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Eclectic mix of movies on DVD, Blu-ray
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Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin's chemistry gives a boost to the implausible melodrama "Labor Day," now on Blu-ray and DVD. - photo by Paramount Home Video

A contrived Hollywood melodrama leads new movies on Blu-ray and DVD, while the rest are independent productions of varying quality.
“Labor Day” (Paramount/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital/VOD, 2014, PG-13, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurette). Every once in a while a film comes around that has a plot that is so old-fashioned, sentimental and clichéd that one wonders if a studio in the 1930s might not have rejected it. Such is the case here with a highly implausible story set in the 1980s that is nearly saved by the chemistry between Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.
She’s a depressed single mother with a young son; he’s a wounded escaped con accused of killing his wife. When he forces her and her son to harbor him while he plots an escape, she does the natural thing … she falls in love with him. Complications ensue.
“Bucksville” (Monarch/DVD, 2014, alternate ending). Here’s a low-budget vigilante drama that attempts to be an exploration of militia groups that's more thoughtful than usual. In the Pacific Northwest, a young man wrestles with his conscience when his late father’s “lodge,” which dispenses backwoods justice, joins forces with a wealthy extremist (Tom Berenger) who has sinister national ambitions. The tone is right, but the script needed another rewrite and some performances are a bit amateurish.
“The Selfish Giant” (Sundance/DVD, 2013, not rated, featurettes, trailer). Based on a fable by Oscar Wilde, this stark British drama follows two young teenage boys who struggle to survive as scavengers in a depressed Northern England town. The boys are played very well by nonactors and the story is compelling, if dispiriting. But the constant foul language and some startling, disturbing sequences make it difficult to wade through.
“The Legend of Hercules” (Summit/DVD/Digital, 2014, PG-13, audio commentary). Speaking of old-fashioned, here’s a Hercules movie that makes Steve Reeves’ 1960s efforts look positively glossy, an origin story (as if a sequel were in the cards) that unfolds as a biblical-epic wannabe. This is the first of two Hercules movies this year (another opens in July with Dwayne Johnson) and it was directed on the cheap by Renny Harlin, who, in better days, gave us “Die Hard 2” and “Cliffhanger.”
“Prince Killian and the Holy Grail” (aka “Captain Thunder,” Shout!/DVD, 2014, not rated, in Spanish with English subtitles or English dubbed). Another period “epic” is this sword-and-sandal yarn from Spain, based on a European comic book. Prince Killian is a knight-errant during the Crusades who sets out to find the Holy Grail, which is being held by an evil wizard.
“The Rise and Fall of the Clash” (Shout!/DVD, 2014, not rated, new interviews, archival interviews, archival performance footage). Documentary about the English punk-rock band offers an unfettered look at backstage shenanigans as well as the music and includes previously unseen footage of band members in harmony and when they, well, clashed.
Chris Hicks is the author of "Has Hollywood Lost Its Mind? A Parent’s Guide to Movie Ratings." Website: www.hicksflicks.com
Email: hicks@deseretnews.com

Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.