Author Archives: Tyler Schirado

D23 Expo 2015 Cosplay Photo Gallery

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D23 Expo 2015 has come and gone. Some major announcements from Lucasfilm, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios were made and the attendance was fairly high for being only the fourth D23 Expo put on by the House of Mouse. Although there was a lot of traffic and more to see and do this year, I was overwhelmed with how few cosplayers there were. But I didn’t let that discourage me. I sought out the best and most creative for you fine folk to share with you today.

A lot has changed at the Walt Disney Company since the last D23 Expo in 2013. The Lucasfilm acquisition was less than a year old, Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe had just kicked off with Iron Man 3, and Avengers: Age of Ultron was just announced at San Diego Comic-Con. Since then we’ve had a new live action Cinderella movie; only one new Pixar film (Inside Out); Frozen became a worldwide phenomenon; a talking raccoon and a sentient tree stole the hearts of millions; and a new Star Wars trilogy was announced along with various one-off films in-between the trilogy entries. With all this in mind, I expected a lot of fun, creative cosplayers to be out and about. Here are some of my reflections:

  • The lighting was super poor all throughout the showroom floor
  • It was super hot and I give huge props to cosplayers who wore makeup and didn’t melt
  • Inside Out was definitely the most popular of the weekend
  • The Little Mermaid seems to be every cosplayers go-to Disney Princess
  • With Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora tied for second
  • Belle, Rapnuzel, and Jasmine close in tied for third
  • Ursula is the clear Disney Princess Villain cosplayers love the most
  • Where were all the mashups? Now that we have all these big properties together, I expected more!
  • There was some love for Big Hero 6, but little love for Wreck-It Ralph
  • That Sergeant Calhoun cosplay tho
  • I had no idea Princess Parties were a real thing until this weekend
  • I was surprised by the lack of Marvel/Star Wars cosplayers; I guess they all got their fill at Comic-Con
  • And I’m happy to see Zootopia already has one fan already

[Note 1: If you see yourself and would like a hi-res version of the photo, please e-mail me at tyler@turntherightcorner.com]

[Note 2: If you do take an image from this site, please provide photo credit via my Instagram or Twitter @TyRawrrnosaurus; TTRC’s Facebook page; or this website, TurnTheRightCorner.com. Thanks!]

Check out the D23 Expo 2015 cosplay photo gallery below:

(Click on any image below to enlarge)

Cosplay Credits (if I didn’t list you and you want credit for your cosplay let me know!):

Check out previous cosplay galleries from:

D23 Expo News Stories

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Inside Out, The Walking Dead, Dope, and More

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While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of August 15, 2015 we have Mad Men: The Complete Collection, Justified: The Complete Collection, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.

Inside Out Pixar Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD November 3

Inside Out (Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen) Rated PG [94 min] – After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house and school.Starring Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan, Lewis Black, and Phyllis Smith [Watch the trailer]

Special features include:

  • Riley’s First Date? (In-Home Exclusive Animated Short Film) – Riley, now 12, is hanging out at home with her parents in San Francisco when potential trouble comes knocking: a boy shows up at the door. Can Mom and Dad’s emotions handle “Riley’s First Date?”
  • Lava (Theatrical Short Film, Presented in 2D & 3D) – Inspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, LAVA is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.
  • Story of the Story – Director Pete Docter talks about the evolution of Inside Out, from the ideas and memories that inspired the story through the hurdles, explorations and experiences that helped shape it into the film it is today.
  • Paths to Pixar: The Women of Inside Out – Inside Out filmmakers, from voice actors to animators to production crew, talk about their paths, their goals, the challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
  • Mixed Emotions – Inside Out’s filmmakers talk about how they decided which emotions to focus on in the story and how they went about creating each one’s distinct personality and visual identity.
  • Mapping the Mind – Inside Out’s artists take you through the years-long process of designing and creating a world everyone knows, but no one has ever seen – the human mind.
  • Our Dads, the Filmmakers – Elie Docter (daughter of director, Pete Docter) and Grace Giacchino (daughter of composer, Michael Giacchino) bring you behind the scenes for an inside look at the making of the film.
  • Into the Unknown: The Sound of Inside Out – What is the sound of a memory forming? Sound designer Ren Klyce describes the challenges – and the unique solutions – involved in creating the aural world of Inside Out.
  • The Misunderstood Art of Animation Film Editing – Learn more about the crucial role of an animation film editor, who helps take the story from its earliest, most exploratory versions, to the final, polished film you see onscreen.
  • Deleted Scenes:
    • Riley Grows Up – In this scene from a version of the film where the primary relationship was between Joy and Fear (then named Freddie), the emotions begin to notice a change in Riley.
    • Joy’s Decline – Joy’s struggles to make sense of the limitations on Riley’s behavior that seem to be springing up at every turn.
    • Misdirection -Joy and Freddie encounter a group of Riley’s “retired” imaginary friends, including an early version of Big Bong.
    • Construction – Joy is guided through Riley’s mind by a radical non-conformist, Bing Bong, outraged by the demolition of older areas like Imagination Park.
  • Audio Commentary – Commentary includes participation from directors Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen, and producer Jonas Rivera.
  • Mind Candy – A montage of toolkit and interstitials produced for Inside Out.
  • Inside Out Trailers – A collection of domestic and international trailers made for Inside Out.

The Walking Dead Season 5Limited Edition Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Limited Edition Blu-ray w/ Digital HD December 1

The Walking Dead (Scott M. Gimple) Police officer Rick Grimes leads a group of survivors in a world overrun by zombies. Starring Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yuen, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Emily Kinney, and Danai Gurira

Special features include:

  • Audio commentaries featuring Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer Scott M. Gimple, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer Tom Luse, Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor /Director Greg Nicotero, Director Julius Ramsay; Actors Lauren Cohan, Chad L. Coleman, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Danai Gurira, Alana Masterson, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Norman Reedus, Christian Serratos and Steven Yuen.
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Inside The Walking Dead
  • The Making of The Walking Dead
  • The Making of Alexandria
  • Beth’s Journey
  • Bob’s Journey
  • Noah’s Journey
  • Tyreese’s Journey
  • A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz
  • A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt
  • Rotters in the Flesh

Doep 2015 Movie Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 13

Dope (Rick Famuyiwa) Rated R [103 min] – Life changes for Malcolm, a geek who’s surviving life in a tough neighborhood, after a chance invitation to an underground party leads him and his friends into a Los Angeles adventure. Starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, and Kimberly Elise

Special features include:

  • Dope Is Different – The cast and crew discuss the film’s central characters and themes of being unique and authentic.
  • Dope Music – Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Rick Fumuyiwa and others delve into the essential role old-school rap and punk rock tracks play in the film.

