Kent Conrad

The Place Promised in Our Early Days Blu-ray Review: Sci-Fi Sentimental Teenage Drama

Director Makoto Shinkai’s feature anime debut plays with themes he would later develop more fully in Your Name and Weathering With You.

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12 Monkeys (1995) 4K UHD Review: Time-Travel Tragedy

A psychological thriller, a science-fiction film, comedy and tragedy, 12 Monkeys is Terry Gilliam’s most wide-reaching and accessible film.

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Wild Things 4K UHD Review: High Level Sleaze

Sex, Theft, and murder in south Florida, this is a wildly entertaining crime story with no one to root for.

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 4K UHD Review: End of the Classic Western

John Ford, Jimmy Stewart, and John Wayne come together for one of the last classic Westerns, now in 4k release.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Season 13 and The Gizmoplex Debut Today

The venerable movie commentary show enters a new phase, and a new season on its own streaming platform.

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) 4K UHD Review: Loud, Blaring Classic Adaptation

Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation goes back to the novel for a faithful, but histrionic and anti-subtle adaptation of the horror classic.

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To Sleep So as to Dream Blu-ray Review: Ode to Silent Japanese Cinema

A startlingly weird directorial debut about detectives searching for a kidnapped girl, made in the style of a silent film.

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The Godfather Trilogy 4K UHD Review: A Restoration You Can’t Refuse

This release brings Francis Ford Coppola’s greatest achievement returns home with both a beautiful restoration and incredible 4K transfer.

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SXSW 2022 Review: In the Court of the Crimson King

Commissioned on their 50th anniversary, this documentary shows the power, and the price, of the legendary band’s discipline.

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The Legend of the Stardust Brothers DVD Review: ’80s Japanese Manic Musical

Directed by the son of Osamu Tezuka, this film is several music videos in search of a story… that somehow works.

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Evil Eye plus The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963) Blu-ray Review: Slick in Italian, Murky in American

Arguably the first giallo film has loads of style, even in black and white… but it’s better in Italian.

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Alligator (1980) 4K Ultra HD Review: Jaws in the Sewers

One of the better Jaws retreads has an unusually intelligent script for a monster movie, and fun monster antics.

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Cinema Sentries

The Capture (1950) Blu-ray Review: Complex Modern Western Crime Narrative

A psychological Western Crime film where a man kills a (supposed) thief, then ends up marrying his wife.

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Cinema Sentries

Rich and Strange Blu-ray Review: Marriage in Crisis

An early Hitchcock comedy about a couple who find out whether their marriage can withstand sudden riches.

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Cinema Sentries

Red Angel (1966) Blu-ray Review: Disturbing War Hospital Drama

Yasuzo Masamura’s dark drama about a nurse who struggles to maintain her humanity in the hell of war.

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Cinema Sentries

The Toolbox Murders (1978) 4K Ultra HD Review: Gruesome Grindhouse Exploitation

Grimy and sleazy, this exploitation film about a murder using power tools becomes interesting in its less lethal third act.

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Cinema Sentries

Shock (1977) Blu-ray Review: Bava’s Final Film

The final film by Mario Bava is a departure from his stereotypical style, but still has some interest and flair.

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Cinema Sentries

Bob Spit: We Do Not Like People Movie Review: Punk is NOT Dead

A hybrid animated documentary/post-apocalyptic trip to the center of an artist’s mind is obscure for the non-initiated, but plenty entertaining.

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Cinema Sentries

Krampus: The Naughty Cut 4K Ultra HD Review: Anti-Santa Extended Edition

This new cut of Mike Dougherty’s Christmas horror film materially improves an atmospheric tale of one boy’s unfortunate Christmas wish.

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Cinema Sentries

David Byrne’s American Utopia Movie Review: Beautifully Filmed but Imperfect Concert

A fantastically performed and produced performance is undermined by some artistic choices, both in the stage show and the filming.

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Cinema Sentries

Wife of a Spy Blu-ray Review: Understated Japanese Spy Thriller

Yu Aoi’s brilliant performance bolsters Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s story in ‘40s Japan of a woman convinced her husband is a spy.

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Cinema Sentries

The Ghost Ship/Bedlam Double Feature Blu-ray Review: Two Val Lewton Suspense Thrillers

Two ’40s films by Val Lewton protégé Mark Robson explore the dangers of authority with atmospheric suspense films.

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Cinema Sentries

Some Came Running Blu-ray Review: ’50s Melodrama Feels Familiar

A Sinatra vehicle, excellently helmed and acted, sounds familiar notes in the story of small town life in the ’50s.

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Cinema Sentries

Middle Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Ultra HD Review: Beautiful Box but Incomplete

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies have beautiful 4K transfers, but have many missing extras.

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Cinema Sentries

Night Has a Thousand Eyes Blu-ray Review: Psychic Thriller a Near Miss

Edward G. Robinson is a phony psychic who develops a real ability to see the future… which ruins his life.

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Cinema Sentries

The Beast Must Die (1952) Blu-ray Review: Argentinian Revenge Noir

A newly restored South American film noir discovery by Uruguayan-Argentinian director Romany Vinoly Barreto.

