There aren’t very many Blu-Ray releases this week, but you may just find something to make your weeknights feel like a weekend. This week, The Master gets a home release, The Twilight Saga comes to an end, and John Dies at the End takes you on a geekily-fun ride.
Ready for this week’s Blu-Ray releases? Then read on.
The Master
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Price Carson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, and Ambyr Childers.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
An American drama film, partly inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, that received critical acclaim and three Academy Award nominations (Best Actor for Phoenix, Best Supporting Actor for Hoffman, and Best Supporting Actress for Adams).
Plot: A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader.
My Thoughts: I’ve been waiting for this to hit Blu-Ray for awhile now and I can’t wait to see it. The cast is excellent and the subject matter is very intriguing. If you’re looking for something to draw you in and take you to a very different place than your standard film fare, then this is for you. For your Useless Information Pile: The film’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, reportedly screened the film for his friend Tom Cruise, an outspoken Scientologist, who ended up having some issues with the film (no kidding).
Our Rating: 4.5/5
To see why the film earned such a stellar rating, check out our review of The Master.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Maggie Grace, and Michael Sheen.
Director: Bill Condon
The franchise that made tweens and teens everywhere fall in love with vampire culture finally comes to an end. It’s the conclusion of the 2011 film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and received (unsurprisingly) mixed reviews from critics but was much-loved by fans of the series.
Plot: After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
My Thoughts: I saw the first film in the series and that’s as far as it will ever go for me. However, regardless of my own feelings towards the franchise in general, I won’t spend my time bashing it. I know plenty of people who love them, so if you’re a fan or know someone who is, then be sure to pick this up. For your Useless Information Pile: The film has grossed over $828 million worldwide, becoming the 34th highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing film of the Twilight series.
Girls Against Boys
Starring: Danielle Panabaker, Nicole LaLiberte, and Liam Aiken.
Director: Austin Chick
A horror film that received poor reviews across the board and had only a very limited release.
Plot: After a series of bad experiences with men, Shae teams up with her co-worker, Lu, who has a simple, deadly way of dealing with the opposite sex.
My Thoughts: I can’t believe I’m going to admit this, but I actually watched this film (I’m sure somewhere a thousand voices are crying out in terror). Did I enjoy it? No. However, it has a b-quality campiness to it, that someone may enjoy it. The beauty about films, like music and literature, is that there’s always something for everyone. If you like the genre, and have absolutely nothing better to do, then you might want to give it a shot. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though.
John Dies at the End
Starring: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Doug Jones, and Daniel Roebuck.
Director: Don Coscarelli
An American dark comedy-horror film based on the David Wong novel of the same name. It received mixed reviews from critics and had a limited release in theaters last month.
Plot: It’s a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. On the street they call it Soy Sauce, and users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly, a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No. No, they can’t.
My Thoughts: Despite its craziness, I liked it and many of you will too. Much like the previously mentioned Girls Against Boys (groan), it’s pretty campy and borders on the b-movie level, but it’s a fun ride. It’s darkly funny, eerily surreal, and sure to get some laughs. Pick this up for a freaky-cool home viewing.
Our Rating: 4/5
What did our reviewer like about the film? Read our John Dies at the End review to find out.
Africa
Narrator: David Attenborough
Director: Various
The latest in the BBC Earth documentary series, this 6-episode set has been hailed by many reviewers as the best in the series to date.
Plot: Narrated by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, this extraordinary series takes you to epic, never-before-seen locations and captures the incredible new behaviors of the creatures that struggle to survive in a rapidly-changing continent.
My Thoughts: Absolutely beautiful and really a must-watch for any nature documentary fans. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I couldn’t believe some of the scenes that they managed to film. The episode that highlighted the Congo was my personal favorite; the number of animals that are forced to compete with each other for space and resources on a daily basis is incredible. Definitely add this to your collection if you’re a fan of the genre.
That’s all for now, but we’ll be back next week with many more Blu-Ray releases. It’s a slow release week but things will start to pick up again as March rolls around. Remember not to work too hard and that a ‘break schedule’ is really just a guideline.
Are you a fan of any of this week’s releases? Let us know in the comments below.