QUEUED UP With Napier’s News – Blu-ray & Netflix Releases
There are a bunch of great movies out this week on Blu-ray and some great ones to add to your Netflix Queue. Here are some of the most notable releases of the week. Keep reading and be sure to share your thoughts on which films you are looking forward to watching again or for the first time!
DVD/Blu-ray Releases:
Add to Queue
My Thoughts:
Pleasantville’s perfect people include a mild-mannered soda jerk, a socially repressed mom, and a father who always knows best. But, when ’90’s pop culture clashes with ’50’s family values, chaos ensues, turning the town of Pleasantville upside down and black and white into color.
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My Thoughts:
When I first saw the trailer I thought Conviction had Oscar written all over it. Unfortunately, it did not pick up the buzz when it was in the theater. I have yet to see the film, I’m likely to see it now that it’s on DVD strictly for Rockwell. Is this a film worth seeing?
Synopsis:
Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell deliver unforgettable performances in this incredible true story that co-stars Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher. Swank plays Betty Anne Waters, a young woman whose world is shattered when her beloved brother Kenny (Rockwell) is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Steadfastly convinced of his innocence, Betty Anne embarks on an 18-year journey to set Kenny free, using state-of-the-art forensic technology. The unshakable bond between a brother and sister, at the heart of this real-life drama, will stir your emotions and inspire you.
Synopsis:
Hatchet II picks up right where the original Hatchet ends, as the quiet but hot-tempered Marybeth (Danielle Harris, Halloween) barely escapes from the clutches of the mysterious Crowley ( Crowley (Kane Hodder, Friday The 13th), who has already has murdered all of Marybeth’s friends and other vacationers in the New Orleans’ swamp country.
Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell deliver unforgettable performances in this incredible true story that co-stars Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher. Swank plays Betty Anne Waters, a young woman whose world is shattered when her beloved brother Kenny (Rockwell) is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Steadfastly convinced of his innocence, Betty Anne embarks on an 18-year journey to set Kenny free, using state-of-the-art forensic technology. The unshakable bond between a brother and sister, at the heart of this real-life drama, will stir your emotions and inspire you.
My Thoughts:
I haven’t seen either of these films. These movies picked up a lot of buzz while in the theater. Are they must see’s or is it okay that I haven’t watched them.Kane Hodder is definitely a strong presence in these films.
Synopsis:
Hatchet II picks up right where the original Hatchet ends, as the quiet but hot-tempered Marybeth (Danielle Harris, Halloween) barely escapes from the clutches of the mysterious Crowley ( Crowley (Kane Hodder, Friday The 13th), who has already has murdered all of Marybeth’s friends and other vacationers in the New Orleans’ swamp country.
Marybeth recruits a team of hired guns and returns to the bayou to exact her revenge, but quickly discovers that even with an army of hunters at her side, the murderous fury of Crowley cannot be contained. Ultimately, it will be up to Marybeth alone to defeat the seemingly indestructible Crowley, but not before learning the truth about a twisted secret he shares with her own family!
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the original film, but LOVED the remake. Matt Reeves did a fabulous job of taking this film into new directions from it’s source material. Chloe Moretz is amazing in this film. I also loved Richard Jenkins in the film. This is a must watch, don’t dismiss the film simply because you may have thought it was an unnecessary remake. It is well worth seeing and a film I highly recommend.
Synopsis:
From Matt Reeves – the director of Cloverfield – comes the new vampire classic that critics are calling “chillingly real” (Scott Bowles, USA Today), “one of the best horror films of the year” (Cinematica) and “a haunting, touching and unforgettable thriller” (Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine). In bleak New Mexico, a lonely, bullied boy, Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee of The Road), forms a unique bond with his mysterious new neighbor, Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz of Kick Ass), who moves from town to town with the man who appears to be her father (Oscar Nominee Richard Jenkins of The Visitor). Trapped in the mind and body of a child, however, Abby is forced to hide a horrific secret of bloodthirsty survival. But in a world of both tenderness and terror, how can you invite in the one friend who may unleash the ultimate nightmare?
