Category: DVD/BLU-RAY

I'll admit that my education on the legacy of the Shaw Brothers Studio is lacking, having only picked up bits and pieces of their legendary filmography from television airings, daredevil revival house screenings, and the ultimate homage to their efforts, Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" saga (John Carpenter's "Big Trouble in Little China" also made an impact). Apparently, I need to introduce more Shaw Brothers into my moviegoing diet, with their 1981 effort, "Five Element Ninjas" (aka "Five Elements Ninjas" and "Chinese Super Ninjas"), a furious face blast of martial art choreography, blood-soaked violence, and marathon displays of poker-faced honor. A lovingly low-budget bruiser committed to the nuances of bodily harm and ancient weaponry, the feature is a total hoot, supplying superbly designed action and broad displays of anger. Considered by some to be one of the best Shaw Brothers creations in their extensive library, "Five Element Ninjas" certainly lives up to its reputation, bringing to the screen a fresh imagination for martial art battle scenarios and ultimate revenge, sold with a fist-first mentality that carries evenly throughout the production. It's raw, ridiculous, and addictive all the way. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Space Jam" was an odd film in 1996, and it's an even stranger film in 2012. Someone, somewhere had the bright idea of merging the worlds of cartoons and basketball, throwing a ton of cash toward Michael Jordan to co-star with the Looney Tunes army in what was something of a comeback vehicle for the animated legends at the time. There's barely a story, rarely a laugh larger than an approving titter, and the visuals range from professionally polished to Full Sail freshman. It's a chaotic, ephemeral feature, and it's difficult to tell just what audience this effort is for. Animation purists have vehemently dismissed "Space Jam" as trendy junk over the years, while basketball nuts have treated the movie with a great deal of confusion. It's tempting to outright dismiss the picture as nonsense from a studio desperate to make a longstanding property relevant to the "kids" again, yet "Space Jam" isn't a total failure. It's rather amusing in a who-thought-this-was-a-good-idea? kind of way, making the whole enterprise a big-budget lark that works up a sweat to prove itself worthy for the big screen. I'm certainly not a fan of "Space Jam," but it's hard to deny its rich tapestry of questionable ideas. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

At the Minnesota Zoo, there’s an exhibit devoted to observing the behaviors of local raccoons. While other animals inside the grounds are afforded at least an approximation of their native habitat, the raccoons here have been set free inside a replica of a farmhouse, allowing the critters to forage to their heart’s content. Initially, this glimpse into raccoon life appeared almost offensive in a way, handing the creatures a stomping ground that reinforces their disruptive need to scavenge around vulnerable homes under the cover of darkness. The “Nature” program “Raccoon Nation” essentially reinforces the accuracy of the Minnesota Zoo display, embarking on a study of an animal that’s evolving into a not-so-lean, quite mean urban exploring machine. While the show takes a careful position of science to investigate the furry invasion, it’s clear the onslaught of raccoons into major metropolitan areas is a cause of great concern for the health and wellbeing of humans. They may look somewhat adorable and approachable, but the raccoon is a troubling creature gradually learning to survive anywhere it dares to roam. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The life of the American bear is a demanding existence of hunting and evading, constantly on the lookout for predators and prey necessary to the animal experience. It's not an easy cycle of survival, often merciless when it comes to displays of aggression, but it's nature in motion, carrying on unmolested for centuries in the great wilds of the world. "Fortress of the Bears" travels to the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, where a community of Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears embark on this yearly process of endurance, awakening from their winter slumber to gorge themselves on the bounty of the river, which pipes in thousands of salmon every spring and summer to the delight of these furry rulers. However, feeding bears is only a small portion of the salmon function, and when that lifeline is disrupted for any reason, it creates a chain reaction throughout the land, robbing trees, insects, birds, and bears of the routine they rely on to make a life for themselves. Although it's cliche to remind readers of the "circle of life," the truth is no joke. Without salmon, the bears are forced to survive beyond their instincts, a development that could cause cataclysmic damage to this lush land of astonishing wildlife personality. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

To imagine the Amish is to picture a gathering of secluded souls working the land together in hand-stitched clothing, the men carrying neckbeards while the apple-cheeked women tend to the children in the background. Because the Amish refuse the intrusion of cameras and recording equipment, it's been difficult to achieve a full-blooded portrait of the community, forcing filmmakers to turn to outsiders and educators to supply an appreciation of something few are even meant to understand. "The Amish" doesn't put forward a no-hold-barred look into this remote rural existence, but it does peel away another layer of restriction, inching closer to an intimate look as these hard-working American strangers. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

