A pair of competitive ping-pong playing pals have their ups and downs in Fumiko Sori’s 2002 drama Ping Pong, based upon the manga. Ping Pong is now on Blu-ray via 88 Films.
Tag Archives: sports
The Boxer [1977] [Radiance Films LE Blu-Ray]
An aging boxer takes a younger man under his wing in 1977’s drama The Boxer, directed by Shuji Terayama; now on Blu-ray via Radiance.
Youngblood (2025)
A rookie hockey player has to choose between his father’s brutal code of violence or his coach’s approach to unified teamwork in this remake of the 1986 film of the same name.
Marty Supreme [2025]
A man cojoles, forces, scams, and slums his way through his dream of ping-pong championships in Josh Safdie’s anxiety-driven fever dream of a movie, Marty Supreme.
The Waiting Game (2024)
The ABA and the NBA once upon a time were competing leagues. Then the NBA acquired some of the ABA teams, leaving some players without a plan and without a pension. A non-profit group and a lawyer went to battle to help these players regain some of their pensions and money.
Rocky Ultimate Knockout Collection [4K Ultra HD/Digital]
Now Available from Warner Home Entertainment.
This isn’t the ultimate Rocky Collection. I’m sure Warner is planning a big deluxe set with all the bells and whistles somewhere down the line because, while it is a very good set, it doesn’t have every Rocky chapter. Despite being a spin off, the “Creed” movies are “Rocky” movies to their very soul and should be included in the library. I don’t know if they’re waiting for “Creed III” or some anniversary, but “Creed” deserves its spot in this massive library alongside “Rocky III” and “Rocky.” They’re both wonderful films the same as Stallone’s creations are. Stallone has also expressed big interest in re-cutting “Rocky V” for re-release over the last few years, so if that ever gets off the ground, there’s room for another set down the road.
Nevertheless, for fans that wanted another go at the “Rocky” series, Warner releases an interesting and more thorough (thorougher?) collection.
Challengers (2024) [Blu-Ray/Digital]
Now Available from Warner Home Entertainment.
Luca Guadagnino is a talented filmmaker, one that knows how to handle genre films well, but so far he feels so out of his element with “Challengers.” For all intents and purposes, “Challengers” is a very good movie, it’s just so ill fitted for Guadagnino’s abilities as he struggles between directing a film that bounces back and forth between dark suspense and darkly comedic drama. “Challengers” is a lot of ways about the passion of sports and the lengths we’re willing to go through to remain married to it, even when our prime has passed. “Challengers” isn’t so much a love triangle, as it is a dark drama about three people willing to be as cut throat as possible to remain in the game.