DVD

Tuesday 14 February 2012

• Take Shelter - Blu-ray Review

  

  Two of the actors from Boardwalk Empire take on this tale of either upcoming apocalypse or a mental apocalypse by a single character.  What we get is a masterfully acted suspense thriller about one man’s fears and how it affects his life and family.

• The Rum Diary – Blu-ray Review

  

  Johnny Depp steps back into the world of Hunter S. Thompson.  Depp had a hand in finding Thompson’s lost work and decided to bring it to the screen in tribute to the late author.  The results don’t seem to go anywhere, but are still a well-made trip though not along the lines of Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Monday 13 February 2012

• Doctor Who: The Sensorites – DVD Review

  

  One of William Hartnell’s adventures, the seventh in fact, that survived being erased makes its way to DVD.  The episode is a bit creaky and perhaps too long for the material, but we can appreciate what works about the show and enjoy the special features. 

• Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani – DVD Review

  

  The episode that is considered one of the best of Doctor Who gets special edition treatment.  It would be the last outing of Davison’s Doctor, who said if his last season had other episodes this good he might have delayed his departure.

• The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall - Blu-ray Review

  

  Always wanted to see it, reveled in the soundtrack, but never got my chance.  Now you too can journey to the catacombs beneath the Paris Opera House to delight in the music of the night.  Andrew Lloyd Webber is celebrating 25 years of Phantom and has pulled out all the stops for this staged version of the Broadway favorite. 

• All Quiet on the Western Front – Blu-ray Review

  

  Universal is celebrating their 100th anniversary by releasing some of their finest.  They turn their attentions to his anti-war classic and use current technology to fix it up spectacularly.  Too bad they didn’t feel the need to put a menu on it. 

Friday 10 February 2012

• Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe – DVD Review

  

  It’s Christmastime again and we look forward to the visit of that magical figure bearing gifts.  No, not the fat guy in the red suit, but the skinny one with the bow tie (which are cool) and police box.  However, we all know that where the Doctor goes trouble follows. 

Monday 06 February 2012

• Abduction - Blu-ray Review

  

  Taylor Lautner shines as an action hero in Abducted.  Surrounded by top veteran actors Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Alfred Molina and Maria Bello, Taylor Lautner delivers a fast paced and physical performance as a young man whose entire existence has been turned upside-down. 

Thursday 02 February 2012

• The Big Year – Blu-ray Review

  

  The Big Year has moments where it can almost be a great movie, but fails to live up to the talent of its tremendous cast. Instead, we get a comedy with a couple of laughs and a lot of wasted potential.

Monday 30 January 2012

• Contagion – Blu-ray Review

  

  Contagion is a film that will make you never want to eat snacks from a bowl on a bar table again. It will also make you think twice when standing in an elevator and someone sneezes or coughs. In other words, it will scare the hell out of you and get into your head if you let it.

• Real Steel – Blu-ray Review

  

  Real Steel is an emotional father /son bonding film filled with giant boxing robots. The film’s strength comes from the stellar CGI that makes the robot boxers seem very real and the charisma of Hugh Jackman – who is charming and loveable even while selling his son.

• 50/50 – Blu-ray Review

  

  50/50 walks that fine line between drama and comedy and makes you question if it is ok to laugh about a guy dying from cancer. The film deserved more love from this year’s Oscars and features an incredible performance from its star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

• Killer Elite – Blu-ray Review

  

  Although it has plenty of action sequences, Killer Elite actually feels more like a slow-burn spy thriller than the normal Jason Statham flick.

• Texas Killing Fields – Blu-ray Review

  

  Texas Killing Fields is filled with dark mood and tension, but fizzles out at the end rather than boiling over. The film manages to maintain the audience’s attention from start to finish, but doesn’t go far enough to make all the slow building worth the wait.

• The Double – Blu-ray Review

  

  The Double is a mess of a spy thriller that never really fires on all cylinders despite having a solid cast and a fast moving pace. The movie does manage to have several twist, but most are easily spotted which makes it hard to stay invested in the story and characters.

