Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) Blu-ray Review: Well Worth Watching to See Spencer Tracy Play Against Type
By Mat Brewster |
Where previous adaptations tended to turn the Hyde character into a hideous monster, here the focus is more psychological, more Freudian.
The Initiation of Sarah Blu-ray Review: A Made-for-TV Carrie Rip-Off
By Mat Brewster |
It is all a bit silly and a whole lot camp, but there is quite a bit of charm.
Rogue Cops and Racketeers: Two Crime Thrillers by Enzo G. Castellari Blu-ray Review: Quintessential Italian Crime Dramas
By Mat Brewster |
A pretty excellent double feature of poliziotteschi.
The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter Blu-Ray Review: One of the Greatest Kung Fu Movies Ever
By Mat Brewster |
You owe it to yourself to buy this film.
Monkey Kung Fu & Shaolin Mantis Blu-rays Review: For Those Who Like Animals with Their Kung Fu
By Mat Brewster |
It is a real pleasure getting to see these Shaw Brothers films in high definition with nice packaging and some excellent extras.
The Flag of Iron & Legendary Weapons of China Blu-ray Review: Two Classics from Shaw Brothers Studios
By Mat Brewster |
Both of these films will make an excellent addition to your kung fu video library.
Stage Fright (1950) Blu-ray Review: Second-Tier Hitchcock Is Still Good Cinema
By Mat Brewster |
Stage Fight is a great deal of fun.
Disciples of Shaolin Blu-ray Review: Socially Conscious Kung Fu
By Mat Brewster |
If Disciples of Shaolin is a good example of the types of releases 88 Films usually does, consider me a fan.
Two from Sergei Eisenstein: October & Alexander Nevsky DVD Reviews
By Mat Brewster |
Important films in the history of cinema, made by one of the greatest directors from the earliest days of the medium.
Counterpoint Blu-ray Review: Battle of the Cellos
By Mat Brewster |
It is mostly well made and performed, but it cannot escape the fact that other films did what it’s doing so much better.
The Accused (1949) Blu-ray Review: Works Something Like a Film Noir in Reverse
By Mat Brewster |
It is a terrific blend of noir, melodrama, romance, and procedural with a wonderful Loretta Young performance at its heart.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Sixth Season Blu-ray Review: Not Quite Legendary
By Mat Brewster |
When it works, Legends of Tomorrow remains the best series in the Arrowverse.
Breakheart Pass Blu-ray Review: Like an Agatha Christie Western
By Mat Brewster |
The mix of western tropes and drawing-room mystery set on a train is really interesting.
The Sheik (1921) Blu-ray Review: A Silent and Problematic Classic
By Mat Brewster |
An important film in understanding Valentino’s career and appeal.
The Incredible Shrinking Man Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Giant-Sized Fun
By Mat Brewster |
Seriously, I’ve watched more than a few of these shrinking man movies and this is by far the best one.
The Cheat (1931) Blu-ray Review: Third Time Isn’t the Charm
By Mat Brewster |
This film is dull as bathwater.
Torch Singer (1933) Blu-ray Review: A Very Modern Pre-Code
By Mat Brewster |
Something that must have been quite shocking in 1933 falls rather flat in 2021.
The Flash (2014): The Complete Seventh Season Blu-ray Review: The Stories Feel Undercooked and Underwhelming
By Mat Brewster |
It is definitely feeling like it is time for the show to come to an end.
Hot Saturday Blu-ray Review: Fascinating Pre-Code Shenanigans
By Mat Brewster |
Hot Saturday is fascinating because of how modern it feels in that pre-Code way.
Cold War Creatures: Four Films from Sam Katzman Blu-ray Review: This Set Is a Must-buy
By Mat Brewster |
Arrow Video has just released a lovely little boxed set of four of his sci-fi/horror films.
The Fourth Victim Blu-ray Review: Stay Till the End
By Mat Brewster |
The resolution is exactly the kind of nonsensical nuttiness one expects from a giallo and it almost redeems the entire thing. Almost.
Mona Lisa Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Neo-noir with a Mystic Smile
By Mat Brewster |
Bob Hoskins plays George, a small-time gangster who has just gotten out of prison after doing a seven-year stint.
The Awakening (2011) Blu-ray Review: Half a Great Ghost Story
By Mat Brewster |
The film is well worth checking out.
The Brotherhood of Satan Blu-ray Review: Panic in a Small Town
By Mat Brewster |
As this is a cult film from the 1970s, you shouldn’t go in expecting an altogether happy ending.
Ashes and Diamonds Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Polish Masterpiece
By Mat Brewster |
This is an absolute must-see for any film fan.
