Barbarians Rising [Blu-ray]

• Number of discs: 2
• Studio: LIONSGATE
• DVD Release Date: Sep 27, 2016
• Run Time: 336 minutes

• PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
• Experience the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in HISTORY®’s epic four-part miniseries, Barbarians Rising™, arriving on Blu-ray™ (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) on September 27 from Lionsgate. Along with stunning drama sequences from the perspective of barbarian icons — Hannibal, Spartacus, Arminius, Boudica, and Attila — this thrilling saga also includes extensive interviews from authoritative historical experts and contributors. HISTORY®’s Barbarians Rising™ will be available on Blu-ray™ and DVD for the suggested retail price of $19.99 and $19.98, respectively.
• 
  
• OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
• Action-packed visuals and reenactments bring to life the epic stories of how the brave barbarians waged a 700-year fight for freedom, bringing the mighty Roman Empire to its knees and shaping the world to come.
• 
  
• CAST
  Steve Waddington The Imitation Game, The Last of the Mohicans
  Richard Brake Batman Begins, Spy
  Ben Batt TV’s “Shameless,” Captain America: The First Avenger
  Tom Hopper TV’s “Black Sails,” TV’s “Merlin” 
  
  
  PROGRAM INFORMATION
  Year of Production: 2016
  Title Copyright: Barbarians Rising, Cover Art and Design © 2016 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Barbarians Rising, HISTORY, the “H” logo and A+E Networks are trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. Distributed by LIONSGATE® under license from A+E Networks.
  Type: TV-On-DVD
  Rating: NA
  Genre: Documentary, Action
  Closed Captioned: N/A
  Subtitles: Spanish, English SDH 
  Feature Run Time: 5 Hrs., 36 Mins. 
  Blu-ray™ Format: 1080P High Definition, 16x9 Widescreen 1.78:1 Presentation
  DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen 1.78:1 Presentation
  Blu-ray™ Audio: English 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio
  DVD Audio: English 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio

Neon Demon [Blu-ray]

• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: 
   R 
   Restricted
• Studio: Broadgreen
• DVD Release Date: September 27, 2016
• Run Time: 117 minutes

For a chance to win a copy of your own simply send an email to giveaway@mungleshow.com with "NEON DEMON in the subject line. No cost or obligation, standard contest rules apply. MUST BE 21 or older to enter. 

• Synopsis: When aspiring model Jesse moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.
• 
  
• Review: There are several reasons why the new film, THE NEON DEMON, from writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn should be on your must see list. And luckily that list is longer than the reasons you should not see it. It is a stomach turning, mind bending, brain punch that will leave you questioning the art of cinema. (Note: That is a reason TO see it if you are keeping track).
• 
  
• The story is an unapologetic thrashing of the body image culture that is engulfing the world of beauty and fashion. (2:0) Pretty, skinny people may take the greatest offense or they may receive it as their rally cry and rejoice around a burning pile of silicone. Regardless it is a message that too few are saying and especially in the manner that NWR does here. (3:0) It is so brutally forthcoming that you often think he must be going for humor. Because it is that brazen. 
• 
  
• Jesse (Elle Fanning) is a 16 year old, I mean 19 year old, model fresh of the bus in LA. She is taking the modeling world by storm and leaving a lot of angry, calorie counting ladies in her dust. Heads are turning from all the big wigs and everyone wants her. But this shy, meek, young girl might be fooling them all by her modest and humble demeanor. Each scene has you second guessing the last. This can be frustrating and exhilarating at the same time. (3:1)
• 
  
• The supporting cast simply cant be trusted. They never give you complete cause but you just know it. The shady hotel manager (Keanu Reeves), the eccentric photographer (Desmond Harrington), and the too friendly make up artist (Jena Malone) all have enough creep factor to warrant a sideways glance. Refn uses them as a shady backdrop for Jesse to pose in front of. (4:1) Elle Fanning seems an odd choice for the role of Jesse but may be brilliance in disguise. Her character is complex but Elle doesn't do anything more than any other hundred young actresses could have done. 
• 
  
