The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Feb. 25, unless otherwise noted: By Bob Bloom Frozen II (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2019, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG, action, danger and thematic elements The lowdown: “Frozen II” is simply OK. Fairly or unfairly, Disney’s animated features seem to be held to a higher standard than most films and “simply OK” is not good enough for a sequel to a movie that earned more than $400 million and received a 90 percent “fresh” rating on the Rotten Tomatoes film site. “Frozen II” will satisfy youngsters; it’s funny, colorful and exciting. It merely is unable to reach the heights of its predecessor. It seems content to just ride on the memories of the 2013 film instead of creating an identity of its own. True, it’s an entirely new story, but the feel — its vibe — is very familiar. Worse, the characters — the magical Elsa, her sister, Anna, the handsome Kristoff, the little snowman, Olaf and even Sven the reindeer — appear shackled to their earlier characterizations. “Frozen II” also looks back instead of forward. The bulk of the story centers on family secrets and righting past wrongs. On the positive side, the film promotes lessons in tolerance, inclusiveness and trust. And they are offered in such a manner that even little children can appreciate them. At 103 minutes, “Frozen II” maintains a decent pace with very few lulls. It’s just that the plot is rather lazy and predictable — adults will be one or two steps ahead of the characters for most of the film. It feels as if minimal effort was put into creating something new and special — that the studio was counting on the title alone to entice moviegoers. The movie did earn a respectable 77 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 descriptive audio and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 descriptive audio; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus features include outtakes, deleted scenes, deleted songs, making of and behind-the-scenes featurettes and music videos.
Frankie (Blu-ray) Release date: Feb. 18 Details: 2019, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, sexual situations, language The lowdown: Isabelle Huppert stars as Frankie, a family matriarch living in Sintra, Portugal, who has organized a gathering of her family for a summer day in the resort town. Over the course of the day, husbands and wives, parents and children and friends and lovers, all influenced by the romantic aura of the region, discover new feelings and problems in their relationships. Some face bright futures, while others contemplate unthinkable losses. The movie, which falters at times, in held together by Huppert’s grounded performance. Critics were nearly divided on the movie, giving it a 58 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.66:1 picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 5.1 Dolby digital audio description track; English SDH, English and French subtitles. Don’t miss: The major supplemental offering is a question-and-answer with Huppert and director Ira Sachs.
“Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 1” (Blu-ray) Release date: Feb. 18 Details: 1943-51, Warner Archive Collection Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The animated shorts, aka cartoons, released by Disney and featuring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and others, were funny, safe and mostly inoffensive. The cartoons released by Warner Bros. featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, Sylvester and Tweety Bird were wacky and, sometimes, out of this world. But the cartoons created by Tex Avery and released by MGM were in a league of their own. They were hilarious, surreal and — more often than not — broke that fourth wall between characters and audiences and exploding expectations of what would happen on screen. This Blu-ray features 19 Technicolor shorts, including classics familiar to animation aficionados such as “Who Killed Who?”, “Red Hot Riding Hood,” four Screwy Squirrel, two George and Junior and four Droopy entries. And, as hinted at in this Blu-ray’ title, more Avery cartoons appear to be on the horizon. These are cartoons that fans of the genre have been craving, and its worth saluting the Warner Archive Collection for beginning to release them. As noted, the set is from the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 (4x3) full-screen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles.
“Forbidden Fruit: The Golden Age of the Exploitation Picture”: Volumes 1-3 (Blu-ray) Mom and Dad Reefer Madness + Sex Madness Unashamed + Elysia: Valley of the Nude Details: 1933-45, Kino Lorber Classics-Something Weird Rated: Not rated, R The lowdown: In the 1930s the Hollywood Production Code, heeding protests from various citizen and religious groups tightened its grip of the “decadence” of movies being released in the early 1930s by the major studios. Movies such as Barbara Stanwyck’s “Baby Face” and the movies of Mae West now had to follow strict guidelines so their studios could get a certificate of approval to be released. But some wily independent filmmakers, realizing a thirst for the sensational and forbidden still existed, began releasing titles with subject matter that catered to the curiosity about such illicit subjects as drug use, nudity and sex hygiene. These movies were mostly released on a states-right basis and, while some were screened in non-studio controlled movie houses in metropolitan areas, the majority of bookings were in small cities and towns in the Midwest and the Bible belt. A distributor would rent a local theater or else erect a tent to screen a film. Most of the films were marketed as social problem movies and usually opened with scrolls that their educational intent was to depict the major vices that Hollywood studios avoided. These movies did attract audiences, mainly because they were promoted in ways that focused on their scandalous subject matter.
