently creepy and others rely on the senselessness of the characters to make them more frightening.
There are no special features. (Well Go USA)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy) (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) return to Isla Nublar three years after the destruction of the Jurassic World theme park to rescue any remaining dinosaurs on the island from a catastrophic volcano that threatens to leave them extinct once again. Owen is driven to save his lead raptor, Blue, while Claire makes it her mission to preserve the creatures that she has grown to deeply respect. When the lava begins to rain down, they soon discover terrifying new breeds of ferocious dinosaurs along with a conspiracy that could threaten the entire world.
The key attraction of these pictures is their portrayal of dinosaurs in the modern age. Unfortunately, this movie places greater focus on humanity’s flaws, further questioning whether people deserve to experience their magnificence. The dinosaurs’ role in the film feels diminished in comparison to the other films. Moreover, they’re often more helpful than threatening — even the T-Rex does its part to inadvertently save the humans a couple of times. In the meantime, the impact of the covertly released Mosasaurus is also disappointing; hopefully this is remedied in the next picture. That said, the dinosaur effects are still seamlessly integrated into the narrative and are frequently the only beings on the screen for which the audience will feel sorry. Meanwhile Blue is once again the center of attention, gradually transitioning into one of the film’s main characters.
Special features include: “The Kingdom Evolves”; “Return to Hawaii”; “Island Action”; “Aboard the Arcadia”; “Start the Bidding!”; “On Set with Chris & Bryce”; “Birth of the Indoraptor”; “Death by Dino”; “Monster in a Mansion”; “Rooftop Showdown”; “Malcolm’s Return”; “VFX Evolved”; “Fallen Kingdom: The Conversation”; “A Song for the Kingdom”; “ Chris Pratt’s Jurassic Journals”; and “Jurassic Then and Now – Presented by Barbasol.” (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)
Madam Secretary: Season Four (DVD)
Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Téa Leoni) faces everything from international issues to personal upheavals. Whether she’s being accused of murdering a foreign diplomat, trying to contain a smallpox outbreak, or sending her daughter off to college, there’s no crisis she can’t handle. Her husband, CIA Agent Henry (Tim Daly), stirs controversy by recruiting a former member of the Russian military to work for the Agency. She continues to advise President Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), even as she goes toe-to-toe with the White House Chief of Staff Russell Jackson (Željko Ivanek). Navigating the complicated twists and turns of the D.C. machine gets even more challenging when loyal State Department insider Nadine Tolliver (Bebe Neuwirth) decides to retire. But Elizabeth’s team only gets stronger with the addition of brilliant political strategist Kat Sandoval (Sara Ramirez). Faced with the threats of the world, the Madam Secretary proves to be a global force.
Once again, Elizabeth is juggling her personal life with her professional one even though the latter almost always wins when there is a conflict. But now that the kids are older, Henry finds his priorities have also shifted, forcing both parents to find a balance acceptable to everyone. Their eldest daughter is engaged and interning at the White House, but a few run-ins with Henry’s asset has her questioning her future. In the meantime, a suddenly hostile Conrad puts the country on the edge of war and Elizabeth works on peace in the Middle East that rests on the life-threatening injuries of a child who must cross the border for treatment. The season finale ends with a revelation that apparently everyone saw coming but Elizabeth.
There are no special features. (Paramount Home Media Distribution)
Ocean’s 8 (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital copy)
Five years, eight months, 12 days…and counting. That’s how long Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) — just released from prison — has been concocting the greatest heist of her storied career. She knows what it’s going to take — a team of the best in their field, starting with her former partner-in-crime Lou (Cate Blanchett). Together, they recruit a crew of specialists: jeweller Amita (Mindy Kaling), street con Constance (Awkwafina), expert fence Tammy (Sarah Paulson), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna) and fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter). The target is $150 million in diamonds that will adorn the neck of world-famous actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway), who will be centre stage at the Met Gala. Their plan appears rock solid, but it will need to be flawless if the team is to get in and get away — all in plain sight.
Introducing a never-before mentioned sister to expand and reimagine this franchise works as it includes a brief appearance by Elliot Gould and a few references to Danny Ocean to tie it all back together. The crew have incredibly different personalities, yet fewer conflicts than their male counterparts. Nonetheless, the film follows the same general formula, introducing audiences to the team by way of their special skills, planning every minute detail of the robbery and then carrying it through with precision and flair. Debbie’s insistence of an all-female crew is not only about ensuring they can empathise with the other part of her plan, but also because she knows there are women equally capable of carrying out the job, which in turn gives audiences an entertaining, female-led film.
