Blu-Ray News: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 3D Collector's Edition Arriving November 15

For the first time—and just in time for the holidays—viewers can bring home Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in 3D, encased in stunning, collectible packaging. The exclusive four-disc 3D Collector’s Edition contains the original theatrical release on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD, along with originally released bonus features and brand-new bonus material, including additional deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes conversations with cast and crew and revealing, never-before released audio commentary by director J.J. Abrams. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 3D Collector’s Edition is arriving in the United States and Canada on Nov 15.

3D COLLECTOR’S EDITION BONUS FEATURES:

Audio Commentary with J.J. Abrams – Enter the mind of visionary director J.J. Abrams as he reveals the creative and complex choices made while developing the first film in the new Star Wars trilogy.

Foley: A Sonic Tale – Foley artists, consisting of old pros and new talent, unite to bring the world of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” alive through the matching of sound to action.

Sounds of the Resistance – Hear how the epic sound design of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” moves the Star Wars legacy forward.

Deleted Scenes – View never-before-shared scenes that didn’t make the film’s final cut.

Dressing the Galaxy – Costume Designer Michael Kaplan reveals how the costumes of the original Star Wars movies were re-envisioned for a new generation.

The Scavenger and the Stormtrooper: A Conversation with Daisy Ridley and John Boyega – The two new stars share the thrill of working together on the adventure of a lifetime and becoming part of the Star Wars legacy.

Inside the Armory – Take a fascinating tour through the design and creation of the weaponry in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from the April release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” include the complete story behind the making of the film, an unforgettable cast table read, insights from legendary composer John Williams and deleted scenes, as well as features that dig deeper into the creation of new characters such as BB-8, the design of the climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren, the film’s remarkable digital artistry and the Star Wars: Force for Change global aid initiative.

Blu-Ray Giveaway: THE TIGER

WELL GO USA and FREE KITTENS MOVIE GUIDE are giving away Blu-Ray copies of the action-packed THE TIGER! 

TO ENTER: Simply leave a message in the COMMENTS section for you're chance to win! 

From writer/director PARK Hoon-jung (New World) comes the critically-acclaimed drama THE TIGER, debuting on Blu-ray, DVD and digital August 9 from

Well Go USA Entertainment. The film features a remarkable performance from Korean superstar CHOI Min-sik (Oldboy, Lucy, The Admiral: Roaring Currents) in return to action in the role of retired sharpshooter facing off against the last surviving tiger in Japanese-occupied Korea in 1925.  The film also stars JUNG Man-sik (Chronicle of a Blood Merchant), KIM Sang-ho (The Beauty Inside), REN OSUGI (upcoming: Godzilla Resurgence) and feature film newcomers SUNG Yu-bin and JEONG Seok-won. 

Blu-Ray Review: THE TIGER

Starring Choi Min-shik, Jung Man-sik, Kim Sang-ho, Sung Yoo-bin, Ren Osugi, Jung Suk-won, Ra Mi-ran. Directed by Kim Hyun-Jung. (2015, 140 min).
WELL GO USA

The Mountain Lord is one bad kitty, like a feline Charles Bronson and just as vengeful. Everyone discovers this the hard way after a band of hunters kill his mate and cubs. In addition to being a local legend in a nearby village near Mt. Jirisan, he's also the last living tiger in Korea. During the country's Japanese occupation in 1925, a power-mad commander, who collects animal pelts and trophies, has put a high price on the tiger's head.

Unfortunately for the poor saps hoping to collect the bounty, the Mountain Lord is swift, strong and smarter than the entire human cast. He's able to plan his attacks and slaughter entire squads of heavily-armed soldiers, not-to-mention making sure just the right people suffer the cruelest fates. The only guy who seems to understand the Mountain Lord is Chun Man-Duk (Choi Min-shik), a legend himself for his hunting skills, but has since retired after the death of his wife. He has damn good reasons for initially refusing to help anyone track down the Mountain Lord (revealed through eye-opening flashbacks), but not even his obnoxious teenage son, who'd love to kill the tiger because they really need the money, understands his reluctance.

Kitty wants Friskies...NOW.