• Dead Poets Society – Blu-ray Review

  

  The film that proved Robin Williams could be a solid dramatic actor and also taught us to all love literature comes to Blu-ray looking great and just as powerful.

• The Thing (2011) – Blu-ray Review

  

  2011’s The Thing is an unnecessary CGI-slick prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 classic sci-fi/horror film The Thing. It isn’t horrible and does several things right, but is easily forgettable as soon as the end credits roll.

• Drive – Blu-ray Review

  

  In a movie that has very little dialogue, Drive speaks volumes. The movie is filled with moody lighting, and tension that boils over to intense action sequences towards the end.

Friday 27 January 2012

• Justified: The Complete Second Season – DVD Review

  

  Justified: The Complete Second Season is a slow-burn powder keg of a season that takes everything that worked in season one and cranks it up to fully establish Justified as one of the best series on television.

• Good Morning, Vietnam (25th Anniversary Edition) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Goooooooood Morning Vietnaaaaam!  You have to yell it.  I’ll wait.  Well, Robin Williams’ breakout performance makes the transition to high def with a 25th anniversary edition.  Not that there’s much new to celebrate the occasion.

Thursday 26 January 2012

• Paranormal Activity 3 - Blu-ray Review

  

  The third time is the charm?  It certainly charmed the box office (so look out for a fourth) and returned much on the investment.  There are some good jump scares, but maybe the formula is a bit too noticeable as well. 

• Ides of March - Blu-ray Review

  

  Gone is the naïve idealism of Jefferson Smith (one doubts in today’s climate that he’d actually make it to Washington and if so it would be doubtful if he would make it out alive) and it is replaced with a thriller cloaked in political theater. 

Friday 20 January 2012

• There Be Dragons – DVD Review

  

  Based on events in the life of Josemaria Escriva (canonized by Pope John Paul II as a 20th Century Roman Catholic Saint) “There Be Dragons “ is a fascinating story.

Friday 13 January 2012

• Mildred Pierce - Blu-ray Review

  

  Kate Winslet steps into shoes once worn by Joan Crawford, but the original novel is given more breadth and time than Joan’s version. Don’t expect a happy ending but do expect some fine performance and recreation of a time period long past.

Thursday 12 January 2012

• Shark Night – DVD Review

  

  Theatrically Shark Night had the added gimmick of being in 3D but I can’t help but think that it didn’t help much. This might’ve been a good idea in the 80s when boobs and gore could’ve bolstered it, but PG-13 neuters the fun.

• Moneyball – Blu-ray Review

  

  Thanks to the banter between Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill and the incredible screenplay from Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Moneyball is an entertaining drama – even if you could care less about the sport of baseball.

Saturday 07 January 2012

• Warrior – Blu-ray Review

  

  Without a doubt, Warrior is one of the best films of 2011, and packs more than a simple punch in the ring. The film uses the sporting world of MMA to tell the classic drama story of a splintered family. The fight sequences are intense, but the film greatly benefits from Nick Nolte’s incredible performance.

Friday 06 January 2012

• Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2011) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Horror master Guillermo Del Toro's remake of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark doesn’t give you many reasons to actually be afraid, but the film does manage to entertain with a jump or two.

Friday 30 December 2011

• Burke and Hare – DVD Review

  

  John Landis returns behind the camera to direct the epic meeting of Shaun of the Dead and Caesar the Ape.  The results are more of a gentle comedy, but it has a dark and a down ending that doesn’t seem to jibe with what comes before.  It’s still better than the Stupids (a movie that lives up to its title). 

• Hostel Part III – DVD Review

  

  The third time isn’t exactly the charm for the Hostel franchise as the gruesome comes stateside.  The results are more torturous to sit through than their torture porn predecessors.  Well, maybe not that bad, but the twists were too often guessed by me and therefore spoiled much of the surprise. 

Thursday 29 December 2011

• Apollo 18 – Blu-ray Review

  

  In the wake of such documentary style films as Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, Cloverfield, and Fourth Kind, Apollo 18 is the newest of this genre of ‘found footage’ type movies. It is well done and makes you question the role of NASA in the space race between the two super power countries, the USA and the USSR.