There once was a time when a presidential examination took a distanced stand of blind veneration, refusing the temptation of salacious details to celebrate the life and times of an American leader who worked his way through the oily political process to take command of a nation. Some of these individuals found themselves directing a country in dire need of guidance, others barely made a dent in the four years provided, yet their media portraits were always dependably aloof and tastefully patriotic. We do not live in an era of respectful/mythological biographical distance any longer. Whether or not this is a positive development is for you to decide. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"The Interrupters" takes a look at the fingerprint of violence on the dangerous streets of Chicago's south side. There are no easy answers provided to help guide the experience and absolve sin, only a rough understanding of circular behavior and redemptive intentions, shaped into a searing, evocative documentary that does more to understand the psychological chokehold of aggression than any polished media report. Daring to enter the lives of those typically left behind by society, "The Interrupters" is a valuable educational tool and a terrific picture, spotlighting the efforts of those who are dedicating their lives to the betterment of America, using past mistakes and turbulent instincts to attack the root of violence and the fruitlessness of intimidation, working their way through fractured communities one soul at a time. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1982's "Treasure Train" (also known as "Odyssey of the Pacific" and "The Emperor of Peru") emerges from an era when family entertainment provided a little more leeway in terms of political overtones and fantastical encounters. It's an utterly bizarre motion picture, but one made with a certain endearing permissiveness, attempting to give younger audiences exactly what they crave from matinee entertainment while carrying some impressively complex emotions for adults. "Treasure Train" is also a Mickey Rooney movie, permitting the production an opportunity to indulge a zanier side of life, with the screen legend treating his screentime like a vaudeville audition. I'm not exactly sure I understood what director Fernando Arrabal was aiming for with this merging of dreams and doom, but it's certainly an ambitious, agreeably askew cinematic offering. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In popular culture, kangaroos are traditionally beloved for their odd shape and undeniable cuteness. Just thinking of kangaroos inspires images of bouncing bundles of fur hosting adorable joeys in their pouches, peacefully hopping along on the hunt for martinis (hey, it's my daydream). In Canberra, the capital of Australia, the kangaroo is a decidedly unstable element of daily life. Facing a surge in population numbers, residents have witnessed an onslaught of kangaroo activity in the area, with the oblivious beasts taking over parks and backyards while prowling for food. The forward behavior of the kangaroo has created a major problem in Canberra, necessitating a culling period to help reduce the population and ease the worrisome increase in roadway collisions. Once thought to be a harmonious symbol of Australia, the kangaroo has become a destructive nuisance to some, leaving local authorities, animal activists, and suburban bystanders unsure of how to attack this problem in a manner that satisfies the public and protects the innocent animals at the center of the disruption. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"The Deadly Spawn" is one of those no-budget horror pictures crafted by filmmakers who love horror pictures that just barely classifies as a horror picture. Time and a vocal fanbase have elevated the endeavor to cult status, celebrating its schlocky appeal and ferocious monsters, but there's really nothing to "The Deadly Spawn" beyond some ingenious special effects and a few formidable visits to the gore zone. Look past the phallic fiend and here's a comatose effort that's hardly making an effort to provide characters worth cheering on, while the central otherworldly threat is a vaguely defined pest that seems entirely avoidable. I know, I know, it's all in the name of B-movie fun, yet it's difficult to get into an enterprise that appears to fall asleep on occasion, doing extraordinarily little with a promising concept collected from hundreds of merry creature features. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

