Downey back as Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows
out of five
Covered in soot and steeped in Guy Ritchie’s ready supply of testosterone, this second outing in the updated Sherlock Holmes franchise actually grows a pair of decent characters in its big-budget package. With Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jared Harris as longtime nemesis Moriarty, the movie has a long, tall pole to prop up the many layers of sloppy drapery — which serves it very well. The core enmity between two equals gives this cluttered mess a driving edge to cut through the excess — which includes everything from highly self-aware slow-motion fight scenes to dreary chauvinist sniggers. Noomi Rapace and Rachel McAdams have little to do, outside of looking femme and fatale, but their presence adds some much needed distaff sophistication to Ritchie’s blunt instrument. Special features include Blu-ray/DVD/digital copy edition, maximum movie mode, storyboards and a tailor-made movie app.
Ghost Rider Spirit of
Vengeance ½
OK, so it’s completely ridiculous. But what Nic Cage movie isn’t, these days? A perfect fusion of Cage’s over-the-top insanity and some of the cheesiest dialogue ever put to paper — “you’re the devil’s baby mama” — this sequel finds the same traction as the original, which means you better be a fan of silly if you’re considering the investment. Cage reprises his role as The Rider, a man who shook hands with Satan in a bid to save his father. Of course, the lying devil didn’t live up to his side of the bargain — leaving our hero a soulless refugee in the land of the living. In this instalment, he tries to help another person who made the same mistake as he did: a woman with a young son. Because the movie has a generous cartoon heart and a sarcastic approach to keeping score, it’s dark magic, indeed — right down to the static cameo of Jerry Springer as Satanic spawn. Special features include deleted scenes. the first clatter of metal in the U.K. and the U.S. to its many offspring, including grunge, thrash, shock rock, power metal and nu metal, the series features experts from every genre — aching to promote their pet mutant. Aimed at the true fan more than the casual observer, the series gives the filmmakers a chance to really indulge in their passion. This is good news for metalheads looking for more face time with their favourite hair farmer, but bad news for the ambivalent viewer. The soundtrack is so thick with guitar licks, it demands submission — and it’s not for everyone. Special features include interviews with more than 300 musicians, producers and experts.
Metal Evolution
It’s a TV series capable of sprouting its own devil horns, so hold up a clenched fist and wave for Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen’s 11-part ode to all things loud, electric and, well, undeniably manly. If you’ve seen their previous two documentaries about the growth of heavy metal music around the globe, then this small screen series will feel very familiar as we hear Dunn’s kind Canadian voice explain, and explore, the post-’70s hard rock landscape. From
In Darkness ½
Resurrecting the central horrors of the Holocaust, director Agnieszka Holland reminds us how easy it is to debase our fellow human beings in this true story of Polish survivors. Forced into the sewers as a place of refuge, a handful of Jews make a deal with two local maintenance men in exchange for secrecy and food. Meanwhile, back on the surface, the townsfolk are just beginning to grasp the true nature of their new occupiers — and begin ratting each other out to the authorities. A careful and detailed study of how hate and fear systematically destroy love, relationships and the social fabric, Holland proves she has a unique feel for the material as she creates a convincing and emotionally immediate landscape of terror in the opening frames. Special features include An Evening with Agnieszka Holland featurette and In Light: A Conversation with Agnieszka Holland and Krystyna Chiger.
Spider-Man
Because the franchise begins anew with another Spidey this summer, the cash-strapped folks at Sony figured now would be a good time to reissue the Tobey Maguire trilogy with Blu-ray and Ultraviolet content. The movies are essentially unchanged, which is just fine, because they were some of the best comic-book-to-big-screen adaptations ever created. Sam Raimi’s original reel found the emotional core of the drama, showing us a confused mutant teen dealing with his new-found superpowers in the same breath as every high school scar. Combined with excellent visuals that conjure the two-dimensional spirit of the comic books, the Spider-Man films will continue to win fans because for all the fantasy elements, they find an immutable nugget of human truth beneath the spandex. Special features on the discs include filmmaker and cast commentaries, behind the scenes footage, bloopers, photo galleries, extended scenes, outtakes and more. SpiderMan 2 disc features 12-part documentary Making the Amazing, and Spider-Man 1 features Spider Sense Trivia Challenge.