Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 Blu-ray Disc Review

Death Race 2000 was a cool cult flick that starred David Carradine and a then unknown Sylvester Stalone among others in an over the top and fun b-movie Sci-Fi romp. It was remade in the 2000s and there were a few straight to video sequels, but none of them compared well against the original. So I was surprised that Roger Corman would approach Universal Pictures, which owns the rights to the property, to do yet another remake or reimagining, but this time the film would be produced with a low budget through Corman's New Horizon Pictures, which coproduced the film. Yet I figured as long as Corman was inovolved, maybe it would be fun. Sadly I was wrong. 

Despite a cast that stars Manu Bennett (Spartacus TV series, The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy) and Malcolm McDowall (A Clockwork Orange) as the head of a Corporate United States in a post apocalyptic future, the film flounders on bad CGI gore and effects combined with an obnoxious score and a story with no likable characters whatsoever. 

Manu Benett has zero charisma compared to David Carridine and Malcolm McDowell simply plays it all tongue in cheek, but without any real menace. As a result he looks and acts ridiculous. I really wanted to like this movie, but the remake from a decade earlier was better than this and neither stand up to the original.

Universal Studios Home Entertainmebt presents Death Race 2050 in a clear 1080p/24fps (1.78:1) widescreen high definition picture aspect ratio that makes the cheap effects look worse because of the added clarity The English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio Soundtrack fairs no better mostly because of the overused loud punk like soundtrack. French and Spanish Language DTS 5.1 Soundtracks are provided along with English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and French and Spanish Language Subtiltes. 

Several featurettes covering the making of the film (10:16), the look (6:29), the cars (4:33) and a reel of ten deleted scenes that can be viewed individually or in succession (5:35) are included to support the feature. Bonus video previews for Hard Target 2 (:43), Desierto (:33), In A Valley Of Violence (:33), The Take (1:40) and Mr. Robot (1:02) wrap up the bonus content on the Blu-ray Disc. 

A standard definition copy on DVD and an insert containing a redemption code for either an i'Tunes or Ultraviolet Digital Copy are included within the Blue BD case.

Roger Corman's Death Race 2050 will debut on Blu-ray Disc, DVD and Digital Copy on January 17, 2017 courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera.

All Rights Reserved.

An Off The Cuff Review Of Glenn Rhee The Walking Dead TV Series 10 Inch ...

The Great Wall Theatrical Review

Zhang Yimou (Hero, House Of Flying Daggers) directed The Great Wall, an epic fantasy hybrid that gives a somewhat Sci-Fi origin behind the reason the Great Wall of China was built. He directs an international cast that features Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), Tian Jing and Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs) from screen story by Max Brooks, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz and a screenplay by Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro and Tony Gilroy. The story is about two veterans of various European wars and the Crusades, who come to China in search of Gun Powder, which could make them wealthy back west. Instead they are conscripted into an army defending China along the Great Wall from the Taotie, viscous sentient creatures that have attempted to breach the defenses along the wall every sixty years for thousands of years. The Europeans become valuable members of the defense through their war experience and fighting prowess that inspires the Chinese soldiers, but can they combat the temptation of greed for serving a greater cause?

On the positive side, Zhang Yimou has a great sense of visuals and use of color that make the scenes along the wall and in the Chinese Emperor's city beautiful to behold. Unfortunately the screenplay by committee is too muddled down with flat characterization and a surprisingly lack of skill at creating suspense. Matt Damon looks like he is just slumming through the film, which takes away a lot from one's ability to feel anything for him. The Chinese Actors are sold short too and I suspect this film was cut down from a longer intended cut to make it more viewer friendly for western audiences. The only character who stands out in the entire film is Willem Dafoe and that is mostly because Dafoe has a gift for throwing himself into character roles in films of varied merit because he simply has no real inhibitions about the type of movies he appears in whether they are blockbusters, art house or b-movies and ultimately that is the problem with The Great Wall. It is a b-movie trying to be a historical fantasy epic and somehow it just becomes an effects show cheapened by cgi monsters, which are introduced so fast right at the beginning that there is absolutely no thrill or wonder to their presence. 