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Cinema Sentries

Karen Dalton: In My Own Time DVD Review: Sad Songs, Sad Life

An unflinching portrait of a troubled folk singer in the Greenwich Village scene.

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Cinema Sentries

Batman: Year One Commemorative Edition 4K Ultra HD Review: Good Batman Story Unexceptionally Told

Frank Miller’s seminal comic book story of Bruce Wayne’s first year as Batman gets a perhaps too faithful adaptation.

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Cinema Sentries

Mad Love (1935) Blu-ray Review: Grotesque ’30 Body Horror

Beautifully shot German expressionist style American horror film, with Peter Lorre’s English debut as a mad doctor.

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Cinema Sentries

Book Review: Hitchcock and the Censors by John Billheimer

A comprehensive study of the wheeling and dealing Alfred Hitchcock had to do get his stories past official Hollywood censors.

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Cinema Sentries

In the Shadow of Hollywood: Highlights from Poverty Row Blu-ray Review: Independent ’30s B-Movies

A collection of four films from the ’30s that showcase the independent productions away from the big studios.

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Cinema Sentries

Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection 4K Ultra HD Review: Four Classic Horrors

Universal releases a 4K collection of their most iconic horror titles from the early 20th century.

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Cinema Sentries

Deep Red (1975) 4K Ultra HD Review: Argento’s Giallo Swan Song

Argento finally perfect his stylish cinematic approach, and pretty much abandons storytelling, in this beautiful baffling murder mystery.

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Cinema Sentries

Demons I & II Blu-ray Review: Italian Gore Shlock Romp

Lamberto Bava’s two Evil Dead meets Dawn of the Dead gorefests are dumb in the best ways possible.

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Cinema Sentries

Vera Cruz (1954) Blu-ray Review: Twisty Western Caper

Western set and shot in Mexico about two mercenaries betraying their employers, and each other, becoming friends along the way.

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Cinema Sentries

Dune (1984) 4K Ultra HD Review: Beautiful, Fascinating Mess of an Adaptation

A messy adaptation of a nearly unfilmable book has amazing production design and a beautiful 4K release.

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Cinema Sentries

Death Screams (1982) Blu-ray Review: Regional ’80s Slasher Artifact

Obscure ’80s North Carolina slasher movie offers a window into indie cinema history. Also, blood and boobs.

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Cinema Sentries

Children of the Corn (1984) 4K Ultra HD Review: Beating Up Kids in 4K

A rare early faithful adaptation of a Stephen King story shines in this new 4K restoration.

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Cinema Sentries

The Window (1949) Blu-ray Review: The Boy Who Cried Murder

Taut noir thriller about a story-telling boy who witnesses a real murder is brisk, engaging, and beautifully shot.

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Cinema Sentries

The Village Detective: A Song Cycle Movie Review: Meditation on Ruined Film

A documentary about four ruined reels of a Soviet film reveal truths about the intersection of cinema and history.

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Cinema Sentries

The Cat O’ Nine Tails 4K Ultra HD Review: Convoluted Giallo Murder Mystery

Argento’s second film has some great set pieces, music, and cinematography, but is undermined by an overbusy script.

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Cinema Sentries

Bugsy Malone Blu-ray Review: Bizarre and Charming Kiddie Gangster Musical

Alan Parker’s 1976 tribute to classical Hollywood and gangster stories cast entirely with children is finally on Blu-ray in America.

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Cinema Sentries

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage 4K Ultra HD Review: Dario Argento’s Debut Giallo

Dario Argento’s stylish and assured directorial debut about a black-clad murderer stalking Rome comes to 4K.

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Cinema Sentries

Hail to the Deadites Movie Review: Evil Dead’s Biggest Fans

A charming documentary about the most dedicated (read: obsessive) fans of the cult classic Evil Dead trilogy.

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Cinema Sentries

Dead & Buried (1981) 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition Review: Uncovered ’80s Horror Gem

This take on the zombie genre by the writers of Alien is dripping with atmosphere and dread.

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Cinema Sentries

I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes Blu-ray Review: Limp Mystery Noir

Based on a novella by Cornell Woolrich, this film takes a thin premise and does little with it.

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Cinema Sentries

Irezumi (1966) Blu-ray Review: Revenge and Obsession

A tattoo transforms a geisha into a spirit of vengeance in this moody period drama from Yasuzo Masumura.

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Cinema Sentries

Drunken Master II Blu-ray Review: Pinnacle Chan Martial Arts

A solid (if bare bones) release of some of Jackie Chan’s most impressive martial arts antics.

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Cinema Sentries

The Final Countdown (1980) 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition Review: Great Planes, Great Set-up, No Story?

Beautiful release of a film with a great set-up, incredible aviation, and a frustrating story that doesn’t pay off.

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Cinema Sentries

Django (1966) 4K Ultra HD Review: A Spaghetti Western Icon

The 4K release of the iconic, ultra-violent and ultra-stylish western directed by Sergio Carbucci that launched dozens of imitators.

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