DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for May 11, 2018 By Glenn Kay For the Sun
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elcome back, it’s time for a look at new releases coming your way on Blu-ray and DVD. This time out we have an unusual mix of Hollywood fare, with some independent and documentary features too. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES! Batman Ninja - This animated effor t from DC is a s t a nd a lone feature about the famous s u p e r h e r o. However, in this film the Gotham City setting has been
HERO TWINS | FROM PAGE 17 of the comic book. Ni ne -yea r- old Sr ika r Venigalla asked, “What inspired you to make this story?” DeForest said his inspiration came from his childhood love for comic books. Once he realized they were made from art and stories, it was a perfect fit. “If I’m going to be an artist, I might as well take myself to where there art is at and that’s comic books,” DeForest said. “I’ve been a kid ever since.”
BRINGING COMICS BACK HOME Issue 1 of Hero Twins took about a month create. DeForest worked on the comic from February to November 2017, working about an hour a night. Native Realities published the comic in September 2017. The clean, glossy publication features rich colors and distinctive Navajo imagery. The storyline follows the U.S. Calvary and their orders to burn and kill Navajos in an area now known as Ft. Defiance. DeForest wrote Issues 2 and 3 and began drawing for Issue 2 about two weeks ago. COMMUNITY
changed to feudal Japan. After passing through a time displacement machine to the earlier era, Batman becomes an armored ninja. The hero ends up facing off against infamous foes, including Catwoman, Two Face, and the Joker. The title has only received a few reviews thus far. They state that the movie is visually gorgeous and the concept is intriguing, but that viewers will have to contend with a rather poor story and some awkwardly realized elements. The English voice cast includes Roger Craig Smith, Tony Hale, Grey DeLisle, and Tara Strong. Dayveon - A 13-year-old boy in Arkansas attempts to process the death of his older brother by joining a local gang and escaping into their violent world. The boyfriend of the protagonist’s sister attempts to step in and act as a role model for the child. In the process, the youngster struggles as he is pulled in two different
directions. Write-ups for this small, independent feature were generally good. A few didn’t appreciate the very lowkey and realistic approach to the material, but more complimented the film. Those reviews suggested that the feature built up considerable momentum and had a specific and unique style. It features Devin Blackmon, Dontrell Bright, and Lachion Buckingham. F i f t y S h a d e s Freed - The final chapter in the Fifty S h a d e s of Grey series continues the unusual relationship between its two lead characters as they decide to tie the knot. Despite the pair thinking that they have left their pasts behind, they are confronted with a threatening individual or two out to ruin their lives.
“I’m about five pages in and I hope to have it done by Indigenous Comic Con in November,” he said, referring to the three-day native pop culture convention in Albuquerque. Native representation in the comic world, and the chance for indigenous artists and fans to host their own comic con event, was a long time coming. “When I was young, there were no comic book stores in Farmington. All they had were these little rinky-dink spinning racks with Archie comics,” DeForest said. “A couple of years later, they opened up a comic store and you couldn’t
get me out of there.” You can find his larger-thanlife graphic design work on the outskirts of Albuquerque on Interstate 40 and Interstate 25. Look for the Route 66 Casino billboards—which DeForest designed—and you will catch a glimpse of his unique, clean style. DeForest is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in photography on his journey to becoming one of the most prolific graphic artists of the region. For more information, visit www.daledeforest.com.
DeForest introduced visitors to his creative process at the El Morro Events Center for “Free Comic Book Day” May 5. DeForest begins his work with pen and ink on Bristol board, before moving on to Photoshop to enhance the contrast in his work. Photo Credit: Rick Abasta
As expected, notices were just as bad this time out as for previous installments. A scant percentage called it amusing trash, but most complained that the attempts in the thriller mold failed. They also asserted that the characters lacked chemistry and weren’t likable, instead coming across as entitled jerks. It stars Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson, Eloise Mumford, and Rita Ora. Human F low - The global refugee crisis is the subject of this non-fiction film. A documentary f i l m ma ker travels to 23 individual countries and chronicles the stories of over 65 million who have left war torn nations, extremist regimes, disaster zones and general devastation in order to find a new home. Critics were very impressed with what they saw. One or two didn’t think it was as involving as it should have been, but most complimented the movie for putting individual faces to a bigger issue and sharing their horrific trials with the public. Some also complimented it for simply allowing the poetic images and examples of mass exodus speak for themselves.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST! There are plenty of interesting cult flicks arriving on Blu-ray this week. MVD has a two-disc special edition of the campy sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing (1989). This low-budget follow-up brings back the original film’s villain (played by Louis Jordan). Apparently, he’s still attempting to find a magic formula that can reverse the aging process. When the antagonist decides to experiment on his stepdaughter (Heather Locklear), Swamp Thing (Duck Durock) emerges to save the day. The set includes a 2K restoration of the film on Blu-ray and DVD along with numerous extras. There are interviews with the filmmaker, editor, composer, and executive producer, along with two director commentaries (one of which is brand new), trailers, TV ads, promo reels,
Greenpeace PSAs, publicity photos, and more. Shout! also has some Blurays of note. Caged Fury (19 9 0) i s a B -mov ie about an innocent w o m a n locked up in a female penitentiary. To earn her freedom, she has to fight a corrupt warden and some nasty guards. R ox a n n a M ich a el s, E r i k Estrada, and Michael Parks appear in this grindhouse title. The disc comes with a trailer. K ino has a Special Edition Blu-ray of the come d y/d r a m a R o o m m a t e s (1995) about a young ma n who is adopted by his very elderly grandfather. It comes w it h a com menta r y track featuring star D.B. Sweeney. They’re also putting out the Mercha nt Ivor y- produced period drama, Feast of July (1995). This one includes a commentar y with director Christopher Menaul. Finally, independent horror studio Full Moon is releasing Blu-rays of The Creeps aka Deformed Monsters (1997) and Puppet Master: The Legacy (2003). These discs will most certainly include plenty of extras along with the main feature.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! Here are a couple of titles for the kids. Bubble Guppies: B u b b l e Puppy’s Awesome Adventures (Nickelodeon) Bunnicula: Season 1
ON THE TUBE! And here are the week’s TV-themed releases. Bunnicula: Season 1 Dear White People: Season 1 Mid some r Murde rs: County Case Files Police Woman: The Final Season R o w a n a n d Ma r t i n’s Laugh-In: Season 4
Gallup Sun • Friday May 11, 2018
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