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  • Mulan Edition: Bits & Pieces

    Mulan Edition: Bits & Pieces

    Mulan Edition: Bits & Pieces – DJ Neel encounters the ravishing Sitara while working a club set one night and is transfixed by her. They return to Sitara’s place where Neel is horrified to see the gagged and shackled body of her dying father – Sitara’s grieving family keeping vigil around it. Caught completely unawares, Neel’s compassion is nevertheless aroused and he stays on. In India, patriarchal custom dictates that only a son can perform a parent’s last rites, but no such person exists in Sitara’s family. So when her father actually dies during the course of the night, Sitara coerces Neel to officiate the rituals of death. Thrust into a world of magic and transgression, Neel finally attempts to flee his waking nightmare. But as dawn breaks, it becomes evident that Sitara’s family is afflicted by an ancient curse. One that Neel is now very much a part of.

    Frightfest Presents and Signature Entertainment present TWO HEAD CREEK, a cannibalistic tale of Brits abroad, and a very witty slice of shocks and horror, starring Kathryn Wilder (All is True) and Stephen Hunter (The Hobbit Trilogy). After the death of their adoptive mother, a shy butcher and his drama queen sister leave the UK and adventure to Australia in search of their biological mother, but the local townsfolk of Two Heads Creek are hiding a dark secret: the pair must reconcile their differences to fight for their lives in this playfully dark comedy-horror. The BBQ is lit and it’s kill-or-be-killed in this hilarious, once-in-a-lifetime trip, also starring Gary Sweet (Wolf Creek) and Kerry Armstrong (Lantana). Two Heads Creek comes from the producers of Better Watch Out.

    Eureka Entertainment to release Victor Hugo’s THE MAN WHO LAUGHS; one of the most iconic and influential silent films of all time, starring Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin. Available from 17 August 2020 for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK. Presented from Universal’s 4K restoration, as part of The Masters of Cinema Series, featuring a Limited-Edition O-Card Slipcase (First Print Run of 2000 units only].

    Insurance claims investigator Max (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) follows the clues of a mysterious death to the remote Hotel Aurora, a unique and secretive facility that specializes in assisted suicide. His investigation uncovers disturbing revelations that force Max to question the very nature of life and death, and the realization that he may not be able to escape.

    Japanese maverick director Yasuzo Masumura (Blind Beast) helms a bitingly satirical espionage thriller set in the heart of the Japanese auto industry in his 1962 landmark Black Test Car, which launched a series of similarly themed “Black” films. Black Report – Masumura’s follow up – is part crime film, part courtroom drama, about a food company’s boss being killed, and the search for his murderer.

    In a bitter, take-no-prisoners corporate war between the Tiger Motorcar Company and their competitors, the Yamato Company, undercover spies have infiltrated both sides. As Tiger prepares to launch its newest “Pioneer” car and a prototype bursts into flames, Toru (Hideo Takamatsu, The Last Emperor) heads a secretive task force to root out Yamato’s spy, and find out what they can about the competitor’s familiar-looking new model.

    Nigel Kneale’s spine-tingling adaptation of Susan Hill’s gothic novel The Woman in Black creeps onto Blu-ray for the first time ever in this restored special edition, with an audio commentary from horror experts Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, The League of Gentlemen) and Kim Newman (author, Anno Dracula), and star Andy Nyman.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsWymJmR7O4&feature=youtu.be

    Mulan is a 2020 American action drama film based on the Chinese folklore “The Ballad of Mulan” and is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1998 film…

  • National Lampoon’s Vacation: Review

    National Lampoon’s Vacation: Review

    National Lampoon’s Vacation: Review – Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) decides to embark on a cross-country expedition from Chicago to an LA amusement park with his family. Their vacation turns into a nightmare when they encounter several hurdles.

    It may be hard to believe, but this week, Harold Ramis’ National Lampoon’s Vacation celebrates its 37th anniversary. Even though I wasn’t alive when the movie was released in theatres, it’s still hard to believe and it makes me incredibly nostalgic too. I basically grew up watching Vacation. Seriously. I can’t remember an exact age, but the first time I saw this movie was when I was extremely young. Maybe seven or eight years old. Is it the most appropriate film for a young child to watch? Not really. But I watched it anyway and loved every single second of it.

    Since I loved it so much on my initial viewing, I watched it numerous times over throughout the years. The Vacation movies are somewhat of a tradition in my family. Every summer we watch this film at some point, and about two weeks before Christmas Day, we all gather around to watch Christmas Vacation, which is our personal favorite in the long-running series. That being said though, Vacation is without a doubt my favorite road trip film of all time. There are plenty of great ones, and I’ll admit, Planes, Trains and Automobiles does come quite close, but there is just something so oddly endearing about watching Clark Griswold and his family embark on the most mishap-filled vacation of their lives.

