Review: This week’s releases show how movies affect culture & vice versa (Includes first-hand account)

The story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.

Unsurprisingly, this is an adorably sweet film in which audiences will laugh, cry and “awe” repeatedly. Taking reincarnation to a new level, the dog is actually aware of his previous lives and trying to piece together the meaning of life through his many existences. Each cycle puts him in the body of a new breed (and sometimes sex) with new owners, all of whom find themselves alone for one reason or another. Directed by Lasse Hallström, this film uses its real, furry actors to create a moving picture that will entertain and engage audiences from beginning to end.

Special features include: deleted scenes; “Lights, Camera, Woof!”; “A Writer’s Purpose”; and outtakes. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

Caltiki: The Immortal Monster (Blu-ray & DVD)

A team of archaeologists led by Dr. John Fielding (John Merivale) descends on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its inhabitants. However, the luckless explorers get more than they bargained for when their investigation of a sacrificial pool awakens the monster that dwells beneath its waters — the fearsome and malevolent god Caltiki.

This is an Italian monster movie that has a lot in common with its American counterparts. The creature, reminiscent of the ever-devouring thing in The Blob or Creepshow 2, emerges from the swamp like a gooey trash bag and encases its victims. The first man to be taken and survive is unexpectedly driven mad by an unforeseen connection between him and the originating organism. Of course it turns out all of this can be explained by an ancient legend and prevented if the foreign group had respected the locals. Fielding is late to realize the danger of the specimen he so cleverly brought to his home, and is even later to his family’s rescue due to the implausibility of his story. In any case, this is an entertaining ‘50s monster movie that hits all its marks.

Special features include: commentary by Tim Lucas, author of “Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark”; commentary by Troy Howarth, author of “The Haunted World of Mario Bava and So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films”; “From Quatermass to Caltiki”; “Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master”; “The Genesis of Caltiki”; archival introduction to the film by Stefano Della Casa; original Italian and English theatrical trailers; alternate opening titles for the US version; and reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys. (Arrow Video)

Django Prepare a Coffin (Blu-ray & DVD)

Django (Terence Hill), a wandering gunslinger, is hired as executioner to a corrupt local politician who is framing innocent men and sending them to hang in an evil scheme to take hold of their land. But Django has other ideas and, cleverly faking the deaths of the condemned men, he assembles them into a loyal gang who’ll help him take down the boss, a man who had a hand in the death of Django’s wife years before.

Within the western genre, there were many types of narratives; but one of the best is undoubtedly the revenge movie. In this Italian take on the American classic, Django returns from the dead to get payback against those who tried to kill him. He builds an army of other dead men, but their hate doesn’t run as deep as his so their commitment to the plan falters. But before then, there are some great scenes in which these “ghosts” torment their enemies and Django taunts his murderer. The 1960s spaghetti western by director Ferdinando Baldi is on par with some of Clint Eastwood’s better dust-ups, Hill wasn’t their first pick for the vengeful gunslinger as explained in the bonus feature, but he is more than adequate in the role.

Special features include: “Django Explained”; and original trailer. (Arrow Video)

Donnie Darko — Director’s Cut (Blu-ray)

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a troubled high school student: in therapy, prone to sleepwalking and in possession of an imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Frank (James Duval), who tells him the world is going to end in 28 days 06 hours 42 minutes and 12 seconds. During that time he will navigate teenage life, narrowly avoid death in the form of a falling jet engine, follow Frank’s maladjusted instructions and try to maintain the space-time continuum.

The plot is complex but fascinating. It revolves around time travel and worm holes — and Donnie is the key. Gyllenhaal’s performance put him on everyone’s radar. He is excellent as the brooding and confused teen faced with a heavy responsibility. He is also supported by a very talented cast: Duval, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Noah Wyle, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross, Patrick Swayze and Jake’s real-life sister Maggie Gyllenhaal. There are numerous elements of this film deserving of praise. The soundtrack, both versions, are moving and so fitting to the scenes the songs accompany. The look is mesmerizing, as Kelly plays with speed and camera angles. The narrative is absorbing and thought-provoking. And the cast is remarkable.