This international production seems to be greatly hampered by a mix of western monster movie sensibilities and Chinese historical art house epics and it fails to honor both. People die and people are introduced with no payoff. The exposition leaves nothing to the imagination and there is no reason why these creatures seek to invade China when they could just as easily spread and multiply elsewhere and then comeback and overwhelm the Great Wall. If you want to see cgi green monsters cloned without regard for any detail that makes the majority of them look different from one another and then laugh at some ridiculous acrobat like methods employed to fight them, be my guest. However don't be surprised if after you see it you ask yourself, "that's it?"

Maybe the eventual Blu-ray release will yield an extended cut that develops the characters more beyond types, but nothing can save The Great Wall from feeling like zero sustenance eye candy.

(C) Copyright 2017 By Mark A. Rivera

All Rights Reserved,

Next Week On USA.

WEEK OF JANUARY 8

 

COLONY SEASON TWO PREMIERE – 1/12

 

PENULTIMATE EPISODE OF ‘SHOOTER’ – 1/10

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

LAW & ORDER: “Out of Bounds Officers” Marathon – 10am-11pm

The agents of SVU see awful and intense cases day in and day out. Sometimes they have to step over the line and risk their badges all in the name of justice. But how far will they go to solve these cases?

 

OVERBOARD (1987 Movie) – 1am-3:30am *New to USA*

A cruel but beautiful heiress screws over a hired carpenter, who later is the first one to find her when she gets amnesia. Looking for a little revenge he convinces her that she's his wife.  Starring:  Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Edward Herrmann

 

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW (LIVE) – 8/7c

WWE Superstars take the stage live in front of thousands in attendance the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA and the millions of fans watching at home.  RAW Superstars include Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte, Big Show, Sasha Banks and The New Day.

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

WWE SMACKDOWN (LIVE) – 8/7c  

WWE Superstars take the stage live in front of thousands in attendance at the Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge, LA and the millions of fans watching at home.  SmackDown Live Superstars include John Cena, AJ Styles, The Miz, Becky Lynch, Dean Ambrose, Nikki Bella and Randy Orton.

 

SHOOTER “Ballistic Advantage”— 10/9c 

After Julie and Mary are abducted, Bob Lee must figure out a way to broker an exchange for the recently acquired evidence he lifted from Jack Payne. Nadine, working with Bob Lee, struggles to balance her allegiance to him and the FBI, as Isaac strikes a tenuous deal to assist them as trade for his freedom after it’s done.

Link to Photos

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

USA Movie Stunt – 6am-10pm

Blade (1998) @ 6am

Drive Angry (2011) @ 8:30am

Skyfall (2012) @ 10:30am

Faster (2010) @ 1:30pm

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009) @ 3:36pm

Fast & Furious (2009) @ 6:06pm

John Wick (2014) @ 8:15pm*Network Television Premiere*

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

COLONY “Eleven.Thirteen” – 10/9c *Season two premiere*

In the wake of a mysterious alien invasion, a family fights to stay together in a new world order. When USA Network’s critically acclaimed series COLONY returns for Season 2, alien intelligence are still in control of a near-future Los Angeles. In an effort to get their son back, Will (Josh Holloway) has been cooperating with the Collaborators and now knows about his wife Katie’s (Sarah Wayne Callies) alliance with the Resistance. With her secret out and finding themselves on opposite sides of the battle, have they jeopardized any hope of reuniting their family?  

Link to Photos

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

NCIS “A to Ziva” Marathon – 11am-11pm

Ziva David is one mighty woman, so we decided to give her a marathon as big as her personality.  She is fluent in a least 7 languages, knows how to fool a polygraph, and is a terrible driver!   Don’t let her beauty fool you, she’s a ninja powerhouse.

 

Next Week On Syfy.

WEEK OF JANUARY 9

 

FRIDAY THE 13^th ALL-DAY MOVIE FRIGHT-A-THON

 

NEW EPISODE OF ‘INCORPORATED’ – 1/11

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

Blade (1998 Movie) – 8:30/7:30

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008 Movie) – 8/7c

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

INCORPORATED “Executables” – 10/9c

Ben races to finish the Everclear device and help Spiga question an enemy agent; Laura brokers to save a girl’s sight; Theo’s skills are tested against a well-conditioned opponent from uptown.