For the most part, The Tiger is an exciting action-oriented tale of survival, revenge and redemption. It goes on a bit too long, has a lot of questionable CGI and often pushes the envelop of plausibility, but its agenda favors maintaining a somber, almost fable-like tone than hitting us with gritty realism. The performances (especially Min-shik's) are quite good and the film itself looks gorgeous, making the most of its snowy, wooded locations. The Tiger might occasionally remind some viewers of The Revenant, with its similar aesthetic, bleak tone and even a few plot developments. While not nearly as brutal, the film is still plenty violent.

And, like Charles Bronson, we're definitely rooting for the cat.

EXTRA KIBBLES: Trailer

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

Rest in Peace, David Huddleston

David Huddleston (1930-2016)

Blu-Ray Review: A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING

Starring Tom Hanks, Alexander Black, Sarita Choudhury, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Ben Whitelaw, Tom Skerrit. Directed by Tom Tykwer. (2016, 98 min).
LIONSGATE

It's movies like A Hologram for the King that remind me what a great actor Tom Hanks really is. He's had more than his share of blockbusters, classics, Oscar winners and personal creative projects. But to really appreciate what he brings to the table, sometimes you need to look at the movies which don't get much attention, where he almost single-handedly makes them worth watching.

A Hologram for the King is one of those...a seemingly slight, episodic tale of a once-great corporate salesman during a transitional point in his life. Hanks is nearly the whole show as Alan Clay. Recently - and acrimoniously - divorced, Clay is an unhappy man forced to put on a congenial facade for those around him, including his 21-year-old daughter, whom he thinks he's failed as a father. His professional life is in shambles as well, and a trip with his team to travel to Saudi Arabia to pitch a holographic communication system to the king appears to be his last chance at redemption.

Numerous complications hamper and delay his plans for the presentation, leaving Clay a lot of time to re-examine his life and values after developing friendships with local driver-for-hire Yousef (Alexander Black) and a female doctor, Zahra (Sarita Choudhury), the latter of whom he meets when a cystic lump on his back starts to concern him. It's in these scenes where Clay lets his guard down, drops the facade and dares to step out of his personal and professional comfort zone.

"See? There's Waldo."

Black and Choudhury are great in their roles, but it's ultimately Hanks who totally engages us with a character who slowly reveals (sometimes wordlessly) that there's quite a bit more at stake than simply clinching the deal. By the end of the film (which ends wonderfully), we feel like we really know Alan Clay and what makes him tick, giving us a personal investment in whether or not he can solve his personal and professional problems.

In theaters, A Hologram for the King came and went virtually unnoticed, one of Hanks' biggest box office failures. It's kind of a shame, really, because it features him doing what he arguably does best...not a symbol, stoic figure or moral compass...just a flawed individual not-unlike ourselves at a particular stage in life. That alone makes the film worth checking out.

EXTRA KIBBLES:
Featurettes: "The Making of 'A Hologram for the King'"; "From Novel to Screen: The Adaptation of 'A Hologram for the King'"; "Perfecting the Culture"
Digital Copy

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

Blu-Ray News: Lionsgate Resurrects Cult Classics with the VESTRON VIDEO COLLECTOR'S SERIES

Lionsgate is exhuming classic horror films with a red carpet rollout this fall for the limited-edition Vestron Video Collector’s Series. Hours of materials have been assembled for the Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray™ releases, starting with six horror cult classics! Taste the fear and the flesh, in shocking high definition for the first time, as teenagers meet their untimely demise at the hands of cannibals, killer robots, horror icons, sewer-dwelling monsters, and an army of the undead!

Vestron Video has been a leader in providing the most unique and wide-ranging selection of films. Lionsgate honors the spirit of Vestron Video by presenting the Vestron Video Collector’s Series — a line of classic genre films newly remastered and with a wealth of supplementary features. Starting with Chopping Mall and Blood Diner, and continuing with Waxwork and Waxwork II: Lost in Time Double Feature, Return of the Living Dead 3, and C.H.U.D. II: Bud the CHUD, these rereleases are for the collector and horror fan alike and will be available for a limited amount of time.

