What's new this week? Mark Wahlberg searches for contraband and a new Halle Berry film trailer, plus a release date for the Big Miracle from earlier this year and more...all after the jump.
This Week's Big Releases
Contraband - Rated R (Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale) While not a great film, Contraband will have you engaged as Wahlberg tries to do one last run to help his kid brother pay a debt for his own failed smuggling trip. It's the best of the small selection this week.
Also New This Week
Billy The Exterminator - Season 4 Cinema Verite The Inkeepers - Rated R (Sara Paxton, Kelly McGillis) Pariah The Wicker Tree - Rated R (Christopher Lee)
And Finally Dark Tide - Rated PG-13 (Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez) Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez -- umm... count me in -- this premiered on VOD and is available on DVD/Blu-ray versions now....Of course I would love to see this....Here's teh trailer -- take a peek
DVD/Blu-ray Tidbit of the Week
Big Miracle comes to Blu-ray and DVD on June 19 from our friends at Universal Home Entertainment. The Blu-ray as it looks...will be loaded with extras and it really was wa winner with my daughter at age 7 1/2.
Pick of the Week Contraband in a light week would be my only real fun release to highlight. Far from perfect, but a fun ride nonetheless.
Pop Popcorn, Do the Dew, and Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me A Seat!
Born to Be Wild – Rated G (Voice of Morgan Freeman)
On Blu-ray combo pack - 4/17
Documentary looking at orangutans, elephants and more in the wild that will bring you up to speed with all things in the wild.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – Rated PG-13 (Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg)
This film really reinvigorated the franchise. Lots of action and non-stop thriller make Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol a must have on Blu-ray. Pop it in the player and turn up the volume for the best experience possible. So good, I actually included it on my Top 25 films of 2011. And it probably was one of the films that surprised me the most that was released in 2011.
This is a film that a lot of people hat talked about but few have seen. Michael Fassbender plays a man who is dealing with his sexual addiction. He bounces from partner to partner and surfs the internet for many things that will help him through. It’s officially rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content. And as George Clooney mentioned during awards season – part of which exposes all of Fassbender to the point where he has nothing to be ashamed of. Bleak and hard to watch at times, Fassbender delivers a great performance. If you can stomach it…worth checking out.
Also new this week…
American Dad: Volume 7
Bob’s Burgers: The Complete First Season
Need to catch up with this Fox animated series? Now’s your chance!
The Divide – Rated R – (Michael Biehn, Rosanna Arquette)
Post-apocalyptic thriller that will show you the descent to madness among the survivors of a nuclear attack. Here's the trailer -- take a look.
Ice Road Truckers: Season Five
And Finally
7 Below– Rated R (Val Kilmer, Ving Rhames)
Horror – a storm -- check out the trailer – that’s where Val Kilmer is! Who is bad, who is good, and who will survive.
Check out the trailer below.
DVD/BluRay Tidbit of the Week
Watch for Man On A Ledge coming to Blu-ray / DVD on May 29.
Pick of the Week
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocolis the title that you must pick up this week. Watch it on Blu-ray on the biggest tv you can afford for the best possible experience.
Thanks!
Pop Popcorn, Do the Dew, and Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me A Seat!
Bullying is a real problem that schools, parents and kids across the US are dealing with on a daily basis. Despite programs that are in place to discourage bullying, it is still a problem that exists whenever the bully can be outside of anyone’s eyes.
Bully takes us on a journey through some situations that have confronted kids across the country. Sadly, Bully also takes us to meet parents who are struggling to pick up the pieces after some of the bullying has led to troubling resolutions.
Bully (NR) - In theaters NOW
In the film we are introduced to a couple of great kids, being bullied in different ways.
There is Alex, a Midwestern kid, that is just trying to get to school and learn. But the trip is filled with a bully on the bus that Alex “believes” is just playing with him when he threatens his life. He also gets routinely punched, jabbed, and talked down to by everyone.
There’s Kelby, a teen in the middle of the Bible belt dealing with a town that doesn’t want to accept the fact that she is gay. Students and adults alike routinely criticize Kelby and her friends for not fitting in to their ideals.
We meet Ja’Maya who had cracked after being bullied routinely and regularly. She took her mother’s gun on the school bus and was ready to solve the situation before being captured.
And we meet parents who have suffered the ultimate price with the loss of their child. Normally well adjusted and fun-loving kids that couldn’t take the constant abuse at the hands of bullies.
These are the situations that exist in the country. Why? Why is this acceptable? Why is it happening? And why can’t we, as a community, stand up and make a difference?
Controversy surrounded Bully well before I had a chance to see it. The original R rating for language (5 “F” words early in the film) was holding it back from a wider audience. But the Weinstein folks decided to roll with it in an unrated form and bring it out as it was created. And of course, all documentaries should be more on the unrated side.
Bully casts a light on a problem that has existed for generations, bullying. The stories it tells will put tears in your eyes and a fire in your belly. If you have children you will want to make doubly sure that this is not going on for them, today, where they go to school.
