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You are here: Community Film Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for March 6, 2020

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for March 6, 2020

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Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s some really interesting stuff including lots of family entertainment, independent features and critical hits. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

Big New Releases!

Ana - Set in Puerto Rico, this comedy/drama follows a broke used car dealer who discovers a 9-year-old girl sleeping in the back of one of his vehicles. Learning that her mother has just been arrested, the salesman decides to help her locate her long-lost father. His kind-hearted choice may also have something to do with avoiding dangerous persons to whom he owes money. This odd-couple heads across the island and ends up helping each other in their pursuits.

Once again, this flick hasn’t received any write-ups yet, so curious parties will have to take a chance on it. It features Andy Garcia, Dafne Keen, Luna Lauren Velez, Ramón Franco and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Dark Waters - Based on a true story, this legal drama follows a corporate defense attorney who is asked by a family member to investigate the claims of a neighboring farmer whose cows have died. After trying to avoid the task, he eventually takes a look at their case. The lead soon uncovers a shocking conspiracy involving a major corporation which also happens to be a potential client. Horrified by his findings, he spends the next several years filing an environmental lawsuit and bringing the company to justice.

The press gave high marks to this film from Todd Haynes (Wonderstruck, Carol, Far from Heaven). Most called the performances powerful and the story something that would stay in viewer’s minds long after the credits roll. It stars Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp and Victor Garber.

Ne Zha - In this animated adventure film from China, a young boy is born with incredible powers and gifts. This leaves him an outcast in his community as he is bullied by others. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the child must make a choice to either fulfill his destiny or ignore his calling and use his gifts to benefit those who once treated him poorly. Notices were very good for this feature.

Most reviewers called this an eye-popping spectacle that got stronger and stronger as it progressed and ended up being as impressive as a Disney or Pixar effort. The movie is arriving on disc with both a Mandarin-language track with English subtitles and an English-language version.

The Sonata - This independent thriller follows a young violinist who receives word that her estranged composer father has passed away and left her his large estate. Naturally, it includes a big, ornate and creepy mansion. She finds one of her dad’s compositions within and tries to decode a series of symbols on it. The lead soon learns that her father’s actions were all part of a strange and sinister plan.

Reaction was split toward this title. About half of reviewers thought the style and mood on display couldn’t hide the fact that there wasn’t much new or exciting going on. Still, just as many commented that it was a reasonably gripping Gothic thriller with great work from one of the supporting cast members. It features Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, James Faulkner and Rutger Hauer.

Blasts from the Past!

There are some really quirky older titles receiving high definition upgrades this week. Arrow Academy has a Special Edition Blu-ray of Kansas City (1996), the period crime flick about a kidnapping from writer/director Robert Altman (MASH, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This film came a little after his 1992 critical hit The Player, right when the moviemaker was experiencing a resurgence of interest and popularity. It was nominated for the Palm d’Or at Cannes and stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Miranda Richardson, Harry Belafonte, Dermot Mulroney and Steve Buscemi.

Kino has Pray for the Wildcats (1974), a flick about ad executives who decide to ride their motorbikes through Baja, Mexico in order to plan a new promotional campaign and series of commercials. Things go south pretty quickly as danger and personal issues quickly rise to the surface. The movie is perhaps most notable for its cast of businessmen bikers, which includes William Shatner, Andy Griffith, Robert Reed (from The Brady Bunch) and Marjoe Gortner. While the movie was originally made for TV, it’s fun to watch just to see some of the cast members play against type (Griffith is particularly nasty in his role).

This flick has been given a 2K restoration and arrives with a film historian commentary track.

You Know, For Kids!

There’s plenty of kid-friendly entertainment hitting store shelves this week. Here are the highlights.

Floogals: Investigation Station

Jim Henson’s Doozers: We Dig Spring!

Ne Zha

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups: Super PAWs (Nickelodeon)

PJ Masks: Power of Mystery Mountain

Playmobile: The Movie

Teen Titans Go!: Season 5, Part 2

On the Tube!

And here are all of the TV-themed releases.

Easter Under Wraps (Hallmark TV-movie)

Over the Moon in Love (Hallmark TV-movie)

PAW Patrol: Mighty Pups: Super PAWs (Nickelodeon)

Teen Titans Go!: Season 5, Part 2

Titans: Season 2

Vienna Blood (PBS)

When Calls the Heart: Finding Home

Women of Impact: Changing the World (National Geographic)

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun