BORN A CHAMPION

 

Jeri Jacquin 

On DVD from director Alex Ranarivelo and Lionsgate Home Entertainment is the story of redemption when you are BORN A CHAMPION.

The story is told by Taco (Maurice Compte) about his friend Mickey (Sean Patrick Flanery), a man who has found the one thing in his life that has meaning – jiu-jitsu. It is the 1990’s going to Dubai for a match as a guest of the Sheik (Ali Afshar), Mickey meets Layla (Katrina Bowden) who is being harassed by the wealthy Dimitris (Costas Mandylor).

Up against fighter Blaine, Mickey does not anticipate that he would cheat leading to the worst injuries he could have imagined. Returning to the United States he finds Layla and starts a family while teaching privately here and there. His other two jobs include being a janitor at a jiu-jitsu business and a bouncer.

Mickey and Taco are more than friends, they are brothers and keep one another steady through their lives. Another friend of Mickey’s is Pittman (Reno Wilson) who brings Mickey into his business to teach which means he does not have to work three jobs any longer.

The first person to be thrilled by this is Years go by and a video of the fight between Mickey and Blaine soon captures the internet by storm as the issue of Blaine cheating comes to the forefront. Someone else who sees the video is Mason (Dennis Quaid) who is interested in Mickey. When a rematch is set between Mickey and Blaine, Mason makes sure that it does not take place because of injuries from the previous match.

When tragedy hits Mickey’s family, it is Dimitris who makes the match happen again in Dubai. Now is his chance to prove that even at his age, he can make what was wrong then become right now.

Flanery as Mickey is a man who has a history that he keeps to himself. Finding something he enjoys doing, meaning jiu-jitsu, he is willing to take whatever job keeps him going. Once Layla comes into his life, he is even more dedicated to taking care of his family and holding down as many jobs as he needs to. Flanery portrays Mickey as a humble man who does not have the same mindset as those around him. 

Compte as Taco is clearly Mickey’s best friend and has brought him into his family. That means helping him when he needs it and supporting him even if he does not agree with his fighting choices. The way Compte portrays his character is with nothing but care and love for a friend. Wilson as Pittman remembers Mickey from the first fight in Dubai and sees that he still has the skills. Offering him a teaching job was the best thing for him and Wilson’s portrayal is that of man who believes in supporting all those in the jiu-jitsu community.

Bowden as Layla is a young woman that sees something special about Mickey and their life together is all about love and support. Even if she does not always agree, Layla is willing to bend for Mickey’s happiness.

Quaid as Mason is a promoter of these fights and is very curious about Mickey. Watching the video fight between Mickey and Blaine, he sees danger for his fighter. It is only until later when meeting Mickey face to face does Mason see something totally different.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The Bluray/DVD and Digital Special Features include: Director’s Commentary, “The Final Fight” with Alternate Score Music and “The Jimmy Fight” with Alternate Score Music.

Flanery has a deep love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and continues to study the art today. It is very cool that not only did he write the story but has the opportunity to play Mickey, a character he wrote into existence.

The film is very deliberate in its telling and definetly has the 1990’s feel to it. It is definetly a story about redemption but not something Mickey strives for from day to day. That is something I do not think the other characters understood about him. He wanted to be happy with his family and teach something he loves to others.

That being said, given the chance, he takes it but on his own terms – and oh what terms they are!

In the end – once in a lifetime opportunity knocks twice!

 

THE LITTLE PENGUIN PORORO’S DINOSAUR ISLAND ADVENTURE Comes to DVD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is the animated story of friendship and the past with THE LITTLE PENGUIN PORORO’S DINOSAUR ISLAND ADVENTURE.

Pororo, Patty, Eddie and friends take a walk through the forest and discover a ship broken down in the woods. Inside the ship is a baby dinosaur named Alo. Taking him to their home for a meal and a good night’s sleep. The next morning Eddie takes a moment to work on the ship and discovers it could be started again.

Once it does, it grabs Alo and Crong and returns it to a large space craft. Cursor (Jon Heder) tells the evil Mr. Y (Pauly Shore) that there are more coming as Pororo, Eddie and the gang go to rescue their friends. Once aboard the ship they realize that Mr. Y is not about making friends as they are chased through the corridors by robots. The evil blue dude only wants the dinosaurs to profit from them.

