New to View: Oct. 23
By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Oct. 23, unless otherwise noted:
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again: Sing-Along Edition (Blu-ray + DVD + digital)
Details: 2018, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: PG-13, suggestive material
The lowdown: This sequel returns us the Greek island of Kalokari where we find a pregnant Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and the rest of the original cast, including Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard.
Also back is the ABBA music that was the foundation for the original movie.
This version flashes back to how young Donna, played by Lily James), first met the men in her life.
The cast also features Cher and Andy Garcia.
So, if you are an ABBA fan, the movie should be a songfest success.
The majority of critics thought so, giving the movie an 80 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English Dolby Atmos and 2.0 DVS and French and Spanish 7.1 Dolby digital plus; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include sing-alongs, deleted and extended songs and scenes; featurettes with the younger versions of characters chatting with their older counterparts about their experiences; a look at Sophie’s journey; a featurette on choreographing the movie; an anatomy of the “Dancing Queen” scene; a featurette on the younger cast members’ experiences and expectations in the recording studio; a look at the “Class of ’79,” about the Young Dads and Dynamos told against the backdrop of Oxford, Paris and Greek islands.
Get Shorty: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Details: 1995, Shout! Factory
Rated: R, violence, language, sexual content
The lowdown: An all-star cast led by John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, James Gandolfini, Dennis Farina and Delroy Lindo shine in this witty adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel.
Chili Palmer (Travolta) is a charming loan shark who is tired of the gangster life. When business sends him to Los Angeles to collect from down-and-out filmmaker Harry Zimm (Hackman), the movie-loving Palmer dives headfirst into the Hollywood pool.
Chili schmoozes a film star, played by DeVito, romances Russo’s B-movie actress and is even able to score reservations at the most exclusive restaurant in town.
Complications appear in the forms of Farina’s angry mobster and Lindo’s drug smuggling operation.
Chili perseveres and the cameras turn as the film fades out.
The release is part of the Shout Select series, and is an entertaining feature that is pleasurable no matter how many times you see it.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a behind-the-scenes look at the movie, a commentary track, a “Get Shorty” party reel, a wise guys + dolls featurette, a look at transposing the book to the screen, vignettes and a featurette on the graveyard scene.
Whitney (Blu-ray + digital)
Release date: Oct. 16
Details: 2018, Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Rated: R, language, drug content
The lowdown: A documentary that looks at the life and career of Whitney Houston, covering her rise to music superstardom, her decent into drugs and her tragic death.
Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald examines Houston’s complicated life from various angles and talks to family and friends.
The people closest to Houston try to be as honest as possible, while others are in denial about the singer’s problems.
Fans of the superstar will probably be saddened by some of the movie’s revelations, while others will use it as a chance to embrace a star who was extinguished too early in life.
The documentary touched critics, who gave the movie an 88 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track and a Houston photo gallery are the major bonus components.
Killing Eve
Release date: Oct. 9
Details: 2018, BBC Studios
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A two-disc set featuring the acclaimed BBC series starring Sandra Oh as Eve, a bored MI5 deskbound security officer.
Eve, though, fantasizes about the exciting life of a being spy.
Then there is Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a talented killer who clings to the benefits of the life her violent work affords her.
Things begin to change when the two women learn of the existence of each other and start obsessing about each other.
Thus begins an unusual game of cat-and-mouse that will keep viewers riveted to each episode of this thrilling series.
Technical aspects: 16:9 anamorphic widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a look at Villanelle’s first hit in Tuscany, a profile of the MI6 team, a look at the show’s locations, a featurette on creating Villanelle’s world, a featurette on creating the show, a featurette on Eve and Villanelle, an art of the kill featurette and a look at Eve’s obsession.
Shampoo: Special Edition (Blu-ray)
Release date: Oct. 16
Details: 1975, The Criterion Collection
Rated: R, sexual content, language
The lowdown: Warren Beatty stars as George, a popular Beverly Hills hairdresser who also satisfies some of his female customers in other ways, as well.
The movie is set the day of the 1968 presidential election, which has George running around town trying to figure out his various romantic entanglements — as well as his financial situation.
