Blu-Ray/DVD Early Summer Review Round-Up - Part 3
We’re headed into mid-summer with plenty of time for more parties, sleepovers and movie nights and TeenHollywood is off and running with even more Blu-Ray/DVD offerings for your viewing pleasure.
This time, it’s a supernatural/horror/Sci-Fi bonanza…. with a little romance and dance thrown in.
From Warner Brothers Home Entertainment
Red Riding Hood: Alternate Cut- Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack
This romantic, creepy, fairy tale flick from 
Twilight’s first director Catherine Hardwicke features gorgeous young actors Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons in a love-triangle. In a fantasy village stalked for years by a werewolf, Valerie (Amanda Seyfried), is freaked when the wolf kills her sister while Val is being courted by blacksmith’s son Henry (Max) and her childhood squeeze, woodcutter Peter (Shiloh).
Famous werewolf hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman) hits town making the locals start to wonder if the wolf is their mom, their dad or their BFF! Will Valerie run away with the hottie of her choice or stay to do the wolf’s bidding?
Special Features: “Alternate Cut”- I didn’t see much difference here except for a little (kinda obvious) addition to the film’s ending. “Secrets Behind the Red Hood” is a picture-in-picture feature with Hardwicke and actors Amanda, Shiloh and Max commenting while you watch the movie. This is really odd. You get some cute anecdotes and info on the big dance sequence but get the idea that Amanda wasn’t too thrilled with a lot in the movie. She teases her sexy co-stars and the two guys are just along for the ride and trying to keep the peace. Hardwicke is all over the place sometimes semi-arguing with Amanda! Just for all this weirdness, it’s well worth a watch. You also get behind-the-scenes mini-featurettes, storyboards and cool artwork.
In “Behind the Story” we have seven featurettes. In "The Reinvention of Red Riding Hood" we hear about how the fairy tale was adapted for our modern audiences. "Red's Men" is a tribute/drool piece about Max and Shiloh. I liked "Making of the Score" which is really interesting as it delves into the film's music, a very odd mix with some very weird instruments. "Before the Fur" is a break-down of the creation and evolution of the CGI werewolf showing funny stand-ins for the wolf on set.
"Casting Tapes" give you a lot of Shiloh and Max as they try out opposite Amanda for their roles. You’ll either see chemistry… or not. “Rehearsals” are on set and often in street clothes so kinda funny. "Red Riding Hood in 73 Seconds" speeds through key scenes in the movie… in 73 seconds. “Deleted Scenes” are fun but nothing spectacular and the “Gag Reel” features bumped heads, falling down and flubs. “Music Videos” areFever Ray's "The Wolf" and Anthony Gonzalez and Brian Reitzell's "Just a Fragment of You”.
Wrapping Up: This movie looks really amazing; white snow, red capes, hot guys, hot dance scene and a ‘who-dun-it?”.. or more like “who-is-it?” It is also a hodge-podge of a tribute to the original fairy tale with some corny dialogue and a more modern love triangle but it is certainly worth a rental. Amanda looks beautiful in the film and Max and Shiloh aren’t bad on the eyes either. You can watch Gary Oldman chew the scenery while the wolf chews on…. Whatever unlucky victim he/she’s zero’d in on.
Sucker Punch- Extended Cut- Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack
Young Babydoll (yep, that’s her name.. Emily Browning) is institutionalized by her horny, wicked stepfather. In a nightmarish loony bin full of “orderlies” trying to get it on with the female inmates and other unsavory treatment, “Baby” thinks up an escape plan but is this only in her tortured mind or real life?
Along on the great escape are fellow inmates Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), Rocket (Jena Malone), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and Amber (Jamie Chung). In a bizarre fantasy world, these gals fight everything from dragons to Samurais to World War one zombie Nazis etc. Can any of them actually make it out of looneyville? Whoops, was it all a dream?
Special Features: This Blu-Ray set is loaded with them! You get two versions of the film on two discs. One is a 110-minute PG-13-rated theatrical cut (which your parents would probably rather you watch) and director Zack Snyder's 128-minute R-rated Extended Cut.
On Disc 2 there is “Maximum Movie Mode” in which director Zack Snyder pops up on screen while you are watching the extended cut of the film to offer comparisons in original rehearsals and final movie, some on-set pix and storyboards, interviews with cast and crew, how the effects were done…. all while the movie is on. Zack will actually stop the film and ‘rewind” to make his points. This is kinda bizarre but really engrossing and interesting even if you don’t like the film and that’s saying a lot. I’d say watch the film first, then go back for this. It’s a hoot and a very different “making of” approach.
On disc 1 is “Sucker Punch: Animated Shorts” which is not really what they are. Entitled "Feudal Warriors," "The Trenches," "Dragon" and "Distant Planet" they are promo pieces as graphic motion comics. You get the creation story for four fantasy/action sequences in the movie. They look pretty neat though.