Friday the 13th 8 Movie Collection Blu-ray Review: The Paramount Films
By Mat Brewster |
If you are a casual fan and wouldn’t mind owning these films at a reasonable price, then this set is for you.
Born for Hell Blu-ray Review: Too Exploitative for the Arthouse, Too Damn Slow for the Grindhouse
By Mat Brewster |
Severin Films has just released a new Blu-ray of the film with loads of special features.
Union Pacific Blu-ray Review: The Great Train Epic
By Mat Brewster |
It is a western, it is a train movie, and it is also a racing film.
No Time For Love Blu-ray Review: No Time for Colbert and MacMurray
By Mat Brewster |
This is a fine, funny film.
Vengeance Trails: 4 Classic Westerns Blu-ray Review: Proving There’s More to Spaghetti Westerns than Sergio Leone
By Mat Brewster |
I don’t know that I’d call them truly classic, but they are all quite good and worth the purchase.
Deep Cover Criterion Collection Blu-Ray Review: Neo-Noir with a Message
By Mat Brewster |
It is a genre film that can surprise you.
Shenandoah Blu-ray Review: Indifference in a Time of War
By Mat Brewster |
If you can turn off questions about standing idly by while a war over slavery is fought, then I suspect you will enjoy this film a lot more than I did.
The Gilded Lily Blu-ray Review: Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray’s First Team-Up
By Mat Brewster |
It is well worth watching; it just lacks that extra spark that makes a good film great.
British Noir III DVD Review: A Nice but Slight Look into the Genre
By Mat Brewster |
It contains five films from 1940 to 1956 which run the gamut from straight-noir to musical-comedy-noir to melodrama-noir.
Alias Nick Beal Blu-ray Review: A Faustian Noir
By Mat Brewster |
It’s the filmmaking that really makes this film into something special.
Icy Breasts Blu-ray Review: A Cool French Noir
By Mat Brewster |
Icy Breasts works because it isn’t overly flashy.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (35th Anniversary) Steelbook Blu-ray Review
By Mat Brewster |
If you don’t own a copy or only have it on DVD, then this is well worth the purchase.
Years of Lead: Five Classic Italian Crime Thrillers (1973-1977) Blu-ray Review: A Great Overview of the Poliziotteschi Genre
By Mat Brewster |
The films included in this set run the gamut of straight-ahead crime dramas to no-plot Euro sleaze.
There Was a Crooked Man… Blu-ray Review: Revisionist Western Could Have Used a Few More Revisions
By Mat Brewster |
It is all but saved by its cast who are easy to enjoy interacting with each other and charming in their star power.
The Prince’s Voyage Blu-ray Review: A Film Only the French Could Make
By Mat Brewster |
While it won’t compare favorably to your favorite animated films from Pixar or Studio Ghibli, I’m glad films like this exist.
The Legend of Hei Blu-ray Review: A Must-See For Animation Fans
By Mat Brewster |
The film moves seamlessly between character development and fast-paced action sequences.
Memories of Murder Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The South Korean Zodiac
By Mat Brewster |
This second film from South Korean director Bong Joon ho, is often compared with David Fincher’s Zodiac.
Death Has Blue Eyes Blu-ray Review: It’s a Mastorakis Mess
By Mat Brewster |
A wacky, highly edited, totally ’70s mesh of horror, comedy, and action that’s kind of fun and makes very little sense.
The Invisible Man Appears Blu-ray Review: It Can Finally Be Seen
By Mat Brewster |
As the first existing tokusatsu, The Invisible Man Appears is massively important to Japanese history.
Earwig and the Witch Blu-ray Review: A Lesser Effort from Studio Ghibli
By Mat Brewster |
It didn’t receive the warmest reception from fans, but I found it well worth watching.
Céline and Julie Go Boating Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Long, Strange, Riveting Film
By Mat Brewster |
A strange, bewildering, long film that invites a variety of interpretations.
Crossfire (1947) Blu-ray Review: Film Noir with a Message
By Mat Brewster |
One of the first films to tackle antisemitism and helped usher in a new wave of social justice stories.
On-Gaku: Our Sound Movie Review: A Lo-fi Delight
By Mat Brewster |
Its droll sense of humor and basic style give it a unique perspective.
Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks is the Pick of the Week
By Mat Brewster |
Even if it epitomizes all the things wrong with the Chibnall era of the series.
The Last Starfighter Blu-ray Review: Tailor Made for 1980s Gamers
By Mat Brewster |
The Last Starfighter is tailor made for 1980s gamers.