My pick of this week's Blu-ray releases from around the world:
A Better Tomorrow Trilogy (Region A; Joy Sales)
John Woo's A Better Tomorrow defined the "gangsters with honor" genre for a generation of filmmakers, and his sequel upped the ante as far as "action per moment" is concerned. I love the first one (I even named my first website after it) for its bloody, emotional efficiency. The sequel presaged Woo's eventual obsession with style over content, a battle he's been waging ever since. The third film got a bad rap as Tsui Hark's inferior version of the story Woo wanted to tell, and later did (Bullet in the Head), but A Better Tomorrow III, taken on its own merits, is a very solid flick, and makes for a great comparison piece to Woo's film(s).
Other Notable Releases
Asia (Region A)
Sources: AsianBlurayGuide.com, YesAsia.com
Beach Spike (Edko)
"I often found myself bored by the innumerable close-ups of bums and cleavage and more concerned as to what the score was," wrote James Marsh in his review for ScreenAnarchy. "It is, in the end, nothing more than a high concept excuse to get some hot girls to jump up and down in bikinis for the presumed amusement of its audience, and when it fails even to make that sexy or enjoyable, it's probably time to concede defeat and hit the showers." The Blu-ray includes making-of, trailers, TV spots, and photo gallery.
Tower of Death (Joy Sales)
One of several rip-offs that utilized footage of Bruce Lee after he died, leaving behind his incomplete Game of Death. This one features Kim Tai Chung and Yuen Biao.
UK (Region B, except where noted)
Source: Amazon.co.uk
The Big Lebowski (Universal Pictures UK; Region Free)
The Coen Brothers' comic fantasy gets the deluxe treatment. Reviewing the US version, ScreenAnarchy's Charles Webb wrote: "The transfer is very clean (although the image seems a tad bit, I don't know, soft, at times), the audio allows you hear every little inflection in John Goodman's blustery dialog, and you get some features ported over from the 2008 DVD in standard def in addition to a 10-minute retrospective in HD."
The Blues Brothers (Universal Pictures, UK, Region Free)
John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd, back when the world was young. Directed by John Landis.
Red Riding Hood: Alternate Cut (Warner; Region Free)
Catherine Hardwicke directed Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman to generally negative critical response.
Scream 4 (Eiv)
Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson made a reboot, a remake, and a sequel, all in one! Oh, if only it were fun or scary or halfway compelling. "Pale, weak tea as a horror movie," I wrote upon its US release.
US (Region A)
Source: Amazon.com
The Beaver (Summit)
Mel Gibson's off-screen behavior -- and, honestly, the premise of a depressed man talking to a hand puppet -- sank the commercial prospects of Jodie Foster's film. When I saw it at SXSW, I concluded that it "proves to be a solid drama with heart and soul."
Blitz (Millenium)
Jason Statham as a London detective chasing a cop killer (Aiden Gillen). With Paddy Considine. Our own Scott Weinberg was not enthusiastic, though he conceded: "When Blitz sticks to the basic idea of 'grizzled cop vs. hateful bastard,' the movie does mange to exhibit a pulse." If you're inclined to rent it, the Blu-ray looks very good,
Eden of the East: Paradise Lost (Funimation)
I loved the series -- the unexpected twists and turns of an apocalyptic thriller, played out with style and humor -- though I've heard mixed things about the two-film follow-up. This is intended as the conclusion of the story.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (Sony Pictures Classics)
Morgan Spurlock's latest bid for self-promotion, in which he evidently decries product placement by placing products all over his movie. "It's this combination of self-awareness, a peeling-back-the-curtain strategy on how media is financed, and an overall air of self-reflexivity ... that make [the documentary] so mesmerizing," wrote Peter Gutierrez in his review for ScreenAnarchy.
Little Big Soldier (Wellgo)
Jackie Chan plays a cowardly soldier who lassoes the opponent's general, played by Wang Leehom. The journey is engaging and features moments of serious action along with the more comedic episodes. Blu-ray includes bonus footage, "making of," and trailers.
Poetry (Kino International) *
Lee Chang-dong's drama received high marks from reviewers. Michael Guillen linked to other reviews, and then added his own brief comments: "Straight off, I was struck by how frequently cinematic narratives spring from the body of a dead girl; a thematic domain--if not a genre--unto itself."
Road to Nowhere (Monterey Video)
The great Monte Hellman's first narrative feature in more than 20 years received mixed reviews, including a very negative notice from ScreenAnarchy's Dustin Chang: "Dreadful ... Hellman's contemplation of filmmaking as realizing one's dream in the age of internet and HD photography, gets lost in its trite, tabloid worthy premise."
Rounders (Miramax / Lionsgate)
Matt Damon and Ed Norton as high-stakes card players. With Gretchen Mol, John Malkovich, John Turturro and Martin Landau. Directed by John Dahl. Two audio commentaries are included, one with professional poker players.
Secret Sunshine (Criterion)
Lee Chang-Dong's 2007 film stars Jeon Do-yeon as "a widowed piano teacher who moves with her young son from Seoul to her late husband's provincial hometown for a fresh start." Our own Michael Guillen conducted an interview with Lee in 2008: "When you see a film, especially a good film, you will experience that the characters are being delivered to you live and honest and real and that is what I look for in my films." ScreenAnarchy's Ard Vijn talked with Lee at length during IFFR; the director
admitted he is not easy to work with on set: "Usually actors who I have
worked with speak very badly about me, but they do it in a certain way
that they seem proud of it. They are even competing with each other
about how bad I was!" (Check "Related Links" below to read the interviews in their entirety.)
Swingers (Miramax / Lionsgate)
Vince Vaughn stole the picture from Jon Favreau under Doug Liman's direction. Audio commentary and numerous special features are included.
Trollhunter (Magnet)
Our own Swarez reported on the work in progress screening at Fantastic Fest last year: "The film is made up of found footage from a group of collage students who accidentally stumble upon a government conspiracy about trolls in modern Norway, when they are doing a school project about bear poaching. ... While the subject matter is rather silly it's played with a straight face and the cast and crew manage to create a wonderfully entertaining mockumentary featuring a crap load of trolls of all shapes and sizes, basing them on known variations of these creatures."
Win Win (20th Century Fox)
Paul Giamatti deals with family turmoil in a critically well-received comedy. Directed by Tom McCarthy.
The Women in Cages Collection (Shout Factory)
A triple feature from producer Roger Corman, all starring Pam Grier: The Big Bird Cage, Big Doll House, and Women in Cages. The first two, directed by Jack Hill, are superior examples of early 70s exploitation flicks: fun, fast, furiously entertaining. Also include is "From Manila With Love," a new doc on the making of the first two films in the set.