Archive for March 2013
Parental Guidance (2012) Blu-ray Review: Usually, Jokes are Funny – But Hey, Why Kill Time Laughing?
Billy Crystal challenges everything in contemporary society – including the patience of his audience.
Read MoreArgo Movie Review: Ben Affleck Has Come a Long Way
Argo takes a really, fairly wild, story and turns it into an occasionally intense, professional film.
Read MoreThe Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: It’s a Man’s Life in the Formerly Modern Army
A charming British film about a charming British man.
Read MoreBook Review: Doctor Who: Plague of the Cybermen by Justin Richards
The 11th Doctor battles his recurring Cybermen foes with the assistance of a plucky lass.
Read MoreBook Review: Doctor Who FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Most Famous Time Lord in the Universe by Dave Thompson
A roadmap to the Doctor “Whoniverse.”
Read MoreBadlands Criterion Collection DVD Review: An Exploration of Isolation, Realism, Self-Image, and Violence
Marking the entrance of Terrence Malick with boldness and confidence.
Read MoreElvis Presley: Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (Legacy Edition) Album Review
Elvis Presley was absolutely in top form on these concerts.
Read MoreUgetsu Criterion Collection DVD Review: What Price Desire?
A powerful, thought-provoking story.
Read MoreBorgen: Season 1 DVD Review: The Far West Wing
Danish political drama offers compelling characters but somewhat lightweight stories.
Read MoreConey Island DVD Review: Musical Fun in the Technicolor Sun with Betty Grable
This 1943 musical, starring wartime’s most popular pick-up, is definitely worth a ride.
Read MoreLincoln Is the Pick of the Week
Daniel Day-Lewis simply lived, breathed, and embodied the very soul of the 16th President.
Read MoreThis Is 40 Blu-ray Review: An Endearing Look at Middle Age
Apatow continues the Knocked Up saga with a funny and touching look at life at the end of your 30s.
Read MoreSkyfall Movie Review: Good but Not Particularly Special
It’s a solid film that is mostly well-made that just happens to be featuring a major character from film history.
Read MoreWilson DVD Review: A Forgotten Classic About the 28th U.S. President
There is much, much more to Wilson than I had ever anticipated
Read MoreWith a Friend Like Harry…Movie Review: Dark French Thriller Keeps You on Edge
The atmosphere is kept dark and tension filled.
Read MoreHeavenly Shades of Delight: Twilight Time’s Blu-ray Releases, Volume Two
Under scrutiny here: Cover Girl, Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, High Time, Bye Bye Birdie (1963), The Sound and the Fury, Steel Magnolias, Enemy Mine, and Night of the Living Dead (1990).
Read MoreRipper Street: Series 1 DVD Review: A Solid Mystery Show but Far Too Overdone
If you liked the other BBC dramas out there, then you’ll like this.
Read MoreShe Played with Fire (Fortune Is a Woman) DVD Review: Jack Hawkins, Ladies Man?
A fun, forgotten English film noir.
Read MoreRoom 237 Movie Review: What You See Is What You Get
An absolute delight, especially for Stanley Kubrick fans.
Read MoreLes Miserables (2012) Blu-ray Review: Bring This Home
Les Miz fans won’t want to go one day more without it.
Read MoreBadlands Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Birth of a Legend
Terrence Malick’s debut feature film sets the standard for the rest of his career.
Read MoreEasy Money (2010) DVD Review: A Familiar Story Told in an Unfamiliar Way
Respect, respect…ain’t nothing easy about this money.
Read MoreLes Miserables Is the Pick of the Week
This week is full of Oscar nominees and award winners.
Read MoreScavenger Hunt: An Unlikely Union DVD Review: It’s for the Birds
Makes a strong case for the use of lead-free bullets.
Read MoreSpiders (2013) DVD Review: It’s Only Bad If You Watch It
It could have at least been funny. Instead it just ended up being bad.
Read MoreOz the Great and Powerful Movie Review: Wait for the DVD
The prequel offers further proof that there’s no place like home.
Read MoreDoctor Who: The Ark in Space (Special Edition) DVD Review: Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turnin’
Hard to believe this is only Baker’s second time as the Doctor, as he already has the character completely down.
Read MoreSchindler’s List 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Blu-ray Review: Never Forget
A powerful story about what can happen when just one man stands up for what is right.
