Sorry if it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. I’ve been distracted with a lot of things lately. Obviously, I’m still collecting physical media. This one’s going to be a pretty big one. It’s been over a month since I’ve done one of these. So, I’m not going to bother with any fancy opening this time. Let’s just dig in to things that I picked up.
Dragonslayer – Paramount Pictures
Before buying this, I had never actually seen Dragonslayer in its entirety before. This was released back in 1981, and it got awards for best special effects. It’s also Peter MacNicol’s first movie. These days, stories like the one presented in this movie are a dime a dozen: A desperate king sacrifices virgins to appease an evil dragon, so a wannabe hero comes along to save the day. What really sets this apart from a lot of its contemporaries was it’s visual effects. This was obviously before CGI, so puppetry and miniatures were the way to get it done. Dragonslayer is a bit of a time capsule for visual effects. This was one of the movies that really inspired directors like Guillermo del Toro. Honestly, it’s a lot of fun.
Dungeons and Dragons Double Feature – Warner Bros.
I have a confession to make: I have not seen the newest Dungeons and Dragons film with Chris Pine. But, I have seen the original movie from 2000…and it’s a thing. Look, everybody knows that the Dungeons and Dragons film from 2000 was an absolute mess. Really, the only reason to watch that movie is to see Jeremy Irons ham it up like never before. I kid you not, look it up on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean. It’s remarkably entertaining. The sequel, Wrath of the Dragon God is a better constructed film, but it’s still not great. There was a third that went to streaming only, but I haven’t seen it and I probably never will.
The Quick and the Dead(1995) – Sony Pictures
When you think of Sam Raimi, you generally don’t think of Westerns. Yet, you can definitely see the influence on his movies. Raimi’s known more for his horror flicks and Spider-Man movies, but The Quick and the Dead is actually a pretty solid little Western with a really great cast. Gene Hackman always makes a great bad guy. This is one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s earlier movies that he did before hitting it big with Titanic(yes, I did that on purpose). You’ve also got a great group of character actors like Lance Henriksen and Keith David. It’s one of the more over-looked films in Sam Raimi’s filmography, so I highly recommend checking this one out. Especially if you really like gun-fights.
Billy Jack Film Collection – Shout Factory
Boy, you want to talk about movies that are products of their time, the Billy Jack movies fit that description. The Born Losers marks the first appearance of the character of Billy Jack, played by Tom Laughlin. I’ll be honest: The Born Losers isn’t a movie that’s really worth screaming about. The second movie, though: Billy Jack is pretty decent. These movies tackled a lot of particular issues during the 60s and 70s, and bigotry against Native Americans was a huge problem. Billy Jack tackles that issue head on. But throws a few karate kicks and chops to spice things up a bit. These movies don’t work as well today as they did back in the 70s, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a look. Tom Laughlin is fantastic in the role. 10 bucks at Wal-mart can get you all four movies in a slick DVD case.
Code of the Assassins – Well Go USA
I can never turn down a good kung-fu movie, especially the epic wuxia movies. Code of the Assassins is a steam-punk-inspired wuxia film that is surprisingly fun and unique. But the narrative is pretty convoluted, but it does involve an assassin who seeks revenge for the murder of his clan. The fight choreography is fantastic and the CGI is surprisingly competent, if over-used whenever the weapons are being drawn. Considering the quality of kung-fu movies as of late, Code of the Assassins is a breath of fresh air. It’s still has certain issues because of the way Hong Kong adapted the wrong way of doing action, but it’s a step in the right direction. I definitely recommend checking it out.
Plane – Lionsgate
Sometimes, simplicity is the name of the game. Audiences don’t always want complicated stories in their action movies. It’s understandable, because sometimes it takes away from the moment. Well, Gerard Butler’s Plane is the poster boy for simplicity. Butler plays an airline pilot who saves the plane during a storm by making an emergency landing on an island inhabited by Indonesian rebels. While Butler is out trying to find help, the passengers are captured by rebels, so Butler has to rely on a convict that was on the same flight. There’s no twists here. It’s all about Butler’s character trying to save the passengers and get off the island. It plays out exactly the way you expect, but it’s done incredibly well. It’s a genuine action movie that knows exactly what it is and how to push the audience’s buttons. Definitely recommended.
Wes Craven’s Dracula Collection – Mill Creek
I don’t know how much Wes Craven had to do with the making of these Dracula movies, but it couldn’t have been very much. They don’t feel like Wes Craven’s movies. That said, Dracula 2000 is a lot of fun with Gerard Butler playing Dracula himself. The sequels were apparently shot back-to-back with Rutger Hauer being the final incarnation of Dracula. The third movie is pretty decent for a DTV movie. The first movie is the best. What makes this version of Dracula different is his origin. While most other movies peg him as Vlad Tepes III, or The Impaler as he was once called, Dracula 2000 paints him as Judas Iscariot. Yes, THAT Judas. The one that betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. It’s really unique. while the film definitely has a 2000 feel to it, combined with heavy metal music, it’s still a good time. Skip Dracula II, though. That movie sucks.
