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A convicted bank robber breaks out of prison to protect his family after confiding sensitive information to a fellow cellmate, only to realize he’s actually a madman who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:

“The Prey” is about a bank robber who is trying to keep his cellmate from attacking his family to get what he wants. The only way they make the bad guy more evil is by throwing in some implied pedophilia. I wish he had a mustache to twirl at appropriate times. That shit could squeak past the language barrier in a way that few things could slip out. I kid, but it’s true when it comes to genre stuff like this in an international flavor.

Dramas about bank robbers tend to go one of two ways. Either they are sanctimonious claptrap about getting straight and finding a way to merge back into society. But, they also can be genre means to tell stories about larger stuff. Unfortunately, this film fails to deliver on the larger stories aspects. It’s just about a dude busting out of jail to keep a pedophile from messing up his family. The action is forced, but it plays to the strengths of most mediocre American entertainment. If anything, it should be able to cross international lines with a degree of finesse unmatched by recent foreign cinema. I wouldn’t recommend this as anyone’s first foreign cinema film, though.

The Blu-Ray comes with a featurette, interview and a trailer. The 1080p transfer is pretty smooth for a foreign flick. The DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track is pretty impressive. The track really kicks up once the action moves out of the prison. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

BLUE CAPRICE

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

February 3, 2014

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:

Inspired by true events, BLUE CAPRICE investigates the notorious and horrific Beltway sniper attacks from the point of view of the two perpetrators, whose distorted father-son relationship facilitated their long and bloody journey across America. Recently abandoned by his mother, teenager Lee Malvo (Tequan Richmond) finds an unlikely father figure in John Allen Muhammad (Isaiah Washington, Grey’s Anatomy), who takes the boy in and shows him the moral decay of the society that declared him unfit to be a husband and parent. Before long the impressionable Lee follows in John’s footsteps and learns the art of killing for vengeance.

FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:

“Blue Caprice” is a film about how sometimes bad shit happens. Malvo and Muhammed tore ass through the New England area shooting people at random due to the fact that they believed it was some sort of cosmic balancing act. Hanging out with survivalist, it’s not long before Malvo becomes indoctrinated in Muhammed’s warped world view. What I loved about this flick was that they played up the fact that Malvo was Muhammed’s son, though early media reports pegged them as a father and son shooter duo. But, this was a weird case, so a degree of facts were bound to get confused.

There’s something about learned violence patterns. Especially, when we see it in a cinematic recreation of real life. Watching as Lee Boyd Malvo comes to identify and admire the insane ramblings of Muhammed is far more horrifying than any monster. If that wasn’t enough, it’s bizarre to see that nobody tried to stop it until it was too late. Basically, it’s a motion picture dictated to slipping through the cracks.

The DVD comes with a commentary, press conference, behind the scenes and a trailer. The A/V Quality is on par with recent standard definition releases. The transfer holds up, but it shows a degree of haze. The Dolby 5.1 track is expansive and it is shown off during the shooting scenes. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

HOUSE OF VERSACE

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

February 3, 2014

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:

A chronicle of Donatella Versace’s triumph over tragedy by carrying on her brother’s powerful legacy after his 1997 slaying.

FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:

“House of Versace” is a look at how Donatella Versace saved her murdered brother’s company and got off smack. The problem is she was also a walking caricature that didn’t seem to exist in our reality. There’s a pretty strong cast at play, but again it’s Gina Gershon overacting in a performance based on a wax figure come to life. Seriously, I can’t begin to describe how much of an inane monster Donatella Versace was in the last decade or so. Hell, Maya Rudolph’s impersonation was an attempt to make her look normal.

I’m not exactly sure what Gina Gershon is doing here. She wants to bring pathos and weight to someone that most average Americans would never know anything about. But, she also wants to play up the weird aspects of the woman’s personality. Can you play the weirdo and play the nuanced individual? Unfortunately, you can’t and create something that will stand the test of time. Fortunately, this was a TV movie created for the Lifetime Network. Seeing the lack of standards at the new home of “Project Runaway”, no one cared and they scheduled this bitch in between airings of whatever the hell they show now. Hell, I didn’t watch Lifetime for years until the “Flowers in the Attic” adaptation. We all know that I feel that they dropped the ball on that one.

The DVD comes with no special features. The A/V Quality is as best as can be expected for standard definition. The Dolby 2.0 track is pretty flat. Plus, the standard definition transfer doesn’t have much to do. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.