 

Insidious Chapter 3 Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 6

Insidious: Chapter 3 (Leigh Whannell) Rated PG-13 [97 min] – A prequel set before the haunting of the Lambert family that reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity. Starring Lin Shaye Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson, and Leigh Whannell

Special features include:

  • Origin Story: Making Chapter 3 Featurette
  • Deleted Scenes (Blu-ray exclusive)
  • Being Haunted: A Psychic Medium Speaks Featurette (Blu-ray exclusive)
  • Macabre Creations Featurette (Blu-ray exclusive)
  • Stunts: The Car Crash Featurette (Blu-ray exclusive)
  • Cherry Glazerr: Tiptoe Through the Tulips Featurette (Blu-ray exclusive)

Max 2015 Movie Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 27

Max (Boaz Yakin) Rated PG [111 min] – A dog that helped US Marines in Afghanistan returns to the U.S. and is adopted by his handler’s family after suffering a traumatic experience. Starring Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank, and Lauren Graham

Special features include:

  • Working with Max: Meet the dogs that play “Max” and see inside tricks of the trade!
  • Hero Dogs: A Journey – Get a behind-the-scenes look at amazing military trained K9s.

Cop Car 2015 Movie Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray and Digital HD September 29

Cop Car (Jon Watts) Rated R [86 min] – A small town sheriff sets out to find the two kids who have taken his car on a joy ride. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, and Shea Whigham

Special features include:

  • Their First and Last Ride: The Making of Cop Car

Edward Scissorhands 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray October 13

Edward Scissorhands: 25th Anniversary Edition (1990)PG-13  |  105 min  |  Drama, Fantasy, Romance  |  14 December 1990 (USA)8.0Your rating:-/10Ratings: 8.0/10 from 325,686 users   Metascore: 74/100Reviews: 569 user | 103 critic | 19 from Metacritic.comAn uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful girl.Director: Tim BurtonWriters: Tim Burton (story), Caroline Thompson (story), 1 more credit »Stars: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest

Special features include:

  • Tim Burton Featurette
  • Audio Commentary by Tim Burton
  • Audio Commentary by Danny Elfman

And that’s it for this week. What are you looking forward to picking up when they release?

Stay tuned for more Blu-Ray and DVD announcements every Saturday.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD

Click here for more home video announcements

Olivia Munn Gets Psylocke Ready for ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’

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When not deep throating hot dogs, Olivia Munn likes to share her other skills on Instagram. One of the most active cast members behind the scenes of the X-Men: Apocalypse production, aside from director Bryan Singer, Munn can be see training hard to ensure the mutant Psylocke is not to be taken lightly. The results are pretty badass, like this video showcasing her swordplay talents:

https://instagram.com/p/4fPS83MmZ-/

Her fiancé, Green Bay Packers’ quarterback, Aaron Rogers isn’t quite as skilled, but I’m sure he has mastered a different kind of sword to handle the actress if need and when need be. However, if Rogers ever falls out of line, Munn demonstrates that she’s more than capable if she is disarmed as well.

I’ve never seen The Newsroom, but I can say that Olivia Munn’s roles in film have never really impressed me. Regardless, seeing her behind the scenes shows how committed to this role she is and deserves a lot of kudos. It takes a lot of discipline and training to be able to perform the stunts she is required, and it’s awesome that she’s learning to do it herself rather than opt-in for a stunt double.

And for hardcore fans worried whether or not Psylocke will have her psi-blade, there should be nothing to fear. In a recent Instagram post by her sister, Sara Potts, Munn was recorded doing some wire stunts with a stand in psi-blade.

Directed by Bryan Singer, X-Men: Apocalypse stars Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkhölme aka Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy aka Beast, Evan Peters as Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver, Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse, Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers aka Cyclops, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Alexandra Shipp as Ororo Munro aka Storm, Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler, Ben Hardy as Warren Worthington III aka Angel, and Lana Condor as Jubilation Lee aka Jubilee. The film is set to release on May 27, 2016.

D23 Expo 2015: Disney Animation Announces ‘Gigantic’ for 2018

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To introduce the second feature at D23 Expo during Disney Animation panel, Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter was brought back on stage to announce the development of a new feature-length film, Gigantic. The story is based on the classic tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. “When Disney does a fairy tale, it becomes the definitive version of that story,” said John Lasseter. The studio aims to be the end all be all for this tale.

Production is already underway, with Nathan Greno (Tangled) directing and Dorothy McKim (Get a Horse!) producing. The crack team behind the music of Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, will be teaming up with Disney once again to write the music for Gigantic. All four were present on stage during the big presentation.

Set in Spain, Gigantic is not aiming to be or will be your traditional Jack and the Beanstalk fare. I can only assume that it wants to distance itself as far away from 2013’s Jack the Giant Killer as possible. It’s the Age of Discovery and upon finding the magic beans, Jack soon uncovers a whole new world of giants. Yes, this sounds very similar to the fairytale we know, but when Jack meets Inma, a “feisty” young giant girl, that’s when the new tale truly begins.

D23 Expo Gigantic Presentation Dorothy McKim

Inma was named after a little girl the filmmakers met in Spain while doing research for Gigantic. In the animated feature, Inma at first believes Jack is a toy. Being at the mercy of her size, Jack is helpless to stop her, but soon the two develop a bond that brings adventure into their lives. Of course it wouldn’t be a Disney movie if they didn’t learn something life changing about themselves as well.

Greno went on to tease the existence of Storm Giants, the big bads in the giant world who cause havoc for all and a force Inma and Jack try to stop. The director describes Gigantic as a “tearjerker,” saying “If we do our jobs right, we hope this will become the definitive version,” he stated. Does Inma fall out of the clouds? They’re really adamant on making audiences forget about Jack killing giants and returning with golden eggs.

