Archive for January 2013
Three Stars DVD Review: A Pretty Good Documentary
The CliffsNotes version of being an elite chef with a three-star restaurant.
Read More2013 Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts Review: Davids vs. Goliaths
Animation can do anything quite literally.
Read MoreThe Origins of Oz DVD Review: The Story of the True Man Behind the Curtain
This documentary makes for a nice companion to the classic film.
Read MoreYERT: Your Environmental Road Trip DVD Review: Worth Watching
A documentary that should have gotten its own TV series.
Read MoreTwo-Lane Blacktop: Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Monte Hellman’s Masterpiece
Is it weird that I can relate to every single main character in this film? Oh, well!
Read MoreMisfits: Season Two DVD Review: Last of the Greats
Second season features the last appearances of the full original cast.
Read MoreTwenty Twelve: The Complete Series DVD Review: Past Its Sell-By Date
Marginally funny mockumentary series about the planning committee for the London Olympics loses something in translation.
Read MoreBoris Karloff Triple Feature DVD Review: Pleases Die-Hard Fans
Karloff is more than make-up in three interesting movies from Warner Archive Collection.
Read MoreJeff, Who Lives at Home Movie Review: A Well-done Emotional Film About a Family
It is funny on the occasion, but it is also genuinely emotionally engaging as well.
Read MoreAgatha Christie’s Poirot and Marple Fan Favorites Collection DVD Review: Super Tales of Super Sleuths
It serves as an excellent introduction to the author’s two most popular creations: Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.
Read MoreFollowing Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Christopher Nolan’s Memorable Debut
A writer finds himself in the middle of a crime drama.
Read MoreMidsomer Murders: Set 21 DVD Review: The Fictional British County of Midsomer Is Beautiful and Deadly
Four new murder mysteries from the long-running English series.
Read MoreDoctor Zhivago (2002) DVD Review: Decidedly Less Than Epic
This television miniseries adaptation ultimately suffers in comparison to both the original novel and David Lean’s 1965 film version.
Read MoreIvan’s Childhood Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: War is Hell, but Looks Superb
Stunning craftsmanship elevates this meditation on the effects of war as experienced by a child
Read MoreThe Tin Drum Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Schlöndorff’s German Fable
A pageant of the absurd.
Read MoreYoung Justice: Invasion: Destiny Calling DVD Review: The Students Have Finally Become the Masters
If you’re a fan of the DC world or just like a good story, then this series will not disappoint.
Read MoreRed Dwarf X DVD Review: Who Would Have Thought Being The Last Human in Existence Could Be This Fun?
One of the best comedies to come from the BBC.
Read MoreEnd of Watch Blu-ray Review: Or, Training Day 2
Gritty and tense, it does almost everything I want a cop drama to do.
Read MoreFrankenweenie (2012) Blu-ray Review: A Technically Impressive Animated Endeavor
Tim Burton returns to his filmmaking roots.
Read MoreBill Moyers: Becoming American DVD Review: An Engrossing, Absorbing Documentary
Bill Moyers details the Chinese American experience.
Read MoreHanna-Barbera and Rankin/Bass Christmas Collections Review: A Belated Animated Christmas
Not as well-known as their more ubiquitous counterparts, they are (with two exceptions) entertaining additions to your yearly holiday viewing.
Read MoreRed Dwarf X Blu-ray Review: Series IX? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Series IX!
The Boys from the Dwarf make their long-awaited return with a full six-episode series in glorious High-Definition.
Read MoreArcher: The Complete Season Three DVD Review: Not Just Your Ordinary International Spy, He’s Much Worse
Creative, fun, and left me looking forward to the next one.
Read MoreDoctor Who: Shada DVD Review: The Doctor Goes to Cambridge to Save the Universe
The fabled, never-aired 1980 serial has one of the strangest histories in the franchise.
Read MoreBatman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 Blu-ray Review: A Great Adaptation of Frank Miller’s Work
The plot is faithful, the animation outstanding, and the voice acting impressive.
Read MoreThe Impossible (2012) Movie Review: Impossible to Sit Through
A story meant to be heartfelt only frustrates with its all-white cast and manipulative storytelling.
Read MorePolice Academy: The Animated Series, Volume One DVD Review: From Caddish to Kiddie
Some things simply will not lay down and suffer a painfully natural death like they should.
Read MoreTo Rome with Love Is the Pick of the Week
I always go with Woody.
Read MoreLapland Odyssey DVD Review: Karukoski’s Jussi-winning Comedy is a Middling Affair
This Finnish comedy boasts charming cinematography and little else.
Read MoreThe Sentries Select Their Favorite Film of 2012
Did yours make the list?
Read MoreThe Tin Drum Criterion Collection DVD Review: Familial Insanity Mirrors Nazi Germany
The Director’s Cut of the acclaimed 1979 Film is finally available from Criterion.
Read MoreHouse at the End of the Street Blu-ray Review: Not Befitting of the Talent It Attracted
If I wanted pointless twists, I’d have eaten a plate of rotini pasta.
Read MoreThe Hour 2 Blu-ray Review: Six Gripping Hours of Corruption, Blackmail, and Love Triangles
In 1957, The Hour’s heavy hitters continue to expose corruption as they secretly battle personal demons and daily dramas.
Read MoreThe Hour 2 DVD Review: Some of the Best Drama from Either Side of the Pond
This Cold War drama keeps getting better and better.
Read MoreThe Story of Math Collection DVD Review: Informative, Fascinating, and Entertaining Study of Mathematics
Who knew math could be so much fun?
Read MoreThe Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Criterion Collection DVD Review: See the Master of Suspense Invent Himself
An early Hitchcock classic gets cleaned up and looks better than ever.
Read MoreThe Hour 2 Is the Pick of the Week
More than just a Mad Men clone.
Read MoreCosmopolis Blu-ray Review: Cronenberg and DeLillo are a Perfect Match
David Cronenberg’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel is no inert literary exercise.
Read MoreWar of the Dead Blu-ray Review: It Forgot to Make Me Care
Follows the formulas and cliches of action and horror, but never gives any reason to stick with it.
Read More56 Up Movie Review: Still Going Strong After Nearly 50 Years
Acclaimed director Michael Apted continues his legendary documentary series in its latest seven-year installment.
Read MoreInglourious Basterds Movie Review: Liquid Modernity and Alternate History
You’ve never seen World War II quite like this before.
Read MoreOsombie DVD Review: Good Dumb Fun
It’s an amusing, offensive, complete waste of time with a ridiculous premise — everything that cheesy action/zombie movies are supposed to be.
Read MoreBook Review: If You Like Quentin Tarantino… by Katherine Rife
Rife’s book is an excellent reference for those new fans who can’t get enough of Quentin Tarantino.
Read MoreV/H/S DVD Review: Definitive Proof as to Why Beta Was Better
Not only is it a contemporary SOV flick, but it’s a found footage flick, to boot. Joy, eh?
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