4K Digital Review: Theater Camp

 

Theater Camp was acquired by Searchlight Pictures after the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and after a very short time in theaters, it is available to stream at home. While you can watch it on Hulu, you will not get all of the bonus features only available on the digital release. Please note that there is no physical copy release. 

The film opens with AdirondACTS theater camp founder Joan (Amy Sedaris) suffering a seizure from the strobe lights during a staging of Bye Bye Birdy. Her son Troy (Jimmy Tatro), who knows nothing about drama or the theatrical arts, is forced to step in to run the camp while she recovers. The returning camp counselors Amos (Ben Platt) and Rebeccas-Diane (Molly Gordon) are not happy with Troy especially since he has cut a number of counselors to help save on costs. It turns out the camp has been running for years at a loss and a neighboring camp wants the land. 

Theater Camp is shot mockumentary style and is filled with situational humor. Most of the film is improvised and all the actors do an incredible job, especially the child actors. If you were ever part of a drama club or camp, either as a student or a teacher, Theater Camp will bring back found memories.    

Video:

Theater Camp was shot to recreate the look of 16mm film. The look is soft with muted colors and artificial film grain that really capture this look of 16mm film. 

Audio:

The audio presentation is in a 5.1 audio mix. The dialogue is crisp and clean with little surround sound presence other than music and crowd noise and ambience. It is a dialogue heavy film so no surprise with the audio coming mostly front the front channels. 

Bonus Features

• Side by Side by Side: A Theater Camp Chat (7:17) – Go backstage with the creative team of THEATER CAMP as they discuss why being in sync as actors, writers, friends, and filmmakers brought their comedy to life. Featuring Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Owen Thiele, and Nick Lieberman.
• Deleted Scenes (4:44) – Enjoy a front-row seat to some of the funniest material ever to grace a cutting room floor in this string of highly amusing deleted scenes.
• Extended Scenes (4:05) – Sometimes the comic magic just can't be contained in the final cut. So, when enough isn't quite enough and you crave just a little bit more, these extended scenes are the perfect thing to satisfy you!
• Talent Showcase Reels (16:52) – Witness the improvisational genius of the cast in these talent showcase reels and watch as the actors build upon and embellish each scene with hilarious, impromptu, alternate takes.
  • Rebecca-Diane (4:06)
  • Amos (3:29)
  • Troy (2:45)
  • Songwriting with Rebecca-Diane & Amos (3:41)
  • Troy Meets with Rebecca-Diane & Amos (2:58)
• Outtakes (3:36) – With a cast as funny as this, it's no surprise that even these pros couldn't keep from cracking up. This outtake reel reveals just how hard it can be to keep a straight face.

Conclusion:

A fun film that pays a loving homage to those that were in drama club. A quirky mockumentary with solid audio and fun video to recreate the 16mm film feel. Some fun bonus features but I would have loved an audio commentary. 

* The digital copy was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the sole purpose for the review and the review is solely my opinion*

4K Digital Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens in 1944 with Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and his partner Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) captured by the Nazi's while trying to save a historical artifact. They pair come across half of Archimedes dial, an artifact desired by Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen).

We then flash-forward twenty-five years to New York where Indy lives alone and is heading towards retirement. Grieving the loss of his son and nearing a divorce of his wife Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Indy is found by his god daughter Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the daughter of Basil Shaw. Helena cons Indy into giving her his half of the dial and we are off on an adventure. Indy must stop Helena from selling the dial or before Voller acquires it. 

Harrison Ford is wonderful in his final film as Indiana Jones. Once again his comedic timing is spot on. And this time around he plays Indy as a heartbroken man whose grief and love of history leaves him feeling stranded in the present. 

Director James Mangold unfortunately just doesn't deliver what Steven Spielberg could. The action sequences feel flat and it feels like Mangold felt the pressure of the other films. But as we head towards the film's finale, Mangold puts his own touch on the franchise that tugs on our sense of nostalgia. This brings the film to an effective final scene.

