Catch VIOLENT NIGHT on Blu-ray!

Violent Night Blu-ray

The Movie

Synopsis

An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage inside. However, they aren’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

Directed By: Tommy Wirkola

Written By: Pat Casey & John Miller

Starring: David Harbour (Santa), John Leguizamo (Scrooge), Beverly D’Angelo (Gertrude), Alex Hassell (Jason), Alexis Louder (Linda), Edi Patterson (Alva), Cam Gigandet (Morgan Steel), Leah Brady (Trudy), Andre Eriksen (Gingerbread), Brendan Fletcher (Krampus), Mike Dopud (Commander Thorp), and much more.

Genre: Action, Comedy, & Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: Approx. 1 hour 52 minutes

Blu-ray Details

Audio

  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
  • French (Canada): DTS 5.1
  • Spanish: DTS-HD HR 7.1
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC (29.83 Mbps)
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, & Mandarin (Traditional)

Special Features

  • Deleted and extended scenes
  • Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes

Catch Violent Night out on Blu-ray, DVD, & Digital code on January 24th!

The Protege Blu-Ray Review: Old School Action, Old School Extras

The Protege came out in theaters this August. It was a solid action vehicle elevated by the chemistry between Maggie Q and Michael Keaton, and Q’s physical abilities. Now it’s available on home video with a standard array of bonus features like every movie got in the early days of DVD.

The behind the scenes feature is 37 minutes long. It shows director Martin Campbell directing Q in action. The thorough documentary traces the film through script development, actors’ rehearsal and prep and post-production. They include below-the-line craftspeople like the editor and director of photography.

It gets technical for those viewers studying that aspect of filmmaking. This production also came up against the COVID-19 outbreak, so navigating that is part of the documentary. Another eight minute featurette focuses on the Q/Keaton fight/love scene. A deleted scene shows Q telling off a dude bro hitting on her in a satisfying way. 

Campbell gives a thorough commentary with the film. He discusses decisions he made on the set and basic fundamentals that made specific scenes work. Like in the old days of commentaries, he spends a fair amount of time describing what’s happening on screen and complementing his cast and crew. But in the interest of highlighting their involvements, he’s right. That’s exactly what makes movies like The Protege more satisfying than their knock offs. 

BREAKDOWN out on Blu-ray!

BREAKDOWN out on Blu-ray!

Kurt Russell Breakdown Blu-ray

The Movie

Synopsis

A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert. A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert. A man searches for his missing wife after his car breaks down in the middle of the desert.

Directed By: Jonathan Mostow

Starring: Kurt Russell (Jeff Taylor), J.T. Walsh (Red Barr), Kathleen Quinlan (Amy Tayor), M.C. Gainey (Earl), Jack Noseworthy (Billy), Rex Linn (Sheriff Boyd), Ritch Brinkley (Al), Moira Sinise (Arleen), and much more.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, & Psychological Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: Approx. 93 minutes

Blu-ray Details

Audio

  • English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD
  • French 5.1 Dolby Digital
  • Isolated Score 2.0 Dobly Digital
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, & French

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Special Features

  • New Filmmaker Focus: Director Jonathan Mostow on Breakdown
  • Commentary by Director Jonathan Mostow and Kurt Russell
  • Victory is Hers: Kathleen Quinlan on Breakdown
  • A Brilliant Partnership: Martha De Laurentiis on Breakdown

Catch Breakdown out on Blu-ray September 21st!

CROCODILE DUNDEE TRILOGY Hits Blu-ray!

CROCODILE DUNDEE TRILOGY Hits Blu-ray!

Crocodile Dundee Trilogy Blu-ray

The Movie

Synopsis

Crocodile Dundee

A New York reporter heads to Australia to interview the living legend Mike Dundee (Paul Hogan). When she finally locates him, she is so taken with him that she brings him back with her to New York. In New York, Mike Dundee is amazed by the wonders of the city and the interesting people there.

Crocodile Dundee II

Mick “Crocodile” Dundee (Paul Hogan) is settling into his new Manhattan home when a South American drug dealer (Hechter Ubarry) abducts his girlfriend, Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski). The drug dealer thinks images of his criminal activities, taken by Sue’s photographer ex-husband, are now in her hands. The dealer takes Sue to Colombia and threatens her, hoping that she’ll give up the evidence. But intrepid Dundee, aiming to rescue Sue, is soon on the criminal’s trail.

Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles

Mick Dundee (Paul Hogan) is an adventurer in the truest sense. He is an ace crocodile hunter who lives in the wilds of the Australian Outback. He has even survived the dangers of New York City. However, his latest adventure may be the biggest test for him yet. Mick Dundee is traveling to that bizarre netherworld – Los Angeles, California.

