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Out on 16 November and 23 November
Pixar takes us on the ultimate head-trip. Peter Jackson goes the extra distance one last time. Yes, heres this fortnights new DVD and Blu-Ray releases. Click on for our reviews of Inside Out, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies Extended Edition, Ted 2, Sharkando 3: Oh Hell No!, Requiescant, Minions, Southpaw, Stop Making Sense, Robinson Crusoe On Mars, The Fallen Idol, The Raging Moon and Maggie. For the best movie reviews, subscribe to Total Film.
INSIDE OUT
Who better than Pixar to tell us whats going on inside our own heads? The company has been doing it, on and off, since 1995 making us fall in love with pull-string cowboys, pine for lost clownfish and bawl our eyes out at cranky old men in flying houses. Not that Pixar is always right. With an impossible string of hits spanning 20 years, its recent run saw the studios crown start to slip loosened even more by an upcoming slate stuffed with sequels. But before Pixar starts opening up its old worlds, director Pete Docter narrows down a new one to craft the studios smallest, subtlest, most mature film to date. Essentially the story of an 11-year-old having her first mental breakdown, Pixars approach to metaphysics is absurdly grown-up on paper. With no rollercoaster set-pieces, no cute sidekicks and no major characters who arent all versions of the same person, its not much more kiddie-friendly on screen. But thats not to say Inside Out doesnt work as a family film. Visually astounding, hilariously written and perfectly pitched to every seat in the house, its Charlie And The Chocolate Factory meets Charlie Kaufman high-concepts from a childs-eye view; emotional gut-punches wrapped in candyfloss; a sensory theme park. Formerly of Monsters, Inc. and Up, Docter arguably has the best track-record at Pixar. Leading the discs deep-reaching commentary (and making a few live phone calls to various members of the cast and crew as he goes), the director tells us the idea took shape when he heard his own bubbly 11-year-old labelled a quiet kid by her teachers. Already responsible for replacing Bambis dead mum as the new go-to test for cold-heartedness, Docters own opening montage of Up is an impossible act to follow. Trying anyway, Inside Out begins with nothing less than the birth of human consciousness introducing us to Riley and her newborn emotion, Joy, in their first formative moments. Skipping through the next 11 years, the inside of Rileys head becomes a fairground of imagination, a repository of memories and a fully furnished flight-deck for her five guiding emotions to bicker over the controls. The basics (which arent basic at all) are elegantly explained Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust appealing to kids in primary colours and basic shapes, handling the machinery of Rileys mind via a set of glowing marbles. Somehow it all makes sense just in time for everything to start going wrong Riley thrown into free-fall when her mum and dad move her across country to a new home, sending Joy and Sadness on a psychological rescue mission through her crumbling synapses. Leave the kids in front of the TV whilst you make the tea and youll come back to characters sobbing aboard a train of thought, teetering over disappearing islands of imagination or talking about non-objective fragmentation in an abstract 2D ether. Giant, nightmarish clowns trap heroes in cages made of balloons, dreams are rendered in working TV studios and Riley suffers a painfully real anxiety attack in the middle of her new classroom. And then theres the subtext suggesting that what we lose in childhood never actually comes back. Bold, big ideas for an art-house film, its borderline revolutionary for Pixar which somehow manages to keep the kids (and Disney) happy with some of its sweetest, most imaginative storytelling to date. Leading the parade is Joy, constantly lifting the spirit of the film as Rileys cheerleading Jiminy Cricket, giddily voiced by Amy Poehler and drawn like a burst of sunshine. the other emotions are equally well scouted from sitcoms and standup; Phyllis Smiths mopey blue blob, Bill Haders nervy purple stick, Mindy Kalings prissy green triangle; and Lewis blacks hot-headed red briquette. Equal star is Richard Kinds polka-dotted nougat-filled elephant-headed imaginary friend Bing-Bong, who serves as Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road to Rileys recovery and who provides Docter with yet another lump-in-the-throat moment that people will probably never forgive him for. Not that the