STACK #158 Dec 2017

DVD&BD REVIEWS

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History's most unlikely friendship. VICTORIA AND ABDUL

It takes one to uncover one. THE VILLAINESS

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Release Date: 13/12/17

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Release Date: 13/12/17

While begrudgingly celebrating her Golden Jubilee, Queen Victoria (Judi Dench, who previously played the role in 1997’s Mrs. Brown ) encounters young Indian servant Abdul Karim (Bollywood star Ali Fazal), and an unlikely friendship develops between the two. Having gained the trust and affection of the obstinate old monarch, Abdul is promoted to “Munshi”, or teacher, and his loyalty to the Queen draws the ire of the royal household, her son, and the Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard). Soon everyone from the royal doctor to the PM is questioning the Queen’s

If you enjoy the neon-saturated excesses of John Wick , this offering is the perfect entry point into the wonderful world of South Korean action cinema. At its pinnacle stands Park Chan-wook ( Old Boy , Thirst ), and The Villainess' director Jung Byung-gil has been an exemplary student, utillising Park's 2005 thriller Lady Vengeance as the thematic underpinning – a blood-soaked contemplation on settling scores at

all costs. Kim Ok-vin plays Sook-hee, the titular transgressor and mob enforcer who's in full blown assassin mode. Sook-hee is caught by the police though, and offered her freedom following ten years of service. What follows are twists, turns and a lot of ultraviolence, dispensed by the deadliest bride since Tarantino's Kill Bill . AC

relationship with this former jail clerk from Agra. Victoria and Abdul is at times very funny, but it uneasily straddles historic idealism from a time when it was anything but. Viewers would do well to note the introductory disclaimer that reads: “Based on true events… mostly.” PJ

GIFTED

CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS

WAKE IN FRIGHT (2017)

LUKE CAGE: SEASON 1

Release Date: 29/11/17 Format:

Release Date: 13/12/17 Format:

Release Date: 29/11/17 Format:

Release Date: 06/12/17 Format:

Chris Evans is gifted. He's Captain America, and he's also a solid dramatic actor when given a rare break from the MCU. As a surrogate father caring for his seven-year-old niece (Mckenna Grace) after the suicide of his sister, Evans is drawn into a custody battle with his estranged mother (Lindsay Duncan). The crux of the dispute is that the little girl happens to be a math genius. He wants her to lead a normal life, whereas grandma doesn't believe her gift should go to waste. It's a manipulative tearjerker to be sure, but an ample dose of humour prevents things from becoming too maudlin. AC

George and Harold (voiced by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch) are comic book loving friends who attract the scrutiny of the overbearing principal Krup (Ed Helms). Fearing they will be split up, these best mates hatch a plan – hypnotise Krup using a prize from a cereal box. It actually works, and as a bonus, Krup turns into the benevolent and energetic Captain Underpants. Mischief ensues but a new nemesis emerges in Professor Poopypants (Nick Kroll) and his fearsome toilet that makes goop out of leftover lunches. Toilet humour for the family? You've come to the right place. AC

Remaking a classic Australian film for television might sound like a bad idea, but the good news is this modern update from director Kriv Stenders ( Red Dog ) captures a lot of the sweaty desperation and threatening tone of the 1971 original. At least in its first half; the intensity does drop off in the second part. It's also perfectly cast, with Sean Keenan ( Glitch ) as the mild-mannered school teacher whose life descends into an outback nightmare of booze, betting, and bush machismo. David Wenham and Alex Dimitriades provide strong support, as the local cop and lowlife Doc respectively. Guaranteed to turn you off a cold beer while watching. SH

Marvel’s TV series are generally darker adaptations than their film counterparts, and more focused on heroes protecting their hometowns rather than entire planets – or even universes. Luke Cage is no different. Introduced in Jessica Jones , Cage (Mike Colter) possesses superhuman strength and is almost indestructible. The self-appointed defender of Harlem, which is under threat from its own version of Daredevil’s Kingpin, Cottonmouth (played by Moonlight Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali), Cage’s durability also serves a deeper purpose in a plot prone to political commentary. It’s not all bad guys punching stuff – but there is plenty of that, too. AK

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DECEMBER 2017

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