Special features include: commentary by writer-director Richard Kelly and actor Jake Gyllenhaal on the theatrical cut; commentary by Kelly, producer Sean McKittrick and actors Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, Beth Grant, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Katharine Ross and James Duval on the theatrical cut; commentary by Kelly and filmmaker Kevin Smith on the director’s cut; deleted and alternate scenes with optional commentary by Kelly; interviews with Richard Kelly and others; “The Goodbye Place”; “The Donnie Darko Production Diary”; archive interviews with Kelly, actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Noah Wyle and Katharine Ross, producers Sean McKittrick, Nancy Juvonen, Hunt Lowry and Casey La Scala, and cinematographer Steven Poster; “They Made Me Do It”; “They Made Me Do It Too”; “#1 Fan: A Darkomentary”; “Cunning Visions” infomercials; storyboard comparisons; B-roll footage; music video for “Mad World” by Gary Jules; galleries; TV spots; trailers; illustrated collector’s booklet containing new writing by Nathan Rabin; and reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Candice Tripp. (Arrow Video)

The Expendables (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital copy)

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is the leader of The Expendables, a tight-knit team of skilled combat vets turned mercenaries: former SAS blade expert Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), hand-to-hand combat specialist Yin Yang (Jet Li), long barrel weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitions expert Toll Road (Randy Couture), and precision sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). Hired by a powerful covert operator, the team jets off to a small South American country to overthrow a ruthless dictator (David Zayas). Once there, they find themselves caught in a deadly web of deceit and betrayal. Using every weapon at their disposal, the set out to save the innocent and punish the guilty.

This film epitomizes all that is enjoyable about action movies. The dialogue is bad and predictable, often delivered with awkward pauses. The jokes are fairly lame, save for the occasional good insult. The action, on the other hand, is expectedly outstanding as the physicality of these actors cannot be denied. The explosions and mass destruction are executed on an epic scale, all of which is highlighted in this 4K display. The final battle is awe-inspiring with countless bombs exploding successively, and debris and buildings falling everywhere. Furthermore, video game-grade violence means too-red blood is bursting from kill shots, bodies are being split in two by powerful gunfire and a stream of corpses comically fly past corridors. As veterans of the action genre, these guys know what they are doing. Unquestionably an action movie expert, Stallone did a great job writing these roles to fit the conventional and beloved formula. And the cameos by Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are more than fitting.

Special features include: commentary by directory Sylvester Stallone; deleted scene; making-of featurette; “From the Ashes: Post-production”; Comic-Con 2010 panel; gag reel; and marketing archive. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)

The Expendables 2 (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital copy)

The team signs on for a mission that looks like an easy paycheck for Barney (Sylvester Stallone) and his band of old-school mercenaries, but things quickly go wrong and one of their own is killed by a psychotic terrorist-for-hire (Jean-Claude Van Damme). Hell-bent on payback, they cut a swath of destruction through enemy territory and wreak havoc upon their opponents. In the midst of the mayhem, they must also shut down an unexpected threat in the nick of time, preventing five tons of weapons-grade plutonium from falling into the wrong hands.

This is a good ol’ fashioned good guys vs. bad guys flick that includes a tank explosion and the rescue of a village. The original cast reprise their roles, more comfortable in their parts and visibly enjoying their performances. Former cameos, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, are developed into small supporting roles, boosted by other gleeful appearances, including Chuck Norris. This film isn’t worried about taking itself too seriously. It owns its position in the genre as a sort of homage to action movies (and stars) gone by, reaching as far back as the ’70s for this picture. This is the best sort of action movie: thin plot, lots of fighting and captivating heroes that all look awesome in ultra HD.

Special features include: commentary by director Simon West; deleted scenes; “Gods of War: Assembling Earth’s Mightiest Antiheroes”; “Big Guns, Bigger Heroes: The 1980’s and the Rise Of The Action Film”; “On the Assault: The Real-Life Weaponry of The Expendables”; “Guns for Hire: The Real Expendables”; and gag reel. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)

Ludwig — Limited Edition (Blu-ray & DVD)

Historical evocation of King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Helmut Berger), from his crowning in 1864 until his death in 1886, as a romantic hero. Fan of Richard Wagner — betrayed by him; in love with his cousin Elisabeth of Austria — abandoned by her; and tormented by his homosexuality… little by little he slips towards madness.