A theory I have is that Jack and Inma try to stop the Storm Giants and in the process of doing so Inma falls out of the sky and when Jack arrives back on the ground he is declared a hero. Thus, the fairytale we know is told from the perspective of those who do not know the true story of Jack and Inma. If that’s the case, I’d be really on board for this kind of tragic tale told as an animated story.

D23 Expo Gigantic Presentation Nathan Greno

A pre-visualized clip of Gigantic was shown at the end of the presentation that depicted the beanstalk sprouting up into the sky. Jack was shown climbing, eventually reaching the land of giants, with what appears to be Inma chasing after him. Skipping ahead, the two are shown enjoying each other’s company.

To cap off the presentation, a clip of the latest song from Anderson-Lopez and Lopez was played with the duo singing it for the D23 Expo crowd. The lyrics go as following:

I love my little man, I love my little man, you can make him do this, you can make him do this.

You can wash him in a dish, be care he gets ticklish, my teeny little man.

In a life that’s kind of lonely, I thought if only, I had a little man.

D23 Expo First Look Gigantic Walt Disney Animation Studios

Here’s the official production notes on Gigantic courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios:

“GIGANTIC” TAKES ROOT – Things are looking up at Walt Disney Animation Studios – way up. “Gigantic,” Disney’s unique take on “Jack and the Beanstalk,” will feature music from Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who greeted D23 EXPO fans in signature style—in song—alongside director Nathan Greno (“Tangled”) and producer Dorothy McKim (“Get A Horse!”). Set in Spain during the Age of Exploration, Disney’s “Gigantic” follows adventure-seeker Jack as he discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds. He hatches a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl, and agrees to help her find her way home. But he doesn’t account for her super-sized personality—and who knew giants were so down to earth?

And here’s the official plot plot synopsis:

DOWN TO EARTH — Adventure-seeker Jack discovers a world of giants hidden within the clouds, hatching a grand plan with Inma, a 60-foot-tall, 11-year-old girl. Directed by Nathan Greno (“Tangled”) and produced by Dorothy McKim (“Get A Horse!”).

Gigantic hits theaters on March 9, 2018.

D23 Expo News Stories

D23 Expo 2015: Shakira Joins the ‘Zootopia’ Cast and Two Clips Previewed

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As the first of the many big announcements we’ll learn this weekend at Disney’s fourt D23 Expo, it was revealed during the Walt Disney Animation Studios panel that international superstar Shakira has joined the Zootopia voice cast as the character Gazelle. Mirroring her professional career, Shakira’s character is the biggest pop sensation in Zootopia. Zootopia Gazelle Shakira Character Art

The singer was not present at the event, but a pre-recorded message appeared on screen for fans to see the Shakira make the announcement. In attendance, Ginnifer Goodwin, who lends her voice to the rabbit officer Judy Hopps, was joined by directors Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph), as well as producer Clark Spencer.

In order to capture a fully realized animal kingdom, Moore and Howard described on stage their process of visiting wild areas of Kenya to study behavior and movements of animals in their natural habitats. They also researched animal biology and shared their insights with attendees that polar bear fur is not white, but clear. So they worked with their animation team to make sure the CG polar bear character’s hundred of thousands of hairs were clear. That’s just one aspect out of the thousands of animals living in the world of that will depicted in the film.

The filmmakers went on to discuss the animal neighborhoods, such as the upscale Dubai like Sahara Square; the snowy Russian-like territory of Tundra Town; the humid Rainforest District; and the over populated Bunny District that is host to millions of rabbits living in bunny-shaped houses built.

D23 Expo Zootopia Clark Spencer

The Zootopia teaser trailer was released earlier this year, and fans in attendance got to see two clips, plus a tease of an all-new original song, “Try Anything,” written by Sia and performed by Shakira.

The first clip featured Judy Hopps, who comes from the outskirts of town with big city dreams. An ambitious fresh cop on the Zootopia police force, Judy is stuck on parking meter duty due to her size while bigger animals like rhinos and hippos carry out more “important” tasks. Judy is seen eating lunch at a local ice cream parlor run by an elephant. Here she encounters Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a con-man fox, who stops in with a little white fox he claims is his son. After a bit of coaxing, the elephant gives Wilde a jumbo pop on the house, which the sly fox then breaks apart into smaller pieces and sells individually.

D23 Expo Zootopia Ginnifer Goodwin

The second clip shows both Nick and Judy arriving at a DMV to get some paperwork. Unfortunately for them, the DMV is operated by sloths, which delivers some comical satire. By the time Judy and Nick get what they’re looking for hours have passed as Flash the sloth works as diligently to complete their request.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Zootopia, courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios:

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps  arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery.

Zootopia is set to hit theaters on March 4, 2016.

D23 Expo News Stories

Image Source: D23

Box Office Battlefield: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. vs. Straight Outta Compton

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Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of August 14, 2015 includes The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Straight Outta Compton, along with a handful of limited releases. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em? Find out below!

Last weekend, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation chose to accept the impossible task of thwarting off four new wide releases, successfully completing their mission. Fantastic Four found no love while the low-budget thriller, The Gift bestowed upon its niche audience what its title infers.

Can Tom Cruise pull a three-peat or will the N.W.A. cruise down the street for a victory lap? Or will the ’60s chic spies from the U.S. and Russia get the upper hand? I got my mind on my tummy and my tummy on my mind. This is the Box Office Battlefield:

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 2015 Movie Title Logo

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Guy Ritchie) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, and Elizabeth Debicki

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 67% • Audience – 81%

My review:

To be clear, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a prequel to the 1964 spy television series, which makes the title of the film completely useless in context of what you can expect to see. Regardless, Guy Ritchie’s flashy showmanship works to the advantage of the cast whose chemistry captures the lighthearted nature of the TV show to some degree. But that’s all this movie is: all spectacle and no substance. Adding in a little more adult tone to liven up the series, U.N.C.L.E. has a handful of good scenes stitched together within an uninteresting story.

