DVD Releases for Week of 10/02/2012
A handful of titles this week - one bomb that I was so looking forward to and one exceptional horror film just in time for Halloween from one of the masters!
'Dark Shadows' - Normally, the pairing of director Tim Burton and Johnny Depp is enough for me to be in giddy movie heaven; however, with 'Dark Shadows', the Burton/Depp magic is simply not there. Instead, we are treated with a mashup of comedy and gothic horror that can never seem to find a direction or coherent plot. It's a movie that seemed to be made purley for Burton and Depp; a movie where Depp is not so much a character but rather Depp is the persona. In other words, it is a movie of self indulgence and self amusement. For true 'Dark Shadows' fans, an opportunity to bring back a classic gothic horror/romance/soap was truly wasted.
'People Like Us' - Bordering on Lifetime movie melodramatic, 'People Like Us' is saved by the very strong performances of Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks (who just keeps getting better and better each film she is in) - as a brother and sister separated by years and two different mothers. Pine quickly proves his strong acting skills in this role as a down and out salesman who is challenged to do the right thing when he learns a startling secret after the death of his father. I was glad to see that Pine is much more than 'Kirk' from 'Star Trek' and I am always glad to see Banks who is quickly becoming the actress of her generation. No current actress today can convey the power she does, even in the most obvious of roles with a script that is pretty much by the book. Not a bad Redbox on a chilly autumn evening!
'The Hole' - Ok - last week I said it was impossible to make a good horror movie with a PG-13 rating; well, I have to state an exception. If the PG-13 horror film has Joe Dante has the director - this will almost always will be not true! Dante is back in true 'Gremlins' form and the master of the rush of cinema is playing with 3D! No one plays with what goes bump in the night and horrifying clowns better! And the good thing about the PG-13 rating, you can have some Halloween fun with your older kids! If you can see it in 3D, please do - but in 2D it is just as much fun!
'Red Lights' - Will someone please BEG Martin Scorsese to make a movie that would feature Robert DeNiro? That way he can stop making crap and get back to making good movies! 'Red Lights' continues DeNiro's descent into career hell and this time he is dragging Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy and Elizabeth Olsen with him. While DeNiro is certainly not the star in what is possibly the worst film of the year, you would think a talent like him would know better. Trapped here playing a psychic coming out of retirement out to discredit another psychic. Yes - it is as bad as it sounds. Leave this in the trash.
'Sound of My Voice' - Not seen in wide release, this pretty effective thriller is worth the trip to your local Redbox. Christopher Denhem and Nicole Vicius play documentary film makers who go undercover into a cult to expose its very charismatic leader. As the two dive deep into the world fo the cult, they begin to question everything they believe in, including each other. Intriguing, thrilling with solid performances all around, just follow the sound of my voice to this neat little project!
'Iron Sky' - Nazis escape to the moon at the end of World War II and then return in the not so distant future to return to glory. Yeah. It is a stupid as it sounds. Watch the trailer - it is the only entertaining thing about this piece of crap.