It is our Love for EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

 

Jeri Jacquin

Celebrating the 35^th Anniversary on 4K Ultra HD Steelbook from director Tim Burton and Walt Disney Home Entertainment is the full restored with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio is the release of the iconic EDWARD SCISSORHANDS.

Living up on the hill in a mysterious mansion lives Edward (Johnny Depp) and one day sales lady Peg (Dianne West) decides it’s time to expand her client base. Arriving at the home, she finds Edward living by himself and invited him to come home to her suburban neighborhood. Of course, this comes as a surprise to husband Bill (Alan Arkin) and kids Kevin (Robert Oliveri) and teen daughter Kim (Winona Ryder) with unimpressed boyfriend Jim (Athony Michael Hall). Understandably they are curious about the one thing that stands out about Edward, and that is his scissor hands.

Also curious are the neighbors, especially the very religious Esmerelda (O-Lan Jones) and the town flirt Joyce (Kathy Baker) each for their own reasons. Slowly, as the town sees what Edward can do, they embrace him and his beautifully creative talents. Keeping to himself, he begins to have feelings for the lovely Kim with an angry eye watching from Jim. From neighborhood trees to the ladies of the town, it is one creation after another until one neighbor decides its time to put fear in the hearts of the town.

That causes one horrible mishap after another as those who once embraced him, turn quickly into something more vicious than Edward could ever be. The end is devastating as a beautiful love is turned into something heartbreaking – but one can always dance in the snowfall.

Depp as Edward portrays a soul that is so deep and beautiful that it is almost impossible to believe that people could be so cruel to him – almost impossible. Depp’s performance is filled with such unspoken feeling that it oozes from every expression on Edward’s face and it is stunning. The character of Edward is iconic for so many reasons but the most important is because he is relatable in wanting to fit in and wanting to be loved, not used. I never miss a chance to watch this film and have shared it with kids and grandkids discovering they see exactly what I do.

West as Peg matches Depp’s endearing qualities as a generous lady who tries to see the good in people and sees beyond the surface which she does with Edward. West has always been an actress I have admired for her character choices but in this film, she is just the emotional match for Edward’s character in wanting to feel appreciated by her family and loved. Arkin as Bill believes in “happy wife-happy life” and goes along with her Edward-project. He treats the young man so well and learns to see beyond the scissors.

Ryder as Kim is a teen girl just going about her life doing all things teen, even having the wrong boyfriend as another relatable moment. Once past the obvious issue with his hands, the character of Kim follows along with her mother seeing something magical about what Edward can do and, discovering about herself, that she is worthy of someone who sees how special she truly is. This is such a wonderful role for the young Ryder and it stands the test of time. Baker as Joyce is that neighbor, we also can all relate too, narcissistic, gossiper and trouble maker to the point of destruction. She plays this role to the hilt and setting off a chain reaction that makes her character completely unlikeable – a sign of a performance well done!

Shout out to Hall as Jim, the boyfriend who needs to be thrown out of a window, I’ll let Edward take care of that for us all. I do love Hall being an 80s film lover and this was the next step up in his career.

Other cast include Conchata Ferrell as Helen, Susan Blommaert as Tinka, Caroline Aaron as Marge, Dick Williams as Officer Allen, Peter Palmer as the paper editor, John Davidson as the TV host and Vincent Price as The Inventor.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment continues to bring quality programming to kids and kids at heart. Home of the most beloved animated features including SNOW WHITE, PINOCCHIO and SLEEPING BEAUTY to name a few is what keeps families coming back for more. To see what is currently available to add to your own family library please visit. www.movies.disney.com for their At Home titles!

Bonus Features include a New Featurette: A Behind-the-Scenes Look with Cast and Crew and Audio Commentary: Two Separate Commentary Tracks, One from Director Tim Burton, One from Composer Danny Elfman and Trailers: High-Definition Versions of the Original Theatrical Trailers.

EDWARD SCISSORHAND is being released on Steelbook, which I love because it looks so awesome on the home entertainment library bookshelf! This is a film that has stayed in the hearts of everyone who first saw it in the 90s and is being seen by two more generations since in my family. It has actually on the list of Christmas films because it is so magical from Edward’s innocent look at the world to an ending that reminds us all that beauty can be found in the falling of snow, no matter where it comes from.