Wednesday 28 December 2011

• Final Destination 5 (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  The Final Destination franchise has never been ‘final’ per say but cheaply enough made with little known actors to make enough money to keep reinventing itself. The fifth installment is more of the same as its predecessors (don’t expect it to be too much different), but does have a clever twist at the end.

Tuesday 20 December 2011

• Dolphin Tale - Blu-ray Review

  

  A Dolphin Tale of a dolphin’s tail that is largely fictionalized, although the dolphin in question is played by the real life survivor that inspired the film.  Never go looking for history in movies, but even this imagined tale has the power to uplift and inspire. 

Monday 19 December 2011

• Columbiana – DVD Review

  

  From writer/producer Luc Besson, Columbiana feels a lot like a regurgitation of Besson’s 1994 film Leon: The Professional - which was a much better movie.

• Straw Dogs (2011) – DVD Review

  

  Although it lacks the grit of Sam Peckinpah’s 1971 original and has several problems that hurt the overall story, Straw Dogs is a tense thriller that uses a slow-burn pace to examine how far a good man can be pushed before he pushes back.

• Fright Night (2011) – Blu-ray Review - Fright Night Holiday Cards Added!

  

  While it doesn’t have the charm of the 1985 original, the remake of Fright Night is a CGI-slick horror romp that provides some laughs and even a few scares thanks to a menacing Colin Farrell.

Friday 16 December 2011

• Kung Fu Panda 2 - Blu-ray Review

  

  Everybody’s kung fu fighting again as Po and the furriest Furious Five take on a weapon that threatens to best their martial arts skills.  Jack Black and the cast return for a high-kicking time that provides some family fu time. 

Thursday 15 December 2011

• Mission: Impossible – Extreme Trilogy Collection – Blu-ray Review

  

  Timed for Tom Cruise’s return to the big screen as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, the first three Mission Impossible film have been collected on Blu-ray as an Extreme Trilogy Collection. All three films are still entertaining, but the set is hardly worth the purchase if you own the films in one of the other collections already released.

Wednesday 14 December 2011

• Rise of the Planet of the Apes – DVD Review

  

  This is the beginning of our end as we welcome our intelligent ape masters. What surprised is that this Apes film actually turned into a surprise hit.

• Switched At Birth: Volume One – DVD Review

  

  ABC Family’s highly acclaimed new television drama Switched at Birth is now available on DVD. This opening half of the first season is a fine way to introduce the story to newcomers and will be a delight to the show’s already avid fans.
  

Monday 12 December 2011

• The Help – Blu-ray Review

  

  The Help is a near perfect blend of comedy and drama. The film manages to stay light enough to be entertaining while tackling a variety of deep subjects and a difficult time period. The strength of the film can easily be credited to its extremely talented ensemble cast.

Sunday 11 December 2011

• Cowboys & Aliens – Blu-ray Review - CLIPS ADDED!

  

  Although it is not quite the epic “Indy Meets Bond” adventure that was hyped, Cowboys & Aliens is an entertaining film and fun ride pretty much from start to finish. The film does require the audience to shut the brain off and doesn’t aim to be more than its titles suggests.

Wednesday 07 December 2011

• Whitechapel: The Ripper Returns – DVD Review

  

  Jack the Ripper haunts our imaginations as one of the most famous unsolved serial murderers of all time.  This new take places a copycat in London recreating those famous crimes and some fabulous actors and acting are dragged along as well.

Tuesday 06 December 2011

• The Hangover Part II (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) - Blu-ray Review

  

  More of the same certainly didn’t keep the film from making bank, but this sequel feels like a cash grab.  I guess it did succeed at that level, but don’t expect the laughs of the first one - although admittedly there are a few.

• Conan the Barbarian – Blu-ray Review

  

  Robert E. Howard’s pulp hero gets a slick CGI-enhanced reboot that isn’t as bad as you might have heard, but is still a long way from what some of the barbarian’s fans wanted to see on screen.

