Cloud Atlas was one of the most ambitious of 2012, featuring multiple storylines and having three top writers/directors working on the adaptation. It was a movie that divided audiences, with people either loving or hating the movie. Cloud Atlas is now out on DVD and Blu-ray and it features a documentary about the making of the movie.
First Release
- Cloud Atlas (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Back to 1942 (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Texas Chainsaw 3D (DVD and 3D Blu-ray)
Re-Release
- 3:10 to Yuma (1957) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- Jubal (1956) (DVD and Blu-ray)
- The Unbelievable Truth (1989) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Cloud Atlas (DVD and Blu-ray) *Recommendation of the Week*
Directed by Lana Wackowski, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski
Written by Lana Wackowski, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski (screenplay), David Mitchell (novel)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xunn Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant
David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas is renounced for being a complex and well received novel and was considered unfilmable. The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) took on the task. Each director helmed different sections as the movie focuses on six stories in different time periods, from the South Pacific Ocean in 1849, to a conspiracy thriller in San Francisco, 1973 and futuristic stories in a dyspotic Korea and a post-apocalyptic future. All six stories are interconnected with an ensemble cast who perform multiple roles across the time periods.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 68% (good)
Metacritic Rating: 55/100 (average)
Entertainment Fuse Score: 8.6/10 (read review #1 and review #2)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: A film like no other: see how three visionary directors came together, divided their tasks and created a cohesive masterpiece
Amazon Price: $14.99 (DVD), $22.99 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 3.5 stars, Video 5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 2 stars, Replay 3 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
It is a case of slim pickings this week with the major new releases being the Chinese movie Back to 1942 and horror sequel Texas Chainsaw 3D whilst two Westerns are being re-released by the Criterion Collection.
Back to 1942 (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Feng Xiaogang
Written by Liu Zhenyun
Starring: Adrien Brody, Tim Robbins, Daoming Chen
In recent years there has been an increase in Western actors starring in Chinese themed or Chinese made movies, such as The Children of Huang Shi, John Rabe and The Flowers of War. Back to 1942 stars Tim Robbins and Adrien Brody and directed by Feng Xiaogang (The Assembly, Aftershock) as the movie looks at one of the worst famines in Chinese history where 3 million died and was made worst by political corruption and the Sino-Chinese War.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 40% (poor)
Metacritic Rating: 41/100 (poor)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Trailer
Amazon Price: $12.99 (DVD), $14.99 (Blu-ray)
Texas Chainsaw 3D (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by John Luessenhop
Written by Kirsten Elms, Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan (screenplay), Stephen Susco, Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan (story), Tobe Hooper, Kim Henkel (characters)
Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Tremaine Neverson, Tania Raymonde, Thom Barry, Paul Rae, Bill Moseley
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise has seen multiple sequels, reboots and reinventions but the new addition of the series, Texas Chainsaw 3D is made as a direct sequel to the first movie, focusing on a young woman who inherits a mansion from her grandmother: but a psycho killer comes with her rewards.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 19% (awful)
Metacritic Rating: 31/100 (bad)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: cc Multiple Audio Commentaries with Producer Carl Mazzocone, filmmaker Tobe Hooper, actors Bill Moseley, Gunnar Hansen "Texas Chainsaw Legacy" featurette "Resurrecting The Saw" featurette "The Old Homestead" featurette "Casting Terror" featurette "Leatherface 2013" featurette "Lights, Camera, Massacre!" featurette "It's in the Meat" featurette On-set short subjects: Five-Minute massacres Alternate Opening
Amazon Price: $14.99 (DVD), $19.99 (3D Blu-ray)
3:10 to Yuma (1957) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Delmer Daves
Written by Halsted Welles (screenplay), Elmore Leonard (short story)
Starring: Glenn Ford, Van Heflin
From the Criterion Collection this week is the 1957 adaptation of a Elmore Leonard short story. Set in 1880 in the Arizona Territory a charismatic, ruthless outlaw, Ben Wade (Glenn Ford) is capture in small town his gang has been terrorizing. A local rancher, Dan Evans (Van Heflin) is convinced to take outlaw to a nearby town so he can go on the 3:10 train to Yuma so Wade can face the courts. Soon a battle of wits eschews between the two men.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 95% (excellent)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: New high-definition digital restoration; Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack; New interviews with author Elmore Leonard and Glenn Ford's son and biographer; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones
Amazon Price: $19.99 (DVD), $27.86 (Blu-ray)
Score (DVDTalk.com): Content 4.5 stars, Video 5 stars, Audio 4.5 stars, Extras 2 stars, Replay 4 stars (out of 5). Recommended.
Jubal (1956) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Directed by Delmer Daves
Written by Delmer Daves, Russell S. Hughes (screenplay), Paul Wellman (novel)
Starring: Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine, Rod Steiger, Charles Bronson, Jack Elam
The other Western to be re-released by The Criterion Collection is Jubal. Glenn Ford stars as Jubal Troop, a drifter who is saved by an honorable rancher, Shep Horgan (Ernest Borgnine) and is given a job on his range. But Jubal has to reject the sexual advances from the rancher’s wife (Valerie French).
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (excellent)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: New high-definition digital restoration, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack; PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones
Amazon Price: $13.97 (DVD), $19.86 (Blu-ray)
The Unbelievable Truth (1989) (DVD and Blu-ray)
Written and directed by Hal Hartley
Starring: Adrienne Shelly, Robert Burke
The Unbelievable Truth is an indie comedy-drama about Josh (Robert Burke), a man released from prison after committing a murder and Audry Hugo (Adrienne Shelly), a high school student with an obsession over the threat of nuclear destruction. Everyone in Josh’s old neighborhood is weary of Josh, but they don’t know why, especially Audry’s dad.
Critics Rating (Rotten Tomatoes): 100% (excellent)
Metacritic Rating: 67/100 (good)
DISC DETAILS
DVD Special Features: Tut & Its Consequences making of The Unbelievable Truth; Opera No. 1-short film written & directed by Hal Hartley with Adrienne Shelly & Parker Posey
Amazon Price: $19.99 (DVD), $24.99 (Blu-ray)
