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"MAD MAX" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **** (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) Rated R Studio: 20th Century Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
As society crumbles in Australia, Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) works as one of the few policemen left, trying to keep order. However, when a savage motorcycle gang targets him and his fellow officers, things start to get dangerous for Max and his family. Soon, the situation gets terribly brutal for Max, leading him to take revenge on the bikers in this wildly famous road race movie from down under.
WHAT I LIKED
I sort of grew up with “Mad Max” in the sense that I remember when “The Road Warrior” and “Mad Max: Beyond Thuderdome” came out. While “The Road Warrior” is considered possibly a bigger classic to many of my contemporaries, it was wonderful to go back to the original Australian film. It’s so easy to say that the original is the best, but in this case, I believe it.
Sure, what “Mad Max” is known for is the fast cars and cutting brutality, and that stuff is awesome. Even today against the action films of the modern era, “Mad Max” is brilliant. What leads to that brilliance is the fact that the movie is shot in real time with actual stunts. There was no blue-screen shots or digital explosions. The cars crash... for real. The explosions explode... for real. And that’s refreshing to watch nowadays.
But beyond the explosive nature of the road movie, “Mad Max” also works as a character piece. We get to see Max’s descent into madness. In the 90s, Mel Gibson proved himself as a solid actor, but people didn’t give him the credit back in the early 1980s. In retrospect, it’s nice to see him taking that on at such an early age.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
For what it is, “Mad Max” works perfectly well. There’s some cheesy acting and some weird dialogue choices, but as an element of Ozploitation cinema, it works with the flaws of the genre. Previously, I had only seen the movie on VHS, and I believe those releases were all the dubbed versions. Why, I cannot understand. Apparently Americans in the 1980s couldn’t understand Australian accents. Go figure.
Fortunately, this Blu-ray/DVD combo includes the original dialogue, accents and all, so it doesn’t sound as muddy as the VHS.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray comes with commentary by Jon Dowding, David Eggby, Chris Murray and Tim Ridge as well as the retrospective featurette “Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon.”
The enclosed second DVD disc includes the same commentary and featurette. There’s also the original theatrical trailer, a photo gallery and TV spots. It comes with a “Road Rants” trivia track as well as the featurette “Mel Gibson: The Birth of a Superstar” documentary.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like fast cars and explosive action.
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"PREDATORS" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) Rated R Studio: 20th Century Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
In a reboot of the “Predator” franchise, Adrian Brody stars as a mercenary who finds himself parachuted onto a strange planet with a group of other nefarious characters. After fighting among themselves and finding that they’re the target of a hunt, the group tries to figure out how to escape. Two groups of Predator creatures have them in their cross-hairs, and they start to be picked off one by one in their quest to escape the game preserve planet.
WHAT I LIKED
I like the “Predator” movies, including the much maligned “Alien vs. Predator” films. I was pretty excited to see it get a reboot, and while I wasn’t a huge fan of this incarnation, I am happy it did well enough to hopefully warrant a few more films.
I do like the return to the jungle and the concept of a prison planet. The creature works in this film are pretty well done, if not overly CGI’d at times. In particular, it was kinda cool to see a cameo from the original rejected Predator design from the 1987 movie.
As a standard action film, “Predators” works. There’s guns, and explosions, and Predators (though not as many as the trailers promise).
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Part of what made the original film work so well was even though the characters were hard-edged mercenaries, I still enjoyed them. But after mercenaries in “Predator” and foul-mouthed L.A. cops in “Predator 2,” this group of characters just didn’t grab me. Adrian Brody just seemed silly trying to be a badass, and the only decent character was Topher Grace.
And as much as I like Laurence Fishburn, when he finally shows up in the movie, the film comes to a screeching halt.
Finally, I wish that the term “Predators” meant dozens rather than six, especially after a key shot in the film was augmented in the trailers to make it appear different. Think about it... if “Aliens” featured just a handful of xenomorphs, wouldn’t you have been disappointed.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray includes a second disc with digital copy for portable viewing. More than an hour of special features are included on the main disc. There’s an audio commentary with Robert Rodriguez and director Nimrod Antal, deleted and extended scenes and a motion comic that gives the background of the different characters. Featurettes include “Evolution of the Species: Predators Reborn” and “The Chosen.” There’s also a Fox Movie Channel “Making a Scene” episode.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Fans of Robert Rodriguez cut-rate filmmaking that doesn’t completely hold up against the originals.
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"LETTERS TO JULIET" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: ****(out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) Rated PG Studio: Summit Entertainment Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Before she gets married, Claire (Amanda Seyfried) and her fiancé travel to Verona, Italy for a last hurrah. While he is checking out new foods for his restaurant, she goes exploring on her own. Soon, she stumbles across the location where lovers write letters to Juliet Capulet, and she gets to know the women who write back to those who have written the letters. Claire finds a 50-year-old letter and responds. Soon, that letter’s author comes to Italy to find her long, lost lover, taking Claire along with her on the adventure. Also tagging along is her skeptical grandson who soon takes a liking to Claire.
WHAT I LIKED
This film was one of those movies that flew under many people’s radar, but I really enjoyed it, despite the fact that I am a red-blooded American male. A lot of this is due to the fact that Amanda Seyfried is thoroughly charming throughout the film. And merge her with the equally charming Vanessa Redgrave, and you’ve got a brilliant combination.