Escaping, the gang returns to the forest to ask the larger dinosaurs for help and Alo finds the tribe he knows. From Bri the Longneck to Peter the Pterodactyl, they all come together to stop Mr. Y from taking what is not his! Their leader King is not as keen to help Pororo get his friends back. Then Alo remembers how all the dinosaurs came to be in the woods.

Now that they have everything they need to know, Pororo, Alo and the gang decide that it is up to them to get their friends and make it right.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

THE LITTLE PENGUIN PORORO’S DINOSAUR ISLAND ADVENTURE is such a delightful story about making new friends, loyalty and doing the right thing – even if others do not want to help. That is an important lesson for kids who see this film as mixing fun with meaning impacts them even more in their own decision-making process.

The animation is stunningly colorful and the characters each have their own unique personality. They also bring their own set of unique talents allowing each one to help in their own special way. That is important when kids watch to know that we all have our own talent and pooling resources for good can never be bad.

Of course, it does not hurt that the characters are cute, charming, sweet and head strong and that is a bonus we can all enjoy! Pauly Shore brings a lot of fun with his attempt to be evil as Mr. Y! The action is fast and will entertain the entire family during the times we are together looking for snuggle movie time.

 In the end – it is bravery verses high tech!

MIDWAY Launches Again on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray, DVD and Digital from director Roland Emmerich and Lionsgate Home Entertainment comes the story of one of the biggest battles against Japan on MIDWAY.

On December 7, 1942, Japan surprise attacked Pearl Harbor and the one person not surprised is Lt. Commander Edwin Layton (Patrick Wilson) who had been trying to tell anyone who would listen of an impending attack. Lt. Dick Best (Ed Skrein) returns home to learn of the death of his friends with wife Anne (Mandy Moore) helping him to grieve.

On ship is Vice Admiral Bull Halsey (Dennis Quaid) waiting for orders to stop the Japanese. His aviation crew include Lt. Commander Wade McClusky (Luke Evans). Put in charge of a plan along with Lt. Cmdr. Layton is Admiral Chester Nimitz (Woody Harrelson) who looks to a group of code breakers led by Commander Rochefort (Brennan Brown).

The first strike is for Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle (Aaron Eckhart) and his men to fly to Tokyo and carpet bomb the city. The Japanese are caught by surprise not ever believing it was possible for the United States military to strike back so quickly.

Leading the Japanese fleet is Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi (Tadanobu Asano), Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo (Jun Kunimura) and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (Etsushi Toyokawa). Pearl Harbor isn’t their only target as the plan now includes Midway. Gathering all their forces, they are confident that no one sees them coming and victory is sure.

With so much ship loss at Pearl Harbor, the ships that are left have to come together as well as planes and pilots to make the plan work. Lt. Best and Lt. Cmdr. McClusky go to their men with confidence to let them know that they must give it their all and remember their fallen friends. As the battle for Midway approaches, Nimitz and Layton trust the information given to them by the code breakers to stay ahead of the plan, Best and McClusky fly for their lives as everyone does their part.

It is the history of taking one step at a time to win.

Skrein as Best is a man who is a little dangerous in the sky, but he wants to be prepared for any eventuality. With each battle, he only wants to go home to his wife and daughter. Using every bit of his flying experience and a little bit of his grit, Skrein gives his character bravery and the will to fight. Moore as wife Anne is a lady, I’d call a spitfire. She knows that what her husband does is dangerous and holds her breath with each bit of news that all the wives can know.

Harrelson as Nimitz is brought into the fight at the time of Pearl Harbor. He has to trust those around him for the information knowing that more American soldiers will die and that’s a hard job to have. Wilson as Layton tried to warn his superiors about what Japan was capable of and they didn’t listen. When given the opportunity to show what he knows and how he knows it, Wilson gives his character strength and determination to stand by Rochefort.

Quaid as Halsey shows his character as a gritty leader who, like everyone else, wants to stop the Japanese fleet from destroying anything else or getting to the west coast of the United States. He may be gruff, but he knows what is necessary to win. Evans as McClusky thinks Best is a reckless pilot but since Pearl Harbor realizes that perhaps reckless, in this case, is a brave thing that is needed in the fight.

Kunimura, Toyokawa and Asano have the difficult roles of the Admirals (Rear and Vice) who feel strong that they can win. Pearl Harbor gives these characters a feeling of invincibility and feel Midway is the next reasonable step in their plan. What they do not expect is that the United States military forces have banned together with a plan of their own and they will stop at nothing to punish the Japanese fleet.

Other cast include Alexander Ludwig as Lt. Roy Pearce, Keean Johnson as Chief Aviation Radioman James Murray, Luke Kleintank as Lt. Clarence Earle Dickinson, Brandon Sklenar as Ensign George Gay, Jake Manley as Ensign Willie West, Darren Criss as Lt. Commander Eugene Lindsey, Jake Weber as Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, James Carpinello as Captain Brockman, Geoffrey Blake as John Ford, Greg Hovanessian as Lieutenant Arizona, David Hewlett as Admiral Kimmel, Mark Rolston as Admiral King and Nick Jonas as Aviation Machinist Mate Bruno Gaido.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The Bonus Materials of MIDWAY are Audio Commentary by Roland Emmerich, “Getting It Right: The Making of Midway, The Men of Midway, Roland Emmerich: Man on a Mission, Turning Point: The Legacy of Midway, Joe Rochefort: Breaking the Japanese Code, We Met at Midway: Two Survivors Remember, Optional English SDH and Spanish Subtitles for the Main Feature and Theatrical Trailer.

MIDWAY is exactly, first, what you’d expect from director Roland Emmerich coming in at 127 minutes long.  A Master of Special Effect and the big bangs, the battle scenes on the screen are epic (as I suspect they were in real life). Beginning with the Pearl Harbor attack until the final battle for Midway, the film gives the feeling of all the films Hollywood put out in the 50’s and 60’s that I watched growing up. My father was a Gunner’s Mate on many of Navy ships from aircraft carriers to destroyers like the Hornet, Boxer, Constellation and Kitty Hawk.

So, I watched many, many films IN HARMS WAY (1965), THE LONGEST DAY (1962), SANDS OF IWO JIMA (1949), FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953), TORA! TORA! TORA! (1973) and the list is endless. I am well versed in war films, so I expect a lot. Emmerich spends very little time depicting the attack on Pearl Harbor because it has been done so many times before. He gets in, makes it clear and moves on because the goal in the storytelling is what happened next and next and next.

The actors themselves did well with what they were given. There were a few moments where I felt nostalgic with lines being delivered in such a way that I felt I was watching a 50’s/60’s war film instead of 2019. The characters were righteously angry because, let’s face it, no one who saw, was part of and survived Pearl Harbor could ever be the same again.

Skrein, Evans and the rest of the actors portraying the pilots were amazing to my way of thinking. The pilots job back then was to focus on a target and get the job done, that’s how Skrein and Evans made it look and feel which is totally successful in my eyes. Harrelson and Wilson together made a dynamic duo doing something totally different than their predecessors in the job. Harrelson gave his Nimitz portrayal an opportunity to trust when there was really nothing else left and Wilson’s portrayal of Layton jumps in as if to say, ‘we can’t do it the old ways anymore’.

What the film lacks in dialogue it makes up for in Emmerich battles and constant action. He proves over and over again with such films as INDEPENDENCE DAY, STARGATE (both personal favorites of mine), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, and INDEPENDENCE DAY: Resurgence, and the best disaster film that is a guilty pleasure with the film 2012. He knows what is epic and MIDWAY falls into that category with ease.

Prepare to revisit MIDWAY!

In the end – they awoke a sleeping giant!

RAMBO: Last Blood Battles on Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Currently on Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Adrian Grunberg and Lionsgate Home Entertainment comes the return of the soldier everyone underestimates and is known as RAMBO: Last Blood.

John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is living a quiet life on his ranch along with niece Carmen (Paz Vega) and her grandmother Maria (Carmen Delgado). Everything seems to be going along fine until Rambo discovers that Carmen has questions about her father living in Mexico. Trying to tell her he isn’t a good man; Carmen wants her own answers.

With the help of cousin Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal), Carmen sneaks over the boarder to visit her father to ask why he left. Not getting the answer she was hoping for and visibly upset, Gabrielle suggests that Carmen stay for the night and she will cheer her up by taking her to the local club for some fun.

It isn’t until Carmen wakes up that she realizes something has gone horribly wrong. Maria has learned that her granddaughter is missing and Rambo isn’t about to let that fly. He takes a trip across the border to discover from Gabrielle where Carmen was last seen. To his horror, she has been taken by a notorious cartel that kidnaps young women.

Rambo also runs the leaders El Flaco (Pascacio Lopez), Don Manuel (Joaquin Cosio) and Hugo Martinez (Sergio Peris-Mencheta) who have no intention of giving Carmen back, in fact, they are going to make it even more difficult.