    Rewatching this film today made me feel as if I were a kid again. What made this rewatch all the more special is that I watched it together with my mom and dad, just like how I grew up watching it countless times over growing up. Despite the fact that we have probably seen the movie about fifty times (no exaggeration), we still laughed so hard our stomachs hurt.

    We all know that John Hughes was one of the most legendary and influential filmmakers of the eighties, but I sometimes feel as though he doesn’t get enough credit for his absolutely hilarious screenplay here. Mostly everybody adores The Breakfast Club and the aforementioned Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but I think that his script for Vacation is without a doubt his most impressive and most comedic as well. This film has a total running time of ninety-eight minutes which is fairly standard for comedies. Sometimes though, a comedy can feel as if it outstays its welcome and there becomes a point in which the jokes just aren’t landing anymore. But not with Vacation. Every little mishap that happens on the Griswold’s adventure is sure to make you laugh and will keep you entertained all the way up to the closing credits.

    Vacation holds some of the most outrageously funny moments in cinematic history. As I said, I have seen this movie probably fifty times or more. I knew every single thing that was going to happen in the movie, yet I still laughed as though I had just seen it for the very first time. That’s because the script is so timeless and the jokes are still just as funny as they were more than thirty years ago.

    One of the greatest moments in the film is when Clark sees a woman he finds to be attractive and wants to impress her so he starts dancing while he is holding a sandwich that he’s about to eat. He takes a big bite only to be told by his wife Ellen that the family dog had peed all over the sandwiches which makes Clark spit the whole thing on the ground. There’s also the moment where Clark punches the Wally World moose mascot right in the nose or the scene in which the Wagon Queen Family Truckster goes airborne fifty miles in the desert.

    But one scene that I have always found to be hilarious seems to be one that not a lot of people take notice of. In one of the earliest scenes in the film, Clark and Ellen are discussing their exciting trip to Walley World while they are doing dishes. A hilarious little tidbit that can be hard to spot is that Clark never actually cleans the dishes before putting them back in the cupboard. Ellen hands Clark dishes to wash, but instead of washing them, he simply takes a rag and rubs it on the cutlery and plates for a few seconds and just puts them away. It’s a small moment but it’s so funny. Once you notice it, you’ll be sure to appreciate the scene and the film as a whole even more.

    This is just one of the most feel-good comedies ever made. It’s the definition of a perfect summer road-trip movie that will always stand the test of time. I honestly can’t see this film being boring or outdated in the future. This Griswold family adventure will forever remain a staple in the comedy genre, even thirty more years from now.

    National Lampoon’s Vacation is an outrageously hilarious road-trip comedy filled with tons of heart and goofy moments that still stand the test of time.

  • A Third Week At Number 1 For Trolls World Tour

    A Third Week At Number 1 For Trolls World Tour

    Trolls World Tour is Number 1 for a third consecutive week on the Official Film Chart following its release across DVD, Blu-ray & 4K UHD.

    With 76% of its sales this week on disc, the hit animation Trolls World Tour comfortably holds its spot at the top against big competitorsFrozen 2 at 2, Sonic the Hedgehog (4) and 1917 (5).

    Our highest new Top 10 entry comes in the form of a cinematic classic, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The 1977 sci-fi blockbuster starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford hasn’t previously featured in the Official Film Chart, but joins the Top 10 at Number 3 this week thanks to the release of a limited edition 4k SteelBook of the film.

    Joker holds on at Number 6 for a third week running, and adventure-comedy Jumanji: The Next Level takes a second week at Number 7. Dolittle drops three to Number 8 as Knives Out lands at Number 9. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s starring roles in Bad Boys For Life clinch another week in the chart, pushed back one place to Number 10.

    Finally, further notable Top 20 entries come from sci-fi horror Deep Blue Sea 3, brand new at Number 12; Bruce Willis and Chad Michael Murray’s latest action thriller Survive The Night, rising six places to 13; and a boxset of Trolls and Trolls World Tour at Number 15.

    This week’s Official Film Chart features a sneak peek of cult classic, Flash Gordon, which is receiving a special 40th Anniversary re-release. This special collector’s edition includes the original film remastered in 4K UHD plus a poster, art cards and comic strip. The soundtrack, famously written and performed by Queen, is also included within the bundle.   

