Debug (DVD)
Six young computer hackers are sent to work on a derelict space freighter as a part of a work release program. They quickly fall prey to the ship’s vengeful artificial intelligence (Jason Momoa), a program that would kill to be human. They are helpless to defend themselves as it silently roots out their deepest desires to use against them in the most imaginative and horrific ways. It takes a very determined and brilliant hacker, Kaida (Jeananne Goossen), to battle this malevolent entity and send it back to cyber hell.
This movie takes one of the key concepts in 2001: A Space Odyssey, creating an extension that imagines Hal was a deranged psychopath. Even though it was formerly a prison ship, the A.I. has taken it upon itself to inflict lethal, corporal punishment on everyone aboard. There are a lot of unanswered questions in the story and very little plot or structure. Attempts to provide backstories for some of the characters are weak and do nothing to enhance their existence. Kaida is an imposing figure in the narrative, but her character still feels underdeveloped by the end.
There are no special features. (Ketchup Entertainment)
Der Samurai (Blu-ray)
Set in a small village, a bloody game of cat-and-mouse ensues between a young, repressed police officer (Michel Diercks) and a cross-dressing villain (Pit Bukowski) with a large sword and a predilection for beheadings.
Beyond the bizarre synopsis, there are a number of reasons this film will not appeal to a mass audience even though it’s worth a watch. It’s a very stylistic depiction of a serial killer who appears to represent the inhibited side of the officer’s personality. In addition, they are linked to a local wolf that’s been recently reintroduced to the area via a government program. The dreamlike quality of the picture often raises questions around the reality of the situation and existence of the predators. It’s reminiscent of early David Lynch or Gregg Araki, though it feels as if this story could have been a little more fleshed out regarding the relationship between the three figures at its centre.
Special features include: commentary by director Till Kleinert and producer Linus de Paoli; behind-the-scenes featurette; and trailer. (Artsploitation Films)
Hello Ladies: The Complete Series and the Movie (DVD)
A recent transplant from England, Stuart (Stephen Merchant) is a gawky, 6’7” web designer searching for excitement and romance in Los Angeles. Half as charming as he thinks he is — and twice as desperate — Stuart is obsessed with infiltrating the glamorous world of beautiful people. Seduced by the promise of the best restaurants and hottest nightclubs, Stuart’s cheapness and pettiness often finds him just outside the door of LA’s most desirable locales. Stuart doggedly hits the LA social scene in search of beautiful women, often in the company of pals Wade (Nate Torrence) who’s in the throes of a divorce, and Kives (Kevin Weisman), a charismatic paraplegic who fares far better with the ladies than either Stuart or Wade.
This is a very awkward comedy about a guy who is never satisfied with what is at his fingertips. Stuart is always chasing the grass on the other side, often blind to the amazing (sure thing) right in front of him. His employee idolizes him and supports his skewed view of the world, encouraging his usually ridiculous behaviour. He exists on a level somewhere between his two friends, where Wade is somewhat pathetic and Kives succeeds with barely an effort. Stuart’s foolish desire for a model girlfriend leads to embarrassing dinner conversations, public clumsiness, vandalism and paranoia. Since the show was limited to one season, the movie allows the characters to tie up loose ends and for Stuart to pursue the relationship everyone knew would happen sooner or later.
Special features include: deleted scenes; and “Invitation to the Set.” (HBO Home Entertainment)
The Last Ship: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
A global catastrophe has nearly decimated the world’s population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoided falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now, Captain Tom Chandler (Eric Dane) and his crew must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors.
A lot of movies deal with cataclysmic devastation due to a natural disaster or zombie outbreak; however, these films typically feel the most realistic when confronting a viral epidemic. The first two episodes of this series is captivating as the characters awaken to a new reality in which the majority of the population is dead or dying and countries are disintegrating. Captain Chandler’s handling of the situation is surprising yet admirable. The middle part of the season falls into a typical pattern of crises that are managed within the span of a single episode. However, the appeal surges again in the final few episodes as established characters are endangered and the crew finally returns to home soil. There are more than a dozen key individuals and each is impeccably casted for their role. After the game-changing season finale, it’s difficult not to be eager for the next chapter.
Special features include: commentaries; making-of featurette; “The Navy and the USS Halsey”; “Prequels: Origin of the Virus”; “The Last Ship Details”; “Inside the Episode”; 2014 Comic Con panel; and character profiles. (TNT)
Laverne & Shirley: The Complete Series (DVD)
Laverne De Fazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) are single ladies traversing the dating scene in Milwaukee.
In spite of airing in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, most of the series is set in the ‘60s having begun as a spin-off from Happy Days where the girls first appeared as friends of the Fonz. The show also featured Laverne and Shirley’s neighbours, Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David Lander), and Laverne’s father, Frank (Phil Foster). It was a bit of a slapstick comedy with the guys epitomizing stereotypical macho men and the women representing an emerging class of independent women. Laverne was a strong Italian woman; a bit of tomboy and the most cynical of the pair, preferring to date tough guys like gang members and sailors. Conversely, Shirley was a perky pushover and her prized possession was a stuffed cat. Williams left the show after becoming pregnant and Laverne was left to go it alone in the eighth season; although ratings were steady, it just wasn’t the same without Shirley.
Special features include: gag reels. (Paramount Home Media Distribution)
The Odd Couple: The Complete Series (DVD)
Felix Unger (Tony Randall) is an uptight photographer, continually at odds with his unkempt sportswriter roommate, Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman). The two divorced men living together in a New York City apartment become unlikely friends while sharing the small space.
The show is based on a play of the same name by Neil Simon and was produced after the film adaptation of the stage production became a box office success. Premiering in 1970, the series continually had rating issues though it would gain renewal thanks to better results from the summer reruns. Nonetheless, it only lasted five seasons. The contrast of Felix’s neat and tidy personality with Oscar’s casual sloppiness was the source of endless humour. A very popular episode featured the game show “Password,” for which Felix is invited to be a contestant and regrettably takes Oscar as his partner. Another, titled “The Fat Farm,” is a hilarious miscalculation as Felix agrees to take Oscar to a health spa to aid in his diet; however Oscar is less enthusiastic about the trip and is caught sneaking in all kinds of junk food. The show’s influence can be seen in countless parodies and references, though nothing beats the original.
Special features include: audio intros by Garry Marshall; commentaries on select episodes; and gag reel. (Paramount Home Media Distribution)
Project Almanac (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)
When a brilliant high school student (Jonny Weston) and his friends discover blueprints for a machine that can send them back in time, the possibilities seem endless. They rewrite history to win the lottery, ace exams and party like there’s no tomorrow. But by changing the past, they have threatened the future of our world.
Time travel movies are a tricky business because filmmakers must track a variety of details to avoid being dismembered by keen viewers. The butterfly effect is a particularly interesting concept with countless possibilities. While this film doesn’t answer all the questions raised, it does construct an excellent story. Initially the teens exploit the device for conventional purposes, as well as one that is actually quite ingenious on their part. However the concept of seemingly insignificant actions having major consequences grabs hold of their science project and turns the picture into a thriller. Even just the process of building the machine is unexpectedly engrossing as they attempt to gather the correct parts and test early versions. There are a number of alternate directions for the film in the special features, but it seems like filmmakers chose the best options to complete the mounting thriller.
Special features include: alternate opening and endings; and deleted scenes. (Warner Home Video)
Red Army (Blu-ray)
Told from the perspective of its captain, Slava Fetisov, the story portrays his transformation from national hero to political enemy. With the demise of Communism came the end of the Cold War, as Soviet players began joining the National Hockey League. The film examines how sport mirrors social and cultural movements in Cold War Russia.
Most hockey fans are aware of the nail-biting Canada Cup tournament and the “Miracle on Ice”; the discipline of the Russian team; and their eventual dominance in the NHL. But the story has always been told from the North American point of view. This documentary goes behind the Iron Curtain to examine the national hockey system through one of its greatest stars. A mix of player accounts and archival footage show the rigorous training and stern coaching methods conducted under the watchful eye of the government. Fetisov, now Russia’s Minister of Sport, recalls his formative years under legendary coach Viktor Tikhonov, his disdain for his replacement, and the difficulty of adjusting to American play and life. This is an insightful film for admirers of the sport.
Special features include: commentary by Gabe Polsky and Werner Herzog; deleted scenes; interview with hockey legend Scotty Bowman; Q&A with producer/writer/director Gabe Polsky and former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul; and Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Gabe Polsky. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (Blu-ray & DVD)
Five years after the horrific slaughter at Camp Arawak, Angela (Pamela Springsteen) has created a new position for herself as a counselor at Camp Rolling Hills. She is about to teach “bad campers” a brutal lesson in survival when they are sliced, stabbed, drilled… and much worse.
The revival of Angela Baker was practically a given after the successful reception of the first picture, though they were wise enough to bring her out of her teens. In addition, the script addresses Angela’s whereabouts for the last five years even though her rehabilitation appears to have been a ruse or incredibly short-lived. Her dispatching of campers is creative, bloody and fittingly campy. Where the original fit seamlessly into the slasher genre while addressing sexual confusion with a gender-bending plot, the sequel drops the subplot in favour of a straight up narrative in which young people die in the woods.
Special features include: commentary by director Michael A. Simpson and writer Fritz Gordon; “A Tale Of Two Sequels – Part One”; behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Michael A. Simpson; “Abandoned – The Filming Locations Of Sleepaway Camp II & III”; still gallery; and home video promotional trailer. (Scream Factory)
Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (Blu-ray & DVD)
Welcome to Camp New Horizons, where an autumn retreat brings together a group of obnoxious rich kids and surly city thugs for an “experiment in sharing.” Under new inept management, this is the ideal setting for notorious psychopath Angela Baker (Pamela Springsteen) to join the camp and do what she does best — eliminating “immoral” teenagers with everything from a knife to a lawnmower.
The second sequel picks up where part two left off with a fugitive Angela taking on the guise of an inner city kid to go back to camp one more time. The first kill involves a garbage truck and is committed in broad daylight, setting the tone for outlandishness of the rest of the film. Angela wastes no time punishing people for their bad behaviour, working her way through two-thirds of the camp fairly quickly and easily. It definitely takes the absurdity up a notch, but remains an appropriate end to the enthusiastically bloody trilogy.
Special features include: commentary by director Michael A. Simpson and writer Fritz Gordon; “A Tale Of Two Sequels – Part Two”; behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Michael A. Simpson; workprint of the longer cut (from VHS); deleted scenes featuring additional gore footage; still gallery; and home video promotional trailer. (Scream Factory)