When I was assigned to review "Downton Abbey: Season 2," I was filled with dread. I find most costume dramas difficult to process, most constructed so frigidly that interpretation becomes a chore, not a rewarding challenge. Also creating terror was my moderate awareness of the program, gathered primarily from award show recaps and the occasional social media pledge of devotion. Not wanting to be left out in the cold, I crammed season one in anticipation of this release, ready to swallow whatever televised dry biscuit creator Julian Fellowes was intending to serve. Seven episodes later, I was deeply in love, completely blindsided by a program boasting refined social graces on the outside, while the inside exposed the beating heart of a sublime soap opera, offering immaculate emotional pull and full-bodied attention to a multitude of characters, creating a thickly sliced, yet overwhelmingly effective British drama — a viewing experience that was much more than droning talk of matchmaking and sips of tea. Suddenly, the prospect of viewing season two wasn't a brutal professional obligation anymore. It became an absolute necessity. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Filmmaker Fernando Di Leo was a well-regarded helmer who specialized in severe crime stories pulled from the bowels of Italy — tales of grizzled men hunting other grizzled men, burning through numerous power plays, assassinations, and monetary disruptions. They were films of pure Italian personality, monitoring political turbulence while bashing around baddies, creating a roughhouse Euro genre with realism that would come to influence American directors looking to add some bitterness to their own cinematic brew. Collected here are four of Di Leo's most prominent efforts, each blessed with unique qualities and rage issues, all possessing a singular desire to depict criminal behavior at its lowest rung of decorum. The results are uneven but unforgettable, blasting viewers with two-fisted tales of unrepentant Italian machismo, soaked in J&B. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Television has transformed radically over the last 60 years. While most viewers remain well aware of the seismic media shift, it's quite remarkable to see the winding path of storytelling recounted in "America in Primetime," a documentary dissection of programming highlights. The shows discussed here are singled out for the inimitable perspective and ability to shift the cultural POV, guiding the general public to a greater consciousness with stellar achievements in characterization, tonality, and awareness. Divided into four episodes, each with a specific theme for inspection, the series delves into the leadership position T.V. gradually established, helping to reflect attitudes, fears, and politics along the way. Offering interviews and insights from the likes of Mary Tyler Moore, Roseanne Barr, Marc Cherry, Diablo Cody, Norman Lear, Jerry Mathers, Carl Reiner, Danny DeVito, Paul Feig, Garry Shandling, Larry David, Alan Ball, Andre Braugher, Gillian Anderson, and Candace Bergen, "America in Primetime" covers a wide range of reflection and celebration, searching to uncover the alchemy of the addictive television tradition. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In these modern times, the prospect of home ownership is akin to a cancer scare. It's a promise of oncoming misery, containing such anxiety and dread that fewer folks are taking the plunge, unwilling or unable to endure the financial commitment and extended period of responsibility. Who needs the headache? Life would be far simpler if we all could secrete a milky fluid from our hindquarters, using the goo to manufacture a temporary living space free from predators. With that evolutionary process millions of years away, we'll just have to make do envying the natural world, observing animals and insects go about their daily business of home assembly and defense, erecting massive dwellings of comfort and gob-smacking complexity in the wilds of the world. No mortgages, no association fees. Just some anal fluid, patience, and instinctual might. A short time later, there's a home to enjoy. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The mysteries of the Earth are enormous, even after centuries of study and theory, yet questions about life cannot be answered on this planet. With an entire universe begging for exploration, the quest for knowledge has reached for the stars, with science making great strides in meticulous space inspection, opening up fresh realms of opportunity when it comes to locating signs of life and hospitable environments. The two-part "Nova" program, "Finding Life Beyond Earth," looks to uncover the potential of the galaxy, venturing to make connections between volatile locations on other moons and planets and our experience on Earth. It's a story of hope and science sold in a traditional PBS manner that merges facts with fantasy, endeavoring to shed light on a lofty ambition to understand how life, even in its most microscopic form, could be found in the great unknown. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Is It Just Me?" is a perfectly kind and affectionate premise decorated with all sorts of clichés. It's a noxious brew of the sincere and the predictable, showcasing some seriously lazy screenwriting from a filmmaker who appears to have his heart in the right place. While it leans toward elements that concern an earnest questioning of the gay dating scene, writer/director J.C. Calciano is too distracted by the movie's oppressive sitcom interests, always trying to crack a joke or construct a labored misunderstanding when the picture is far more confident focusing on two like-minded souls finding each other in the petting zoo of Los Angeles. Conversations and confessions should be leading the way, not rejected ideas from "Three's Company," which weigh the feature down, making it impossible to entertain in full. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Coming just in time to light up the holiday season is "Make the Yuletide Gay," a softer, lighter romantic comedy emerging from a genre not traditionally known for its overt restraint. Eschewing heavy dramatics, "Yuletide" makes an admirable attempt to remain buoyant, sustaining the festive Christmas mood as far as humanly possible. However, the material eventually falls apart, caught between the rusty mechanics of an out-of-the-closet farce and a tender story of personal and familial acceptance. The festivities kick off with a hearty ho-ho-ho. They end with a disconcerting no-no-no. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Every year since 1989, the National Film Registry selects 25 movies branded "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and offers them a safe haven inside the Library of Congress. It's an effort of preservation that spans all tastes and times, collecting an expanding group of creativity that reflects the cultural experience in America, from the very first acts of filmmaking to the blockbusters of recent memory. It's a yearly effort that brings out the best in cinephiles and academics, hunting for the ideal picture that sums up an era, perhaps useful to future generations curious about the country's history and legacy of artistic achievements. "These Amazing Shadows" is a skeletal examination of the National Film Registry's selection process, studying various titles welcomed into the protective hands of the organization's technicians and film lovers, revealing the diverse line-up of choices. It's light on the details of such an endeavor, but the flood of filmgoing memories and passion for the medium creates a riveting sit, basking in the glow of all these big screen oddities and masterpieces. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The PBS program "Nature" has an interesting way of remaining positive while investigating unimaginable environmental horror. It's not a chipper attitude, whistling along as it analyzes the end of the world, but there's a warm yellow beam of positivity and surprise that helps to choke down the razor blades of reality. "Radioactive Wolves" is a prime example of their unique tonality, exploring the vast wilderness left behind in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, which successfully wiped out a chunk of Russia, leaving the land unlivable. Humans cleared out in a hurry, but wildlife wasn't afforded the same evacuation effort. In the decades following the disaster, animals have returned to Chernobyl, unaware of the poisoned soil and water, reclaiming their homeland away from human intrusion. For the grey wolf, the new predator-free zone brings a rare opportunity to expand its numbers, restoring what was lost long ago to merciless Soviet expansion. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

I'm not sure why sleepwalking isn't used more often in thriller cinema. It's a perfectly useful dramatic device, mysterious and forgiving when it comes to leaps in logic, but few filmmakers show interest in pursuing the topic. Of course, "In My Sleep" doesn't exactly help the cause, using involuntary nocturnal activity to motivate a spectacularly flaccid, no-budget thriller, bogged down by shabby technical achievements, uninspired acting, and bloated direction. Writer/director Allen Wolf is aching to recreate some pulse-pounding Hitchcockian delights with this twisty endeavor, but there's little screen finesse to support his aspirations, leaving behind an ambitious but inept production that has difficulty maintaining chills, thrills, and, well, camera focus. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com