2015 Blu-ray/ DVDs in review-

by David Blackwell

 

I am sorry for the latest of this article, but this is a brief look at some of the titles I really liked on DVD and blu-ray (and the one I thought really was a misfire) along with some of the best (and worst/ problematic movies of the year).

 

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES Extended Edition (BR)- The extended edition does improve on the theatrical version in the final installment of THE HOBBIT trilogy, but the extensive nine hours of extras are the real star of this set.

 

LOST SOUL (3 disc edition)- This behind-the-scenes documentary tells what went wrong with the making of THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU in the 1990s as Richard Stanley was fired from it and star egos combined with Stanley’s replacement (who didn’t give a damn about the movie) makes for an interesting tale.

 

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS- This mockumentary about vampire roommates is one of my favorites of 2015.

WOLFCOP- WOLFCOP is insane in concept along with a wealth of great extras.

WYRMWOOD: ROAD OF THE DEAD- A low budget zombie action movie that provides a hell of an entertaining movie which is MAD MAX meets DAWN OF THE DEAD.

 

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST The Rogue Cut- This special edition of the latest X-MEN movie features the cut of the film which should have been released to theaters instead along with great making-of extras

 

INTERSTELLAR- INTERSTELLAR has a wealth of behind-the-scenes extras for a movie I loved when I first saw it in theaters in 2014

 

EXODUS GODS AND KINGS Deluxe Edition-   It is a flawed Ridley Scott movie, but the making-of documentary more than makes up for it

 

POLDARK Season 1- If you’re undergoing withdrawal from OUTLANDER, POLDARK is a great substitute.

 

PENNY DREADFUL Season 2 (BR)- Eva Green heads a great slow burn horror series which leaves me waiting too long for season 3.

 

 

THE KNICK Season 1- Clive Owen electrifies as a drug addicted doctor in 1900 New York City making this the best new series to come to DVD and blu-ray

 

STARRY EYES- TSARRY EYES is nice allegory on what people will do to make it big in movies and combine that with the occult to make one of the best horror movies released in 2015 to DVD and blu-ray.

 

V/H/S: VIRAL- The best thing about the final movie in this horror anthology trilogy is the hidden segment which appears after the end credits

 

 

LOST RIVER- Ryan Gosling provides a nice atmospheric fantasy film which will guarantee he has a future in directing movies if he ever gives up acting plus Matt Smith steals the show as the bad guy.

 

PAN (BR)- a movie that has more wrong with it than they get right with it.  Rent it if you must, but you should skip buying it.

 

 

2015 Movies in Review

by David Blackwell

 

TERMINATOR GENISYS (BR)- Paramount spoiled the plot too much in the trailers.   The first half of the new movie is great while the second half is only OK.  I thought TERMINATOR: SALVATION was a better flawed movie in the series than this new reboot for THE TERMINATOR series

FANTASIC FOUR (2015- BR)- It is only a great reboot for the first hour before the last 30 minutes makes it a lost attempt at delivering something great.  I hope Fox releases an extended cut with extensive making-of extras chronicling the troubled production

THE SCORCH TRIALS (BR)- It is better than the book even though it deviates more from the novel than THE MAZE RUNNER movie did.

 

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD- one of the best action movies of 2015 along with being one of my favorite of the year

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (BR)-  I really enjoyed Guy Ritchie’s fun 1960s style remake of the TV series and I think SPECTRE would have been fantastic if it took more lessons from what really worked in this movie (wince Ritchie really wanted to direct a James Bond movie).

 

SPECTRE (movie review)- SPECTRE has great set up only to have the latest James Bond movie fumble the plot in the last hour.  I think it is time for Sam Medes to move on as director and maybe even get a new actor for James Bond since Daniel Craig seems a little exhausted by the role (but time will tell if he is back for his last contracted Bond movie).

 

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (movie review)- I enjoyed this flawed new STAR WARS movie, but it borrows too much from previous movie along with a  few plot holes.  Hopefully, Rian Johnson will deliver a knockout story for Episode VIII which hits theaters in December 2017.

 

 

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 2 (movie review) is a good wrap-up to THE HUNGERS GAMES series while INSURGENT (BR) is still learning what makes a fantastic adaptation of the series it is based on. 

Then you have CINDERELLA (2015 BR) which is just awful unless you’re a little girl and SEVENTH SON (BR) is a disaster that should be skipped.   KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE (BR) is one of the better spy movies of 2015 putting SPECTRE to shame in some aspects.

 

This review is ©2-1-2016 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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