DVD/Blu-Ray Releases: August 23, 2011

This week we go hunting for trolls, art imitates life with Mel Gibson being crazy, and Roger Corman takes us away to a glorious world of barbarians and savage queens..

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Troll Hunter

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Synopsis: The government says there’s nothing to worry about it’s just a problem with bears making trouble in the mountains and forests of Norway. But local hunters don’t believe it and neither do a trio of college students who want to find out the truth. Armed with a video camera, they trail a mysterious poacher, who wants nothing to do with them. However, their persistence lands them straight in the path of the objects of his pursuits: trolls. They soon find themselves documenting every move of this grizzled, unlikely hero the trollhunter risking their lives to uncover the secrets of creatures only thought to exist in fairy tales.

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Bottom Line: This found footage “documentary” has been sweeping the world and has become an instant cult classic.  The best part… is that it’s an original idea.  Don’t miss out on this one.  You’ll be missing out on a lot of fun.

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The Beaver

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Synopsis: Walter, once a successful and happy family man, has hit rock bottom. But, in his darkest hour, he finds a rather unusual savior: a beaver hand-puppet that takes over Walter’s life in an attempt to change things for the better.

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Bottom Line: This movie more than bombed at the box office.  Don’t underestimate the Jews, Mel.  You cooked your own goose when you started throwing out antisemitic slurs all willy-nilly.  Despite the festival buzz surrounding this movie, I couldn’t bring myself to pay money to support the biggot.  However, now that it’s on DVD, it seems worth a Netflix rental.

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Roger Corman’s Cult Classics Sword and Sorcery Collection

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Synopsis: Deathstalker is the mighty warrior chosen to battle the evil forces of a medieval kingdom, who sets off on a journey to the most challenging tournament in the land. To the winner will go the throne of the evil wizard, the ultimate mystical power and the love of the beautiful Princess Codille. But first, Deathstalker must prove himself worthy of his legacy and treachery lurks at every turn.  Deathstalker II has a mission: to save the kingdom from the wicked grip of the immoral wizard Jerak and his queen Sultana. Together they have ruled the land by creating a controllable evil twin of the lovely Princess Evie. Capturing the real Princess Evie, Deathstalker must now return her to her rightful place of power:but the swordsman’s battle has just begun.  On the eve of her wedding, Amathea sees her world dissolve: her groom imprisoned, her village razed, her friends attacked and slaughtered. Becoming the Barbarian Queen, she vows revenge and retribution, enticing and then destroying adversaries.   In The Warrior And The Sorceress, Kain was once an exalted warrior-priest but now wanders the planet Vra as a mercenary sword-for-hire. In the small village of Yam-A-Tar, he finds two vicious clans struggling for power, and he becomes embroiled in the treachery and battles, the mighty wizardry and rampant debauchery.

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Bottom Line: How can you wrong with this collection?  It’s no coincidence that this Corman collection hits DVD the same week that Conan the Barbarian opens in theaters.  There are few things you can count on in this world.  Entertaining Corman fantasy films are one of those few things.

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Other DVD/Blu-Ray Releases:

Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend

Where the Boys Are

Super Hybrid