The Ministry of Unchivalrous Warfare [4K UHD]
What is it? A parody of Guy Ritchie.
Why watch it? There are plenty of reasons to recommend Guy Ritchie’s latest film, but chief among them is the gleeful embrace of the characters slaughtering Nazis. Add to that a cast of likeable faces carrying out the slaughter, including Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson, a supporting cast that understands the mission, and an incredibly fluid and relaxed pace, and the movie is a good time. The action is intense and looks great, and it’s an added joy to discover that it’s essentially based on a true story. Some parts feel exaggerated, of course, but this is essentially the true story of the first special forces unit, organized here by Winston Churchill, who plays Nick Fury (not true). The disc is light on extras, but the 4K quality is what you’d expect.
[Extras: Featurette]
The best
Asian American and LGBTQ Stories by Arthur Dong
What is it? Two separate releases, both important.
Why watch it? Arthur Dong is not a household name, but his documentaries have touched hearts, shaped minds, and won awards for decades. These two separate releases each focus on an area with in-depth explorations through documentary filmmaking. Asian American Stories collects four films: Woman seamstress, Forbidden City, United States, Hollywood Chineseand The extermination camps of Dr. Haing S. Ngor — which sees Dong move from the personal side of his own family to the public side of Chinese representation in Hollywood films. LGBTQ Stories collects four other films — Coming out under fire, Family Fundamentals, Licensed to killand Out Rage ’69 — that explore LGBTQ people in America through the lens of military service, religious resistance, and more. Licensed to Kill is arguably the most difficult and important to watch, as it looks at the murders of gay men and those responsible. Necessary releases that should be shown in schools, honestly.
[Extras: 4K restorations]
Hatchet: The Complete Collection [steelbook]
What is it? The four films of the Axe franchise!
Why watch it? The folks at Dark Sky have launched a new sub-label called Dark Sky Selects, which will focus on breathing new life into old favorites in physical format. Their debut release represents the first time the four have Axe Movies have been collected. The originals by Adam Green Axe The film was a pleasant surprise in 2006, as it brought back an appreciation for fun, gory horror films that combine thrills and laughs. It’s a success on all counts as a horror comedy, and unlike most films in the subgenre, it manages to deliver both laughs and creepy moments, all highlighted by some stellar practical gore effects. Axe II It doesn’t quite manage to pull off that mix, leaning too heavily into comedy (which works less often), but still offers some minor thrills in the special effects department. Axe IIIWell, this one isn’t good. The gore still finds some fun, but it’s not enough to balance out the mess that is the rest. Finally, Adam Green returns to the franchise with Victor Crowleya sequel shot in secret on a limited budget, and again it’s a mix of fun and exciting stuff, though both are overshadowed by the effects. The set adds a couple of new extras in the form of behind-the-scenes footage, and they’re a nice addition, but the appeal here is getting all four films in one place.
[Extras: Featurettes]
Macbeth [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? Orson Welles puts Shakespeare on a sleigh.
Why watch it? Purists will always gravitate toward Laurence Olivier’s take on William Shakespeare’s dark tale of obsession and ambition, while true-blues know the Australian adaptation with Sam Worthington in the title role is the best, but fans of the auteurs will still praise Orson Welles’ late-’40s take on the bard. The story remains the same, but Welles infuses it with style, artistic interpretation, and an even darker approach. It’s an at times overwrought tale of emotional destruction, and now both versions (the original and the trimmed-down one that shaves a quarter of the length) find a home on a solid, extras-packed release that vastly improves on the previous Blu-ray (from Olive over a decade ago).
[Extras: Newer 4K restoration, original and re-release versions, commentaries, interviews]
Matinee [4K UHD, Shout Factory]
What is it? A film producer imagines a wild theatrical experience.
Why watch it? Joe Dante’s love letter to filmmakers and promoters like William Castle is a fun and endearing ride. The film centers on the aforementioned showman, played wonderfully by John Goodman, and a teenager whose love of movies has him bursting at the seams when Lawrence Woolsey’s (Goodman) latest genre feast comes to town. Fears over the Cuban Missile Crisis play a role, as does young love and pure affection for the moviegoing experience. Shout Factory’s new 4K looks great and brings Dante’s colorful creation to even more vivid life, and extras, new and old, reveal all sorts of production details.
