Blu-Ray Review: True Blood Season Five Gets Bloody Biblical, Literally

After a dismally weak and slow fourth season filled with tedious subplots about witches, spirits and all wolves and vamps in between, I am pleased to say that Alan Ball’s HBO fangfest returns to more reactive territory, by delving head first into the heart of the vampire community, with the long awaited introduction of The Authority.

Blu-Ray Cover Art for TRUE BLOOD Season Five, courtesy HBO, 2013

A lot had happened in a short amount of time since the Season Four finale, what with Alcide (Joe Mangianello) discovering that the long-thought dead Russell Edgington (Russell O’Hare) had broken out of his concrete tomb. Also, we saw Sookie (Anna Paquin) meet her near demise at the hands of Alcide’s ex, until Tara jumped in front of the bullet, dying in Sook’s arms. Furthermore, a vindictive pack master had been murdered out of revenge, the Authority’s official spokesperson Nan Flanagan meeting her true death at the hands of Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard). Did I leave anything out? Probably.

In any case, it’s a whole new season, and the Authority’s pissed, enough to track down and abduct Bill and Eric, but not before they meet the elder group’s chancellor, Nora (Lucy Griffiths), who just happens to be Eric’s ageless sister. Back at the Stackhouse household, Sookie and Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) make an impulsive request by asking Pam (Kristina Bauer van Stratten) to turn Tara before she is fully dead, hoping to give her a new life as a vampire. This doesn’t come without moral and logistical complications.

In town, Merlotte’s cook Terry Bellefleur (Todd Lowe) reconnects with an old Army buddy (Scott Foley) who informs him that a vengeful spirit may have followed them back from their tour in Iraq; Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) tries to figure out how to make amends with best friend Hoyt (Jim Parrack) after reconnecting with young nubile vamp Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). Meanwhile, back at the Authority’s secret headquarters, Bill and Eric must appease the ire of its senior committee, headed by older vampire Roman (Christopher Meloni) and several other considerably older vampires. The group firmly believes in keeping a harmonious rapport with humankind, all the while fighting Sanguinista dissidents who follow an ancient original Testament recalling the existence of Lilith, the first being and vampire created in God’s image.

With so much happening in this latest True Blood outing, the question becomes “who lives and who dies?”

Roman (Christopher Meloni) threatens Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) in TRUE BLOOD, courtesy HBO, 2013

I firmly think that the producers chose well in fleshing out some of the more prevalent icons referenced through Charlaine Harris’ novels, especially when it comes to finally exposing the Vampire Authority to the show’s fans. After all, there had to be a real sense of larger importance in order to convey the power such a group would hold over a small nation of virtually immortal beings, by flaunting its control and rule over those who would themselves rule over humans they see as no more than cattle.

While I’m as unenthusiastic about the Iraqi spirit subplot as I was by, well, the entire witches’ storyline from Season Four, I’m quite happy with the fact that they retained a decent camaraderie between main cast members. A bizarre kinship between Bill and Eric doesn’t quite turn into a bromance, but entertains nonetheless. Anna Paquin doesn’t quite have as much to do this year, but I believe this may have been due to the actress’ pregnancy later in the season. Of course, the growing suspense of the Authority’s final success or demise, and its members’ fate as they fight for or against the honor of First Vampire Lilith, makes for captivating viewing and doesn’t disappoint.

Hot tempered Tara (Rutina Wesley) gets a lesson in manners from Pam (Kristina Bauer von Strratten) in TRUE BLOOD, courtesy HBO, 2013

Hot tempered Tara (Rutina Wesley) gets a lesson in manners from Pam (Kristina Bauer von Stratten) in TRUE BLOOD, courtesy HBO, 2013

I wish I could tell you to be excited about the box set’s bonus features, but aside from some added information and commentaries with some episodes, along with some background tidbits about characters (bio notes, etc.), there isn’t a whole lot to sink your teeth into. What’s left to enjoy is the season itself, in which the blood looks tastier and the fangs sharper, given the excellent audio and HD quality, grain-free picture. I can’t wait to see what the show has in store for Season Six, which debuts on HBO in June. Let’s hope they don’t repeat the same mistakes as Year Four and keep the plot twists coming right up until each episode’s end credits.

3.5 out of 5

Leave a comment

Film Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Solid Sci-Fi Fare But Inadequate Sequel

This is the review I’ve been dreading, where I write up my thoughts as objectively as possible, while being honest to my friends and loyal readers who know me as the biggest Trekkie they’ve come across.

As many of you know, I’ve been following the developments of this project on multiple occasions here on Pop Culture Landscape over the past several months. With each new teaser and trailer, JJ Abrams fed us subtle clues and classic acts of misdirection, in the hope of keeping his latest project fresh, shocking and filled with inventive twists given the alternate-timeline reboot device of the excellent 2009 film.

Now, with the arrival of this second outing with the younger incarnations of the original Enterprise crew, fans are asked to go along with the latest changes. In retrospect, that’s a lot to ask for.