That is when Rambo takes a deep breath and knows they are going to have to play by his rules and that means they couldn’t possibly be prepared for what happens next.

Stallone as Rambo brings back the haunted fighter of a man who thought he had finally found peace in the world. Of course there are always bad guys to test him and these particular men have no idea who they are dealing with. Stallone is sullen, doesn’t speak a lot but gets the job done none the less and, as usual, not without great personal pain. Leaving the final scene open, I have no idea if John Rambo will ever pop up again.

Vega as Carmen is the typical teen who thinks she knows everything and that adults are just talking nonsense. Of course, like the typical teen that thinks adults are talking nonsense, Carmen finds herself on the end of a stick and her actions are the match. Trusting family is the one thing she counted on and you see how that works out for her right? Beltran as Maria just wants Carmen to be happy but when that doesn’t work she puts her faith in John Rambo. Monreal as Gabrielle is that cousin everyone loves but no one wants alone in their home or the silver goes missing!

Peris-Mencheta, Cosio and Lopez as the bad guys are exactly that – very ugly bad guys! They have no one wit of care about Carmen or Rambo let alone the girls they have in their capture. They are all about money, power and fear but then again they’ve never met anyone like John Rambo so as I suspected the lesson was swift, extremely painful and a bit harsh in some spots. That’s a warning for you squeamish folks out there!

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The RAMBO: Last Blood Special Features include Drawing LAST BLOOD: Multipart Production Diary, From First Note to LAST BLOOD: Music for the Massacres and Official Trailer.

As each Rambo film has come along, it seems the character has learned new and better ways to end the bad guys. I watched the film with that five-year-old thing kids do with your hand over your eyes but fingers spread apart because you don’t want to see it but you do have to see it. So be warned there are a few scenes that make your jaw drop.

This is definetly an action film because once the slap John Rambo to the ground you know from that moment on, he’s plotting doom. That’s when the non-stop battle begins and he’s pretty epic about it. From explosions to weaponry to tactics that made me think “I’d never have thought of that”, this is totally a Rambo film from beginning to end.

I mean when Stallone takes to Twitter and says, “Great day! We got our HARD R rating today! What’s coming is going to be unlike anything you have ever seen…” He also said he would play John Rambo as long as the films continue to be successful. I tend to take his word for it. This is also the shortest Rambo film along with the shortest hair John Rambo has ever had so there’s something for everyone.

So, load up the couch with munchies and turn off the lights because if you have a big screen and sound bar as part of your home theatre – this is going to get good!

In the end – everyone has one more fight left in them!

GONE ARE THE DAYS Brings Western Justice to Bluray

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital from director Mark Landre Gould and Lionsgate Home Entertainment comes western justice with GONE ARE THE DAYS.

In the old West, Taylon Flynn (Lance Henriksen) is seriously ill and his life is beginning to flash before his eyes. Knowing that his days are numbered, he not only wants to leave the earth on his own terms but also to make amends for secret that has been in his heart.

One plan is to team up with fellow outlaw Virgil (Billy Lush) to make one final bank hit. Burning his old life to the ground, Flynn and Virgil head out on the long dusty trail. On their way Flynn meets the River Man (Danny Trejo) who makes it clear that crossing the river comes at a price.

Anything to get to town, the trip is physically demanding for Flynn. Finally making it he asks stable owner Jaden (Steve Railsback) if he knows a girl named Heidi (Meg Steedle). Before answering questions, Jaden reveals that the town doesn’t allow the carrying of a gun inside the city limits. All of this on orders of Sheriff Will (Tom Berenger) who takes keeping the peace seriously.

When it is discovered that Flynn is carrying a large sum of money, Jaden and his thugs beat and dump him out in the desert. Much to his surprise, it is Heidi that comes to his rescue which changes all his plans. When Will discovers what Jaden has done, he realizes that the name Flynn means something to him.

The past has finally caught up to them all and it’s time to face it.

Henriksen as Flynn may be one of the sickest former outlaws I’ve ever seen on the screen but he’s also the most determined. Taking it step by step to finish his life on a set path, he isn’t about to come to terms with the one secret that has haunted him the most. Henriksen has always put his stamp on what ever role he takes and I can remember seeing him as far back as his short stint in the 1977 little film called CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. Since then his career has become defined by the wide range of he has chosen and I am always interested to see what he does next.