Sunday 04 December 2011

• Smallville: The Complete Series – DVD Review

  

  In time for Christmas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is giving Smallville and Superman fans a great treat with the release of Smallville: The Complete Series.

Friday 02 December 2011

• The Smurfs (Three-Disc Combo Blu-ray/DVD ) – Blu-ray Review

  

  La la la la la la, la la la la la.  Those little blue critters that turned out to be a surprise phenomenon in the 1980s make their way to the big screen and now to, ironically, Blu-ray.  It’s a fun time, especially for the kids, but some parts left me grouchy.

Thursday 01 December 2011

• Neverwhere (15th Anniversary Edition) – DVD Review

  

  Neverwhere is the brainchild of Neil Gaiman, who recently wrote a grand episode for the Doctor, that shows that excellent writing and acting can overcome an old school Doctor Who budget.

Wednesday 30 November 2011

• Tucker and Dale vs. Evil – DVD Review

  

  A bunch of haughty college kids head to the woods, encounter some loveable bumpkins who they think are serial killers, and then begin committing suicide.  Well, something like that, but the results have both hilarity and heart. 

Wednesday 23 November 2011

• Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series - Blu-ray Review

  

  You have some of it perhaps, but you’ll want to hold off buying part two and just splurge on this complete set as the extra features are well worth it.  There’s one omission, but you probably own it anyway.  Another great series and set from Doctor Who.

• Super 8 - Blu-ray Review

  

  Super 8 is J.J. Abrams’ tribute to his childhood and we can certainly guess who his favorite filmmaker might’ve been.  However, the movie certainly has a heart and relies on character rather than bombast.  A refreshing change of pace, even if you’re reminded of other films. 

Friday 18 November 2011

• The Devil’s Double - Blu-ray Review

  

  Dominic Cooper does double duty as both the mad Uday Hussein and his thoughtful doppelganger and shines in both capacities.  The comparisons to Scarface are both superfluous and well deserved or am I being two-faced?

Wednesday 16 November 2011

• Larry Crowne - Blu-ray Review

  

  I guess we were expecting better of Larry since it starred two major movie stars.  Its crime may be not living up to expectations, not that it wasn’t entirely unsuccessful.  There’s just something about it that doesn’t jibe in today’s financial times. 

Monday 14 November 2011

• Luther: Season 2 – DVD Review

  

  Idris Elba returns as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther in a riveting second series.  Four hour long episodes bring Luther and his team into unimaginable dangers threatening both the physical and psychological wellbeing.

Friday 11 November 2011

• Young Justice, Season One: Volume Two - DVD Review

  

  While Young Justice makes sure to pack plenty of action into each episode, fans of the series might be a little disappointed that the first season continues to be broken into four-episode Volume releases rather than a complete Season One collection.

Thursday 10 November 2011

• Crazy, Stupid, Love (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Well, one out of three ain’t bad, but it’s usually crazy or stupid and not love.  I didn’t find the film too stupid or crazy, but I also didn’t fall head over heels in love with it either.  There was enough fun to make me like it though. 

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - Blu-ray Review

  

  All good things must end and the end has come to Harry Potter or at least his movie series.   

Wednesday 09 November 2011

• Green Lantern – Blu-ray Review

  

  Green Lantern takes flight with a by-the-numbers origin story that isn’t awful, but falls short of some of the great superhero movies that have made their way to the big screen. The film attempts to be epic, but comes across as bland by the time the credits roll.

Wednesday 02 November 2011

• The Tree of Life - Blu-ray Review

  

  Terrence Malick is a director who weaves a visual tapestry and that is certainly true of his latest effort.  Although this effort is certainly to have people taking sides as the images may be beautiful but the narrative is not for everyone. 
  

• Cars 2 - Blu-ray Review

  

  The latest Pixar sequel squeals onto Blu-ray, looking great on the outside but having some conks in the engine.  Not that it matters much, as the wee ones will delight in the return trip and the images do look fantastic on Blu-ray - so adults may not mind the journey either. 
  

