Archive for July 2014
Born Yesterday (1950) Blu-ray Review: A Memorable Holliday in DC
Twilight Time presents us with a classic comedy from Columbia Pictures that’s just as big of a laugh as its own studio head.
Read MoreUnder the Skin DVD Review: Being Human…Sort of
Glazer has crafted a careful and bizarre ode to discovering humanity.
Read MoreViolent Saturday (1955) Blu-ray Review: The Day Before Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Twilight Time gives us a much-appreciated upgrade to its previous DVD.
Read MoreLovejoy: Series 1 DVD Review: Ian McShane Is a Lovable Rascal (and Might Just Teach You a Thing or Two about Antiques)
The true pleasures of the show are in the charm of its star and the great settings and art objects he shares with the audience.
Read MoreA Threesome with Errol Flynn (Because Who Wouldn’t Want to?)
The Warner Archive presents three rarities starring cinema’s great swashbuckling heartbreaker.
Read MoreNeed for Speed (2014) Blu-ray Review: Bad, Bad, Bad (But with Some Great Car Stunts!)
Finally, a movie for addle-brained adolescents by addle-brained adolescents.
Read MoreSave Your Legs! (2012) Blu-ray Review: Wait, Australia Has Sports?
A coming-of-age-a-bit-late-in-life tale, served with a generous serving of Curry sauce.
Read MoreNoah (2014) Is the Pick of the Week
Darren Aronofsky used nearly all the tricks in his arsenal to create a visually stunning and well-crafted movie.
Read MoreCurtains (1983) Blu-ray Review: A Shining Example of “Less Is More”
Synapse Films unveils a finely-aged Canadian slasher flick.
Read MoreAlive Inside Movie Review: Where There Is Music, There Is Life
Instead of pills, try music.
Read MoreDeath Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) Blu-ray Review: When Nightmares Become Reality
Surreal, creepy, and ripe with an unmistakable element of subculture artistry.
Read MoreBook Review: Overlooked / Underappreciated: 354 Recordings That Demand Your Attention by Greg Prato
Relive the days of leafing through a friend’s record collection by reading the rock journalist’s new guide.
Read MoreHidden Kingdoms Blu-ray Review: Contrived Narratives Meet Astonishing Nature Footage
Hidden Kingdoms, from BBC Earth, showcases the world of small animals, mixing fictional stories with very real, very beautiful footage.
Read MoreBloody Moon / Bloody Birthday / The Baby (1973) Blu-rays Review: Bad, Bizarre, & Bizarrely Beautiful
Severin Films re-releases three outrageous horror classics in High-Def.
Read MoreChiller: The Complete Television Series DVD Review: Not Worth Your Time
Mostly, it’s completely forgettable.
Read MoreOur Family Honor (1985) DVD Review: The Beginning of a Short-Lived Series
The Warner Archive brings us a sample of forgotten ’80s TV crimetime drama.
Read MoreBrannigan Blu-ray Review: Dirty Duke (Done Dirt Cheap?)
For those of you who have ever wondered what would have happened had John Wayne played Harry Callahan.
Read MoreBook Review: Tarzan: In the City of Gold: The Complete Burne Hogarth Comic Strip Library
The first in a four-volume set presenting Hogarth’s tenure as artist of the Tarzan newspaper comic strip.
Read MoreHigh Barbaree (1947) DVD Review: Van Johnson and June Allyson Drop a Bomb
Recoil in horror as a tale with too many flashbacks literally bores its own co-star to death.
Read MoreThe Essential Jacques Demy Is the Pick of the Week
What I have seen looks like pure joy.
Read MoreRio 2 Blu-ray Review: Welcome to the Jungle
Blu on Blu-ray is the best way to experience this musical, colorful jungle, although the lackluster story falls short.
Read MoreBret Maverick: The Complete Series (1981-1982) DVD Review: James Garner’s Final Round
The Warner Archive brings us the last series starring one of the industry’s finest.
Read MoreGMO OMG Movie Review: What Are You Putting in Your Mouth?
Before you take another bite, watch this.
Read MoreThoughtful & Abstract: Changes at Marvel Comics Fail to Impress
The reboot of the Avengers’ core characters, while not surprising, is disheartening.
Read MoreBook Review: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Film Noir: The Essential Reference Guide by John Grant
A valuable resource to have on the shelf.
Read MorePersona Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: An Absolute Must Have
A great film that should be watched and revered by any serious cinephile
Read MoreA Summer’s Tale Movie Review: Dissecting Love and Sex with Philosophical Precision
Eric Rohmer’s 1996 joyful musing finally gets a U.S. release, sixteen years later.
Read MoreTwilight Time Presents: Men of Action (and Reaction)
An assortment of adult drama featuring some of classic cinema’s biggest names are now yours to enjoy on Blu-ray.
Read MoreSabotage (2014) Blu-ray Review: A Lesson in Self-Sabotage
A somewhat progressive ’80s throwback eschewing story for blood-letting.
Read MoreHinterland: Series 1 DVD Review: The Prints of Wales
Atmospheric and deadly serious mystery show set in the dramatic Welsh countryside.
Read MoreCrystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th DVD Review: Jason, Jason, and More Jason
If you love this series, then this will no doubt get your slasher-juices flowing.
Read MoreUnder the Skin DVD Review: Well, The Cinematography is Beautiful
Clearly, I didn’t get it.
Read MoreUnder the Skin is the Pick of the Week
I pray that it becomes more than another footnote on the Mr. Skin webpage.
Read MoreThe Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968) DVD Review: Well, Not Really, No
Raquel Welch’s fripples and Edward G. Robinson’s dancing highlight a rather lackluster comical caper.