Theatrical Poster for STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, courtesy Paramount Pictures, 2013

The movie starts off mid-mission, as Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (Karl Urban) run away from angry natives on a primitive planet, while Spock (Zachary Quinto), Sulu (John Cho) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) try to prevent the catastrophic eruption of said planet’s massive volcano. Throwing Prime Directive caution to the wind, Kirk decides that a brief exposure of the ship shouldn’t be too bad, and disobeys Starfleet’s golden rule to save his crew mates when things go South.

This earns the reckless and brash young captain a serious reprimand at the hands of Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood), who has no choice but to demote Kirk to Commander and re-assign him away from the Enterprise. Meanwhile, news comes that a terrorist attack on a secret facility in London, England, has been perpetrated by a Federation agent known as John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) before fleeing to a remote section of space in Klingon territory.

Refusing to allow this heinous act to go unpunished, Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) sends Kirk, Spock and crew on a military mission to capture and/or kill Harrison, so he may answer for his crimes. This proves a difficult mission, once details are revealed as to the true purpose of the mission, Harrison’s affiliations and Starfleet’s ulterior motives in this raid. Kirk must rely on his own instincts to shed light on the situation, before all out war erupts with the aggressive warrior race.

John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) submits to a blood test at the hands of Doctor McCoy (Karl Urban) in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, courtesy Paramount Pictures, 2013

Now, as to the task of reviewing this film without giving away the whole kit and kaboodle. I’ll still give credit to Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto in their continuing efforts to flesh out the uneasy budding friendship the fictitious pair have already demonstrated at the hands of Shatner and Nimoy in decades past. Though some of their co-stars find themselves limited in their respective roles (i.e. a bit more could have been handed to Urban, who shouldn’t be reduced to cheesy metaphors, ditto the nearly absent Chekov, played by Anton Yelchin), you still get the sense that this tightly knit crew functions well, and that the camaraderie is genuine.

As to the film’s plot, I find myself having difficulty accepting that, despite the valiant efforts of director JJ Abrams along with writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof, no newer ideas have come up this time around, despite the game changing gimmick of having changed Trek history altogether in the first film. Why go back to familiar story lines, villains and overly beaten paths, when a whole new road presents itself before you?

Indeed, much of the content seen in this second Trek film feels cheaply rehashed out of a sense of nostalgia, a ploy which hurts this still-entertaining movie in the long run. Familiar names from the past (or is it future?) pop back up before being dismissed or remanded to the background altogether. Not since early May’s Iron Man 3 has a filmmaker drawn up so many familiar elements before pulling a switcheroo on its eager audience.

Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) and James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, courtesy Paramount Pictures, 2013

It’ll be hard for some to accept this latest take on the re imagined Trek mythos, lens flares and pristine Apple iBridge intact. While I find it fair to boldly remix some classic elements in the hope of coming up with something new to excite the masses, there comes a time when doing so spreads the resources (not to mention the better characters) too thin, too soon out of the gate. Benedict Cumberbatch looks and sounds great as a potential villain full of poise and eloquence; I sincerely hope to see more of him, in this or other franchises. For now, however, I’ll find myself pondering whether this new alternate timeline also means that the odd-numbered Star Trek films will be the good ones, while the even numbered ones suffer as this one has?

I’ll just let the future decide for itself. As a self-respecting Trekkie but also an objective writer-reviewer, I just can’t in good conscience accept this weaker outing, despite some good jokes and great action pieces. This is one case where the many needs of the story outweigh the needs of the few who just want to have fun with an already great iconic series.

2.5 out of 5

2 Comments

Blu-Ray Review: The Great Escape a Classic Experiment in Courage and Willpower

We’ve all seen the re-enactments of World War II camp imprisonments, with heyday shows like Hogan’s Heroes, spoofs the likes of Top Secret! and the like. But when it comes to the definitive depiction of trial and error paired with the will to survive and escape enemy containment, few films since have done an adequate job, save for director John Sturges’ incredible thriller The Great Escape, reviewed in high definition here.

Blu-Ray Cover Art for The Great Escape, courtesy Fox Home Video, 2013

While most younger film fans and Oscar viewers alike know this film from the famous motorcycle leap scene starring Steve McQueen as “The Cooler King”, a lot must be said about the ensemble cast assembled here, a ragtag group of mostly American POWs interspersed with their British counterparts, including ranking officer “Big X” Bartlett (Sir Richard Attenborough), as they keep trying to escape on a dare from camp Kommandant Von Luger (Hannes Messemer).

Indeed, though this film is partly based on real-life events, with names and characters amalgamated for dramatic purposes, it still ranks high on most critics’ best-of lists, not to mention its place as one of the most vivid depictions of stubborn determination when pitted against claustrophobic surroundings and probable death at the hands of less-than-enthused German captors in wartime.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of French filmmaker Jean Renoir’s La Grande Illusion while re-watching this, what with the uneasy rapport between captor and detainees, as well as the ingenuity and camaraderie required to pull off a difficult plan involving tunnels under the prison. The entire cast works well together, even though their fate doesn’t exactly bode well, à la Dirty Dozen.

Steve McQueen leads a cast of excellent actors who portray various personalities found around camp, namely James Garner (Scrounger), Charles Bronson (Tunnel King), Donald Pleasance (Forger), James Coburn (Manufacturer) and David McCallum (Dispersal), amongst so many others.

