All this Mayhem (Blu-ray)
Brothers Tas and Ben Pappas were two boys from Melbourne who took the skateboarding world by storm, defeated Tony Hawk and were crowned International World Champions — all within a year. Skateboarding came naturally to the Pappas brothers, but success was a different story. This never-before-seen account shows the dark consequences of Tas and Ben’s rapid success, their intense fraternal bond and their journey from the pinnacle of their sport into a downward spiral of self-destruction.
Much like one of Stacy Peralta‘s documentaries, this film explores the culture of the sport as well as the crazy and tragic lives of the brothers. Their whirlwind journey is almost unbelievable as they boldly push their own physical limits and eventually the boundaries of the sport to rapidly rise to the top of the world’s skateboarding ranks. The array of archival footage used to tell the Pappas brothers’ story is what truly brings the documentary to life as their growing pains were chronicled by friends and their triumphs captured by big networks. At least their side of their rivalry with Hawk is well documented and memories of key moments seem very fresh when shared with the camera. Told in mostly chronological order, this story is for fans of skateboarding, sports and fundamentally human stories.
Special features include: deleted scenes; “The Making of a Trick”; and “Shredding Against the World.” (Video Services Corp.)
Digging Up the Marrow (Blu-ray)
What if the ghastly images and abominations haunting our collective nightmares actually exist? Writer/director Adam Green sets out to make a documentary exploring this tantalizing premise after being contacted by a mysterious man named William Dekker (Ray Wise). Dekker claims he can prove that “monsters are real” and insists these grotesque creatures are forgotten, hideously deformed humanoids inhabiting a vast, underground metropolis of the damned. Determined to expose the truth, Green embarks on a bone-chilling odyssey and gets more than for which he bargained.
This picture puts forward an interesting theory regarding the origins and existence of monsters, complete with detailed artwork of the elusive creatures — but it makes one critical mistake. In making a mockumentary, one of the key factors to consider is believability. No matter how outrageous the subject, it’s the filmmaker’s job to sell it. This becomes nearly impossible when a well-known actor is cast in the lead role. Wise is an excellent actor and prominent figure in horror; while these traits are advantages in most situations, the latter is a detriment in this picture because from the moment he appears it’s impossible to “buy into” any part of the film. Wise is great as the paranoid monster hunter, but audiences know he’s an actor. If they’d selected an unknown player, the film’s premise could have worked much better.
Special features include: commentary by writer/director Adam Green, artist Alex Pardee, cinematographer Will Barratt and actor Ray Wise; extended and deleted scenes; and “Monsters of the Marrow.” (RLJ Entertainment & Image Entertainment)
Hey Dude: The Complete Series (DVD)
At the Bar None Ranch, well-meaning owner Mr. Ernst (David Brisbin) tries his best to ride herd on his teenage staff, who always seem to be getting into some sort of scrape or another as they work and play out on the range.
This series is pretty much Saved by the Bell on a ranch. The kids are always scheming or competing, though none of them appear to be dating. There’s a case of mistaken identity with the new staff member; they have a boys vs. girls contest; a baby is found on the property and the kids try to hide it from Mr. Ernst; a two-person beauty pageant is held; and the final episode features a game of capture the flag to decide who would be senior staff in the upcoming year. There are five seasons, consisting of 68 24-minute episodes. In the end, everything about the show is typical of a ‘90s teen series.
Special features include: new interview with Christine Taylor. (Shout Factory)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Copy)
Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and the dwarves of Erebor have reclaimed the vast wealth of their homeland, but now face the consequences of having unleashed the terrifying Dragon Smaug (voice of Benedict Cumberbatch) upon Lake-town. Meanwhile, Sauron, the Dark Lord, has sent forth legions of Orcs to attack the Lonely Mountain, and Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) finds himself fighting for his life as five great armies go to war. As darkness converges, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide — unite or be destroyed.
