STACK NZ Mar #82

DVD&BD REVIEWS

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Protect the bloodline. UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS

Party like your job depends on it. OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

Release Date: 22/03/17

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Release Date: 22/03/17

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The Underworld franchise is as tenacious as its immortal vampires, having survived for 13 years and five films. The conflict between Vampires and Lycans heats up again in the aptly titled Blood Wars , which fortunately opens with a handy "Previously, on Underworld..." recap that brings us bang up to date. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is recruited by the Vampire elders to train an army in the ways of the Death Dealers, in order to take the fight to a new and unstoppable Lycan leader. But the power-hungry

Every office-bound worker looks forward to the annual Chrissie party. A chance to let the hair down, and celebrate 12 months of a job (sometimes) well done. This expectation is keeping many at Zenotek going, but with their quarterly quota unmet, the Grinch is about to strike. She would be Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston, rekindling her Horrible Bosses fire), who threatens to rain down layoffs, cut bonuses and – in true Alan RIckman style – cancel Christmas. Or at least the party. Her brother Clay (T.J. Miller), who also happens to be the

Samira (Lara Pulver) needs Selene's blood to take control of the coven, resulting in the Death Dealer fleeing to a Nordic hideout with new ally Thomas (Theo James). When it comes to vampire/werewolf conflict, we'll take Underworld over Twilight every time. SH

branch manager, has other ideas though, and the party to end all parties launches complete with sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll and, erm, roly-poly snowman suits. Not for the prudish, this Office Christmas Party is a near- literal riot – and you’ll also hear ‘Gone Girl’ used as an adjective. AF

When you love someone you can't just throw it away. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

As time goes by… ALLIED

Release Date: 01/03/17

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Release Date: 22/03/17

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Nocturnal Animals unfolds through two distinct and different timeframes. In one, Susan (Amy Adams), a wealthy art gallery curator, is surprised to receive the proofs of a forthcoming novel written by her ex-husband Tony (Jake Gyllehaal). In the other, the novel's story plays out in Susan’s mind, with Gyllenhaal also taking on the role of the book’s lead character, who falls foul of some redneck psychos while on a road trip through the Texas badlands with his wife and daughter. Fashion designer turned filmmaker Tom Ford seamlessly knits the disparate

A nostalgic blend of romance and Second World War heroics, this old school melodrama is just the trick for fans of classics like Casablanca . It's 1942 and Wing Commander Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) has arrived in French Morocco to meet Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard), a high ranking member of the French Resistance who will impersonate his wife and assist in the assassination of the German ambassador. This sham marriage quickly becomes the real deal, but things get complicated when leaked intelligence suggests that his

strands of the film together and his cool, fluid visuals provide the perfect counterpoint to the melodramatics that unfold on screen. A thoughtful treatise on revenge and the life choices we all must make, Nocturnal Animals comes highly recommended. JF (See page 16)

wife might actually be a Nazi spy. The period detail – especially the early scenes set in Casablanca – is impressively recreated by director Robert Zemeckis, while Pitt and Cotillard make for attractive stand-ins for Bogart and Bergman. AC

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MARCH 2017

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