    The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 5th August 2020

    LWPosTitleLabel
    11TROLLS WORLD TOURDREAMWORKS ANIMATION
    22FROZEN 2WALT DISNEY
    NEW3STAR WARS IV – A NEW HOPE20TH CENTURY FOX HE
    34SONIC THE HEDGEHOGPARAMOUNT
    451917ENTERTAINMENT ONE
    66JOKERWARNER HOME VIDEO
    77JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVELSONY PICTURES HE
    58DOLITTLEUNIVERSAL PICTURES
    89KNIVES OUTLIONSGATE
    910BAD BOYS FOR LIFESONY PICTURES HE

    © Official Charts Company 2020

    VIEW THE FULL TOP 40 – https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/film-chart/

  • Muppets NOW: Disney+ Talk

    Muppets NOW: Disney+ Talk

    As a child, I grew up with the likes of ‘Looney Tunes’, ‘Tom & Jerry’ and ‘The Muppet Show’. My parents even showed me ‘Muppets Christmas Carol’, which has now become an annual Christmas film for me. While I never loved The Muppets, I would always watch it if it were on.

    I even liked the Muppets Movie that was released in 2011. So, I was surprised to discover Disney+ had made an original series, with episode 1 being released a few days ago.

    The first episode of ‘Muppets NOW’ revolves around the muppet Scooter uploading the first episode…but not necessarily with the final takes that were chosen, as that day is the deadline to upload. Let the chaos ensue!

    The episode is split into four comedic skits: Miss Piggy has a fashion vlog, and her sass and arrogance is back in all its glory; In Muppets Masters, Walter mistakes Kermit’s photobombing skills as photography skills; the Swedish Chef tries to make a chicken curry and, in typical Swedish Chef fashion, completely fails, and Kermit tries to interview Ru Paul. Tries.

    The show’s familiar slapstick humour returns, but only gives us a teaser of the antics that is yet to come. The characters’ personalities have not been changed at all; the technology has just updated around them and, while it’s strange to see the Muppets in a modern setting, it works.

    The interaction between Muppet and human guest is also great and sharp; the reactions are believable, and each guest interacts with their particular Muppet perfectly. I look forward to seeing what other guests feature in future episodes. 

    Overall, this is a solid introduction to a modern Muppets show: the mayhem is still there, and the characters’ personalities haven’t changed at all, which is a delight to see. This is definitely a show I’ll be watching each week. 

  • Yes, God, Yes: Review

    Yes, God, Yes: Review

    Many films adhere to the indie coming of age formula, making it exceedingly rare for even a pleasant project to transcend the genre’s normative qualities (I Used to Go Here being a prime example). A few delightful surprises do find their way to cinemas though, including the latest adolescent comedy Yes, God, Yes. Written and performed with a keen sensibility and emotional authenticity, the film ranks as one of the summer’s most rewarding achievements.

    Based on a short film set in the early 2000s (from the same writer/director and star), Yes, God, Yes follows Alice (Natalia Dyer), a precocious teenager whose sexual awakening contrasts with her family and school’s conservative, faith-based culture. To understand her urges, Alice goes on a weekend trip run by Father Murphy (Timothy Simmons), where she begins to discover the blurry truth about her situation.

    Yes, God, Yes mines some potent thematic depth from its finite focus. Karen Maine’s screenplay humorously observes the hypocrisy at the center of Catholicism, displaying religion’s suppressive nature and the superficial, overly-zealous way it’s preached to developing youths – especially women (the film is inspired by Maine’s experiences). Instead of approaching her satire with a bitting bleakness, Maine imbues a sense of warmth and catharsis that counterbalances her critique nicely while still finding a sharp voice when required (the final scene is a picturesque conclusion). Her script sings with sneakily searing comedic beats (whether its a counselor philosophizing Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” as a holy track or through its distinctly 2000s zeitgeist references), often being quite funny in its recreations of authentically awkward moments.

    Maine’s balanced delivery helps render an endearing coming of age journey through Alice’s self-discovery. Where many ventures have viewed teenager’s awkward interactions with sexuality through a simplistic gaze, Maine explores this time of growth and curiosity in an assuring light that doesn’t belittle its subjects. Even as the film goes through some familiar motions (a third act speech made by a sage older character), these frames are colored with enough honesty to exceed the common framework. Star Natalia Dyer deserves significant credit for elevating the material, portraying Alice with a charming innocence that steadily evolves as she uncovers her conformist setting.

    Perhaps the only aspect holding Yes, God, Yes back from reaching grander heights is its straightforward visual design. Maine has some fun jazzing up scenes with pop confectionary tracks, but cinematographer Todd Antonio Somodevilla’s style never rises to the level of its written craft. Perhaps enhancing some of the film’s personal frames with more visceral camerawork could have rendered an even more meaningful experience, similar to what Greta Gerwig accomplished with her debut film Lady Bird (though in the grand scheme of things, this is a fairly minute complaint).

    Finding a sincere voice in her debut film, Kelly Maine’s Yes, God, Yes shines as a coming of age delight that articulates a well-realized portrait of Conservative culture.