By Bob Bloom
The following titles are being released on Tuesday, May 14, unless otherwise noted:
Fighting with My Family: Director’s Cut (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2019, MGM-Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: Unrated, PG-13, crude and sexual material, violence, language, drug content The lowdown: Paige and her brother, Zak, were born into a very close wrestling family. The sport is basically their lives. Paige and Zak are overjoyed when they get an opportunity to try out for the WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the program, she must leave the comfort of her family and face the cut-throat world of professional, competitive wrestling on her own. This comedy, based on a true story, follows Paige as she shows the world the star material that makes her a standout. The movie stars Florence Pugh, supported by Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”), Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn and Dwayne Johnson, who also served as one of the film’s producers. The set offers the theatrical and director’s cut versions of the movie, both which clock in at 109 minutes. Critics enjoyed the movie, giving it a 92 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 Dolby digital DVS and French 5.1 DTS digital surround; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English and French 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include a gag reel, deleted and extended scenes, a making of featurette, a behind-the-scenes look at the learning of various wrestling moves and a commentary track.
Apollo 11 (Blu-ray + digital) Details: 2019, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: G The lowdown: A stirring documentary that looks at one of mankind’s greatest achievements — the landing on the moon by the crew of Apollo 11. And while the movie really doesn’t provide any new details about the mission, it is spectacular to watch because of the discovery of reels of 65mm footage and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued recordings. The movie is a celebration — this year marks the 50th anniversary of the event — of the courage of the Apollo astronauts and the vision and expertise of the scientists, engineers and technicians who helped them achieve this outstanding milestone. The movie captures moments aboard the Apollo 11 capsule and at Mission Control. Critics applauded the movie, giving it an impressive 98 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.20:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: The major bonus component is a featurette on the discovery of the 65mm footage.
Princess Mononoke: Collector’s Edition Set (Blu-ray + CD) Details: 1997, Shout! Factory-GKids-Studio Ghibli Rated: PG-13, images of violence and gore The lowdown: This classic anime fantasy feature from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki is being reissued in a sturdy collector’s edition that features a 40-page book with art and essays, a hard slipcover and a CD with the film’s soundtrack. The movie follows Ashitaka, a young warrior inflicted with a deadly curse. He heads west in search of a cure. Once there, he stumbles upon a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi and the people of Iron Town and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl who was raised by wolves and will do whatever is necessary to protect her home — as well as the forest spirits and animal gods who live there — from humans who want to destroy it. The movie features the original Japanese audio track as well as an English version that features such voice talent as Gillian Anderson, Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett Smith and Billy Bob Thornton. “Princess Mononoke” is one of those movies that you never tire of watching. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English and Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH, English and French subtitles. Don’t miss: Beside the CD and the book, bonus features include feature-length storyboards, a behind-the-microphone featurette and a “Princess Mononoke” in the U.S.
Moses the Lawgiver Details: 1974, S’More Entertainment Rated: PG The lowdown: Burt Lancaster stars in this six-hour TV miniseries as the man chosen by God to take his people out of Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land. Moses first must convince the Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves he was using to build his cities and monuments. The miniseries features an all-star cast, including Anthony Quayle as Moses’ brother, Aaron; Ingrid Thulin as Miriam; and Irene Papas as Zipporah. The movie follows the well-known story of Moses’ birth, early life, his casting out from Egypt and his return as God’s instrument. The movie snubs the bombast and exclamation point dialogue of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 “The Ten Commandments,” focusing more on the human aspects of the biblical tale. Technical aspects: 4x3 full-screen picture; English Dolby digital stereo.
The Big Clock (Blu-ray) Details: 1948, Arrow Academy Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This movie is an odd marriage of film noir and screwball comedy. And if the film’s storyline sounds familiar, that is because it was revamped in the 1980s as the taut thriller, “No Way Out,” with Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman. This version is set in the offices of a publishing conglomerate, akin to post-World War II Time-Life, run by a tyrannical despot named Earl Janoth (the always-reliable and entertaining Charles Laughton). Janoth has recently fired one of his reporters, George Stroud (Ray Milland), who wrote for “Crimeways” magazine. The down-in-the-dumps, married Stroud meets Pauline York (Rita Johnson), who, unbeknownst to the former reporter, is Janoth’s mistress. Stroud, hiding in York’s apartment, witnesses Janoth kill the woman. The panicked publisher immediately rehires Stroud and assigns him to find the mystery man who was hiding in the apartment. Thus, as in “No Way Out,” you have the main character searching for himself. The cast also includes Maureen O’Sullivan (wife of the movie’s director, John Farrow) as Stroud’s wife and the nearly always-slimy George Macready as Janoth’s right-hand henchman. For an interesting exercise, watch “The Big Clock” then immediately watch “No Way Out” to appreciate the differences in tone and concept. The digital transfer on “The Big Clock” is adequate and does not detract from the enjoyment of the movie. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.37:1 full-screen picture; English 1.0 LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus materials include an appreciation of the movie by critic and Film London executive Adrian Woolton, a commentary track, a featurette on Laughton and his performance in the film and a “Lux Radio Theater” adaptation of the film.
