New to View: March 31

By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, March 31, unless otherwise noted:

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Blu-ray + digital) Details: 2019, Lucasfilm-Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, science fiction violence and action The lowdown: “Star Wars” The Rise of Skywalker” wraps up the nine-film saga of the Skywalker family in an untidy bow that is a bit worn and uneven. The J.J. Abrams finale is, admittedly, very emotionally satisfying. But it also feels rushed, cobbled together and aware of what its fan base expects. The film moves at a hyperdrive pace; most of the dialogue is loudly shouted. And much of it is pedestrian, B-movie clichés. Yet, despite its flaws and familiarity, “The Rise of Skywalker” draws you in, mainly because you are ardently invested in the characters — old and new. You want to know and care about their fates. Will Daisy Ridley’s Rey find the answers she has sought since “The Force Awakens?” Will Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren fulfill his destiny? Will the First Order be victorious? Or will the Resistance win the day? The movie offers some surprises, some heartbreaking moments and loads of breathless action. The film jumps from situation to situation and from character to character at a rate that will make you gasp for air. And that dilutes the poignant gravitas this saga’s conclusion should have attained. Like most of the other movies in the franchise, “The Rise of Skywalker” offers serial-like exploits and last-minute, hairbreadth escapes. It all feels so recognizable and comfortable. It’s also about sacrifice, family and legacy — and whether blood is stronger than heart and conscience. Basically, “The Rise of Skywalker” is a new-generation remake of “The Return of the Jedi,” echoing situations from that film to move “Skywalker” along. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is definitely entertaining. Some fans of the full series may quibble with some aspects. It is not a perfect movie and may be debated for years to come. Yet the final scenes are fitting and bring the entire enterprise back to where it began. And, as the suns set on this movie series, we can embrace the enjoyment, thrills and fun it has given us over the decades, while being charitable to its faults and missteps. The movie’s Blu-ray transfer is excellent with top-notch audio and visual components. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition,, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, 2.0 descriptive audio and French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a two-hour-plus comprehensive documentary, “The Skywalker Saga,” that looks at the making of “The Rise of Skywalker” as well as making-of sequences from other movies in the nine-film series; a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the exciting speeder chase; an “Aliens in the Desert” short that examines the creation and shooting of desert sequences shot in Jordan; a look at the key ship in this latest movie; a featurette on Warwick Davis, who returns as Wicket from “Return of the Jedi,” and his son, Harrison, who also appears in “The Rise of Skywalker”; and a behind-the-scenes tribute to the various creatures who have appeared in the series and to those who created them.

What’s My Name Muhammed Ali (DVD) Details: 2018, HBO Home Entertainment-Warner Home Entertainment Rated: TV-14 The lowdown: This two-part HBO Sports documentary looks at the life and career of Muhammed Ali through recordings and archival footage, which reveals a complex personality who faced many challenges — professional and personal — throughout his life. The documentary explores the confrontations, comebacks and triumphs of Ali, who talks about many of them through recordings of phone calls to various friends and family members. The DVD, released through the Warner Archive Collection at www.wb.com/warnerarchive, is a fascinating examination of an individual who was more than an athlete. As a note required by the FTC, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of this DVD I am reviewing here. The opinions I am expressing are my own. Technical aspects: 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and French subtitles.

“Their Finest Hour: 5 British WWII Classics” (Blu-ray) Details: 1942-58, Film Movement Classics Rated: Not rated The lowdown: These five British films cover various aspects of World War II, from a quiet English village infiltrated by German soldiers to the evacuation of Dunkirk. The movies in the set are: “Went the Day Well?”, a 1942 drama directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and based on a story by Graham Greene, about German soldiers infiltrating that English village; “The Colditz Story” (1955), directed by Guy Hamilton and centering on a group of Allied prisoners who escape from Colditz Castle; “The Dam Busters” a 1955 thriller directed by Michael Anderson and inspired by true events that follows an RAF squadron using bouncing bombs to destroy a dam vital to Germany; “Dunkirk” (1958) stars John Mills and Richard Attenborough is the first movie retelling of the famous 1940 evacuation; and “Ice Cold in Alex,” a 1958 drama directed by J. Lee Thompson and also starring Mills about a Royal Army Service Corps captain who must lead his medical unit to safety across the North African desert. These films feature such British actors as Michael Redgrave, Leslie Banks, Bernard Lee and Richard Todd. World War II film buffs will enjoy this set as it depicts various aspects of our ally’s struggle against German forces and how they prevailed. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen pictures for “Went the Day Well?”, “The Colditz Story” and “The Dam Busters” and 1.66:1 picture for “Dunkirk” and “Ice Cold in Alex”; English 2.0 LPCM monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include various behind-the-scenes looks, newsreel footage, documentaries and making of featurettes on the movies.

Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (Blu-ray) Details: 1938, Kino Lorber Studio Classics Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert star in this screwball comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch with a screenplay by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett. The movie, set in the French Riviera, finds Colbert’s Nicole De Loiselle, the daughter of a penniless aristocrat, catching the eye of millionaire Michael Brandon (Cooper). Following a whirlwind courtship, Nicole accepts Michael’s marriage proposal. She later is shocked to learn that Michael has been married seven times before. Nicole determines to make a mockery of their marriage — which causes Michael to do the same. Love, of course, triumphs at the fadeout. The movie costars the wonderful Edward Everett Horton as Nicole’s father, as well as David Niven, Elizabeth Patterson and Herman Bing. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles. Don’t miss: A commentary track by film historian Kat Ellinger is the main bonus component.

Standing Up, Falling Down (DVD) Details: 2020, Shout! Studios Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A comedy about 34-year-old Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz), who, after four years, gives up his dream of being a stand-up comic and returns to his parents’ home on Long Island. While trying to figure out what to do next — and pining for his ex-girlfriend who is now married — Scott goes to a bar where he meets Marty (Billy Crystal), a very strange dermatologist. The two form a friendship and begin to help each other put the regrets of their lives in the past, have the courage to face and admit them and, finally, forge ahead. The plot may be familiar, but the dialogue and chemistry between Schwartz and Crystal compensate for some of its clichés. Technical aspects: 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English subtitles.

Bones (Blu-ray) Details: 2001, Scream Factory Rated: R, bloody and gory violence, language, drug use, sexual content The lowdown: Snoop Dogg stars in this horror outing as Jimmy Bones, a beloved and respected community leader and neighborhood protector. The year is 1979. Bones is betrayed by his best friend and murdered by a corrupt cop because he refuses to allow crack cocaine to be introduced into the community. His body is secreted in his brownstone. Two decades later, the neighborhood has been transformed into a drug-invested ghetto and Bones’ former home is an abandoned ruin. Four teens decide to renovate the brownstone into an afterhours nightclub. During the work, they inadvertently release Bones’ vengeance-seeking spirit, which seeks out all who betrayed him. The film was directed by famed cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include interviews with Dickerson, screenwriter Adam Simon, director of photography Flavio Labiano and special effects artist Tony Gardner; a commentary track; deleted scenes; a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a music video.

Shooting the Mafia (Blu-ray) Release date: March 24 Details: 2019, Cohen Media Group Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This fascinating documentary focuses on Sicilian photographer Letizia Battaglia who has spent decades battling the Mafia because of using her camera to chronicle their misdeeds. Battaglia began by photographing murder victims and, since the 1970s, has found herself on the front lines in Italy’s war on the secretive criminal organization. She captured more than crimes; Battaglia photographed everyday Sicilian life, including weddings and funerals. She also captured the grisly killings of ordinary people who defied the Mafia. Her pictures told how regular people in her beloved Palermo were terrorized into silence by the Cosa Nostra. The movie uses Battaglia’s black-and-white photos, classic Italian movies and archival footage to tell the story of a courageous and remarkable woman who defied and helped expose the Mafia. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, widescreen picture; Italian and English 5.1 Dolby digital; English subtitles. Don’t miss: The main extra is a conversation with director Kim Longinotto.

