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Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for December 9, 2022

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Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. This is a remarkably busy edition with plenty of interesting studio pictures and independent fare vying for your attention. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

AMSTERDAM: Inspired by a true story, this period piece is set in the 1930s and follows a trio of leads who have been friends since World War I. When two of them are asked to investigate a strange death, they witness another murder and are framed for it. After locating the last member of their group, they all try to determine who was responsible for the slaying. In the process, they uncover a sinister plot.

Despite the A-list cast and notable writer/director David O. Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook), critical reaction was muted. A small number were about to get onto its wavelength, suggesting that while the tone was esoteric it did deliver laughs, looked great and told an important story. Unfortunately, two-thirds of reviewers didn’t appreciate its quirkiness and found it too busy and tiring.

The cast includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, Andrea Riseborough, Alessandro Nivola, Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Rock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Zoe Saldana, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Rami Malek, Timothy Olyphant and Robert De Niro.

CLERKS III: The 1994 film Clerks was a low-budget surprise hit that chronicled a day in the life of convenience store cashiers. A 2006 sequel followed and this third chapter picks up with the now middle-aged characters from the original film. When one of them suffers a stroke and survives the ordeal, he decides to finally follow his dream and make a movie. When he announces that the film will be about his experiences at the store, all of the regulars return to take part in the production.

Notices were more upbeat than downcast. About one-third called it an unnecessary rehash that wasn’t as funny as the previous chapters and overdosed on sentimentality. Regardless, the majority thought it was an entertaining nostalgia trip. They enjoyed seeing the characters again and thought that enough of the quips landed to earn it a recommendation. It stars Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Amy Sedaris, Justin Long and a ton of celebrity cameos.

MAD GOD: Phil Tippett is a master special effects technician and stop-motion animation expert whose credits over the years have included the Star Wars series, Robocop, Willow, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers, and many more. For decades, he has toiled away on a passion project which has finally been finished.

It’s a stop-motion animated film about a mysterious assassin who travels to a strange underground world filled with monsters. As the story progresses, viewers learn what his mission is and how he intends to follow through on his goals.

The press was very taken by this feature. A tiny contingent found it repetitive, disturbing and were unimpressed by the narrative. Everyone else stated that while the story and message was grim and almost nightmarish, it was visually stunning and unlike anything else they had ever seen before. Alex Cox, Niketa Roman and Hans Brekke provide voices for the film.

OLD MAN: The latest from writer/director Lucky McKee (May, The Woods, All Cheerleaders Die) is another indie horror yarn. This one follows a hiker who gets lost in the wilderness. He finds a cabin and is taken in by the strange, elderly man who lives there. The two converse and begin to share their experiences and what they both are running from. As it turns out, the two find an unexpected and unsettling bond that connects them.

Reaction towards this effort was slightly more favorable than downbeat. A sizable number did feel that the big reveal and finale was superficial and that the movie didn’t deliver the punch hoped for. A few more suggested that the strong cast and scares did make an impression and that the final product would impress genre fans. It stars Stephen Lang, Marc Senter, Liana Wright-Mark and Patch Darragh.

OPERATION SEAWOLF: This war/drama is set on a Nazi U-boat at the end of World War II. With German forces about to surrender, their remaining submarines are brought together for one last assault to attack the U.S. mainland and change the tide of the conflict. A grizzled commander leads the final group on a suicide mission as they attempt to accomplish their goal.

The press had a poor response towards this title. A few did state that it was a decent B-movie that focused on character more than shocks and delivered some good performances. Alas, the majority didn’t buy into the concept. They thought it was a drawn-out and dull low-budget movie that didn’t display the necessary skills to deliver tension or thrills. The cast includes Dolph Lundgren, Frank Grillo, Hiram A. Murray, Andrew Stecker and Apostolos Gliarmis.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!

Here are some titles that might appeal to children.

Bluey Season 1 (BBC) DVD

Bluey Season 2 (BBC) DVD

Paw Patrol: Big Truck Pups (Nickelodeon) DVD

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Complete Series (Nickelodeon) DVD

ON THE TUBE!

And you’ll find all of the week’s TV-related discs coming your way listed below.

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection (MPI) DVD

Animal Kingdom Season 6 (Warner Bros.) DVD

Better Call Saul The Complete Series (Sony) Blu-ray

Better Call Saul Season 6 (Sony) Blu-ray

Bluey Season 1 (BBC) DVD

Bluey Season 2 (BBC) DVD

Breaking Bad The Complete Series (Repackage) (Sony) Blu-ray

Creepshow Season 3 (RLJ Entertainment) Blu-ray

Doctor Who: The Abominable Snowmen (BBC) Blu-ray

VISIT: WWW.CINEMASTANCE.COM

By Glenn Kay
For the Sun