The Big White (Blu-ray) Details: 2005, Arrow Video Rated: R, language, violence The lowdown: The late Robin Williams stars in this 2005 black-comedy thriller as an Alaskan travel agent on the brink of bankruptcy who finds a frozen body in a dumpster outside his agency. He devises a plan to pawn off the body as his long-lost brother so he can collect on a life insurance policy. Problems arise when the insurance investigator is very skeptical of the claim and the hit men who originally planted the body in the dumpster want it back. To make sure of that, they kidnap the travel agent’s wife, played by Holly Hunter, who, to complicate matters, has Tourette’s Syndrome. Making matters worse, the real brother, played by Woody Harrelson, turns up. So, whose body was in the dumpster? And how does all these threads connect. You’ll have to watch the movie to see how it is all resolved. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Bonanza: The Official Ninth Season: Volumes One & Two Release date: May 7 Details: 1967-68, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The days are never peaceful at the Ponderosa as the Cartwright family get involved with action and adventure as easily and quickly as mounting a trusty steed. In this two-volume, eight-disc set featuring all 34 ninth-season episodes. David Canary joins the cast as “Candy,” a rowdy drifter with his own brand of duty. Among the season’s guest stars are Bruce Dern, a pre-“True Grit” Kim Darby, a pre-“Hill Street Blues” James Sikking, Iron Eyes Cody, James Best and Leo Gordon. The usual group of killers, con artists, crooks and assorted bad people continually give Adam (Lorne Greene), Little Joe (Michael Landon) and Hoss Cartwright (Dan Blocker) trouble in and around the Ponderosa. It was also during this season that Landon made his directorial debut, which he continued to do with his other series, “Little House on the Prairie” and “Highway to Heaven.” Technical aspects: 4:3 full-screen picture; English and Spanish Dolby digital monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include vintage NBC promos, behind-the-scenes and on-location photos, a commentary track on the “To Die in Darkness” episode and an excerpt from “Danny Thomas Goes Country & Western” featuring Greene and Landon.
Yakuza Law (Blu-ray) Details: 1969, Arrow Video Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This Japanese feature is highlighted by many sequences of torture as it looks at the world of the Yakuza and the men who rule the Japanese underworld. The film seems to delight is showcasing how those who defy or oppose these ruthless gangsters are punished. The movie begins in the Edo period with a story of samurai vengeance, then shifts to the Meiji period as an exiled man returns to face punishment for his transgressions and, ultimately, to take his own revenge on those who wronged him. The final segment takes place in modern Japan in which a crime syndicate seeks revenge for the theft of 100,000 yen. This brutal movie is not meant for those with weak stomachs. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; Japanese LPCM monaural; English subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include an interview with the movie’s director, Teruo Ishii and a commentary track.
Another Shot Details: 2017, Well Go USA Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Basketball star Stephon Marbury stars as himself in this film based on his fall from the NBA to his journey of rediscovery and redemption in China. The movie centers on Marbury teaming up with a group of players in China who dream of winning the nation’s basketball championship and how Marbury, with help from a supportive coach and intense training, helps lead to the finals where they must face a seven-time championship team that many consider unbeatable. This is one of those feel-good sports movies, with its main demographic being NBA and Marbury fans. Technical aspects: 16:9 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated:
American Exit (DVD & digital download & VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Beer League (Blu-ray) (MVD Marquee Collection) Boogie Boy (Blu-ray + DVD) (MVD Rewind Collection) Bosch: The Garden of Dreams (Film Movement) Don’t Look (DVD & VOD) (Wild Eye Releasing) Life Like (DVD & digital download & VOD) (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) Mortuary (Blu-ray) (MVD Marquee Collection) Nina (Film Movement) Saint Bernard (Blu-ray & DVD & digital) (Severin Films) The Shape of Now (IndiePix Films) Valentine: The Dark Avenger (Blu-ray & DVD & digital download & VOD) (Shout! Studios)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Warner Home Video) Game Girls (Breaking Glass Pictures) Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate (Netflix) Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 (Lionsgate Home Entertainment) The Upside (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) Slaughterhouse Rulez (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, May 17) Kingdom: Series 1-3 (Acorn TV, May 20) Wide Sargasso Sea (Acorn TV, May 20)
Coming next week: Isn’t It Romantic
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.