After repeat viewings, fans will start recognizing inspired gimmicks used in other films since (the moving of dirt via trousers is also used in Stephen King and Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption, for example) along with familiar musical and script-related themes.

The Cooler King (Steve McQueen) offers his latest excuses for trying to escape in THE GREAT ESCAPE, courtesy Fox Home Video, 2013

Now, as to the less-pleasant aspects of this release. While most would have expected the studio to have gone through the expense of a lavish remastering of both picture and sound on this Hollywood classic, it isn’t the case here. While the audio-visual components of this product are clearer than the standard DVD format, the finesse of a meticulous upgrade is seriously lacking here.

Whether through a series of attempts at sharpening the picture for high def consumption, the final result suffers from a very distracting graininess which made me wish the folks responsible had waited a bit longer to truly give this film the love it deserves. When you think of earlier films which look pristine in comparison, there’s simply no excuse for the passable quality of the finished visual product here. At least the audio components carried over well, especially Leonard Bernstein’s timeless original music for the film.

As for the extras, there is very little here that hasn’t been offered on previous versions and formats for this film. The commentary by the director and key actors isn’t recent, so what we’re left with is a patched-up collection of separate excerpts glued together for the benefit of the buyer/collector. not the best option, but given the film’s age, it’s better than nothing.

Steve McQueen in an iconic scene from THE GREAT ESCAPE, courtesy Fox Home Video, 2013

As far as tense thrillers go, you can’t do much better than this. The only recent thriller to have such well-paced suspense would arguably be Ben Affleck’s Argo, at least in the final act. When the depiction of human beings forcing their way out of confinement makes for great pulse-pounding drama, you can only hope that the script is as good as the action seen on screen. Credit this valiant group of actors who paid tribute to the real men who managed to overcome incredible odds in order to save themselves in the face of terrible adversity. Definitely worth another look, despite the technical limitations examined here. Here’s hoping for a much better release soon.

Film: 5 out of 5 Blu-Ray Release: 3 out of 5

Leave a comment

DVD Review: Safe Haven a Predictable, Sappy Mess

In the media that is film just as it is in the publishing world, some filmmakers and/or authors often pigeonhole themselves into a genre so specifically, that many of their later projects end up being judged on their glaring predictability. The film world saw M. Night Shyamalan become the “What a Twist!” guy, while in my opinion, author Nicholas Sparks has become the King of Obvious Sappy Twists. As I have discovered, his latest book turned-into-film, Safe Haven, is no different.

DVD Cover Art for Safe Haven, courtesy Alliance, 2013

As with most other films based on Sparks’ works, two strangers fall in love after a series of unlikely but cutesy happenstances. Erin (Julianne Hough) runs off into the night after what we believe is a heinous crime. after cutting her hair short and dying it blonde, the poor terrified girl hops on a bus and narrowly escapes the clutches of a determined detective (David Lyons).

The runaway young woman ends up in a small South Carolina town where she changes her name to Katie, gets a job as a waitress near the docks, and has a few chance encounters with a local merchant and widower (Josh Duhamel) who runs his small store with his young son and daughter.

Though afraid to be discovered by the law but warming up to the hunky townie, Erin/Katie takes a chance with the local at the behest of a nearby neighbor (Cobie Smulders) who urges her on. Unaware of whether the big city detective will show up to bust her or whether her secret will be exposed, it’s up to Katie and Alex (Duhamel) to decide whether to really try to make things work despite the many secrets Katie harbors.

Katie (Hough), Alex (Duhamel) and the kids in SAFE HAVEN, courtesy Alliance, 2013

When I first began to watch this painfully tedious romantic drama, I began with the frame of mind that, since this is based on a Sparks book, that someone has to die horribly or prematurely. Little did I know that I had already seen many facets of this story in previous films, like Sleeping with the Enemy, Doc Hollywood and yes, The Sixth Sense, to bring me back to that Shyamalan reference.

What I wasn’t ready for was the level of predictability with which each scene is so shamefully telegraphed, short of yelling into the camera to warn the audience of necessary plot clues. As much as Josh Duhamel is believable as the widower with the greatest charm and heart, he can’t quite carry the burden of supporting a very flat-toned Hough, and isn’t really allowed to interact with the other male character of the piece, namely the big city detective exaggeratedly played by David Lyons.

Cobie Smulders feels a bit miscast as the wise but reserved neighbor in the nearby woods, but her role in the film grows clearer as the plot progresses. All the same, by the time you’re at the end credits, you’ll feel either unclean or overly manipulated. I’m usually fair when it comes to assessing movies: to justifiably call this film sappy is an insult to maple trees.

Katie (Julianne Hough) and fellow loner Jo (Cobie Smulders) chat in SAFE HAVEN, courtesy Alliance, 2013

The DVD boasts very few extras, with an alternate ending option offering very little from the actual studio ending shown in the film. Also included are a few extended and deleted which are equally unremarkable.

