Lionsgate Archive
Isolation (2017)
A nice little horror/thriller. Isolation (2017) Cast: Dominic Purcell, Luke Mably, Marie Avgeropoulos, Tricia Helfer, Stephen Lang Director: Shane Dax Taylor Studio: Lionsgate (6/20/17) Video: 2.35:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English 5.1 DD Subtitles: English, Spanish Length: 94 min. Rating: ****1/2 This is full of highly unexpected twists, and proves that it is not wise to trust anyone. Better acting than most horror films, and it is not predermined who will be the last ones standing at the end. I don’t want to introduce spoilers, so just watch the film. The story of the couple trying to patch up a failing marriage by a vacation in the Bahamas is always paramount. And the gore is kept to a bare minimum. A most enjoyable thriller all around, and a nice view of the Bahamas to top of it. The transfer of films to standard DVDs has really gotten excellent lately. —John Sunier
20th Century Women, Blu-ray (2016)
A well-made feature with a fine achievement from actress Annette Bening. 20th Century Women, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Annette Bening, Elle Fanning, Greta Gerwig, Lucas Jade Zumann, Billy Crudup Director & Writer: Mike Mills Studio: A24/Lionsgate [3/28/17] Video: 180p 2.00:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English, DTS-HD MA Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH Extras: Audio Commentary by Mike Mills, “Making 20th Century Women,” Cast of film Length: 118 min. Rating: **** Writer-Director Mike Mills surprised us over six years ago with his Beginners. This one is a character study of five people in the late 1970s. Two young people – Abbie and Jamie – are important parts of the story. Bening plays sad or lonely Dorothea in an excellent job of acting. This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Dorothea gets some help from the young Abbie, a punk artist boarding in her house, and the teenage neighbor Jamie, as well as from a handyman who also rooms in the house. This makeshift family seems to inspire its members. A thoughful script and good cast make the very realistically portrayed characters all most believable. The title hangs on its portrayal of the various women. Mostly talking heads but what […]
Solace, Blu-ray (2017)
Hopkins plays a consultant with psychic powers to solve a series of murders. Solace, Blu-ray (2017) Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Abbie Cornish, Colin Farrell, Matt Gerald Director: Afonso Poyart Studio: Lionsgate Premiere (3/14/17) Video: 2.40:1 1080p for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: Commentary track with director, “Visions and Voices: The making of Solace,” featurette, Trailer gallery Length: 102 min. Rating: ***** This is a thrilling and well-done tale of a brilliant retired psychic who is hired by a younger friend on the FBI force investigating a series of three bodies with identical wounds, cryptic notes and no other evidence. At first the woman involved in the team doesn’t believe him, but he proves to her conclusively that he can see the past and future. He also sees what will happen to each of the people close to him. It turns out that all who have been murdered by the serial murderer – who is a step ahead of the psychic – have some sort of terrible physical ailment which they will shortly die of and he is supposedly saving them all the suffering involved. The killer’s mission almost […]
Manchester by the Sea, Blu-ray (2016)
A real downer of a film but worth watching, perhaps twice. Manchester by the Sea, Blu-ray (2016) Actors: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges Director: Kenneth Lonergan Studio: The Farm/ Lionsgate [2/21/17] (2 discs) Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p color HD Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Extras: Conversation with writer/dir. Kenneth Lonergan, Deleted scenes, “Emotional Lives” – The Making of Manchester by the Sea Length: 137 min. Rating: ****1/2 The Ebert site said this was a very depressing film, and it was, but with terrific acting that made you feel you were really a part of the story on the screen. Casey Affleck plays a working-class man recently divorced and overpowered by losses and love. You might grasp the complexity of the various characters on a second viewing and appreciate it more. Do not view it if you are in a bad mood to begin with. Now wonder the film has five Golden Globe Nominations, which is highly promoted in the publicity for the film. There is humor in the film, but just enough to not make it a total downer. You think that towards the end he will fall for the mother […]
The Hunger Games & Catching Fire, both Blu-ray (2016)
The first two films of four Hunger Games, viewed as standard Blu-ray though UHD available. The Hunger Games – A Hero’s Journey Begins, UltraHD+Blu-ray+Digital HD (2016) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman Director: Gary Ross Studio: Lionsgate [11/8/16] (2 discs) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 7.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: Audio commentary track with editor, visual effects supervisor and supervising sound editor; “Game Maker; Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon,” “The World is Watching: Making The Hunger Games,” Letters from the Rose Garden Length: 111 min. Rating: **** The Hunger Games – Catching Fire – Every Revolution Begins with a Spark, UltraHD+Blu-ray+Digital HD (2026) Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman Director: Francis Lawrence Studio: Lionsgate [11/8/16] (2 discs) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 7.1, Spanish DD 5.1, French DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish, French Extras: Commentary track with director and producer Nine Jacobson; “Surviving the Game: Making The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” documentary; Deleted scenes Length: […]
