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Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for May 22, 2020

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This is a great week if you want to stay in and watch some new Blu-ray/DVD releases. Thrillers, independents, documentaries, classics and comic books make for plenty of good viewing. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

 

BIG NEW RELEASES!

BRAHMS: THE BOY II - This sequel to the underrated 2016 chiller finds a new family moving into the estate once terrorized by a porcelain doll. Once on site, they discover the very same creepy figure popping up in and around the property in strange places. Soon, the young son of the new owners takes a liking to it and befriends the toy. However, it isn’t long before the horrific history of the home is discovered and the lives of all of the residents are put in danger.

Reaction was negative toward this horror flick. One or two enjoyed the added story wrinkle in making one of the characters take a shine to the film’s doll. However, almost all others complained that the surprise was gone. It features Katie Holmes, Owain Yeoman, Christopher Convery and Ralph Ineson.

BUFFALOED - A blue-collar woman from Buffalo yearns to get out of her home town, go to an Ivy League school and become a financial success. She manages to get accepted into an impressive school, but quickly realizes she can’t afford the tuition. With the help of a debt collector, the protagonist plots and begins an elaborate scheme to earn the funds to pay for her university stint. This independent comedy earned solid reviews.

Most reviewers complimented this feature as being an enjoyable ride with charismatic leads set against a colorful and quirky backdrop. The cast includes Zoey Deutch, Judy Greer, Jai Courtney, Jermaine Fowler and Noah Reid.

EMMA -  Jane Austin’s famous novel receives yet another adaptation in this fresh take on the story. Set in England during the 1800s, it follows a wealthy, well-intentioned, but selfish woman trying to influence and manipulate the love lives of her various friends. Along the way, she ends up involved in the fracas and comes to some life-altering conclusions about her own relationships. Overall, critics were very positive about this update of the tale.

A few voices suggested that this was never one of the author’s best works. Still, most thought that it improved as it progressed and the excellent cast helped make for a sweet and charming concoction. Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth and Miranda Hart headline the picture.

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: APOKOLIPS WAR - Like your DC comic book flicks grimy, dark, and apocalyptic? This animated direct-to-disc effort is a sequel to the 2017 release Justice League Dark (as well as a finale to the series in general, which includes all other movies from the past seven years featuring individual heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman). Set after the all-powerful and villainous Darkseid has laid waste to many areas on Earth, the remaining superheroes reform and team-up to take a last stand against their foe before the planet is destroyed. Write-ups were generally upbeat for this effort.

Most reviewers commented that it was fast and exciting, with some big moments and R-rated thrills that would impress adult comic book fans. The voice cast includes Jerry O’Connell, Shemar Moore, Tony Todd, Rebecca Romijn, Rosario Dawson, Rainn Wilson and Matt Ryan.

THE MOVER - Based on a true story, this Latvian foreign-language feature tells the story of Zanis Lipke and his family. Set in the port town of Riga during WWII, the country falls under German occupation. Horrified by Nazis enlisting the local population into their army, as well as and their horrific attempts to arrest and execute the Jewish population, the clan sets out to maintain their humanity by rescuing, hiding and protecting as many people as they can. This 2018 picture hasn’t really been seen outside of Eastern Europe and was only recently picked up for distribution in this part of the world.

However, it was well-received at various festival screenings. The movie won numerous awards in Latvia, as well as at the Moscow International Film Festival. It features Arturs Skrastinš, Ilze Blauberga and Matiss Kipluks.

PROMARE - If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, you might be interested in this animated feature. The story is set in a future where firefighters use giant robots to battle blazes. They also need their machinery to battle the Burnish, a group of villainous mutants who can control fire and use it to cause panic and destruction. When the Burnish attack, the heroic team sets out to do battle and save the world before it’s completely burnt to ash.

Critics in North America were quite taken by the picture. One or two described it as being all spectacle that otherwise made little narrative sense. Still, the vast majority commented that this was an eye-popping visual treat with incredible action and sights that you could only see in an animated film. It is assumed that this release includes the original Japanese track with English subtitles and an English-language version.

 

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

Below you’ll find a list of some titles that might appeal to youngsters.

Arthur: Summer Stories (PBS Kids)

The Berenstain Bears: Fun and Games (PBS Kids)

The Berenstain Bears: Summer Vacation (PBS Kids)

The Loud House: Absolute Madness: Season 2, Volume 2 (Nickelodeon)

Nature Cat: Backyard Explorer (PBS Kids)

Onward

Pinkalicious & Peterrific: A Pinktastic Summer (PBS Kids)

PBS Kids: Outdoor Adventures (PBS Kids)

The Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection (1964 - 1980)

Sonic the Hedgehog

 

ON THE TUBE!

And these are the week’s TV-related releases.

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 6

Fear the Walking Dead: Season 5

Forever in My Heart (Hallmark TV-movie)

The Good Place: The Complete Series

Ken Burns Presents: The Gene: An Intimate History (PBS)

The Loud House: Absolute Madness: Season 2, Volume 2 (Nickelodeon)

Love to the Rescue (Hallmark TV-movie)

NOVA: Mysteries of Sleep (PBS)

Relieving Stress with Yoga with Peggy Cappy (PBS)

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun