DVDs Release of the Week: Can 'Legend of Hercules' Conquer Home Video Market?
On April 29, a number of DVD and Blu-ray discs will be released. Here is a rundown of each film that people will now be able to enjoy at home.
"Legend of Hercules": Earlier in the year Lionsgate released this movie to terrible results. The film made $18 million despite costing $70 million to make. The film scored a 3 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics agreed that the film was "cheap-looking, poorly acted, and dull." The film tells the story of Hercules' origins. After he is betrayed by his stepfather the King and exiled and sold into slavery because of a forbidden love, Hercules uses his formidable powers to fight his way back to his rightful kingdom. The film starred Kellan Lutz and was one of the many warrior films that ended up bombing in the first four months of the year.
"Labor Day": Paramount released the Jason Reitman film in January and had mixed results. After having premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie scored negative reviews and lost all the awards buzz that it had prior to the festival circuit. The movie also made $13 million at the box office and became the worst grossing film for Reitman. However Kate Winslet, the film's lead, scored a Golden Globe nomination. The movie, also starring Tobey Maguire and Josh Brolin, tells the story of a depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry who offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually realize that the man is really a convict and their options become increasingly limited. The film is likely to get a following on DVD especially with Winslet fans, but overall the movie proved yet again that A-List actors no longer sell movies.
"Gimme Shelter": Vanessa Hudgens' turn into adulthood continued this year with this new film. The actress, who shed her Disney princess image last year in "Spring Breakers," turned yet another great performance even if "Gimme Shelter" failed critically and financially. The movie made $1.3 million and scored a 22 percent aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie, also starring James Earl Jones, Brendan Fraser and Rosario Dawson, tells the story of a pregnant teenager who flees her abusive mother in search of her father. However when she finds him, her dad rejects her, and she is forced to survive on the streets until a compassionate stranger offers a hopeful alternative. Hudgens does not seem to have the fan base she used have, and this Roadside Attractions release is unlikely to catch on DVD.
"The Best Offer": When IFC Films released the Giuseppe Tornatore film, it was inferred that the movie would be a hit especially after having been nominated for the European Film Awards for Best Film; the film also won the Best Movie award at the David di Donatello awards in Italy. However the opposite happened, and the film scored mixed reviews. The film also made $85,000 domestically and quickly left cinemas. The film stars Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess and Donald Sutherland and tells the story of a master auctioneer who becomes obsessed with an extremely reclusive heiress who collects fine art. Tornatore fans are likely to catch the movie on home video but with little marketing it could easily be lost in the crowd of films.
"Gloria": Regarded as one of the best films of this year, the Chilean movie was the country's official Oscar selection for 2013. "Gloria" premiered at the Berlin Film Festival where it scored a number of awards and later went on to screen at the New York Film Festival. Latin Post enjoyed the film and stated that it was "An Intimate Study of Coping With Loneliness & Mid-life Crisis." Roadside Attractions released the film in January, and it had a successful run making $2 million. The film features a breakout performance by Paulina Garcia and tells the story of Gloria, a free-spirited older woman, and the realities of her whirlwind relationship with a former naval officer whom she meets out in the clubs. With buzz still afloat, this foreign film is likely to continue a successful run on home video.
"The Rocket": The Australian film received a short theatrical run in January by Kino Lorber and failed to generate buzz. Even though the movie won the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and was Australia's Official Oscar selection, it only made $54,000. "The Rocket" tells the story of a boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him and leads his family and two new friends through Laos to find a new home. Latin Post saw the movie at Tribeca and gave it a great review stating "The Underdog Story Materializes In Laos With Rockets, Mysticism & Cinematic Magic."