By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, July 9, unless otherwise noted:
Little (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2019, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, brief suggestive content The lowdown: A fantasy comedy about demanding tech mogul Jordan Sanders (Regina Hall) who, because of all the pressure and stress of her job, wakes up one morning in the body of her 13-year-old self, portrayed by Marsai Martin of “Black-ish.” The timing of this strange event coincides with an upcoming do-or-die presentation by Sanders. The movie costars Issa Rae as Sanders’ beleaguered assistant who is told the secret about her former tormentor being trapped in the body of a tweener. The movie is based on an idea by young Martin, who also serves as one of the movie’s executive producers. And while the idea has merit, the follow-through is lacking as the one-joke premise begins to get thin, especially as little Jordan continues to see the world through the psyche of the adult Jordan. This is probably the reason the movie only received a 46 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 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: 1.85:1 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 options include a gag reel, a behind-the-scenes look at the cast, a featurette on Hall’s approach to playing Jordan Sanders, a behind-the-scenes featurette with Martin on the set interviewing filmmakers and cast members, a look at the parking lot fight scene with Rae and Martin and a featurette with Rae on how to survive working with a boss from hell.
This Island Earth (Blu-ray) Details: 1955, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This feature is one of the favorite sci-fi movies of the 1950s. It also is one of the few in which scientists from Earth actually travel to another planet. Rex Reason plays Dr. Cal Meacham an atomic scientist recruited to participate in a top-secret research program at a remote lab site. He soon learns that his hosts are not of this Earth, despite the assurances of Exeter, the head scientist played by Jeff Morrow, that the intentions of his people — who come from the planet Metaluna — are peaceful. Meacham and fellow scientist Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue) are later whisked away to Metaluna, which is battling Zahgon, a rival planet, for survival. “This Island Earth” is fondly remembered for introducing the buglike Mutant, which are basically the worker bees of Metaluna. The movie is a solid offering, but has received a bad rap over the years because of the way it was unfairly mocked on “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” It is an intelligent offering that overcomes some of its budget restraints to produce one of the best sci-fi movies of the 1950s. The movie’s original perspecta stereophonic soundtrack has been restored. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen and 1.33:1 full-screen pictures; English DTS-HD Master Audio stereo and monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Among the bonus features are a commentary track, interviews with film historian David Schecter and filmmaker Luigi Cozzi, a “Trailer from Hell — ‘This Island Earth’ ” segment with filmmaker Joe Dante, and an extended documentary about the making of the movie. Also included are the 1958 8mm and 16mm Castle Films home market cutdown releases of the movie, retitled “War of the Planets.” For fans of the old Castle Films releases, this is one of the more delightful bonus offerings.
Peter Pan (Blu-ray) Details: 1924, Kino Lorber Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This silent-film version of the J.M. Barrie classic stars Betty Bronson as Peter, Mary Brian as Wendy and Ernest Torrence as Captain Hook. The movie faithfully follows the familiar story as Peter takes Wendy and her brothers, Michael and John, to Never Never Land where they battle Hook and his pirates and also meet the Lost Boys and a band of natives led by Anna May Wong. The crocodile is featured, as is Tinker Bell (Virginia Browne Faire). This is an enjoyable adaptation, with music composed and conducted by Philip C. Carli, who I have heard perform during presentations of many silent films at the annual Cinevent film convention over Memorial Day weekend in Columbus, Ohio. The film was photographed by the great James Wong Howe and directed by Herbert Brenon. The film also features some color tinting. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.33:1 full-screen picture. Don’t miss: Extras include a commentary track by film historian Kat Ellinger, an essay by film historian Frederick C. Szebin and an audio interview with actress Esther Ralston, who portrayed Mrs. Darling.