I really wanted to give this film a chance, but in the end it’s blatantly obvious how much of a cookie-cutter script this has turned out to be. If you decide to watch this movie on a lark, you might as well make a drinking game of it, say, how long it will take you to figure out the big reveals, how predictable and color-by-numbers it all turns out to be and crying as you watch a willing young cast trying their damnedest to elevate mediocre material.

Oh, and I was right. Someone does die in the end. “What a twist!”

1.5 out of 5

Leave a comment

Blu-Ray Review: Superman Unbound Faithful to Geoff Johns Graphic Novel

The latest of Warner Premiere’s semi-feature length animated films has just dropped into stores, and similar to its various cousins previously under the DC Animation banner, this one also goes for authenticity by drawing content from a best-selling title.

Superman Unbound Blu-Ray Cover Art courtesy Warner Home Video, 2013

Faithfully based on Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s highly popular graphic novel Superman Brainiac, Superman Unbound recounts how a powerful, technological entity known in other civilizations as Brainiac, goes from planet to planet in search of samples of societies, in an attempt to preserve knowledge in its quest to learn all there is. And so, in a very Galactus-like fashion, this Brainiac (voice by Fringe‘s John Noble) travels aboard a large skull-shaped ship (patterned after its own design), sending thousands of drones and probes to each new planet in order to control its population before sealing off a larger city, miniaturizing it and blowing off said planet’s nearest sun upon completion.

When one of Brainiac’s probes crash lands on Earth, it’s up to Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman (voiced by Mat Bomer, of White Collar fame) to solve the mystery of its arrival before Brainiac follows, potentially destroying the Man of Steel’s adoptive home in the process. With help from his newly arrived Kandorian cousin Kara/Supergirl (Molly C. Quinn) and insight from his love Lois Lane (Stana Katic, Castle), Superman must find a way to stop Brainiac’s systematic rampage before more worlds are threatened.

Supergirl and Superman Confront Brainiac’s Ship in SUPERMAN UNBOUND, courtesy Warner Home Video, 2013

It should be said that, while most of the storyline follows the same plot as the Johns trade paperback, a few tweaks have been made for the sake of dramatic license. Purists may want to scream at the TV given the introduction of Brainiac as an unknown to Superman but a known scary villain to his cousin (whereas the DC canon has exposed Supes to this baddie countless times), however one can’t be expected to see an entire history of a hero’s villain encounters rehashed in an insufficient intro, just for the sake of non-readers who couldn’t be bothered with 50 years of back reading.

And so, with a remarkable degree of creativity and graphic portrayal of an army of robots draining their victims brain content (though not in an Alien gooey sort of way), I was surprised at how much of the mature elements of Johns’ original story remained. I do miss the level of detail brought forth by an illustrator artist vs. an animated feature artist, in that much of the Superman Brainiac TPB held some semblance of the late Christopher Reeve’s physique and facial traits, a nice touch given the actor’s history with the role on screen.

Actor Matt Bomer, ironically a runner-up for the Superman role in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns film, replaces George Newbern and Tim Daly who, like Kevin Conroy’s association with doing Batman’s voice in most animated projects, were better known for providing the Man of Steel’s familiar tones. Bomer does an adequate job here, as does Stana Katic as Lane, replacing Dana Delaney.

John Noble, best known for his portrayal of Walter Bishop on Fringe and Denethor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, makes his first foray into the animated superhero genre, bringing doom and gloom to the ominous techno-alien entity who boasts of possessing the knowledge of 10,000 worlds. Noble adds that much needed air of cold arrogance and superiority to Brainiac, making him a powerful and fearful opponent.

Brainiac in SUPERMAN UNBOUND, courtesy Warner Home Video, 2013

The Blu-Ray combo’s features aren’t too shabby, what with an audio commentary available for this 75-minute mini-film along with a handful of previews, including the upcoming DC Animated film The Flashpoint Paradox, a history of the Kryptonian capital city of Kandor, interviews with the people behind the scenes of this feature as well as some excerpts from the DC Vault. Personally, I’m more psyched about the Flashpoint sneak peak, which reveals a whole roster of familiar actors trying their hands voicing the famous heroes.

This film will help Superman fans better acquaint themselves with the Brainiac character, a bit more background about Kryptonian society and Kal-El’s familial roots. For a more in-depth experience, there is no substitute for the original comic, which I highly recommend you pick up and read before watching this latest releases, if only for reference and comparison.

3 out of 5

1 Comment

Blu-Ray Review: Jack Reacher Different from Novels But Still Solid

Box office hero Tom Cruise defies expectations (and literary descriptions) in his portrayal of Lee Child’s iconic drifter anti-hero, despite the fact that the character on the page and the actor on the screen are roughly one foot difference in height and a hundred pounds lighter. In other words, if an actor does his job well, these pecadillos should never really matter. In this case, they really don’t.

Jack Reacher Blu-Ray Cover Art, courtesy Paramount Home Video, 2013

Based on author Lee Child’s ninth novel titled One Shot (from the sniper motto “One Shot, One Kill”), Jack Reacher follows the titular character as he is summoned to Pittsburgh by an ex-soldier (Joseph Sikora) accused of murdering a group of innocent bystanders using a precision sniper rifle along the Allegheny River.