Berenger as Sheriff Will is another actor who has a career that stretches from starting in a soap opera to Jake Taylor in MAJOR LEAGUE, Lewis Gates in my absolute favorite LAST OF THE DOGMEN and, of course, Sgt. Barnes in the riveting PLATOON. In GONE ARE THE DAYS, he portrays a man who has a few secrets of his own. As the sheriff, he is stern in his no-gun rule and needs to redeem himself a bit as well.

Steedle as Heidi doesn’t realize that she is part of a bigger plan. Although she wants to get away from the situation she is in, it might take a bit of dangerous behavior to make it happen. Steedle has the look of a girl who is totally unaware of whom the players in her life have been.

Railsback as Jaden is just as creepy as he can possibly be. Running the town stable, he also runs another kind of stable – women. Heidi is one such woman who wants nothing more than to get away from a life that she has had no control over. Lush as Virgil is biting at the bit to get back to the bank robbing life and wants Flynn to be at his side.

Other cast include Lulu Wilson as Sally Anne, Jamie McShane as Doctor Jenkins, Carter Hastings as Jonathan, and Jackson Dunn as Henry.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

The Bluray and DVD include the Special Features Behind the Scenes of Gone Are the Days Featurette, Cast and Crew Interviews as well as a Trailer Gallery. The Digital Ultraviolet allows you to watch anywhere with instant Stream and Download on television, computer, Tablet and Smartphone.

GONE ARE THE DAYS is a western with a few twists which makes this worth the watch. The cast of Henriksen, Berenger and Railsback brings us the work of talented actors with resumes that show why they were chosen to bring this western full circle. The cinematography lends itself to the feel of the dusty old western town and also the set design and costuming completed the look of the story.

In the end – save the last bullet for yourself!

PINOCCHIO is Singing and Dancing onto DVD

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to DVD, Digital and On Demand on April 10^th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is a colorful story we all know about a boy named PINOCCHIO.

Geppetto (Mino Caprio) is an elderly gentleman who wants a family. Taking a piece of log, he carves out a son he calls Pinocchio (Johnny Orlando) and gets more son than he bargained for. Running all about town causing mayhem and refusing to go to school, Geppetto sees the trouble he is headed for.

Going to the circus instead of school, Pinocchio meets Mangiafuoco who comes to learn that the wooden boy is trying to get home to his father. Giving him gold coins, Mangiafuoco tells the Fox (Ambyr Childers) and the Cat Leo (Jon Heder) to get Pinocchio home. However, the furry duo has other plans.

Trying to get the gold from Pinocchio, the chase is on as he tries to escape them. After some time, the boy is rescued by the Fairy with the Blue Hair. Pinocchio knows that he needs to get back to his father soon.

Continuing to make dangerous choices and believe what people tell him, Pinocchio wants to become a real boy and learns that he must do good to accomplish that goal. In life things aren’t always so easy and even when he chooses wrong; he finds that there is always someone there who sees the good in him.

Orlando as Pinocchio is full of energy and the inability to listen to his father. Wanting to do what he wants brings turmoil to the relationship with Geppetto. His world is actually very narrow so the consequences aren’t clear to the young wooden boy. Once he is out in the world, he begins to understand that it is quite a responsibility to be human.

Childers as the Fox is a four legged creature on a mission to take what isn’t hers! Trying to rob the boy doesn’t work so well so turning to trickery is the only alternative. Heder as the Cat Leo goes along with pretty much everything his foxy friend says and does. He is equally excited to get his hands on the gold.

Finding true friendship and love can be an eye opening experience!

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

This is a different version in the telling of the wooden boy. There is music and dancing that lights up the screen. PINOCCHIO has been awarded the Dove Seal of Approval from The Dove Foundation in that it has so many of the family values to its story.

PINOCCHIO is about family, love, friendship, trust and knowing when it is time to take responsibility for one’s actions. Geppetto is a worried father who will go to any lengths to save his son from those who would hurt him. When Pinocchio realizes everything he has done, that’s when his life begins to change and he sees what is truly important.

PINOCCHIO won the Special Silver Ribbon by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists and was also nominated for Best Feature by the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the European Film Awards.

The DVD includes the Special Features of Bringing the Characters to Life: At the Recording Studio with Johnny Orlando, Jon Heder and Ambyr Childres as well as the Trailer Gallery.

This is definitely a family friendly film that is filled with action, adventure and the journey of a little wooden boy on his way to being a transformed human Pinocchio!

In the end – an adventure like you wooden believe!