It is such an important film that I will go out on a limb and say ANYONE who works with children on a regular basis should see this film. I believe it’s less important for the kids to see it as they live this stuff every day. But the parents, teachers, principals, school bus drivers, day care workers, administrators and politicians need to watch this to see how we damage today’s youth by not sticking up for them, and not the bullies.
This isn’t a perfect film, by any means, I have problems with the focus of some of the stories and lack of coverage of the fact that bullying is not limited to what is said or done to someone while they are face to face. I also believe some of these stories are not expanded adequately. I think Kelby’s story in particular doesn’t show, visually, the bullying that she has received.
But with a couple minor gripes, this is a film that I think adults should see. STOP what you are doing for 2 hours. SEE THIS MOVIE and talk about it with your kids, other parents, and those who care for your kids. And by all means ACT if you can find a way to make a difference, and you CAN make a difference to help tomorrow’s generation of leaders now.
Rating: Not Rated – contains 5 occurrences of the “F” word early in the film, but not much else if you are deciding whether or not to let your kids see it.
But Paul...why no reviews of the big releases this week?
No The Three Stooges.
No The Cabin In The Woods.
No Lockout.
Why Paul? Why?
Simple -- none of these films were offered for screening. Sorry everyone. Seems like there should have been more faith in the products here as I see some decent reviews for each of them popping up around the land, but with no screenings offered...can't cover them.
No Cabin?
My apologies for that.
Despite a crazy personal week -- I was excited to see The Cabin in the Woods and even ready to see what The Three Stooges could deliver. Plus I always love an action flick and Lockout seemed to me, like it might have been a fun ride.
Locked Out!
And people will ask on Monday -- why The Hunger Games continues at the top of the box office. I say it has a lot to do with the decision to screen, or not to screen -- but who am I? I've never even headed to a junket yet...but I'm ready if someone wants to call!
The Iron Lady – Rated PG-13 (Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent)
Streep won an Academy Award for her incredible portrayal of British icon Margaret Thatcher. She is almost better than the film as a whole, but haven’t we come to expect that out of the great actress? For those who want to see a great acting performance, this is the film to see this week
Also new this week…
Adam 12 – The Final Season
Caught Inside– Rated R (Ben Oxenbould, Sam Lyndon)
Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man – Not Rated (Luke Perry)
Laverne and Shirley: The Fifth Season
Man v. Food Nation: Season 1
One Tree Hill: The Complete Ninth and Final Season
Smitty – Rated PG (Mira Sorvino, Peter Fonda, Louis Gossett Jr.) A dog movie…for my daughter.
The Witches of Oz – Rated PG (Sean Astin, Billy Boyd)
And Finally
Into the Abyss – Rated PG-13)
From director Werner Herzog, an incredible look the death penalty and the lives of those who are affected by it. Herzog finds a way to evoke emotion by simply telling the story. Documentary fans need to check this out. Here’s the trailer for everyone.
DVD / BluRay Tidbit Of The Week
August 14 is the date for a classic release on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack. Jawscomes home with a slew of extras.
Pick of the Week
Documentary fans, Into the Abyss is worth every minute you spend with it. And of course…for Meryl Streep’s acting alone, The Iron Lady works wonders.
Thanks!
Pop Popcorn, Do the Dew, and Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me A Seat!
When I visited Real Milwaukee this week -- I talked American Reunion, a little Hunger Games PLUS Titanic...and they we talked DVDs including War Horse, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; and did I really wear bunny ears to give away a copy of Hop? Watch the video to find out.
This Week’s Big Releases War Horse – Rated PG-13 (Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson) An absolutely visually stunning film from director Steven Spielberg, this has taken criticism from all circles and still stands proud. Proud they should be, as despite being a touch long this is a true throwback to classic filmmaking. The story of a horse that perseveres through owners, war and constant struggle is a film that feels like a 1939 epic. **Number 13 on my Best of 2011
We Bought A Zoo – Rated PG (Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson) Looking for a new start? How about buying a zoo? That’s what Damon does in this Cameron Crowe film that wasn’t screened prior to theatrical release – but I’ll check it out when I can.
Also new this week…
Angels Crest – Rated R (Thomas Dekker, Lynn Collins) Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey – Rated PG (Kevin Clash, Whoopi Goldberg) Documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the man that IS Elmo.
Designing Women: The Complete Sixth Season In the Land of Blood and Honey – Rated R (Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic) Tyrannosaur – Not Rated (Peter Mullan, Eddie Marsan) This film got a lot of buzz at award time from director Paddy Considine. Now on DVD it is definitely worth checking out.
And Finally
The Odds – Rated R (Tyler Johnston, Julia Maxwell) Betting on high school sports…I’m in for this mystery that leaves someone dead and more to be told. Looks intense and a bit outside the mainstream, but anyone who has ever placed a bet in their lives will see some things here that look familiar. Take a peek at the trailer, below.
DVD / BluRay Tidbit Of The Week
The George Lucas produced Red Tails - featuring the story of the Tuskegee Airmen looks to be coming to a crowded May 22 via BluRay and DVD.
Pick of the Week War Horse was on my Best of 2011 list, and worth adding to your collection especially with 4 discs of goodness!
Thanks! Pop Popcorn, Do the Dew, and Bust out the Blu and remember to Save Me A Seat!
