Happy New Year from the crew at OnVideo

 

From the Big Screen:

The French Dispatch

(2021) All-star cast brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in the fictional 20th-century French city of Ennui-sur-Blasé. An homage to literary journalism, French culture and classic cinema. Vitals: Director: Wes Anderson. Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Christoph Waltz, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston. 2021, CC, MPAA rating: R, 108 min., Comedy, US box office gross: $9.353 million, worldwide $20.611 million, Fox/Disney. Formats: DVD, Blu-ray, VOD, Digital. Read more here

This Week’s Best Bet:

“Shawscope Volume One: Limited Edition Box” presents 12 jewels from the Shaw Brothers studio crown of martial arts films, all released within the 1970s, kicking off in 1972 with Korean director Jeong Chang-hwa’s “King Boxer,” the film that established kung fu cinema as an international box office powerhouse when it hit Stateside cinemas under the title “Five Fingers of Death.” From there we see Chang Cheh (arguably Shaw’s most prolific director) helm the blood-soaked brutality of “The Boxer From Shantung” and two self-produced films in his Shaolin Cycle series, “Five Shaolin Masters” and its prequel “Shaolin Temple,” before taking a detour into Ho Meng Hua’s King Kong-inspired “Mighty Peking Man,” one of the most insane giant monster films ever made. Chang’s action choreographer Lau Kar-leung then becomes a director in his own right, propelling his adoptive brother Gordon Liu to stardom in “Challenge of the Masters” and “Executioners from Shaolin.” Not to be outdone, Chang introduces some of Shaw’s most famous faces to the screen, including Alexander Fu Sheng fighting on the streets of San Francisco in “Chinatown Kid” and, of course, the mighty Venom Mob in “The Five Venoms” and “Crippled Avengers.” Finally, Lau and Liu successfully meld high kicks with humor in two of their masterworks, “Heroes of the East” and “Dirty Ho,” both co-starring fan favorite Hsiao Hou. From kickass kung fu killers to crazy kaiju knockoffs to culture clash comedies, this carefully curated and gorgeously presented selection of all-time Shaw Brothers classics merely represents the tip of the iceberg of the studio’s rich output, making it both an ideal starting point for newcomers and a treat for hardcore fans alike. On Blu-ray from Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment). Read more here.

Buzzin’ the ‘B’s:

The quiet of the English countryside is shattered one brutal night in the home-invasion thriller “The Gardener” (2021), starring Gary Daniels, Robert Bronzi, Nicola Wright, Jake Watkins, and Sarah T. Cohen. A troubled wealthy family gathers in a quaint manor home for the holidays, never suspecting that bloodthirsty, sadistic Volker (Daniels) and his crew linger at the gates, ready to attack, rob, and maim them at nightfall. But they didn’t count on the estate’s quiet gardener, Peter Juhasz (Bronzi), who must return to the savage ways he learned as a soldier to save the family. From Lionsgate. Read more here … In the “Castle Falls” (2021), starring Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Melanie Jeffcoat, Kevin Wayne and Jim E. Chandler, three million dollars are hidden in a luxurious condominium know as The Castle. Two vicious rival gangs led by Deacon and Shea (Lundgren), are after the hidden cash, but before they can retrieve it the building’s janitor Mike (Adkins) stumbles upon it. The three groups are battling for the prize but are all under a ticking time bomb, as the building is strapped with dynamite to be demolished by the city. They have eight hours to retrieve the cash and get out alive. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Universal … Here’s two films to warm your romantic heart on these post-Christmas cold nights, both from Filmrise: In “Calling for Love” (2020 — Canada), starring Karissa Lee Staples, Tajh Bellow and Marisa Brown, podcast host Samantha has an aversion to romance but is assigned to host a show that reunites lost loves. Samantha falls for charming Jake, who calls in with a problem she is determined to solve … and “A Wedding to Remember” (2021), starring Cristina Rosato, Greyston Holy and Rebecca Olson: On the opposite sides of a development project, Olivia and Brian are shocked to find themselves as the maid of honor and best man at the same wedding. But they now have to put their contentious feelings aside to save their best friends’ wedding.

On the Indie Front:

In “Mayday” (2021), starring Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth, Havana Rose Liu, Soko, Théodore Pellerin and Juliette Lewis, Ana finds herself transported to a dreamlike and dangerous coastline. Once there, she joins a female army engaged in a never-ending war where the women lure men to their deaths with radio signals, like 20th century sirens. Though Ana finds strength in this exhilarating world, she comes to realize she is not the killer they want her to be. On DVD, Blu-ray, from Magnolia Home Entertainment. Read more here

All DVDs and Blu-rays are screened on a reference system consisting of an Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio, a Rotel RSX-972 Surround Sound Receiver, and Phase Technology 1.1 (front), 33.1 (center), and 50 (rear) speakers, and Power 10 subwoofer.