Wednesday 6 February 2019

Over and out



Sadly, this blog is now discontinued. However, all entries will remain online, including the list of every title reviewed in Monthly Film Bulletin, 1934-1991. I hope it continues to be useful.

Unless there are objections, I may remove all entries except for the MFB listings, which was always the primary focus of the blog since I started it in 2014.

Friday 1 February 2019

2019: February 1 - 10



Burning

Cinema
1 - 7 Feb Jan 2019

Feature films screened in UK cinemas for the first time:

Burning
버닝
S.Korea - 2018 - 148m - col / scope
D: Lee Chang-dong
Audio: 5.1

Can You Ever Forgive Me?
USA - 2018 - 106m - col / scope
D: Marielle Heller
Audio: 5.1

Crucible of the Vampire
UK - 2017 - 96m - col / scope
D: Iain Ross-McNamee
Audio: 5.1

Diablo
Pol - 2019 - 110m - col / scope
D: Michał Otłowski
Audio: 5.1

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga
एक लड़की को देखा तोह ऐसा लगा
India - 2019 - 120m - col / scope
D: Shelly Chopra Dhar
Audio: 5.1

Escape Room
USA/S.Africa - 2018 - 100m - col / scope
D: Adam Robitel
Audio: 5.1

Green Book
USA - 2018 - 130m - col
D: Peter Farrelly
Audio: 5.1

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
USA - 2019 - 104m - col / scope / 3-D
D: Dean DeBlois
D-Cinema and IMAX-D/L release prints.
Dolby Atmos / IMAX 12-track

Peppa Celebrates Chinese New Year
小猪佩奇过大年
China/UK - 2019 - 81m - col / scope
D: Zhang Dapeng
Audio: 5.1

A Private War
UK/USA - 2018 - 110m - col / scope
D: Matthew Heineman
Audio: 5.1

Uda Aida
ਉਡਾ ਐਡਾ
India - 2019 - 136m - col / scope
D: Ksshitij Chaudhary
Audio: 5.1

Vandha Rajavathaan Varuvan
வந்தா ராஜாவாதான் வருவேன்
India - 2019 - 154m - col / scope
D: Sundar C
Audio: 5.1


-----oOo-----


Home Video (premiere)
4 - 10 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies released on UK home video for the first time, with no prior UK cinema release (excluding festival screenings):

24 Frames
۲۴ فریم
Iran - 2017 - 114m - bw
D: Abbas Kiarostami
Audio: 5.1

5th Passenger
USA - 2018 - 89m - col / scope
D: Scotty Baker
Audio: 5.1

The Cloverfield Paradox
USA (OL) - 2018 - 102m - col / scope
D: Julius Onah
Dolby Atmos

Death and Nightingales
UK (TV) - 2018 - 176m - 3 eps - col
D: Allan Cubitt
Audio: Stereo

Infinite Dreamers
USA/Fr - 2015 - 82m - col
D: Marc Hurtado
Box-set premiere: Five Films by Marc Hurtado.
Audio: Stereo

Mission Overlord
Nazi Overlord
USA - 2018 - 91m - col
D: Rob Pallatina
Audio: 5.1

Trapped
Sunlight Jr.
USA - 2013 - 97m - col / scope
D: Laurie Collyer
Audio: 5.1

Undisputed: Fight for Freedom
Boyka: Undisputed
USA/Bulg (V) - 2016 - 86m - col / scope
D: Todor Chapkanov
Audio: 5.1

-----oOo-----


Home Video (ex-cinema)
4 - 10 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies released on UK home video for the first time, having previously been screened in UK cinemas:

Bad Times at the El Royale
USA - 2018 - 141m - col / scope
D: Drew Goddard
Audio: 5.1

Blindspotting
USA - 2018 - 95m - col
D: Carlos López Estrada
Audio: 5.1

Crucible of the Vampire
UK - 2017 - 96m - col / scope
D: Iain Ross-McNamee
Audio: 5.1

Disobedience
USA/UK/Ire - 2017 - 114m - col / scope
D: Sebastian Lelio
Audio: 5.1

The Fifth Cord
Giornata nera per l'ariete
It - 1971 - 100m - col
D: Luigi Bazzoni
Originally premiered in UK cinemas as Evil Fingers.
Audio: Mono

The Gospel According to André
USA - 2017 - 94m - col
D: Kate Novack
Audio: 5.1

The Miseducation of Cameron Post
USA - 2018 - 91m - col
D: Desiree Akhavan
Audio: 5.1

Monsters and Men
USA - 2018 - 95m - col / scope
D: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Audio: 5.1

Papillon
Czech Rep/Sp/USA - 2017 - 133m - col / scope
D: Michael Noer
Audio: 5.1

Sex, Love and Marriage
Love and Marriage
UK - 1970 - 81m - col
D: David Grant [as: Terry Gould]
Audio: Mono

Venom
USA - 2018 - 112m - col / scope / 3-D
D: Ruben Fleischer
Dolby Atmos / IMAX 12-track

-----oOo-----


Home Video (reissues)
4 - 10 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies:

Sweeney!
UK - 1976 - 89m - col
D: David Wickes
Audio: Mono

Sweeney 2
UK - 1978 - 108m - col
D: Tom Clegg
Audio: Mono
-----oOo-----


Note:

Be aware that scope or 3-D movies may not always be replicated that way on home video. Similarly, some video releases may offer a different audio configuration to the one originally intended (5.1, Dolby Atmos, etc.). In each case, the Index provides details of the primary audio-visual specifications, and any video version which deviates from these specs constitutes a revision of the original intentions, potentially compromising the effectiveness of the presentation.