George is trying to raise money to open his own salon, but he is continually distracted by having to balance his lovers — portrayed by Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn and supporting actress Academy Award-winner Lee Grant.
The film, co-written by Robert Towne and Beatty, and directed by Hal Ashby, is a farce that looks at doomed relationships, sexual politics and self-absorption.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: A conversation between critics Frank Rich and Mark Harris, excerpts from a 1998 appearance by Beatty on “The South Bank Show” and an essay about the movie by Rich.
Creepshow: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Details: 1982, Scream Factory
Rated: R, violence, language
The lowdown: Stephen King and George A Romero combined their macabre imaginations for this anthology horror movie that offered frights and laughs.
The movie, in the vein and a homage to the 1950s classic horror comics, stars Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen, Fritz Weaver, E.G. Marshall, Ed Harris and Ted Danson, as well as King himself.
The stories involve a murdered man who rises from the grave for Father’s Day cake, the ooze from a meteor that devours everything it touches, a professor who chooses his wife as a meal for a creature in a crate, a scheming husband who gets revenge on his wife and her lover and a cranky millionaire with an insect phobia who becomes the prey of cockroaches.
An added pleasure is the makeup effects of the legendary Tom Savini.
“Creepshow” will give you goosebumps no matter how many times you view it.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include two commentary tracks, a roundtable discussion with crew and cast members, a featurette on creating the comic book look for the film, a look at the movie’s restoration, audio interviews with cast and crew members, behind-the-scenes footage of Savini at work, a look at the film’s original locations today, a look at some of the movie’s props and deleted scenes.
Blood and Black Lace (Blu-ray + DVD)
Details: 1964, VCI Entertainment-MVD Visual Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Mario Bava directed this classic Giallo feature about an unscrupulous business using a fashion house as a front for dealing cocaine and indulging in blackmail.
The business, which exotic models offering sexual favors, becomes a murder scene after a model is killed.
Her boyfriend, an addict who was supplying her drugs, is the main suspect.
The question is whether or not he is guilty or was he set up?
If you never seen the movie, you will have to check it out to learn the identity of the killer.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 LPCM; English and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 1.85:1 widescreen picture; Italian stereo; English and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include two commentary tracks on the Blu-ray, an interview with actress Mary Dawne Arden on the DVD, an archival interview with star Cameron Mitchell on the DVD, alternate U.S. theatrical main titles, an isolated music score and video comparisons between the U.S. and European versions of the movie.
Valley Girl: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Release date: Oct. 16
Details: 1983, Shout! Factory
Rated: R, language, sexual situations
The lowdown: Nicolas Cage had his first starring role in this romantic comedy about Julie (Deborah Foreman) a suburban California teenager, who falls for the other-side-of-the-freeway, rough Randy (Cage).
Beneath his rough exterior, Randy is a sweetheart, more concerned with Julie’s reputation than his own.
Julie also is taking grief from her gal friends who find Randy grody.
The movie, part of the Shout Select series, which features a great New Wave soundtrack, is a charmer.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include a look at the history of the San Fernando Valley, a conversation with director Martha Coolidge and actresses EG Daily and Heidi Holicker, extended cast and crew interviews from 2003, a commentary track, making of featurettes, cast and crew interviews and music videos.
Prehysteria! (Blu-ray + DVD)
Details: 1993, Full Moon Features
Rated: PG
The lowdown: This family-friendly feature is a relic of the VHS rental boom of the 1990s, in which production company Moonbeam Entertainment released several movies aimed at children and families.
“Prehysteria!” was the first of these offerings. The movie, directed by Charles and Albert Band, anticipated the success of “Jurassic Park,” telling the tale of 12-year-old Jerry Taylor (“The Last Picture Show’s” Austin O’Brien), an Elvis-loving kid, and his sister, Monica (Samantha Mills), whose raisin farmer dad, Frank (Brett Cullen), brings home a bundle of rare eggs unearthed in the rainforest by Rico Sarno, a sinister museum curator.
The eggs begin to hatch, unleashing a pack of little dinosaurs, much to the delight of Jerry and Monica.
But when Sarno finds out about the tiny reptiles, he will stop at nothing to get them. It’s up to the children to protect their new friends.