Catch up on the full season onSyfy.com

Link to Photos

History of the Future Timeline

Life in 2074

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

November Man (2014 Movie) – 7:30/6:30c

Salt (2010 Movie) – 10/9c

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

Friday The 13^th Fright-A-Thon*All Day Movie Marathon*

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – 10am

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) – 12pm

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) – 2pm

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) – 4pm

Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993) – 6pm

Jason X (2002) – 8pm

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003) – 10pm

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

Syfy Movie Marathon

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) – 7/6c

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) – 9/8c

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15

Syfy Movie Marathon

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) – 5/4c

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) – 7/6c

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) – 9/8c

 

BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

A NATIONAL TREASURE IN AN AGE OF IDIOCY…

BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD

THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

 

For the First Time Ever, Comprehensive 12-DVD Set Includes all Four Volumes of the Television Series, Plus the Special Collector’s Edition of the Hit Movie 

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America 

 

Own this Must-Have Collection on February 14, 2017

 

NEW YORK – Attention fartknockers!  Creator Mike Judge’s beloved slackers are back in BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: The Complete Collection, coming to DVD February 14, 2017.  When Beavis and Butt-Head first appeared on MTV more than a decade ago, critics dismissed them as brainless couch potatoes who did nothing but watch TV and make lewd jokes about bodily functions. Today we know they were ahead of their time. Beavis and Butt-Head's unique idiocy profoundly changed television, movies, pop culture and the world.

 

Now, America’s favorite culture critics are back in this comprehensive new collection to tell us all exactly what sucks.  Housing everything in one set for the first time ever,BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: The Complete Collection includes all four volumes of the acclaimed television series—including the boys’ triumphant return in 2011—as well as the Special Collector’s Edition of the fan-favorite movie Beavis and Butt-Head Do America.  In addition, the 12-DVD set boasts a wealth of bonus material including “Taint of Greatness: The Journey of Beavis and Butt-Head” Parts 1-3, VMA appearances, a Thanksgiving Special with Kurt Loder, the 1994-1996 Butt-Bowls, MTV 20^th Anniversary Special, the original, un-cut “Frog Baseball,” a 2011 Comic-Con panel featuring Mike Judge and moderator Johnny Knoxville, promos, montages, and much, much more. BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: The Complete Collection has a suggested retail price of $46.99.

 

DVD Release Date: 2/14/17

U.S. Rating: NR (TV series); PG-13 (feature film)

Running Time: 17 hours, 21 min

Format: Full Screen (TV series); Widescreen (feature film)

 

                     

THIRTEEN's American Masters Kicks Off Season 31 with Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Premiere of By Sidney Lumet, Tuesday, January 3 on PBS

