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Film

HITMAN: AGENT 47 is Dead On Arrival

Friday, 21 August 2015 04:06 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

out of 4 stars

Video games always make difficult transitions to film. In fact, the Hitman character was already adapted back in 2007. So is the new film, Hitman: Agent 47, a reboot or a sequel? Frankly, I’m still not entirely sure. All I can say is that despite constant barrage of blazing guns, there’s little in the way of excitement. In fact, it struggles mightily to hold any interest at all over its 90 minutes.

Agent 47 (Rupert Friend) is a genetically engineered assassin with near superhuman abilities. Part of a top secret program that no longer exists, he’s a ruthless killing machine who can wipe out rooms full of people without breaking a sweat. His target is Katia (Hannah...

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for August 21, 2015

Friday, 21 August 2015 04:05 Gallupsun Staff

It’s time once again to look at new rele1ase highlights on Blu-ray and DVD. Unfortunately, it’s a relatively quiet week, but there are plenty of fascinating older features being issued in high definition for your viewing pleasure. 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!

Cub - A tormented young boy scout on a weekend outing with his troop discovers that a mythic monster of legend in the woods may actually be real. Unfortunately, no one believes him, leaving the protagonist with some difficult decisions as to how to handle the matter. This foreign-language fright flick from Belgium garnered...

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. – Action packed with suave spies, comic banter

Friday, 14 August 2015 04:49 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Rating: ««« out of 4 Stars

Running Time: 116 min.

With James Bond working hard to keep his newest adventures real and gritty, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. takes the reverse approach. This is no parody, but it is a love letter to the Dr. No era of espionage thrillers; it keeps the Cold War setting and production design, all the while holding its tongue firmly in cheek.

Thanks to some inspired casting and stylish visuals, director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows) manages to pull it all off. It’s a fun throwback that will keep most viewers amused and entertained.

Based upon the 60s television series that Bond author Ian Fleming assisted in creating, the...

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for August 14, 2015

Friday, 14 August 2015 04:46 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Welcome once again to another look at the highlights coming to DVD and Blu-ray this week. 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!

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story - This documentary charts the life of the puppeteer who has played “Big Bird” on Sesame Street for over 45 years (he has yet to retire and even at 81 still goes to work and dons the yellow suit). Besides interviews, the feature also includes early clips of the performer working with Jim Henson. Reviews were very strong, stating that while it can be overly sentimental, the doc still gives viewers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at...

The Gift: A Creepy Mood Piece

Friday, 07 August 2015 03:37 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Rating: ««« out of 4

Running Time: 108 min.

While horror flicks and thriller pics from Blumhouse Productions often follow supernatural tales along the lines of Insidious, Ouija and The Gallows, it appears that every now and then, the company does attempt some variations on their low-budget genre formula. The Gift certainly falls into this category. There aren’t any vengeful apparitions or undead axe murderers chopping teenagers to pieces. Instead, this is a mood piece, focusing entirely on its characters and attempting to create a general sense of unease.

Co-star Joel Edgerton also serves as writer and director of this effort, and it’s clear that as a performer, he’s far...