This is a week to seek vengeance. On Blu-ray that is. Chan-wook Park's seminal modern classic trilogy is in the spotlight this week. There are also four new releases that are piquing my interest as well.
Pick of the Week
Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance/Oldboy/Lady Vengeance)
Chan-wook Park's vengeance trilogy is to South Korean cool as The Man with No Name trilogy is to Spaghetti Westerns. In the States, OLDBOY quickly became a cult hit upon its release with its twisted narrative about a man locked up in a room for years without knowing why. Upon his sudden release, he seeks revenge against those that imprisoned him.
In SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE, a young couple kidnaps the daughter of a high-profile businessman to pay for an operation for the young man's little sister. Of course nothing goes as planned as the audience's allegiances shift as the story spins further and further out of control.
In LADY VENGEANCE, the wonderful Yeong-ae Lee stars as a woman released from prison after serving 13 years for her involvement in the kidnapping and murder of a young boy. Thirteen years gives you a lot of time to plan your revenge.
All three films are not to be missed.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance review
Lady Vengeance review
Buy "The Vengeance Trilogy" on Blu-ray Here!
Buzzed About
The Book of Eli
This post-apocalyptic tale got mixed reviews upon release for an uneven narrative. But I’m curious because I really liked the Hughes Brothers previously genre effort, FROM HELL. That film too received mixed reviews. Denzel Washington stars as the title character who must protect a sacred book that holds the key to the survival of mankind. Co-stars include Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Beals, Michael Gambon and Tom Waits.
Buy "The Book of Eli" on DVD Here!
Buy "The Book of Eli" on Blu-ray Here!
Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country
Anders Ostergaard’s doc was nominated for an Oscar this year. The film uses smuggled footage from secret reporters inside the lockdown country of Burma. The film chronicles the 2007 protests of thousands of monks and the government crackdown that fell on them.
Mary and Max
Adam Elliot won an Oscar for his short HARVIE KRUMPET. Now he brings his signature stop-motion animation style to his first feature film. The story follows the unlikely friendship between an eight-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, and Max, a 44-year old man living in New York, who has Aspergers Syndrome. Voice cast is impressive – Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Eric Bana. Won top prizes at both the Annecy and Ottawa International Animation Festivals.
Buy "Mary and Max" on DVD Here!
Buy "Mary and Max" on Blu-ray Here!
Youth in Revolt
While most say it doesn’t live up to C.D. Payne’s novel, the general reviews were good for this coming-of-age fantasy. Michael Cera plays Nick Twisp who meets Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), the girl of his dreams. She’s not interested in the nerdy virgin, so Nick creates an alter-ego named Francois Dillinger, who turns into a criminal, to win her affections. Co-stars Zach Galifianakis, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard, Ray Liotta and Justin Long. Looks quirky and I like quirky.
Buy "Youth in Revolt" on DVD Here!
Buy "Youth in Revolt" on Blu-ray Here!
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
