Cinderella wasn’t quite as magical as I’d hoped but there’s plenty elements to admire especially in the costumes and production designs which both I’m certain will receive award recognition in some form. The acting and all around casting itself also isn’t bad with Lily James serving as a great Cinderella and Cate Blanchett serves well as a devilish foe. But for all the good, the story itself doesn’t offer much new or different and the conflict is limited and ineffective.
Fatal Instinct actually isn’t a half-bad spoof movie, probably along the lines of Top Secret. The jokes, while indeed stupid, are still laugh-out-loud funny and the performances from the core cast, especially Armand Assante, are played mostly straight that it makes the humor work. It’s also refreshing that the movie still holds up today unlike so many of the other spoof films…
Navy Seals vs. Zombies is exactly as the title suggest with a bunch of soldiers going up against zombies. The make-up effects aren’t too bad and as a whole, it’s a fine time waster and quality-wise probably right up there with any number of those SyFy Original movies… take that for what you will.
Emperor of the North, also known as Emperor of the North Pole, is an interesting little film no doubt. On the technical and acting front, it’s not a bad flick headlined by veterans Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time has good video/audio transfers however the bonus material is a bit limited.
Needless to say The Beast (Le Bete) is certainly one of the more… unusual films I’ve come across. However, it’s not for everybody and frankly, as strange as it is, and actually the performances aren’t half bad all things considered, I’m not sure if this is one I’ll ever revisit.
Sentinel is an uneven yet still creepy supernatural-horror flick with some good performances from a respectable ensemble cast that includes Ava Gardner, Burgess Meredith, Eli Wallach and Christopher Walken. The Blu-ray released by Shout Factory has above average video and audio transfers and a fine selection of bonus material.
“The Originals” season two actually improves upon its freshman year with good storylines and a well rounded ensemble that in some instances rivals “The Vampire Diaries” and on the whole, I found this series more enjoyable and fresh by comparison. The Blu-ray released by Warner Home Video offers great audio/video transfers while the bonus material, while fine, does feel a tad light in substance.
I actually had to look up what and when the original movie came out because I hadn’t the foggiest clue there was an Invoking 1 let along now The Invoking 2 and with the first getting wretched reviews, I guess it comes to no surprise this “sequel”, which is the latest in the anthology subgenre, doesn’t fair much better with so-so acting (at best) and stories which are run-of-the-mill bad.
Angel a.k.a. Danny Boy, is a well acted drama that doesn’t entirely resonate on a visceral level, though there were a few tragic and emotional scenes, but still offers a viewpoint on the volatile times in Ireland. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time offers good video and audio transfers but the lack of bonus material is disappointing and makes the $30 MSRP far too high of a price unless you are a fan of the film.
At Close Range is a bit uneven but still effective character drama headlined by a few great performances especially by Sean Penn and Christopher Walken. Despite some flaws, it’s a compelling story and worth checking out at least once. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time is nice and all with good video/audio transfers yet again comes at a high price.
“Madam Secretary” is an entertaining if not flawed series. Where it lacks in writing and plot, it more than makes up with a respectable ensemble cast including the still charming Téa Leoni leading the pack. I can only hope some of the issues get shored up in the second season but as a freshman series, it’s adequate.
Dark Was the Night is a nice, if not uneven, creature feature that is well worth at least a rental thanks in large part to the underrated character actor Kevin Durand and a half-decent yet compelling story. The Blu-ray offers good video/audio transfers while the bonus material is limited.
“LEGO Star Wars: The New Yoda Chronicles” is a fun series and addition to the popular LEGO brand that will appeal to both kids and adults, though this one is geared toward younger viewers. Still, I had a lot fun watching these 4 episodes and look forward to future seasons.
“The Vampire Diaries” might not be as strong as it once was and the writing isn’t the best with contrived storylines, yet the ensemble cast mostly makes up for the series’ shortcomings so it should be interesting to see how it does going forward without star Nina Dobrev as well as a few other key departures. Still, the show has some entertainment value for what it is.
I wasn’t nearly as impressed with Dressed to Kill as others have since it doesn’t offer much mystery and the psychological elements which De Palma is normally a master of (look no further than Blow Out), isn’t very enticing either. I guess Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen excelled in their roles as Michael Caine, while not entirely remarkable, still manages to turn in a sufficient (and unique) performance.