Upon his arrival, Reacher, a former military police investigator with an eye for difficult detail and incredibly well-trained in hand-to-hand combat, decides to shadow the existing federal investigation into the murders so to draw his own conclusions. Aided by the lawyer (Rosamund Pike) assigned to the accused’s case, Reacher decides to take matters into his own hands, having already had dealings with the suspect while in the armed forces, having sworn to take him down should he ever slip up as a civilian.

As he continues to dig deeper and deeper, Reacher encounters resistance from secretive parties hoping to keep him in the dark, only reinforcing his need for the cold hard truth. With new evidence popping up which unveils a potential conspiracy at play, the gifted drifter with a unique gift for solving puzzles will need to race the clock before those involved end up wrongfully imprisoned, or worse yet, dead.

Rosamund Pike and Tom Cruise in JACK REACHER, courtesy Paramount, 2013

Given Tom Cruise’s usual tendency to opt for the ultra-heroic roles in much of his career (i.e. the infallible hero who rarely loses), it’s quite nice to see him choose a less than glamorous role for a change. Granted, he’d already tried a few villainous types, like Lestat in Interview with the Vampire and a hitman in Collateral, but neither of these ever descended to Michael Bay levels of overexaggeration. As this reinvented incarnation of Lee Child’s literary icon made into a living, breathing anti-hero on the screen, Cruise can kick it down a few notches with a hybrid character reaching both ends of the personality spectrum.

Cruise is quite believable in the role of Jack Reacher. While purists may lament the complete lack of resemblance to the usual description of Reacher seen in the books, i.e. a strapping, 6 foot 5 tower with a powerful chest and attitude to boot, Cruise taps into the same skillset as his counterpart, using excessive force when threatened, doesn’t intimidate easily and doesn’t see the need for diplomacy if a situation doesn’t look promising.

Fans should take this refreshing change in stride, and hope that this film will launch sequels (Child has over half a dozen Reacher novels in print), seeing our new anti-hero walk the good Earth, Kane-style (having no driver’s license nor a change of clothes) in search of new wrongs to right. A noble but rough champion who isn’t afraid to break a few legs to get to the truth, Cruise’s Reacher is additcive, a cross between Jason Bourne and Alex Cross with a bit of Sherlock Holmes peppered throughout.

Cruise with Robert Duvall in JACK REACHER, courtesy Paramount, 2013

Cruise heads a great list of supporting actors, with Rosamund Pike along with Richard Jenkins, David Oleyowo, Jai Courtney, Michael Raymond-James and Robert Duvall as a cynical old gun range owner. Seasoned film director Werner Herzog appears as a mastermind villain named The Zec, but it utterly wasted here with nary a scene to flesh out his character’s motives and plans, leaving the audience in the rut as to the main crime’s role in an otherwise unexplained conspiracy. Instead, we’re offered repeated visits by his henchman, played by Jai Courtenay.

Robert Duvall makes a late appearance in the film, but shares the same chemistry with co-star Cruise as they did in 1990′s Days of Thunder. Though the roles differ greatly from that previous partnership, you’d be hard-pressed not to imagine the pair in a buddy road movie down the road in their careers, despite Duvall’s age.

Despite its uneven pace, Jack Reacher is a decent murder mystery intermixed with appropriate action pieces throughout. Tom Cruise brings his A-game, creating a new badass to root for, fihgting the good fight while we the audience watch with gusto. I do look forward to more films in this potential franchise.

3.5 out of 5

Leave a comment

Blu-Ray Review: Silver Linings Playbook an Actor’s Delight

Every once in a while, thanks to either a miracle worker of a casting director or simply an ambitious filmmaker hoping to get his dream cast together, a film becomes populated with such a well rounded group of willing actors ready to pour it all out for the sake of a solid, emotional punch.

Add a great humor-filled script mix to this otherwise potent human drama about mental stability and loss, and you’ve got yourself a gem of a film which rightfully earned its spot amongst this past Oscars’ list of Best Picture Nominees.

Blu-Ray Cover Art for Silver Linings Playbook, courtesy Alliance, 2013

This excellent, well executed dramedy co-stars Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence respectively as Pat Solitano Jr. and Tiffany Maxwell, two somewhat troubled souls living in the outskirts of Philadelphia, right in the middle of football fan country. Pat has just spent eight months at a psychiatric facility after a breakdown during which he found his severely beat up a fellow teacher he walked on having sex with his wife in their family home. Now heading home in order to rehabilitate from his bipolar disorder, Pat still seems obsessed with reuniting with his estranged wife, much to the concern of his OCD afflicted father Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and mother (Jackie Weaver).

As Pat tries to figure himself out while continuing therapy sessions, he crosses paths with Tiffany (Lawrence), a widowed, rebellious girl with dancing ambitions. While the two clash, they find common ground in the issues they both struggle with, while still finding ways to drive each other crazy. Tiffany makes Pat a deal, that he help her compete in a dance competition, for which she would deliver a note from Pat to his ex Nikki. As the two try to build a workable routine for competition, Pat Sr. makes a dangerous bet in favor of his beloved Eagles, with a parlay of the young troubled pair successfully getting a passing score in their dance contest.

