New to View: Sept. 18
By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Sept. 18, unless otherwise noted: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Rated: PG-13, intense science fiction violence and danger The lowdown: We all know that dinosaurs are extinct. Too bad we can’t say the same for the new “Jurassic World” movie franchise. The original “Jurassic Park” was a technological marvel. The “Jurassic World” reboot of the series was a thrill ride that poked fun at corporate greed and the misplaced mindset that bigger is better. Now we have “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” which, as it turns out, is a very bad animal-rights, save-the-dinosaur allegory. I believe in climate change, and I support saving and protecting endangered species. I draw the line, though, at raptors and the T-Rex. Their time came and went; it’s called evolution. And the time has come to end this “Jurassic World” reboot — to mercifully put this series out of its misery. “Fallen Kingdom” is a cliché-ridden succession of useless and superfluous expository and hoary dialogue interspersed with formulaic sequences of narrow escapes and close calls. The movie is preposterous, sloppy and stupid. With the possible exception of Chris Pratt, the characters are one-dimensional archetypes, defined by their wardrobe and words. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 2.39:1 widescreen picture; English DTS X Master Audio, French and Spanish DTS-HD high resolution and English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles; DVD: 2.39:1 anamorphic widescreen picture; English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby digital and English 2.0 Dolby digital DVS; English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Don’t miss: Bonus features include an on-set featurette with stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, a behind-the-scenes featurette on the evolution of the dinosaur kingdom, a look at the birth of the Indoraptor, a behind-the-scenes peek at the rooftop showdown sequence, a featurette at the dinosaurs roaming around the mansion, a look at the bidding sequence, a look at the Indoraptor face off with a key character, a behind-the-scenes talk with Jeff Goldblum, a discussion about the evolution of VFX, a cast and filmmakers discussion about the movie, key moments from the “Jurassic” franchise and Chris Pratt’s Jurassic Journals.
The Looming Tower (Blu-ray + digital) Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: Not rated The lowdown: This 10-part series, which aired on Hulu, chronicles the events that led to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the rivalry between the FBI and CIA that may have set the path for the attacks to succeed. The episodes trace the rise of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda in the late 1990s and the efforts of the counter terrorism divisions of the FBI and CIA to gain information about the group. The series stars Jeff Daniels as John O’Neill, the chief of the FBI’s I-49 Squad in New York, and Peter Sarsgaard as Martin Schmidt, as the leader of the CIA’s Alec Station in Washington, D.C. The episodes detail how Schmidt disobeyed presidential orders and kept information about potential terrorists threats from the FBI. The competition between the two agencies and their inability to work together to protect Americans at home is chronicled. Watching the show will, at times, have you shaking your head in disbelief as well as raise your anger quotient as the implication is — if the agencies had worked together — this tragedy, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives, may have been averted. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and French 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH and French subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a featurette exploring the complicated and sometime contentious relationship between the FBI and CIA, a look at recreating the production in locals around the world that matched those in the story, a featurette with former FBI Special Agent Ali Soufan sharing memories about O’Neill, who was his mentor, and his life and career, a featurette on the cast and their approaches to portraying their characters, a first look at the show and commentaries.
Madam Secretary: Season 4 Details: 2017-18, CBS DVD-Paramount Home Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: Tea Leoni stars as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord in this popular CBS series. In season four, McCord must deal with situations on the international scene as well as closer to home in this six-disc set that features all 22 episodes. At home, McCord is supported by her husband, Henry (Tim Daly), a CIA agent whose operations are sometimes at odds with his wife’s agenda. Both serve at the pleasure of President Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), who is advised by the pragmatic Chief of Staff Russell Jackson (Zeljko Ivanek). At the State Department, McCord’s loyal staff helps her make the right decisions for our nation. Technical aspects: 16:9 picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Supplemental options include deleted and extended scenes and first season episodes of “Bull” and “The Good Fight.”
The Hired Hand (Blu-ray) Details: 1971, Arrow Academy Rated: R, violence, sexual content The lowdown: Peter Fonda made his directorial debut with this Western about Harry, who had earlier deserted his wife and child to explore the plains with his best friend, Archie (Warren Oates.) Tired of roaming, Harry returns home to try rekindling a connection with his wife and daughter. Fonda’s movie followed on the heels of his acclaim in pal Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider” and his image as a counterculture figure for his performances in such films as “The Wild Angels” and “The Trip.” “The Hired Hand” is considered one of the seminal Westerns of the 1970s. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.85:1 widescreen picture; English LPCM monaural; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Extras include a commentary track with Fonda, a 2003 documentary about the movie, deleted scenes, a profile of screenwriter Alan Sharp, an interview with Martin Scorsese, an audio recording of Fonda and Oates at the National Film Theatre in London in 1971 and a collector’s booklet with writings about the movie.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Concert: Encore (Blu-ray) Release date: Sept. 21 Details: 2010-13, Time Life Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A two-disc set featuring 44 performances from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies from 2010 through 2013. Among those taking the stage are inductees such as Genesis, The Stooges, The Hollies, Tom Waits, Leon Russell, Darlene Love, Donovan and Heart. Also performing are Rush and Red Hot Chili Peppers. There are also such collaborations as John Mellencamp joining Donovan and Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam performing with Heart. Speeches by Don Henley inducting Randy Newman and Neil Young inducting Tom Waits also are part of the package. This is a set that rock fans can cherish and listen to often. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital.
