New on Home Video – “Air Force One” 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition Steelbook

March 9, 2023 by Keith Garlington

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released 1997’s thrilling action thriller “Air Force One” on 4K Ultra HD in a new limited edition steelbook. A terrific Harrison Ford plays United States President James Marshall who takes on a ruthless terrorist (played with ample menace by Gary Oldman) and his loyalists who hijack Air Force One. This beautiful 4K remaster and attractive steelbook edition is a must-get for fans of the film.

This new 4K Ultra HD Combo-Pack of “Air Force One” hit shelves March 7th, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and breakdown of the bonus features.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

Year: 1997

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 minutes

Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman star in Wolfgang Petersen’s (Das Boot, In the Line of Fire) gripping thriller about a steadfast U.S. President who has just told the world he will not negotiate with terrorists. Now, Russian neo-nationalists have hijacked Air Force One, and the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision – give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country’s dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

AIR FORCE ONE CREDITS

Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen
Produced By: Armyan Bernstein, Wolfgang Petersen, Gail Katz and John Shestack
Written By: Andrew W. Marlowe
Executive Producers: Thomas A. Bliss, Marc Abraham, David Lester
Cast: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Wendy Crewson, Paul Guilfoyle, William H. Macy, Liesel Matthews, Dean Stockwell

BONUS MATERIAL:

AIR FORCE ONE 4K ULTRA HD DISC

Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos + 5.1 audio
Special Feature: Theatrical Trailer

4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 2.40:1
4K UHD Feature Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Compatible) | English 5.1 DTS-HD MA

AIR FORCE ONE BLU-RAY DISC

Feature presented in high definition
5.1 Audio
Special Feature: Commentary with Director Wolfgang Petersen

RETRO REVIEW: “Play Misty for Me” (1971)

March 9, 2023 by Keith Garlington

It’s not a stretch to say that Clint Eastwood has had an extraordinary movie career. Perhaps best known for his work as an actor, he has also excelled behind the camera. It fact, it may surprise some to know that he has directed nearly 40 feature films. Even more, Eastwood have received four Academy Award nominations for directing alone, winning two of them (“The Unforgiven”, “Million Dollar Baby”). As I said, he’s had an extraordinary movie career.

Eastwood’s directorial debut came all the way back in 1971 with the psychological thriller “Play Misty for Me”. The film was a hit with critics and a modest success at the box office. Despite being his first time behind the camera, it’s easy to recognize certain characteristics of Eastwood’s direction that would become his trademarks. And while it’s hardly his best directed film, you get good tastes of the filmmaker he would become all throughout “Misty”.

**Image Courtesy of Universal Pictures**

Written by the duo of Jo Heims and Dean Riesner, “Play Misty for Me” sees Eastwood playing Dave Garver, a popular disc jockey for KRML radio in Carmel, California. After another successful evening show, Dave stops at a bar owned by his good friend Murphy (Don Siegel). While there, a woman catches his eye and the two have some drinks. Sounds innocent enough.

The woman introduces herself as Evelyn (Jessica Walter) and first claims to have been stood up at the bar. But she soon admits she’s really there to meet Dave. It turns out she’s a fan and the same woman who has been repeatedly calling his radio show to request Erroll Garner’s “Misty”. The two leave together for a no-strings-attached one-night stand. At least that’s what Dave thinks. Unfortunately for him, Evelyn feels differently. She begins calling him and paying unannounced visits to his house. But what starts as inconveniences quickly evolves into a disturbing and dangerous obsession.

To complicate matters, Dave’s ex-girlfriend Tobie (Donna Mills) returns to town after four months away. Dave’s crazy about her and wants to get back together. But she’s weary about getting involved again, especially after his history of womanizing. Still, he’s determined to make their relationship work – something that gets significantly more difficult with the increasingly unhinged Evelyn around.