The movie features effective stop-motion effects that will enchant kids and parents alike.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 16×9 picture; English 5.1 surround; DVD: 16×9 picture; English 5.1 surround.
Don’t miss: Extras include a look at Moonbeam Entertainment and a commentary track.
Trick ‘R Treat: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray)
Release date: Oct. 9
Details: 2007, Scream Factory
Rated: R, graphic violence, language, nudity, sexual content
The lowdown: An anthology movie that offers four scary interwoven tales set on Halloween night.
The stories involve a high school principal who moonlights as a vicious serial killer; the quest for a young virgin that takes a gruesome turn; a group of teens who carry out a cruel prank that comes with disastrous consequences; and a cantankerous old man who battles a trick-or-treating demon.
Among the cast members are Brian Cox, Dylan Baker and Anna Paquin.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus materials include interviews with writer-director Michael Dougherty, conceptual artist Breehn Burns, storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins and composer Douglas Pipes; a commentary track; additional scenes; an animated short by Dougherty; a school bus FX comparison; and a “How Did Many of Our Scary Season Traditions Start?” featurette.
Television’s Lost Classics: Volume Two: Four Rare Pilots
Release date: Oct. 9
Details: 1948-59, VCI Entertainment-MVD Visual Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A Blu-ray that will intrigue collectors of early TV shows — four lost pilots that have not been viewed in years.
These black-and-white treasures include such performers as Lon Chaney Jr., William Shatner, Milburn Stone, Reed Hadley, Louise Currie and Alison Hayes.
The pilots are for “The Life of Riley” (1948), starring Chaney, Rosemary DeCamp and John Brown. After the pilot, the role of Chester Riley went to Jack Gleason and then William Bendix.
“The Case of the Sure Thing” (1951) introduced the TV series “Racket Squad” that starred Hadley and featured Currie and Stone.
A side note of trivia: Hadley and Currie appeared together in the classic 1941 Republic serial, “Adventures of Captain Marvel.”
“Cool and Lam” (1958) was based on characters created by Perry Mason’s Erle Stanley Gardner. It starred Billy Pearson, Benita Ventua and Hayes, and centered on a detective agency run by Bertha Cool and her junior partner, Donald Lamb.
Finally, “Nero Wolfe” (1959) starred Kurt Kazner as Rex Stout’s portly detective with Shatner as his right-hand man.
Technical aspects: 4×3 full-screen picture; Dolby digital monaural.
Don’t miss: The major extra is a blooper reel from “Gunsmoke” hosted by James Arness.
Trauma (Blu-ray)
Details: 2017, Artsploitation
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: This Chilean horror movie centers on a group of women who visit what is supposed to be an idyllic countryside for a fun weekend.
But their dream trip turns into a nightmare when they are attacked by a deranged man and his son.
The movie serves as an allegory for the violence women must face and defend against when ordinary men attack them.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English subtitles and closed-captioned.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
Blessed Are the Children (DVD + VOD) (Wild Eye Releasing)
An Elephant’s Journey (DVD + digital + VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
Deadbeat at Dawn (Arrow Video)
Distant Voices, Still Lives (Arrow Academy)
Elena Ferrante on Film: The Days of Abandonment & Troubling Love (Blu-ray) (Film Movement)
God Knows Where I Am (Juno Films)
Snake Outta Compton (DVD + digital + VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
The Unnamable (Unearthed Films)
Yes — Yessongs: 40th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) (MVD Visual Entertainment, Oct. 26)
Melanie: Live at the Meltdown Festival 2007 (MVD Visual Entertainment, Sept. 21)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD
Adam Sandler’s 100% Fresh (Netflix)
BlacKkKlansman (Universal Studios Home Entertainment)
Five Fingers for Marseilles (Uncork’d Entertainment)
The Incredibles 2 (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)
Wobble Place (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Air Strike (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Oct. 26)
A Place to Call Home: Season 6, the Final Season, Episode 10 (Acorn TV, Oct. 29)
Cloudstreet (Acorn TV, Oct. 29)
Wire in the Blood: Series 5 (Acorn TV, Oct. 29)
I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.