Steve Geise

Relay Blu-ray Review: Long Live Conspiracy Thrillers

Relay is a surprisingly accomplished thriller that deserves much more attention than it has received to date. 

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Book Review: Nocturnos by Laura Pérez

Nocturnos is delightfully peculiar and open to interpretation, rendered in lush illustrations that invite readers to explore the night with an inquisitive mind. 

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Cop or Hood Blu-ray Review: Belmondo Star Vehicle Mostly Crashes

When a small-town police chief is murdered, a witty Parisian commissioner is dispatched to investigate.

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Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex DVD Review: Teenage Dream

The latest film about glam rock star Marc Bolan is an odd amalgamation of archival footage and new tribute performances.

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Boomerang (1976) Blu-ray Review: Alain Delon Loses His Cool

Delon is the sole reason to watch the film, making this one strictly for his most dedicated fanbase.

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La Femme Nikita: The Complete Series DVD Box Set Review: Viva Peta

The set doesn’t appear to be remastered or restored; it’s simply a concise and complete collection of the entire series in one convenient box.

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Daiei Gothic Vol. 2: Japanese Ghost Stories Blu-ray Box Set Review: Ghoulish Delights

Just in time for spooky season, Radiance brings us their second volume of classic Japanese supernatural films from the vaults of defunct studio Daiei.

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Black Samson Blu-ray Review: There’s a Riot Goin’ On

As the unelected ruler of a Los Angeles neighborhood, Samson (Rockne Tarkington) speaks softly and carries a big, big stick.

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F1 The Movie 4K UHD Review: Brad Pitt Feels the Need for Speed

Pitt did most of his own driving in the film, allowing for startlingly authentic racing footage prominently featuring his face.

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The Lake Trilogy DVD Review: Nordic Noir Moves South

The show is about what you would expect, and Cavazza is an intriguing lead actor, making this a solid choice for fans of police procedurals.

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Book Review: Witchcraft by Sole Otero

Otero utilizes disparate character voices and eras to paint a picture of female empowerment, colonialism, and religious hypocrisy.

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The House of Sand Blu-ray Review: Art Imitates Life in the Brazilian Desert

It’s not really a survival movie, with Waddington far more interested in exploring the character dynamics than sensationalizing their plight.

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Materialists Blu-ray Review: No Sophomore Slump Here

Song is locked on with fully formed, intelligent characters who take the time to truly connect with each other in spellbinding interactions.

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Book Review: The Spawn of Venus and Other Stories, Illustrated by Wallace Wood

The new book contains 26 senses-shattering sci-fi yarns drawn by Wood for EC in the early 1950s.

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Misericordia Blu-ray Review: Misery Loves Company

Guiradie doesn’t offer any easy answers to Jeremie’s plight, but his perceptive crafting of fascinating characters makes for a richly rewarding tale. 

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The Wrong Arm of the Law Blu-ray Review: Peter Sellers Warms Up for Clouseau

This 1963 British crime caper stars Peter Sellers mere months before his debut outing as The Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau

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Maedchen in Uniform (1958) Blu-ray Review: Pretty Maidens All in a Row

It’s a tricky balance, attempting to keep the teacher blameless while also allowing Manuela to explore her feelings, making for a spellbinding viewing experience.

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Los Golfos Blu-ray Review: Hope Dies in the Ring

Spanish director/co-writer Carlos Saura’s 1960 feature film debut follows a downtrodden group of young men on the fringes of society.

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Book Review: Death in Trieste by Jason

Veteran Norwegian cartoonist Jason returns with an all-new collection of three short graphic stories rendered in his impeccably clear line style.

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The White Lotus: The Complete Third Season DVD Review: Thai Spice

HBO’s buzzy limited series continues with its third iteration, this time travelling to an idyllic resort in Thailand.

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Book Review: Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant Sketchbooks: An Illustrated Memoir: Volume 1 by Brian M. Kane

Fantagraphics kicks off a new six-volume look behind the scenes of Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant comic strip with this initial volume covering 1971-72.

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Martial Law: Lo Wei’s Wuxia World Blu-ray Review: The Brotherhood of Shaw Brothers

We’ve had an abundance of far-ranging Shaw Brothers box sets in the past few years, but this one narrows the scope to three wuxia films by director Lo Wei.

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The Great Gatsby (1949) Blu-ray Review: Alan Ladd Sets a High Bar for All Future Gatsbys

All of the pieces are here, but the presentation is fairly flat and workmanlike compared to the later adaptations.

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Two Weeks with Love Blu-ray Review: I’ve Had the Time of My Life

A naive 17-year-old girl spends summer vacation in the Catskills with her family, where she falls under the spell of a suave older man with sexy dance moves.

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Melinda Blu-ray Review: Frankie Says Relax

Frankie J. is a smooth-talking L.A. DJ on the prowl for ladies and fun, at least until his latest conquest ends up dead in his apartment.