As the story unfolds, it’s pretty easy to predict where things are heading. And occasionally Eastwood will make a peculiar choice that can feel out of sync with the rest of the movie (such as an extended scene showing Dave and Tobie at a music festival). Yet his direction keeps us on our toes, and watching him maneuver us around some intriguing late twists really emphasizes his facility for filmmaking. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that he gives a really strong performance. But to have such good senses behind the camera in his first turn as a director is both surprising and impressive.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

New on Home Video: “Rocky: The Knockout Collection” on 4K Ultra HD and Digital

March 8, 2023 by Keith Garlington

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, MGM, and United Artists have recently announced and released “Rocky: The Knockout Collection”. For the very first time, “Rocky”, “Rocky II”, “Rocky III”, “Rocky IV”, and the “Rocky IV” extended director’s cut “Rocky vs. Drago” are available in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR). This collection also contains a Blu-ray disc featuring the hour-long behind the scenes documentary on the making of “Rocky vs Drago” along with a selection of past bonus features. It’s a must-have for any fan of the Rocky franchise.

This new 4K combo-pack of “Rocky I-IV” hit shelves on February 28, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and breakdown of this stellar new collection.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

“ROCKY”

Year: 1976

Rating: PG

Runtime: 119 Minutes

Director: John G. Avilsden

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards®, this 1976 Best Picture Winner inspired a nation. A struggling Philadelphia club fighter (Sylvester Stallone) gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for love, glory and self-respect. Featuring a legendary musical score and thrilling fight sequences, this rousing crowd-pleaser scores a knockout!

The film is directed by John G. Avilsden from a screenplay and story by Sylvester Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.

ROCKY won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Best Director and Best Film Editing. In 2006, the Library of Congress selected ROCKY for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

“ROCKY II”

Year: 1979

Rating: PG

Runtime: 120 Minutes

Director: Sylvester Stallone

After club fighter Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) goes the distance with the world heavyweight champion, boxing fans clamor for a rematch. But Rocky, having sustained massive injuries, announces his retirement. Though he tries to make a new life for himself, Rocky realizes that he can’t escape his true calling. The ring beckons once more, and the “Italian Stallion” must prepare for the fight of his life.

The film is directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay and story by Stallone. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff and stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Tony Burton, and Burgess Meredith.

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

“ROCKY III”

Year: 1982

Rating: PG

Runtime: 100 Minutes

Director: Sylvester Stallone

As Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) fights his way into the hearts of millions, life couldn’t be better. But when Clubber Lang (Mr. T) KOs Rocky in a humiliating defeat, it becomes apparent that the “Italian Stallion” has lost his edge. Considering hanging up his gloves, Rocky receives encouragement from an unlikely ally: his old nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With Creed’s help, Rocky strives to regain the “eye of the tiger” before confronting Lang in a grueling rematch!

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

“ROCKY IV” & “ROCKY VS. DRAGO”

Year: 1985

Rating: PG, NR

Runtime: 91 Minutes & 93 Minutes

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) holds the world heavyweight boxing championship but faces a new challenger: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a 6’4″, 261-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. Rocky prepares for a powerfully charged fight, in which he must defend not only himself but the honor of his country!

Also included is Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago. Stallone masterfully reshapes Rocky IV in the ultimate director’s cut!

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

RETRO REVIEW: “L.A. Confidential” (1997)

March 8, 2023 by Keith Garlington

It’s tough being a fan of film noir in 2023 – a time when the genre (that’s not exactly a genre) has all but dried up. The influence of film noir is still seen and felt in some movies today. And occasionally we’ll get a new film that fits the somewhat established description of film noir (last year’s superb “Decision to Leave” being the most recent example) – they have a certain style; there’s an element of mystery; they have seedy settings; they’re led by cynical protagonists. But sadly, there’s just not that many of them.

While I enjoy the new neo-noirs that occasionally come down the movie pipeline, rewatching “L.A. Confidential” reminded me of how much I love it when a filmmaker embraces the form to the fullest. “L.A. Confidential” feels like a time capsule movie, both in its style of storytelling and filmmaking. It has most of the markings of the great classic noirs while also having the willingness to tinker with the formula, similar to a film like “Chinatown”. And while I wouldn’t put it on the same level as Polanski’s picture (few movies are), in many ways “L.A. Confidential” follows in the footsteps of that 1974 gem.