The film was divided into five parts for its TV presentation, but is completely digestible in the two parts created for its theatrical distribution. Ludwig appears ill-suited for the crown from the beginning; he has no interest in putting his country before himself, nor does he care for the politics necessary to run it. His relationships with Wagner and Elisabeth are imperative to the story as losing them pushes him over the edge. There are strange interludes in the story during which the government, his advisors and others describe their opinion of his actions and state of mind, presented as excerpts from the hearing in which they determine his ability to rule. His lascivious behaviour is some startling for someone in his position, but Berger portrays his descent into madness flawlessly.

Special features include: interview with actor Helmut Berger; “Luchino Visconti”; “Speaking with Suso Cecchi d’Amico”; “Silvana Mangano: The Scent of a Primrose”; and theatrical trailer. (Arrow Academy)

Ophélia (Blu-ray & DVD)

Ivan (André Jocelyn), a high-strung and intense young man of means, suspecting that his mother, Claudia (Alida Valli), and Uncle Adrian (Claude Cerval) are responsible for the death of his father, sets out to reveal their foul deed. Imagining himself a modern day Hamlet, Ivan goes about wooing Lucy (Juliette Mayniel), the beautiful daughter of his parents’ groundskeeper, convincing her to become the de facto Ophelia of the piece. Concocting a clever ruse to unmask the accused, Ivan’s fever dream of revenge takes an unexpected turn.

Claude Chabrol’s interpretation of Shakespeare‘s Hamlet is far from traditional, instead using the play as a jumping off point for a young man’s obsession. Ivan thwarts any chance of his own happiness with Lucy by fixating on the supposed betrayal of his mother and uncle. Even though she tries to redirect his attention to their future, he is consumed with exposing the treachery he believes caused his father’s death. His ravings eventually find a focus, but with unexpected results. Jocelyn is brilliant as the often delirious young man, who takes to playing a role in his own home and discarding his personal happiness in order to prove his suspicions.

There are no special features. (Olive Films)

Rings (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital copy)

When a radical college professor (Johnny Galecki) finds the mysterious video rumored to kill viewers seven days after watching, he enlists his students in a dangerous experiment to uncover the secrets behind the Samara legend. When the deadly video goes viral, they must figure out a way to break the curse and defeat Samara before her evil is unleashed upon the world. But, how do you stop her when she’s everywhere?

Somehow, in spite of the near extinction of tape players, the infamous VHS tape found its way back into circulation. And just to make it easier to “accidentally” condemn the world to Samara’s wrath, someone has decided to digitize the video. Nonetheless, this is a relatively solid retelling of the ghoul’s origin story as a young couple traces her history in an attempt to save themselves from becoming her next victims. Unsurprisingly, this narrative essentially disregards those that preceded it in favour of its own version of her childhood and ascent into evil (nor does it have anything to do with last year’s Japanese follow-up, Sadako v Kayako). Unfortunately, it starts to fall apart in the end and concludes on predictable and disgusting note.

Special features include: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; “Terror Comes Full Circle”; “Resurrecting the Dead: Bringing Samara Back”; and “Scary Scenes.” (Paramount Home Media Distribution)

Saturday Night Fever 40th Anniversary — Director’s Cut (Blu-ray)

Tony Manero (John Travolta) is a reckless Brooklyn rebel who escapes problems at home and an uncertain future every Saturday when he shines as king of the disco dance floor.

Inspired by an in-depth magazine article about the disco scene and its corresponding lifestyle, filmmakers decided it would be the ideal subject for a movie. And they just happened to approach the then lesser-known Bee Gees about providing music for the picture’s soundtrack. Although the film would become a sensation that continued to elevate Travolta’s career, it was far exceeded by the popularity of the soundtrack. In an attempt to depict a dance- and drug-fueled subculture, the filmmakers created characters with few redeeming qualities: the guys are all jerks to varying degrees, and the women are pathetic and desperate. Nonetheless, the special features for the anniversary edition provide interesting insights into the look of the film as well as a couple of dance-along videos.