Friday 28 October 2011

• Captain America: The First Avenger - Blu-ray Review

  

  Captain America is a fun movie that doesn’t try to be more than its premise – a superhero out to stop evil from the destroying the world. The movie features a slick look that is perfect for its period setting; a ton of over-the-top action sequences; and a cheesy sense of humor that makes the popcorn feel of the film go down smooth.

• The People vs. George Lucas – DVD Review

  

  Bangs gavel.  This is not exactly an official trial, although some of the more vitriolic geeks would have George strung up.  This intriguing documentary does posit some interesting timeline as to the joy and annoyance of being a Star Wars fan.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

• Airplane! - Blu-ray review

  

  I was going to write this review in jive but found I wasn’t fluent.  Better than starting with “don’t call me Shirley” right?  That one’s been done to death.  The Zucker Brothers and one Abrahams’ zany parody flies onto Blu-ray! but only at Best Buy!

• Friday the 13th: The Ultimate Collection – DVD Review

  

  Tis the season to get slashed at Crystal Lake.  Paramount has released a gift set of the Friday the 13th films of theirs (don’t expect all of the Jason movies) but the only new addition is the packaging. 

Friday 21 October 2011

• The Hour - Blu-ray Review

  

  The Hour is upon us and it may be thought of as an answer to Mad Men but it does feature a veddy British feel as well as a compelling storyline. It also features a look at the ambitious choice to look away from the insubstantial to actual hard-hitting journalism.

Thursday 20 October 2011

• Jackie Brown - Blu-ray Review

  

  Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to Pam Grier arrives on Blu-ray and is as stunning as the lady herself. 

Tuesday 18 October 2011

• For a Few Dollars More – Blu-ray Review

  

  A Fistful of Dollars made (wait for it) a fistful of dollars so it was decided to spend a few dollars more to make a few dollars more.  Happily so is the way of Hollywood, even if located in Italy.  This time round Clint is given a costar that is just as hard as he is and we’re thankful for it. 

• A Fistful of Dollars - Blu-ray Review

  

  A nameless stranger rides into town and gets the family DVD warring against the family Blu-ray.  I think his name might be Akira Kurosawa but he might not have a name at all.  What used to only be available exclusively is now out everywhere. 

• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! - Blu-ray Review

  

  Airplane begat the “too soon cancelled” TV show Police Squad and that begat the movie The Naked Gun.  It would give new life to Leslie Nielsen’s career and move him into deadpan comedy.  Many laughs would be begotten. 

• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Blu-ray Review

  

  You’ll have to travel to Best Buy by one of those methods, but there you will find the high definition disc of John Hughes’ hilarious ode to travel… and the perils thereof.  Candy and Martin are hilarious as is their trip to make it home for Thanksgiving.

Monday 17 October 2011

• Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory (Three-Disc 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Return to the original world of pure imagination since it’s been forty years since you first saw it.  Warner Brother certainly put everything into a nice package.  There are some goodies but they may not be as expansive as the box suggests. 

• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Captain Jack is back.  Some critics didn’t much care for his latest adventure, but I had such a good time that I can give the film some slack.  However, if you’re looking for special features you may want to consider the other set.

• Scream 4 – Blu-ray Review

  

  In a clever opening sequence that involves the made-up horror movie franchise “Stab,” which is based on the books written by Scream character Gale Weathers-Riley (Courteney Cox), two high schools girls, Sherrie and Trudie (Lucy Hale and Shenae Grimes), are stalked and then brutally killed by Ghostface .

Thursday 13 October 2011

• Blood Simple - Blu-ray Review - CLIPS ADDED!

  

  Joel and Ethan Coen’s throwback to film noir makes its way to Blu-ray, but those hoping for substantial special features will be disappointed. 

• The Bad Seed - Blu-ray Review

  

  Some parts creaky, some parts creepy - the original devil child stalks her way onto Blu-ray.  The little pig-tailed sociopath is out to get that penmanship medal that you won and if you don’t give it to her you’re just going to make her kill you.  It’s your fault that she has to do this to you.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

• Horrible Bosses – Blu-ray Review

  

  Horrible Bosses is not so much about the bosses (played by Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston) as it is about the little guys coming out on top and winning maybe just one for the underdog team (played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis).

