New to View: May 8
By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, May 8, unless otherwise noted:
Fifty Shades Freed: Unrated Edition (Blu-ray + DVD + digital)
Details: 2018, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Rated: Unrated, R, strong sexual content, nudity, language
The lowdown: The world’s most tiresome lovers, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), return for their third outing in — hopefully — the final film of this way-to-serious and steamy movie franchise.
Christian and Ana, believing all their troubles are behind them, finally tie the knot. But will their happiness last, or will more shadows from their pasts reveal themselves?
Ah, who knows? And do you really care?
OK, some people have embraced the books and the movies, so I will not judge, since this set offers viewers both the theatrical and unrated versions of the movie. The unrated feature adds five more minutes in which you can luxuriate in the lives of the rich and sexy.
The real spoilsports are the critics, who gave the movie a cold 13 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English DTS X, French 5.1 DTS digital surround, Spanish 7.1 DTS high resolution audio and English 2.0 DVS; 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 materials include music videos a conversation with E.L. James and Eric Johnson, a deleted scene, a behind-the-scenes featurette and Dornan and Johnson discussing their characters.
Peter Rabbit (DVD + digital)
Release date: May 1
Details: 2018, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rated: PG, action, rude humor
The lowdown: This updated adaptation of the beloved character centers on Peter and his friends, Flopsy, Mopsy and Cotton-Tail, and Peter’s escalating feud with Mr. McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson).
The two are vying for the affections of animal lover Bea (Rose Byrne).
James Corden voices Peter, while Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki and Daisy Ridley voice the triplets.
The movie aimed to please families, and a majority of critics opined that it had, giving it a 62 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English and French 5.1 Dolby digital audio description track; English SDH, English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Extras include a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie and a Cotton-Tail dance along.
La Belle Noiseuse (Blu-ray)
Details: 1991, Cohen Film Collection
Rating: Not rated
The lowdown: This French film, directed by Jacques Rivette, was the Grand Prix winner at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is Rivette’s exploration of the convergence between artistry and eroticism that deals with a painter who lives in the French countryside with his wife.
Their lives are tipped over by the arrival of a younger painter and his girlfriend, who soon becomes the muse that awakens the passion and drive in the older artist.
The movie, which runs nearly four hours, is a multi-layered examination of character and the creative process, that is riveting and sensual.
The consensus of the critics who posted reviews are Rottentomatoes was unanimous, all 28 gave the movie fresh ratings.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; French dual monaural; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: A commentary track and interviews with Rivette and screenwriters Pascal Bonitzer and Christine Laurent are the major bonus components.
The House That Dripped Blood (Blu-ray)
Details: 1971, Scream Factory
Rated: PG
The lowdown: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Ingrid Pitt star in this horror outing written by Robert Bloch of “Psycho” fame.
The story centers on a Scotland Yard inspector’s search for a missing movie star that leads him to a haunted house, which sets the framework for four tales of terror.
The cast also includes Denholm Elliott, Joss Ackland, Jon Pertwee and Nyree Dawn Porter.
The movie is in the same vein as “Tales From the Crypt” and “Vault of Horror” as it brings stars together in an anthology film comprised of short stories.
Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include commentary tracks with author Troy Howarth and director Peter Duffell and author Jonathan Rigby an interview with second assistant director Mike Higgins and a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette.
Batman Ninja (Blu-ray + DVD + digital)
Details: 2018, Warner Home Video
Rated: PG-13, violence, action, suggestive material
The lowdown: This latest installment in the DC Universe was conceived by Japanese artists who work in anime.
In the story, Batman travels from Gotham City to a land ruled by sword-wielding samurai and ninja assassins after Gorilla Grodd’s time-displacement machine malfunctions.
So, the Dark Knight and a bevy of villains are transported to medieval Japan, where a depraved Lord Joker is seeking total domination of the feudal states and the elimination of Batman.
Batman must use his wits and his gadgets to keep the Joker and his allies from rewriting history.
The animated feature is another interesting entry in the Batman series, which have created some imaginative tales recently.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 1.78:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include the original Japanese audio track, two features that take you behind-the-scenes at the making of the movie and a look at the New York Comic Con presentation of “Batman Ninja.”
Manifesto
Details: 2015, FilmRise
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Two-time Academy Award-winner Cate Blanchett displays her wide-ranging talents performing in 13 vignettes that incorporate manifestos from 20th-century art movements.
Blanchett plays everything from an anchorwoman to a homeless man, displaying her versatility and artistry as she performs many impassioned artistic statements that stand as a call to arms for creative people.
