The Hidden Fortress Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Gold Standard
By Steve Geise |
Kurosawa and Mifune team up for another classic.
Book Review: Snowpiercer Vol. 1 & 2 by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette
By Steve Geise |
It’s best to stick to Vol. 1 for the superior writing and art.
Book Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Vampires of London by Sylvain Cordurie and Laci
By Steve Geise |
There’s not much to really draw readers into the story, leaving the art as the main attraction.
Borgen: Season 3 DVD Review: Once More Unto the Breach
By Steve Geise |
Final season of show that put Danish TV on the U.S. map exits gracefully
Justice League: War Blu-ray Review: Take a Walk on the Darkseid
By Steve Geise |
Great action but not much story.
Book Review: Captain Midnight: Volume 1: On the Run by Joshua Williamson and Fernando Dagnino
By Steve Geise |
Little-known superhero gains new life at Dark Horse Comics.
Wolverine Versus Sabertooth DVD Review: Not the Best There Is at What Loeb Does
By Steve Geise |
Jeph Loeb’s underwhelming return to Marvel goes nowhere and isn’t helped by Bianchi’s polarizing art.
Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review: A Disc Full of Sugar
By Steve Geise |
Timeless classic enhanced by new digital restoration and bonus features.
Burn Notice: Season Seven DVD Review: Burning Bridges
By Steve Geise |
Veteran series wraps up its run with a dark and dreary arc.
Prisoners Blu-ray Review: Trapped in the Maze
By Steve Geise |
Twisty tale supported by strong performances.
Morrissey: 25 Live Review: November Spawned a Monster of a Blu-ray
By Steve Geise |
You’re the one for me, fatty.
Turbo Blu-ray Review: The Fast and the Cautious
By Steve Geise |
Plucky little snail makes for a winning tale of hope and brotherly love.
John Cassavetes: Five Films Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Independent Spirit
By Steve Geise |
An enlightening collection of the seminal works from the godfather of American independent film.
Nikita: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Review: La Reine Nikita
By Steve Geise |
Fast-paced espionage thrills continue in the show’s final full season.
Luther: Series 3 DVD Review: Panic on the Streets of London
By Steve Geise |
Idris Elba continues to put in strong work as DCI John Luther, too bad the season is only four episodes long.
Bones: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray Review: Going Through the Motions
By Steve Geise |
Veteran show continues its predictable and comfortable run.
Star Trek: Into Darkness Blu-ray Review: The Wrath of Fans
By Steve Geise |
A step down from the first entry, but not without its charms – until the final act.
From Up on Poppy Hill Blu-ray Review: The Son Also Rises
By Steve Geise |
Miyazaki Jr. proves to be an adept director on his second attempt.
Epic Blu-ray Review: Heart of Darkness
By Steve Geise |
Dark animated fantasy demands parental attention to PG rating.
The Big City Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Girl Power
By Steve Geise |
Satyajit Ray’s first portrayal of contemporary Indian life reveals the impact of women in the workplace.
Charulata Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Indian Film, European Sensibility
By Steve Geise |
Exquisite sets, direction, and performances serve a far too predictable tale.
Smiley’s People Blu-ray Review: The Man with the Olden Gun
By Steve Geise |
Alec Guinness is just so, so impressive in the role, offering a master class in both subtlety and directness as he contributes a reserved and yet passionately intelligent take on le Carre’s classic character.
Orphan Black: Season 1 Blu-ray Review: Black is the New Black
By Steve Geise |
Through it all, Maslany develops thoroughly convincing and wholly independent characters.
The Life of Oharu Criterion Collection DVD Review: The Downward Spiral
By Steve Geise |
Portrait of a Japanese woman’s gradually declining station in life takes far too long to make its entirely obvious point.
Wolverine: Origin DVD Review: The Best There Is at What He Does.
By Steve Geise |
An admirable job of bringing kinetic energy to the static frames.
Borgen: Season 2 DVD Review: Nothing’s Rotten in Denmark
By Steve Geise |
Denmark’s first female prime minister continues to battle adversity at home and work.