Sunday 09 October 2011

• Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated: Season 1 V.3 – DVD Review

  

  Where there’s a mystery to be solved you’ll find the Mystery Machine and a gang of meddling kids. You’ll also find my enrapt three-year-old glued to the television. We had to watch it twice, not that I minded too much.

Thursday 06 October 2011

• Pulp Fiction - Blu-ray Review

  

  The film that brought Tarantino to prominence and revived or enhanced some careers is pulled out of the briefcase and onto Blu-ray.  There’s are lots of expectations for this release and it certainly doesn’t look like something coming out of a place a watch was hidden for two years. 

Tuesday 04 October 2011

• The Caller – DVD Review

  

  Ring, ring.  Better pick up the phone… maybe not after watching this Twilight Zone inspired thriller.  The Caller is a film that takes its low budget and provides genuine chills, especially considering that the villain is a disembodied voice from the past. 

• The Lion King (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  If I were king of the forest, not duke, not prince, not earl.  Oh wait, wrong lion and lyric.  Although Disney’s Simba has to find courage to defeat his villainous uncle and reclaim his throne, he just can’t wait to be king and you’ll not be able to wait to dig into another Blu-ray gem from Disney. Hakuna matata. 

Sunday 02 October 2011

• The Count of Monte Cristo – Blu-ray Review

  

  James Caviezel gives a strong performance in 2002's The Count of Monte Cristo which arrives on Blu-ray looking solid and with revenge on its mind.

• Body of Proof: The Complete First Season – DVD Review

  

  Dana Delany leaves the wives of Wisteria Lane to solve crimes as the brilliant Dr. Megan Hunt in the first season of the excellent new series Body of Proof. While the series doesn’t feel like the typical crime genre cop show, Delany and the ensemble cast keep each episode entertaining and give the series a reason for fans to keep watching.

• Fast Five – Blu-ray Review

  

  Although it strays from the original franchise formula, Fast Five is a great thrill ride from start to finish filled with high-octane stunts and plenty of action. The film’s plot may be totally unbelievable, but who cares. This movie is simply fun to watch.

• Mimic (The Director's Cut) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi horror blend Mimic has arrived on Blu-ray in a director’s cut edition, and is worth picking up even though there isn’t a massive difference in the two versions of the film.

Friday 30 September 2011

• Footloose - Blu-ray Review

  

  Put on your dancing shoes, that is unless it’s been banned in your small town.  Footloose boogies onto Blu-ray with some nice new special features, but an uneven transfer.  The film that made Kevin Bacon some bacon is still fun, but also features a thoughtful performance from a supporting member. 

• Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Blu-ray Review

  

  Although the film gets good by the time the end credits roll, Transformers: Dark of the Moon has a lot of goofiness that weighs down the movie in the beginning, and makes it hard to give the film a chance to get going.

Thursday 29 September 2011

• The Good Wife: Season Two – DVD Review

  

  The second season of The Good Wife finds the drama cranked up as Emmy-award winning actress Julianna Margulies’ Alicia Florrick is put through the emotional ringer and not sure of where she is standing by the time the season ends.

Wednesday 28 September 2011

• Private Practice: The Complete Fourth Season – DVD Review

  

  The fourth season of Private Practice sees the series move out from Grey’s Anatomy’s shadow and actually surpass it on several levels.

Monday 26 September 2011

• O Brother, Where Art Thou? – Blu-ray Review

  

  The Coen brother’s 2000 rendition of Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’ (loosely based, of course) is set in the 1930s in the Deep South - Mississippi to be exact.

• Bridesmaids (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  For all the hype made about Bridemaids, I didn’t fall in love with it. I don’t even know if I liked it. The trailers and previewers made it sound like a girlish Hangover, with fun and good times in Vegas.

Thursday 22 September 2011

• Blue Bloods: The First Season – DVD Review

  

  Led by Tom Selleck, Blue Bloods is an excellent ensemble series that does a near perfect job of balancing the grit of the cop genre with family drama by following a family grounded in a history of law enforcement in New York City.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

• Dumbo (70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Well, Dumbo certainly soars onto Blu-ray in a fantastic print that will reduce other editions to pink elephants. 