THIRTEEN's American Masters Kicks Off Season 31 with Exclusive U.S. Broadcast Premiere of By Sidney Lumet, Tuesday, January 3 on PBS   Exclusive interview with Treat Williams, star of Lumet's Prince of the City, and Emmy-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski follows the documentary    Prolific and versatile filmmaker Sidney Lumet (1924-2011) made 44 films in 50 years, earning the Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement after four Oscar nominations. Considered a quintessential New York filmmaker, Lumet frequently used New York City's urban mettle to infuse his films with a realism and intensity that kept audiences in suspense while prodding them to consider their own morality. In American Masters: By Sidney Lumet, he tells his own story in a never-before-seen interview shot in 2008 by late filmmaker Daniel Anker and producer Thane Rosenbaum. With candor, humor and grace, Lumet reveals what matters to him as an artist and as a human being. Launching Season 31, American Masters: By Sidney Lumet premieres nationwide Tuesday, January 3 at 8 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and features a new, exclusive interview with Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-nominated actor Treat Williams, who starred in Lumet's Prince of the City, afterward. Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nancy Buirski (Afternoon of a Faun, The Loving Story, Loving) weaves Lumet's personal stories and commentary with scenes from his films to create a portrait of one of the most accomplished, influential and socially conscious directors in the history of cinema. Clips spanning his canon, from 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Prince of the City, The Verdict, and many more, reveal the spiritual and ethical lessons at the core of his work. Looking back over his career, Lumet speaks intimately about the experiences that informed his work, which he loved. His Depression-era, working-class Lower East Side beginnings as a child actor with his father in Yiddish theater, on Broadway, and his gradual transition to directing live TV, informed the stories he chose and his ability to translate important stage works into film, such as The Sea Gull, The Fugitive Kind and Long Day's Journey into Night. In clips from these films, American Masters: By Sidney Lumet underscores Lumet's own journey: his relationship with his father mirrored in Long Day's Journey into Night, Daniel, Running on Empty and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Marching for workers' rights in the 1930s, standing up to McCarthy-era blacklist interrogation and finding ways to employ his blacklisted friends, Lumet developed an appreciation for people who question authority. His movies often featured characters fighting for justice, standing up to the crowd and questioning personal responsibility. First and foremost a storyteller, Lumet's strongly moral tales captured the dilemmas and concerns of a society struggling with essentials: how does one behave to others and to oneself? "Sidney Lumet started in theater, learned about directing in television and made a career in film," said Michael Kantor, American Masters series executive producer. "His work is legendary, and Nancy Buirski and her team were able to pull insights from the 14-hour goldmine of an interview and couple them with Lumet's remarkable work to create a deeply insightful master class for the ages." "It was my job to distill what I felt were the crucial threads, the story Lumet most wanted to tell," said Buirski. "What our film reveals is a man whose life experiences infused his movies with a sense of fairness and conscience, and whose strong moral code, conscious or not, found expression in his art." By Sidney Lumet had its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival and was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film will be available on digital video on demand and DVD/Blu-ray from FilmRise on January 9. Launched in 1986, American Masters has earned 28 Emmy Awards - including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special - 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of masters past and present, the American Masters website (http://pbs.org/americanmasters) offers streaming video of select films, outtakes, filmmaker interviews, educational resources and In Their Own Words: The American Masters Digital Archive: previously unreleased interviews of luminaries discussing America's most enduring artistic and cultural giants as well as the American Masters Podcast. The series is a production of THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET and also seen on the WORLD channel. American Masters: By Sidney Lumet is a production of Augusta Films and THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC's American Masters in association with RatPac Documentary Films, Matador, and Anker Productions, Inc. Nancy Buirski is director and producer. Christopher Donnelly is producer. Anthony Ripoli is editor. Michael Kantor, James Packer, Brett Ratner, Bobby Kondrat, and Jack Turner are executive producers. Scott Berrie, Joshua Green, Thane Rosenbaum, and Robyn Yigit Smith are producers. Funding for American Masters: By Sidney Lumet is provided by Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons Foundation and the Keren Keshet Rainbow Foundation. Major support for American Masters is provided by AARP. Additional funding is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Vital Projects Fund, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Lenore Hecht Foundation, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, and public television viewers.    About WNET WNET is America's flagship PBS station and parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21. WNET also operates NJTV, the statewide public media network in New Jersey. Through its broadcast channels, three cable services (KidsThirteen, Create and World) and online streaming sites, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than five million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings. WNET's groundbreaking series for children and young adults include Get the Math, Oh Noah!and Cyberchase as well as Mission US, the award-winning interactive history game. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus, the daily multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. In addition, WNET produces online-only programming including the award-winning series about gender identity, First Person, and an intergenerational look at tech and pop culture, The Chatterbox with Kevin and Grandma Lill. In 2015, THIRTEEN launched Passport, an online streaming service which allows members to see new and archival THIRTEEN and PBS programming anytime, anywhere: www.thirteen.org/passport. ###  American Masters websites:    http://pbs.org/americanmasters  http://facebook.com/americanmasters  @PBSAmerMasters http://pbsamericanmasters.tumblr.com  http://instagram.com/pbsamericanmasters   http://youtube.com/AmericanMastersPBS     #AmericanMastersPBS