“L.A. Confidential” comes from director Curtis Hanson who works from an Oscar-winning screenplay he co-wrote with Brian Helgeland. Their story is based on James Ellroy’s 1990 neo-noir novel of the same name, the third book in his L.A. Quartet series. As it turns out, Ellroy’s work makes for prime movie material as Hanson would show in his smart, sinister, and sultry telling of an L.A. crime story – one rooted in violence, corruption, and betrayal.

The title is taken from a 1950’s gossip rag called Confidential founded by Robert Harrison. In the movie it’s represented as Hush-Hush magazine which is ran by the sleazy Sid Hudgens (Danny DeVito). He’s our opening narrator who introduces us to 1953 Los Angeles and the key players in the story. From there it all unfolds like a pulpy crime novel, but with so many cinematic flourishes that help vividly bring the characters and the setting to life.

Anchored by a stellar cast, “L.A. Confidential” follows three very different LAPD officers navigating rampant mob violence and police corruption. Sergeant Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) is an ambitious, by-the-book officer trying to live up to his late father’s good name on the force. An idealist at heart, Exley is determined to make a difference, even testifying against fellow officers and earning a promotion as a result. Needless to say, it doesn’t earn him many friends at his precinct.

Detective Wendell “Bud” White (Russell Crowe) is a plainclothes officer with an edge. He’s not afraid to rough up men who beat up women (a result of watching his own mother beaten to death by his father), and he has no reservations about strong-arming criminals. He also detests Exley for testifying against his partner, Dick Stensland (Graham Beckel) and getting him kicked off the force. There’s a palpable tension between the two that only intensifies.

And then there is Detective Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), an officer in the narcotics division with an affection for the Hollywood spotlight. When not serving as an advisor on the television cop drama “Badge of Honor”, he takes money on the side from Sid Hudgens who tips him off to various celebrity mischief. Vincennes then lets Sid photograph the high-profile arrests for his magazine. Quite the racket.

The three cops are ultimately drawn together by a grisly multiple murder at a coffee shop called The Nite Owl. Among the dead is Dick Stensland. Three young African-American hoods are arrested and charged and the case is quickly closed. But the truth behind the crime is hidden behind a haze of blackmail, scandal, and corruption. As Hanson and Hedgeland’s script thickens, we’re treated to a fittingly brutal and sordid tale. One that takes a well-traveled genre and infuses it with new life. One that drags us deep into the mire of the “City of Angels”. One that keeps us hooked with every crooked twist and every shady double-cross.

It may be 25-years-old, but “L.A. Confidential” still holds up remarkably well today. And despite playing to a well-traveled genre (which I still love to this day), Curtis Hanson gave film noir a jolt that can still be felt today. The flawless ensemble (I haven’t even mentioned the terrific Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, and David Strathairn), the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA – most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle.

VERDICT – 4.5 STARS

New on Home Video: “Code of the Assassins” on Blu-ray and DVD

March 7, 2023 by Keith Garlington

Well Go USA Entertainment has announced the home video release of director Daniel Lee’s “Code of the Assassins”. With its rich and rousing mix of fantasy, adventure, and Wuxia-driven action, “Code of the Assassins” follows a young assassin who gets caught up in a web of power grabs, conspiracies, and betrayal. His twisty, mystery-laced story is accentuated by top-notch action choreography, terrific performances, and exquisite production design (Full review of the film coming soon).

This Blu-ray and DVD editions of “Code of the Assassins” hits shelves March 28, 2023. See below for a full synopsis and features breakdown of this brand new combo-pack.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:

Year: 2022

Rating: NR

Runtime: 119 minutes

Director: Daniel Lee

Starring: William Feng, Jun Hu, Gina Jin, Qingxiang Wang, Ray Lui, Jack Kao, Shu Li, Hugo Ng

After completing his training, an elite young assassin embarks on his first mission and is quickly ensnared in an intricate plot laid by powerful people pulling strings from the shadows. Upon failing to complete the assignment, he is forced to go on the run—from the government and rival assassin groups alike—as he seeks to unmask the players behind the conspiracy.

CODE OF THE ASSASSINS debuts exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-YAH! on March 3rd, before landing on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD on March 28th from Well Go USA Entertainment. Directed Daniel Lee (Dragon Blade, 14 Blades, The Climbers), CODE OF THE ASSASSINS stars William Feng (Wolf Totem, White Vengeance), Jun Hu (Red Cliff, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils), Gina Jin (Wuxin: The Monster Killer, Hope All Is Well), Qingxiang Wang (The Grandmaster, Red Cliff), Ray Lui (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Flash Point, Raging Fire) and Jack Kao (A Place Of One’s Own, Witness).

REVIEW: “Children of the Corn” (2023)

March 7, 2023 by Keith Garlington

(CLICK HERE to read my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

I was a rural kid who first saw the 1984 supernatural horror film “Children of the Corn” thanks to our family’s giant (and admittedly gaudy) backyard satellite dish (kids, ask your parents about them). Ever since then, I’ve always had a soft for the film which was based on a 1977 Stephen King short story. It is unquestionably flawed in ways that stand out even more today. Yet I’ve always found myself entertained by the movie, drawn into its setting, and intrigued by some of the ideas that sit at its core.

Nine mostly straight-to-video movies later and we have yet another one. Completed in 2020 but just now getting its proper release, this new “Children of the Corn” doesn’t have much in common with the 1984 film. That story followed two travelers who seek help in a dead and abandoned Nebraska farm town only to discover its disturbing and deadly secret. This one actually shifts its focus to the small town itself and the bloody horrors that befell the people who lived there. It’s a cool idea and an interesting take on King’s story. Sadly, writer-director Kurt Wimmer can’t quite bring it all together as I had hoped.

The small rural town of Rylstone is on the ropes. It lives and breathes on its corn production. But bad deals with the big corn industries has left their fields ravaged by harmful herbicides which have led to a devastating blight. With businesses closing and people losing everything, the townsfolk are desperate. For 17-year-old Bo (Elena Kampouris), watching her hometown erode has been heartbreaking. But she’s optimistic and believes it can be fixed. She’s about to head off to college in Boston much to the chagrin of her kid brother Cecil (Jayden McGinlay), but she tries to encourage her father, Robert (Callan Mulvey) and the other adults not to give up on their little town.

But Rylstone isn’t only struggling financially. There’s references to its moral decline, mostly from the mouth of the town’s frustrated preacher, Pastor Penny (a really good Bruce Spence). And there’s still the looming cloud of a recent tragedy – when a teenage boy, fresh out of the cornfield, grabbed a knife and walked into the Rylstone Children’s Home, carving up several of the adult staff members. During the resulting standoff, the town’s redneck sheriff and a dimwitted farmer gassed the children’s home thinking it would knock the killer unconscious. Instead they killed every adult and child inside. Brilliant.

The creepy killer seemed to be acting at the behest of a creepy young girl named Eden (Kate Moyer) who the town’s creepy children follow with a creepy cult-like allegiance. Of course the reason for it all is out in the cornfields, and it eventually comes to light through the eyes of our protagonist, Bo. Much like the past “Corn” movies, this film’s mystery lies in those sprawling cornfields. Unfortunately there’s not much suspense to be found in this lukewarm update because the secret is so glaringly straightforward. Even more, it seems like there is so much information the movie leaves out which could have helped make this a more intriguing and detailed story.

So we end up with a new “Children of the Corn” movie that sets itself up nicely but that ends on a pretty flat note, highlighted by a mostly unintelligible final line that (I think) may be setting up a sequel. I still find the setting compelling and King’s original concept is chilling. But here the supernatural takes a backseat to something far less interesting. And despite taking an earnest swing, this is a remake that has a hard time justifying its existence. “Children of the Corn” releases in select theaters starting March 3rd before streaming on Shudder March 21st.