Monday 19 September 2011

• The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season - Blu-ray Review

  

  The good looking vampires, witches, werewolves and high school kids of Mystic Falls, Virginia are back for another season of romance, mystery, murder and drinking blood – mostly from rabbits or donor blood bags.

• Criminal Minds: The Sixth Season – DVD Review

  

  The sixth season of Criminal Minds sees the show following its established formula while injecting the series with some new faces and a better look into the past of some of the show’s main characters. The season doesn’t break much new ground, but keeps you enjoying the series thanks to its ensemble cast.

• Star Wars: The Complete Saga - Blu-ray Review

  

  Have you ever heard of burnout?  I may have it when it comes to Star Wars.  I dearly love the original trilogy, but changes and tinkering have put a bit of a damper on this release for me.  I don’t give Lucas mad, blind vitriolic rants as with the Interwebs, but he’s diminishing the films.  You know you’re gonna buy it anyway though. 

Saturday 17 September 2011

• The Twilight Zone: Season Five - Blu-ray Review

  

  The fifth and final season of the Twilight Zone suffers some of the same problems that caused the show to begin its descent (and no it’s not sparkly vampires).  Even with some less-than-stellar episodes, this season still manages to hit some fabulous homeruns and maybe even the best show of the series.

Thursday 15 September 2011

• Hanna – DVD Review

  

  Hanna is an interesting girl.  She’s been isolated but trained for a very specific purpose.  Her journey features wonderful locales, grand performances, and enough action and adventure akin to James Bond or Jason Bourne. 

• Thor (Three-Disc Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  With the charismatic film presence of Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, Thor succeeds on many levels. The movie is smart, funny, dramatic, and loads of fun.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

• Doctor Who: Day of the Daleks – DVD Review

  

  The Daleks had met their supposedly final end in 1967, but as you know, every Dalek has their day.  So the beasties would return to face the new dapper Doctor once again.  The plot was timey whimey, but this 1970s adventure is given a new digital future facelift and groovy special features.

Sunday 11 September 2011

• A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song – DVD Review

  

  Everyone loves a Cinderella story, because it is perhaps the most romantic of scenarios when a young struggling heroine is noticed by a handsome prince whose love sweeps her away from her unhappy life to a fairytale existence. 

Thursday 08 September 2011

• Gossip Girl: Season 4 – DVD Review

  

  The saga continues as Serena and Blair take Paris by storm, and then return home to start college in the city.  Will things be any different for the friends and sometimes enemies?

• Cougar Town: The Complete Second Season – DVD Review

  

  From the ongoing joke of the series title’s unsuitability, (which is each week illuminated by a snide subtitle), to a grand season finale in Hawaii, Cougar Town is consistently engaging and funny. 

• Captain America (1992) – DVD Review

  

  Making a movie on the exploits of Marvel comics’ Captain America sounded like a good idea at the time.  However, the resulting film was so bad that it was shuffled directly to video in Caps’ home country.  It’s certainly not a movie that you want to wrap in Old Glory, more wrap in cement, sink, and forget. 

• Scarface Limited Edition Steelbook – Blu-ray Review

  

  Let me introduce you to my high-def little friend.  Al Pacino’s scenery chewing turn as Tony Montana has gather admiration by some, but one would hope that nobody would wish their life would follow the hellish path that Montana treads. 

• X-men: First Class – DVD Review

  

  Step into your way-back machine and travel back to the origins of Xavier’s School for Gifted Children and the X-men.  It’s interesting to see the origins of some familiar characters, but I’m sure it may cause some troubles with the fans of the comic.

Monday 05 September 2011

• Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Fifth Season - DVD Review

  

  Brothers and Sisters returns for a fifth and final season that sees the show going out on a strong note despite losing Rob Lowe and a lot of its viewers. The season features another round of strong performances from its ensemble cast – led by the legendary Sally Fields.