Directed by: Peter Faiman, John Cornell, & Simon Wincer

Starring: Paul Hogan (Mick “Crocodile” Dundee, Linda Kozlowski (Sue Charlton),  John Meillion (Walter Reilly), David Gulpilil (Neville Bell), Ritchie SInger (Con), Maggie Blinco (Ida), Steve Rackman (Donk), Gerry Skilton (Nugget), and much more.

Genre: Comedy, Adventure, & Action

Rating: PG/ PG13

Runtime: Approx.

Blu-ray Details

Audio

Crocodile Dundee

  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
  • French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
  • Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, & Spanish
Crocodile Dundee II
  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
  • French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
  • Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (224 kbps)

Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles

  • 1080P High Definition
  • English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
  • French 2.0 Dolby Digital
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, & French

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1, 2.39:1

Special Features

  • The Making of Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
  • Theatrical Trailer

Catch Crocodile Dundee Trilogy out on Blu-ray and Digital September 21st!

Crocodile Dundee

Crocodile Dundee II

Crocodile Dundee Lost in Los Angeles

 

JUMANJI: The Next Level Blu-ray Review

JUMANJI: The Next Level Blu-ray Review

Jumanji: The Next Level Blu-ray Review

The Movie

Synopsis

In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to rescue one of their own, the players will have to brave parts unknown from arid deserts to snowy mountains, to escape the world’s most dangerous game.

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Written By: Jake Kasdan, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, & Chris Van Allsburg

Starring:  Dwayne Johnson (Bravestone), Kevin Hart (Mouse), Jack Black (Oberon), Karen Gillan (Ruby), Awkwafina (Ming), Nick Jonas (Seaplane). Alex Wolff (Spencer), Morgan Turner (Martha), Madison Iseman (Bethany), Ser’Darius Blain (Fridge), and much more.

Genre: Action, Adventure, & Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime:  Approx. 123 Minutes

Blu-ray Details

Audio

  • English, French, 5.1 DTS-HD MA
  • Spanish, English, & French Audio Description Tracks 5.1 Dolby Digital

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, & Spanish

Special Features

  • Over an hour of action, laughs, and fun
  • Body Swapping: Snapping into Character
  • Back Together: Reuniting the Cast
  • Level Up: Making Jumanji: The Next Level
  • Gag Reel
  • Rhys Darby Wants to Jingle
  • Select Scene & Visual Effects Breakdowns

My Thoughts

I give Jumanji: The Next Level a B+.

I am sad to say I haven’t seen the first one but was looking forward to seeing this one.  I heard a lot of good things about this film and I definitely had a blast watching it.  It’s a film full of action, adventure, and comedy.  Watching some of my favorite actors on screen be hilarious was an awesome escape from everyday life.

There are many things I loved about this film. But what stood out the most (for me),  I loved when the characters swapped bodies within the game.  It was hilarious watching Jack Black be feminine and Dwayne Johnson playing an old man.  They matched their counterparts manerisms to a T.  Even Kevin Hart’s character. How he mimicked Danny Glover’s characters voice was hilarious.  I was rolling on the floor laughing within the first five minutes or so of the film.

Catch Jumanji: The Next Level out on Blu-ray, DVD, & Digital March 17th!

 

STUBER Hits Blu-ray!

STUBER Hits Blu-ray!

STUBER Blu-ray Review

The Movie

Synopsis

A quick-tempered cop who’s recovering from eye surgery recruits a mild-mannered Uber driver to help him catch the heroin dealer who murdered his partner. The mismatched pair soon find themselves in for a wild day of stakeouts and shootouts as they pursue violent criminals through the seedy streets of Los Angeles.

Directed By: Michael Dowse

Written By: Tripper Clancy

Starring: Dave Bautista (Vic Manning), Kumanil Nanjiani (Stu), Mira Sorvino (Angie McHenry), Natalie Morales (Nicole), Iko Uwais (Oka Tedjo), Betty Gilpin (Becca), Karen Gillan (Sara Morris), Jimmy Tatro (Richie Sandusky), Steve Howey (Felix), and more.

Genre: Action, Comedy, & Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: Approx. 93 Minutes

Blu-ray Details

Audio

  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Czech: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
  • Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Subtitles: English SDH, Portuguese, Spanish, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Icelandic, Korean, Malay, Mandarin (Traditional), Polish, Serbian, Slovak, & Slovenian

Special Features

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Gag Reel
  • Joke-O-Rama
  • Audio Commentary by Director Michael Dowse and Kumail Nanjiani

My Thoughts

I give Stuber a B+.