“Behind the Soundtrack” I wish was longer. There is some awesome music in the film. You get a little about it but it seems that Snyder is just trying to sell us a CD. Composers Tyler Bates and Marius De Vries chat and you get a bit with Emily Browning doing some of the songs.
Wrapping Up: All femmes, all feisty and all under fire! Although these gals kick butt, they do so in skimpy, guy-magnet outfits. Girl empowering? Not really. Although it’s fun to see girls kicking butt bigtime, these gals still look like a fratboy’s wet dream while doing it. And hey, where is the story? We don’t get to care about these young women trapped in a sleazy nuthouse before Babydolls’ crazy escape dreams take over and they are all on the road to actionville and, oh boy…. don’t even talk to me about the ending.
BUT…and HOWEVER, is this an action-packed, visually marvelous, eye-candy thrill ride of a movie? Yep. Is there some pretty cool music? Yep. Should you rent it but probably not buy? Yeppers again…unless you are a 14-year-old guy who couldn’t care less about a logical story. Girls, if some of your guy-pals crash your sleepover, this is the movie for them.
From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Beastly – DVD
Hey, critics have really dissed Vanessa and Alex’s freaky/romantic, fairy-tale flick but Beastly can be a hoot. You know the Beauty and the Beast story. In this version, the “beast” is a super vain high school hotshot (Alex Pettyfer) who disses the school’s Goth gal, a witch who curses him with a weirdly-marked face until someone grows to love him that way. Vanessa Hudgens plays the gal he’s seriously hoping will end the curse.
Special Features: "Alternate Ending" you get a more traditional upbeat, if violent, ending. Worth a watch. "Deleted Scenes" offers more of Kyle as beast and a little scene between beast and his intended beauty. "A Classic Tale Retold" contains the cast and crew interviews focusing on theme and characters. There is a little behind-the-scenes but it is mostly a promotional video thing.
In "Creating the Perfect Beast" you get the background on the unusual beast make-up with Tony Gardner the make-up artist making it happen. This was very cool to watch but I’ve always wondered why they didn’t go for a more disfigured look if they didn’t want to go “furry”. This make-up is almost “pretty” in a tattoo-type way. You also get "Be Mine”, a music video from Kristina and the Dolls.
Wrapping Up: This movie was a bit unbalanced. It was more freaky and forced than romantic although it had some fun moments, especially for fans of Vanessa or Alex.. or hey, of Mary-Kate Olsen who makes a cool-looking witch. Maybe not worth a buy but a rent, on sleepover night, might be fun.
From 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Season of the Witch -DVD
Nic Cage is at it again, playing an off-beat hero in this horror/action-fantasy. This time he’s way back in post-Crusades times as a war-weary veteran with his buddy Felson (Ron Perlman of Hellboy). Both guys are fed up after killing women and children in the name of the Lord so they desert the army but are caught.
With the Black Plague close on their heels, they take the job of escorting a witch suspected of causing the whole thing to some monks who can lift her curse. Needless to say, the journey isn’t an easy one. Is this pretty woman actually a witch? Why else could she conjure up all kinds of danger for our boys?
Special Features: “Deleted Scenes”- you get a voice/over narration to build in more backstory; Interesting. Creepy but interesting too is more footage with a disfigured, Black Plague-ridden Cardinal played by Lord of the Rings’ Christopher Lee giving you more info on the story. “Becoming the Demon” breaks down the SPFX for the big final confrontation with the demon sequence. I always find this stuff fun to watch. “On A Crusade” goes into the choreography for the epic battle sequences in the movie. Fun for action devotees. “Alternate Ending” was really interesting. Less actual monster stuff. I kinda liked this ending better.
Wrapping Up: I really liked this movie and I didn’t expect to. Nic Cage and Ron Perlman are really convincing together as old war buddies who had seen it all and had a kind of shorthand due to their long friendship. Just good acting. The movie also looks atmospheric and creepy and boasts good set design and cinematography. If you are into tales of witches and demons and the heroes who fight them, Season of the Witch might just be worth a buy or rent.
Mao’s Last Dancer – Blu-Ray
To take a break from the horror/fantasy genre, check out a movie that is both romantic and inspiring and wow!; there is some amazing dancing in it! This is the true story of Li Cunxin, a poor peasant boy from rural China who beats the odds to become a world-renowned ballet dancer. His talent is staggering but the Chinese Communist government of the time won’t let him stay in the U.S. when he falls for an American girl while on tour. Bummer!
Special Features: Only one: “The Making of Mao’s Last Dancer” contains several good interviews especially with the director Bruce Beresford talking about working in China, working with real rural dancers and his casting choices. There are some behind-the-scenes sections. Very good.
Wrapping Up: Mao's Last Dancer is a really heartfelt underdog story (It’s also PG-rated) and features several gorgeous young actors playing the various ages of the lead character. It’s a true story and that makes it all the more endearing and amazing. The dancing will knock your socks off and it looks great on Blu-Ray. If you are a fan of great dance, romance or just love a good “underdog wins” story, you have to buy or rent this one.
