Category: Home Video Releases

Justice League: Throne of Atlantis DVD Review

Justice_League_-_Throne_of_AtlantisThe Justice League is quite literally a fish out of water in Throne of Atlantis. This animated product was released January 27 and it continues in the world of DC Comics’ New 52. A bit of knowledge from the previous film, Justice League: War, helps establish a story arc that will span several films and just what Wonder Woman means about the Justice League being gods might see the light of day by the end of the year.

With this story’s focus on introducing Arthur Curry (voiced by Matt Lanter) as Aquaman, the rest of the heroes appearance really feels unimportant. Cyborg (Shemar Moore), Batman (Jason O’Mara), Superman (Jerry O’Connell) and crew are more like bit characters on a tale about who shall rule the seven seas. When a power struggle threatens the peace, it’s only the sea dwellers who will be concerned with how it will spill into a complete civil war. When Black Manta (Harry Lennix) is seen in cahoots with Orm, also known as Ocean Master (Sam Witwer), just what’s going on means somebody is pulling the strings.

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A Look Into Shout! Factory’s Nightbreed and Lord of Illusions

Only the die-hard fans and film studies enthusiast will enjoy the extra content in the bonus disc that comes in this latest home video release of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed.

nightbreed-blu-ray-1The underground world of Midian was very much alive within me many years ago, even before I discovered Clive Barker’s Cabel. I loved the narrative and it spoke to me as there were times I felt misunderstood. Life of an outcast as a nerd was never easy but I adapted. When the film Nightbreed appeared in 1990, I hoped some of the themes explored in the book would get translated over. Instead, what was presented was totally alien. This film was not Barker’s story and I wondered why. My favourite moments were either cut out or never written in.

As a rated R film, I hoped the way Boone connected to Baphomet would be represented but alas ….

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Unwrapping The Boxtrolls, A Blu-ray/DVD Review

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Available on AmazonThe Boxtrolls

Studio Laika’s The Boxtrolls is a very bourgeois film. Unless viewers know something about how European nations historically treated the lower class, some aspects of the tale will feel alien. Some explanation is offered in the home video release’s director’s commentary, but for the most part, the point of the bonus material is to show how much work was put into this adaptation of Alan Snow’s children’s novel, “Here Be Monsters!”

The story takes place in the fictional country of Norvenia rather than some real world. Anyone who has studied Western Civilization knows how some growing cities saw revolt when one social class chastised another. As a result, this film examines the problems facing the town of Cheesebridge. A baby is lost, and Archibald Snatcher (wonderfully voiced by Ben Kingsley) blames the trolls! Those who fear them stay safe in their domiciles, while the monsters and a human boy named Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright) skirt the city at night. These night crawlers scavenge for food and other sundries to make their life underground possible.

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The Timeless Appeal of Secret Agent Man, a DVD Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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There can only be one Secret Agent Man (aka Danger Man in the UK) and that’s Paul Drake (played by Patrick McGoohan), an operative who started his career at NATO. Sorry James Bond, but you are more of a super spy for the Crown than a covert ops officer. When considering the producers of this movie franchise first approached McGoohan to play role of Bond in the very first film, Dr. No, and he declined, this fine actor had no regrets. He believed that he had a social responsibility to audiences. The television medium can be like a “third parent” to many a young viewer and this actor’s goal is to provide a good moral compass to anyone who watches the shows he’s in. When looking at the life and times of James Bond, some might think that it’s cool to like him, a Casanova. McGoohan thought otherwise.

Producer/director Ralph Smart created a wonderful television show to spotlight McGoohan’s talents in Danger Man. The stories were realistic scenarios that edged close to what current cold war sentimentality were like back then. To see Drake in conflict with his own superiors showed that he was not going to violate his own sense of principles. Drake’s persona is simply grounded in humility. His experiences with the female persuasion was met with occasional disdain, especially in the early episodes, and the trust must be earned if he’s to ally with them.

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The Scorpion King’s Last Sting? A Movie Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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In practically every Scorpion King direct-to-video sequel made to date, there’s never been any authentic Middle Eastern flavour. The producers film in exotic countries that are not even near this troubled area. Either they have no clue in what to do next in this series or they are just trying to milk the pulp action aesthetic for all its worth with no signs of when Mathayus (now played by Victor Webster) will become king and lay siege to Thebes. This latest entry, The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power, arrives today in stores willing to carry this product.

A hero’s journey is needed before Mathayus can become even a man to rally behind. With most of the video releases, he’s mostly embarking on a world tour. Will that help him become a better king? Maybe. His reputation as the Scorpion King precedes him, and if he is going to be feared, he needs to develop that reputation further. He’s gone to the Far East and returned to Egypt, but the biggest question that needs to be asked with this fourth film is just where the heck is Norvania? Does this place even exist in historical maps? When this latest entry to the franchise includes nods to Germanic culture, Western style dragons and Zulu warriors, this movie is a head-scratcher.

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Bark, Don’t Howl at the Moon, Wolfcop! A Movie Review

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Wolfcop is certainly not barking up the wrong tree in its tongue in cheek look at lycanthropy. This Canadian made film by writer/director Lowell Dean has plenty of bite in all the right places with jokes to those in the know and a style straight out of Creepshow. When considering this creature is better known in European folklore, some folks may well be understanding as to why the EU got the video release first.

This UK release is certainly worth importing in when there’s no signs of where to find the wolf in North America. Hopefully more details will emerge as to whether this region one release has the same collection of bonus material as the region two. So far, there’s no indicatations from Image Entertainment if there are any at all. And currently, this movie can be found at select film festivals and it is available for pre-order on Amazon.comThe Boxtrolls with a scheduled street date of March 10 2015 in Canada and May 12th in the States, but can anyone wait that long? The hunt for it is strangely appropriate when people think about it.

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