film isnt full of them. Without any action set-pieces to add punctuation, its the emotional highs and lows that power the movie from scene to scene understated enough to foreground minimal, sophisticated animation over exaggeration and bombast, light and bright enough for the kids not to notice. Scaled back not just in its micro-interiors but in the focus of its design, Inside Out represents a small step for Pixar and a giant leap for animated filmmaking as a whole. In the end, says Docter, as the credits roll, Im proud of the statement this movie makes. In a world where we try to avoid sadness, where we medicate it, this movie reminds us how important sadness is reminds us of the richness, warmth and complexity that it brings. Damn it, Docter. Theres something in our eye again EXTRAS: > Commentary > Shorts Directors: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling DVD, BD, 3D BD release: 23 November 2015 Paul Bradshaw
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES EXTENDED EDITION
It all comes back to Rings as Gandalf prepares to lose his ring-wearing hand to an orc, Peter Jackson chats on the commentary about how the three rings of power subplot has come alive in the extended editions: one seed among many for Middle-earths extended lease of disc-life. Youd call it a cash-in, if the 20 additional minutes on display here didnt make for an imperfect but noticeably less wobbly bridge to Rings than the theatrical cut. Previously, Battle felt prequel-ish and awkwardly paced: lots of army assemblage, lots of battles, not much logic or character flow. Here, the logic creases are smoothed out, the character/action thrusts better integrated. Improvements begin quickly, with bards smaug face-off boosted for tension. The Making Of docs reveal that Luke Evans spent 15 hours dashing over rooftops on his first day at work, so thats at least one person wholl be satisfied with the extra footage. Equally, James Nesbitts Bofurs chat-time with Martin Freemans flawless Bilbo is fleeting but welcome: their exchange lets the pacing breathe, shows that Jackson can still do character stuff and reminds us the dwarves have, you know, actual voices. Elsewhere, Billy Connollys formerly-botched entrance is bettered, Bifurs axe-in-head issue is comically resolved (he speaks!) and Beorn is briefly dumped into battle. Its a bloodier battle in this US R-rated cut, sometimes pointlessly: when youve seen one head roll but fun additions include Galadriel reducing an orc to wet chunks (Jacksons choice words) and a troll-squishing ice chase that clears up the mystery of the chariot in the trailer. Tauriels fate remains an unfortunately unresolved mystery, for which the explanation behind Legolas shifting position while hanging from a giant bat hardly compensates. But at least the extra farewell to Thorin doesnt muddy the climax: the glide into The Fellowship Of The Ring stays smooth so it wont ruin that six-pic Christmas binge youre planning. Set aside an extra day too, because the Phillippa Boyens/Jackson yack-track (You just wanted to do giant were-worms, she joshes, genially) and mammoth docs brim with treasures. Cherishable footage includes Christopher Lee on set, Cate Blanchett protecting her nipper from orc-mares and footage from day one of Rings. Castncrew look about 10, bless em. As a full-circle swerve back to that hallowed start, this Battle certainly comes closer than before (much closer than a certain other prequel trilogy managed) to a worthy segue-as-send-off for a great fantasy saga. Unless someone comes up with a post-Tolkien excuse for a 2025 extension: The Forge Awakens? EXTRAS: > Commentary > Documentaries > Featurette > Music video Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans DVD, 3D BD, Digital HD: 23 November 2015 Kevin Harley
TED 2
Seth McFarlanes sequel to his hit (thunder) buddy comedy is tediously mean-spirited. This time out, with best pal John (Mark Wahlberg) and rookie lawyer Samantha (Amanda Seyfried) in his corner, the titular bear is fighting for his civil rights while generally punching down anyone who isnt straight, white and male. Yet there are saving graces; namely a fantastic cameo from Liam Neeson and a scene where Ted torments an improv comedy troupe with grim suggestions for sketches. Extended edition adds six minutes of filth, while Blu bonuses include the self-explanatory Giant opening Dance number. EXTRAS: > Commentary > Featurettes > Deleted scenes (BD) > Gag reel (BD) Director: Seth McFarlane Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi DVD, BD, Digital HD: 23 November 2015 Stephen Kelly
SHARKNADO 3: OH HELL NO!
