STACK #145 Nov 2016

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DVD&BD REVIEWS

Slave. Rebel. Champion. BEN-HUR

Woman vs. man-eater. THE SHALLOWS

Release Date: 30/11/16

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Release Date: 30/11/16

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This is the third time the story of Judah Ben-Hur – the Jewish prince betrayed and consigned to a Roman slave galley before seeking revenge on his adopted brother, Messala – has been adapted for the big screen, following the 1925 silent version and WilliamWyler's 1959 Oscar-laden classic. This reimagination by director Timur Bekmambetov ( Wanted ) may not be "bigger than Ben-Hur " (the '59 version) – it's less epic and streamlined to a lean two hours, in accordance with the attention spans of today's audiences – but there's still a

Imagine if Chrissie from Jaws hadn't been eaten in the opening scene and had instead climbed onto the nearby buoy and done whatever it took to stay alive. That pretty much sums up The Shallows , in which Blake Lively wages a one-woman war against a Great White shark after being attacked just a few hundred yards from the sand of a secluded Mexican beach. A whale carcass in the vicinity means the shark won't be leaving anytime soon, and with high tide approaching, the rocky sanctuary she's managed to reach will

sense of grandeur to the battle scenes and the legendary chariot race, and Morgan Freeman is on hand to explain the plot. This downsized version of Lew Wallace's beloved tale works as an action-packed and accessible alternative for fans of Game of Thrones and Spartacus . SH

soon be underwater. How she manages to stay beyond the reach of this hungry predator makes for a simple and gripping survival thriller. Decent shark movies are a rarity these days, and The Shallows reminds us that a Great White can still be scary in a post-Sharknado world. SH

Hustling their way to the American Dream. WAR DOGS

Are you game? NERVE

Release Date: 30/11/16

Format:

Release Date: 30/11/16

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Here’s a hypothetical. Would you rather make peanuts as an in-home massage therapist, or big bucks arms dealing? This is the poser that David Packouz (Miles Teller) is faced with when his old school friend Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill) shows up after years away and, as somebody he trusts, lets him in on his dealings. They basically rummage through US government arms tenders for the small fry stuff that others ignore, and it makes them a decent penny. However, when a chance for a $300

Social networking, mobile phones, the internet of things – the Stereo MCs would be stoked at how connected we are nowadays. This tech has delivered many wonders, but most everything has a dark side. Safe-playing high schooler Venus – or ‘Vee’ – is challenged by her best friend Sydney to live a little. So she does. She joins an online game that Syd’s involved in called Nerve . It’s basically truth or dare, without the boring truth bit. You can pay to be a ‘watcher’, or be paid to be a player. Vee plumps for the

million deal comes up, it’s too hard to resist. Ah, but are they ready for the big time? A decidedly black comedy with a few points to make, it’s hard (and scary) to believe that War Dogs is based on a true tale, even if several fictional liberties have been taken. AF

latter, her first challenge being to kiss a stranger. Done, KERCHING! But darker things are afoot as the risk factor of dares escalates. Those Catfish guys love their ‘net stuff, and this neat thriller plays with the potential pitfalls of online fame, fame, fatal fame. AF

NOVEMBER 2016

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