By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, July 3, unless otherwise noted: Blockers (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: R, crude and sexual content, nudity, language, drug use, teen partying The lowdown: A low-brow comedy with heart about three parents who learn that their daughters have made a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. The parents, played by Leslie Mann, John Cena and Ike Barinholtz, set out to thwart their daughters’ plans no matter what the cost. The movie works because the parents are the focus of the story and, despite some of their mugging reactions to certain situations, they elicit laughs for their uptight behavior and sighs for the love they show their offspring. Critics were charmed, giving the movie an 83 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 2.0 DVS and French and Spanish 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus offerings include a gag reel, deleted scenes, a discussion with the cast and director Kay Cannon about the challenges of being a parent, a featurette on how the film achieved the perfect prom look, a featurette with Barinholtz explaining the history of sex, Cena’s explaining a prom survival kit for parents, a behind-the-scenes look at the “butt chugging” sequence and a behind-the-scenes look at the projectile vomit sequence.
“The Complete Sartana” (Blu-ray) Details: 1968-70, Arrow Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Sartana was another in a long line of popular spaghetti Western characters. This five-disc set offers the first quintet of movies in the series: “If You Meet Sartana … Pray for Death,” “I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death,” “Have a Good Funeral My Friend … Sartana Will Pay,” “Light the Fuse … Sartana is Coming” and “Sartana’s Here … Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin.” In all five, Sartana uses various weapons and tricks to outwit and defeat his adversaries, even using the old trope of turning two rival groups against each other. The movies are violent, with high body counts, and follow a well-worn trail, yet they are fun, especially for fans of the genre. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; Italian and English LPCM monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Various behind-the-scenes looks at the movies and interviews with actors who appeared in the movies and directors who helmed the Westerns are among the major extras. Others include commentaries on a couple of the movies and a booklet with essays about the films and actors who appeared in them and played Sartana.
Super Fly (Blu-ray) Release date: June 19 Details: 1972, Warner Archive Collection Rated: R, language, violence, sexual content The lowdown: Ron O’Neal stars as Priest, a bigtime cocaine dealer who wants out of the business, in this classic Blaxploitation feature, which received much criticism when it was originally released for glorifying a drug dealer. Nevertheless, the movie is a product of its time, as it follows the consequences of Priest’s decision. It seems a mysterious criminal kingpin wants him to remain in business, which triggers a series of murders, revenge and double crosses. The movie features a memorable score by Curtis Mayfield and solid direction by Gordon Parks. The release is a made-on-demand Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online dealers. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include a retrospective documentary about the movie, a commentary track, a talk with Curtis Mayfield about his score, O’Neal talking about the making of the movie, a look at the film’s costumes and a “Behind the Hog” featurette with Les Dunham.
The Last House on the Left: Limited Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 1972, Arrow Video Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Wes Craven made his directorial debut with this shocker about two young girls abducted on their way to a concert who are driven into the woods and brutalized by a group of sadistic men. Craven’s film, which he also wrote and edited, was inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s “The Virgin Spring.” And like the Swedish classic, it is the parents who exact revenge on the thugs for the killing of the two girls. Of course, being a Craven film, the tone is sadistic, gross, violent and very bloody. The film is not for those with weak constitutions. This three-disc set features uncut and R-rated versions of the movie as well as a CD. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include excerpts from an unfinished Craven short film, interviews with Craven collaborators, deleted scenes, outtakes and dailies, a look at the movie’s most controversial sequences, an archival making of documentary, an archival interview with Craven, archival interviews with actor-composer David Hess, an interview and conversation with actor Marc Sheffler, three commentary tracks, a booklet with writings about the movie and six lobby card reproductions.
The Colossus of Rhodes (Blu-ray) Release date: June 19 Details: 1961, Warner Archive Collection Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This Italian sword-and-sandal feature is best known as the directorial debut of Sergio Leone who left the sandals behind for a pair of cowboy boots and a Stetson to begin his string of successful spaghetti Westerns. In his first outing, Leone uses American actor Rory Calhoun to tell a tale about tyranny and a battle for freedom. Prisoners are forced to fight for their lives in coliseum games while behind the scenes treachery raises its head as usurpers connive and revolution is in the air. Above it all, is the bronze Colossus that straddles the harbor and delivers death to enemies via the burning oil from the huge cauldron it holds and the fiery streams of molten lead shot from catapults in its headpiece. It’s all campy fun now. The release is a made-on-demand Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection and can be found at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online dealers. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: A commentary track is the main extra.
Tender Comrade (DVD-R) Release date: June 19 Details: 1943, Warner Archive Collection Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The majority of movies to boost morale during World War II dealt with the troops in the various armed forces. Some, however, dealt with the sacrifices and problems of those who remained behind — especially the wives, mothers and sisters of servicemen. “Tender Comrade” is one of those features. It stars Ginger Rogers as Jo, the outspoken leader of a group of “war widows” who decide to live together in Los Angeles until their husbands return. Jo runs the house and tries to keep the women on the right path, which means away from temptation — such as other men, as well as keeping up their morale. The movie, which was written by Dalton Trumbo, who later was blacklisted, costars Ruth Hussey, Kim Hunter, Mady Christians, Patricia Collinge and Robert Ryan. The release is a made-on-demand DVD-R from the Warner Archive Collection. It can be ordered at www.wb.com/warnerarchive or other online retailers. Technical aspects: 1.37:1 (4x3) full-screen picture; English Dolby digital monaural.
The Cured (Blu-ray) Details: 2018, IFC Midnight-Scream Factory Rated: R, graphic violence, bloody images, language The lowdown: Another post-apocalyptic feature in which the dead return to life as zombie-like cannibals. As in many movies of this ilk, it was a virus that created this global catastrophe. But, hooray, a cure has been found and the massive chore of reintegrating the survivors back into society begins. Among those saved is a young man who feels enormous guilt about the acts he committed while infected. He is again embraced by his family of his widowed sister-in-law, played by Ellen Page. The rest of society, though, remains weary of the former infected and is slow to forgive them for the havoc they wrought. The movie can be seen as an allegory of some of the contemporary problems that plague society today. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.40:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: The major bonus offering is a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: China Hustle (Magnolia Home Entertainment) Don’t Grow Up (Shudder) Ismael’s Ghosts (Magnolia Home Entertainment) Sunset (Random Media)
FOR KIDS Nella the Princess Knight: Royal Quests (Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD The Comedy Lineup, Part 1 (Netflix) I Feel Pretty (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) Inferno: Skyscraper Escape (High Octane Pictures) Mad Genius (Film Mode Entertainment) Minutes to Midnight (Uncork’d Entertainment) Ready Player One (Warner Home Video) Super Troopers 2 (Fox Home Entertainment) Agatha Christie Hour (Acorn TV, July 9)
Coming next week: Mosaic
I am a 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.