Add to Queue Streaming Coming Soon
My Thoughts:
I have yet to see this On Demand like I had initially planned. I am extremely excited to finally be able to see Monsters. It is a perfect example of how stretching your budget to the max. Have you seen this film, what are your thoughts?
Synopsis:
Six years ago NASA discovered the possibility of alien life within our solar system. A probe was launched to collect samples, but crashed upon re-entry over Central America. Soon after, new life forms began to appear there and half of Mexico was quarantined as an Infected Zone. Today, the American and Mexican military still struggle to contain “the creatures”…Our story begins when a U.S. journalist agrees to escort a shaken American tourist through the infected zone in Mexico to the safety of the U.S. border.
My Thoughts:
If you are a fan of Andrew Garfield then I highly recommend you watch Never Let Me Go! Garfield is great, but both Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley shine on screen. The film is beautifully and well worth a watch.
Synopsis:
Academy Award Nominees Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley, co-star with talented newcomer Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) in this poignant and powerful film. Kathy (Mulligan), Ruth (Knightley) and Tommy (Garfield) are best friends who grow up together at an English boarding school with a chilling secret. When they learn the shocking truth – that they are genetically engineered clones raised to be organ donors – they embrace their fleeting chance to live and love. Based on the acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (The Remains Of The Day), Never Let Me Go is an intriguing exploration of hope and humanity.
My Thoughts:
This is my favorite Tobey Maguire film by far. The entire cast is simply amazing, even Paul Walker is great. The costuming and production is also great. I’m so happy that this film is now on Blu-ray, the colors are going to be beautiful on this disc.
Synopsis:
When 90’s teens David and Jennifer get zapped into the perfect suburbia of the black & white ’50’s sitcom, Pleasantville, what results in a “visionary adventure” that Siskel and Ebert give “Two big thumbs up!”
Pleasantville’s perfect people include a mild-mannered soda jerk, a socially repressed mom, and a father who always knows best. But, when ’90’s pop culture clashes with ’50’s family values, chaos ensues, turning the town of Pleasantville upside down and black and white into color.
My Thoughts:
Don’t hate me because of this next statement, but I am a fan of Twilight. Yes, I said it, I am a fan of the movies and have read all of the books. I’m looking forward to seeing Gandolfini, but also want to see Stewart in a role other than Twilight. Melissa Leo (The Fighter) also stars, so I am looking forward to seeing that.
Synopsis:
Golden Globe winner James Gandolfini, (The Sopranos) is Doug Riley, a man at the crossroads. Ever since the tragic death of his teenage daughter, he’s led a life of quiet desperation…and now, something has to give. On a business trip to New Orleans, he encounters Mallory (Kristen Stewart, the Twilightfilms) – a raw, angry runaway living a dangerous life as a stripper. Moved by emotions he barely understands, Riley abandons his old life to save hers. The tenuous balance is threatened when his wife Lois (Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo, Best Actress, Frozen River, 2008) shakes off the fears that have kept her homebound for years. Now three lost souls seek hope and forgiveness in each other…and together, they discover a rare gift of connection that feels like family.
Netflix Instant Watch Releases:
My Thoughts:
This is the first epic film I saw in theaters as a teen. Other films I had seen before were definitely big, but this was a sweeping film. I remember that this year was also the first year I started watching the Oscar’s I believe.
Synopsis:
Winner Of Seven Academy Awards Including Best Picture 1990
Sent to protect a U.S. outpost on the desolate frontier, Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) finds himself alone in the vast wilderness. Befriending the very people he’s sent to protect the outpost from, the Sioux Indians, Dunbar slowly comes to revere those he once feared. But when the encroaching U.S. Army threatens to overrun the Sioux, he is forced to make a choice – one that will forever change his destiny and that of a proud and defiant nation.
