Ivan’s Childhood Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: War is Hell, but Looks Superb
By Steve Geise |
Stunning craftsmanship elevates this meditation on the effects of war as experienced by a child
56 Up Movie Review: Still Going Strong After Nearly 50 Years
By Steve Geise |
Acclaimed director Michael Apted continues his legendary documentary series in its latest seven-year installment.
TV Review: Doctor Who: The Snowmen
By Steve Geise |
This year’s Christmas episode has a disappointingly lame villain but an extremely effective setup for the Doctor’s newest companion.
The Hour Series 1 Blu-ray Review: Would Have Been Better at That Length
By Steve Geise |
First series stretches a glacially-paced tale over six hours.
Beasts of the Southern Wild Blu-ray Review: An Acquired Taste
By Steve Geise |
Indie darling of the year is indie for a reason: it’s defiantly non-commercial.
Purple Noon Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: The Talented Mr. Delon
By Steve Geise |
Alain Delon is a dashing, magnetic force in this early adaptation of novelist Patricia Highsmith’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley”.
Ice Age: Continental Drift DVD Review: Drifting into Murky Waters
By Steve Geise |
Scrat is still the star. Too bad he can’t support an entire film on his own.
Call the Midwife: Season One Blu-ray Review: Call a Doctor, My Retinas Are Burned
By Steve Geise |
Lushly produced UK period drama takes a nauseating look at a profession I’d prefer to ignore.
Kaijudo: Rise Of The Duel Masters: Creatures Unleashed DVD Review: Rise of the Enjoyable Merchandising Tie-In
By Steve Geise |
Not in the top tier of today’s best animated series, but a worthwhile and enjoyable monster-fighting show with decent plots and artistry.
La Jetee / Sans Soleil Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Stay for the Stills, Run from the Motion
By Steve Geise |
Chris Marker’s black and white still film runs rings around his pretentious color full-motion travelogue.
Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection DVD Review: Jimmy Stewart, TV Star
By Steve Geise |
Screen legend Jimmy Stewart upholds his legacy with an effective TV turn as a Southern defense attorney.
DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk DVD Review: New Series Soars Above the Competition
By Steve Geise |
Exceptionally high production qualities and writing elevate TV series above toon standards.
The Watch Blu-ray Review: The Don’t Watch
By Steve Geise |
There’s a funny story to be mined from the concept of hapless neighborhood watchmen, but this isn’t it.
Astonishing X-Men: Unstoppable DVD Review: Astonishing Cassaday
By Steve Geise |
Joss Whedon’s conventional alien war story fails to impress, but John Cassaday’s artwork shines in simulated motion.
Rashomon (1950) Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Restoration Shows Improvements, Not Perfection
By Steve Geise |
Early tandem between legendary director Akira Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune yields this undisputed classic film.
Vera: Set 2 DVD Review: Murder, She Grumbled
By Steve Geise |
Brenda Blethyn’s feisty and frumpy detective shows the whippersnappers how to solve crimes.
Thundercats Nintendo DS Video Game Review: Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats NOOOOOO!
By Steve Geise |
Generic and difficult side-scrolling hack-and-slash adventure is an unfortunate throwback to 16-bit gaming days.
Flight Movie Review: Robert Zemeckis and Denzel Washington Soar, Script Crashes
By Steve Geise |
Robert Zemeckis returns to live-action direction in a heavy drama with a light script.
Copper: Season One Blu-ray Review: Dodge This Bullet
By Steve Geise |
BBC America’s first original scripted series misses the mark in spite of the stellar track record of its creative execs.
The Walking Dead Video Game Review: A Scary Good Time
By Steve Geise |
Well-written video game jettisons familiar characters in favor of a new cast and new situations set in the same vicinity of the original property.
Kingdom: Season One DVD Review: No Treasure Here
By Steve Geise |
Stephen Fry is charming as a country solicitor, but his show is a snooze.
The Forgiveness of Blood Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Nik Full of Angst
By Steve Geise |
Joshua Marston’s first full film since Maria Full of Grace explores an Albanian blood feud and its impact on a teen boy.
Moonrise Kingdom Blu-ray Review: Love in the Time of Eccentricity
By Steve Geise |
Wes Anderson’s unmistakably heavy-handed style threatens but fails to derail innocent love story.
Waterloo Road: Series 1 DVD Review: The Headmaster Ritual
By Steve Geise |
The marketing blurb’s most popular drama series; seems a bit farfetched based on this uninspired material.
