There’s something for everyone in next week’s Blu-Ray releases: Wreck-It Ralph will tickle your gaming bone, The Intouchables brings a bit of comedy to its drama, and one my favorite films of the nineties finally gets a Blu-Ray release.
Ready for the latest Blu-Ray releases? Then read on.
Wreck-It Ralph
Starring:Â John C. Reilly, Alan Tudyk, Jane Lynch, Ed O’Neill, Jack McBrayer, and Sarah Silverman.
Director: Rich Moore
A 3D computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film was well-received by critics and viewers alike, and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Plot:Â Wreck-It Ralph longs to be as beloved as his game’s perfect Good Guy, Fix-It Felix. Problem is, nobody loves a Bad Guy. But they do love heroes… so when a modern, first-person shooter game arrives featuring tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun, Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness. He sneaks into the game with a simple plan — win a medal — but soon wrecks everything, and accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens every game in the arcade.
My Thoughts: I absolutely loved it! The story is heartwarming, the cast of characters are lovable, and the film looks beautiful. If you’re looking for something to watch over the weekend with the family, then this is it. Or if you’re a video game lover, like myself, then the inside jokes alone make this a worthwhile addition to your Blu-Ray collection. For your Useless Information Pile: The film started development in the late 1980s and has undergone several title changes since; High Score, Joe Jump, and Reboot Ralph.
Our Rating:Â 4.5/5
To see why the film earned such a stellar rating, check out our review of Wreck-It Ralph.
Red Dawn
Starring:Â Chris Hemsworth, Adrianne Palicki, Josh Hutcherson, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Isabel Lucas, and Josh Peck.
Director:Â Dan Bradley
A remake of the 1984 film of the same name, it received negative reviews from critics and has so far been a commercial loss, falling short of its budget in box office sales.
Plot:Â A group of teenagers look to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers.
My Thoughts: I haven’t seen it yet, but as a fan of the original film (Wolverines!) I’m going to get around to it eventually. It’s been called a generic action film starring a lot of young faces, so if you’re not looking for anything too cerebral, then this could be worth a viewing. For your Useless Information Pile: The film’s antagonists were originally Chinese, but were changed in post-production to North Korean in order to maintain access to China’s box office.
The Intouchables
Starring: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, and Anne Le Ny.
Directors: Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano.
A French comedy-drama film that has become a critical success across the pond and is currently being eyed for an American remake. The film has been nominated for several awards, including eight César Awards, and earned Omar Sy the César Award for Best Actor.
Plot:Â A true story of two men who should never have met – a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects.
My Thoughts: Another film that I have yet to see, but it’s on my list. The film’s subject matter isn’t addressed on the big screen often, and I’ve heard that the relationship between the two main characters is worth the price of admission alone. It’s definitely a film for a unique crowd, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by these types of films before and you may be too.
Rating: 3.5/5
What did our reviewer like about the film? Read our review of The Intouchables to find out.
Lay the Favorite
Starring: Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joshua Jackson, Vince Vaughn, and Laura Prepon.
Director:Â Stephen Frears
An American comedy film based on Beth Raymer’s memoir of the same title. It was universally panned by critics and has the distinction of making only $20k at the box office.
Plot:Â An adventurous young woman gets involved with a group of geeky older men who have found a way to work the sportsbook system in Las Vegas to their advantage.
My Thoughts: I haven’t seen it (surprise!) but for good reason. I heard it’s awful and, frankly, I can’t stand Bruce Willis in comedic roles. He should be out taking names and kicking ass; he’s John McClane! However, here at WGTC we try and accommodate all manner of film tastes. Some of you out there enjoy these types of films (my mom for one) and so don’t let my negativity sway you from watching a film that you might enjoy…Just don’t say that I didn’t warn you.
Playing for Keeps
Starring:Â Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Judy Greer, and Dennis Quaid.
Director:Â Gabriele Muccino
An American romantic-comedy film that was as ill-received as Lay the Favorite, but managed to make a decent showing at the box office.
Plot:Â Seeking to redeem himself and repair his relationship with his family, a washed-up pro soccer player coaches his son’s team. But the hot, lonely soccer moms, who find him irresistible, threaten to derail his plan to reconnect with his estranged wife.
My Thoughts: I was tempted to just leave this blank to see if any of you would notice (my editor definitely would). It may surprise you to know that I’m a romantic at heart and actually enjoy watching the occasional romantic film, but this one is not on my list. Although I’m a huge fan of Jessica Biel and Catherine Zeta-Jones, I couldn’t bare parting with my not-so-hard-earned paycheck to see this in theaters. Pick it up for a cheap romantic thrill…I’m aware that that sounding like a tagline for a hooker. For your Useless Information Pile: Jessica Biel was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her role in the film.
Rating: 1/5
To see why our reviewer didn’t like the film, check out our review of Playing for Keeps.
Schindler’s List: 20th Anniversary Edition
Starring:Â Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Embeth Davidtz, Caroline Goodall, and Jonathan Sagall.
Director:Â Steven Spielberg
A 1993 epic drama film based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally. It is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Score.
Plot:Â The true story of Austrian industrialist Oskar Schindler, who harbored Polish Jews during WWII by using them as workers in his factory. Schindler saved 1,100 Jews from certain death.
My Thoughts: It’s one of my favorite films from the nineties and every time I watch it, I’m in awe. Beautifully haunting with a great cast, this film made the holocaust more real to those us who had very little idea of what it actually was at our age. If you have never seen it, then shame on you. Pick this up and add it to your collection because it’s a film that should be viewed by everyone at least once. For your Useless Information Pile: The film is aired on public television in Israel every year on Holocaust Memorial Day, unedited, uncensored, and without commercial breaks.
Westworld
Starring:Â Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin.
Director: Michael Crichton
A 1973 science fiction-thriller film written and directed by novelist Michael Crichton. The film was nominated for several awards and was followed by a sequel, Futureworld, and a short-lived television series, Beyond Westworld.
Plot:Â A amusement park for rich vacationers. The park provides its customers a way to live out their fantasies through the use of robots that provide anything they want. Two of the vacationers choose a wild west adventure. However, after a computer breakdown, they find that they are now being stalked by a rogue robot gun-slinger.
My Thoughts: An excellent film and a must-watch for any science fiction fan. Don’t let the age of the film deter you; it’s richly entertaining and Brynner’s performance will send a chill down your spine. A remake of the film has been in development hell for years and originally had Arnold Schwarzenegger attached to star.
That’s all for this week, but we’ll be back with more Blu-Ray releases. Hopefully you’ve found something to add to your own Blu-Ray collection, and if not, then maybe something worthy for a friend.
Are you a fan of any of this week’s releases? Let us know in the comments below.