Special features include: deleted scenes; “A Heist in Heels”; “Ocean’s Team 3.0”; and “Reimagining the Met Gala.” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge (Blu-ray)
Directed by Oscar®-winner Alex Gibney and Emmy® winner Blair Foster, and narrated by Jeff Daniels, the documentary chronicles the last 50 years of American music, politics and popular culture through the perspective of a celebrated magazine that always understood that rock ‘n’ roll was more than just music – it was a cultural force that helped shape America and defined generations. The film features performances by an array of artists, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash and Ice-T, and music from some of the cultural icons it heralded, including Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Fleetwood Mac and Chance the Rapper.
Divided into six, one-hour parts, each chapter is dedicated to some aspect of the magazine. The first fittingly looks at the start of the magazine and the philosophy the founders chose to follow in terms of content and who they would publish. Later, Cameron Crowe, who famously documented his experiences as a teen writing for the magazine in the semi-autobiographical Almost Famous, talks about how the editors mentored him and got him in the room with some of the greatest rock bands of the decade. Writers discuss the candid relationship the magazine had with John Lennon, including archival footage of a writer debating a point with Lennon at the office, and what it was like to share a room with Ike and Tina Turner. There’s also discussion about how acclaimed authors, such as Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolffe and Norman Mailer, came to write for the magazine. This is unquestionably a continuous pat on the back for the publication and its anniversary, but that doesn’t mean some of what they present isn’t fascinating.
Special features include: deleted scenes; and extended interviews with Cameron Crowe, Ice-T, Gus Wenner, Jann Wenner, Janet Reitman, Matt Taibbi and Victor Juhasz. (Shout Factory)
Siberia (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
In Russia to sell rare jewels to a businessman with underworld connections, U.S. diamond merchant Lucas Hill (Keanu Reeves) falls into a torrid affair with Katya (Ana Ularu), a local café owner. When the deal suddenly goes south, Lucas and Katya are caught in a deadly crossfire between the buyer and Russian agents, as Lucas takes up arms in a furious fight to save Katya and himself.
In a stark and wintry Russia, Lucas should have had no problem focusing on his business deal. Yet he finds himself distracted by Katya and some hunting friends he makes, even though he doesn’t have the equipment or attire to really hang with them. In the meantime, he’s unprepared when things start to go wrong and he has to scramble to save the deal or lose his life. It’s got a little bit of a John Wick vibe with Lucas’ dark suits and skills with a gun, but he’s not nearly as badass and far less compelling. Outside of a few intense scenes in which he could be killed, there isn’t much to keep viewers engaged — particularly not an extra-marital affair that lacks passion.
Special features include: “Passion and Intrigue: Bringing Siberia to Life.” (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Silicon Valley: The Complete Fifth Season (DVD)
The Pied Piper guys are emerging from the fourth season’s chaos, as they get closer than they’ve ever been to real fame and fortune. But with more money, inevitably, comes more problems. While Richard (Thomas Middleditch) struggles to be a leader and play with the big dogs, the rest of the team adjusts to new faces, new digs and new anxieties. Always looming is Hooli rival Gavin Belson (Matt Ross), who has returned to power but finds the threat of Pied Piper, and its boldness, hard to shake.
Since this is the final season, fans may hope or expect the team to finally make it. But things are definitely not going in their favour. Between Richard’s failed takeovers, vomiting during his speeches and throwing a long-time team member under the bus, they’re not off to a good start. In the meantime, Jared is trying to keep everything running, Dinesh is lording his Tesla over everyone, Gilfoyle is finding new ways to ignore people and Ehrlich is presumed dead. Gavin’s return to the ring also puts added pressure on Pied Piper’s free internet launch, as well as infests their fancy new workspace with a mole; though Gavin is doing a pretty good job of torpedoing his own project. Yet, right to the end, the team continues to follow the model that correlates risk and reward, even though the latter is not always a guarantee.
There are no special features. (HBO Home Entertainment)
This is Us: The Complete Second Season (DVD)
Everyone has a family. And every family has a story. This series chronicles the Pearson family across the decades: from Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) as young parents in the 1980s to their 37-year-old kids Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) searching for love and fulfillment in the present day.
This season, the Big Three each start on top of the world — but then that leaves them nowhere to go but down. Kevin begins with his first big acting gig, working alongside Sylvester Stallone. Months later, he’s working through his 12 steps and trying to avoid drugs and alcohol. Kate is ecstatic to be starting a new family with Toby, but later finds herself consuming junk food in secret to deal with her overwhelming grief. Randall is ready to expand his family too, but adoption and fostering turn out to be more difficult than he anticipated. This is also the year in which the series reveals the circumstances surrounding Jack’s death is revealed, which turns out to be a real heartbreaker. Yet, there is more room for love and laughter, and every episode doesn’t end in tears.
Special features include: “After Show.” (Fox Home Entertainment)