Special features include: commentary by director John Badham; deleted scenes; “70s Discopedia”; “Catching the Fever”; “Back to Bay Ridge”; “Dance Like Travolta with John Cassese”; and “Fever Challenge!” (Paramount Home Media Distribution)

Story of Sin (Blu-ray & DVD)

The life of Ewa (Grazyna Dlugolecka), a beautiful, young and pious woman, is thrown into chaos when her parents take in a dashingly handsome lodger named Lukasz (Jerzy Zelnik). Having embarked on a torrid affair, the lodger goes off to Rome to seek a divorce from his estranged wife. Unable to live apart from her beloved, our hero leaves home only to fall prey to the infatuations and lusts of a band of noble admirers, unsavoury criminals and utopian do-gooders.

Beginning in a confessional where the priest warns the virginal Ewa not to give into the many men that vie for her attentions, she then meets Lukasz later the same day and accidentally allows him to see one of her undergarments. From that point forward, the general trajectory of the film is foreseeable as she’s punished for her desires and poor choice in men. Repeatedly manipulated, used and discarded, Ewa is constantly at the mercy of her unconditional love for Lukasz and whichever lecherous man has preyed on her misery. Alice is excellent in the role of a woman who falls deeper into despair and makes little effort to climb out of it, instead embracing the penances society thrusts upon her for her mistakes.

Special features include: commentary by Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger; new 2K restorations from the original negatives of Walerian Borowczyk’s ground-breaking Polish shorts: “Once Upon a Time” (co-directed by Jan Lenica), “Dom” (co-directed by Lenica) and “The School”, with optional audio commentaries by art historian Szymon Bojko, composer Wlodzimierz Kotonsk and Daniel Bird; introduction by poster designer Andrzej Klimowski; “The First Sinner”; “The Music Box”; “Stories of Sin”; “Miscellaneous”; “Street Art”; “Tools of the Trade”; “Poster Girl”; and reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Andrzej Klimowski. (Arrow Academy)

Tunnel (DVD)

When a tunnel collapses on Jung-soo (Ha Jung-woo), the ensuing rescue operation becomes the subject of widespread media coverage and frenzy. But days go by, nerves stretch thin, and Jung-soo must struggle for his life in the suffocating darkness alone.

This is a slow but engaging thriller, in spite of the inevitably predictable ending. The collapse is sudden, but Jung-soo is provided many people with which to interact in his limited space so the expected claustrophobia of his situation never really takes root. He’s also a likeable character, so audiences not only connect with his position but hope he is rescued. The dedication of the man organizing his rescue from outside the tunnel is staggering, as is the at-fault company’s insistence on continuing construction on another bypass even before the root cause of the collapse can be fully investigated. The aggressiveness of the media and the attempts made to accommodate them is also somewhat surprising. Even though it ends as expected, it maintains the dark sense of humour that runs through the entire film.

There are no special features. (Well Go USA)

The World’s Most Beautiful Swindlers (Blu-ray)

The anthology combines the talents of top-tier directors and actors from the world of American, French, Italian and Japanese cinema in a tale of sensational swindles taking place around the globe. Claude Chabrol directs L’Homme qui vendit la Tour Eiffel; Jean-Luc Godard directs Le Grand escroc; Ugo Gregoretti directs La Feuille du Route; and Hiromichi Horikawa directs Les Cinq Bienfaiteurs de Fumiko.

It’s unfortunate Roman Palanski refused to allow his short film to be included in this release, but the four remaining films are excellent. Chabrol’s section is a silly comedy about a man who believes he can purchase the Eiffel Tower, while Horikawa’s is a more serious piece about a young woman who believes she’s seduced a rich man to care for her. The other stories are somewhat less impressive or engaging, but still follow the overall theme of the compilation. In Godard’s tale, an investigative reporter tracks down a man in Marrakesh who is producing counterfeit money for charity, while Gregoretti follows the wily dealings of a pimp and prostitute who try to take advantage of a group of elderly men.

There are no special features. (Olive Films)