Marvels Captain America: Civil War comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week.
Captain America: Civil War (Marvel/Disney, 2016, PG-13, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers). Following on the heels of the mediocre Batman v Superman, the folks at Marvel once again show DC how its done.
This superhero yarn pulls together several of the Avengers to debate the issue of whether they should be regulated by the United Nations, then pits them against each other. Captain America (Chris Evans) says no, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) says yes, and choosing up sides are Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Vision (Paul Bettany), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), with new additions Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).
The various stories are balanced well, infused with the sense of humor that marks these movies particularly the hilarious quips offered up by Ant-Man and Spider-Man. And even though this is more like an Avengers sequel, the Captain America films continue to be my favorites in what is fast becoming a well-worn, overstuffed genre.
In-Lawfully Yours (Cinedigm, 2016, not rated/PG, deleted scenes, featurettes). After a New York woman (Chelsey Crisp) is divorced from her cheating husband (Philip Boyd), she travels to his small hometown to help her recently widowed mother-in-law (Marilu Henner). There, she is attracted to a pastor (Joe Williamson), who is related to her ex by marriage. It's a cute faith-film romantic comedy. Corbin Bernsen co-stars.
The Conjuring 2 (Warner, 2016, R for violence, deleted scenes, featurettes). In 1977, real-life American paranormal investigators/authors Lorraine and Ed Warren (played here by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) are asked to look into poltergeist activity at a North London residence. This is the second in a planned series of spooky films based on the Warrens cases (their most famous was the basis for The Amityville Horror).
Wonders of the Arctic (Shout!, 2014, not rated/probable G, trailers).
The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea (Shout!, 2012, not rated/probable G, featurettes, photo gallery, trailers). These two 40-minute documentaries were originally shown in 3-D on IMAX screens and, as weve come to expect, both are gorgeously photographed explorations of their respective subjects, the largely uninhabited Arctic and life amid the underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, French Polynesia, Mexico and the Bahamas.
All Things Must Pass (MVD, 2016, not rated/probable PG-13). This entertaining documentary from actor Colin Hanks is about the rise and eventual fall of Tower Records, the Sacramento-based store that became the go-to place for purchasing music, and also about the evolving of the music industry, for good or ill. Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and David Geffen are among those interviewed.
Back in Time (MVD, 2015, not rated/probable PG-13). Steven Spielberg, Michael J. Fox, Robert Zemeckis, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and many others participate in this documentary about Back to the Future, from the making of the film to the resonance it has had with multiple generations of moviegoers, as well as the restoration of the films DeLorean (which was also the subject of another documentary, Outatime: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine).
See the Keepers: Inside the Zoo (Virgil, 2016, not rated/probable PG). This documentary goes backstage at the Memphis Zoo to examine the grounds in ways the public never sees, with emphasis on the love the zookeepers have for the animals.
Night of the Living Deb (MPI, 2016; not rated/probable R for violence, sex, language; audio commentary, featurette, trailer, bloopers). Goofy, clumsy but endlessly cheerful Deb (Maria Thayer) seduces reluctant Ryan (Michael Cassidy), then discovers zombies have taken over her Portland, Maine, town. This spoof of zombie tropes takes its cues from Shaun of the Dead but has its own cheerfully silly vibe. Its also very gory.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Universal, 2016; R for nudity, language, sex, drugs; deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, music video, bloopers). Andy Samberg co-wrote and stars in this raunchy parody of music documentaries as singer Kid Conner, who goes through the ups and downs of celebrity life. Co-stars include Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Bill Hader, Imogen Poots, Joan Cusack, Maya Rudolph, Justin Timberlake and many star cameos.
Presenting Princess Shaw (Magnolia, 2016, not rated/probable R for language, deleted scenes, featurette, trailer). The blending of fiction and documentary footage builds a story around Samantha Montgomery, a New Orleans singer who has gained attention on YouTube.
King Jack (Well Go, 2016; not rated/probable R for violence, language, sex, drugs). Rough coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old boy stuck in a crumbling small town where hes trapped in an escalating conflict with an older bully, along with suffering through other various indignities of adolescence.
Marauders (Lionsgate, 2016; R for violence, language, drugs, nudity; deleted/extended scenes, audio commentary, featurettes). An extremely convoluted series of subplots sinks this otherwise mildly interesting thriller about a high-rolling banker (Bruce Willis) with a secret, which is tied to why his banks are being robbed by an aggressive gang with an agenda. Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista and Adrian Grenier are the FBI agents trying to figure it all out. They are as flummoxed as the audience.
Standing Tall (Cohen, 2015, R for language and sex, in French with English subtitles, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, trailer). A troubled, violent young teen (Rod Paradot), whose mother has abandoned him, is in and out of juvenile court, but a judge (Catherine Deneuve) and a caseworker (Benoit Magimel) try to help him get back on track for an education.
Marguerite (Cohen, 2016; R for nudity, sex, drugs; deleted scenes, featurette, trailer). Set in 1920s Paris and only loosely based on Florence Foster Jenkins (played by Meryl Streep in the current film of that title), this comedy-drama has Marguerite Dumont (Catherine Frot) as the delusional, wealthy patron of the arts who surrounds herself with sycophants while singing off-key in recitals and yearning for a larger forum.