The Captain (Blu-ray) Details: 2019, Well Go USA Rated: Not rated The lowdown: An airline disaster film from China that is based on a true event. The windshield of a Sichuan Airlines Airbus flight shatters at 30,000 feet above the Tibetan Plateau. The copilot is sucked halfway out the cockpit window, cabin temperatures fall and passengers are losing consciousness. It is up to the captain to land the plane safely, despite the loss of all communication and with the plane heading into a storm. The movie offers an old-fashioned vibe, but still retains thrills and suspense, despite knowing the outcome. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 (16:9 enhanced) widescreen picture; Mandarin 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 Dolby digital; English subtitles.

Munster, Go Home! (Blu-ray) Details: 1966, Scream Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A feature film that plays off the popularity of the 1960s’ sitcom. In this comedy, Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne), inherits a mansion in England and moves in with wife, Lily (Yvonne De Carlo), Grandpa (Al Lewis) and son, Eddie (Butch Patrick). The family does not know that their new estate is the headquarters for a group of criminals, who foolishly try to scare the Munsters away. Fat chance of that. The film, which costars Terry-Thomas, Hermione Gingold, Bernard Fox and John Carradine, was directed by TV veteran Earl Bellamy, who directed several episodes of the TV series. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus options include the 1981 made-for-TV movie, “Munsters’ Revenge,” a commentary track with Patrick and Rob Zombie and cast radio interviews.

Mystify: Michael Hutchence (Blu-ray) Details: 2019, Shout! Factory Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A documentary centering on Michael Hutchence, the charismatic and dynamic lead singer for INXS. The movie, written and directed by Richard Lowenstein, reveals another Hutchence: a sensitive man who struggled with his success and his artistry. Hutchence died in 1997. He was 37 years old. The cause of death was ruled a suicide. Lowenstein presents an intimate look at Hutchence, using archival footage, home movies and other imagery to capture the essence of the man. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.38:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental materials include looks at Hutchence’s early years, his acting, filming videos in Prague, working with Lowenstein on music videos, his love of motorcycles and his last days; plus, a clinical insight into Hutchence from Professor Steve Ellen, deleted scenes and producer Chris Thomas recounting the night he learned of Hutchence’s death.

SpongeBob Squarepants: The Complete Eleventh Season (DVD) Details: 2017-18, Nickelodeon-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This three-disc set features 591 minutes of undersea fun with SpongeBob and his pals in Bikini Bottom. The episodes include a trip to Bubble Buddy’s hometown, SpongeBob trying to keep Fred’s leg out of harm’s way, moving Bubble Bass out of his mom’s basement. New characters include an imaginary hamster, a sea bunny, Sandy’s nutty nieces and Krusty Krab’s night crew. To top it off, you get a trip to the moon and hear Gary speak for the first time. The set will keep the youngsters glued to the television as long as you need it to. Technical aspects: Widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital and French and Spanish Dolby digital stereo; English closed-captioned subtitles. Don’t miss: The sole extra is Plankton’s color nullifier.

Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Aga (DVD) (Big World Pictures) Spy Intervention (DVD) (Cinedigm)

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Bad Boys for Life (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Sonic the Hedgehog (Paramount Home Entertainment) Best in Show (Sundance Now, April 1) Little Children (Sundance Now, April 1) Valiant (Gravitas Ventures-Amazon Prime, April 1) The Young Victoria (Sundance Now, April 1) Playing for Keeps: Episode 7 (Sundance Now, April 2) The Restaurant: Season 3, Episode 3 (Sundance Now, April 2) Straight Forward (Sundance Now, April 2) Coffee & Kareem (Netflix, April 3) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Focus Features, April 3) Blood: Series 2, Episode 6 (Acorn TV, April 6) Deadwater Fell: Episode 1 (Acorn TV, April 6) Land Girls: Series 1 (Acorn TV, April 6) Miss Arizona (Sundance Now, April 6) Murdoch Mysteries: Series 13, Episode 17 (Acorn TV, April 6)

Coming next week: Little Women Dolittle

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.