Sunday 04 September 2011

• Prom (Blu-ray / DVD Combo) – Blu-ray Review

  

  Without a doubt, Prom will please its teen/tween targeted audience, but some older viewer might groan as the movie rolls along. It reminds of some of the great teen comedies of the 80s and the films of John Hughes, but lacks their edge.

• Desperate Housewives: The Complete Seventh Season – DVD Review

  

  The wives of Wisteria Lane are back for another season of betrayal, mystery, romance, and maybe a little murder. The Seventh Season feels a tad more desperate than past releases, but the cast still has the charm to keep it worth watching.

• House, M.D.: Season Seven – Blu-ray Review

  

  Dr. House is back and he is in love. He is also drug free and in a good mood. Or at least, in as good a mood as House can be. Naturally, this doesn’t last the whole season, and by the last episode the pill-popping, cranky doctor we all love is back – which is not necessarily a good thing.

Friday 02 September 2011

• Detroit 1-8-7: The Complete First Season – DVD Review

  

  With tones of NYPD Blue and Hillstreet Blues, Detroit 1-8-7 instantly reminds of some of the great, gritty cop dramas from television’s past – which is probably why the series didn’t make it past one season before getting cancelled by ABC.

Thursday 01 September 2011

• Dylan Dog: Dead of Night – DVD Review

  

  The adventure of the popular supernatural Italian comic hero tries to make a film franchise for a second time… and fails.  The result is rather bland and that’s odd considering its more colorful sounding source material which is still being published in Italy. 

Tuesday 30 August 2011

• Super - Blu-ray Review

  

  With a cry of “shut up crime!” the Crimson Bolt dons his superhero outfit, takes up his trusty monkey wrench, and whacks the crap out of crime where he finds it. Those that cut in lines beware, but the Crimson Bolt hasn’t thought of the real world consequences of being a superhero.

Sunday 28 August 2011

• Off The Map – DVD Review

  

  Off the Map takes the medicine and romance formula of Grey’s Anatomy and throws it into the jungles of a remote South American village. The DVD release collects all 13 episodes of the series that was cancelled by ABC right as its cast was starting to gel and grow in the roles.

• Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Season Two Part One – DVD Review

  

  Batman: The Brave and The Bold returns to DVD with a 12 episode collection of Season Two of the hit series that airs on Cartoon Network. Bat fans no doubt will be disappointed that the entire second season couldn’t be released in one set, but the show is worth getting it any way you can.

• Priest - Blu-ray Review

  

  Priest takes a stab at blending the vampire genre with mix of sci-fi and western elements, but the results fall short. Instead of something groundbreaking and fresh, the film feels weighted down by bad CGI, editing and close-ups of the Priest warriors that feel left over from a Star Wars prequel.

Saturday 27 August 2011

• Little Big Soldier - Blu-ray Review

  

  Little Big Soldier has been a project that Jackie Chan has been considering for a long time, some 20 years.  So long ago that he was originally tapped to play the opposite role than he plays in the picture.  It does hit some high notes, features some of Chan’s trademark stunts, but that ending seems not to jibe with what comes before it. 

• The Beaver – DVD Review

  

  I sat down to watch the Beaver with my kid’s stuffed beaver toy.  When it was over I asked him for his thoughts on the film.  It just stared at me blankly and refused to help me with the review. 

Tuesday 23 August 2011

• Bambi II (Two-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray / DVD Combo) - Blu-ray Review

  

  For a time, Disney was trying to sequel several of its classic properties.  Bambi II fares better than earlier ones, but those expecting a great deal of new stuff for the title’s Blu-ray debut will be disappointed. 

• Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Special Edition - Warner Archive Collection Review

  

  We have the remake from producer Guillermo del Toro to thank, but the Warner Archive Collection has redone the 1973 original to coincide with the release of the redo.  In what I hope is a sign of things to come for the Archives collection, they even include some special features as well as a new transfer.

• Hostage – Blu-ray Review

  

  Hostage arrives on Blu-ray and looks solid on the format. Even with a crystal clear picture, the film still has to be one of the worse Bruce Willis movies to come out in a long time. There are moments where it could have been good, but they are almost all ruined by the time the end credits roll.