New on DVD: ‘Isle of Dogs’ latest mind-blowing work from Wes Anderson
Topping this week’s list of new DVD releases are two movies that deal with animals in a big way.
“Isle of Dogs”; 4 stars: Describing the Wes Anderson animated film does it no justice because the only way to fully appreciate this production is to experience it on multiple levels. At the heart is the story of 12-year-old Atari Kobayashi (voiced by Koyu Rankin), the ward of the massively corrupt Mayor Kobayashi (Kunichi Nomura). Taking advantage of an overpopulation of sick dogs, the mayor decrees that all the canine pets of Megasaki City are to be exiled to a vast garbage dump. The action seems to be in regards to public safety but is the end result of centuries of bad blood.
Atari flies to Trash Island in search of his bodyguard dog, Spots (Liev Schreiber), the first canine sent into the trash island exile. With the assistance of a pack of newly found mongrel friends, Atari begins a journey through this junkyard of failed adventures and misguided endeavors that will decide the fate and future of the entire prefecture.
“Isle of Dogs” can be enjoyed as a simple story or as a complicated metaphor for life. Being able to pull off such diverse story elements coupled with the dazzling look is a reminder that while we may think Anderson has shown us his best, he continues to produce work that takes filmmaking to an even higher level.
“Rampage”; 2.5 stars: Even in a movie that is based so thinly on a popular arcade game, Dwayne Johnson continues to prove he is the biggest action star of the 21st century. Without Johnson, “Rampage” would be just a notch above those smashup monster creature features that appear on cable, where it could have been called “Wolfbatasaurus” or “Crocopine.”
If all you want is to see a lot of buildings fall and people get chomped, “Rampage” is the film that will tide you over until a better movie comes along. The weak writing and poorly developed characters aren’t a big surprise. The only purpose that drives a movie like “Rampage” is to have fun watching the carnage. And that’s not different from the original arcade game, so it succeeds on that level.
ALSO NEW ON DVD JULY 17
“I Feel Pretty”: Accident leaves a woman (Amy Schumer) with a new look on life.
“OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes: T.K.O.”: K.O. takes on the villains of Lakewood Plaza while training to become one of the world’s greatest heroes.
“Son of Zorn: The Complete Series”: Animated warrior suffers with a mundane office job and the banality of suburban life.
“Truth or Dare”: A simple game turns deadly for a group of friends. Lucy Hale stars.
“The Expanse: Season Three”: A potential battle between Earth and Mars could have a major impact on all humanity.
“The Good Place: Season Two”: Kristen Bell and Ted Danson star in the NBC comedy that deals with the afterlife.
“Pitch: The Complete Series”: Short-lived Fox series about the first woman to play major league baseball.
“1/ 1”: Young woman re-evaluates her life when she gets pregnant. Lindsey Shaw stars.
“Frontline: Trafficked in America”: An examination of Central America teens are smuggled into the U.S. with a promise of a better life but end up forced into slavery to pay off their debt.
“Disobedience”: Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star in this story of a woman who returns to the community that exiled her only to find she must continue to hide her desires.
“Super Troopers 2”: Vermont highway patrolmen must deal with an international border dispute that arises between the U.S. and Canada.
“Across the River”: A pair gets a second chance at love because of a transportation strike.
“Traffik”: Weekend getaway turns deadly for Brea (Paula Patton) and her boyfriend after they discover the hidden world of a brutal biker gang.
“Second Chance: The Complete Series”: Woman struggles to survive after her husband disappears.
“A.R.C.H.I.E. 2: Mission Impawsible”: The world’s only talking, flying robot dog join his owner when Sydney runs away to join a struggling family circus.
“Sneaky Pete: Season 1”: Ex-con (Giovanni Ribisi) convinces the family of his former cellmate that he is their long-estranged son.
“Wayward Pines: The Complete Second Season”: The 10-episode season picks up with the residents of Wayward Pines battling against the iron-fisted rule of the First Generation.
“The Tunnel: Vengeance, Season 3”: Investigative pair have a mutual existential death wish.
BEING RELEASED ON DIGITAL HD JULY 17:
“Overboard”: Spanish playboy believes he is the father of three when he ends up with amnesia. Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez star. Will be released on DVD and Blu-ray July 31.