
The Netflix Streaming Report for February 11, 2016 includes new titles such as Dope, Bates Motel, Hannibal Buress, and more. Continue reading
The Netflix Streaming Report for February 11, 2016 includes new titles such as Dope, Bates Motel, Hannibal Buress, and more. Continue reading
Brace your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of October 13, 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 Tomorrowland, Mad Men: The Final Season Part 2, Aladdin, The Gallows, and more.
*Note: Originally I had said that Mike Tyson Mysteries (Season 1) and The Wolfpack came out this week, nope. They release on October 20, 2015.
Tomorrowland (Brad Bird) Rated PG [130 min] – Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory. Starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie, and Raffey Cassidy [Watch the trailer]
Tomorrowland is the cinematic equivalent to the Disney ride It’s a Small World. Both vibrant and chock-full of wonder and promise, the further into them you go the more likely you’ll want out. There’s many strong themes layered within each, but the bad outweighs the positive messages, making them unmemorable. As soon as Tomorrowland drops you into its titular destination and we meet Hugh Laurie, the film loses its way and becomes a mixed bag of blockbuster action and bloated, unjustified villainry.
Special features include:
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
Pressured by a white man of power, our hero must enlist the help of his two socially awkward friends to embark on a journey through an industry looked down upon by society in order to save himself and graduate high school in one piece. But enough about 2004’s The Girl Next Door, Dope is this year’s soap box movie that speaks volumes by commenting on society and the way we assume agendas based on appearances and where we come from. Basically, never judge a book by its cover. Dope is really smart and funny, but at times the focus is lost and struggles to get back on track.
Special features include:
Aladdin (Ron Clements and John Musker) Rated G [90 min] – When a street urchin vies for the love of a beautiful princess, he uses a genie’s magic power to make himself off as a prince in order to marry her. Starring Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin
For the first time on Blu-ray, Aladdin makes its debut in a spectacular way. It’s always been a pretty colorful movie, full of reds and blues, and they just pop with this new hi-def transition. Along with the crispness of the format, the movie remains as sharp and witty as you remember it. The real catch is the slew of special features, which peak with Robin Williams outtakes.
Special features include:
San Andreas (Brad Peyton) Rated PG-13 [114 min] – In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to rescue his estranged daughter. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, and Colton Haynes [Watch the Trailer]
Nothing could prepare us for the real life devastation that would befall upon the U.S. if the entire state of California were to crumble into the Pacific Ocean, but you can brace yourself for the lunacy and pure cheeseball one-liners embedded within San Andreas. If it weren’t for the Rock’s Rockyness there would be little enjoyment to be found. I can’t even imagine the pleasure the special effects team found in themselves by killing millions of people digitally. But I’m sure their sick grins pail in comparison to execs’ who greenlit this disastrous disaster piece.
Special features include:
The Gallows (Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing) Rated R [81 min] – 20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy – but soon discover that some things are better left alone. Starring Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Cassidy Gifford, and Ryan Shoos
I missed the release of The Gallows this summer due to Comic-Con, but I had high hopes after seeing the first preview of the film at WonderCon. Sadly, the excitement of the teaser faded quickly as headlines started pouring in about its quality. I try to give all horror movies a chance as many mainstream critics tend to be unjust toward genre movies. The Gallows is a mid-level horror that plays out almost entirely in real time and invites some OK scares. Half of the characters are unlikable and the ending is mediocre. I’d give it a go on Netflix whenever it comes out.
Special features includes:
The Little Death (Josh Lawson) Rated PG-13 [96 min] – The secret lives of five suburban couples living in Sydney reveal both the fetishes and the repercussions that come with sharing them. Starring Bojana Novakovic, Damon Herriman, and Josh Lawson
I’m honestly surprised this has a PG-13 rating and then again I’m not. The Little Death plays itself too safe and isn’t the raunchy sex comedy it desperately wants and needs to be. Each story within this interwoven neighborhood of sexual deviants is playful, but as a whole the stories don’t come together well enough to create a satisfying movie. It is widely unique, but feels more like an afterthought rather than a complete film.
Team America: World Police (Trey Parker) Rated R [98 min] – Popular Broadway actor Gary Johnston is recruited by the elite counter-terrorism organization Team America: World Police. As the world begins to crumble around him, he must battle with terrorists, celebrities and falling in love. Starring Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Elle Russ
It’s hard to find a reason why I need to justify the sanctity of Team America: World Police. There’s puppet sex, Matt Damon, and incredible acting. Could you ask for anything more?
Matchstick Men (Ridley Scott) Rated PG-13 [116 min] – A phobic con artist and his protégé are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the former’s teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly. Starring Nicolas Cage, Alison Lohman, and Sam Rockwell
They don’t make Nic Cage movies like they use to. One of the classier Cage movies that reeks of Cage-ness, Matchstick Men is a dazzling look into the world of con artists and parenting. It’s a whirlwind of plots that mesh well together to form a unique and entertaining piece of cinema.
Special features include:
Witness (Peter Weir) Rated R [112 min] – A young Amish boy is sole witness to a murder; policeman John Book goes into hiding in Amish country to protect him until the trial. Starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, and Lukas Haas
Fresh off the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as his second stint as Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford takes it down a few pegs to deliver a simpler story during a simpler time. Witness is thrilling and not of this time. It won the Oscar for Best Editing and Best Writing/Screenplay back in 1986, and it would be hard to imagine a studio attempting to make a film of its nature today. But somehow the film hasn’t shown it’s age too much and still works well.