Also, the given running time assumes a projected frame-rate of 24 frames per second (except for TV material in countries where the broadcast frame-rate is 25fps). Most VHS and DVD releases in the UK are replicated at 25fps, causing a subliminal speed-up that 'reduces' the running time by around 4 per cent. Most Blu-ray releases (including 4K) are replicated at the original 24fps.

Friday 25 January 2019

2019: January 25 - February 3




Cinema
25 - 31 Jan 2019

Feature films screened in UK cinemas for the first time:

Bergman: A Year in a Life
Bergman: Ett år, ett liv
Nor/Swd - 2018 - 117m - col
D: Jane Magnusson
Audio: Stereo

BTS World Tour: Love Yourself in Seoul
러브 유어셀프 인 서울
S.Korea - 2018 - 114m - col
D: [uncredited]
D-Cinema and ScreenX release prints.
Audio: 5.1

Destroyer
USA - 2018 - 121m - col / scope
D: Karyn Kusama
Audio: 5.1

A Dog's Way Home
USA - 2019 - 96m - col / scope
D: Charles Martin Smith
Audio: 5.1

Dragon Ball Super: Broly
ドラゴンボール超 ブロリー
Jpn - 2018 - 101m - col
D: Tatsuya Nagamine
D-Cinema and IMAX-D/L release prints.
IMAX 12-track / D-Cinema: 5.1

The Gandhi Murder
UK - 2018 - 118m - col / scope
D: Pankaj Sehgal, Karim Traïdia
Audio: 5.1

Love Sonia
लव सोनिया
India - 2018 - 122m - col / scope
D: Tabrez Noorani
Audio: 5.1

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
मणिकर्णिका
India - 2019 - 148m - col / scope
D: Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi, Kangana Ranaut
Dolby Atmos

The Mule
USA - 2018 - 116m - col / scope
D: Clint Eastwood
Audio: 5.1

Nina
Pol/Fr - 2018 - 130m - col
D: Olga Chajdas
Audio: 5.1

One Nation, One King
Un peuple et son roi
Fr/Belg - 2018 - 121m - col
D: Pierre Schoeller
Audio: 5.1

On Her Shoulders
USA - 2018 - 94m - col / scope
D: Alexandria Bombach
Audio: 5.1

Salvador Dalí: In Search of Immortality
Sp - 2018 - 110m - col
D: David Pujol
Audio: 5.1

Second Act
USA - 2018 - 104m - col / scope
D: Peter Segal
Audio: 5.1

Vice
USA - 2018 - 132m - col / scope
D: Adam McKay
Audio: 5.1

VIP Policeman
Полицейский с Рублёвки. Новогодний беспредел
Russia - 2018 - 94m - col / scope
D: Ilya Kulikov
Audio: 5.1

Reissues:
Schindler's List (USA - 1993)


-----oOo-----


Home Video (premiere)
28 Jan - 3 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies released on UK home video for the first time, with no prior UK cinema release (excluding festival screenings):

The Basement
UK (TV) - 1967 - 54m - bw
D: Charles Jarrott
Originally broadcast on UK TV as an episode of Theatre 625 (1964-68).
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

The Beatles: Made on Merseyside
UK - 2018 - 87m - col
D: Alan Byron
Audio: 5.1

The Birthday Party
UK (TV) - 1987 - 107m - col
D: Kenneth Ives
Originally broadcast on UK TV as an episode of Theatre Night (1985-90).
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

Dave Made a Maze
USA - 2017 - 80m - col
D: Bill Watterson
Audio: 5.1

Dhogs
Sp - 2017 - 85m - col / scope
D: Andrés Goteira
Audio: 5.1

The Hothouse
UK (TV) - 1982 - 111m - col
D: Harold Pinter
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

The Little Drummer Girl
UK/USA (TV) - 2018 - 342m - 6 eps - col
D: Park Chan-wook
Audio: Stereo

Les Misérables
UK (TV) - 1967 - 244m - 10 eps - col
D: Alan Bridges
Audio: Mono

A Night Out
UK (TV) - 1967 - 60m - bw
D: Christopher Morahan
Originally broadcast on UK TV as an episode of Theatre 625 (1964-68).
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

The Nursery
USA - 2018 - 87m - col
D: Christopher A. Micklos, Jay Sapiro
Audio: 5.1

Old Times
UK (TV) - 1975 - 75m - col
D: Christopher Morahan
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

