5.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Deep within the 100-Acre-Wood, a destructive rage grows as Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger find their home and their lives endangered after Christopher Robin revealed their existence. Not wanting to live in the shadows any longer, the group decides to take the fight to the town of Ashdown, home of Christopher Robin, leaving a bloody trail of death and mayhem in their wake. Winnie and his savage friends will show everyone that they are deadlier, stronger, and smarter than anyone could ever imagine and get their revenge on Christopher Robin, once and for all.
Starring: Scott Chambers (IV), Ryan Oliva, Tallulah Evans, Simon Callow, Alec NewmanHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 21% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
2023’s “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” was a micro-budgeted production that managed to capture headlines due to its use of author A.A. Milne’s beloved characters, transferring gentle personalities into the realm of slasher cinema. The idea of the feature went viral, inspiring ticket-buyers to see what writer/director Rhys Frake-Waterfield was going to do with his button-pushing concept. And then viewers were confronted with the punishing reality of Frake-Waterfield’s amateur filmmaking skills and lack of imagination, turning “Blood and Honey” into one of the worst movies of the year. Alas, money was made, and Frake-Waterfield is right back with “Blood and Honey 2,” which does next to nothing to improve on the viewing experience. In reality, things are just as awful in the sequel, which should be boosted by the power of hindsight and newfound budgetary might, but it mostly remains an excruciatingly dull, dreadfully acted, and poorly written follow-up that’s really no different than what came before.
The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation finds the world of "Blood and Honey 2" much more attentive to lighting, offering a more defined attempt at style. Warmer domestic views are intact, and vivid holiday lights and rave experiences are sharper, delivering brighter primaries. Skin tones are natural, and costuming is varied. Blood red remains defined. Greenery is appreciable. Detail is strong, with a rougher sense of monster makeup and outfits. Interiors are dimensional, and interiors preserve decorative additions. Delineation is acceptable, but cinematography favors flatter blacks, which obscure some visual effects. This is likely intentional.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA secures crisp dialogue exchanges, managing heavier accents and balancing heightened states of panic. Scoring supports with a defined synth sound, and musical moods work the surrounds for a more immersive understanding of suspense. Electropop moments and soundtrack selections are equally sharp. The track plays with movement at times, finding attack sequences employing panning and separation effects. Atmospherics are appreciable, along with squishy sound effects. Low-end is acceptable with moments of violence and heavier rave beats.
"Blood and Honey 2" doesn't take Manhattan or include dream warriors. It remains in the same Hundred Acre Wood as before, supplying similar bodily damage as the first film. Gratuitous violence is periodic, but cinematographer Vince Knight creates murky imagery, possibly to hide production limitations. And Frake-Waterfield is addicted to CGI gore, which never looks convincing, reaching cartoonishness at times. There's a big finale set at a rave to bring mayhem to the sequel, with a very un-bouncy Tigger (Lewis Santer) using slashing claws and Freddy Krueger-style lines to add some humor to a one-note, grim feature. More Milne-branded creations are the way forward for the series, with Frake-Waterfield planning to keep this profitable venture going for the next two years (Pinocchio, Peter Pan, and Bambi are eventually joining the "Poohniverse"). However, even with more money and a bigger cast of crazies, he still can't master something as simple as suspense or a clearly defined moment of aggression. Instead of "oh, bother," it's really a "why bother?" at this point.
2023
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1988
Crazy Fat Ethel
1975
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1980
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2022
Extended Cut
2021
2018
Collector's Edition
1978
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2013
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1991
Collector's Edition
2013