Tomorrow Never Dies Movie Review: Enter The Dragon
By Steve Geise |
The addition of martial arts star Michelle Yeoh kickstarts the franchise and breaks the mold of the typical Bond girl.
Rock of Ages Blu-ray Review: Overstuffed Rock That Lasts Ages
By Steve Geise |
“Oh, the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on”; Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey.
Wallander Series 3 DVD Review: No Loki, Still Heavenly
By Steve Geise |
Kenneth Branagh returns for his third tour of duty as Sweden’s most famous inspector.
Children of Paradise Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Cinematic Paradise
By Steve Geise |
Exceptional new restoration of classic French film enhances an already monumental work.
Vexed: Series 1 DVD Review: A Brief Burst of Genre-Bending Hilarity
By Steve Geise |
Buddy cop show seeks laughs instead of clues.
Sacrifice (2010) DVD Review: Not Worth Your Time Sacrifice
By Steve Geise |
Veteran director Chen Kaige hampered by bad editing and lackluster acting.
Injustice (2011) DVD Review: The Vigilante Barrister
By Steve Geise |
James Purefoy shines as the morally ambiguous lead character in this British crime procedural miniseries.
Quadrophenia Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: We Are the 5.1 Mods
By Steve Geise |
Sparkling new restoration delivers an engaging audiovisual feast.
Once Upon a Time: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Review: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before
By Steve Geise |
Familiarity breeds contempt in this series that rehashes rather than innovates.
Third Star Movie Review: Benedict Cumberbatch Leads the Way
By Steve Geise |
Boring and uninspired buddy movie deals with impending death by mostly ignoring it.
True Wolf Movie Review: Don’t Be Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf
By Steve Geise |
Documentary recounts the full life of a wolf raised by humans.
Astonishing X-Men: Torn DVD Review: More Astonishing Motion, Less Astonishing Story
By Steve Geise |
Better motion comic effects but a lesser story make for a fun if unastonishing hour of entertainment.
Jay and Silent Bob Get Old: Tea Bagging in the UK DVD Review: Friendship Never Gets Old
By Steve Geise |
Three full performances of Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes chatting on stage in the UK.
The Bourne Legacy Movie Review: Renner 1, Gilroy 0, Mistakes Aplenty
By Steve Geise |
New lead Jeremy Renner delivers the goods, but his screenwriter/director doesn’t.
Misfits: Season One DVD Review: They’re No Heroes
By Steve Geise |
Super-powered teens fully earn misfits label in this raunchy, occasionally hilarious series.
Le Havre Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Light-Hearted, Surreal Take on a Serious Subject
By Steve Geise |
Maverick director Aki Kaurismaki delivers a surreal, lighthearted take on a seemingly deadly serious immigration story.
Mansome Movie Review: Lots of Comedians, Little Comedy
By Steve Geise |
Documentary ace Morgan Spurlock misses the mark with this uninspired take on male grooming.
Suez DVD Review: For Hardcore Tyrone Power Fans Only
By Steve Geise |
Lame script and near absence of Loretta Young make this purely a Power vehicle.
Metropolitan Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: Two Decades Later, I Still Don’t Get It
By Steve Geise |
More than 20 years after its theatrical release, it’s just as alien and off-putting as ever.
Wrath of the Titans (2012) Blu-ray Review: Wrath of the Critic
By Steve Geise |
Sequel nobody wanted proves to be just as hapless as its predecessor.
Love Is News DVD Review: The News Is Good
By Steve Geise |
A charming romantic comedy starring Tyrone Power and Loretta Young.
Midsomer Murders: Set 20 Blu-ray Review: Crime and Bemusement in the English Countryside
By Steve Geise |
Retiring star John Nettles is the best reason to watch these uninspired mysteries.
LEGO Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu: Season One DVD Review: A Fun but Lightweight Extended Toy Commercial
By Steve Geise |
Show serves as a marketing vehicle for successful Ninjago toy line but fails to serve as serious entertainment.
The Samurai Trilogy Criterion Collection DVD Review: Mifune in His Physical Prime
By Steve Geise |
Director Hiroshi Inagaki and acting legend Toshiro Mifune combine to tell the epic story of folk hero Musashi Miyamoto.
American Reunion Blu-ray Review: Reunited and It Feels So Good
By Steve Geise |
The American Pie gang reconvene to celebrate their 13th high school reunion.
Doc Martin Series 5 DVD Review: Baby Makes Three, Doesn’t Spoil the Chemistry
By Steve Geise |
The good doctor and the rest of his neighbors in Portwenn continue to produce a charming show.