The Revelation of Lee 'Scratch' Perry
USA - 2019 - 141m - col
D: Steve Marshall
Audio: 5.1

Rogue Male
UK (TV) - 1976 - 103m - col
D: Clive Donner
Audio: Mono

A Slight Ache
UK (TV) - 1967 - 58m - bw
D: Christopher Morahan
Originally broadcast on UK TV as an episode of Theatre 625 (1964-68).
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

Snake Outta Compton
USA - 2018 - 89m - col / scope
D: Hank Braxtan
Audio: 5.1

Tea Party
UK (TV) - 1965 - 80m - bw
D: Charles Jarrott
Box-set premiere: Pinter at the BBC.
Audio: Mono

Unbroken: Path to Redemption
USA - 2018 - 98m - col
D: Harold Cronk
Audio: 5.1

West of Hell
USA - 2018 - 80m - col / scope
D: Michael Steves
Audio: 5.1


-----oOo-----


Home Video (ex-cinema)
28 Jan - 3 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies released on UK home video for the first time, having previously been screened in UK cinemas:

1985
USA - 2018 - 86m - bw
D: Yen Tan
Audio: 5.1

Bleeding Steel
機器之血
China/HK - 2017 - 110m - col / scope
D: Leo Zhang Li-jia
Dolby Atmos / IMAX 12-track / CFGS: 11.1

The Domestics
USA - 2018 - 95m - col / scope
D: Mike P. Nelson
Audio: 5.1

The House With a Clock in Its Walls
USA - 2018 - 105m - col / scope / 3-D
D: Eli Roth
D-Cinema: 5.1 / IMAX 12-track

Mile 22
USA - 2018 - 94m - col / scope
D: Peter Berg
Dolby Atmos / IMAX 12-track

The Predator
USA/Can - 2018 - 101m - col / scope / 3-D
D: Shane Black
Dolby Atmos / IMAX 12-track

Reign of the Supermen
USA (V) - 2018 - 87m - col
D: Sam Liu
Audio: 5.1

Wajib
واجب
Pal/Fr/Col/Ger/UAE/Qatar/Nor - 2017 - 96m - col
D: Annemarie Jacir
Audio: 5.1

The Wife
UK/Swd/USA - 2017 - 100m - col / scope
D: Björn Runge
Audio: 5.1

-----oOo-----


Home Video (reissues)
28 Jan - 3 Feb 2019

Feature films and TV movies:

Attack of the Adult Babies
UK - 2017 - 84m - col / scope
D: Dominic Brunt
Audio: 5.1

Beyond Skyline
USA/Sing/Indonesia/Can/China/UK - 2017 - 106m - col / scope
D: Liam O'Donnell
Audio: 5.1

Body Melt
Aus - 1993 - 81m - col
D: Philip Brophy
Dolby Stereo

Double Bunk
UK - 1960 - 92m - bw
D: C.M. Pennington-Richards
Audio: Mono

Imperium
USA - 2016 - 109m col / scope
D: Daniel Ragussis
Audio: 5.1

Jungle
Aus/UK/Col - 2017 - 115m - col / scope
D: Greg McLean
Audio: 5.1

Man About the House
UK - 1974 - 90m - col
D: John Robins
Audio: Mono

No Game No Life: Zero
ノーゲーム・ノーライフ ゼロ
Jpn - 2017 - 108m - col
D: Atsuko Ishizuka
Audio: 5.1

Orphée
Fr - 1950 - 112m - bw
D: Jean Cocteau
Audio: Mono

Predator
USA - 1987 - 106m - col
D: John McTiernan
4.2-channel Dolby Stereo

Predators
USA - 2010 - 107m - col / scope
D: Nimród Antal
Audio: 5.1

Predator 2
USA - 1990 - 108m - col
D: Stephen Hopkins
4.2-channel Dolby Stereo SR

Predestination
Aus/USA - 2013 - 98m - col / scope
D: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig [as: The Spierig Brothers]
Audio: 5.1

Till Death Us Do Part
UK - 1969 - 100m - col
D: Norman Cohen
Audio: Mono

The Titan
UK/USA/Sp - 2018 - 95m - col / scope
D: Lennart Ruff
Audio: 5.1

Trouble With Eve
UK - 1959 - 64m - bw
D: Francis Searle
Audio: Mono

True Stories
USA - 1986 - 89m - col
D: David Byrne
Dolby Stereo

-----oOo-----


Note:

Be aware that scope or 3-D movies may not always be replicated that way on home video. Similarly, some video releases may offer a different audio configuration to the one originally intended (5.1, Dolby Atmos, etc.). In each case, the Index provides details of the primary audio-visual specifications, and any video version which deviates from these specs constitutes a revision of the original intentions, potentially compromising the effectiveness of the presentation.

Also, the given running time assumes a projected frame-rate of 24 frames per second (except for TV material in countries where the broadcast frame-rate is 25fps). Most VHS and DVD releases in the UK are replicated at 25fps, causing a subliminal speed-up that 'reduces' the running time by around 4 per cent. Most Blu-ray releases (including 4K) are replicated at the original 24fps.