Archive for November 2012
The Adventures of the Wilderness Family DVD Review: The Defining Moment of an All but Dead Subgenre
A highly-enjoyable family adventure flick about a group of dirty stinkin’ hippies.
Read MoreLili DVD Review: When Is a Musical Not a Musical?
A surprisingly song-less song-and-dance film with Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer.
Read MoreAFI Fest 2012 Review: The Central Park Five: One the Most Important Films of the Year
It will surely ruin whatever faith viewers have in the U.S. justice system.
Read MoreBook Review: Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady by Darryl and Tuezdae Littleton
A book about the ladies we love to watch just misses the mark.
Read MoreEight is Enough: The Complete Second Season DVD Review: And Abby Makes Nine
Warner Archive presents the ongoing adventures of The Bradfords.
Read MoreLa Jetee / Sans Soleil Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Stay for the Stills, Run from the Motion
Chris Marker’s black and white still film runs rings around his pretentious color full-motion travelogue.
Read MoreBooks Review: Neon Genesis Evangelion Volumes 01, 02 & 03 and Volume 13 by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto
A very nice set of manga for fans old and new.
Read MoreHawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection DVD Review: Jimmy Stewart, TV Star
Screen legend Jimmy Stewart upholds his legacy with an effective TV turn as a Southern defense attorney.
Read MoreTransformers: Prime: Season Two Blu-ray Review: A More Mature Series
The horrors of a centuries-old mechanized war displayed in stunning high definition.
Read MoreLuck: The Complete First Season Is the Pick of the Week
David Milch’s series proved to be not so lucky, but we are for getting a new chance to watch it.
Read MorePixar Short Films Collection Volume 2 Review: A Very Entertaining Roster
A showcase for technological innovations and the talents of up-and-coming filmmakers.
Read MoreDoctor Who: The Claws of Axos Special Edition DVD Review: Earthbound Doctor Saves the Day Again
The monstrous Axos comes to Earth. Good thing the Doctor is here as well.
Read MoreCalifornia Solo Movie Review: A Formerly Famous Musician Faces His Demons
Director Marshall Lewy’s character study explores the personal side of post-fame fallout.
Read MoreAstonishing X-Men Blu-ray Collection Review: Joss Whedon Teams Up with Marvel Superheroes
The plots are engaging and the characters entertaining.
Read MoreWeekend (1967) Criterion Collection DVD Review: For the True Cinephile
It’s French, it’s subversive, it’s not for the average film buff.
Read MoreAstonishing X-Men Blu-ray Collection Review: Joss Whedon Teams Up with Marvel Superheroes
The plots are engaging and the characters entertaining.
Read MoreCulinary Masterpieces: Special Edition Box Set Review: Appetizing Flicks
An alluring glimpse into the world of high-end dining.
Read MoreStray Cats: Live in Montreux 1981 DVD Review: Rockabilly Purr-fection
The concert captures a band at the peak of their talents and demonstrates that great music is the timeless.
Read MoreBrave (2012) Ultimate Collector’s Edition Review: Mothers and Daughters and Bears, Oh My!
The Blu-ray delivers such an impressive presentation it should talked about when considering the best of the year.
Read MorePrep & Landing: Totally Tinsel Collection DVD Review: A Totally Tinsel Way to Spend Christmas
Be sure to add Disney’s latest series to your DVD library.
Read MoreBugs Bunny Superstar DVD Review: More Cartoon Than Documentary
An entertaining (if less than exhaustive) look back at the pioneering figures of Golden Age Warner Bros. animation.
Read MoreMighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series DVD Review: Everything but the Zord
Die-hard fans will not be disappointed.
Read MoreAlice: The Complete Second Season DVD Review: Alice Still Lives Here but the Writers Should Be Evicted
Few things from our past taste as good as we remember.
Read MoreThe Muppet Christmas Carol 20th Anniversary Blu-ray Review: It’s Not Easy Being Scrooge
The influential Muppet twist of the annual Dickens classic.
Read MoreDoctor Who Limited Edition Gift Set Is the Pick of the Week
A nicely priced boxed set just in time for Christmas.
Read MoreInventing Our Life: The Kibbutz Experiment Movie Review: Is the Kibbutz Kaputz?
A look at whether this grand experiment worked or not.
Read MoreFamily Guy: Volume Ten DVD Review: Seth MacFarlane and Company Deliver Holiday Classics
Could have used more extras, but this set is something to have.
Read MoreBill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Blu-ray Review: Most Righteously Recommended, Dude
The first Bill & Ted in High-Def? Why, in time, we’ll be dancing in the streets all night!
Read MoreWrong Turn 5: Bloodlines DVD Review: Who Needs Originality When You Have Direct-to-Video?
When is this series going to make a right turn? Oh, ask a silly question…
Read MoreDawn of the Dead (2012) Movie Review: Tunes, Tabs, and Tie-dye
The Grateful Dead and the rise of the San Francisco Underground.