• It has been decades since a film took on the look of Stanley Kubrick. This one seems to resurrect him in body and spirit. Long spans of frames with Tron like lights and odd imagery will upset many. You have to love artistic design to appreciate the style. If arty is not in your like column then you will despise this one and go away missing the point. It often feels like a composition in color rather than a dramatic narrative. (4:2) This will be met with cheers and boos alike. 
• 
  
• The twists in genres make this a hard movie to categorize  It goes from cultural relevant art work to a demented and twisted horror flick with not even the slightest tap of the brakes. (5:2) Often you will say to yourself, "surely he isn't going to" only to follow it up with "wow, he really did." The more salacious moments teeter on the bring of thinly sliced shock value. Refn is not afraid to spit in the face (or mouth) of polite society. He handles most of these scenes well but a few times he comes close to slipping into the arena of the amateuristic. (5:3)
• 
  
• THE NEON DEMON is rated R for disturbing violent content, bloody images, graphic nudity, a scene of aberrant sexuality, and language. You have to embrace the direction NWR is going or you are going to take anything away. If you try and separate graphic from narrative then you miss the big picture and end up wasting your time. I give it 3.75 out of 5 eye shadows. This one stayed with me for days and the longer I was away from it the better I liked and appreciated it; and I can't wait to see it again. (6:3)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Review

PG-13 | 2h 7min | Adventure, Fantasy 
Review - Matt Mungle

*In theaters September 30th 2016 *

Synopsis: When Jacob discovers clues to a mystery that spans different worlds and times, he finds Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. But the mystery and danger deepen as he gets to know the residents and learns about their special powers.

Review: At first watch you will wish you would have read the book series before seeing Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. But fans of  Ransom Riggs' novels will quickly tell you that this film strays so far that very little is recognizable. Sure you can just sit back and enjoy the signature styling of director Tim Burton, which is enjoyment enough, but if you want to have any idea what is going on you will need some fore knowledge.

For those who have not read the book the story (at least in the movie script) is about Jake (Asa Butterfield) who is dealing with the mysterious death of his grandfather (Terence Stamp). Since Jake was a wee lad his grandfather has told him stories of a wonderful home full of peculiar children. Now Jake must find this place in order to figure out exactly what happened to his grandfather and who is responsible. 

Tim Burton is a master at creating whimsical other worlds. No one can come close to his style and depiction of oddity. So the film looks fantastic. You want to freeze certain frames just to take in all the detail of the surroundings. The children are creepy to say the least and their haunting look will linger with you long after viewing. But sadly imagery isn't enough and those unfamiliar with the characters have little more than outward appearance to appreciate. 

While watching the film you get the feeling that Butterfield is also not on board with the character. Asa is a better actor than what we see here. He stumbles his way through the dialogue with no grounding or conviction. Once he arrives at the home we get a very fast introduction to the children and their peculiarity but with no depth. This causes you to lose interest in their well being and once the peril begins you sort of lose interest. Yes the scary things are scary (nightmarishly scary) but we do not know where they came from or what their agenda is. Other than a fast narrative about the Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) and his need for immortality you get nothing concrete

If any person stands out in this it is Miss Peregrine (Eva Green). Her dark demeanor and piercing eyes make for a memorable character. Her speech and movements demand respect. She takes her responsibility serious and has dedicated her service to these younglings. Trust me you do not want to get in her cross hairs. But she is alone in this accolade. The rest of the talented cast (Jackson, Judi Dench, Chris O'Dowd) are wasted on a horrible script and thin veil of intrigue. 

Imagine if the entire Harry Potter series were one movie. Now that I have your attention take note that two plus hours is not enough to cram everything in for this. Fans of the book will feel cheated of their favorite parts and find they are replaced by random story lines not even in the books. That is inexcusable.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy action/violence and peril. I would caution parents about letting younger kids see this. The imagery and characters are creepy. The peril is intense and left me spooked. I only give it 2 out of 5 contact lenses. I am mostly saddened for young fans of the book series who deserved a better film. The rest of us get even less.