Disc Reviews

“You see this bulls*%t right here? This is exactly like him … just like Ghost.”

The first sequel series in the Power universe, starring quite possibly one of the most hated characters in the original series, and that’s a long list. Fans of the original series are likely still bearing a grudge against Michael Rainey Jr.’s Tariq St. Patrick for his murder of his father, James St. Patrick, aka Ghost, at the end of the original series. However, I heard tell when it comes to his actions in this sequel series, those are the least of Tariq’s transgressions. Picking up just a few days after the conclusion of the original series, Tariq adjusts to his new life at Stansfield University, where he immediately finds his way back into the drug game in hopes of financing his mother’s trial for the murder of his father, a rap she took for him. This Starz series shows Tariq’s descent from the world of privilege into the gritty street world, a world he knows next to nothing about because of his upbringing, but a world that he is determined to conquer. Rounding out the cast are Method Man, Mary J. Blige, and original cast member Naturi Naughton as Tasha St. Patrick.

Nothing like being framed for murder to revitalize a dying relationship. Or least that is the premise that fueled this Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani-led romantic comedy. Now in recent years, both Rae’s and Nanjiani’s star powers have been on the rise, interestingly enough as a result of stellar performances in television series (Rai on Insecure, which she also produces, and Nanjiani on Silicon Valley). This has led to more theatrical roles, which have also been moderately successful. I anticipate that their stock will continue to rise, especially given Nanijiani’s induction into the MCU with his casting in the upcoming Eternals movie, and Rae is not slouching, either, with a whopping 17 projects that her name has been attached to produce. As glad as I am that these two are doing great professionally, I don’t see this Netflix-turned-home-media release doing much for either one of them. The previews gave it an air of intrigue, but unfortunately, the best details of the film were included in that trailer, so by the time I watched it, I was already desensitized following its promotional campaign. To be fair, the film was due to be released at the beginning of 2020, but COVID caused the project to be delayed, prompting the film’s move to Netflix instead of the theater. Now I originally watched the film back when it premiered on Netflix, and while my review necessitated the need to watch the film again, I can honestly say that there was nothing about the film that stuck in my memory following my initial watching. That alone should kind of tell you all you need to know about the film.

An opening montage tells the story of the relationship of Jibran (Nanjiani) and Leilani (Rae), from their first hookup, which turned into them spending the whole day together and falling in love. I will admit that this montage was charming, thanks to both characters’ inherent awkward natures, which they adeptly use to establish their chemistry. Fast-forward four years, and the spark in their relationship has all but fizzled out. Jibran is averse to trying anything new and has become rigid, while Leilani feels suffocated and craves new experiences. In a nutshell, they want different things and are starting to drift apart. This is evident when the two engage in a verbal sparring match over whether or not they would win The Amazing Race. This was actually pretty entertaining, because like the opening montage, this showcased both actors’ talents and their ability to top one another’s lines gave the hope of more quality dialog to come.

It is a tall order to create a compelling television series with virtually no dialog. However, Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal fills that order. Then again, what would you expect from the creator of such entertaining animated series as Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This time around Tartakovsky tackles the prehistoric period with this series that follows a caveman and a Tyrannosaurus that were bonded by grief. As unrealistic as the pairing sounds, the themes of the series make it quality television. Normally, I’m not one for shows with minimal dialog; in this series, its absence makes the artwork and storylines resonate deeper as extra time and care was taken to convey the plot’s significance. Of particular intrigue is that fact that though the series is a work of fantasy, all the animals depicted are based on real prehistoric animals.

As expected, the pilot sets up the rest of the series. Spear (as he is referred to in the production notes), a caveman, barely survives an encounter with a Deinosuchus (extinct ancestor of the crocodile) while fishing for his family. This was actually the moment that hooked me, as I was caught completely off guard by the Deinosuchus appearance. In truth, I was starting to get the sense that I wouldn’t be interested in the show beyond this review, and at that exact moment of my disinterest, the beast sprang out of the water, making me jump back. Sorry to spoil that bit for anyone, but I felt it was important for you to grasp my frame a mind before we continued. Surprisingly, the eerie calm is what made this scene so great. Needless to say, from then on I was hooked, and given that this sequence occurs in the first two minutes, that is a significant accomplishment for the series.

Are you feeling a little déjà vu when you turn on a television or live stream these days? While Tom Selleck is playing a family patriarch on Blue Bloods, Jay Hernandez is in Hawaii driving a bright red Ferrari in a new version of Magnum P.I. Hawaii 5-O was one of the most popular shows on CBS, and Charmed is bewitching an entire new generation of streamers on the internet. You might consider this a time of little ingenuity on the tube, but CBS has gone back in time to resurrect the very definition of ingenuity in MacGyver. The show just completed its fifth and final season, while the fourth season is now out on DVD thanks to some cooperation between Lionsgate and CBS.

The basic idea of the original series remains here. Angus MacGyver is now played by Lucas Till. He still works for the Phoenix foundation, which remains a covert government agency disguised as a think tank. Just like the Richard Dean Anderson character, MacGyver has the uncanny ability to use whatever happens to be handy to build what he happens to need to bring down a bad guy or save lives. The name has become a part of our lexicon and refers to using something in a makeshift procedure to solve a problem. As much as the basic elements of the original remain, there are quite a few significant differences to be found here.

"If this is all a dream, what's gonna happen when we wake up?"

If you look at the stats, it would be so easy to conclude that Joe Dante's 1985 film Explorers was a complete dud. The film cost a little over 25 million dollars and raked in less than 10 million dollars. It didn't last very long in the theaters, and one might conclude that's the end of that story. But one would be quite wrong. Since the day I first saw it at the theaters during its short run, it has remained one of my favorite films of all time. Looking at the stats might keep you from giving this old gem a try, but you would be missing one of the most heartfelt films of the last 35 years. It's one of those films that the studios still don't have much faith in, so it hasn't been released with any kind of frequency or care. For years I relied on my laserdisc copy. Shout Factory has a habit of unearthing little diamonds in the rough like this one. They get the home entertainment distribution rights. Film some new interviews and release it, hopeful that there is more of an appreciative audience out there than any other studio believes. I don't know what kind of audience this Blu-ray release will find, but I'm grateful it's here on Blu-ray and I can add a good transfer of the film. I think you will be, too, if you can avoid looking at the stats.