With this much on the line, it’s a question as to whether they’ll lose everything, both financially and personally, while they also discover what really matters to them.

Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) in an awkward moment at a friend’s dinner, in SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, courtesy Alliance, 2013

Oh, wow, where to start…well, the acting ability of this bunch is nothing short of top notch. When your four top leads (Cooper, Lawrence, De Niro and Weaver) are all nominated for top honors at the Oscars, you know there’s some excellent talent at the table, leading up to some pretty genuine and juicy family dynamics, even if not at the most dramatic level. With heartfelt dialogue, moments of emotional intensity, the aforementioned ring of authenticity to the characters, marital troubles and psychological scarring, this cinematic recipe is perfectly cooked into a quirky film which doesn’t shy away from being honest about the difficulties of depression, OCD and bipolar disorder, albeit with a tinge of humor so as to avoid turning the film into a ball of despair.

Cooper finds the right balance between violent outbursts and creative mania while De Niro shows a higher degree of insecurity and sadness then usual, since one could consider his past Mafia-based roles a bit limiting in terms of the more melancholy ranges of the emotional spectrum.

Jennifer Lawrence, winner for Best Actress for this film, throws herself feet first into the emotionally scarred Tiffany, a promiscuous slut whose dark eyeliner and bitchy attitude belies the vulnerability that lies beneath her tough chick facade.

Comedian Chris Tucker makes a few appearances as one of Pat Jr.’s former fellow patients, though his scenes are all too brief. His limited use in the story will truly make you wish there had been more to his character. David O. Russell brilliantly steers this tight ship towards success, all of it to the inspiring sounds of a Danny Elfman score. I call that a bonus.

I want to say the film walk a fine line between becoming a mixture of Dirty Dancing and Girl Interrupted, but there’s an overall lightheartedness to the entire project, based on the equally excellent debut novel by Matthew Quick.

A scene from the alternate ending from SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, courtesy Alliance, 2013

As far as the bonus features from the Blu-Ray combo goes, I’d suggest you jump to the extensive deleted scenes included here, as they offer much more meat both emotionally and story-wise. Most films on disc end up padding the deleted scenes chapter with filler, but here one wonders why director Russell didn’t try working more of this footage in the final cut. All the same, good stuff to be found here. A solid film all around. Touchdown!

4.5 out of 5

1 Comment

Video Game Review: Injustice: Gods Among Us an Absolute Treat for DC Comics Fans

While most of us grew up on the age-old format of the classic Mortal Kombat game these past few decades, some of the newer teen players to come along the Information Age pipeline prefer some more complex, immersive fight games with plenty of multi-player possibilities, downloadable content to build upon, not to mention some familiar icons on screen, duking it out in situations where they otherwise shouldn’t.

Taking this cue for more of the same, the good ol’ boys and girls from NetherRealm and Warner Interactive Entertainment have gone ahead and produced Injustice: Gods Among Us, one of the most entertaining video fighting games to come along in several years. For DC Comics fans (such as Yours Truly), it’s a veritable match made in heaven, full of geeky details and mind blowing cinematics.

PS3 Box Art for INJUSTICE Video Game, courtesy Warner Interactive, 2013

Relying heavily from certain story elements of recent DC comics in which scenarios are imagined where the world’s most powerful heroes take over the world for their own protection, the Story Mode seen here relates how a handful of the mainstream Justice League members are transported to a parallel dimension where Superman and Wonder Woman have overtaken the planet with their One Earth Army. Caped Crusader Batman, essentially the same incarnation as in Arkham Asylum and Arkham City (still voiced by Kevin Conroy, for continuity), refuses to allow his former teammates to take such drastic action and forms a secret rebellion. With the help of our world’s Batman and his fellow heroes (namely Cyborg, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, with Supes joining them later), this group of resistance fighters hope to overthrow the Other Superman’s forceful rule once and for all.

With battles taking place in almost all of the recognizable DC Comics locales (Metropolis, Gotham, Themiscyra, Ferris Aircraft, Hall of Justice, Batcave, Watchtower, etc…), and with over a dozen notorious villains thrown into the fray, you can rest assured that fists, feet and batarangs will go flying as each combatant runs in ready for a bruising.

Screenshot of a fight between Superman and Batman during Multi-Player Mode, in INJUSTICE, courtesy Warner Interactive, 2013

Keeping in line with the recognizable format of their previous hit Mortal Kombat, this game maintains a similar controller layout consisting of light, medium and heavy attacks, each varying with each character’s abilities and powers. This is a welcome aspect of the game, with familiar controls also explaining how certain “unstoppable” heroes or foes can appear to be taken down in a universe where some of these superstars are virtually immortal. Add to this a generous amount of playing fields, with the majority of the battlegrounds having been designed as multi-tiered, interactive environments where much of the scenery can also be used as a weapon. This is a refreshing addition to an already great game that isn’t just teasing about how great it would be to pulverize an opponent into a sub-level of the Batcave, before bashing their skulls into the elevator wall on the way back up to the Batmobile level.