Seyfried carries the film and makes the audience fall in love with her. It’s a sweet story without any huge conflict, but it works so well as a road film. And it doesn’t hurt having the film take place against the beautiful landscape of Verona, Italy.
On the whole, “Letters to Juliet” makes a perfect date movie, with a nice blend of romance and light-hearted comedy.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
There really isn’t anything that gave me much of a problem with this movie. In fact, the only wrinkle is with Claire’s fiancé, who is set up to be loving but completely aloof. This is a construct of the writing, so when Claire starts to have eyes for another man, it doesn’t seem so much like cheating.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray includes deleted and extended scenes along with a commentary featuring Amanda Seyfried and director Gary Winick. There’s also two featurettes: “The making of Letters to Juliet: In Italia” and “A Courtyard in Verona,” which gives the history of the real location where people really write letters to Juliet Capulet.
The Blu-ray also includes a copy of the DVD on the flip side.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Couples on a date and anyone who thinks Amanda Seyfried is just adorable.
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"SOLITARY MAN" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5 stars) Rated R Studio: Anchor Bay Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Michael Douglas plays Ben Kalman, a car dealer mogul who has spent time in prison. After serving his time, he tries to revive his life and reconnect with his estranged family. However, his self-destructive ways cause him to get involved with the wrong woman, resulting in the alienation of his family and business associates. He tries to reconnect with students at his step-daughter’s school as well as his old-time friend, leading him to really examine his life.
WHAT I LIKED
For what it’s worth, the acting in “Solitary Man” is very good. It’s one of those films that’s aiming for awards and accolades, and I suppose it is getting some good reviews. It’s a showcase piece for Michael Douglas, who doesn’t always throw down the acting gauntlet. Too often he plays his basic character, and “Solitary Man” gives him a chance to show off his skills. And with the exception of Jesse Eisenberg, who plays just another version of Mark Zuckerberg or Columbus from “Zombieland.” When are people going to realize that he doesn’t act at all but plays a version of himself?
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
It can be said that a movie is nothing more than its plot and the characters. If this is the case, this is why I don’t like “Solitary Man.” I didn’t find any of the character remotely interesting or likeable. Even Jenna Fischer, who plays Ben’s daughter and is presented in the sympathetic position of someone desperately wanting a relationship with him, is a complete idiot.
Occasionally I like a film that features dysfunctional people, but they have to have a certain amount of likeability. There’s no likeability anywhere in this film. I felt no sympathy for Ben or anyone else. And by the end of the film, I didn’t care about how anyone’s story got resolved.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray comes with an audio commentary with writer/director Brian Koppelman, director David Levien and actor Douglas McGrath. There’s also a standard behind-the-scenes featurette called “Solitary Man: Alone in a Crowd.”
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Award film junkies.
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"PRINCE OF PERSIA" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5 stars) Rated PG-13 Studio: Disney Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Jerry Bruckheimer produces this live-action adaptation of the video game “Prince of Persia.” In this film, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as rogue prince who has been framed for the murder of his father. He goes on the run with a kidnapped princess (Gemma Arterton), who is in the possession of a magical dagger which can turn back time. Together, they must protect the dagger and prove his innocence.
WHAT I LIKED
I like a good action adventure film, and this fits that bill. It’s not perfect, and it’s not the roaring good time that we had with “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” but it was a fun film. This kind of movie is great for watching on Blu-ray too, considering it’s a visual feast for the eye. The action is cool, if not a bit cartoony (which would be expected from the nature of the video game).
Jake Gyllenhaal is passable as the action hero, but it’s Gemma Arterton who was really fun for me to look at. If only she wasn’t in so many robes, but what can I expect from Disney’s big summer film. There’s also a good supporting cast, including Ben Kingsley and a very fun performance by Alfred Molina.
“Prince of Persia” is far from perfect, but it’s fun to watch.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
On the whole, I’m not completely sold on Jake Gyllenhaal. He has the physique and as I said earlier, he’s passable. But he’s no Johnny Depp in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. I suppose he’s easy on the eyes for the ladies, but that doesn’t do it for me.
And as nice as the film looks, it does run a bit long in the middle. Clocking in just south of two hours, it could have lost some of the meandering plot in the middle. A tighter film by fifteen minutes might have been much more exciting.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
Like many of the major Disney Blu-ray releases, there’s a lot of great special features. The Blu-ray comes with three discs, including a DVD of the feature film with a behind-the-scene featurette. There’s also a Digital Copy disc for portable viewing.
On the Blu-ray itself, there’s a really neat embedded behind-the-scenes selection. Dubbed “CineExplore: the Sands of Time,” this feature pops up throughout the film with short featurettes about the making of the film, relative to what’s happening in the movie. It requires the viewer to choose the branching choice when it shows up, which can be cumbersome, but the more passive viewer can access all the spots in the index. There’s also a Play All feature for these in the index, making it an almost feature-length documentary of the making of the film.
There’s also one deleted scene available on the Blu-ray.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Anyone turned on by Jake Gyllenhaal and fans of epic historical action flicks.
