By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Aug. 4, unless otherwise noted: House of Hummingbird (Blu-ray) Details: 2019, Well Go USA Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This is a slow, but exquisite, coming-of-age Korean character study of a 14-year-old girl in a rapidly changing 1994 Seoul. The title gets its name because of the actions of Eun-hee (Park Ji-Hu), who moves through life like a hummingbird, always searching for some sweetness no matter where it is located. She is ignored by her parents and abused by her brother. But Eun-hee finds escape by roaming her neighborhood with her best friend, attempts romantic attachments with boys and girls and is even sent to the hospital with an unclear diagnosis. Eun-hee finally begins to feel a connection with the arrival of her new teacher, Young-Ji (Lee Seung-yeon), who she sees as the first adult to truly understand her. This highly-acclaimed film won several awards at film festivals around the world and earned a 100 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 16:9 enhanced widescreen picture; Korean DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles.
NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 11 (DVD) Details: 2019-20, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This five-disc set features all 22 11th-season episodes of this popular CBS spinoff series that follows NCIS Special Agents “G” Callen (Chris O’Donnell) and Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) and their team as they battle spies, terrorist threats and arm dealers threatening the security of the United States. One of the underlying overall arcs from the season are hints at changes to the series cast. Oscar-winner Linda Hunt’s Henrietta Lange was absent for most of the season, only appearing in a few episodes as Hunt was recovering from an auto accident. Throughout the season her character hinted at retirement, so we will have to wait until season 12 unfolds to learn her fate. Also the personal lives of Special Agent Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) and LAPD liaison Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen), who are debating whether or not to have a child, and tech ops Eric Beale (Barrett Foa) and Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith), who struggle with their relationship, are in flux. It’s the moments away from the investigating and action that makes this show so watchable. Technical aspects: 16:9 full-screen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include deleted and extended scenes, a look at the series’ 250th episodes, an overview of the season and an episode in which rapper Offset makes an appearance.
Shanghai Triad (Blu-ray) Details: 1995, Film Movement Classics Rated: R, language, graphic violence The lowdown: The luminous Gong Li stars in this gangster thriller, set in 1930s Shanghai, as pampered nightclub singer and gangster’s moll Xiao Jinbao. A naïve teenager, Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao), is hired as Xiao’s servant. Over the next several days, Shuisheng watches the mounting tension as triad boss Tang begins to suspect traitor’s in his midst as well as rivals for Xiao. The movie, directed by Zhang Yimou (“Raise the Red Lantern,” “House of Flying Daggers”) is inventive and riveting, loaded with strong performances and interesting visuals. The movie earned an 88 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; Mandarin 2.0 audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a video essay and a booklet about the movie.
Sukiyaki Western Django (Blu-ray) Release date: June 30 Details: 2007, MVD Marquee Collection Rated: R, strong violence, rape The lowdown: This Japanese Western, directed by Takashi Miike (“First Love”) is another variation on the “Yojimbo” and “Fistful of Dollars” plot in which a lone gunman rides into a town in which two rival gangs are fighting and, using his skills, pits the rivals against each other, while offering his services to the gang that will pay him the most. The two clans are fighting for a legendary hidden treasure located in an isolated mountain town. The Blu-ray offers two versions of the film, the 98-minute theatrical version and an extended international release cut, which has an additional 20-plus minutes. The Japanese actors speak their lines in English which, at times, makes it difficult to understand what they are saying. Still, if you enjoy spaghetti Westerns, this is an interesting variation with an Eastern flavor. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English, Japanese and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Besides the international release version, extras include deleted scenes, a making of featurette and a sizzle reel.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Invasion Earth (DVD & digital) (Midnight Releasing) Limbo (DVD & digital) (Uncork’d Entertainment) Ride Your Wave (Blu-ray & DVD & digital) (Shout! Factory-GKids) Satan’s Slaves (Blu-ray & DVD) (RLJE Films) Swallow (Blu-ray) (IFC Midnight-Scream Factory)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Ballbusters (Indican Pictures) CRSHD (MVD Visual Entertainment) Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons (Warner Home Entertainment) Red Penguins (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) The Resistance Fighter (Shout! Studios) Sam Jay: 3 in the Morning (www.netflix.com/SamJay3InTheMorning) (Netflix) The Swan Princess: A Royal Wedding (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Weathering With You (Shout! Factory-GKids) The Bureau: Season 5, Episode 8 (Sundance Now, Aug. 6) The Secrets She Keeps: Episode 4 (Sundance Now, Aug. 6) Upright: Episodes 1 & 2 (Sundance Now, Aug. 6) I Used to Go Here (Gravitas Ventures, Aug. 7) Psychomagic: A Healing Art (Alamo on Demand, Aug. 7) River City Drumbeat (Owsley Brown Presents, Aug. 7) She Dies Tomorrow (Neon, Aug. 7) Tale of Arcadia: Wizards (DreamWorks, Aug. 7) Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes (HBO Home Entertainment, Aug. 9) Dare (Sundance Now, Aug. 10) Disgrace (Sundance Now, Aug. 10) Magnus (Sundance Now, Aug. 10) Mount Pleasant: Series 6 & finale special (Acorn TV, Aug. 10) The Other Man (Sundance Now, Aug. 10) The Other One (Acorn TV, Aug. 10) Perry Mason (HBO Home Entertainment, Aug. 10) The Yorkshire Vet: Series 7 (Acorn TV, Aug. 10) American Street Kid (Kandoo Films, Aug. 21)
Coming next week: The High Note
I am a founding 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 Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.