Another
WolfCop (2017*)/China
Salesman
(2017/MVD/Cleopatra Blu-ray)/Detective
Bureau 2-3: Go To Hell Bastards!
(1963/MVD/Arrow Blu-ray)/Spinning
Man (2018/Lionsgate
Blu-ray)/The Terminal
(2018/*both RLJ Blu-rays)
Picture:
B+/B/B/B/B+ Sound: B+/B/B/B/B+ Extras: B/C/C/C+/C+ Films:
C/D/B/C/C+
And
now for one of our more provocative groups of genre films of late...
I
really wanted to like Another WolfCop (2017), and was
anticipating its release on Blu-ray for many months. I went into it
with the high expectations (maybe that was the problem) but ended up
groaning in the worst way. This is almost Troma level of schlock and
is relentlessly corny. After a decent first act, the film quickly
comes a point in act two where it stops trying and ends up a
predictable mess with special effects that range from okay to
terrible. What happened here? The first WolfCop was mainly
fun but this seems very phoned in (talking genitals with mustaches is
where I draw the line), very short at 79 minutes, and too absurdly
silly for its own good.
Another
WolfCop stars Leo Fafard, Amy Matysio, Jonathan Cherry, Laura
Abramsen, and Yannick Bisson. Kevin Smith has a small cameo in it as
a mayor and two kinda fun scenes.
Officer
Lou Garou (Fafard) is WolfCop. He's half man. Half wolf. All
cop... even if he does have a slight drinking problem. This time
around he has to battle a entrepreneur (Yannick Bisson) who is
looking to open a new brewery and revive the local hockey team, but
it's clear he has ulterior motives. Everyone in town that drinks
this new beer ends up sprouting mutants from their chest. How will
WolfCop (and his new love interest) stop this and save his town?
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and
a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) lossless 5.1 mix, the presentation here is
standard and fine for what it is. The film isn't terribly lit or
shot and has a level of professionalism that way. Sound effects are
score are at a fine level with some detail on characters and
backgrounds.
Special
Features include four featurettes:
"The
Making of Another WolfCop"
"Friends
& Foes: Meet the Cast"
"The
Monster Shop: Special FX"
"Shoot
or Die! Surviving On Set"
and
the "Barn Burner" music video by Shooting Guns
I'm
not sure how this film performed theatrically or how it will perform
on video but let's hope they either stop here or learn from their
mistakes and make a stronger third film. If you liked the first one
then you might like this but I found it to be a letdown.
Have
you ever wondered who would win in a fight: Steven Seagal or Mike
Tyson?
Me
neither. But thus is the premise for the film China Salesman
(2017, directed by Tan Bing), which sees a Chinese Salesman (Tyson)
in battle with Lauder (Seagal) over the first mobile telecom
technology in Africa. No, I'm not kidding. This film has to be seen
to be believed, it is so putrid.
The
film also stars Dong-xue Li, Janicke Askevoid, and Li Ai to name a
few.
The
film's presentation is fine (at least) in 1080p and a widescreen
aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (no
lossless?) that is on the weak side, though it's not listing on the
sleeve. The image quality isn't the best I've ever seen nor is it
the worst and fine for this sort of thing.
Special
Features include...
Image
Slideshow
Trailer
for China Salesman and other Cleopatra releases
This
film is about as good as Mike Tyson's dramatic acting... Or Seagal's
for that matter.
Arrow
has been releasing several Seijun Suzuki films like crazy lately,
with a new box set just being released (and reviewed elsewhere on
this site with other Suzuki materials). Now comes another Yakuza
film from the Japanese master director, Detective
Bureau 2-3: Go To Hell Bastards!
(1963) which features
Jo Shishido as the original Diamond Guy.
The
film also stars Tamio Kawaji and Reiko Sassamori. In the film,
Detective Tajima (Shishido) is on a mission to retrieve some stolen
firearms, but soon ends up head to head with the Yakuza.
Presented
in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect
ratio of 2.35:1 (in color) and a new DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0
Mono lossless mix. The film looks and sounds considerably well due
to its age, which is no surprise coming from Arrow. There's a bit of
grain in spots and some sign of film print wear but all in all the
colors and vibrant and on point.
Special
Features include...
Interview
with historian and Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns
Gallery
of original production stills
Theatrical
trailer
Reversible
sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew
Griffin
Guy
Pearce, Pierce Brosnan, and Minnie Driver (it is nice to see her in a
big role again) star in the whodunnit thriller Spinning
Man
(2018), a film where Guy Pearce once again can't remember things
(much like his more superior and Christopher Nolan directed film
Memento).
Based on a novel by George Harrar, the film isn't anything terribly
new but isn't terribly hard to watch either.
A
teenage cheerleader goes missing and all signs seem to point to a
professor (Pierce) whose slept with a few students in his day for
'extra credit.' Though now happily married with two kids, the
professor goes to verbal battle with a police detective (Pierce)
while the mystery of the missing girl unravels.
Presented
in 1080p high definition on Blu-ray disc with a widescreen aspect
ratio of 2.39:1 and a standard English 5.1 DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
lossless track. The film is stylistically lit and has lots of
interesting color schemes throughout. It has a very cinematic high
budget feel to it though I'm the sure the budget was modest.
Special
Features...
Deleted
Scenes
Inside
Spinning Man
Director's
Commentary
Trailer
Gallery
It's
always nice to see Guy Pearce in a starring role and this isn't the
worst way to spend 90 minutes. However, don't expect to be blown
away either.
Margot
Robbie (who also produces as she did with I,
Tonya)
is the femme fatale admit a top notch cast in Terminal
(2018), a stylistic and offbeat film noir that sadly suffers from a
storyline is a bit confusing and all over the place. Directed by
Vaughn Stein (Yussef is Complicated) the film is zany and a bit of
style over substance, but entertaining nonetheless.
Setting
place in a dark city, several stories intertwine in a world of
assassins, heavy accents, witty dialogue, and crime lords. A sick
English Teacher (Pegg) with a bad cough, a janitor (Myers), a
waitress (Robbie), and others all have secret lives they hide behind
their public image. Caught in a conspiracy at the hands of a
criminal mastermind out for revenge, none of them are safe. Of
course there's a not so subtle inter-textual reference to Alice in
Wonderland when the plot gets really twisty turny.
Terminal
also stars Mike Myers, Simon Pegg, Max Irons, and Dexter Fletcher.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and
a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix, both of which are at a
high standard for the format. The film is very colorful with
everything from rich green textures to neon bright colors and thick
levels of contrast. This film would definitely be a good candidate
for 4K UHD and hopefully will find its way onto that format in the
future.
Special
Features include...
The
Cast of Terminal
Building
the World of Terminal
From
Concept to Creation
Terminal
is gorgeous to look at and features great performances from everyone
involved. If nothing else, it's a great effect and worth watching at
least once. Just don't expect to be too enthralled in the story and
more overwhelmed by its neon-soaked exterior.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