Stuber follows Vic (Dave Bautista) an LAPD Detective who has been trying to arrest and capture Oka Tedjo (Iko Uwais) who cold bloodily murdered his partner. After getting Lasik surgery and not able to see clearly, Vic calls an Uber Driver, Stu (Kumail Nanjiani).   An adventure persues as well as an unlikely friendship.

I actually really enjoyed this film.  I wasn’t expecting much as I didn’t know much about this film.

I was super impressed with Dave Bautista.  I haven’t really seen him in many films and prior to this, the only thing I really saw him in was WWE.   He did a great job of his portrayal of Vic who was so obsessed with capturing Tedjo and avenging his partner’s death that he put even his family and daughter on the sidelines.  My favorite scene with Vic was when he had just gotten his lasik surgery and he received a lead for Tedjo.  He attempts to drive and he can’t see.  He drives his car over everything.  I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

I really like Iko Uwais (Tedjo) in the villain role.  He didn’t have many lines in the film but his facial expression and actions gave off a person who didn’t care who he took down to get to the top.  He had a few scenes showing off his martial arts skills.  I just wish he could spar a bit longer with Vic (Bautista) or maybe even Stu (Kumail Nanjiani).

I liked how Stu was the voice of reason.  He was kind of the shoulder to cry on.  The person that gave advice. I liked the unlikely friendship that grew between him and Vic.  He even risked his life to save Vic as well as his daughter.

Catch Stuber out on 4K, Blu-ray, & Digital Code October 15th!

FURIE Blu-ray Reivew

FURIE Blu-ray Review

The Movie

Synopsis

When traffickers kidnap her daughter from their village, vengeful Hai Phuong returns to Saigon, and her outlaw roots, to take down the abductors.

Directed By: Le-Van Kiet

Starring: Jen Alyx (Hai Phuong), Lê Bình (Hai Phuong’s Father), Pham Anh Khoa (Truc), James Larabee (Rom), Veronica Ngo (Hai Phuong), Thanh Nhien Phan (Luong), and more.

Genre: Action

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: Approx. 98 Minutes

Blu-ray Review

Audio

  • Vietnamese: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
  • Vietnamese: Dolby Digital 2.0
  • English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0

Video

  • Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
  • Original aspect ratio: 2.3
  • Subtitles: English

Special Features

  • Behind the Scenes
  • Trailer

My Thoughts

I give the Furie Blu-ray a B+.

Furie follows Hai Phuong, a single mother, and debt collector whose child was kidnaped among many others by a gang who sells their organs.  She literally will do anything to find her daughter even if it means risking her life.  At the beginning of the film, she is a debt collector but toward the end, she is a heroine.

Wow!  I thought this film was amazing.  I have never seen Veronica Ngo in a film aside from her short role as Paige Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and her role as Tien in Bright.  She did an amazing job portraying Hai Phuong, a women and single mother you definitely don’t want to mess with.

There are many things I loved about this film.  I loved the cinematography.  This film takes place in Vietnam.  A country I have never been to and a country with a terrible past.  It was cool to see the country through the eyes of a camera lens.  Though I was paying attention to the characters and storyline I couldn’t help but look behind them.  As stated above I loved Veronica Ngo’s portrayal of Hai Phuong.  She was a woman who could take care of herself.  She wasn’t going to wait for the authorities to help find her child.  She didn’t care if she even died as long as her daughter was safe.  I can’t say the fight scenes were comparable to a Tony Ja or Scott Adkins movie but they were entertaining nonetheless.

Catch Furie out on Blu-ray Now!

Kidnap Blu-ray Review: 2 Taken 2 Furious

I wish I had known that Kidnap was exactly the kind of high concept of movie I crave. I’m fine with a Halle Berry Taken vehicle but the marketing did not convey that Kidnap is almost entirely a road movie. This is the sort of simple high concept that hooks me when done well. She’s gotta follow the car that took her son or lose him forever. How do you sustain that? Let’s find out!

Karla Dyson (Berry) witnesses her son get kidnapped at the park. She’s not quite fast enough to pull him from the car, but she gives chase and stays on the kidnappers all day on the road.

Kidnap had me from the very first car chase. Hanging on the car, it’s a stuntwoman in closeups, as it should be, but the character of Karla is tenacious. I don’t need Berry to get pulled by a speeding car for real. I just need to see that Karla is willing to hang on.

On the road, Karla is screaming, “Oh God” the whole time.” That’s both a real person’s reaction to intense action and a mother’s reaction to any threat to her child.