Video:

The 4K digital stream is a stunning transfer. The opening sequence, underwater sequence and interiors feature strong contrast with rich, inky blacks and wonderful shadow detail. The details in Indy's face and cloth textures are phenomenal. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos track is immersive and makes wonderful use of all the speakers. Dialogue is front and center, the surround channels are extremely active and the LFE adds something extra to the explosions. Just a solid audio track that one expects from Disney and an Indiana Jones movie.

Bonus Features:
The Making of Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

• Chapter 1 – Prologue – Harrison Ford leaps back into action as Indiana Jones! Journey to 1944 as this featurette reveals the filmmakers, characters, stunts, locations, and incredible visual effects that make up the thrilling opening of Dial of Destiny!
• Chapter 2 – New York – Blast off to adventure as James Mangold showcases the re-creation of 1969 Manhattan for the Moon Parade chase. This featurette spotlights Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) as John Williams conducts his beautiful new theme for this compelling character.
• Chapter 3 – Morocco – The man in the hat is back! Explore Morocco as this featurette breaks down the white-knuckle stunts of the medina tuk-tuk chase and hotel brawl. Meet Teddy (Ethann Isidore), Indy’s precocious new ally in the hunt for the dial!
• Chapter 4 – Sicily – Meet Renaldo (Antonio Banderas) as he guides our heroes on a perilous underwater treasure hunt! Catch up with Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge on location in Sicily and explore the caverns, traps, and bugs surrounding Archimedes’ tomb!
• Chapter 5 – Finale – This featurette breaks down the thrilling climax to the Indiana Jones series. Cast and filmmakers James Mangold, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, John Williams, Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford bid farewell to one of the greatest heroes of all time.

Conclusion:

Even with it's faults, this was still a fun Indiana Jones film that is said to be the last of the series. A fantastic video transfer and audio track combined with bonus features that left me wanting more makes this a worthy addition to your library.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is available now on digital and has yet to be announced as a physical copy.

*The digital copy was provided for review purposes by Walt Disney Home Entertainment and the review is strictly my own opinion*

4K Digital Review: The Boogeyman

 

Based off of a classic short story by Stephen King, The Boogeyman starts in a horrific manner with a baby's murder. We then cut to the Harper family who is dealing with the loss of their mom. The father, Will Harper (Chris Messina) is a therapist, trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and the youngest Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair). To add to their problems is Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian) who comes to Will to talk about a being who killed his kids. 

Will's daughters start seeing a mysterious being in the house. The sisters work together to figure out what is happening and if they can get rid of the monster. But they get brought into a nightmare and now their lives are on the line.

For a PG-13 movie, you get a solid jump scare movie with little gore. The Boogeyman looks at fear and paranoia based upon grief. A solid horror movie that will make you think if the monster was real or just a way to show how people overcome fear and grief.

Video:

The 4K digital stream video is a solid transfer. For a film that is very dark, even in the daytime shots, the black levels and details are rich and inky. There are a lot of blue and gray filters throughout the entire movie. The black levels show off incredible detail. The HDR and Dolby Vision enhancements also help showcase the details in the dark. 

Audio:

The Dolby 5.1 track is solid and goes hand in hand perfectly with the fine video transfer. The front channels provide crystal clear dialogue. The surround channels will go into overdrive when you hear the monster moving around the room. An aggressive audio track is perfect for this type of movie.

Bonus Features:

• Into the Darkness Featurette – Open the door into the dark world of The Boogeyman as the cast and crew share how the terrifying tale, based on Stephen King's classic short story, was crafted.
• Outtakes – It’s not all just jump scares and bumps in the night. Join the cast for some lighthearted fun in the outtakes.

Conclusion:

The Boogeyman is a solid popcorn, jump scare monster movie. The solid video transfer and audio track really stand out here. A couple of short bonus features round out this release that will be a fun popcorn watch or a welcome addition to your library as a Stephen King fan.

The Boogeyman is now available on digital and on Blu-Ray and DVD October 10th.

*The movie was sent to by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the sole purpose of review and the review is entirely my own opinion*

4K Digital Review: Elemental

 

Elemental is a visually stunning animated film surrounded by a beautifully rich and emotional story. At it's heart, is a cross-cultural love story, combined with the struggle faced by immigrants. A rather deep set of concerns that Pixar is never afraid to face head on. We see how individuals deal with those interacting with those outside of their culture and how two characters falling in love deal with the emotions and thoughts of those around them.