Silent Hill: Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray) Details: 2006, Scream Factory Rated: R, strong violence horror and gore, disturbing images, language The lowdown: This is one of those movies based on a popular video game. It stars Radha Mitchell as Rose, a mother who takes her daughter, Sharon, to the town of Silent Hill to try curing her of her ailment. After a terrible car crash, Sharon disappears. Rose begins a desperate search to find her and get her back. During her investigation, Rose descends into the center of the town’s twisted reality and learns its horrific secret. Rose, pursued by deformed creatures and townspeople in an eternal purgatory, begins to uncover the truth behind the apocalyptic event that burned the town 30 years earlier. The film costars Sean Bean, Alice Krige and Laurie Holden. The movie left a majority of critics cold, which accounts for its 31 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include a commentary track, interviews with director Christopher Gans, special effects artist Paul Jones, actress Jodelle Ferland, actor Roberto Campanells and a six-part look at the making of the movie.
Transit Details: 2019, Music Box Films Rated: Not rated The lowdown: An allegory about the plight of displaced people around the world that is set at a time when fascist troops are descending on Paris. The movie, based on a 1944 novel, follows a Georg, a German refugee who flees to Marseilles, where he assumes the identity of a dead writer and obtains a transit visa for passage to North America. He awaits his departure in a make-shift émigré community, where his life intertwines with those of a young refugee and his widowed mother and a mysterious woman in search of her missing husband. Though set during the World War II era, the movie blurs time to present a story that is as urgent and universal as today. Technical aspects: 2.35:1 widescreen picture; German and French 5.1 Dolby digital; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extra include a making of featurette, interviews with director Chrisitan Petzold and leading man Franz Rogowski, a profile of Rogowski, a question-and-answer session at The Film Society of Lincoln Center and a collector’s booklet that features interviews and essays.
The Loveless (Blu-ray) Details: 1981, Arrow Video Rated: R, adult situations, nudity, language The lowdown: This biker flick is notable for two debuts — actor Willem Dafoe and future Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, who co-helmed the movie with Monty Montgomery. Dafoe stars as Vance, whose motorcycle gang hits a small southern town en route to the Daytona races. Their appearance surprises and angers the locals, basically because of their anti-social behavior. When Vance hooks up with sportscar-driving Telena (Marin Kanter), it greatly upsets the girl’s father, thus setting the gang on a collision course with the townies. Soon tensions boil over into violence. The movie visually describes an that spotlights the divide between two different Americas. The movie is a somewhat veiled criticism of the 1950s nostalgia created by President Ronald Reagan — and it also resonates in today’s skewered and volatile political climate. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include interviews with Dafoe and other cast members, an audio interview with musician Eddy Dixon, interviews with production designer Lilly Kilvert, director of photography Doyle Smith and producers Grafton Nunes and A. Kitman Ho, a commentary track and an illustrated collector’s booklet.
Mojin: The Worm Valley (Blu-ray + DVD) Details: 2018, Well Go USA Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Another cinematic adventure featuring tomb explorer Hu Bayi who, this time, seeks out the Tomb of the Emperor Xian, which is located on an island filled with monstrous creatures. The movie, like is predecessor, is based on a best-selling series of books. This Chinese import features a different cast than “Mojin: The Lost Legend” but it contains similar production values. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 (16:9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 (16:9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Mandarin Dolby digital; English subtitles.
The Pretenders — With Friends (Blu-ray + DVD + CD) Release date: July 12 Details: 2006, Cleopatra Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The Pretenders, with the legendary Chrissie Hynde, perform with Iggy Pop, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Kings of Leon and Incubus in a concert recorded at the Decades Rock Arena in Atlantic City, N.J. You can watch the concert on either Blu-ray or DVD or listen to all 16 tracks on a CD included in this package. This set is aimed at fans of The Pretenders, Iggy Pop and the other featured acts. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; DVD: 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital. Don’t miss: Extras are included on the DVD and feature interviews with band members.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Landing Lake (DVD & VOD) (High Octane Pictures) The Most Dangerous Year (DVD & VOD) (Passion River Pictures)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Alita: Battle Angel (Fox Home Entertainment) Hellboy (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Missing Link (Fox Home Entertainment) The Refuge (KS Pictures, July 12) From the Earth to the Moon (HBO Home Entertainment July 15) London Kills, Series 2 (Acorn TV, July 15) Neil Dudgeon’s Top Ten (Acorn TV, July 15)
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.