That first car chase uses all the stuff that rankles us on the road: freeway ramps, missing the exit, stuff falling from people’s trunks… Director Luis Prieto and writer Knate Lee just made an epic action scene out of it.

They also made the cars easily identifiable, the blue kidnapper sedan with black hinged rearview and her red SUV, so we can track the players.

They solve the cell phone issue in the initial panic. Of course she drops her purse ad she can’t go back for it. Not that having a phone in her car would necessarily have helped. When she finally finds ways to call for help, law enforcement can’t keep up with the evolving chase.

Kidnap even answers the “out of gas” issue that Speed sort of copped out of. The bus drained gas at the airport, but they never had to face the issue of dropping below 50 because the tank was empty. Karla has to face a blinking E.

Was Kidnap the fastest most furious movie of the year? Well, we did have Baby Driver. But Kidnap was probably the fastest most furious movie of 2014 when it was made.

The Blu-ray looks great with action on lush Louisiana roadways and bridges. The cars take a beating and show all the detail. Director Luis Prieto captures the distance of cars traveling into the horizon and those shots look incredible in HD.

Being lost in the Relativity shuffle, there aren’t many extras for Kidnap. Just three minutes with Halle Berry and Luis Prieto promoting the movie, and three sound bites from the second unit director. But that’s ok. Kidnap is a tight 82 minute thriller that sells itself.

Railroad Tigers Blu-Ray Review: Jackie Chan On A Train!

Jackie Chan’s latest movie isn’t a martial arts film. It’s more of a total stunt show. It works and Railroad Tigers compares favorably to current Hollywood action movies, even perhaps offering more practical stuntwork, with little touches of Jackie Chan even without kicks. 

Ma Yuan (Chan) leads a gang of Chinese railroad workers in 1941 to rob Japanese trains and distribute food to the poor. Since it’s a historic period piece, it’s holding back on the flamboyant action. The production values are epic, but to stay consistent, they avoid elaborate fights. Real 1941 train robbers wouldn’t be putting on a show.

There’s good heisting though. Their operation is as well oiled a machine as the trains themselves. There’s an elegance to their preparation and moves. There’s vehicular action as the Railroad Tigers deflect pursuing authorities, and a fun bit where two men ride up and down on a rope with counterweights. You know this could be a five minute sequence in another Jackie Chan movie, but we get to go up and down twice here.

Train hopping gets more elaborate as it goes on so bear with Railroad Tigers and you will see some cool stunts. A scene with two tanks side by side on a train car could be in a Hollywood movie From the outtakes (it is still a Jackie Chan movie) it looks like the trains were practical. Only some of the backgrounds were blue screened. He’s certainly not taking it easy just because there’s less martial arts. He’s doing other dangerous stuff.

On Blu-ray the picture is very yellow. The tracks run along bright yellow leaves. The gritty texture of the trains is clear and red powder in a market chase is striking.

Brief bonus features give a good behind the scenes look at stunts. A longer one (21 minutes) goes more into development and specific stunts. There are 2400 VFX shots but they combine scale models and practical footage.

xXx: Return of Xander Cage Blu-ray Review

xXx was a franchise I always believed in. It was unfortunate Vin Diesel dropped out of the first sequel, but Ice Cube did a good job with State of the Union. xXx: Return of Xander Cage was well worth the wait. Diesel is back with wonderful extreme action and a team of badasses, some new and some familiar faces, at his side.

All the lavish locations glow in HD. You could freeze frame the jungle skiing and water motorcycling sequences and make it still art for a house party. The military headquarters and meeting rooms hold up with stylized lighting and nice additional touches to stand out in fairly common action movie locations. Likewise, a warehouse shootout is full of enough debris and detail to compete with any Blu-ray shoot ’em up.

The first two bonus features recap the plot and the cast, so they are very calculated sound bite collections. It’s basically a commercial for the movie but don’t watch it first because they’ve got spoilers. One message that comes through is it’s all supposed to be fun. The defining characteristic of each character is that they’re fun to hang out with.

Locations and Stunts are more informative about how they accomplished the outrageous set pieces of xXx. You may take it for granted that those island rave parties exist. They’re all movie magic. It’s also political because Diesel helped the Dominican Republic create a film infrastructure, related to his father’s NYU program too. A motorcycle in a water tank is certainly a first. xXx is a pioneering franchise.

The four features give you an hour total, so I should be happy that a big action movie gets close to the Criterion treatment. The gag reel is a scant two minutes, the funniest of which is when some pedestrians interrupt Samuel L. Jackson’s opening scene.