Fifty
Shades Of Grey (2015/Universal Blu-ray w/DVD)/On Tender Hooks
(2013/MVD Visual DVD)
Picture:
A+/B/D Sound: B+/B-/D Extras: A/C Films: B/C+
Here
are two new releases dealing with people giving the human body
negative treatment hoping for unusual results...
When
Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) meet young billionaire Christian
Grey (Jamie Dornan), what started out as an interview becomes a far
more intimate relationship and begins romance neither of them
expected. As Ana is swept away by Christian's charm and glamorous
lifestyle, Christian however not into a 'normal' relationship. Ana
learns of Christian's secret BDSM hobby and begins exploring desires
of her own, but how far are they both willing to fall and can they
keep the secret of their relationship?
In
Sam Taylor-Johnson's film of E.L. James' Fifty Shades Of Grey
(2015), we have a hit film on a subject people have rarely talked
about and that we've rarely seen in feature films or much of pop
culture. Ana is the quiet wallflower girl, Christian is the handsome
boy billionaire bachelor every girl wants. But Christian has a
secret: he is into BDSM (Bondage Discipline Sadism Masochism) and now
he wants Ana to be his personal 'Submissive'. Ana at first hesitates
but she begins trying and even enjoying Christian's 'playroom' and
some of his 'toys', but she still resists and teases Christian (which
only makes him want her more). As their relationship grows, Ana
teaches Christian about the possibility of having normal relationship
on the surface, but their role and rules begin to reverse who's in
charge and who is exactly in control.
While
I have no experience of BDSM, it is form of foreplay between couples
relationship, punishment and pain, then gentleness and caressing,
mixing pleasure and pain until you are unable to tell one from the
other. As the story and the character's relationship grows both of
them struggles to make their relationship work. But one does wonder,
would it be the same if the character 'Christian Grey' wasn't a
billionaire?
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is as impressive as
anything in its sharpness and clarity, a big surprise that far
outdoes the film, while the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix
is as well recorded and mixed as it could be fir a non-action film.
Extras include the Unrated Version with Alternate Ending, Digital
Copy, Tease(r) of Fifty Shades Darker, The World of Fifty Shades of
Grey: Christian Grey, The World of Fifty Shades of Grey: Ana, The
World of Fifty Shades of Grey: Friends and Family, Behind the Shades,
E L James & Fifty Shades, Fifty Shades: The Pleasure of Pain,
Christian's Apartment: 360° Set Tour, Music Video, Behind the Scenes
of "Earned
It (Fifty Shades of Grey)"
and trailers.
Next,
dive into sub-culture of body piercing and suspension in the
documentary On Tender Hooks (2013), directed by Kate Shenton.
A small community of people who test the physical limits of their
bodies by using hooks and ropes, using various positions they hang
their bodies in mid-air. If you can look past the body
'modifications', holes in the bodies, loose and baggy skins, you
start to wonder some of the reasons why they go to such lengths to
mutilate their bodies.
Why?
For people who enjoy body suspension, is it for the thrill of it,
body art or some sort of enlightenment? It seems like most of them
are masochists seeking new thrills, or are endorphin junkies. Either
way, it takes courage to go through with it, slowly but surely they
find others who are of kindred of spirit or those who are willing to
try the experience. As they hang suspended in air with only hooks
and their own skins, once they get used to it (and past the pain), it
turns more into an artistic challenge and bragging rights afterwards.
What
may have originated from Native American rituals has become, a
subculture for masochists. For those who enjoy body art, bling and
piercing, the next logical level of thrill is would be suspension.
However, one should be aware of a few of it's dangers, asides from
the holes in your body and loose skin doing suspension can cause
ripped skin, scaring and nerve damage and even death when done wrong
or incorrectly.
As
for the picture and lossy Dolby Digital sound, both are awful and the
less said, the better. Extras include short films, fright fests and
commentary.
-
Ricky Chiang