Teenagers trapped in a high-tech mall overnight must find a way out before three malfunctioning security robots destroy them in Chopping Mall. In order to raise an ancient Egyptian goddess, two cannibalistic brothers use their restaurant to add something special to the menu in Blood Diner.

Each limited-edition feature, transferred from the original film elements to high-definition Blu-ray™, is packed with special features including brand-new audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews with cast & crew — including one with Chopping Mall’s robot! The Chopping Mall and Blood Diner Vestron Video Collector’s Series Blu-ray™s will each be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99.

Movie News: SNOWDEN - Oliver Stone “Turn Off Your Phone” PSA

Oliver Stone would like you to shut off your cell phone during the movie, and then shut it off forever. In his words, “The information you put out into the world voluntarily is enough to burn your life to the ground.” Check out this new PSA from the legendary SNOWDEN director, in which he has fun with the notion that cell phones don’t just ruin the movie - they can ruin your life.

Stone’s new film, SNOWDEN, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley, hits theaters nationwide on September 16, 2016!

CD Review: GHOSTBUSTERS (2016): ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE

Music by Theodore Shapiro. (2016, 52 min).
SONY CLASSSICAL

Unlike the frankly-amusing - and pointless - fanboy arguments debating Paul Feig's gender-swap reboot of Ghostbusters, the musical merits of Theodore Shapiro's score are actually worth discussing.

The original Ghostbusters was scored by the legendary Elmer Bernstein, whose music reflected the film's overall playful tone, even during the spectacular-for-the-time action and special effects sequences. Since Bernstein is no longer with us, Shapiro takes the reins for this one, a logical move since he's mostly associated for scoring comedies.

Ironically though, as an isolated piece of music, Shapiro's score is mostly dark and foreboding, complete with percussive crescendos and ominous choir sections. If the listener wasn't already aware this was the music for Ghostbusters, they could easily mistake it for something accompanying an sci-fi/fantasy film along the lines of Independence Day or the latest epic from Marvel Studios. In fact, it isn't until Track 11 that Shapiro begins interpolating some of the original's familiar themes to remind us this is still a Ghostbusters movie.

While there's nothing particularly memorable about the score (no new themes which get stuck in our heads) the music itself isn't bad and at least we're spared Fall Out Boy's godawful interpretation of Ray Parker Jr's classic theme song (which appears on an entirely different Ghostbusters soundtrack album containing various songs from the film).

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW

Video News: HBO's New Political Movement: The GoT Party - GAME OF THRONES: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON on Digital HD

In conjunction with the release of Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season on Digital HD, HBO invites viewers across the land to the launch of a brand new political movement: The GoT Party!

One party that everyone can get behind, TheGoTParty (GoTParty.com) is an unique, interactive and engaging online campaign asking the series’ fans to help select the very first Game of Thrones Party ticket, pledge their support for their candidate and purchase of Game of Thrones: The Complete Sixth Season on Digital HD (or individual episodes) from all leading digital platforms. 

Choosing from beloved and controversial GoT leaders including Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister and Petyr Baelish (and their potential running mates Tyrion Lannister, Lyanna Mormont, Maester Qyburn and Sansa Stark), voters will have the singular opportunity to shape the very first GoT party and its ideals. On TheGoTParty.com, “voters” can learn more about the candidates, compare platforms and cast their ballots for the leader they feel can carry the GoT Party into the future. 

Running until August 31, TheGoTParty.com will be continually updated with original video content, real-time polls and infographics, adding to the interactive excitement.  With a dedicated hashtag (#GOT2016) and multiple social media channels, the electorate (read: fans) will be able to stay abreast of the campaigns, as the GoTParty candidates do pitched battle (at the polls). Then, on September 1, TheGoTParty.com will announce the winners, adding a singular and highly enjoyable chapter to HBO’s record-setting series.

As the winds of change swirl around Westeros and the Seven Kingdoms, GoT fans have, at long last, the opportunity to let their voices be heard loud and clear with The GoT Party.  So, if your audience is feeling disenfranchised or left behind with current goings-on, we invite you to point them towards GoTParty.com, where they can help to separate the contenders from the pretenders, and shape the future of TheGoT Party forevermore.

Rest in Peace, Jack Davis

Jack Davis (1924-2016)