[Extras: New 4K restoration, commentary, interviews, featurettes, deleted scenes]
South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut [4K UHD]
What is it? A sweet musical about standing up to oppression.
Why watch it? Matt Stone and Trey Parker aren’t exactly hot topics these days, but back in the ’90s they were enfant terribles, to say the least. South Park was causing trouble every week, and the movie caused even more of a stir. The story sees the kids sneaking into an adult movie, but when their parents find out, they’re in big trouble. It seems Canada is the culprit, and soon World War III looms, which eventually includes Satan. Sure. The movie is dated in some ways and quaint in others, but it’s still a fun and sometimes edgy comedy that will have you smiling, laughing, and singing along.
[Extras: Theatrical and sing-along versions, commentary, music video]
Team America: World Police [4K UHD]
What is it? A puppet movie full of action and sex!
Why watch it? South Park It’s the big name when it comes to Matt Stone and Trey Parker, but for me, this puppet action comedy is its real triumph. A spoof of the great American action movies, the film also takes aim at dictators, Hollywood, government agencies, actors, and more. It’s an absolute delight with new laughs, gags, and stunts every few minutes. It’s also a lost art, that of puppets, especially in feature films, and while they don’t hide the fact that these guys are controlled by strings, the film still delivers exciting action, fun locations, and a great cast. It gleefully pokes fun at your favorite Hollywood stars and the action genre, in one go, and it’s still a gloriously entertaining time.
[Extras: Theatrical and uncut versions, featurettes, deleted scenes]
The rest
Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire [4K UHD]
What is it? Another Ghostbusters sequel!
Why watch it? While Ghostbusters: Afterlife Though it earned scorn under its film director Harold Ramis, this latest sequel wisely eschews such silliness in favor of simply offering a fun enough family film. The Spengler family moves into the original firehouse in New York City, Ernie Hudson, Dan Ackroyd, Annie Potts, and Bill Murray all return, and the film manages a harmless mix of nostalgia and new slapstick. Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon are reliable supporting actors here, but it’s McKenna Grace who steals the show. Ivan Reitman’s original remains supreme, but as family adventures go, this is perfectly fine entertainment and a bit of starter horror to boot.
[Extras: Deleted scenes, featurettes, commentary]
Monkey Man [4K UHD]
What is it? A young man seeks revenge.
Why watch it? Dev Patel’s directorial debut is as ambitious an undertaking as any first-time filmmaker would want, and the behind-the-scenes issues make for a story that would make Terry Gilliam cringe. The film itself, however, is something of a mixed bag. Patel plays the title character, a young man seeking revenge for the murder of his mother, and infuses the familiar with some cultural details that fascinate and intrigue. The action takes a while to find its footing and some early sequences prove underwhelming at best, but by the third act it all comes together with a fun kitchen fight and more. The film is overstuffed, though, running about thirty minutes longer than it should almost exclusively on flashbacks that quickly become repetitive and unnecessary. Still, it’s a good time and leaves you interested in what Patel does next.
[Extras: Deleted scenes, commentary, featurettes]
The North Star / Armored Attack! [KL Studio Classics]
What is it? A dramatic World War II thriller – and a communist-hating re-release!
Why watch it? This is a fascinating example of how shifting political currents can influence art. The North Star was released in 1943, a story about evil Nazis and brave Russians facing down the horror. However, fourteen years later, Americans hated and feared the Russians, so the film was stripped of anything pro-Russia and instead leaned heavily against them. As I said, it’s fascinating, and while neither film on its own is a lost classic, the combination of the two offers a very interesting look at Hollywood’s decisions.
[Extras: Newer 4K scans]
Also available this week:
Blue velvet [4K UHD, Criterion]Mouthpiece, Purple Rain [4K UHD]When night falls, White room