STACK #139 May 2016

DVD & BD REVIEWS

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Show me the money. THE BIG SHORT

Land before time. THE GOOD DINOSAUR

Release Date: 12/05/16

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Release Date: 11/05/16

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Nobody is ever surprised to hear of financial people involved in dodgy stuff. But in the US during the mid- '00s they really pushed the envelope, causing a massive housing “bubble” which led to everyday people going to the wall financially and losing their homes. It was a complicated series of events that’s mercifully explained quite clearly in this flick, which is based on Michael Lewis’s 2010 book of the same name. While we follow three separate people – an eccentric hedge fund manager (Christian Bale), a trader (Ryan Gosling), and another hedge

Some 65 million years ago, dinosaurs were wiped out. But in an alternate animated universe, the asteroid that caused the extinction level event shot right past our big blue and green orb. In this world dinosaurs still rule, with primitive humans performing more subservient, pet-like duties. The Good Dinosaur tells of a timid young apatosaurus named Arlo, who suffers a traumatic event while trying to learn to be brave from his dad, and finds a friend in a young human boy. He’s Spot, and while he doesn’t utter much that’s

fund manager (Steve Carell) – who all profit from the situation, we learn fiscal intricacies from such experts as, erm, Selena Gomez and Margot Robbie (in a bubble bath!). Such humorous touches could detract, but instead they add welcome respite from the movie’s very real drama. AF

intelligible, he helps Arlo learn a few life lessons in this latest Pixar release which, following the splendid Inside Out , continues their push towards tales for slightly older kids. It's also great alternative to Jurassic World for those too young for rampaging raptors. AF

Monster makers. VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

Doing it for themselves. SISTERS

DVD&BD

Release Date: 25/05/16

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Release Date: 05/05/16

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Mary Shelley’s classic horror tale comes back to life through the eyes of Harry Potter, who we first encounter as a nameless, hunchbacked circus clown. Upon saving a fallen trapeze cutie, a witness to the feat – one Victor Frankenstein (James McAvoy) – sees genius in this apparently hopeless human being and liberates him from his miserable life. He also drains the pus from his hump (yummy!), produces a handy back brace, and gives the guy a name – that of his absentee housemate, Igor. It isn’t long before Frankenstein is picking Igor’s brains, while assembling those of various

30 Rock and Parks and Recreation are two of the cleverest and funniest shows to ever hit TV, so when their respective stars – Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – team up, you know that things are going to be wonderfully entertaining. Yes they’re playing sisters, but if you didn’t know it you’d never guess. Maura (Poehler) is the sensible sibling, while Kate (Fey) is the wild child – complete with teenage daughter to show for it. When they’re called back to their childhood home to clean out their shared room, as their parents are

creatures (along with numerous other body parts) into re-animated hodgepodge abominations – including that infamous monster. A mixture of action, sci-fi, thrills and a touch of romance, essentially this does for Shelley’s tale what Guy Ritchie did for Sherlock Holmes. AF

selling up, the memories start flowing. Kate convinces her sister that they should throw one last party like in the good old days, but this time Maura gets to finally let her hair down, while Kate is to take the responsible reins. This isn’t going to end well... AF

MAY 2016

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