Hell or High Water, Blu-ray (2016)
Hell or High Water, Blu-ray (2016) A thriller of a western and bank robbery mashup film. Cast: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Katy Mixon, Kevin Rankin Studio: Lionsgate (11/22/16) (2 discs) Director: David Mackenzie Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 2.0 compressed for late-night listening, Spanish DD 5.1, SDH descriptive audio Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: Enemies Forever: The characters of Hell or High Water, Visualizing the Heart of America, Damaged Heros: The performances of Hell or High Water, Red Carpet Premiere, Q&A of Filmmakers Length: 122 min. Rating: ****1/2 This basically is a story set in West Texas of two brothers who turn to robbing banks to save their family’s land, with Jeff Bridges playing one of the two Texas Rangers out to stop them. Chris Pine is great as the more intellectual, good guy of the two brothers, and turns to his brother (who is just out jail and loves to shoot people and get in fights) in order to rob four small banks in their area to get money to save his family ranch from foreclosure for his two boys (he is divorced and hasn’t paid his […]
The Wild Life, Blu-ray (2016)
Another great animated family feature, this one from Belgium. The Wild Life, Blu-ray (2016) English Voice-overs: Matthias Schweighöfer, Kaya Yanar, Ilka Bessin, Dieter Hallervorden, Aylin Tezel Director: Vincent Kesteloot Studio: Studiocanal/ Summit/ Lionsgate (11/29/16) [2 discs, Blu-ray & DVD] Video: 2.40:1 HD 1080p color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DD 5.1 Subtitles: Spanish Extras: A Wild World: Making The Wild Life, Meet the Characters, Tips for Your Trip, The Wild Life Musical Adventure, Previews Length: 91 min. Rating: ****1/2 In spite of the title, this is generally the story of Robinson Crusoe, but from the viewpoint of the animals on the island where he is shipwrecked. The voices are just perfect, especially Matthias Schweighofer as Crusoe and Ilka Bessin as the large (compared to the other animals) female tapir. The guy playing the voice of the near-sighted old goat is pretty good too – he really sounds like a goat might. Everything is larger than life and the animals rule on the little island until a furious storm, and Robinson Crusoe is deposited there as the only survivor (with his dog Aynsley) of the pirate ship on which he was held. At first the animals (except for the macaw) […]
Indignation, Blu-ray (2016)
A fine filmic version of a Philip Roth novel. Indignation, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Sarah Gadon, Logan Lerman, Ben Rosenfield, Noah Robbins, Tracy Letts Studio: Lionsgate (11/8/16) Director: James Schamus Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color 1080p Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Extras: “Timeless: Connecting the Past to the Present,” “Perceptions: Bringing Philip Roth to the Screen,” Previews Length: 111 min. Rating: **** A clash of cultures based on the 2008 novel by Philip Roth. A young intense Jewish boy from New Jersey, Marcus, goes to a conservative Christian college in Ohio and becomes infatuated with a beautiful classmate, Olivia. She gives him a blow job on their first date and he isn’t quite able to handle it. She has attempted suicide earlier but he only learns of this later. Their attraction sparks encounters with consequences that were never imagined. His and his family’s plans are thrown for a loop by his relationship. There is a very long scene of Marcus being sort of grilled by the head of the college, especially about religious freedom, which continues much longer than most such scenes. He is very staunch in defending his personal life and privacy. (His […]
50 Years of Star Trek (2016)
A wonderful documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. 50 Years of Star Trek (2016) Cast: Interviews with Leonard Nimoy, Michelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Whoopi Goldberg, D.C. Fontana, Ronald D. Moore & others Studio: A & E History Channel/ Lionsgate (11/1/16) Director: Ian Roumain Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English, English SDH, DD 2.0 Length: 85 min. Rating: ****1/2 A delightful documentary on would-you-believe 50 years since the first Star Trek series debuted on national TV in 1966. Included is the last interview with Leonard Nimoy – who played the famous Spock – before his recent death. It covers both the various TV series and the many feature films and promotes again the fact that Star Trek was saved by Lucille Ball because she really liked it. Some of the episodes of the various series are titled wrongly, but no matter. The Wrath of Khan is considered the best of the earlier feature films, and the Deep Space Nine TV series was darker than the general Star Treks, but kept up the positive outlook on life in the future, which most sci-fi films portray as total chaos (Mad Max and Blade Runner are mentioned). (DP9 was also […]