Read MoreDreams of a Life DVD Review: A Beautiful Yet Flawed Dream of a Lonely Life
A haunting, and interesting subject gets mired down by the director Carol Morley.
Read MoreDreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk DVD Review: New Series Soars Above the Competition
Exceptionally high production qualities and writing elevate TV series above toon standards.
Read MoreThe Watch Blu-ray Review: The Don’t Watch
There’s a funny story to be mined from the concept of hapless neighborhood watchmen, but this isn’t it.
Read MoreAstonishing X-Men: Unstoppable DVD Review: Astonishing Cassaday
Joss Whedon’s conventional alien war story fails to impress, but John Cassaday’s artwork shines in simulated motion.
Read MoreWith Great Power: The Stan Lee Story DVD Review: Despite My Complaints, I Still Recommend It
As fake and one-sided as Stan’s toupee, but also just as entertaining.
Read MoreThe Sessions Movie Review: An Astonishingly Frank and Compassionate Film
One of the best films of 2012.
Read MoreLawrence of Arabia (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) Is the Pick of the Week
David Lean’s masterpiece gets a massive boxed set and a restored look.
Read MoreWoody Herman: Blue Flame DVD Review: An Impressive Story
A performance-filled account of the life of the legendary big-band leader.
Read MoreConcert Review: An Evening with The Monkees, Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA, 11/10/12
“It’s about the good work we did.” – Mike Nesmith to Los Angeles Times
Read MoreI, Claudius: 35th Anniversary DVD Review: An Outstanding Television Series
The drama, and a few characters, are captivatingly executed.
Read MoreThe Eagle (2011) Movie Review: Romans, Seal People, and an Epic Quest
The Eagle will provide male bonding, epic trekking, and blue-painted maniacs, but don’t go looking for historical accuracy.
Read MoreRashomon (1950) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Restoration Shows Improvements, Not Perfection
Early tandem between legendary director Akira Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune yields this undisputed classic film.
Read MoreShazam!: The Complete Live Action Series DVD Review: Well Intentioned but Poorly Produced
“If you’re not careful you may learn something before it’s done.” – Bill Cosby, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Read MoreVera: Set 2 DVD Review: Murder, She Grumbled
Brenda Blethyn’s feisty and frumpy detective shows the whippersnappers how to solve crimes.
Read MoreSunday Bloody Sunday Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
When a young male artist possesses the hearts of a thirtysomething woman and a middle-aged man, only he has the power to craft the outcome of their affair.
Read MoreInterview with John Kenneth Muir, Author of An Askew View 2: The Films of Kevin Smith
“As a director, [Smith] speaks to the issues that interest me in a way that interests me.”
Read MoreRashomon Criterion Collection DVD Review: The Best of the Best
The visually stunning masterpiece from “The Emperor” of Japanese cinema remastered and packed with extras.
Read MoreRashomon Is the Pick of the Week
The Kurosawa classic gets the Criterion Blu-ray treatment.
Read MoreThundercats Nintendo DS Video Game Review: Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats NOOOOOO!
Generic and difficult side-scrolling hack-and-slash adventure is an unfortunate throwback to 16-bit gaming days.
Read MoreRed Dust DVD Review: A Hot Time in Old Indochina
The newly-remastered, long-anticipated release of this Clark Gable-Jean Harlow Pre-Code classic was worth the wait.
Read MoreBones: The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Review: Enter the Pregnant Lady
There’s really nothing new under the sun here except for some old, brittle, sun-bleached Bones.
Read MoreBook Review: All the Emperor’s Men by Hiroshi Tasogawa
A riveting account of the events surrounding Akira Kurosawa’s dismissal from Tora! Tora! Tora!
Read MoreRudyard Kipling’s Mark of the Beast (2012) DVD Review: It’ll Make a Nice Coaster
I’m pretty sure nobody involved with this project knew what they were doing.
Read MoreChasing Mavericks: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Review
Let’s talk some movie music!
Read MoreReservoir Dogs Movie Review: An Outstanding Debut
Twenty years later, it remains a compelling piece of work.
Read MoreRosemary’s Baby Criterion Collection DVD Review: A Masterful Film
Roman Polanski’s American debut took on a life of its own.
Read MoreTIFF 2012 Review: The Bay
Barry Levinson finds success with the found-footage format.
Read MorePaul Williams Still Alive Movie Review: Tells the Story of the Man More than the Songwriter
Director and subject make an odd couple in this flawed but endearing documentary
Read MoreMagical Mystery Tour Blu-ray Review: There’s a Fog Upon My Brain
This is what happens when Paul McCartney creates a film from a circle.
Read MoreVamps (2012) DVD Review: Light on Laughs, Heavy on Nostalgia
The film loves its pretty cast but forgets it has a story to tell.
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