There’s little tension and it bears very few surprises, surprises that it seems to hit you over the head with to make sure you understand what’s happening at all times. The performances are really good from Vikander (especially), Cavill, and Debicki, but Hammer’s Ilya is barely fleshed out well enough to understand his thought process and leaves the actor out to dry – he does the best he can with what’s given. The worst offender of this movie is its structure where it would prefer telling you everything that is happening or describing certain characters, rather than letting it all happen naturally and organically with the story. It’s excruciating to bear. Go in for the action, but stay for the Vikander. RENT IT!

Straight Outta Compton 2015 Movie Title Logo

Straight Outta Compton (F. Gary Gray) Rated R [147 min] – The group NWA emerges from the streets of Compton, California in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood. Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr., and Paul Giamatti

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 87% • Audience – 94%

My Review:

If you know me, you know that biopics are not my bag. There has to be something extra special about them to catch my interest. Seeing something great in Straight Outta Compton due to its content, I found that my expectations mostly lined up to what I was given, but I wanted more despite its two and a half hour run time. They crammed so much story in, from the inception of N.W.A. to the beginning of Aftermath Records, but the filmmakers didn’t flesh out Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube well enough beyond the scenes that server the story for any particular moment.

Straight Outta Compton focuses more on breezing through the cliff notes of the rappers’ lives than actually providing enough personality or character to fully understand their motivations and drive. With what’s provided, the direction and production is very well put together, and seeing the influence that this group had on the music industry is a fascinating watch. The performances and the casting are also on point. But ultimately the film needed to be a little more focused on what makes Dre, E, and Cube unique throughout their journey and not so much about the journey itself. SEE IT!

mistress america Movie Title Logo

Mistress America (Noah Baumbach) [Limited] Rated R [84 min] – A lonely college freshman’s life is turned upside down by her impetuous, adventurous soon-to-be stepsister. Starring Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Seth Barrish, and Juliet Brett

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 80% • Audience – 84%

Their reviews:

“At the center of the film is the interesting idea that we’re all putting on performances for each other; unfortunately, the manner in which “Mistress America” explores that theme also makes it a movie where moments of authenticity are scarce.” – Rebecca Keegan (Los Angeles Times)

“Ms. Kirke is skillful and appealing as Tracy, but Ms. Gerwig’s performance is a comic diamond, and not in the rough. Her timing is flawless, her delivery is droll.” – Joe Morgenstern (Wall Street Journal)

My take:

Noah Baumbach has a unique vision as a filmmaker that speaks to a specific audience. In my opinion, the Woody Allen fans of this generation. His New York hipster storytelling is intimate and personal. You can hear Baumbach’s voice throughout the dialogue, where sometimes it can be profound while other times pretentious. Mistress America definitely comes across as his standard issue hipster fare, targeted to a very specific audience. But what I get most out of Baumbach’s storytelling is at least he is trying to say something compared to many of the empty films we typically get. RENT IT!

Ten Thousand Saints Movie Title Logo

Ten Thousand Saints (Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini) [Limited] Rated R [113 min] – Set in the 1980s, a teenager from Vermont moves to New York City to live with his father in East Village. Starring Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, and Emily Mortimer

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 60% • Audience – 88%

Their reviews:

“A very fine film, full of quietly impressive performances and young characters who register as authentic.” – Neil Genzlinger (New York Times)

“Heart-warming, funny, and real, which means at times it can be desperately sad, this is a fantastic new development for Springer Berman and Pulcini. This one’s going to go far.” – Katie Walsh (The Playlist)

My take:

Steinfeld and Butterfield had decent chemistry in Ender’s Game together, and it’s nice to see them in something less chaotic to showcase more of their talent. Based solely on the trailer and the reviews, the plot looks OK and it’s earned mostly positive reviews. But something about the film feels like it could get muddled down or the direction won’t be as sharp based on the run time for such a small story. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

final girl Movie Title Logo

Final Girl (Tyler Shields) [Limited] Rated R [90 min] – A man teaches a young woman how to become a complete weapon. 13 years later, at 18 she will approach a group of sadistic teens who killed blonde women for unknown reasons. The hunting season begins. Starring Abigail Breslin, Wes Bentley, Logan Huffman, Alexander Ludwig

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 43% • Audience – 20%

Their reviews:

“This patchy, underwritten thriller could almost pass for a critique of any number of genre forebears in which the mere presence of a hot, ass-kicking female avenger is meant to seem subversive.” – Justin Chang (Variety)

“Breslin, whose recent resume hasn’t lived up to her Oscar nomination for “Little Miss Sunshine,” needs to find something worthy of her talents. An Oscar nominee shouldn’t even watch ‘Final Girl,’ much less star in it.” – Joe Neumaier (New York Daily News)

My take:

I like the concept, however, Final Girl looks really cheap and too campy. The dialogue is harsh to listen to and I don’t think the movie brings anything new to the table. Intent can only get you so far, but if you can’t capture it on film there’s very little point. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

People Places Things Movie Title Logo

People Places Things (2015) – [Limited]Certificate R 85 min   –   ComedyMetascore: 68/100 (14 reviews)Will Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing parenting his young twin daughters and a classroom full of students while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.Director: James C. StrouseStars: Jemaine Clement, Regina Hall, Jessica Williams, Stephanie Allynne

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 74% • Audience – 87%

Their reviews:

“Rampant cutesiness, improbable spontaneous decisions, indie-movie clichés, and the occasional decent one-liner.” – Mike D’Angelo (AV Club)

“To say that People, Places, Things is a lovely experience makes it sound less challenging than it is. It provides a range of emotion, all of which it earns.” – Neil Miller (Film School Rejects)

My take:

This looks kind of cute. From the reviews, People Places Things sounds a little messy, but has the right kind of heart that won’t feel like an entire waste of effort. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

Although Rogue Nation has a strong following, I don’t think it has enough supporters to carry itself into first place for the third weekend in a row. Both wide releases make strong cases to earn that top spot. U.N.C.L.E. has two chiseled chinned leading men with a beautiful supporting cast, while Straight Outta Compton holds dear a special history to many fans. On the other side of the coin, U.N.C.L.E. is your typical action/spy adventure with some wit, but not enough to satisfy to make a strong case for top dollars. We’ve seen it all before. And Straight Outta Compton has a long run time with an R rating, limiting the availability for audiences to enjoy. Both movies bring nostalgia with them, but the one that will win is the story that holds the most relevance to today’s culture. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:

