DVD Pick of the Week: Mother

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.



Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles, and what follows are not necessarily reviews, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

Mother (also Blu-ray). Director Bong Joon-ho's follow up to 2006's The Host has something in common with the 2006 monster flick and it isn't the monster. Both films are spurred on by blood ties. Now I have not yet seen Mother, but I have heard very good things about it. The film centers on a young man who is accused of murder and his mother who sets out to prove his innocence. As simple as that premise sounds, it is my understanding that this goes places that are rather unexpected. I look forward to going down the rabbit hole.

The Runaways (also Blu-ray). Not quite the complete story, this somewhat bio-pic paints an authentic feeling of the era and the rise to fame of the Runaways. The film stars Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. The duo, playing Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, prove to be quite formidable. It is an intriguing film that touches on their relationships and the way they adapt to the onrush of fame. It may not tell the whole story but it is a fun ride.

The Losers (also Blu-ray). This is almost a good movie, but sadly falls short. An elite military team is double crossed and left for dead. They gather themselves together and head out to clear their names. Sounds a lot like the A-Team, doesn't it? It is similar. Anyway, they work towards their goal and when it is within their grasp the credits role. Yes, it leaves room for a sequel and nearly requires it. The problem is that it may not have been successful enough to warrant it. The best part of the movie is the chemistry between cast members, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, and Zoe Saldana.

Cop Out (also Bu-ray). I daresay this is the worst film in Kevin Smith's canon. Is it a coincidence that it is the first he has not written? I would like to hope so. I also want to hope that he gets back to writing and rectifies the situation with his next film. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan co-star in this buddy comedy that has the mismatched duo facing off with a bad guy over a stolen baseball card. Poor acting, writing, and direction hamper what on paper looks like a winning combination.

Being Human: Season One (also Blu-ray). A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost walk into a bar.... Wait, that's not right. Anyway, this is a BBC series about the three supernatural beings sharing an apartment and trying t cope with what they are. I have yet to see an episode but the concept strikes me as a winner. Anyone out there familiar with the show?

2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams. I have yet to see the Herschell Gordon Lewis original, 2000 Maniacs, but I did enjoy the remake with Robert Englund. This one sees the town take their act on the road for some more bloodshed. All I can say is that I'm in, there's nothing like a little bit of blood and cannibalism mixed with  a touch of comedy. The cast reunites Repo! The Genetic Opera co-stars Bill Moseley (also of The Devil's Rejects) and Ogre (of the band Skinny Puppy).

Tin Man (also Blu-ray). This SyFy (then SciFi) Channel mini-series took a different look at the Wizard of Oz story and while it is not entirely successful, it is fun and I like Neil McDonough as the Tin Man. I am not so sure it is something I feel like revisiting, but it is arriving in high definition, which may make it worth it.

Evil Aliens (also Blu-ray). This looks like a winner to me. It appears to be cut from cloth similar to The Evil Dead  and Bad Taste. It is a low budget horror/comedy that sees a TV news magazine reporter investigating an alien abduction that reportedly results in a pregnancy. She and her team quickly discover the aliens are real. Hi-jinx ensue.

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Article first published as DVD Pick of the Week: Mother on Blogcritics.