STACK NZ Apr #72

REVIEWS DVD & BD

A new phenomenon begins HEROES REBORN

Better call Saul HOMELAND: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

Release Date: 20/04/16

Release Date: 27/04/16

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When the original Heroes series smashed onto our screens in 2006, we couldn’t get enough of that superpowered stuff. But it petered out over its four seasons, and few thought much more about it. Creator Tim Kring did though, and he reminds us of everything that we first loved about the show in this ace 13-episode ‘event miniseries’. Many new faces – including Chuck himself (Zachary Levi) – join several originals as things begin with a human and ‘Evo’ love-in. It all goes horribly wrong, as somebody has a vendetta against the highly

With terrorism continuing to cast a lengthy shadow over the real world, Homeland has plenty to draw upon for inspiration, and ISIS and the crisis in Syria provide much of the impetus for this season. Carrie has relocated to Berlin and is now working as head of security for a billionaire, but quickly finds herself back in a war zone during a trip to a refugee camp in Lebanon. And she goes off her meds again! The hacking of classified CIA files threatens US and German relations and brings Saul into the action, Quinn finds himself in

evolved. This all plays out against a backdrop of impending great balls of fire – yep, Earth’s about to go all crispy fried, and heroes are required. Just the right length to burn out rather than fade away, the comic book stylings of Heroes Reborn make for power-packed viewing. AF

the midst of a terrorist cell planning a major attack, and Miranda Otto joins the cast as an icy CIA station chief. Even more tense and topical than the previous season, Homeland continues to up the stakes and reinvent itself after laying Brody to rest. Must-see TV. SH

DVD&BD

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

the lobster

TRUMBO

Release Date: 06/04/16 Format:

Release Date: 06/04/16 Format:

Release Date: 21/04/16 Format:

Release Date: 27/04/16 Format:

Ron Howard's ambitious, seafaring adventure concerns the events that inspired Herman Melville to pen Moby Dick – the sinking of the whaling ship Essex by an albino leviathan in 1820. This whale of a tale is told in flashback to the author (Ben Whishaw) by the Essex 's now elderly cabin boy (Brendan Gleeson), and includes the crew's subsequent ordeal aboard a lifeboat. Howard obviously wanted to make a spectacular remake of Moby Dick under the guise of an origin story, and it's a visual feast. However, you'll find yourself rooting for the whale and caring less about the characters, even if one of them is Chris Hemsworth. SH

After the dazzling wit and invention of the Oscar-winning Inside Out , the latest Disney adventure is a good-looking but formulaic throwback. The premise here is that the meteorite that spelled the end of dinosaurs 65 million years ago actually missed Earth, meaning that the great lumbering creatures have now evolved into farmers and ranchers. Raymond Ochoa voices the character of the timid apatosaurus Arlo, who blames himself for his father’s death, but gets the chance to redeem himself when he is washed away on a fantastic adventure with a primitive humanoid creature. Kids will love the cute creature, but it can be hard going for grown-ups. JF

Single folk gather in a hotel, where they must find a suitable partner during an allotted time period or get turned into an animal of their own choosing. Divorcee Colin Farrell chooses a lobster, should he fail to find his perfect match. This insane premise springs from the mind of writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, who gave us the equally brilliant and deadpan Dogtooth . His English-language debut isn't as mean-spirited as that film, but its evocation of a bizarre and insular community governed by strict rules is just as spellbinding. And the cast – especially Farrell and Olivia Coleman – is fantastic. Cult status awaits. SH

The shameful story of Hollywood's Cold War witchhunt is memorably retold in this colourful drama, which focuses on the life of the celebrated writer Dalton Trumbo. Bryan Cranston is in his element as the irascible, maverick screen scribe whose refusal – along with nine other writers – to testify at the House Un-American Activities Committee’s inquiry into Communist influence in the film industry saw him imprisoned then blacklisted. Helen Mirren also enjoys herself immensely as his nemesis, gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, and keep an eye out, too, for Kiwi star Dean O’Gorman as Kirk Douglas, who eventually resurrects Trumbo’s career. JF

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