Television’s Lost Classics: Volume One (Blu-ray) Release date: Sept. 11 Details: 1955-56, VCI Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: The 1950s was the golden age of live television, where the three major networks presented dramas and comedies written by such writers as Reginald Rose and Abby Mann created original content and adaptations for audience consumption. This Blu-ray presents two such shows, linked by the presence of John Cassavetes as their star. The first, “Crime in the Streets,” aired in 1955 on “The Elgin Hour.” It costarred Robert Preston, was written by Rose and was directed by Sidney Lumet, who later directed such films as “Network,” “12 Angry Men,” “Fail-Safe,” “The Pawnbroker” and “Dog Day Afternoon.” The second show is a 1956 presentation from Climax! It was titled “No Right to Kill” and was an adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” directed by Buzz Kulik, best known for the made-for-TV movie, “Brian’s Song.” These black-and-white shows convey the dramatic power of television in that era. The episodes feature their original commercials, as well. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.33:1 full-screen picture; English Dolby digital. Don’t miss: The main extra is a blooper reel from “The Defenders” and “The Nurses” TV series.
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (Blu-ray) Phantasm IV: Oblivion (Blu-ray) Details: 1994, 1998, Well Go USA Entertainment Rated: R, violence, gore, language, sexual content The lowdown: Writer-director Don Coscarelli moves his franchise forward with these two releases featuring the evil Tall Man (Angus Scrimm). In “Lord of the Dead,” set 15 years after the original film, brothers Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) and Jody (Bill Thornbury) reunite to help their friend, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), destroy the Tall Man. Will they succeed? Obviously, not since a sequel, “Oblivion,” appeared four years later. In that movie, Mike and Reggie break through a gateway in the space-time continuum to unearth a clue that may put an end to the Tall Man, who for years, has been slowly populating the world with his undead legions, once and for all. Mike and Reggie must battle the Tall Man’s army not only to save their own lives, but all of mankind. Will they succeed? You will have to see the two movies to determine that — and whether a fifth movie is in the pipeline. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 1.78:1 (16x9 enhanced) widescreen picture; English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; English SDH subtitles. Don’t miss: Commentary tracks and behind-the-scenes featurettes on both movies comprise the major bonus offerings, as does deleted scenes for “Lord of the Dead.”
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (Blu-ray + DVD) Details: 2018, Well Go USA Entertainment Rated: Not rated The lowdown: In this Korean thriller, a crew of a horror web show plan to stream live from inside an asylum that local legend believe is haunted. To attract more viewers, the show’s host arranges some scares for his team, but as the show continues and they go deeper and deeper into the building, the nightmare grows and the crew encounters more than they can bargain for. The movie offers some scary goose-bump moments that may keep you on the edge of your seat. Technical aspects: Blu-ray: 1080p high definition, 16:9 widescreen picture; Korean DTS-HD Master Audio; English subtitles; DVD: 16:9 widescreen picture; Korean Dolby digital; English subtitles.
The Toybox (Blu-ray) Details: 2017, Skyline Entertainment-Steel House Productions Rated: Not rated The lowdown: A thriller about an estranged family who goes on vacation in a recently acquired used RV. Along the way, they pick up a stranded sister and brother. After driving in the middle of nowhere, the RV takes on a mind of its own and breaks down and crashes in the middle of a desolate desert. Soon, and bit by bit, the travelers discover some dark secrets hidden within the walls of the RV and must fight to survive. Technical aspects: 1080p high definition, 2.35:1 widescreen picture; English 5.1 Dolby digital; English closed-captioned. Don’t miss: A commentary track and a behind-the-scenes featurette comprise the major bonus components.
Other titles being released on Tuesday, unless otherwise indicated: Horrors of Malformed Men (Blu-ray) (Arrow Video) The Pyjama Girl Case (Blu-ray) (Arrow Video)
FOR KIDS Ben 10: Omni-Tricked (Cartoon Network-Warner Home Video)
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, STREAMING or VOD D.L. Hughley: Contrarian (Netflix) MDMA (Shout! Factory) Sicario: Day of the Soldado (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) The Birth, Death & Rebirth of Circle of Dust (FiXT-MVD Visual, Sept. 21) Little Italy (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Sept. 21) Ackley Bridge: Series 2 (Acorn TV, Sept. 24) Love Hurts: Series 3 (Acorn TV, Sept. 24) A Place to Call Home: Season 6, Episode 5 (Acorn TV)
Coming next week: Solo: A Star Wars Story
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.