The volumes in this series include: “Mom and Dad” (1945) touches upon premarital sex and venereal disease, produced by exploitation filmmaker Kroger Babb, who hired legendary B-movie director William Beaudine to helm his feature. The film falls into the “sex hygiene” genre. The story centers on a young girl who falls in love with a pilot, who pressures her into sex. She later learns that the pilot was killed in a crash and that she is pregnant with his baby. The movie includes scenes of childbirth and footage of bodies scarred by syphilis. In 2005, “Mom and Dad” was added to the National Film Registry. In 1969, the unrated film was submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America, where it was given an “R” rating. “Reefer Madness” aka “Tell Your Children” aka “The Burning Question” (1936), is the second volume. It depicts the horrors of marijuana. The story involves two high school students who are lured to the apartment of a couple of marijuana dealers as potential new customers. The story includes a fatal hit-and-run, an attempted rape, a suicide and one smoker going mad by smoking too much weed. For movie fans into B-Westerns and serials, the cast includes actor-stuntman Dave O’Brien, Dorothy Short (O’Brien’s wife), Carlton Young, Walter McGrail, Ed LeSaint and William Royale. “Reefer Madness” was reborn as a midnight-movie happening in the 1970s because of its finger-wagging camp value. Included with “Reefer Madness” is “Sex Madness” aka “Human Wreckage” aka “They Must Be Told” (1938), a dire warning about syphilis and venereal disease. The movie features wild parties, lesbianism and, of course, premarital sex. Like “Reefer Madness,” “Sex Madness” was revived in the 1970s for its camp value. The third volume lauds the benefits of nudity and was filmed in a nudist camp. Unlike other exploitation features, these movies were more positive extolling the virtues of such a then-shocking lifestyle. “Unashamed: A Romance” (1938) is rather tame, obscuring all views of male and female genitalia and shooting most scenes from the rear. The movie offers a lot of bare butts and breasts. “Unashamed” actually contains a rather poignant story about a mixed-race woman and her unrequited love for her employer. The movie is neither sexual nor lewd. Rather it is life affirming as it centers on how fresh air and activity help keep the mind and body healthy. The other movie on this Blu-ray is “Elysia (Valley of the Nude)” (1933), centers on a newspaper reporter assigned to write an article about a nudist camp. Like “Unashamed,” the movie does not contain any full-frontal nudity by either gender. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture (“Mom and Dad” and “Unashamed: A Romance”) and 1.33:1 full-screen picture (“Reefer Madness,” “Sex Madness” and “Elysia (Valley of the Nude)”; English audio. Don’t miss: Extras include commentaries on all three volumes, “Sex Hygiene” a 1942 movie directed by John Ford, sex hygiene book pitches and sex hygiene lectures and vintage childbirth footage on “Mom and Dad”; “Assassin of Youth” (abridged version), an excerpt from 1924 movie “High on the Range,” a gallery of exploitation trailers and radio spots on “Reefer Madness”; and three short nudie films on “Unashamed.”
Manon (Blu-ray) Details: 1949, Arrow Academy Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The movie is a then-contemporary reworking of Abbe Prévost’s 1731 novel directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, best known for “Diabolique” and “The Wages of Fear.” The classic tragic romance is transposed to a World War II setting, centering on Manon (Cécile Aubry), a village girl accused of collaborating with the Nazis. Manon is saved from imminent execution by Robert Dégrieux, a former French Resistance fighter. The couple move to Paris, where they struggle to survive. They resort to profiteering, prostitution and murder to make ends meet. They eventually flee to Palestine seeking a new start in life. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.33:1 full-screen picture; French LPCM monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include an archival documentary featuring Clouzot, who discusses adapting literary works; an appreciation of the film and Clouzot; and a booklet about the movie.