The movie, though limited in release, received a 78 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
Technical aspects: Widescreen picture; English Dolby digital stereo.
Paradox (Blu-ray + DVD)
Details: 2017, Well Go USA Entertainment
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: A Hong Kong police officer travels to Thailand after his daughter goes missing.
There, he teams with a local officer to find her, but, instead he becomes embroiled in a case involving violence and corruption.
Wilson Yip (the Ip Man trilogy) directed this feature that stars Louis Koo and Tony Jaa.
Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Cantonese and English DTS-HD Master Audio; English and Chinese subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 (16×9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Cantonese and English Dolby digital; English and Chinese subtitles.
Don’t miss: A making of featurette is the major extra.
Condemned (DVD-R)
Release date: April 24
Details: 1929, Warner Archive Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Ronald Coleman had one of the most distinctive voices in the movies.
When he spoke, you always knew it was Coleman. He delivered memorable dialogue in such classics as “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Lost Horizon” and “The Prisoner of Zenda.”
Try to imagine, though, the impact his voice had in the early days of sound, when talking movies were still catching on.
“Condemned” was his second sound appearance. In it, Coleman plays a suave thief sentenced to Devil’s Island for bank robbery.
His sophistication catches the attention of the warden, who makes Coleman’s Michel his houseboy.
But the warden’s wife, played by Ann Harding, makes trouble for the convict, who only wants to serve out his sentence in a comfortable manner.
The release is a made-on-demand DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online retailers.
Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4×3) full-screen picture; English Dolby digital monaural.
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in: The Complete Fourth Season
Details: 1970-71, Time Life
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: In its fourth season, this comedy sketch show continued its irreverent and biting social satire, taking aim at politics and the then-cultural revolution.
This seven-disc set features all 26 episodes that spotlight such cast members as Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson, Gary Owens and, of course, Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
Guest stars range from Zero Mostel to William F. Buckley. In between the shows receive visits from Orson Welles, Rod Serling, Don Rickles, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner, Bing Crosby, Rich Little, Sammy Davis Jr., Wilt Chamberlain, Truman Capote, Art Carney and Johnny Carson, among others.
Some of the humor appears dated by today’s standards, but it was cutting edge back in the day.
Technical aspects: 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles.
Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include interviews with Tomlin and Johnson.
The Devil to Pay (DVD-R)
Release date: April 24
Details: 1930, Warner Archive Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: Ronald Coleman and Loretta Young star in this romance about a lovable rogue (Coleman) who has lost his fortune and returns home to England to his disapproving father.
With his last few pounds, he buys a dog and rekindles a romance with a saucy actress, Mary Crayle, played by Myrna Loy.
Coleman’s Willie soon meets Dorothy Hope (Young), an attractive heiress, who is engaged to a Russian nobleman.
But Dorothy is taken by Willie’s freewheeling life and ditches the nobleman. She is willing to give up her fortune and live in poverty if Willie vows never to see Mary again.
What will Willie decide? Who will he choose? The answer is obvious, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this charming feature.
The movie is a made-on-demand DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection and can be purchased at www.wb.com/warnarchive or other online dealers.
Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4×3) full-screen picture; English Dolby digital monaural.
Static Shock: The Complete Fourth Season
Release date: April 24
Details: 2004, Warner Archive Collection
Rated: Not rated
The lowdown: All 13 episodes of this series’ fourth and final season are featured in this DVD set that follows the animated adventures of Static and his friends.
Episodes find Static bouncing from present-era Bruce Wayne/Batman to the future of “Batman Beyond” where Static gets a look at his future self.
He interacts with several allies and villains, including Gear, She-Bang, Anansi, Green Lantern and Kobra.
The set also includes the “Justice League Unlimited” two-part episode, “Once and Future Thing.”
The release is a made-on-demand DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online sellers.
Technical aspects: 1.33:1 (4×3) full-screen picture; English Dolby digital stereo.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
Blood and Glory (Cleopatra Entertainment-MVD Visual Entertainment)
House of Evil (DVD + VOD) (Breaking Glass Pictures)
Saving Private Ryan: 20th Anniversary Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) (Paramount Home Entertainment)
Vazante (Blu-ray + DVD + VOD) (Music Box Films)
FOR KIDS
Bubble Guppies: Bubble Puppy’s Awesome Adventure (Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD
Black Panther (Marvel Studios-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)
Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives (Netflix)
After Henry: Series 4 (Acorn TV, May 14)
The Far Pavilions (Acorn TV, May 14)
Sisters of War (Acorn TV, May 14)
Coming next week: Black Panther
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.