The so bad its good phenomenon is a curious thing. Somehow its OK to laugh at filmmakers if they try their best, but when they fail on purpose it just feels hollow. Such is Sharknado 3. Now existing as a cut-price parody of the kind of action films that havent been made for 20 years, it sees Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) fight the fish-slinging twister from the White House to outer space joined by the usual sad list of cult cameos (David Hasselhoff et al). Dont encourage them. EXTRAS: > Commentary > Featurettes > Extended scenes > Gag reel Director: Anthony C. Ferrante Starring: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo DVD, VOD: 23 November 2015 Paul Bradshaw
REQUIESCANT
Our protagonist (Lou Castel) is no ordinary sharpshooter. Raised by a preacher, he ritualistically says a prayer after killing whichever bad guy has stepped in his way. Similarly, Requiescant is no ordinary spaghetti western. Director Carlo Lizzani seems less concerned with flashy set-pieces than he is in ideas about freedom and revolution, both for the Mexicans essentially enslaved by a Southern aristocrat (Mark Damon), and the women forced into prostitution. Its moral seriousness sets this film apart in a genre usually characterised by amorality. EXTRAS: > Interviews Director: Carlo Lizzani Starring: Lou Castel, Mark Damon, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Barbara Frey BD: 16 November 2015 Stephen Puddicombe
MINIONS
The rise of the sidekicks continues with Despicable Grus hinderers, whose spin-off snaffled $1bn-plus returns without even a plot to hand. The secret to directors Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffins evil genius? Gags (well, and merch), rapid-fired for short attention spans. What story there is follows the trouble-causers global pursuit of villains to pledge service to; enter Sandra Bullocks Scarlet Overkill. Pacing and purpose exit fast, but blithely anarchic in-jokes and a Minion-chorus soundtrack keep the laughs lively. Bonus mini-movies underwhelm. EXTRAS: > Mini-movies > Interactive map (BD) > Xmas song (BD) Directors: Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Pierre Coffin DVD, 3D BD, BD, Digital HD: 16 November 2015 Kevin Harley
ROBINSON CRUSE ON MARS
Before Matt Damon and Ridley Scott hit the red planet, there was this cult classic from 1964, in which Paul Mantees US astronaut Kit Draper (and his pet monkey Mona) crash- lands on Mars in reality, Death Valley and is forced to adapt. Compared with the campy sci-fi B-movies that preceded it, its practically an art movie (albeit one with Martian sausages), thanks to its superior art design and existential-lite ruminations on isolation. 2001: A Space Odyssey would be an interstellar leap for the genre four years later, but this is a surprisingly poignant, transitional stop-gap EXTRAS: Commentary > Booklet Director: Byron Haskin Starring: Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West Dual format release: 23 November 2015 Ali Catterall
SOUTHPAW
Theres a weird poignancy when an actor swings for the fences, only for the film around them to let them down. Jake Gyllenhaal clearly put the time in for this fall-and-rise boxing drama, bulked up and throwing his jabs convincingly but sadly the story hes servicing wanders from one sporting-movie clich to another as he goes from being the champ, to falling into booze after the death of his wife, to the inevitable comeback. Theres nary a surprise in here, and while its seldom less than watchable thanks to the professional work by all involved, theres a rote air of familiarity that the film cant shake off. The Eminem songs brilliant, mind. Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Oona Laurence DVD, BD release: 23 November 2015 Andrew Lowry
STOP MAKING SENSE
Hi, says a lone David Byrne, on the naked stage of Hollywoods Pantages Theatre, with just a boombox for company. Ive got a tape I wanna play. Eighty minutes later, the joint has been comprehensively danced to its stumps by one of the greatest rhythm sections in the galaxy, making some brilliant, furious funk. Routinely dubbed the best concert movie ever made (it is, in truth, even better than that epithet), Jonathan Demmes film of Talking heads at their preppy pomp in 1983 literally and thrillingly builds up piece by piece towards its euphoric climax. Treat yourself. EXTRAS: Commentary > Bonus tracks > Band press conference Director: Jonathan Demme Starring: Talking Heads DVD, BD release: 16 November 2015 Ali Catterall
THE FALLEN IDOL
Long overshadowed by The Third Man, Carol Reeds previous collaboration with Graham Greene on this dark, delicate story about misguided loyalty is just as noirish, and possibly (heretically) even better. A superbly nuanced story of the bond between a diplomats lonely little son and the butler (a gloriously understated Ralph Richardson) whom he tries to defend when hes accused of murder, its a practically perfect chamber piece. Shot for maximum tension and recently restored to mint-condition monochrome, its a real beauty. EXTRAS: Featurettes > Interviews Director: Carol Reed Starring: Ralph Richardson, Bobby Henrey, Michle Morgan, Denis ODea, Jack Hawkins DVD release: 16 November 2015 Kate Stables
THE RAGING MOON
Now all but forgotten, this 1969 British film released in 1971 in the US as Long Ago, Tomorrow was forward- thinking for its time in its portrayal of disability and sexuality. A young Malcolm McDowell is excellent as a football player who loses the use of his legs and falls for fellow wheelchair-user Nanette Newman. Its an odd mix of Kes-era grit and Love Story-esque gloop, but the combination just about works. That said, theres not a single surprise and the world has surely moved on from needing to be reminded that the disabled are people too. EXTRAS: Interviews > Gallery Director: Bryan Forbes Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Nanette Newman, Georgia Brown, Barry Jackson DVD, BD, VOD release: 23 November 2015 Andrew Lowry
MAGGIE
Maggie is a film about zombies, but its not a zombie film. Its a drama about a father (Arnold Schwarzenegger) learning to cope with the terminal illness of his daughter (Abigail Breslin), the titular teenager whos been infected by a bite. So etched with pain are Arnies features as he deals with inevitable loss, and so desaturated the visuals, many will no doubt wish hed just grab a semi-automatic weapon and start spraying all and sundry with killer puns. But kudos to first-time director Henry Hobson, who locks and loads Arnie into controlled and tortured mode, thus teasing out his finest acting work since his return to movies in 2012 Director: Henry Hobson Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin DVD, BD release: 23 November 2015 Stephen Kelly