Director Burton continued after this film to bring such memorable stories as BEETLEJUICE, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, joining Depp again for ED WOOD, MARS ATTACKS!, CORPSE BRIDE, 9, FRANKENWEENIE, and ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, and many more. What all of these films have in common live in the mind of Burton and his ability to bring so many elements that have made this film so worthy of admiration.

From set designs, to special effects, costumes and animation, it is clear that families know what they like and it is what lives in Burton’s imagination. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS will always have a place in our hearts because he reinforces that it is about what is in our hearts and not on our hands.

In the end – his scars run deep!

MINIONS: The Rise of Gru

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this Friday from director Kyle Balda, Illumination and Universal Pictures comes the story behind MINIONS: The Rise of Gru.

Twelve-year-old Gru (Steve Carell) is not your average kid growing up in the 70’s. While all other children want to be doctors and teachers when they grow up, Gru wants to become a member of the supervillains Vicious 6. What he does not know is that the Vicious 6 have just ousted their glorious leader Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).

So now interviews are being held by the remaining members Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), Jean Clawed (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Nunchuck (Lucy Lawless), Svengeance (Dolph Lundgren) and Stronghold (Danny Trejo). Gru can not believe he is actually going into interview and must tell his beloved Minions, especially Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto (Pierre Coffin) that he must now go alone.

Trying to prove himself, Gru takes a medallion that has powers and once the Vicious 6 realize it has been taken, they are on the hunt for the kid. That is until Kevin sees Gru being kidnapped by Wild Knuckles and with Stuart and Bob, they are off to find him in San Francisco but so are the Vicious 6.

Finding it difficult to navigate the streets of San Fran, the minions meet Master Chow (Michelle Yeoh) who teaches them a bit of the martial arts to help them rescue Gru! In a sort of change of heart, Wild Knuckles has taken a shine to young Gru and puts his skills to the test.

All of this leads to a smack down in San Francisco’s Chinatown!

Carell as Gru manages to take an older Gru’s voice and bring it down to a twelve-year-old’s size. As usual, his vocals bring fun and giggles to the character he has made so famous since DESPICABLE ME in 2010.   

Henson as Belle Bottom is a funky 70’s supervillain that wants so much more. Seemed quite easy for her to turn on her own mentor because absolute power corrupts absolutely. Arkin as Wild Knuckles is an aged supervillain who didn’t see betrayal coming. Well, now he wants revenge and he will use Gru to get it. Typical bad guy but well-done Mr. Arkin.

Yeoh as Master Chow was very funny but then again, I enjoy everything Michelle Yeoh does so welcome to the animated world. Van Damme, Lawless, Lundgren and Trejo as the other pieces of the Vicious 6 get a chance to show a little of their own evilness along with their fantastic gadgetry. I wonder who had a part in that? 

Brand gives us a look at a young Dr. Nefario and his part in Gru’s history as well. I was thrilled to hear Julie Andrews again as Gru’s mother. There is a look at her interesting side as well.

Other cast include RZA as the biker, Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins, Steve Coogan as Silas Ramsbottom, Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario and the beloved and iconic Ms. Julie Andrews as Marlena Gru.

Illumination, founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007, is one of the industry’s leading producers of event animated films. Bringing the DESPICABLE ME franchise, to include Minions, features some of the world’s most renowned talent. To read more please visit www.illumination.com.

Universal Pictures has films of every genre available from scary to drama to family films that have entertained generations such as the recent JURASSIC PARK: Dominion. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.uphe.com.

MINIONS: The Rise of Gru is a film that is great for family’s this holiday weekend and I’m sure it will do well. Coming in at one hour and twenty-seven minutes everyone has a chance to have a good giggle.

The story itself, I have to say, felt a bit disconnected. In the sense of why didn’t they call it DESPICABLE ME: The Rise of Gru instead of MINIONS: The Rise of Gru. Honestly, Gru got more screen time than the Minions in the plot of the story. So, yes, I was expecting more Minion-ness.

That being said the film is fun, charming and entertaining. The music was definetly 70’s and THAT I liked a lot. It’s always a treat when a film truly knows how to use music to its advantage and MINIONS: The Rise of Gru plays that funky music well.

In the end – it’s kung fu fighting time!

 

 

GATTACA Arrives in a Stunning Steelbook

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to 4K Ultra HD in a Limited Edition Steelbook from director Andrew Niccol and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the newly remastered and intense look at the road to GATTACA.

Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) lives in a future of eugenics where biometrics is used to conceive children known as ‘valids’. Deciding to forego lab conception, Vincent’s parents have a child who they discover has a heart problem and is labeled an ‘invalid’ with a very short life span. That does not stop him from having boyhood dreams of going to space while brother Anton (Loren Dean) is conceived by genetic selection.

Years later, Vincent meets Jerome (Jude Law) who volunteers to exchange his genetics, or borrowed ladder, so that Vincent can pass as a valid. All of this done so that Vincent, now Jerome, can work at the Gattaca Aerospace Corporation as a navigator for a trip to the Saturn moon of Titan. Daily he must rid himself of everything that is Vincent to pass for Jerome.

A short time before the mission he is to leave on, he meets Irene (Uma Thurman), who shares that she is a valid but with her own defects, so the chance of a mission is none. They become close but fall to being leery of one another when an administrator of Gattaca is murdered. Irene is directed by Mission Director Josef (Gore Vidal) to help the police in any way possible.

Enter Detective Freeman and partner Detective Hugo (Alan Arkin) who tear Gattaca upside down to find the killer. When an eyelash is discovered that leads to someone names ‘Vincent’, the police and Irene are not far behind in discovering the true relationship between Vincent and Jerome.

A dream is about to get lost in space!

Hawke as Vincent/Jerome has a deep story to tell and will go to any lengths to prove that he is just as good, if not better qualified to go on a mission. Society believes otherwise which makes his transformation even more important. Hawke gives us a calm, cool and well-dressed navigator of Gattaca where no one suspects a thing – until death begins to unravel things.

Law as Jerome is amazing portraying a young man who has had his life changed in such a way that letting Vincent in keeps his life comfortable. Providing him with all the things that make a human being a human being, Law has his moments of screw ups but begins to see Jerome’s vision and what he will do to go on a mission. Experiencing something like that can change a person, even someone like Jerome.

Thurman as Irene is also a straightforward, tightly wound worker of Gattaca who sees something in Vincent/Jerome that is close to her own feelings. She takes it upon herself to protect him at all cost. Thurman keeps us all wondering if she is will see everything through to the end. Dean as Anton is suspicious of everything and everyone which brings him closer to discovering the murderer than he could have realized. The problem is he is to focused on a trail he has created for himself to deal with issues from the past so he is a tad jaded.

Arkin as Detective Hugo is like a dog with a juicy bone and he senses that Anton is distracted by something he couldn’t possibly understand. Following orders in front of Anton does not mean he won’t do his own digging into the discovery of a murderer.

Other cast include: Jayne Brook as Marie, Xander Berkeley as Lamar, Elias Koteas as Antonio, Mason Gamble as young Vincent, William Scott as young Anton, Ernest Borgnine as Caesar

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

MOVIES ANYWHERE gives viewers the ability to download the Movies Anywhere App. With that you can view films by downloading or streaming to your favorite device using a Digital Code. For more information on Movies Anywhere please visit www.MoviesAnywhere.com.

The GATTACA Steelbook contains the Bonus Material of Deleted Scenes, Blooper Reel and Welcome to Gattaca Featurette.

GATTACA was released in 1997 and I can tell you that every time it has showed itself on my television, I stop to watch it. There is something intense and memorable about this film from the cinematography to the idea behind the story that is worth every watch. Director Niccol wrote and brought us GATTACA for $20 million after his first film THE TRUMAN SHOW.

Even in 1997 the question of humanity in technology was difficult to imagine and here we are in 2021 and it is still difficult even in the midst of a pandemic. He says of Gattaca, “characters are scared of leaving a trace of themselves, so the world is very sterile”, sound familiar? Hand cleaning, no touching and six feet of distance bring us closer to a GATTACA existence.

Also in this film is the will to exceed human expectations by any means possible (without hurting someone in Vincent’s case). He is willing to push the limits that are so extraordinary that I had to shake my head and say, ‘nope, I’m good’. Vincent/Jerome is smart, creative and yet so very unlike the Jerome he is forced to be while employed with Gattaca. Perhaps that is why he is such a believable character. Hawke gives him heart, soul and the so unexpected emotion of love.

The Steelbook is awesome to have and 4K Ultra HD, Bluray and Digital copies all in one stunningly done artwork that, as a GATTACA fan, I could relate to for my own home entertainment library.

In the end – a life is a dangerous thing to share!