Steve Geise

Cinema Sentries

The Last Temptation of Christ Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Still Controversial

The loopy ending still detracts from the rest of the fairly conventional film.

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Cinema Sentries

Todd & the Book of Pure Evil: The Complete First Season DVD Review: Join the Cult

Slackers team up to save the world from an evil book of spells.

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Vanya on 42nd Street Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Timeless Theatrical Experiment

Louis Malle’s final film captures a performance that was never intended to be public.

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Cinema Sentries

Justice League: Doom Blu-ray Review: Action Triumphs over Plot

Plenty of action, but not much in the way of story or character development.

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Cinema Sentries

World on a Wire Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Nature of Unnatural Reality

While the plot is obvious, the film’s cerebral take on sci fi and impressive ’70s cinematography make it well worth its lengthy running time.

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Cinema Sentries

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas Blu-ray Review: The 19th Best Christmas Movie of All Time

A funny return to form for this generation’s Cheech and Chong.

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Three Outlaw Samurai Criterion Collection DVD Review: Three is the Magic Number

A serviceable samurai yarn spotlighted by a rewarding underdog story and above average fight scenes.

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After Fall, Winter Movie Review: Love in the Time of Desperation

Schaeffer revisits his character from 15 years ago and develops another ill-fated romance.

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Belle de Jour Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: How Severine Got Her Groove Back

A luminous young Catherine Deneuve crafts a memorable portrait of a bored, rich housewife exploring her dangerous proclivities.

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Glee: The Concert Blu-ray Review: Fun Performances, Lame Interludes

The kids put on an entertaining show but are hampered by fan interviews interspersed between songs.

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Cinema Sentries

Tokyo Drifter Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Style Over Substance

Jam-packed with more than enough visual artistry to compensate for its lightweight story.

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Cinema Sentries

West Side Story 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review: The Story’s Not the Thing

The choreography and music dazzle in HD, but the story still falls flat.

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Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva DVD Review: Animated Sleuthing Success

A richly illustrated full-length film based on the Nintendo DS puzzle game series.

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Fanny & Alexander Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Bergman’s Documentary Trumps Feature Film

While the film is somewhat bloated and slow, its accompanying documentary is revelatory.

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Cinema Sentries

Atlas Shrugged Part One DVD Review: Who Is John Aglialoro?

Surprisingly faithful to the source material but hampered by lackluster casting and mediocre direction.

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Blue Velvet 25th Anniversary Blu-ray Review: Just As Good As You Remembered It

Sparkling new Blu-ray release with newly discovered deleted scenes proves you can go home again.

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Cinema Sentries

Cars 2 Blu-ray Review: Stuck in Neutral

Pixar’s first misstep fails to capture the heart of the original.

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Cinema Sentries

Batman: Year One Two-Disc DVD Review: Rise of the Bat

So similar to the original comic book it might as well be a motion comic.

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Cinema Sentries

Kuroneko Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Things That Go Bump In The Night

Creates some spooky atmosphere but fails to drive a compelling narrative.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Blu-ray Review: Few Pirates, No Caribbean, But Still Fun

Jack Sparrow’s fourth outing isn’t his best, but it is leagues better than the previous one.

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Harakiri Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Samurai Condition

A masterful indictment of the morally bankrupt samurai system.

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Cinema Sentries

Terri DVD Review: The Outsiders

Has its charming moments, but fails to develop into a meaningful whole.

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Angel of Evil DVD Review: The Italian Mesrine

So similar to Mesrine in content and execution that there’s little to distinguish it.

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Cinema Sentries

Dum Maaro Dum DVD Review: Crime in Paradise

Crime and punishment in a beachside paradise.

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Cinema Sentries

Book Review: Star Wars Omnibus: The Complete Saga Episode I – VI: Greedo Shoots First Here Too

If you’re still on the fence about the Blu-ray collection, these may be the comics you’re looking for.

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Cinema Sentries

The Phantom Carriage Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Impressive Ghost of Cinema Past

Well-crafted effects and a timeless tale make for a fine Swedish silent film.

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The Butcher, the Chef, and the Swordsman DVD Review: Three Tales, One Blade, Zero Entertainment

Brash young director Wuershan fails to impress with his modern take on martial arts cinema.

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Bridesmaids DVD Review: A Star Is Born

A hilarious star-making turn for writer/lead actress Kristen Wiig.

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Cinema Sentries

Brand New Day Blu-ray Review: Fast Forward to the Songs

Charming songs and a promising start can’t overcome bloated and meandering road trip.

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GANTZ DVD Review: Your New Favorite Midnight Movie

A mind-blowing trip through a bizarre afterlife filled with fetish gear and nightmarish creatures.

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Bambi II Blu-ray Review: A Worthy Successor

An accomplished film that upholds and expands the tradition of the original.

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Secret Sunshine Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Secret No More

Actress Do-Yeon Jeon delivers a powerhouse performance in director Chang-Dong Lee’s moving drama.

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The Killing Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Meet Me at the Racetrack

A competent heist film that provides an early glimpse of Kubrick’s emerging talent.

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The Fox and the Hound 2-Movie Collection Blu-ray Review: More Bark For Your Buck

Marriage of feature film with direct-to-video sequel is worthwhile thanks to the decent quality of both projects.

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Mars Needs Moms Blu-ray Review: Skip The Movie, Read The Book

Director Simon Wells fails to translate the charm of the source book to film.

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Electric Daisy Carnival Experience Movie Review: Experience It…If You Can Find It

Controversy threatens to derail theatrical debut tomorrow night.

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Rio Blu-ray Review: Bird of Paradise

Director Carlos Saldanha mines his native Brazil for audiovisual gold, enriching Rio’s lifeless plot.

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Cinema Sentries

High and Low Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Kurosawa and Mifune: The Gold Standard

Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune team for another classic film.

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Life During Wartime Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Alternative Happiness

Todd Solondz revisits his characters from Happiness (1998).

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The Music Room Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Solitary Man

A moving rumination on the fading opulence of a broken man and his estate.

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The Warrior’s Way Blu-ray Review: Awesome Action, Awful Direction

The stunts are great, but can’t counteract the terrible dialogue and cartoony world.

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People on Sunday Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Lazy Sunday

Worth watching for a look at life in 1920s Berlin, but not much story.

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TrollHunter Movie Review: Trolls Are Fun, Hunt Is Not

The trolls are scary and fun, but the trip to get to them is fraught with boredom.

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The Makioka Sisters Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: No Joy No Luck Club

Beautiful kimonos and decent acting, but not much else to recommend.

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I Am Number Four Blu-ray Review: Number Six Would Have Been Better

Director and stars fumble badly, but co-star Teresa Palmer shines.

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Gnomeo & Juliet Blu-ray Review: A Mostly Pleasant Surprise

Not a classic, but worthwhile and sweet family entertainment.

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Pale Flower Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Essential Japanese New Wave

Cool couple chase illicit thrills in 1960s Tokyo.

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3 Idiots DVD Review: Not Idiotic

You’d be an idiot to miss it.

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Farewell DVD Review: Cold War Espionage Based On A True Story

Espionage thriller contains the deeper story of a father’s love of family and country.

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