Winner: Straight Outta Compton

Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix Streaming Report: For a Good Time Call, Two Days One Night, Doctor Who, and More

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Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for August 13, 2015. After the long week you deserve a relaxing staycation with a bowl of popcorn, a bucket of ice cream, and only your Netflix queue to judge you. This past week, Netflix Watch Instant has been kind enough to supply us with Two Days One Night, Doctor Who, HitRecord on TV, and more.

for a good time, call… movie lauren miller ary graynor

For a Good Time, Call… (Jamie Travis) Rated R [85 min] – Former college frenemies Lauren and Katie move into a fabulous Gramercy Park apartment, and in order to make ends meet, the unlikely pair start a phone sex line together. Starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller, Justin Long, James Wolk, and Lawrenec Mandley

I really enjoyed this little quirky comedy when it first came out in 2012. It’s a platonic, romantic comedy that felt fresh at the time because it’s inherently not about someone complaining about their dating troubles. In a way For a Good Time, Call… pokes fun at traditional rom coms, the subject matter is just a bonus. It’s cute, light, and simple.

(Watch it now)

two days one night netflix streaming

Two Days, One Night (Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne) [Limited] Certificate PG-13 [95 min] – Sandra, a young Belgian mother, discovers that her workmates have opted for a significant pay bonus, in exchange for her dismissal. She has only one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. Starring Marion Cotillard, Fabrizio Rongione, Catherine Salée, and Batiste Sornin

Two Days, One Night is one of the big ones I missed during this past awards season. The story sounds very depressing and I’m sure it is, but Marion Cotillard always comes through with a fabulous performance that it would be hard to think it wouldn’t be worth the journey. The film is also a brisk 95 minutes too, so I can only assume every moment counts based on the mostly positive reviews.

(Watch it now)

hitrecord on tv season 1 with joseph gordon-levitt

HitRECord on TV (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) Rated TV-14 [22 min] – A television show comprised of contributions from the hitRECord community, a collaborative production company founded by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his brother “Burning Dan.” Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kali Thomas, and Rodnesha Green

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has become such a media mogul with HitRECord. I’ve never seen any of the work that is submitted or pushed through his production company, but I am definitely interested in checking it out now that it’s easily available on Netflix streaming.

(Watch it now)

Also newly available on Netflix streaming this week:

  • Leap Year
  • The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
  • Doctor Who (Season 8)
  • Sense8: Creating the World
  • Transporter: The Series (Season 2)
  • Shanghai Noon
  • Persona 3 the movie: #2 Midsummer Knight’s Dream

What will you be watching this weekend?

Look forward to more new titles from the Netflix Streaming Report every Thursday on TTRC.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Netflix Streaming Report Turn The Right Corner

Now Available to Own: Unfriended, Hot Pursuit, Hell on Wheels, and More

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Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of August 11, 2015. Every Tuesday we run down new movie, television, and video game releases that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home, as well as some slick deals that can save you some coin. New on shelves this week are Unfriended, Hot Pursuit, Hell on Wheels, Person of Interest, and more.

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Movies on Blu-ray

Unfriended (Levan Gabriadze) Rated R [82 min] – A group of online chat room friends find themselves haunted by a mysterious, supernatural force using the account of their dead friend.Director: Stars: Heather Sossaman, Matthew Bohrer, Courtney Halverson, Shelley Hennig (Watch the trailer)

How well could a studio pull off a full-length feature film told exclusively via Skype? A few shorts have been told through the medium, but nothing as daring as Unfriended has yet to be attempted. And it works. Unfriended cuts itself at the right moment and it never feels as if they’re cheating their way to tell the story. The depth of the mythology is kind of lacking, but the concept is fun and the actors are pretty believable for a low-budget horror. There are enough solid setups and surprises that will keep you invested until the very end.

  • No special features included

Hot Pursuit (Anne Fletcher) Rated PG-13 [87 min] – An uptight and by-the-book cop tries to protect the outgoing widow of a drug boss as they race through Texas pursued by crooked cops and murderous gunmen. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Sofía Vergara, Matthew Del Negro, Michael Mosley, and John Carroll Lynch (Watch the trailer)

Reese Witherspoon hasn’t been jumping on many opportunities to come back to the silver screen. Last year’s Wild proved she still had the acting chops that won her the Oscar in Walk the Line. And as much as I enjoy Legally Blonde, Hot Pursuit is not a return to form for the actress in the realm of comedy. She has a knack for the genre, but Hot Pursuit is not written well for her. The movie is too thin and too goofy to find any ounce of entertainment; unless you like the sound of Sofia Vergara screaming incomprehensibly.

Special features include:

  • The Womance – Reese and Sofía’s on-set crazy-mashup-antics. From dance moves to car crashes, see these women light up the screen and leave us in stitches with their side-splitting comedic styling.
  • Say What? – Watch the hilarity that ensued when Reese and Sofía each tried to speak the other’s language. See Reese get her tongue tied trying to speak Spanish and watch Sofía’s tongue actually go numb from trying to speak English.
  • Action Like A Lady – In this action montage we will see all the crazy fun that went into creating the insane action scenes in the film. From jumping out a ten-foot high window, to a crazy girl fight to commandeering a tour bus during a high-speed shoot out… bring on the laughs.
  • Alternate Ending

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker) Unrated [90 min] – Caroll Spinney has been Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969; at 78-years-old, he has no intention of stopping. Staring Caroll Spinney, Jim Henson, and Frank Oz

For anyone growing up over the past half century, Big Bird was most likely a big part of your childhood. I Am Big Bird captures the magic and the wonder of what makes the character and the man behind him so special. There’s so many touching behind the scenes moments that even the Grinch would be moved. This is a great nostalgic documentary, but there’s not much of a definitive angle it’s trying to capture. Just the tale of a man and his many talents.

  • No special features included

hell on wheels seaosn 4

Television Series

Person of Interest: The Complete Fourth Season (Jonathan Nolan) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – A former CIA operative is recruited by an enigmatic billionaire to prevent violent crimes. Starring Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman, and Michael Emerson

The folks behind Person of Interest continue to keep the series in good spirits with now four seasons under their belt. There are still surprises and wonderful character moments that continue to bring more depth and more intrigue into one of the better written crime dramas on network TV. The fourth season ends on quite the high note, leaving much to be desired for an upcoming with Sarah Shahi returning as a series regular.