A fan favorite will be the inclusion of Super Moves, masterful sequences during battle where a given hero/villain will perform an eye-popping master move designed to inflict massive damage while properly displaying the awesomeness of some of these DC characters. Think of Superman mid-fight, as he uppercuts his foe so hard as to send them into orbit, before flying up in order to knock them back down.

The Flash fights Nightwing in Superman’s Other Earth, in INJUSTICE, courtesy Warner Interactive, 2013

I could speak of the excellent dialogue and voice talents which populate this game, but most Warner Interactive fans are already well acquainted with several of the notable regulars back for more action. With Kevin Conroy returning as Batman, I was also pleased to recognize a handful of Firefly actors, namely Adam Baldwin as Green Lantern and Alan Tudyk as Green Arrow, among others. The game writers and developers ensured the spirit of these characters remained intact and faithful to the pages they were inspired from, so to maintain a sense of DC authenticity.

The in-game visuals are top notch and fluid, not grainy or pixellated in the least, with a mighty musical score to match the heroics or misdeeds of its subjects. The game also contains a slew of mini-games designed to give players an edge over a CPU opponent. The online components of this game do allow for the addition of various skin variations, such as alternate costumes for key heroes, as well as new, updated looks to their costumes, some based on DC’s recent reboot dubbed “The New 52″.

As of this writing, I was notified that an upcoming downloadable character will be that of intergalactic bad boy Lobo, who’s pretty much the DC equivalent of Marvel Comics’ Wolverine and Ghost Rider put together. Essentially, a sadistic badass with the attitude and menacing threads to boot. Given the multitude of existing characters in the DC Universe, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the NetherRealm game makers come up with a few of these every couple weeks or months. Either way, this is one addictive game which only improves on the existing fight game template, but lovingly tailored to please even non-comics readers.

4.5 out of 5

Leave a comment

Film Review: Iron Man 3 a Great Addition to Marvel Roster

As the first installment of Marvel Films’ much vaunted Phase 2 (with the first phase having culminated in last year’s top earner The Avengers), Iron Man 3 marks the return of Robert Downey Jr. in top form, with new armored suits, new enemies, new director Shane Black behind the camera and a much more structured script than the first two films. In short, after having seen this film in glorious 3-D (though I’d have preferred regular 2-D, since I already wear glasses), I can safely say that this film is, without exaggeration, pure explosive fun. Iron Man 3 is on full power.

Iron Man 3 Theatrical Poster, courtesy Marvel Films/Disney, 2013

In a worthwhile attempt to keep the continuity ball rolling, the first act of this latest action piece sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., one-liner output intact) somewhat reeling from the events in New York at the end of Avengers. Unable to sleep and keeping his mind occupied with yet new improvements to his series of Iron Man armors, including a model with components flying to his body via mental/muscle command, the billionaire/playboy/genius/philanthropist tries his best to handle the sudden panic attacks and symptoms of PTSD which were caused from nearly dying in a remote area of space as he sacrificed himself to save Earth.

With current Stark Industries CEO and lover Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) remaining loyal to him despite his eccentricities, Tony decides to take action when the world is beset by a new international terrorist known only as The Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley), a nefarious and ruthless man allegedly responsible for several explosive attacks on American soil. Defying this latest foe with a reckless live on-air ultimatum, Tony/Iron Man realizes he may have jeopardized the safety of those he loves, causing longtime friends like Rhodey (Don Cheadle), now having moved from War Machine to Iron Patriot, to worry.

With the presence of the Mandarin only adding to another new threat in the form of an ambitious industrialist turned brilliant bio-geneticist (Guy Pearce) equipped with an unstable formula to turn regular men into unstoppable soldiers, it will practically take Tony everything to save the day, keep his cool and protect those he holds most dear.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tests out remote usage of the armor in IRON MAN 3, courtesy Marvel/Disney, 2013

The sheer simplicity of this three-quel is what is so beautiful about it: turning what could be another showdown of the week into a more specific study of a man once great, brought down by hubris (not to mention a piece of shrapnel inching ever closer to his heart) but redeemed by his own inventiveness and resourcefulness. Add to this a classic case of clever misdirection and some well-placed humor, and you have yourself what is arguably the strongest Marvel film to date.

Robert Downey Jr. was practically born to play this role. His need for spontaneous ad-libbing, comic timing and all around charm is what makes most of the film work, aside from the pretty faithful renditions of the Stark armors, as seen in the comic books. Sure, some liberties have been taken here which may irritate some Marvel purists (i.e. handing the Iron Patriot moniker to Rhodey instead of the evil Norman Osborn — long story) and much of the story seen here leans towards a Christopher Nolan-esque level of plausible realism, but in the end, the premise of the film is that of a well-tailored whodunnit, albeit with more pizzazz and jaw-dropping visuals. The set piece about the Mandarin’s attack on Stark’s house (as overplayed in the trailers) is a sight to behold, as is a daring mid-air rescue as well as the film’s climactic battle. In the end, it’s pretty easy to figure out why Downey always steals the show no matter what Marvel property he stars or cameos in.

