Weekly Releases for 10
Joss Whedon, the man responsible for such escapist television series like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Firefly’ as well as the blockbuster superhero film, ‘The Avengers’ tries his hand at Shakespeare, with the thoroughly surprising comedy romance, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Starring Amy Acker, Emma Bates, Sara Blindauer, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, and Clark Gregg, this little independent was a winner IFF Boston Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. Having received a half hearted play at movie houses, this charming little sleeper deserves to find a wider audience on video.
Shot in just 12 days (and using the original ****) at his own house, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ features the plight of sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick, adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other. Filled with witty dialogue and some terrific performances, Whedon makes the most of the material and keeps the pace surprisingly light and airy considering his heavy sci fi background. That said it’s hard not to compare this version to Kenneth [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] Branagh’s delightful stab at the same material with 1993’s adaptation of the same play. Rather than choose however, both versions stand on their own and would make the Bard proud.
After Earth
Sony / 2024 / 100 Minutes / Rated PG 13
Blu ray Release Date: October 8, 2024
Director M. Night Shyamalan takes a stab at the sci fi genre with the disappointing action adventure ‘After Earth’ starring father and son duo, Will and Jaden Smith. Slaughtered by critics and ignored for the most part by audiences, Smith managed to save this languid [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] effort in part to his international fan base, however suffice it to say there will be no sequel in the pipeline any time soon.
It’s easy to see what attracted Smith to the idea since the film features a strong bond between father and son in unbelievable trying circumstances. When a crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Smith) stranded on Earth, the two are forced to figure out how to survive on a planet a thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Although the critics were harsh, fans of Smith should be no more disappointed (or impressed) than his last foray into the future with the forgettable ‘I Robot’.
Extras are plentiful surprisingly considering how poorly the film did domestically including "A Father’s Legacy", "1,000 Years in 300 Seconds", "The Nature of the Future", XPRIZE After Earth Robotics Challenge winning video, "Building a World", "Pre Visualizing the Future", "The Animatics of After Earth" as well as an alternate opening sequence.
Chucky: The Complete Collection
Universal / 1988 / Rated R
Blu ray Release Date: [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] October 8, 2024
"I’m Chucky. And I’m your friend to the end!" Such was the start of a ubiquitous franchise that would live on for three decades (or more) starring a creepy precocious doll by the name of Chucky. Universal wisely decided to roll out ‘The Complete Collection’ of all the ‘Child’s Play’ sequels starting with the original and ending with the direct to video ‘Chucky’s Revenge’. Director Don Mancini is responsible for the franchise’s longevity by somehow creating a believable premise where a deranged killer (voiced by Brad Dourif) manages to possess the lovable child’s toy only to continue his murderous rampage.
Starting with ‘Child’s Play’ starring Dourif, Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon, the film quickly found a footing with cult audiences with a tongue in cheek thriller that seemed partly inspired by a particularly frightening ‘Night Gallery’ segment starring Karen Black and involving a voodoo doll that comes to life. The first three sequels deals with Chucky and his original owner, Andy Barclay. Then the ruthless redhead teams up with his dream doll, tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), in Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky. Chucky is back again in Curse of Chucky to terrorize a family with whom he shares a mysterious connection.
Extras were not revealed upon the initial press release but promised to be "oozing with hours of bonus materials".
American Horror Story: Asylum
20th Century Fox / 2024 / 554 Minutes / Unrated
Last year’s surprise thriller hit, ‘American Horror Story’ which took viewers and critics by surprise especially considering the thirteen episode arc appeared to bookend the series came back the following season with a whole new setting and freaky surprises. Dubbed ‘Asylum’ the series sophomore season brought back season one’s Jessica Lange and Zachary Quinto and added James Cromwell and Sarah Paulson to the cast as the thriller delved into a new chapter set in an insane asylum.
The sins [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] of the past haunt the present at the notorious Briarcliff home for the criminally insane, ruled with an iron fist by Sister Jude (Jessica Lange). With another season starting in but a few short weeks dubbed ‘The Coven’, this American Horror Story clearly has plant of stories left to tell.
Extras include featurettes; ‘The Orderly’, ‘What is American Horror Story: Asylum?’, ‘Welcome to Briarcliff Manor’, ‘The Creatures’ as well as deleted scenes.
Stalag 17
Warner Brothers / 1953 / 120 Minutes / Unrated
Billy Wilder’s WWII drama ‘Stalag 17’ comes to Blu ray sixty years after its theatrical release. With a stellar cast including William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss, Richard Erdman, and Peter Graves, this top notch effort earned both Wilder and star Holden Oscar nominations. This black and white classic holds up quite well considering the six decades that have passed and remains one of Holden’s best performances. This film became the basis of the 1960’s sitcom ‘Hogan’s Heroes’. Sefton, a prisoner at the notorious German prison camp, who spends his days dreaming up rackets and trading with the Germans for special privileges. [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] But when two prisoners are killed in an escape attempt, it becomes obvious that there is a spy among the prisoners. But who is the turncoat? Famed producer/director Otto Preminger tackles a rare acting role as the camp’s commandant. The film managed to nab one Best Supporting Actor win by Robert Strauss for his role as "Animal."
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