With the release of the final installment in Peter Jackson‘s three-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien‘s comparably short novel, it seemed safe to assume it would follow a similar trajectory to the Lord of the Rings trilogy in that the last chapter would centre on an epic battle. This picture likely has the least in common with the book as the embellishments to extend the story take up the majority of the narrative. The love story between Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) and Fili (Dean O’Gorman) is further explored as is the taboo nature of their feelings. The massive war comprises the core of the film and while it’s comparable in size to The Return of the King, it’s not as quite as spectacular. Furthermore, the 3D element isn’t especially impressive outside of some of the depth provided to certain scenes. Nonetheless, the steady, speedier pace makes this movie the best of the trilogy.
Special features include: “Recruiting the Five Armies”; “Completing Middle-Earth”; “New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth – Part 3”; and “The Last Goodbye” music video. (Warner Home Video)
Into the Woods (Blu-ray & Digital copy)
The musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), which are all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch (Meryl Streep), who has put a curse on them.
While the traditional aspects of the fairy tales remain intact, the Witch, the Baker and his Wife are intertwined in their stories; altering and contributing to them in different ways. However combining so many stories frequently disrupts the movie’s flow and causes it to appear ill-conceived at times. The actors are well cast in their roles, belting out their parts more than satisfactorily. While Streep, Kendrick, Blunt, Corden and the others are good, two of the picture’s standout performances are delivered by Chris Pine and Johnny Depp during his brief appearance as the Big Bad Wolf. The fantasy element is captured beautifully in the film’s aesthetic, but it’s most significant flaw is its double ending with the second feeling poorly tacked on to the original.
Special features include: commentary by director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca; “The Cast as Good as Gold”; “Deeper Into the Woods”; “There’s Something About the Woods”; never-before-seen Sondheim original, “She’ll Be Back” performed by Meryl Streep; and music & lyrics. (Disney Home Entertainment)
Lonesome Dove Church (DVD)
John Shepherd (Tom Berenger) is an itinerant preacher with dreams of building his own church. When his estranged son Isaac (Greyston Holt) is accused of robbery and murder, John puts his faith and future on the line by coming to Isaac’s defense, facing off against a cold-blooded killer in a guns-blazing stand for redemption.
This Western has a made-for-TV feel to it as the father and son’s complex relationship is squeezed into a narrative that unfolds over what seems like a few days. John has become a man of the cloth, but he is apparently repenting for a sordid past that involved being an excellent gunslinger — a fact which Isaac is unaware of until his father comes to his rescue. However there isn’t the expected struggle when John is forced to once again take up arms; rather it’s seen as a matter of course and he appears as comfortable with a gun in his hand as a Bible. The conclusion makes sense, but it’s quite abrupt and provides no follow-up.
Special features include: making-of featurette. (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
The Sure Thing (Blu-ray)
When college student Walter Gibson (John Cusack) gets set up for a date with an incredibly gorgeous blonde (Nicollette Sheridan), he’s ready to go to the ends of the earth — or at least across the country — to capitalize on this “sure thing.” Paired up with tightly-wound coed Alison Bradbury (Daphne Zuniga) via the campus ride-share program, he heads west for Los Angeles. But as the obstacles begin to pile up, he and Alison begin to form an unexpected bond and soon Gib must choose between the sure thing and the real thing.
Long before John Cusack became the leading man in gritty dramas and thrillers, he was a teen heartthrob starring in romantic comedies. He was only 19 when he played the sarcastic, junk food inhaling lead in this film. It doesn’t seem like a far stretch for the teen, but that’s likely why he’s perfect in the role. Zuniga also mentions being a bit like her character who must schedule every minute of the day. Gib’s relationship with Alison is antagonistic in the same way that two kids in the playground hit each other because they like each other. The best stuff happens on their road trip from a show tunes singing Tim Robbins tolerating their bickering to a missing datebook to one of the best moments as Gib pretends to be an insane hitchhiker to save Alison from a rapist. Anthony Edwards’ supporting role as Gib’s party animal best friend also adds a lot of personality to the narrative. Director Rob Reiner‘s picture has a lot in common with John Hughes’ films; though the former would go on to display more of a talent for quirky romances.
Special features include: commentary by director Rob Reiner; “Road to The Sure Thing”; “Casting The Sure Thing”; “Reading The Sure Thing”; “Dressing The Sure Thing”; and theatrical trailer. (Shout Factory)