Todd & the Book of Pure Evil: The Complete Second Season DVD Review: Once More with Feeling
By Steve Geise |
Second season finds the show firing on all cylinders, making its cancellation all the more baffling.
Marketa Lazarova Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Defiantly Experimental
By Steve Geise |
Epic black and white Czechoslovakian film tests narrative patience but offers ample visual rewards
Slugterra: Slugs Unleashed DVD Review: Arrested Development
By Steve Geise |
Second DVD collection from the TV series contains fast-paced standalone episodes with no unifying arc.
Burn Notice: Season Six DVD Review: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
By Steve Geise |
After rejoining the CIA, Michael Westen gets burned again.
Vexed: Series 2 DVD Review: A Vexing Decline
By Steve Geise |
New co-star inevitably changes the chemistry, but not for the better.
LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite Blu-ray Review: Holy Bricks, Batman!
By Steve Geise |
Feature-length film expands on the story of the Lego Batman 2 videogame.
George Gently: Series 5 Blu-ray Review: Murder Most Groovy
By Steve Geise |
Standalone movie format makes latest series of ’60s-set British mystery show accessible to all viewers.
The Syndicate: Series 1 DVD Review: Mo Money Mo Problems
By Steve Geise |
British TV import follows a group of five lottery winners from poverty to riches
Inhumans DVD Review: Welcome Back, Old Friends
By Steve Geise |
Marvel’s latest motion comic is a welcome spotlight on an overlooked classic
Gate of Hell Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Not Quite Heavenly, but Far from Hellish
By Steve Geise |
Tragic love story fails to build credibility, negating the tragedy
LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out DVD Review: The Force Is Weak with This One
By Steve Geise |
Short and unamusing project wastes both licenses.
Lincoln Blu-ray Review: History Can Be Entertaining in the Right Hands
By Steve Geise |
Daniel Day-Lewis is completely mesmerizing, but the literary writing is what truly elevates the film.
Borgen: Season 1 DVD Review: The Far West Wing
By Steve Geise |
Danish political drama offers compelling characters but somewhat lightweight stories.
Badlands Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Birth of a Legend
By Steve Geise |
Terrence Malick’s debut feature film sets the standard for the rest of his career.
Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever DVD Review: Berry Bland
By Steve Geise |
There’s little of interest here for most girls over the age of about six.
Life of Pi Blu-ray Review: Piscine in the Wind
By Steve Geise |
Director Ang Lee’s film is a visual delight, but carries little emotional weight.
Sansho the Bailiff Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Ties That Bind
By Steve Geise |
Director Kenji Mizoguchi’s adaptation of a classic Japanese story is actually about a family torn asunder by a political feud, and their decade-long quest to reconnect.
Atlas Shrugged Part II Blu-ray Review: Critic Shrugged
By Steve Geise |
Continuing adaptation of Ayn Rand’s epic novel recasts lead roles but doesn’t improve lackluster quality.
Argo Blu-ray Review: Sealed with a Presidential Kiss
By Steve Geise |
Home video release features exclusive interviews with President Carter and the actual subjects of the film.
Slugterra: Return of the Shane Gang DVD Review: Pre-Teenage Dream
By Steve Geise |
Animated series has a tired monster-battling premise but a winning art style.
House of Cards (UK) Trilogy Blu-ray Review: Long Live the King
By Steve Geise |
Masterful political drama anchored by a mesmerizing lead performance by Ian Richardson.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 Blu-ray Review: Supes vs. Bats, We All Win
By Steve Geise |
Faithful adaptation of Frank Miller’s classic comic book delivers epic clash of the superhero titans.
Misfits: Season Two DVD Review: Last of the Greats
By Steve Geise |
Second season features the last appearances of the full original cast.
Twenty Twelve: The Complete Series DVD Review: Past Its Sell-By Date
By Steve Geise |
Marginally funny mockumentary series about the planning committee for the London Olympics loses something in translation.