Captain America: Civil War (Marvel/Disney, 2016, PG-13, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers). Following on the heels of the mediocre Batman v Superman, the folks at Marvel once again show DC how its done.
This superhero yarn pulls together several of the Avengers to debate the issue of whether they should be regulated by the United Nations, then pits them against each other. Captain America (Chris Evans) says no, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) says yes, and choosing up sides are Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Vision (Paul Bettany), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), with new additions Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Spider-Man (Tom Holland).
The various stories are balanced well, infused with the sense of humor that marks these movies particularly the hilarious quips offered up by Ant-Man and Spider-Man. And even though this is more like an Avengers sequel, the Captain America films continue to be my favorites in what is fast becoming a well-worn, overstuffed genre.
In-Lawfully Yours (Cinedigm, 2016, not rated/PG, deleted scenes, featurettes). After a New York woman (Chelsey Crisp) is divorced from her cheating husband (Philip Boyd), she travels to his small hometown to help her recently widowed mother-in-law (Marilu Henner). There, she is attracted to a pastor (Joe Williamson), who is related to her ex by marriage. It's a cute faith-film romantic comedy. Corbin Bernsen co-stars.
The Conjuring 2 (Warner, 2016, R for violence, deleted scenes, featurettes). In 1977, real-life American paranormal investigators/authors Lorraine and Ed Warren (played here by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) are asked to look into poltergeist activity at a North London residence. This is the second in a planned series of spooky films based on the Warrens cases (their most famous was the basis for The Amityville Horror).
Wonders of the Arctic (Shout!, 2014, not rated/probable G, trailers).
The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea (Shout!, 2012, not rated/probable G, featurettes, photo gallery, trailers). These two 40-minute documentaries were originally shown in 3-D on IMAX screens and, as weve come to expect, both are gorgeously photographed explorations of their respective subjects, the largely uninhabited Arctic and life amid the underwater reefs of Vancouver Island, French Polynesia, Mexico and the Bahamas.
All Things Must Pass (MVD, 2016, not rated/probable PG-13). This entertaining documentary from actor Colin Hanks is about the rise and eventual fall of Tower Records, the Sacramento-based store that became the go-to place for purchasing music, and also about the evolving of the music industry, for good or ill. Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and David Geffen are among those interviewed.
Back in Time (MVD, 2015, not rated/probable PG-13). Steven Spielberg, Michael J. Fox, Robert Zemeckis, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and many others participate in this documentary about Back to the Future, from the making of the film to the resonance it has had with multiple generations of moviegoers, as well as the restoration of the films DeLorean (which was also the subject of another documentary, Outatime: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine).
See the Keepers: Inside the Zoo (Virgil, 2016, not rated/probable PG). This documentary goes backstage at the Memphis Zoo to examine the grounds in ways the public never sees, with emphasis on the love the zookeepers have for the animals.
Night of the Living Deb (MPI, 2016; not rated/probable R for violence, sex, language; audio commentary, featurette, trailer, bloopers). Goofy, clumsy but endlessly cheerful Deb (Maria Thayer) seduces reluctant Ryan (Michael Cassidy), then discovers zombies have taken over her Portland, Maine, town. This spoof of zombie tropes takes its cues from Shaun of the Dead but has its own cheerfully silly vibe. Its also very gory.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Universal, 2016; R for nudity, language, sex, drugs; deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, music video, bloopers). Andy Samberg co-wrote and stars in this raunchy parody of music documentaries as singer Kid Conner, who goes through the ups and downs of celebrity life. Co-stars include Sarah Silverman, Tim Meadows, Bill Hader, Imogen Poots, Joan Cusack, Maya Rudolph, Justin Timberlake and many star cameos.
Presenting Princess Shaw (Magnolia, 2016, not rated/probable R for language, deleted scenes, featurette, trailer). The blending of fiction and documentary footage builds a story around Samantha Montgomery, a New Orleans singer who has gained attention on YouTube.
King Jack (Well Go, 2016; not rated/probable R for violence, language, sex, drugs). Rough coming-of-age story about a 15-year-old boy stuck in a crumbling small town where hes trapped in an escalating conflict with an older bully, along with suffering through other various indignities of adolescence.
Marauders (Lionsgate, 2016; R for violence, language, drugs, nudity; deleted/extended scenes, audio commentary, featurettes). An extremely convoluted series of subplots sinks this otherwise mildly interesting thriller about a high-rolling banker (Bruce Willis) with a secret, which is tied to why his banks are being robbed by an aggressive gang with an agenda. Christopher Meloni, Dave Bautista and Adrian Grenier are the FBI agents trying to figure it all out. They are as flummoxed as the audience.
Standing Tall (Cohen, 2015, R for language and sex, in French with English subtitles, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, trailer). A troubled, violent young teen (Rod Paradot), whose mother has abandoned him, is in and out of juvenile court, but a judge (Catherine Deneuve) and a caseworker (Benoit Magimel) try to help him get back on track for an education.
Marguerite (Cohen, 2016; R for nudity, sex, drugs; deleted scenes, featurette, trailer). Set in 1920s Paris and only loosely based on Florence Foster Jenkins (played by Meryl Streep in the current film of that title), this comedy-drama has Marguerite Dumont (Catherine Frot) as the delusional, wealthy patron of the arts who surrounds herself with sycophants while singing off-key in recitals and yearning for a larger forum.