Special features include:

  • Music of Interest
  • Going Underground with Root and Finch
  • Person of Interest 2014 Comic-Con Panel
  • Gag Reel
  • Digital HD Digital Copy of the Entire Season

2 Broke Girls: The Complete Fourth Season (Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King) Rated TV-14 [22 min] – Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business – if only they can raise the cash. Starring Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, and Garrett Morris

I’m not sure who continues to green light season after season of 2 Broke Girls, but it has to stop. I’m not one to quit in the middle of a season, but I stopped only a handful of episodes into the first season and never looked back. Given the chance to check out season four, I was curious to see how much this show has changed. As much as I like Kat Dennings quirky indie charming, the writing and the comedy is too corny. And the plot moves at a snails pace with nothing really moving our characters in a particular direction. The show is very stagnant and droll.

Special features include:

  • Gag Reel
  • Unaired Scenes

Hell on Wheels: The Complete Fourth Season (Joe and Tony Gayton) Rated TV-14 [42 min] – Cullen Bohannon, a former soldier and slaveholder, follows the track of a band of Union soldiers, the killers of his wife. This brings him to the middle of one of the biggest projects in US history, the building of the transcontinental railroad. After the war years in the 1860s, this undertaking connected the prospering east with the still wild west. Starring Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Phil Burke, Robin McLeavy, Dohn Norwood, Christopher Heyerdahl, Common, and Kasha Kropinski

I’ve never bothered with Hell on Wheels before. It’s never struck me as immediate viewing, and I’ve never heard any noise surrounding the show. So I checked out season four since I had the chance to. It’s a very cinematically beautiful show, but basic on all levels. Hell on Wheels seems perfectly content with playing it safe without causing too much of a stir. It’s an interesting period of events to follow, but there just isn’t enough depth to keep this train running.

Special features include:

  • A Look at Season 4
  • The New Characters of Season 4
  • Cheyenne Set Tour
  • Anson Mount Retrospective
  • On the Set with Colm Meaney
  • On the Set with Jake Weber
  • Episode Featurettes

The Knick: The Complete First Season One (Jack Amiel, Michael Begler) Unrated [58 min] – A look at the professional and personal lives of the staff at New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital during the early part of the twentieth century. Starring Katrina E. Perkins, Clive Owen, and André Holland

I have not seen this series, but have heard positive things toward it. Nip/Tuck served as a fantastic surgery show based in the present day, and I’d be interested in checking out The Knick for that reason back in the time it’s set.

Special features include:

  • Audio commentaries with Jeremy Bobb, Eve Hewson, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan, Cara Seymour, Eric Johnson and creators and executive producers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler
  • Post-op featurettes: Get educated on ground-breaking surgery techniques featured in the series

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

  • Space Invaders – $8.99
  • Nightcrawler – $8.99
  • The Guest – $8.99
  • Edge of Tomorrow – $13
  • Person of Interest (Season 3) – $16.99
  • Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Collection – $19.96
  • The Spectacular Now – $5
  • Dallas Buyers Club – $8.99
  • The Truman Show – $4.99
  • The LEGO Movie – $13
  • Neighbors – $8.99
  • Ex Machina – $16.99
  • It Follows – $12.69
  • Sin City – $4.75
  • Fargo – $5

All prices from Amazon.com. Best Buy, Frys, and Target all price match online prices.

What will you be taking home this week? Tell us in the comments section below!

All plot synopses come courtesy of IMDb.com

new movie tv video game releases on dvd and-blu-ray

Coming Soon to Blu-Ray and DVD: Mad Men: The Complete Collection and More

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While we provide you with a list of available new releases Now Available to Own every Tuesday, Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD looks at all of the recent home video announcements. For the week of August 1, 2015 we have Mad Men: The Complete Collection, Justified: The Complete Collection, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.

Mad Men The Final Season Part 2 Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 13

Mad Men: The Final Season – Part 2 (Matthew Weiner) A drama about one of New York’s most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm’s most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper. Starring Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, John Slattery, and Christina Hendricks

Special features include:

  • Audio commentaries with cast and crew on all episodes
  • “Laurel Canyon” featurette
  • “Unmarried Professional Women” featurette
  • “Generation Boom” featurette
  • “Earth Day” featurette
  • Interactive Advertising Timeline (Blu-ray Exclusive)

Mad Men The Complete Collection Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD October 13

Mad Men: The Complete Collection is a must-own for MAD MEN fans! Offered as a limited-edition gift set, it features the complete seven seasons and all special features ever released plus four hours of brand-new bonus material (including a look at the casting and design of the show), a one-on-one sit-down with Matthew Weiner and two hand-made silver-rimmed lowball tumblers and four cork coasters.

Special features include:

  • Bonus material from all seven seasons
  • “The Fellas at Sterling Cooper” cast wrap Interviews
  • “Matthew Weiner: One on One” featurette
  • “Casting MAD MEN” featurette
  • “Design of a Decade” featurette
  • Main Cast Wrap Interviews
  • MAD MEN Advertising Archives (interactive feature)
  • MAD MEN Historical Timeline
  • Audio commentaries with cast and crew on all episodes, including previously unreleased commentaries for Season 6
  • Gift With Purchase Includes:
    • 2 silver-rimmed lowball tumblers
    • 4 cork coasters

Justified the Complete Collection Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray October 15

Justified: The Complete Final Season (Graham Yost) While U.S. Marshal Raylan is torn by just how far he will go to bring Boyd down – including using Boyd’s fiancée Ava as his secret informant – both Raylan and Boyd must now contend with the new incendiary force in town, a drug lord intent on building his own pot empire in Harlan. Starring Timothy Olyphant, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Damon Herriman, Michael Rapaport, and Nick Searcy

Special features include:

  • All extras included on the previous releases
  • That’s a Wrap Gag Reel (NEW)
  • Three All-New Featurettes (NEW)
  • Writers’ Room Tour with Graham Yost (NEW)
  • Leaving Harlan Alive: Making the Final Season (NEW)
  • Harlan Revisited: Favorite Moments (NEW)
  • In Elmore’s Words – featuring actors, who worked with Elmore Leonard, reading select passages from some of his most well-known pieces of work (NEW)
  • Justified Flask
  • Collectible Packaging
  • Commemorative Disc Book

When Marnie Was There Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray and DVD October 6

When Marnie Was There (Hiromasa Yonebayashi) Rated PG [103 min] – A young girl is sent to the country for health reasons, where she meets an unlikely friend in the form of Marnie, a young girl with flowing blonde hair. As the friendship unravels it is possible that Marnie has closer ties to the protagonist than we might expect. Starring Sara Takatsuki, Kasumi Arimura, Nanako Matsushima, and Susumu Terajima

Special features include:

  • The Making of When Marnie Was There
  • Yohei Taneda Creates the Art of When Marnie Was There
  • Feature-Length Storyboards
  • Behind the Scenes with the Voice Cast
  • Foreign Trailers and TV Spots
  • US Trailer

Toy Story That Time Forgot Blu-ray Box Cover Art

Available on Blu-ray and Digital HD November 3

Toy Story That Time Forgot (Steve Purcell) Rated TV-G [22 min] – It’s a post Christmas play date and the toys have to go up against the fearsome and aggressive new dino toys. Starring Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Kristen Schaal, Kevin McKidd, Emily Hahn, and Wallace Shawn

Special features include:

  • Reptillus! – In this behind-the-scenes look at “Toy Story That Time Forgot,” the filmmakers share a peek at the origins of the Battlesaurs world and culture, and explain the character design and development of its greatest hero, Reptillus Maximus.
  • Commentary – Commentary with “Toy Story that Time Forgot” director, Steve Purcell, and head of story, Derek Thompson, on the process of making “Toy Story That Time Forgot.”
  • Toy Story Goes to Comic-Con – The “Toy Story that Time Forgot” team heads to San Diego to unveil the project to the public, led by their own longtime Comic-Con veterans, director Steve Purcell and head of story Derek Thompson.
  • My Unexpected Friend – Feel the power – and sing along – as Reptillus Maximus expresses the depth of his feelings for Trixie in this 80’s-inspired karaoke video for his soulful ballad, “My Unexpected Friend.”
  • Battlesaurs Animated Opening – A 2D animated opening for the fictional animated TV series, “Battlesaurs.”
  • Deleted Scenes with Intros &Outros – “Toy Story That Time Forgot” director, Steve Purcell, introducesscenesthatwere developed and storyboarded for the special, but were ultimately cutfromthefinal version:
    • Battlesaurs Christmas
    • Light of Play
    • Prisoners of Bone
    • SOS
    • Trixie’s Proposal

Ascension Miniseries DVD Box Cover Art

Available on DVD and Digital HD October 13

Ascension: A TV Mini-Series (Philip Levens and Adrian A. Cruz) Rated TV-MA [60 min] – A young woman’s murder causes the subjects of a century-long mission to populate a new world to question the true nature of the project as they approach the point of no return. Starring Tricia Helfer, Gil Bellows, and Brian Van Holt

Special features include:

  • “Ascension: A Behind the Scenes Look” featurette

And that’s it for this week. What are you looking forward to picking up when they release?

Stay tuned for more Blu-Ray and DVD announcements every Saturday.

All plot synopses courtesy of IMDb.com

Coming Soon to Blu-ray and DVD

Click here for more home video announcements

 

Box Office Battlefield: Fantastic Four, The Gift, Ricki and the Flash, and Shaun the Sheep

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Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars. The weekend warriors of August 7, 2015 includes Fantastic Four, The Gift, Ricki and the Flash, and Shaun the Sheep. Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious. Should you see ’em, skip ’em, or rent ’em? Find out below!

Last weekend, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation took care of business and easily claimed the top seat at the box office. However, Tom Cruise has four big challengers vying to overthrow the superstar this weekend. Can a superhero reboot, Meryl Streep, an animated movie about sheep, or a creepy Jason Bateman thriller come home with the win? Excelsior! This is the Box Office Battlefield:

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Fantastic Four (Josh Trank) Rated PG-13 [100 min] – Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. Starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 9% • Audience – 29%

My review:

After Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man, I didn’t think I had superhero fatigue, and after seeing the abysmal Fantastic Four reboot, I still don’t believe I do. What the Fantastic Four movie represents is the complete lack of imagination superhero films are capable of. I went in with the lowest expectations possible, and plot holes aside, I was bored to tears. There is nothing interesting or unique that this new iteration of the Fantastic Four is trying ti say or do. The camaraderie amongst the team is lackluster and uninspired; this is suppose to be a family and yet they hardly talk to one another. Doctor Doom, above all, is the flimsiest aspect of the story and one of the worst villains we’ve had in a superhero flick. This movie fails on all levels. SKIP IT!

The Gift 2015 Movie Title Logo

The Gift (Joel Edgerton) Rated R [108 min] – A young married couple’s lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband’s past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years. Starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, Joel Edgerton, and Allison Tolman

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 92% • Audience – 85%

My take:

From the trailers, The Gift looked like a terrible straight to home video release. Nothing about the performances stood out, and the plot seemed so one-note that I felt nothing could surprise me. Boy was I wrong. Joel Edgerton has put together a fine little film that is playfully thrilling and keeps you thinking long after you’ve left the theater. All of the performances are pretty standard, but the story is so fresh that it’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time. The Gift will definitely be one of the most surprising movies of the year for me. MATINEE IT!