Ember (Leah Lewis) is a hot tempered, fire element resident of Fire Town and works at her dad Bernie's (Ronnie del Carmen) store. He longs for the day to pass his store to his daughter. He and his wife Cinder (Shila Ommi) immigrated here for a better life. Ember comes across water element Wade (Mamoudou Athie) and their world comes to a boil as they have to work together to work on an issue in Fire Town. As the story progresses they are drawn closer to one another despite their differences.

Their romance isn't rushed and the two begin to see things in one another that they admire. Wade's emotional depth along with Ember's relatable story makes for a very strong connection and reminds us that Pixar hits us in all the feels. 

Audio:

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is superb here. All the speakers are put to good use throughout the entire movie. The score is loud and plays through all of your speakers. Dialogue is front and center and crystal clear. Environmental sounds fill in the rest of the soundscape to help create a truly immersive experience. A wonderful effort from the team at Pixar and Disney.

Video:

Elemental is a feast for the eyes in gorgeous 4K video. Everything is vibrant, with colors leaping off the screen. Each of the different elements give off their own vibe and aura. Just a stunning colorful movie that is a treat for your eyes.    

Bonus Features:

Short Film

• Carl’s Date – Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner Bob Peterson and produced by Kim Collins, this all-new short, “Carl’s Date,” finds Carl reluctantly agreeing to go on a date with a lady friend —but admittedly with no idea how dating works these days. Ever the helpful friend, Dug steps in to calm Carl’s pre-date jitters and offer some tried-and-true tips for making friends — if you’re a dog. “Carl’s Date” opened in theaters in front of Disney and Pixar’s Elemental.

 

Featurettes

• Ember and Wade – Take a deeper look at the development of main characters Ember and Wade, from early designs to final effects, and learn how the complex work of the technical and character teams brought these characters to life.
• Next Stop: Element City – Explore how Element City is built to accommodate its different inhabitants. Director Peter Sohn and crew members share insights about the evolution of the designed world, as well as some of the research that inspired its unique look.
• Paths to Pixar: The Immigrant Experience – Hear from first-generation filmmakers on the Elemental crew as they share their journeys to Pixar.  Discover how Elemental’s real-world themes of sacrifice and identity, amongst many others, reflect or diverge from their own lived experiences.

Deleted Scenes

Director Peter Sohn introduces five scenes that are storyboarded, set to music, timed, and voiced, but are not included in the final version of Elemental.

• Intro Ember – An alternate opening in which our hero Ember helps a newly immigrated Fire family navigate through, and acclimate to, Element City. Scene introduced by director Peter Sohn.
• Mom Rejects Wade – Ember’s traditional parents learn that she’s enamored with watery Wade…and it doesn’t go well. Scene introduced by story supervisor Jason Katz.
• Dante Challenge – In an attempt to keep Ember apart from Wade, Bernie tasks her with finding a place to live for newcomer Dante, who Wade finds himself rather enamored with. Scene introduced by story artist Nira Liu.
• Brook Dinner – Ember joins Wade for dinner at his home, in this abandoned storyline in which Wade’s mother, Brook, is revealed to be the villain diverting water into Firetown. Scene introduced by story artist Anna Benedict.
• Beach Proposal – Sharing a tender moment on the beach, Ember and Wade propose marriage to each other. Scene introduced by story artists Yung-Han Chang and Le Tang.

 

Audio Commentary

• Elemental Filmmaker Commentary – Join director Peter Sohn, supe tech Sanjay Bakshi, supervising animator Mike Venturini, and directing animator Gwendelyn Enderoglu as they provide insight into the making of this remarkable animated feature while you watch it.

 

*bonus features vary by product and retailer

Conclusion:

In the end, we get a universally charming film that will touch your heart. Pixar succeeds once again in telling a story that feels unique and special. It tells such a human story that will be worth watching again and again. Stunning animation and immersive audio along with solid bonus features makes this an easy recommendation to your film library. 

Elemental is available on digital now and on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD on September 26th.

*This movie was provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for review purposes but the review is entirely my own opinion*