This excellent action blockbuster is reported to be the last contractual element to Downey’s contract. One hopes the coffers at Disney will open a little wider for a hopeful return to this franchise with its star intact. Regardless of a possible recast or reboot of the franchise (heavens forbid), rest assured that this latest Marvel treat is definitely one for the books. While not as epic as last summer’s fanfare, it’s certainly a solid return to basics, with all the imagination of a loyal reader made real by a capable director, an even more apt star and a supporting cast game for a leap of faith. As such, job well done!

4.5 out of 5

Leave a comment

Blu-Ray Review: Star Trek The Next Generation Season Three Boldly Goes HD

Keeping with its pretty regular schedule of upgrading its roster of Next Gen episodes in brand new 1080p glory, the good folks at Paramount are back with another fine helping of Picard and the gang, along with some pretty decent extras.

Next Generation Blu-Ray Season Three Cover Art, courtesy Paramount, 2013

For most fans, it was the pivotal season where the show went from uphill, after a first season filled with uncertain performances, and a second outing where everyone was rattled by a writer’s strike. Now, in Year Three, with a group of ambitious new writers being hired under the tutelage of both creator Gene Roddenberry and Michael Piller (whose memory is honored in one of the extras), the quality of episodes became that much stronger, with some of the stories having become classics in their own right, especially the paradoxical “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, considered by many fans as the best in the series.

This is truly the moment where everything changed. Crew members went from awkward jumpsuits to tailored uniforms, Jonathan Frakes began sporting a beard and a heftier demeanor, plots revolved around senior officers a little more regularly, rather than turning into the Away Team of the Week and finally, fans got their beloved Beverly Crusher back on board.

Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is turned into Locutus of Borg, courtesy Paramount, 2013

Of course, this essential third season is also remembered for its epic cliffhanger in the form of “The Best of Both Worlds Part I” (which is also out on Blu-Ray as a standalone two-parter — stay tuned for that review shortly), which saw Starfleet’s most congenial captain abducted by the Borg and turned into one of their own in a plan by the hive-minded aliens to destroy the Federation. Thankfully, Will Riker (Frakes) is right there to take over the Enterprise-D, fighting his old friend turned foe.

The Enterprise-D, courtesy Paramount, 2013

As part of the efforts by the new writers (which included Ronald D. Moore, who went on the reboot Battlestar Galactica) to reinvigorate the characters’ psyche and chemistry, a few notable episodes are worth a second look: aside from the aforementioned “Best of Both Worlds” and “Yesterday’s Enterprise”, we get to enjoy The A-Team‘s Dwight Schultz as a timid and socially challenged lieutenant with an unhealthy holodeck fixation in “Hollow Pursuits”; “Déja Q” sees the return of John DeLancie’s deliciously evil Q, as he seeks asylum aboard the ship when he is kicked out of the Continuum and turned into a human; “Sarek” offers late Trek veteran Mark Lenard a chance to reprise his role as Spock’s legendary ambassador father, as he deals with a crippling illness. Finally, one of my favorites, “The Offspring” which sees Data (Brent Spiner) yearning to have a child of his own, resulting in the construction of LAL (Hallie Todd), a young female android with a couple of bugs to work out.

Former Trek writers convene to discuss their favorite moments; photo courtesy CBS Films/Paramount, 2013

As part of the many extras to be found in the 6-disc set, aside from the great audio commentaries, you’ll want to check out “Inside the Writers’ Room”, where notorious Trekkie and Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane reunites several past TNG writers, with Naren Shankar, Ron Moore, Brannon Braga and Rene Echevarria, as they recount some of their best work and some not-so-great mistakes. Also included is yet another 8-minute sample of never-before-seen bloopers, also upgraded to HD, which show more blunders, forgotten lines and camaraderie between cast mates. Another rare gem is a moving tribute to little actor David Rappaport, who was originally cast as greedy collector Kivas Fatjo, before attempting suicide and being replaced by Saul Rubinek.

All in all, this is an excellent set, the best so far in Paramount’s offering of the newly minted and upgraded HD episodes. Since Season Three signified a milestone in the evolution of the show, I can only imagine what goodies await us upon the release of Season Four later this year. This season is definitely worth repeat viewings, with and without commentaries. A veritable gem.

5 out of 5

Leave a comment

POP CULTURE LANDSCAPE with Dominic Messier

Blu-Ray Review: True Blood Season Five Gets Bloody Biblical, Literally

Film Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Solid Sci-Fi Fare But Inadequate Sequel

Blu-Ray Review: The Great Escape a Classic Experiment in Courage and Willpower

DVD Review: Safe Haven a Predictable, Sappy Mess

Blu-Ray Review: Superman Unbound Faithful to Geoff Johns Graphic Novel

Blu-Ray Review: Jack Reacher Different from Novels But Still Solid

Blu-Ray Review: Silver Linings Playbook an Actor’s Delight

Video Game Review: Injustice: Gods Among Us an Absolute Treat for DC Comics Fans

Film Review: Iron Man 3 a Great Addition to Marvel Roster

Blu-Ray Review: Star Trek The Next Generation Season Three Boldly Goes HD

Follow “POP CULTURE LANDSCAPE with Dominic Messier”