Ricki and the Flash Movie Title Logo

Ricki and the Flash (Jonathan Demme) Rated PG-13 [101 min] – A musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family. Starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Mamie Gummer, and Sebastian Stan

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 59% • Audience – 57%

Their reviews:

“Streep’s latest mom role, as Ricki Rendazzo in Ricki and the Flash, has a light, Mamma Mia! vibe, but it still hits all those hot buttons.” – Susanna Schrobsdorff (TIME Magazine)

“Diablo Cody’s dispiriting screenplay is all about everyone coming to love Ricki, faults and all, and that is just not convincingly done.” – Kenneth Turan (Los Angeles Times)

My take:

Most of the review headlines I’ve read haven’t been too favorable to Ricki and the Flash, and the trailer paints every beat of the film to the point that you can see the movie without actually seeing it. So I decided to skip this one for the sake of time, and I figured Meryl Streep would obviously be Meryl Streeping. From what I understand, this movie is pretty vanilla and the emotional impact the film is trying to make is on the nose and pandering. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

Shaun the Sheep Movie Movie Title Logo

Shaun the Sheep Movie (Mark Burton and Richard Starzak) Rated PG [85 min] – When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it’s up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home. Starring Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, and Richard Webber

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 99% • Audience – 82%

Their reviews:

“Plenty of bigger, more grown-up movies could learn a thing or two from its humanity.” – Bilge Ebiri (New York Magazine)

“Grownups will enjoy every delicious irony and twisted sight gag that floats over kids’ heads. If the brats don’t get the shout-outs to The Night of the Hunter, The Silence of the Lambs and Scorsese’s Cape Fear, let them suck on it.” – Peter Travers (Rolling Stone)

My take:

I’ve never been a fan of the Wallace and Gromit films. Not that I hate them or anything, but the storytelling and humor has never appealed to me. Apparently Shaun the Sheep is pretty solid family fun. It looks a little more energetic and mainstream than its predecessors. MATINEE IT!

The Diary of a Teenage Girl Movie Title Logo

The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Marielle Heller) [Limited] Rated R [102 min] – A teen artist living in 1970s San Francisco enters into an affair with her mother’s boyfriend. Starring Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Kristen Wiig, and Christopher Meloni

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 94% • Audience – 85%

Their reviews:

“The novel is life-specific, but what makes Minnie – on the page and now on the screen – greater than any one girl is how she tells her own story in her own soaringly alive voice.” – Manohla Dargis (New York Times)

“For a movie about such fraught topics, sometimes rendered with admirable and non-squeamish explicitness, Diary often eschews melodrama; when the plot turns, it does so abruptly, providing a credible simulation of real-life tumult.” – Jesse Hassenger (AV Club)

My take:

This book adaptation hasn’t been available to me yet, but I really want to see it. I haven’t seen the trailer nor do I know anything about The Diary of a Teenage Girl. All I know is that it’s getting good reviews and that I’m told it’s required 2015 viewing. SEE IT!

Cop Car 2015 Movie Title Logo

Cop Car (Jon Watts) [Limited] Rated R [86 min] – A small town sheriff sets out to find the two kids who have taken his car on a joy ride. Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, and Shea Whigham

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 76% • Audience – 80%

Their reviews:

“Cop Car is a movie that prioritizes a child’s-eye view to merciless effect, even as it deals with corruption, drugs, and murder.” – Alison Willmore (BuzzFeed)

“Scenes that should take 30 seconds take three minutes. Writer-director Jon Watts does successfully channel childhood, though: He’s like a kid short of ideas who triple-spaces his book report.” – Kyle Smith (New York Post)

My take:

If you want to see how competent the director of the next Spider-Man movie will be, check out Cop Car. This is a Sundance darling that has received fairly positive reviews. The trailer has pretty wild tones that starts off light and comedic and gets dark very quickly. It reminds me of Mud starring Matthew McConnaughey in a way thanks to its two kid leads and indie sheen. Looks like Cop Car offers a good watch. MATINEE IT!

Dragon Ball Z Resurrection F Movie Title Logo

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (Tadayoshi Yamamuro) [Limited] Not Rated [93 min] – One peaceful day on Earth, two remnants of Frieza’s army named Sorbet and Tagoma arrive searching for the Dragon Balls with the aim of reviving Frieza. They succeed, and Frieza subsequently seeks revenge on the Saiyans. Starring Masako Nozawa, Ryô Horikawa, Hiromi Tsuru, and Masaharu Satô

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 100% • Audience – 86%

Their reviews:

“DBZ: Resurrection ‘F’ is a fast-paced film with tons of action and great animation, but lacks any meaningful punch.” – Shawn Saris (IGN News)

“This slam-bang action-adventure will have “Dragon Ball” fans of all ages cheering with delight.” – Charles Solomon (Los Angeles Times)

My take:

Dragon Ball Z is obviously as niche as it gets. There’s definitely a formula that the DBZ producers stick to that has continued to work well into the present. Bringing back an old big bad is not unfamiliar territory, but it seems fresh enough to enjoy based on the reviews. MATINEE IT!

Dark Places 2015 Movie Title Logo

Dark Places (Gilles Paquet-Brenner) [Limited] Rated R [113 min] – Libby Day was only seven years old when her family was brutally murdered in their rural Kansas farmhouse. Twenty-five years later, she agrees to revisit the crime and uncovers the wrenching truths that led up to that tragic night. Starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks, and Chloë Grace Moretz

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 26% • Audience – 40%

Their reviews:

“A lazy, flat and poorly written thriller that fails at grabbing viewers by the throat or by the heart.” – Rob Hunter (Film School Rejects)

“Dark Places just becomes an overstuffed, low-simmer potboiler with too many improbable detours and overly convenient twists.” – Chris Nashawaty (Entertainment Weekly)

My take:

From watching the trailer, Dark Places looks like a terrible straight to home video story with an A-list cast. I think the concept comes off way too cheesy and heavy handed. I think these actors accidentally signed up for the wrong film when they heard this was adapted from the author of Gone Girl. WAIT FOR IT ON NETFLIX!

For some, superhero fatigue may have already set in, but I think folks will be curious about how well 20th Century Fox has rebooted Marvel’s first family. It has terrible reviews, but that hasn’t stopped moviegoers before when it comes to tent pole summer films i.e. Transformers. Ricki and the Flash is in less than 2,000 theaters and Meryl Streep alone cannot gain wide audiences outside adult demographics. While on the other side of the coin, Shaun the Sheep may get families and kids to venture into the movies, but teens may find it too childish to check out. And then there’s The Gift, a thriller that in my mind was marketed poorly but is gaining rave reviews. It’s odd roles for all teh cast involved and should make for an interesting turnout. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend will be:

Winner: Fantastic Four

Movie synopses courtesy of IMDb.com and Tomatometer Scores from Rotten Tomatoes