What DVD have you just watched?

Last night I watched Shooting Dogs on DVD.  I missed this one first time around, possibly because it was somewhat overshadowed by another film about the Genocide in Rwanda called Hotel Rwanda with Don Cheadle.  Also it appears that the original title of the film, Shooting Dogs, was controversial - It referred to the UN having to shoot the dogs that fed on the corpses of the dead - an irony, as their mandate was only to fire their weapons unless fired upon, hence they were powerless while murder took places all around them - and was re-titled Beyond The Gates.

Anyway, it's a powerful, harrowing documentary of the events surrounding the Ecole Technique Officelle in Kigali which played host to the Belgian UN force and became a sanctuary for many Tutsis trying to escape the slaughter.  The film centres on two Englishmen, Catholic Priest Christopher, played by John  Hurt, and on young teacher Joe, played by Hugh Dancy.  It's an excellent, and at times harrowing film, and in many ways a better one than Hotel Rwanda - certainly it appears that according to those who survived the massacre, it more accurately portrays the atmosphere and events of the time, perhaps helped by the fact that so many of the crew involved were caught up in the events a decade earlier, narrowly escaping with their lives but losing so many of their friends and family.

For those who like the technical specs, the picture on this Region 2 UK BBC/Metrodome release is presented in its original 2.35:1 widescreen ratio, and is anamorphically encoded. AFAIK there is no Blu-Ray release yet, however picture quality is excellent for DVD with only some slight softness detracting.  Sound is DD 2.0 or DD 5.1 and dialog is very clear throughout.

Blue Ray

Watched this following one or two recommendations on here.  I was tempted to reach for the subtitles button at times as I found those Southern US states accents a bit difficult to follow at times but more seriously I enjoyed the film.   

Oh, dear. Complete tosh. I can only think that Idris Elba looked only at the pay-cheque and not the script. Not recommended. 

Highly recommended, but not for everybody, I would add

Very little about piano playing.  It probably doesn't make sense if you don't know who Martha is.  It's a gentle search into why the great pianist enjoys the unusual relationships that she has with her daughters.  Her first daughter is a very good viola player, by the way.

Giant robots beating the cr*p out of alien sea monsters? What's not to like? Idris Elba's not at his best in the film but I loved the rest of it. Awesome surround sound too.

Perhaps I'm becoming a grumpy old git, Tony.

More seriously, I like some of these type of films e.g. Battleship (helped by the AC/DC soundtrack, no doubt) but this one left me cold.

Mike  

We quite enjoyed Pacific Rim, basically suspending belief and any use of logic of course.

The first X files movie (doing the whole series rewatch).

It is what it is. I'd have preferred some explanation (however idiotic) of why the monsters couldn't simply be taken out by missiles, and why the robot-things had to be manned, rather than remote controlled. But otherwise, as you say, what's not to like?

Gianluigi, what did you think of this film?

Hi Richard!

In few words......not a masterpiece and not a complete failure.

Architecture, snow, people in the film takes me back to my youth and my suburbs wanderings.

I really did love the merry-go-round scene as it was exactly the same for us here. The speed and the sound of music coming from far places in the black and white of everyday life....

John Malkovic in bathrobe takes me back to Alan Ford's Brick Top in The Snatch.

Not a masterpiece again in my opinion.

But the problem is that Salvatores made films in the past that can hardly be overtaken.

Not considering the well known Mediterraneo i feel to suggest small gems like Nirvana (1997) and Denti (2000) which you can both find with English subtitles if you like to investigate.

Hope i've been helpful. Enjoy!

G, thank you. I will try to order a copy on Lovefilm.

Having seen some mixed views on this my expectations weren't high but I thought it pretty good.  Action scenes well done. Mr Eastwood's skills as a director continue to impress. 

M

We watched this at the weekend too. Really enjoyed. Clint just gets better with age.

 That's happened to me a few times. As you say, even with all the noise if you're tired before settling down and the film doesn't grab you, all the noise in the world won't keep you awake! 

 Die Brücke (The Bridge) is a 1959 West German film directed by Austrian filmmaker Bernhard Wicki. It is based on the eponymous 1958 novel by journalist and writer Gregor Dorfmeister (published under the pseudonym Manfred Gregor). The story was based on an actual event, upon the personal report of a surviving veteran who in his own youth experienced a similar situation in World War II.

Talking of noise, we watched Whiplash over the weekend, not too impressed not really my music scene.

We enjoyed Gone Girl more, interesting plot but weak ending, don't see how Gone Girl 2 would work, and that's how I felt it ended, ready for more.

I'm laid up with a bad back and various other ailments so I've been laying on the sofa all day with this for company on Blu-ray. It is staggeringly good. If anyone is wavering over whether to buy, dive in I say!

I bought this for SWMBO, who tends to enjoy such stuff, but I confess although it was overlong there were some really funny bits & I enjoyed it. Very silly, more British than American humour (Miranda Hart, who never amuses me in her TV series, is excellent here), and good for a giggle.