New on DVD:
Giant creatures and major soccer stars featured in new DVD releases.
“Pacific Rim Uprising”: The sequel to the 2013 Guillermo del Toro film, “Pacific Rim,” continues the story of what would happen if gigantic creatures called Kaiju came slithering into our world. The only way to battle the beasts is with gigantic robots known as Jaegers that are so huge it takes two pilots locked at the cerebellum to make it work.
In the first film, the moody and dark Idris Elba was in charge of saving the world. The job has been handed down to his rebellious son, Jake Pentecost (John Boyega). There was a time when Jake was a promising Jaeger pilot, but he gave it up. It’s been 10 years after the war ended when Jake is forced back into the program. The timing is perfect because a new threat has surfaced that could end the world.
“Pacific Rim Uprising” looks like a junior high drama department’s spring production of “Pacific Rim” where the story has been watered down, the actors are a pale imitation of the original team and action scenes come across as leftover bits from better action offerings. There’s a promise at the end of another film.
“Pacific Rim Uprising” is such a mess that the chance of another is more of a threat than a promise.
“Alex & Me”: A family-friendly film that looks at what happens when teenager Reagan Willis (Siena Agudong) dreams of playing soccer like her hero, Alex Morgan, but faces huge issues. When Reagan fails to make the cut of the top local soccer club team and is humiliated by her rival, her dream turns into a nightmare.
That changes when Reagan accidentally hits her head and the poster of Alex Morgan (playing herself ) comes to life.
Siena shows skill both on and off the field and anchors the movie. But, while Morgan brings a touch of reality to the project and does a passable job, it would have been a better strategy to have gone with a fictional sports star so an actor could take on the part.
It would have made Siena’s work even better.
Also new on DVD June 19 “Midnight Sun”: Teen falls in love despite dealing with a condition that prevents her from going into the sunlight.
“Masterpiece: Man in an Orange Shirt”: Story of star-crossed love between two soldiers, separated by time and honoring the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality.
“The Death of Stalin”: Follows the action of a tyrannical ruler’s inner circle in the days after the leader’s death.
“In Syria”: Woman (Hiam Abbass) struggles to keep her family and neighbors safe by turning her apartment into a shelter.
“The Best of Agatha Christie: Volumes 3 and 4”: Includes “Ordeal by Innocence,” “Dead Man’s Folly” and “A Caribbean Mystery.”
“Night of the Lepus”: Giant mutant rabbits are on the loose in the ’70s cult classic.
“The Jazz Ambassadors”: Cold War and civil rights movement come together in a story of music, diplomacy and race.
“Dark Matter: Season Three”: Six amnesiacs wake up on a deserted spacecraft in this sci-fi series.
“Furious”: Knight leads the charge to avenge his love and his homeland.
“The Swap”: Two teens switch lives. Peyton List stars.
“Frat Pack”: When a young man travels to his mother’s wedding, he gets dragged on a decadent adventure with his new brothers-in-law.
“Double Lover”: A love affair with a psychologist goes badly for a young woman.
“Pressing On: The Letterpress Film”: Look at why the letterpress survived in a digital age.