Archive for December 2017
General Idi Amin Dada: A Self-Portrait Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review
An important look at unchecked power, racism, nativism, and violence though the eyes of a dictator.
Read MoreBest of 2017 Film Lists
So here’s the first set of my 2017 lists.
Read MoreEngland Is Mine Blu-ray Review: Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
Morrissey biopic explores his formative years to no great effect.
Read MoreFive Cool Things and Goodbye, 12; Hello, 13
Cool things this week include a Stephen King detective novel, a new Netflix show, and more.
Read MoreFathom Events Presents Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time
Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat get a nice send-off while paving the way for a new generation.
Read MoreCall Me by Your Name Movie Review: A Deeply Felt Ode to Unrequited Love
Transcending tropes of the genre, Call Me by Your Name is a wondrous feat in expressing emotions often left unspoken.
Read MoreThe Apartment (Arrow Academy) Blu-ray Review: A Must Own for Film Fans
Arrow releases a superb restoration of Billy Wilder’s Oscar-winning classic.
Read MorePulp Blu-ray Review: A Discombobulating Crime Comedy
Michael Caine returns with his Get Carter filmmakers to make a movie that is completely different.
Read MoreMiracle on 34th Street (70th Anniversary Edition) Blu-ray Review: To Believe or Not to Believe
It’s easy to see how it has become a holiday classic no matter where one sits on the Idealist-Realist spectrum.
Read MoreBrawl in Cell Block 99 Is the Pick of the Week
This post-Christmas week brings us a surprising amount of interesting new releases.
Read MoreThe Apartment (Limited Edition) Blu-ray Review: Continues to Stand the Test of Time
Arrow pulls out all the stops for Billy Wilder’s legendary 1960 masterpiece.
Read MoreWhiskey Galore! (2016) Blu-ray Review: Could Have Used A Stiff One
A remake that need not have bothered.
Read MoreBook Review: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets: The Art of the Film by Mark Salisbury
All the beauty of the movie, with none of the shortcomings.
Read MoreBook Review: Disney’s Christmas Classics
A delightful gift to readers from Disney and the Library of American Comics.
Read MoreThe Fox with a Velvet Tail (1971) Blu-ray Review: An Engaging Twist on the Giallo
Mondo Macabro brings us a fascinatingly unique romantic thriller take on the cult subgenre.
Read MoreFive Cool Things and a Merry Christmas
This week’s cool things include one of Martin Scorsese’s favorite films, The Last Jedi and lots of stuff I found on Acorn TV.
Read MoreCop-Out (1967) Blu-ray Review: A Boring Stranger in the House
Kino Lorber’s dated mod pic features a drunken James Mason, Bobby Darin as a total creep, and that’s about it.
Read MoreDetroit Blu-ray Review: Intense, But Not Wholly Satisfying
It does a great job making the audience feel the absolute horror of this racially motivated instance but falters when putting that moment into a greater context.
Read MoreThe Whales of August Blu-ray Review: An Actor Lover’s Dream
Acting legends Bette Davis and Lillian Gish together for the first (and last) time.
Read MoreStronger (2017) Blu-ray Review: Not Strong Enough
Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany soar in this so-so biopic.
Read MoreMaigret Sets a Trap / Maigret and the St. Fiacre Case Blu-ray Reviews: America’s Introduction to the Great French Detective
Jean Gabin plays the French detective in two of the earliest adaptations of Georges Simenon’s stories to reach the States.
Read MoreA Town Called Panic: The Collection Blu-ray Review: Belgium’s Greatest Export
GKIDS and Shout Factory! present what is arguably the funniest Blu-ray of 2017.
Read Moremother! Is the Pick of the Week
This final week before Christmas brings us a big war movie from Christopher Nolan, a smaller drama from Darren Aronofsky, plus Legos, Judi Dench as the Queen and more.
Read MoreVictoria & Abul Blu-ray Review: East Meets West
A lively historical romp that loses steam in its back half.
Read MoreBook Review: Star Wars: On the Front Lines by Daniel Wallace
It’s not to often something comes along that makes Star Wars better, but this book does just that.
Read MoreThe Shape of Water Movie Review: A Poetic Love Letter to Cinema
The Shape of Water is a poetic and transcendent film-watching experience that captures you from the first frame.