Into The Forest, Blu-ray (2016)
A very realistic apocalyptic story that rings as perfectly true prophesy. Into The Forest, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Ellen Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie Director: Patricia Rozema Studio: Lionsgate (10/4/16) Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 screen, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Extras: “The Making of Into the Forest,” Audio commentary track with writer/director Patricia Rozema Length: 104 min. Rating: **** Set in the near future, this riveting apocalyptic drama follows two sisters whose heretoforth fairly peaceful lives are disrupted by a world-wide power outage. The sisters (in the NorthWest) must work together in order to survive, and their world becomes increasingly treacherous. Their father dies suddenly and they are left alone some miles from the nearest town with only enough gas to get there for an emergency. All transportation, internet, electricity, gas and deliveries are stopped. One of the sisters is raped by a neighbor and they have to birth and care of the baby. When they return to their house after the birth of the baby in a hut nearby, the house is full of black mold and one of the sisters suggests burning it down, so they do. One […]
A Hologram for the King, Blu-ray (2016)
A memorable performance by Hanks as a salesman for a new holographic gadget for the King of Saudi Arabia. A Hologram for the King, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Tom Hanks, Tom Skerrit, Sarita Choudhury, Ben Whishaw Director: Tom Tykwer Studio: Roadside Attractions/Lionsgate (8/9/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, HD color Audio: English & Arabic – DTS-HD MA 5.1 or 2.0 Subtitles: English. English SDH, Spanish Extras: The Adaptation of A Hologram for the King, The Making of A Hologram for the King Length: 104 min. Rating: ***** Hanks is Alan Clay, a recently-divorced middle-aged U.S. salesman pitching a holographic teleconferencing system to the king of Saudi Arabia. His past includes having been on the board at Schwinn bicycles, which he took to China, which turned out to be a mistake. He has a series of misadventures attempting to negotiate the new country’s unique customs and style. (At one point his driver takes him by a big crowd and he is told that is where the outdoor public executions take place.) He constantly works to see his contacts, who tell subordinates they will be in another day and are not. He works to get normal food and good Wi-Fi for his trio […]
Chosen (2016)
Another but very well-done Holocaust film. Chosen (2016) Cast: Harvey Keitel, Luke Mably, Ana Ularu Director: Jasmin Dizdar Studio: Lionsgate (8/2/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, color Audio: English DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish Length: 93 min. Rating: **** Harvey Keitel stars as an old Jewish man telling a young relative a story of a Hungarian man name Sonson’s resistance to the Nazis in WWII without revealing that it is his own story. Sonson’s courage alters the course of the WWII. The German forces first stop treatment for Jews in the hospital and his beloved wife dies as a result. He must summon the courage to lead an attack against the Nazi forces in this story based on true events. Sonson is repeatedly asked by the other fighters to lead them since he is such a good leader. Finally he gives in and agrees. He somehow finds a Nazi officer’s uniform and practices sounding like a Nazi while the other Jews dress in Nazi outfits to get into areas where they normally would not. They even learn to put their hands behind them and walk like the Nazis. The Hungarian soldiers are also portrayed as guilty. Sonson unwittingly becomes the […]
Shaun the Sheep, Blu-ray (2015)
May be the best animated family feature of the year. Shaun the Sheep, Blu-ray (2015) Directors: Mark Burton & Richard Starzak Based on: Shaun the Sheep, by Nick Park Voice-overs: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Dialili Studio: Aardman Animations/ StudioCanal/ Lionsgate (US) [2/6/15] Video: 1.78:1 for 16:9 widescreen, 1080p HD color Audio: English & animal sounds, English SDH, DTS-HD MA 5.1 Extras: Making the Shaun Movie, Meet the Characters, John Shaun Behind the Scenes, Meet the Crew, Parody Poster Gallery Length: 84 min. Rating: ***** Shaun is a spin-off coming out of the Nick Park Aardman Animations 1995 feature A Close Shave. The big difference is that the sheep still doesn’t speak proper English, but all the Mossy Bottom Farm flock communicates in a sort of animal mumbling which sometimes appears as a mouth off to the side of the head. The sheep is given a lot more qualities which come in handy when the whole flock has to go into the big city to rescue their farmer-owner, who suffers from amnesia as a direct result of their mischief. The story line has a lot of soul and the animation, sets, story, music, costumes and “dialog” all work together to […]
Backtrack, Blu-ray (2016)
