The week’s DVD begin with a fairy tale:
DVDs for Nov. 4 by Boo Allen
This week, we begin with a fairy tale:
Maleficent (***1/2)
Only the team of expert technicians at Disney could bring life to a project such as this fanciful reworking of a cherished fairy tale. Loosely based on Disney’s 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, as well as Charles Perrault’s 1697 version of “La Belle au bois dormant,” this new twist stars Angelina Jolie as the title character, a fairy who puts a spell on the king’s daughter Aurora (Elle Fanning). Feeling betrayed and tricked by the king when she tries to bring two feuding kingdoms together, the fairy, more mischievous than evil, compels the teenager to fall into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by the true love’s kiss of Prince Phillip (Brenton Thwaites). The darkly clad Maleficent sports menacingly arched eyebrows, a pair of impressive horns, a strangely British accent and a striking fondness for unexpected humor. Robert Stromberg makes his directing debut, bringing his sharp eye for production values. The film features some dazzling special effects, eye-opening costumes, a lush musical score, an impressive international cast, and an infectious yet whimsical sense of fun.
Rated PG, 97 minutes.
Extras: five deleted scenes and an eight minute “making of” featurette. Plus, featurettes running from three to five minutes on the special effects, Maleficent’s head wraps and jewelry, the forest battle, Elle Fanning discussing her role and the film, and more.
Running From Crazy (***)
Two time Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple examines the life and heritage of Mariel Hemingway, a distinguished actress, and granddaughter of Ernest, born into a family filled with a history of suicide. Kopple extensively interviews Mariel, along with many of her friends and family, including Joan, Margaux, and Langley Hemingway. Archival footage of other family members helps Kopple and her subject better understand the family’s burden.
Not rated, 102 minutes.
Land Ho! (**1/2)
The biggest attraction of this geezer comedy lies not in its outré humor but in the steady visual delights of its mostly Icelandic settings. Two Kentucky old-timers, Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) and Colin (Paul Eenhoorn), once married to sisters, reunite by taking a trip together to Iceland. Their prerequisite adventures include a night out with a pair of much younger women (Karrie Crouse, Elizabeth McKee), one distantly related, a trip to Iceland’s bleak hinterlands, and a culminating visit to a spa. During it all, the often over-bearing Mitch bellows out his fluctuating philosophies on life, meant to be funny and insightful but are more often simply loud, obnoxious and woefully dated. Written and directed by Martha Stephens and Aaron Katz.
Rated R, 95 minutes.
Extras: commentary, four deleted scenes, and 13 minutes of an interview with cast and crew at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Boy Meets Girl (***1/2)
In this latest from Warner Archives, two iconic veteran actors (James Cagney and Pat O’Brien) deliver a smart and fast send-up of two iconic veteran screenwriters (Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur–The Front Page). The two writers, Robert Law and J.C. Benson (Cagney and O’Brien, respectively), work at a film studio that knowingly churns out junk, none more so than the westerns starring Larry Toms (Dick Foran). Ralph Bellamy plays the pompous, pseudo-intellectual running the studio. When a studio waitress, Susie (Marie Wilson), gives birth to a baby who becomes a national star, the writers craft films around the baby and Toms schemes to marry the mother. Fast paced with the crackling dialogue that personified the works of Hecht and MacArthur. Directed by Lloyd Bacon from a screenplay by Bella and Sam Spewack from their stage play.
Not rated, 87 minutes. 1938.
LFO (**)
This Swedish science fiction oddity sports a dash of black humor to complement its creepiness. Patrik Karlson stars as Robert, a stay-at-home scientist who stumbles on a frequency that can hypnotize people. He uses it to put his married neighbors into a trance. After, he forces the husband to clean his house and wash his windows, while he, Robert, has sex with the unwittingly willing wife. The single gimmick eventually wears thin, running out of steam and freshness. Written and directed by Antonio Tublen.
Not rated, 98 minutes.
Extras: a “behind-the-scenes” featurette.
The Christmas Gift, and The Thanksgiving Treasure and The House Without a Christmas Tree.
Three vintage, unrated TV movies with holiday themes have been revived for a timely release. Christmas Gift (1986, 94 minutes) stars John Denver as George, the recently-widowed father of Alex (Gennie James). They take a healing trip together and find themselves in a small Colorado town where everyone believes in Santa Clause, including obligatory love interest Susan (Jane Kaczmarek). Both titles in the two-film collection The Thanksgiving Treasure (1973, 77 minutes) and The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972, 75 minutes) are based on Gail Rock’s novels and follow the activities of the Mills family. In the distinguished cast headed by Jason Robards Jr. and Mildred Natwick, they play, respectively, the father and grandmother of Addie Mills (Lisa Lucas), growing up in 1940s Nebraska. The films revolve around good-natured family intrigues during Thanksgiving and then later at Christmas.
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Disney’s popular animated “Planes” franchise returns with the latest caper about the racing, crop-dusting plane Dusty (voiced by Dane Cook). Now, he learns engine damage may keep him from ever racing again. To compensate, he trains to be a firefighter by joining a fire and rescue crew. He meets Blade Ranger (Ed Harris), Lil Dipper (Julie Bowen), and Windlifter (Wes Studi), while also reconnecting with Chug (Brad Garrett), Dottie (Teri Hatcher), Leadbottom (Cedric the Entertainer), and others
Rated PG, 83 minutes.
Extras: the animated short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular,” the mockumentary “Welcome to Piston Peak!,” a “’CHoPs’ TV promo,” the behind-the-scenes featurette “Air Attack: Firefighters From the Sky,” a music video from Spencer Lee, two deleted scenes, and two additional animated shorts.
Also on DVD: The Dog, Frontera, Hercules, A Most Wanted Man, Premature, True Love.