My Thoughts:
This movie shows Bruce Lee at his prime and man is it great. I watched it again recently and there were new elements that stood out. If you have never watched a Bruce Lee film then this is the perfect one to watch. I personally love the slow-motion fight sequences and Lee’s facial expressions. All around a fun time, worthy of a viewing.
Synopsis:
Thirty years following his untimely death, Bruce Lee remains the movies’ supreme martial-arts star. His masterful final film Enter the Dragon stands the test of time as the most beloved martial-arts epic in film history. For its 30th anniversary, this heart-pounding adventure returns to DVD in a deluxe double-disc edition featuring several mesmerizing documentary extras that examine Lee’s family life and incredible achievements, including Dragon producer Fred Weintraub’s new retrospective on the making of this benchmark action movie, with newly discovered unseen vault footage of Lee in action. What a kick!
My Thoughts:
This is one film I have yet to see, but am adding to my queue. Clint Eastwood is a great director and I love how he decided to show both sides of the story. If you liked Ken Watanabe in Inception, he also stars in this.
Synopsis:
The Powerful Companion To Flags Of Our Fathers.
From Academy Award®-winning director Clint Eastwood comes the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima itself, the unprecedented tactics of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai) and his men transform what was predicted to be a swift defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat. Their sacrifices, struggles, courage and compassion live on in the taut, gripping film Rolling Stone calls “unique and unforgettable.”
From Academy Award®-winning director Clint Eastwood comes the untold story of the Japanese soldiers who defended their homeland against invading American forces during World War II. With little defense other than sheer will and the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima itself, the unprecedented tactics of General Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai) and his men transform what was predicted to be a swift defeat into nearly 40 days of heroic and resourceful combat. Their sacrifices, struggles, courage and compassion live on in the taut, gripping film Rolling Stone calls “unique and unforgettable.”
My Thoughts:
If you are a fan of Timur Bekmambetov you’ve likely already seen this film. There is really no way to describe this film, it is simply ingenious. Bekmambetov is right up there with fellow geniuses like Tim Burton, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. Night Watch is the first film in a trilogy, which I have yet to watch in it’s entirety.
Synopsis:
The forces of Light and Darkness have co-existed in a delicate balance for hundreds of years…until now. Even as the Night Watch polices the Dark Others – among them vampires, witches and shape-shifters – a chain of mysterious events triggers a dreaded, age-old prophecy: An immortal with special powers will come to switch sides, shattering the balance and unleashing an apocalyptic war unlike any the world has ever known!
My Thoughts:
One of my favorite Jack Nicholson roles. There are so many great moments, both funny and sad, throughout the film. This is a must watch for any fan of Nicholson.
Synopsis:
A nice rest in a state mental hospital beats a stretch in the pen, right? Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholas), a free-spirited con with lightning in his veins & glib on his tongue, fakes insanity & moves in with what he calls the “nuts.” Immediately, his contagious sense of disorder runs up against numbing routine. No way should guys pickled on sedatives shuffle around in bathrobes when the World Series is on. This means war! On one side is McMurphy. On the other is soft-spoken Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), among the most coldly monstrous villians in film history. At stake is the fate of every patient on the ward.
My Thoughts:
Nicolas Cage’s first leading role in a film is one of his most memorable ones. This is a great snapshot into California in the 80’s and has a great soundtrack. Before the Modern English’s “I Melt With You” was used in a slew of commercials it was featured in this film. Definitely one worth checking out.
Synopsis:
True love isionlyia zip code away!
Julie’s cool, Randy’s hot. She’s from the Valley, he’s, like,…so not! Nicholas Cage and Deborah Foreman star in this “sweet, fast, unpretentious [and] funny” (Los Angeles Times) romance that mixes preppies, punkers, and a “hit-filled soundtrack” (The New York Times) – including The Plimsouls and Modern English – into an iconic cult film that’s “entertaining” (New York)… to the max!
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