Read MoreStrawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever DVD Review: Berry Bland
There’s little of interest here for most girls over the age of about six.
Read MoreHeavenly Shades of Delight: Twilight Time’s Blu-ray Releases, Volume One
Under scrutiny here: Bite the Bullet; Demetrius and the Gladiators; Bell, Book and Candle; Désirée; Journey to the Center of the Earth; The Big Heat; As Good as It Gets; and The Wayward Bus.
Read MoreBook Review: Hopper: A Journey into the American Dream by Tom Folsom
An impressionistic and unconventional biography.
Read MoreDoctor Who: The Aztecs (Special Edition) DVD Review: The First Doctor Can’t Change History
A very entertaining series of episodes.
Read MoreThe Blob (1958) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: An Oldie but Goodie Returns in High Def
Still stands as one of the classics.
Read MoreLife of Pi Blu-ray Review: Piscine in the Wind
Director Ang Lee’s film is a visual delight, but carries little emotional weight.
Read MoreThe Wizard of Oz (1939): 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray: An Absolute Must-Have for the Hardcore Fan
The “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” surely lives up to its name.
Read MoreMurdoch Mysteries Collection: Seasons 1-4 DVD Review: A Canadian Historical Mystery Gets a Box Set
An amusing, humble television program from the Great White North.
Read MoreMister 880 DVD Review: A Forgotten Counterfeit Gem
A sequel of sorts to Miracle on 34th Street.
Read MoreLife of Pi Is the Pick of the Week
So many good choices this week.
Read MoreChasing Mavericks Blu-ray Review: A Less Exciting Karate Kid for Surfers
A beautifully shot film that is too slow for its exciting subject matter.
Read MoreThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp: Season 2 DVD Review: Historically Accurate TV Classic
I miss these old Westerns.
Read MoreThe Kid with a Bike Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Another Major Work from the Dardennes
Here’s a reminder to be grateful for the consistently excellent films of the Dardenne Brothers.
Read MoreTom and Jerry: Pint-Sized Pals DVD Review: With a Little Help from Their Little Friends
A mixed-bag of classic Tom and Jerry shorts and less interesting recent creations, this collection serves as a solid, child-friendly introduction to the famous cat-and-mouse duo.
Read MoreBeing John Malkovich Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich
Malkovich, malkovich, malkovich.
Read MoreAfrica (2012) Blu-ray Review: Remarkable, Vast, Deadly Wilderness, Now in High Definition
One of the most untamed parts of the world, revealed in all its fury and tenderness.
Read MoreThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978) DVD Review: A Stunning Achievement
British drama at its finest.
Read MoreAfrica (2012) DVD Review: Insert Preferred Toto Reference Here
You’ll bless the rains (and the deserts, and the oceans, and the jungles) down in Africa while watching this gorgeous nature documentary.
Read MoreShe-Wolves: England’s Early Queens DVD Review: Goddesses and Monsters
An interesting reexamination of the earliest English queens and their vilified roles as the “she-wolves” of history.
Read MoreNight of the Devils (1972) Blu-ray Review: Sexually-Charged Psychosomatic Italian Horror at its Finest
All this and full frontal nudity, too, guys and gals. Definitely a keeper in my book.
Read MoreWreck-It Ralph Is the Pick of the Week
I’ve heard nothing but good things, and the arcade nostalgia love has done nothing but grown on me.
Read MoreThe Master (2012) Combo Pack Review: A Good Movie Not a Great One
It’s well-acted, well-directed, and well-constructed. However, there are enough things that end up being off to limit the quality of the film.
Read MoreDeadfall (2012) Blu-ray Review: Nothing New Here, and Not Especially Well Recycled
Despite a strong cast, the intertwining stories are thin and uninteresting.
Read MoreBath Salt Zombies DVD Review: This Is Not the Dustin Mills Flick You’re Looking For
I watched it so you wouldn’t have to.
Read MoreSushi Girl Blu-ray Review: Reservoir Dogs’ and The Usual Suspects’ Slightly Underdeveloped Lovechild
Great ensemble cast — if only they had a little more of a story to tell.
Read MoreA Late Quartet Blu-ray Review: Christopher Walken Finally Gets to Play a Real Person!
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment brings us this real sleeper of a winner.
Read More