Blu Tuesday is a weekly column where we review the newest Blu-ray and 4K releases, along with a brief rundown of the included bonus material, to determine whether they’re worth buying, renting or skipping.
Pick of the Week: “Mallrats”
Following the success of his indie debut, “Clerks,” writer/director Kevin Smith was courted by Universal to make his next feature, only for it to bomb spectacularly at the box office. But while “Mallrats” was not a commercial hit when first released, the film eventually found a following on home video and has since become a cult classic and a favorite among Smith fans. Though the movie hasn’t aged particularly well — like most of Smith’s work, it’s very much a product of its time and has some glaring issues — “Mallrats” still manages to entertain thanks to its likable characters and charismatic cast, especially Jason Lee (in his first starring role), who would go on to work with Smith again in even better films like “Chasing Amy” and “Dogma.”
Arrow’s new 4K release is a major upgrade on previous editions, featuring a director- and cinematographer-approved 4K restoration of both the theatrical and extended cuts. The two-disc set also contains hours of bonus material, including an audio commentary by Smith, producer Scott Mosier, archivist Vincent Pereira and stars Lee, Ben Affleck and Jason Mewes, as well as a retrospective on making the film, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, outtakes, a Q&A with Smith for the film’s 10th anniversary and more. FINAL VERDICT: BUY
Also Out This Week:
“Waterworld” — As a teenager in the ‘90s, I remember the hype surrounding “Waterworld” all too well. It was supposed to be one of the biggest releases of the summer movie season, but after bombing at the box office, the film’s troubled production (including a ballooning budget that made it the most expensive movie ever at the time of its release) became Hollywood folklore. The reality is that “Waterworld” isn’t quite the disaster that some would lead you to believe, though it’s not exactly a good film, either. Reuniting Kevin Costner with “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” director Kevin Reynolds, the movie contains some great production design and stunt work, as well as a fun villain turn from Dennis Hopper, but it’s all spectacle and no substance. While the new 4K restoration from Arrow Video looks fantastic (with a solid Dolby Atmos track to boot), unless you’re a diehard fan of the film, it’s hard to recommend. In addition to all three versions of the movie — the original theatrical cut, the extended U.S. TV cut and the fan-made Ulysses cut — the three-disc set includes the making-of documentary “Maelstrom: The Odyssey of Waterworld,” a 22-minute visual essay featuring film critic Glenn Kenny about ecological disaster movies, an archival behind-the-scenes featurette and more. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Evil Dead Rise” — It’s only been 10 years since the release of Fede Alvarez’s underrated reboot of the “Evil Dead” franchise, so it’s a bit strange that, rather than build on that film, “Evil Dead Rise” is positioned as an entirely separate entry — one that deviates from the typical “Evil Dead” formula by setting the story within an urban apartment complex instead of a cabin in the woods. The change in scenery is welcome, but the movie lacks a lot of what makes “Evil Dead” what it is. The decision to kill off literal children also seems especially in poor taste and something that past versions have always avoided. It’s intended to push boundaries and demonstrate that no character is safe, but it just feels unnecessarily cruel. Though “Evil Dead Rise” contains some solid practical effects and fun callbacks, it often feels more like a horror movie that was retrofitted into an Evil Dead film than one that began life that way. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
“National Lampoon’s Vacation” — “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is arguably one of the most iconic comedies of the 1980s, but it’s never had much of an impact on me compared to other films from that decade. Adapted from the John Hughes short story “Vacation ’58,” the movie’s reliance on lowbrow humor (e.g., anything involving Cousin Eddie and Aunt Edna) diminishes the parts that do work, including some funny sight gags that make great use of Chevy Chase’s comedic timing. Cameos by John Candy and Christie Brinkley are also highlights, while the core members of the Griswold family (Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron) have such good chemistry that it’s a shame the latter two didn’t stick around for future installments. Though “Vacation” isn’t quite as laugh-out-loud funny as its reputation might suggest, it’s a fun road trip comedy that’s still relatable today in spite of its dated references. Extras include an audio commentary by director Harold Ramis, producer Matty Simmons and stars Chase, Hall, Barron and Randy Quaid. FINAL VERDICT: RENT
“Big George Foreman” — If you like your movies dull and riddled with clichés, look no further than this run-of-the-mill biopic about boxing legend George Foreman that’s about as insightful as reading his Wikipedia page. The film speeds through the various highs and lows of Foreman’s life at such a breakneck pace that you can’t really appreciate anything that’s happening. One minute, he’s learning how to box; the next minute, he’s winning the gold medal at the Olympics. The performances are also incredibly boring and one-note, especially Khris Davis as the titular boxer-turned-preacher, while the boxing scenes aren’t much better (although that may have something to do with Foreman’s fighting style). It’s too bad that this faith-based tale does such a disservice to its subject because Foreman’s story is nothing if not remarkable. Extras include a making-of featurette, some deleted scenes and a gag reel. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP
Disclosure: Bullz-Eye was provided a copy of the above titles for review purposes.
