Every Tuesday, we’ll publish the latest list of top DVD rentals, according to information released by HomeMediaMagazine.com. The website is one of the industry leaders in tracking information on movie rentals at scores and at Red Box.
“Let’s Be Cops,” the buddy comedy about two guys who dress up as cops and become neighborhood sensations, tops the DVD rental charts released this week by Home Media Magazine, which charts such numbers each week.
The film, which has a 6.6 rating on IMDB.com, was released on Nov. 11. Word of mouth along with its full saturation into Red Box helped in putting it on the top of the charts. The film was not initially released to Red Box until a few weeks later because of the rental policy it has with 20th Century Fox for all its films.
“Tammy,” last week’s No. 1, moved down to No. 2 while “How to Train Your Dragon 2” was third in its first week of full release. Guardians of the Galaxy, which was released onto DVD last Tuesday, didn’t come to Red Box until Friday, which caused it to pop up fourth. The film is currently the highest-selling DVD and Blu-Ray in the country.
NOTE: Last week’s numbers by Home Media Magazine were not released until last weekend for an undetermined reason. Below is the list for this week and the list for last week.
Top 10 through Dec. 14 (Move links take you to Roger Thomas’ review of the film.)
It’s a struggle just to stay alive for Eva Sanchez (Carmen Ejogo), right, and others on a night when murder and other crimes are legal. (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
I liked the original “The Purge” very much. In fact, I liked it so much that I placed it on my top five list for the first half of 2013.
I thought the story was well constructed. The characters were developed and compelling.But most of all, I liked the social commentary the film was promoting. Make no mistake, “The Purge” was more than your average suspense-horror film. I add the word horror because though the film does not have any supernatural elements, the things humanity does to one another in the first “Purge” film are increasingly horrific.
One year later, the filmmakers are back with “The Purge: Anarchy,” and the new film improves on the original in several ways.
The original focused basically on one family inside their home, and those who sought to harm them during the night of the Purge. An intriguing setup that worked well but seems simple and small in many ways.
The new film takes place in the middle of a major city. Instead of one family, there are three groups of people who end up facing the perils of the Purge in the streets and alleyways of the city. As expected, these three groups eventually find one another, but whether they can trust each other remains to be discovered. This setting and the events that happen to these five people make this film seem more epic than the first.
Another strength are the villains in this film, and there were three or four of these groups – depending on how one counts them – and all had varied agendas. Each expands the viewer’s understanding of what happens on the night of the Purge.
This film also builds on the history and information about the Purge that began in the first film. It is easy to dismiss these stories because the United States would never pass laws as depicted in the film. However, in spite of the exaggeration, there are glimmers of truth in this fictional ritual of murder and mayhem.
One class looking on another class with disdain would never happen to the extent of the auction scene and what follows in the “Purge” sequel. On the other hand, we do seem to spend a great deal of time debating whether anyone is entitled to anything, clean water, food, a vote, and the list goes on.
Finally, I liked the conclusion of this film. I will not give anything away, except to say, in all the carnage on the night of the Purge, there are those who hold fast to their humanity and compassion, and these traits serve them well.
One word of caution to those who watched and enjoyed the first “Purge” film: The second installment of this series is much more violent than that first, and the use of profane words from the characters vastly increases. I watched the first “Purge” again, before I saw the second film, so I was very familiar with the content of the original. Even if one saw the first and were not offended, the second film might be offensive.
As for me, looking beyond the excesses, I found this new film to be equal to or in some ways better than the original. So, if you are not easily offended by mature content, and you liked the first film, you will probably find “The Purge: Anarchy” to be a film you will enjoy and reflect on days after you exit the theater.
I wonder if there are plans for another film. Will a resistance rise and attempt to bring down a government that sanctions a night of slaughter called The Purge? If they make that film, I will certainly be curious to see it.
Cinema Corner 