Hero – Miramax
Never let it be said that movie-making is not an art-form. It really is. Zhang Yimou’s Hero is a perfect example. The movie has Jet Li playing an assassin out to kill China’s first Emperor. As someone who studied some Chinese history, Jet Li’s character is based on Jin Ke, an actual assassin who attempted, and failed to kill Emperor Qin. But what I love about this movie was it’s use of color. The reds, blues, and greens all pop out, and there’s a reason for those colors. It usually has to do with the mood of the scene. The fight choreography is beyond amazing. The first real fight is the centerpiece of the whole movie. Jet Li takes on Donnie Yen in a sword vs spear battle. It’s wild. The movie also moves at a very quick pace. At 99 minutes, it’s a breeze. If you’re a huge fan of wuxia movies, Hero is a must-own.
Kubo and the Two Strings – Shout Factory
Kubo is one of those movies that I missed during it’s run in 2016, and I’m still kicking myself for missing it. This is an extremely stunning film. It’s all done with stop-motion animation and a little bit of CGI here and there. It’s a visual feast. But it also helps that the story is compelling and the characters are fun and unique. The movie also doesn’t shy away from dealing with heavy subject matter. While the target audience is kids, the movie doesn’t treat them like idiots. It’s honest about what it is and the message that it’s sending. Also, the use of origami plays a huge role in the use of magic in the film. It’s clearly influenced by Eastern mythology and ideas, and it’s all the better for it. If you have ANY appreciation of art and good story-telling, Kubo and the Two Strings is one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the voice cast is phenomenal: Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, and George Takei. Outstanding.
Cocaine Bear – Universal Pictures
You know, they often say that truth is stranger than fiction. In the case of Cocaine Bear, it’s true. While the actual bear that consumed 70 pounds of cocaine died shortly after in 1985, the idea of a coked-up black bear is as terrifying as it is hilarious, and Elizabeth Banks’ film demonstrates that with glee…and gore. If you’re looking for a movie that expounds on the merits of human nature, this ain’t that movie. In fact, the only message this movie has to offer is: DON’T GIVE SMOKEY THE BEAR COCAINE! The movie is as ridiculous as it sounds. While there’s not enough of the bear clawing its way through people to get more blow, it’s a really fun time.
The Last Starfighter – Arrow Video
Now, THIS is a blast from my past. 1984. Return of the Jedi had just been released in 1983, so there were a number of movies that tried to cash in on the popularity of Jedi. Most of which were not very good. The Last Starfighter, while it didn’t do well at the box-office, has become one of the most beloved cult movies in the last 40 years. The story of a lowly trailer park teen aspiring to be more than that is pretty typical for these kinds of movies. But the setting of a trailer park hadn’t been done before. Alex Rogan gets recruited through the use of a video game to fight in an intergalactic war. The acting is fantastic with Lance Guest as Alex, but the real scene-stealers are the late Robert Preston and Dan O’Herlihy as Centauri and Grig respectively. They’re great. This was the first movie that really used CGI to full effect. It doesn’t look that great now, but in 1984, this was revolutionary. It took multiple Cray supercomputers to create the CG effects in this movie. The music by Craig Safan is also really good. Arrow Video did a bang-up job with the features on this release, so for collectors, this is already in their collection. I’m still for the sequel, though.
101 Dalmations(1961) Disney
Disney’s animated movies were a HUGE part of growing up for me. 101 Dalmations has been and always will be one of my favorite Disney movies of all time. Maybe it’s because I’m a dog person, but this is just an adorable film with great animation, art-style, and music. It also helps that Cruella de Ville is one of the greatest Disney villains of all time. She even gets her own theme song. It’s just one of those movies that I never get tired of watching. Also, if you buy the movie from Wal-Mart, you get a nifty pin that features a main character. In this case, it’s Pongo. It’s just so much fun.
Escape Room/Escape Room: Tournament of Champions – Sony Pictures
I’ll come out and say it: The Escape Room movies aren’t awful, but they aren’t great, either. The concept is pretty cool, but it had already been done before…in 1997 with the movie called CUBE. I’ll give the film-makers the benefit of the doubt and assume that they haven’t seen CUBE. There’s clearly a Saw influence here, as well. There’s a concept called the Law of Diminishing Returns. It means that the more effort, time, and money you put into something, the less you actually get out of it. It doesn’t apply to everything, but it does here. The worst part about this particular release is that it doesn’t include the extended cut of the second film, which has an alternate opening and ending. I seriously doubt that the extra footage would be able to fix the issues that the movie has. Quite frankly, both movies have a lot of issues, including unlikable characters. The concept is interesting, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham – Warner Bros.
I almost forgot this one. Shame on me. Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham is one of the better DC animated movies that I’ve seen lately. I’ve really liked the Elseworlds stuff that DC has been putting out. This movie is set in Gotham City during the 20s, where Batman is dealing with actual supernatural enemies. Batman has always been a very Gothic kind of character, but this particular story has clearly been influenced by H.P. Lovecraft. I like the animation style, and I dig the story. It’s dark, grim, and utterly fantastic. You generally don’t see Batman taking on the supernatural. I loved the hell out of this one, and as DC animated release, the disc also comes with two episodes from the Batman animated series from the early 90s. Definitely recommended.
And that’s going to do it for this installment of Recent Blu-Ray Hauls. This one was a doozy. 14 pick-ups in all. There’s a lot of good ones in here that I can easily recommend. Others, not so much. Anyways…until next time.