Indie Game: The Movie (iTunes) Criticize This! Pick of the Week – Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky’s documentary on independent video game developers is a truly outstanding and maddening look at what makes these creative geniuses tick. Even if you’re not a gamer yourself you’ll still feel the stress these people go through trying to get their games finished and released. As someone who works in a creative field, I also found it very motivating and inspiring and highly recommend checking it out. Available to rent or buy on iTunes here. **** (out of 5 stars).
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Blu-ray) - The biggest surprise to this sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth is that it’s really quite an enjoyable watch. It’s got action, humour, adventure, and although some scenes were a bit scary for the kids, the whole family seemed to be into it all the way through. The chemistry between Josh Hutcherson and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was also very well played and kept the film moving along quite nicely. Gather the family and pop it on on a Saturday evening and enjoy. This is a movie that is made to be seen on Blu-ray as the 1080p image and 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix are a work of beauty. Special features include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film *** Blu-ray **** (out of 5 stars).
Man on a Ledge (Blu-ray) – The biggest problem with Man on a Ledge is the script, which was written by TV writer Pablo F. Fenjves and is just plain boring. A better script and the film could have been a solid film, even a classic with time. Where it stands though, it’s a mostly bland and forgettable experience that is not worth wasting your money or time on. It does try hard to be Sidney Lumet’s 1975 crime-drama Dog Day Afternoon (someone even yells out “Attica!” at one point in reference to it), but doesn’t come close to it in the least and Sam Worthington is no Al Pacino. The Blu-ray sports a decent image transfer and sound mix, but is really nothing special and not recommended. Special features include audio commentary with actress Elizabeth Banks, a making-of featurette, and more. A regular DVD of the film is included as well. Film ** Blu-ray *** (out of 5 stars).
Exit Humanity (Blu-ray) – A Canadian zombie period piece set during the American Civil War? Sure, why not. Exit Humanity is not a movie for everyone and most horror buffs will be turned off by how slow it moves. But with great performances by genre actors Dee Wallace and Bill Moseley, as well as newcomer Mark Gibson, and with some great cinematography and atmosphere, the film is definitely worth checking out. The Blu-ray has a great image transfer and excellent 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix. Special features include audio commentary, a making-of featurette, and more. Film *** Blu-ray *** (out of 5 stars).
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Blu-ray) – As a fan of Guy Ritchie’s first Sherlock Holmes film I really don’t understand what the hell went so terribly wrong with the sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. It’s as if every actor in the film forgot how to act, even Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. And the lame action and effects were just annoying. Actually, the whole movie was annoying and I can’t find one nice thing to say about it. Avoid it like the plague and you’ll be a better person for it. The Blu-ray features a decent 1080p image and 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix, but even that doesn’t make the film worth watching. Special features include Maximum Movie Mode with Robert Downey Jr. giving you a tour of the film, a movie app, and more. A regular DVD and digital copy of the film are included as well. Film * Blu-ray ** (out of 5 stars).
What are you watching at home this week? Let us know in the comments below.