Kiss the Girls (Gary Fleder) Rated R [115 min] – Police hunting for a serial killer are helped when a victim manages to escape for the first time. Starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Cary Elwes
The content of Kiss the Girls almost sounds too close to some of the content we’re seeing in many of the procedurals or crime dramas of today. With the caliber of Morgan Freeman at the forefront, Kiss the Girls stands tall. However the actor isn’t entirely able to support the picture all on his own as it buckles under the weight of its empty antagonist.
Along Came a Spider (Lee Tamahori) Rated R [104 min] – A congressman’s daughter under Secret Service protection is kidnapped from a private school by an insider who calls Det. Alex Cross, sucking him into the case even though he’s recovering from the loss of his partner. Starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Wincott, and Monica Potter
Bordering on the edge of parody, Along Came a Spider is the follow up to Kiss the Girls with Det. Alex Cross (Freeman). It plays out almost as if it were a fake trailer you’d see within a movie. I don’t think the director really had a great handle on the tone or content to really make this as gripping as the original novel intended it to be.
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 July 25, 2015 we have Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mad Max: Fury Road, Pitch Perfect 2, and more. Find out when they’ll be out and what special features movie fans can expect below.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (Joss Whedon) Rated PG-13 [141 min] – When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it’s up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemswort, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and James Spader (Watch the trailer)
Special features include:
Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller) Rated R [120 min] – In a stark desert landscape where humanity is broken, two rebels just might be able to restore order: Max, a man of action and of few words, and Furiosa, a woman of action who is looking to make it back to her childhood homeland. Starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Abbey Lee, and Zoë Kravitz [Watch the trailer]
Special features include:
Pitch Perfect 2 (Elizabeth Banks) Rated PG-13 [115 min] – After a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform. Starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Adam Devine, Hana Mae Lee, and Ester Dean [Watch the trailer]
Special features include:
Entourage (Doug Ellin) Rated R [104 min] – Movie star Vincent Chase, together with his boys Eric, Turtle, and Johnny, are back – and back in business with super agent-turned-studio head Ari Gold on a risky project that will serve as Vince’s directorial debut. Starring Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon, and Jeremy Piven
Special features include:
Bates Motel: The Complete Third Season (Anthony Cipriano) Rated TV-14 [43 min] – A modern re-imagining and prequel to the movie Psycho. This story begins with the earlier years of a teenage Norman Bates and his mother Norma who live in an old house overlooking the adjoining motel which they are renovating. The house and hotel both come with secrets of their own as does the new town which the Bates’ now call home. Starring Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, and Max Thieriot
Special features include:
Sleepy Hollow: The Complete Second Season (Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci) Rated TV-14 [45 min] Ichabod Crane is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Starring Tom Mison, Nicole Beharie, and Orlando Jones
Special features include:
American Horror: Story: Freak Show (Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk) Rated TV-MA [43 min] – An anthology series that centers on different characters and locations, including a haunted house, an insane asylum, a witch coven and a freak show. Starring Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Denis O’Hare, Emma Roberts, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, and Kathy Bates
Special Features:
Homeland: The Complete Fourth Season (Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa) Rated TV-MA [55 min] – When Marine Nicolas Brody is hailed as a hero after he returns home from eight years of captivity in Iraq, intelligence officer Carrie Mathison is the only one who suspects that he may have been “turned”. Starring Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin, and Damian Lewis
Special features include:
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
Tonight the Broadcast Television Journalists Association held its 5th Annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards. Just like its sister organization (Broadcast Film Critics Association) has its own award show now going on its 21st year, the BTJA honors the greatest in television, as its name implies. The ceremony honored programs and performances that aired between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015. HBO walked away tonight the big winner with seven awards while the rest of the board was pretty scattered due to the recently excellent year on the small screen. See the full winners list and some brief commentary after the jump. Continue reading
Welcome to your Netflix Streaming Report for February 12, 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 Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Bates Motel Season 2, Dead Snow 2, and more, which you can find after the jump. Continue reading
Prepare your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available to Own for the week of October 7, 2014. Each week we run down new releases in movies, television series, and video games that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. On shelves this week, you can find titles such as Edge of Tomorrow, Adventure Time (Season 4), The Following (Season 2) and more. Check out the complete list of new releases after the jump. Continue reading
And you thought Comic-Con 2014 was heating up with Community, Paramount Pictures, and Sony Pictures on Thursday? Friday’s schedule of panels for SDCC come in hot and heavy with the likes of Game of Thrones, The Legend of Korra, The Walking Dead, Kevin Smith, Bones, Agents of SHIELD, Arrow, and much much more! Check out the full line-up after the break. Continue reading
NBC and Universal Television are coming into San Diego Comic-Con fully loaded this year. Fans can expect panels from their favorite series: Hannibal, The Blacklist, Grimm, and Bates Motel. Triumph Insult Comic Dog and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) will discuss their new untitled series, while Warner Bros. Television will present multiple screenings and a panel for their new NBC series Constantine. See the full details after the break. Continue reading
Welcome to The Streaming Report for February 6, 2014, a weekly feature that suggests newly uploaded Netflix Instant movies and shows that may tickle your fancy. After the long week on the grind 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 has been kind enough to supply us with Bates Motel, Airplane!, Concussion, Adore, The Usual Suspects, and a many more you’ll find after the break. We hope The Streaming Report will bring you hours of entertainment for your viewing pleasure. Continue reading
The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held on on Sunday, September 22, hosted live by Neil Patrick Harris – funny enough How I Met Your Mother has zero nominations. Follow along with Turn The Right Corner as we will give you the blow-by-blow of each award as they are announced. If you’re worried about missing who won because you are busy watching the Series Finale of Dexter or the second to last episode of Breaking Bad, no sweat – we’ve got you covered. Check out the full list of Emmy winners after the break. Continue reading