RELEASE DATE: 02/04/2014

DARK TOUCH

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

February 3, 2014

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:

After a mysterious and bloody massacre in their isolated country house leaves her parents and younger brother dead, 11-year-old Neve is taken by police to friends of the family to be looked after. When Neve tries to explain that an evil force within the house caused her family’s deaths, she s met with disbelief from both the authorities and her new family. As the police try to find the crime’s real perpetrators, Neve is given a social worker to try to ease her trauma. But before long it becomes apparent that whatever killed her family has followed Neve to her new home, and soon she and all those around her are in mortal danger of the malevolent power that seems to be tied to the innocent girl. A pulse-pounding supernatural thriller, DARK TOUCH weaves the tension of a horror film with the plight of a newly orphaned girl to create a unique examination of the paranormal.

FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:

“Dark Touch” is all about the power of a young girl’s scream. When little Neve is in trouble or feels that something is about to go down, she can telekinetically rage scream at people. The film carries on and on with little resolution. However, it appears to be part of a recent trend about horror that casual fans seem to love. They want to see kids steal focus and push harder against what is accepted. In that case, the supernatural thriller angle is more apt.

Mysterious creepy kids is hitting a point where it’s turning into a horror crutch. Rarely do you see it done well anymore, but everyone keeps wanting to trot it out. There are thrillers and there are horror movies, let’s make it clear that this is a thriller that wants to aspire to be something greater. It’s never going to happen, so they need to get over it. But, is that a bad thing?

The DVD comes with a trailer. The Dolby 5.1 surround track is pretty dynamic for an indie horror flick. However, the transfer sports the usual edge enhancement for a standard definition flick. It was much more prevalent during the darker scenes. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

WHITE QUEEN, THE

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

February 3, 2014

FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:

Three different, yet equally relentless women vie for the throne in 15th Century England.

FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:

“The White Queen” focuses on Edward IV and his young Elizabeth. Destined to be part of history, as part of the losing side…they would grow to love each other. The warring factions and court struggle to take the throne is compelling. However, it is the young Rebecca Ferguson who holds attention as the titular character. She goes from a charming young Elizabeth and burns into a true monarch of the British throne. But, something was missing along the way.

Starz has just been on a hot streak with their mini-series events. They paint the show in broad strokes, but the general sense of history is there. England spent most of the time after the Magna Carta and before the Glorious Revolution in a never-ending squabble with a set line of families. Everyone thought that their bloodline gave them a direct tie to the greater chain of being. Elizabeth Woodville wasn’t always meant for great things, but watching as power corrupts her absolutely is so decadent. I think that the mini-series speaks to something greater about the nature of political power. It’s one thing to say that you want to run, it’s another to keep it from going to your head. Needless to be said, their side lost and we got another two or three Henry monarchs before Queen Elizabeth I took over.

The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes and a digital copy. The A/V Quality sports a strong enough 1080p transfer. That being said, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track really sings at ever possibly moment. The dynamic of politics vs. violence really plays well throughout the War of the Roses. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.

RELEASE DATE: 02/04/2014

STATE OF ARIZONA, THE

Blu-ray reviews

TroyAnderson

February 2, 2014

THE PLOT THUS FAR

The State of Arizona captures the explosive emotions and complex realities behind Arizona’s headline-grabbing struggle with illegal immigration. From ground zero of the nation’s immigration debate, the film follows Arizona’s controversial “show me your papers” law through the stories of Arizonans on all sides of this divisive issue – from those who wrote it, to those who supported it, to those who dreaded its wrath.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

“The State of Arizona” is a documentary that looks at Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” law. For people outside of the area, it just looked like illegal immigration supporters fighting with that state’s conservative base. What made it different was how aggressive both sides became in the matter. While I enjoy seeing citizens become involved in the democratic process, it felt like the illegal immigration side was working from a shaky standing ground. If you illegally enter the country, you’re automatically wrong. This isn’t about which family members are here or are not. It’s about who broke the law and taking care of the matter.

SB 1070 has been argued as being a common sense law. If you don’t belong here, then leave. However, the ACLU and other organizations state that it infringes on civil liberties. What struck me as odd was how no one argued for or against pushing the illegal aliens into becoming naturalized. The lack of long-term answers was frustrating, as both sides spent the 90 minute runtime spouting out their tired political rhetoric. I expected way more from the guys that created “Farmingville”.

The DVD comes with a PDF discussion guide as the special feature. The A/V Quality is strong with a supportive transfer and a Dolby audio track. The Dolby track doesn’t get much back channel action. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans of immigration studies.

RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!

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