Now in Theaters:
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (** ½) After a fifteen-year hiatus, Harrison Ford returns in what is presumed to be his final turn in the role of the globe trotting adventurer and the results are a mixed bag, relying too much on callbacks to better and earlier entries in the series. Here he’s tasked with finding a device that can pinpoint fissures in time. The first two acts work for the most part, but the weight of the film’s unnecessary 145-minute run time is truly felt during a cumbersome plot heavy final act that has the feel of filmmaking by committee. Things do come back together for a pleasing final scene but Steven Spielberg’s penchant for orchestrating great action set pieces is sorely missed. Also missed are the contributions of the great Michael Kahn, who previously edited all of Indy’s adventures and the ability of screenwriters to give us a different villain other than yet another Nazi.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge & Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy (***) Nancy Buirski directs this documentary regarding the subject of the first and only X Rated film to win the Best Picture Oscar. Those looking for the nuts and bolts of the day-to-day production of the film will be disappointed but anyone wanting a clear view of the culture into which the film was released will be enlightened with this documentary portrait of an era long gone and never to return.
New to Disc:
Arrow:
Enter the Video Store: Empire of Screams (1984-89) is a new Blu-Ray collection highlighting films released by Empire Pictures in the late 80s. Titles included are Dungeonmaster, Cellar Dweller, Dolls, Robot Jox and Arena. Copious amounts of extras are also included which feature commentaries and documentaries.
Waterworld (1995) The sci-fi opus placing Kevin Costner in a futuristic world where much of the planet is covered in water gets a 4K upgrade along with the previous extras being retained. The release also includes multiple cuts of the film.
Also getting the 4K treatment from the label this week is Kevin Smith’s sophomore effort as a director, Mallrats (1995). The release also includes multiple cuts of the film along with the extras from the previous Blu-Ray release.
Scream/Shout Factory:
The Stephen King-George Romero collaboration, Creepshow (1982) has been upgraded to 4K by the label this week, while the fondly remembered cannibalism horror comedy, Motel Hell (1980), has been given a Blu-Ray release for the first time ever. New extras abound on the latter while the former contains the previously issued extras.
Kino:
New releases from the label this week include the Charlton Heston western, Will Penny (1968), the 3D adult film, Prison Girls (1972) and the Charles Bronson action-adventure entry, The White Buffalo (1977). All of these contain new commentaries and trailers.
Warner Archive:
New releases from the label this week include Angel Face (1952), The Old Man and the Sea (1958), Caged (1950), Dangerous When Wet (1953), The Damned Don’t Cry (1950). All feature brand new restorations and various bonus materials.
Warner Brothers:
Evil Dead Rise (2023) The fifth cinematic outing in the Evil Dead franchise gets a physical release this week with a few new extras.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) The comedy classic finally makes the leap to 4K for its 40th (!) anniversary. No new extras but the new edition contains all of the previously issued extras.
Criterion:
Pasolini 101 (1961-1969) The label has issued a handsome new box set collecting nine of the controversial Italian filmmaker’s works in one place. Films included in the set are Accatone, Mamma Roma, Love Meetings, Gospel According to Matthew, Hawks and the Sparrows, Oedipus Rex, Teorema, Porcile and Medea. Extras include documentaries, trailers, shorts and archival interviews.
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