Basically a horror film, but without the demons and gore. Well done. Backtrack, Blu-ray (2016) Cast: Adrien Brody, Sam Neill, Robin McLeavy Director: Michael Petroni Studio: Lionsgate (4/26/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 screens, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, DD 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish Extra: “The Psychology of Backtrack” featurette Length: 89 minutes Rating: ***** This is a very well-developed and directed paranormal mystery film with a suspenseful plot twist near the end. I didn’t realize until I saw one of the Amazon reviews that the older psychiatrist (Sam Neil) for the star, Adrien Brody, was also a ghost and referred his patients to Brody. This film really hits on the “I can see ghosts” bit of Sixth Sense, and Brody does a great job of playing the nervous, gloomy and put-upon man whose young daughter had been killed a year earlier in a bicycle accident when he looked away briefly in a store window. A new young patient who doesn’t talk appears in Brody’s psychiatric office, and she appears and disappears suddenly. It turns out that all of Brody’s patients are ghosts, and all have one thing in common, which is the wreck of a train near […]
Norm of the North, Blu-ray (2016)
A delightful family animation feature with a specially-talented polar bear who can twerk. Norm of the North, Blu-ray (2016) Voice-overs: Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Bill Nighy, Zachary Gordon Director: Trevor Wall Studio: telegasi/ Lionsgate (4/19/16) (2 discs) Video: for 16:9 widescreen, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Extras: Deleted scenes, “Do the Arctic Shake,” “That’s Funny,” Best jokes & one-liners, Arctic Challenge trivia game, Ultraviolet Length: 90 min. Rating: **** The unusual talents of the polar bear of this animation is that he can talk in English like humans. He also has a heart as big as the icy outdoors. It opens with his chase of a seal to eat him and his final decision not to because he’s a nice polar bear. A dastardly developer is beginning to build model homes in his Arctic backyard and together with his three accompanying indestructable lemmings, he goes to New York City on a mission to pretend he is a spokesman for the housing development but hopes in the end to stop the development. Lots of challenges to that come up but in the end Norm triumphs and becomes the new king in the Arctic. Everyone except the little daughter […]
Misconduct, Blu-ray (2015)
A thriller with a twist, demonstrating that “Ambition can be deadly.” Misconduct, Blu-ray (2015) Cast: Josh Duhamel, Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins Director: Shintaro Shimosawa Studio: Lionsgate (4/19/16) Video: 2.40:1 for 16:9 widescreen, 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English Extras: “The Making of Misconduct” featurette; Deleted scenes; Trailer Gallery Length: 93 min. Rating: **** This thriller begins with an ambitious young lawyer played by Josh Duhamel getting involved again with his former mentally unstable but sexy girlfriend even though he is married. He finds evidence incriminating the corrupt wealthy pharmaceutical executive, who has produced a medicine that has killed numerous people. He soon finds himself stuck in a power struggle between the medical company magnate and his firm’s senior partner (played by Al Pacino). Hopkins is his usual best as the cool medical magnate. It takes awhile at the beginning to figure out what is going on. The case suddenly takes a deadly turn and the lawyer may lose not only his wife but also his career and possibly his life. Pacino is so good at playing a real baddie, that we know in the end he is going to be the one behind this mess, and […]
Heist, Blu-ray (2015)
A suspensful thriller which will have you rooting for the father. Heist, Blu-ray (2015) Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Robert De Niro, Kate Bosworth, Gina Carano Director: Scott Mann Video: 16:9 1080p HD color Audio: English DTS-HD MA audio Subtitles: English, Spanish Studio: Lionsgate [12/29/15] Extras: Commentary track by director, Deleted & extended scenes, “The Making of Heist” featurette, Cast & crew interviews, Trailer gallery Length: 93 min. Rating: **** Vaughn (Morgan) is a vet and works for a casino owner, The Pope (Niro). Vaughn’s sick young daughter will be taken off the transplant list if he doesn’t get the huge amount of money soon to pay for it. He decides to hook up with a fellow far more criminal to rob his boss of three million. Things go wrong and they are forced to hijack a city bus. The action-packed and emotional scenes are actually filmed aboard the bus. You can’t help rooting for Vaughn even though what he’s doing is highly illegal. Next to the other guy he’s a saint. This is one of the best straight-to-video films out there, quite exciting to watch and similar to some great films of the past. The female cop also has a […]
Z For Zachariah, Blu-ray (2015)
A provocative post-apocalyptic tale of the world’s perhaps last three survivors.
The Forger, Blu-ray (2013/2015)
A rather sentimental father/son film rather than a shoot-em-up heist movie.
Cantinflas (2014)
A nice bio on the Mexican comic, but some things are left out.
Cesar Chavez, Blu-ray (2013)
A good documentary on an important American organizer.
All Is Lost, Blu-ray (2013)
An epic sea-going tale with a bravura performance by Robert Redford.