Cinema Sentries

Karloff is more than make-up in three interesting movies from Warner Archive Collection.

It is funny on the occasion, but it is also genuinely emotionally engaging as well.

It serves as an excellent introduction to the author’s two most popular creations: Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.

This television miniseries adaptation ultimately suffers in comparison to both the original novel and David Lean’s 1965 film version.

Not as well-known as their more ubiquitous counterparts, they are (with two exceptions) entertaining additions to your yearly holiday viewing.

A story meant to be heartfelt only frustrates with its all-white cast and manipulative storytelling.

Did yours make the list?

You’ve never seen World War II quite like this before.

Rife’s book is an excellent reference for those new fans who can’t get enough of Quentin Tarantino.

Animator Bill Plympton’s ill-conceived “revitalization” of a Winsor McCay classic is a slap in the face to McCay’s legacy.

A satire of the American Heartland that also offers an emotional story about acceptance.

Star Matthew McConaughey gives a frightening performance in a film that tests your will.

Recommended for those who have been either naughty or nice.

How can a film about a murder be so darn delightful?

Subtle, understated dealings with grief in a club full of exotic dancers is a little unexpected.

A perfect mix of dialogue and action.

These animated recreations of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip range from hilarious to predictable.

Magical realism and an astounding child actress do little to elevate a non-existent plot.

“Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them, I don’t give a fuck how crazy they are!” in the immortal words of Seth Gecko.

When you come in second in a four-person race, you aren’t runner-up. You’re the best loser.

Tarantino and Rodriguez seemed like the perfect match.

Ruby Sparks has some light, but ends up being a dark reiteration of tired tropes.

Did yours make the list, Honey Bunny?

Sometimes the ghost of Elvis has the answer.

It’s French, it’s subversive, it’s not for the average film buff.

Be sure to add Disney’s latest series to your DVD library.

An entertaining (if less than exhaustive) look back at the pioneering figures of Golden Age Warner Bros. animation.

A look at whether this grand experiment worked or not.

Could have used more extras, but this set is something to have.

The Grateful Dead and the rise of the San Francisco Underground.

A haunting, and interesting subject gets mired down by the director Carol Morley.

The Eagle will provide male bonding, epic trekking, and blue-painted maniacs, but don’t go looking for historical accuracy.

The newly-remastered, long-anticipated release of this Clark Gable-Jean Harlow Pre-Code classic was worth the wait.

The film loves its pretty cast but forgets it has a story to tell.

The newest batch of episodes, taken from 1979-1984, offers adult fans a selection of memorable episodes that are equally fun and bittersweet.

Though I’m glad I saw the actual movie, I can’t say it is entertaining or satisfying.

An homage to classic horror, pulp, and supernatural tales that’s absolutely worth your time.

“The only new things in the world is the history you don’t know” – Harry S. Truman

An honest portrayal of girls during the awkward teenage years.

Charlie Brown and the gang are ready to play ball, but this collection of Peanuts shorts is not all fun and games.

An examination of the modern technological breakthroughs that promise a “brave new world” for humankind.

Pierce Brosnan’s debut is the last Bond movie to really feel like a Bond movie.

His lecture series is a fascinating examination of the evolution of mythology and the archetypes that define us.

It tries to be an edgy breakup comedy but doesn’t quite succeed.

A review of Roger Moore’s last outing.

“I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames” or not, as the case might be.

Be grateful that his career as a filmmaker was short-lived.

It hasn’t held up well over 30 years.

A gritty, realistic portrait of the Korean War that is ultimately weakened by the inclusion of an ineffective romantic subplot.

A potentially compelling story is lost to the whims of the Production Code and the weight of its failed attempts at grandeur.