Read MoreThe Sunshine Boys (1975) DVD Review: Walter Matthau and George Burns Are Forever Young
One of those rare Neil Simon dramedies that still makes you laugh in all the right places for all the right reasons.
Read MoreThe Future, the Past, and Creepy Dolls: Twilight Time Breaks the Eclectic Mold
The niche Blu-ray label unveils, among other things, its first double feature release.
Read MoreElton John: The Million Dollar Piano Blu-ray Review: Fans Should Invest in It
They could all be your songs.
Read MoreUnderwater Dreams Movie Review: Good in Spite of Its Marketing
There’s more to this story than mere robots that go splish splash.
Read MoreChad Hanna DVD Review: Henry Fonda Joins the Circus
Harmless, mildly enjoyable corn featuring strong performances by Fonda, Dorothy Lamour, Linda Darnell, a lion, a horse, and an elephant.
Read MorePersona (1966) Criterion Collection Review: Chilling, Strange, and Metaphysical
Ingmar Bergman outdoes himself with an influential tale of identical madness.
Read MoreRiffTrax Live!: Sharknado Review: Wisecracks That Cut Deeper Than Shark Bites
If you’re not watching RiffTrax, you should be.
Read MoreMusical Oddities from the Warner Archive
Two forgotten musicals, a neglected homage, and The Cars, too.
Read MoreBook Review: Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark Harris
Fascinating, lively group bio chronicling the WWII service of Hollywood legends Frank Capra, George Stevens, John Ford, William Wyler, and John Huston.
Read MoreLosers, Lineages, Lust, Lemons, and Lynch: Five Comedies From Twilight Time
What do Woody Allen, James Stewart, Kurt Russell, David Lynch, and a couple of horny teenage girls have in common? They’re all on Blu-ray now.
Read MoreBook Review: Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim, Vol. 4: 1942-1944 by Alex Raymond
This LOAC series comes to a close as Raymond proves to be the kind of hero he wrote about.
Read MoreBronies vs. A Brony Tale: A “Tail” of Two Brony Documentaries
I tell you who did it better.
Read MoreWildcat Bus (1940) DVD Review: As Outdated as Public Transportation Itself
Fay Wray highlights this slow-moving ride that’s too proud to ask for direction.
Read MoreA Slight Case of Larceny (1953) DVD Review: Bottom of the Barrel Comedy
The beginning of the end for Mickey Rooney and Eddie Bracken.
Read MoreBoyhood’s 12 Years in the Making: Jumping into the Void
Director Richard Linklater and stars Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Coltrane on creating an “epic of minutia.”
Read MoreGirl Trouble (1942) DVD Review: Romantic Comedy Lite
Girl Crazy is an extremely silly romantic comedy, but offers fast-paced fun.
Read MoreWoman’s World DVD Review: It’s Frothy, ’50s Fun
This welcome arrival to DVD is good fun and should be enjoyed on repeat viewings.
Read MoreNymphomaniac Volume I & Volume II Is the Pick of the Week
I’ve been meaning to check out Lars von Trier’s films for a long time. This week’s pick just might get me there.
Read MoreBook Review: Archie: Daily Newspaper Comics – The Swingin’ Sixties, Volume Two: 1963-1965 by Bob Montana
A swingin’ good time with Archie and the gang.
Read MoreSky Full of Moon (1952) DVD Review: And a Script Full of Maroons
Notable for being as genuinely dumb as its name implies.
Read MoreThe Way, Way Back Blu-ray Review: A Coming-of-Age Classic
Awkward teen finds real life is manageable.
Read MoreNever Too Late to Learn? Twilight Time’s Quintet Examines Human Nature
Five films making their High-Def debut take a good long look at depraved elements like violence, greed, sports, and Jon Voight.
Read MoreDocument of the Dead DVD Review: An Absolutely Wonderful Labor of Zombie Love
One of the very best documentaries ever made about the horror genre.
Read MoreCaged (1950) DVD Review: Polished Prototype of a Sleazy Subgenre
The Warner Archive gives this lifelong classic a deserving second chance.
Read MorePerformance (1970) Blu-ray Review: Mick Jagger Highlights Psychedelic Cult Classic
For those of you who wonder what that whole “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” thing is like.
Read MoreBarbary Coast (1975) DVD Review: Frisco, The Western Frontier
William Shatner is a man of a thousand faces in this lighthearted TV series.
Read MoreBrain Donors (1992) DVD Review: An Underrated and Extremely Neglected Comedy
The Zucker Brothers take on the Marx Brothers in a rare example of someone actually succeeding in recreating classic comedy.
Read MoreBoyhood Movie Review: As Time Goes By
Literally 12 years in the making, Richard Linklater creates a naturalistic slice of life that’s equal parts interesting and maddeningly anti-dramatic.
Read MoreDeath Among Friends (1975) DVD Review: Lighthearted Murder Fare = Failed TV Pilot
Not quite as nice as sex among friends, but I suppose it’ll do.
Read MoreSearch for the Gods (1975) DVD Review: What, Another Failed TV Pilot? You Bet!
Pre-action star Kurt Russell highlights this amusing piece of ’70s pseudoscience schlock.
Read MoreDeath in Paradise: Season 1 DVD Review: British Mysteries with a Tropical Twist
Traditional British sleuthing set in the easy-going Caribbean.
Read MoreBeyond the Poseidon Adventure DVD Review: A Different Kind of Disaster
Still, it’s better than the 2006 remake of the original film!
Read MoreTestament (1983) DVD Review: Still Waiting for the World to Deserve It
One of the most powerfully realistic (and yet simplistic) post-apocalyptic movies ever made.
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