Read MorePlatoon Leader / Soldier Boyz Blu-ray Review: The Dudikoff Abides
Kino Lorber gives us a double feature offering of two ‘lesser’ Michael Dudikoff actioneers.
Read MoreDesert Hearts Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: An Unsung Queer Classic
Desert Hearts is a groundbreaking yet underrated romantic gem for the history books.
Read MoreThoughtful & Abstract: The Walking Dead: “How It’s Gotta Be”
“This show is the 2017-18 Green Bay Packer season, but it is headed to a much darker place.” – Kim
Read MoreFargo: Season 3 DVD Review: Oh, You Betcha It’s Great!
Season 3 of the acclaimed FX series is just as quirky and brilliant as the previous two seasons.
Read MoreRuby (1977) / Satan’s Cheerleaders Blu-rays Review: Tales from the Drive-In
VCI Entertainment goes retro with two imperfect releases for two equally flawed horror flicks.
Read MoreDirector Alexandra Dean Discusses Bombshell Hedy Lamarr
Dean talks about researching her complex subject and Lamarr’s renewed place in history.
Read MoreGame of Thrones: The Complete Seventh Season Is the Pick of the Week
This week’s new releases include a trio of Criterions, a couple of Reese Witherspoons, plus Colin Firth as an action star.
Read MoreBook Review: Silly Symphonies Volume 3: The Complete Disney Classics 1939-1942
Contains only one Silly Symphonies adaptation, but plenty of other Disney magic.
Read MoreBook Review: Justice League: The Art of the Film by Abbie Bernstein
As nice as this book looks, it still looks like the Justice League movie.
Read MoreFive Cool Things and Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom
This week’s cool things include John Denver singing with the Muppets, a classic James Bond film, Wilco, samurai, and more.
Read MoreThe Wrong Guy (1997) Blu-ray Review: The Right Release
Kino Lorber’s Studio Classics releases the quirky late ’90s Canadian comedy starring Dave Foley, David Anthony Higgins, and Jennifer Tilly.
Read MoreDawson City: Frozen Time (2016) Blu-ray Review: Uncovering Cinematic Buried Treasures
In an industry that is lately obsessed with making films available in multiple different versions, both in medium of delivery and in the actual content, it’s astounding to conceive just how disposable film was in its early days. Cinema was more curiosity than art form, and it’s estimated that nearly 75% of all the films…
Read MoreFree to Rock DVD Review: Documentary Explores Music’s Role in Toppling Communism
The film tells a lesser-known part of rock history, but the hour-long format barely scratches the surface.
Read MoreThoughtful & Abstract: The Walking Dead: “Time For After”
“This episode brings us one step closer to ending the agony of this two-day-long half-season.” – Shawn
Read MoreWar for the Planet of the Apes Blu-ray Review: Hail, Caesar and the Film Crew!
War for the Planet of the Apes works as both the end of a trilogy or the continuation of the franchise, depending on what happens next.
Read MoreThe Mercenary (1968) Blu-ray Review: This Fun for Hire
Franco Nero, Tony Musante, and a flamboyant Jack Palance highlight this Sergio Corbucci western, now available from Kino Lorber.
Read MoreBook Review: Walt Disney’s Treasury of Classic Tales, Volume Two
The artwork is the real stand out.
Read MoreTwo Maigret Films Starring Jean Gabin Are the Picks of the Week
They were some of the earliest looks American audiences had at Maigret, and I, for one, am excited to give them a chance.
Read MoreThe Incredible Shrinking Woman Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review: Sometimes It’s Hard to Be a Woman
Lily Tomlin is funny but also charming, smart, and conveys such resilience as a mom fighting for her family and her values.
Read MoreThe Gumball Rally (1976) Blu-ray Review: Real Cars. Real Actors. Real Fun.
The Warner Archive Collection revs its engines up for one of the greatest cross-country race flicks to hail from the ’70s.
Read MoreThe Tragically Hip: Long Time Running Blu-ray Review: Beating the Inevitability of Death Just a Little Bit
A fantastic behind-the-scenes look at how the band, their team, and their fans dealt with this farewell tour.
Read MoreThe Man with Two Brains / My Blue Heaven Blu-rays Review: Get Martinized
The Warner Archive Collection re-releases two of Steve Martin’s best films, this time in glorious High-Definition.
Read MoreFive Cool Things and the Avengers: Infinity War Trailer
Cool things this week include the Punisher, two films by Werner Herzog, an animated moving castle and more.
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