Victory (Blu-ray) Details: 1981, Warner Archive Collection Rated: PG, language, violence The lowdown: This World War II sports drama centers on a propaganda play concocted by the Nazis in which a team of German all-star football (soccer) players will face off against a team of Allied P.O.W.s. The P.O.W.s, who include Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine and Pelé, decide to use the match as a cover for an escape attempt, since the meeting will be held in a stadium in Paris. The movie, directed by John Huston, is inspiring and formulaic, yet it remains fun viewing. The release is a made-on-demand Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio stereo; English SDH subtitles.
La Barraca (Blu-ray) Details: 1945, VCI Entertainment-MVD Visual Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This release, part of VCI’s “Clasicos del Cine Mexicano” series, is an adaptation of an 1895 novel by Vicente Blasco Ibánez (“Blood and Sand”) relating the hardships of a new family that arrives in a Spanish town to work a parcel (barraca) of land. The townspeople, however, are very hostile to the idea of outsiders working the land that once belonged to them. The film marked the debut of director Roberto Gavaldon and is listed as number 21 on the list of the 100 best movies in Mexican cinema. “La Barraca” is five movies restored as part of a collaborative project between the Film Library of the UNAM and the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 4x3 full-screen picture; Spanish audio; English subtitles.
Mind Games: Special Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1989, MVD Rewind Collection Rated: R, language, violence The lowdown: A couple going through a rough patch in their marriage decide to take a trip through northern California with their 10-year-old son in an attempt to repair their relationship. Along the way, the pick up a hitchhiker, who is a psychology student. Oh, and he’s also psychotic. The psycho, Eric (Maxwell Caulfield), decides to take control of the family by playing mind games with them. Thus, the movie’s title. His ultimate goal is to destroy the family through lies and manipulation. Initially, the family is easy pickings until they come to realize what Eric is doing and begin to fight back. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, “Mind Games” is a title that should appeal to you. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 LPCM; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus options include a making of featurette; a profile of Bob Yari, the movie’s producer; and a collectible mini-poster.
“One Missed Call” Trilogy (Blu-ray) Details: 2003-06, Arrow Video Rated: R, violence, language The lowdown: This trilogy of Japanese horror films is similar to such franchises as the Ring and Grudge features. The series offers a modern, high-tech twist on a mainstay of Japanese lore — the vengeful spirit, named Mimiko in these films. In “One Missed Call” (2003), directed by Takashi Miike (“First Love”), Yoko, a student, receives a phone message from her future self that ends with her own death scream. Two days later Yoko is killed in a rail collision. Soon, the mysterious phone curse spreads and more lives are lost. Yoko’s friend, Yumi, joins forces with Hiroshi, a detective, whose sister also was claimed by the curse. The pair battle time to figure out what is happening as Yumi is the next victim. Two sequels followed the original, “One Missed Call 2” (2005), which moves the action to Taiwan as a group tries to keep the curse from going global, and “One Missed Call: Final” (2006), centers on a bullied schoolgirl who, despite being treated badly by her classmates, tries to end the curse. The movies spawned a TV series and an American remake. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 LPCM; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include an archival tour of locations with Mimiko, two behind-the-scenes featurettes on the finale, a “One Missed Call 2” music video, documentaries on the making of “One Missed Call” and “One Missed Call 2,” deleted scenes from “One Missed Call 2,” an alternate ending for the first movie, archival interviews with cast members and Miike from “One Missed Call,” archival footage from the premiere of “One Missed Call” and a commentary on “One Missed Call.”
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: A German Youth (DVD) (Big World Pictures) Goalie (DVD & digital) (Dark Star Pictures) Hudson River Massacre (Blu-ray) (MVD Classics) Una Familia de Tantas (A Family Like No Other) (Blu-ray) (VCI Entertainment-MVD Visual Entertainment) Deadly Manor (Blu-ray) (Arrow Video, Feb. 28)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Bombshell (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Drowning (Pasquale Marco Veltri) Rag Doll (Gravitas Ventures) Superman: Red Son (Warner Home Video) Uncut Gems (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Playing for Keeps: Episode 2 (Sundance Now, Feb. 27) The Red Shadows: Episode 6 (Sundance Now, Feb. 27) The Other Boleyn Girl (Sundance Now, March 1) Lovejoy: Series 3 (Acorn TV, March 2) Murdoch Mysteries: Series 13, Episode 2 (Acorn TV, March 2)
Coming next week: Queen & Slim
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 Rottentomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.