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Book Review: Buff Soul by Moa Romanova

With a relatable plot and remarkable art, Romanova delivers a winning sophomore effort that surpasses her memorable debut.

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The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost Blu-ray Review: Classy, Not Trashy

Kato spins Iemon’s tale in a largely conventional but beautifully lensed drama that examines society’s ills instead of thrills and chills.

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Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – The Complete Series Blu-ray Box Set Review

This newly remastered Blu-ray box set compiles the full four-season run of the ‘90s Superman series starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher.

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See: Complete Series Blu-ray Review: Blind Game of Thrones

See imagines a post-apocalyptic Earth where the ragtag survivors lost their vision (and contractions, apparently) to a virus generations ago

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A Date with Judy Blu-ray Review: The Goody-Good, the Baddie, and the Beery

This classic MGM musical combines the golly-gee innocence of high school hijinks with the sizzle of Carmen Miranda, forbidden love with an older man, and an infidelity subplot.

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Sugar Hill Blu-ray Review: Supernatural Voodoo Woman

Despite the dark themes, it’s all in good, PG-rated fun, with everyone having a grand old time with the ridiculous premise.

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Bonjour Tristesse (2024) DVD Review: Mediterranean Summer Love

Characters don’t so much rush from one plot beat to the next as glide through the daily minutiae of their time in paradise.

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The Lord of the Rings: Original Animated Classic Blu-ray Review: Ralph Bakshi’s Previz for Peter Jackson

The animated film is vastly entertaining on its own merits, but also now incredibly fascinating as a companion piece to Jackson’s live-action films.

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Executive Suite Blu-ray Review: Succession in the 1950s

The film explores the frantic maneuvers of a board of directors to select a new president in the aftermath of the former president’s unexpected death.

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Grand Prix Blu-ray Review: Takes the Flag for Total Racing Immersion

John Frankenheimer’s 1966 racing drama is so stacked with international stars that it might appear to be coasting on delivering any actual racing thrills.

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The Beast to Die Blu-ray Review: Good Guy Gone Bad

By the start of the ‘80s, Yusaku Matsuda (Yokohama BJ Blues) had tired of his typical action hero roles and was looking to redefine his talent.

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Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible DVD Review: Alive and Kicking

Joss Crowley’s rapturous documentary aims to shine a light on the fascinating dynamics of the band while documenting their unlikely rise to fame.

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Book Review: Society Is Nix: Gleeful Anarchy at the Dawn of the American Comic Strip 1895-1915 Revised Edition

The revised and expanded second edition is an absolutely essential deep dive into the fascinating origins of American comic strips.

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The 100: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Review: Post-Apocalyptic Lord of the Flies

After drifting out of print over the last decade, the first season of this sci-fi series is once again available on U.S. Blu-ray.

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Champagne & Caviar: Four Weimar Comedies Blu-ray Review: Two Slapsticks, Two Rom-Coms

This fantastic set reveals the innovation and craftsmanship of the early German film industry, serving as a lasting celebration of its halcyon bygone days.

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Detonation! Violent Riders Blu-ray Review: Firing on All Cylinders

This 1975 Japanese bikersploitation film is a funk-fueled blast of fast-paced action and free-spirited youth.

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Book Review: Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago

While the collection is chock full of interesting concepts, it seems like a step down from the wildly inventive, surreal heights of Dementia 21.

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Two Political Thrillers by Henri Verneuil: I… for Icarus & Mille Milliards de Dollars DVD Review

Perfect for fans of ‘70s conspiracy thrillers such as The Parallax View and All the President’s Men, sharing some distinct similarities with them.

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Book Review: Raging Clouds by Yudori

Her lively, unpredictable tale and fully formed, complex characters make for a book that is a deeply affecting read, not just an exercise in visual style.

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The Blues Under the Skin Blu-ray Review: Trouble in Mind

Robert Manthoulis’s 1973 film is a curious combination of intimate music performances, documentary scenes of working-class poor, and scripted scenes.

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Beware of Mr. Baker Blu-ray Review: Strange Brew

This 2012 documentary delves into the riotous life of wild-eyed, mercurial drummer Ginger Baker, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith.

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Made in New Jersey: Films from Fort Lee Blu-ray Review: Birth of a Nation’s Films

While the films mostly serve as historical curiosities rather than masterful works of art, they’re intriguing glimpses of the early US film industry.

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The President’s Wife Blu-ray Review: Game Recognizes Game

The film is a great vehicle to see the living legend, Catherine Deneuve, bringing her gravitas to bear on the political life of another French titan.

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The Ballad of Wallis Island Blu-ray Review: Wish Fulfillment

It’s so rare to find such richly realized characters in any current films, making this a must-see for anyone bemoaning the demise of movies for adults.

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Book Review: The Idris File by Dix

It may be called The Idris File, but if there’s one thing readers will long remember about the story, it’s not Idris.

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