Archive Page 466
June 25th, 2013 by Brian White
I’ve never really wrote a piece like this before on the site so early in the year as its usually something I step aside and graciously hand the reigns over to our “Godfather” of theatrical movie reviews, Mr. Aaron Neuwirth, to cover. However, most recently I’ve become very concerned after I compiled and examined the top five films I have liked so far in the calendar year of 2013. It’s a little bit upsetting to me given the merit of said films in the public eye. And yes I know, usually the first quarter of the year is reserved for stinker films, bad horror and action films alike that could not get a summer tentpole or end of year holiday date, but come on Hollywood. How do these films get made? Seriously! I guess you can say I have become a bit unnerved and perturbed after some of my biggest hopes of the year have either disappointed me, Man of Steel, or have seriously been flops and disasters, sans hesitation The Hangover Part III and Lords of Salem, which instantly come to mind. So I thought it would be kind of fun to write up a little mid year piece to collect my thoughts and write about the five films I truly enjoyed the first half of this year and what I’m really looking forward to in the rest of 2013. Will you join me? Continue reading ‘Brian White’s Top 5 Films of 2013 So Far…And A Quick Look Ahead’
June 25th, 2013 by Blu-ray Brian
Try as I might, I just never got around to watching the NBC series Hannibal as of yet. I attempted the first episode when it originally aired, but low and behold the Sandman got the best of me that ill fated night. However, I have heard grand things about the series! And it’s even been picked up for a second season. So you know things must be going good for it! So I’m pleased to present you with our first Comic-Con 2013 post of the year as Gaumont International Television has announced their attendance at this year’s spectacular with a panel entitled “Hannibal: Feed Your Fear,” which will feature Bryan Fuller, David Slade, Martha De Laurtentiis and Hugh Dancy. The panel is set for July 18th at 6:45pm – 7:45pm. Check out the full press release below for more information! Continue reading ‘Comic-Con 2013: ‘Hannibal’ Panel Set For Thursday, July 18th’
June 25th, 2013 by Blu-ray Brian
Try as I might, I just couldn’t find the time to make it to the theater this year to catch Michael Bay’s vacation from the Transformers franchise, Pain & Gain. I wanted to, but lady luck was never on my side unfortunately. However, I don’t let things like this get me down. After all, our very own Gerard once missed seeing a paid entrance to Oblivion because he was standing in line buying Rob Zombie albums. Things like this happen. Life happens. I knew I would eventually get a go around with this bad boy on Blu-ray and thankfully with today’s announcement it looks like I won’t be waiting too much longer. Check out the full press release from Paramount below. Continue reading ‘Marky Mark and The Rock Bring The ‘Pain & Gain’ to Blu-ray!’
June 25th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Last year, I was happy to catch up with the first season of the Emmy-winning Showtime series, Homeland. It was one of the best debut seasons of a television series that I had seen, complete with spy games, thrills, wonderful performances from the core cast members, and an incredibly intriguing story that only built up in tension as it went along. Season 2 of the acclaimed series arrives on Blu-ray this September and I am very excited to see what has come of Sgt. Brody, Agent Mathison, and whatever possible terrorist threats reveal themselves. Everyone else will be able to find out too, come September 10th. Read on to learn more about this upcoming Blu-ray release.
Continue reading ‘“Homeland” Season Two Hits Blu-ray September 10!’
June 24th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
This should be interesting. I have been hearing about Francis Ford Coppola’s latest experimental film Twixt for quite some time. It was taken on the road and made out to be an interactive film experience, complete with 3D, a mix of color and black and white imagery, and various means to keep the audience very involved with what happens in the film. I am not at all sure how that worked, but at least I will be able to see a “definitive” version of Twixt on Blu-ray this coming July. On July 23, Twixt arrives on Blu-ray and will surely be a trip, as I attempt to watch and evaluate it. Coppola is obviously a legend, as far as filmmakers go, but this later stage of his career has been responsible for some interesting choices on his part. Hopefully Twixt will turn out to be more than just an interesting take on gothic horror filmmaking. Read on to learn more about this upcoming release.
Continue reading ‘What A Twist! Francis Ford Coppola’s “Twixt” Arrives on Blu-ray July 23′
June 24th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Bruce Willis reprises his iconic role as police detective John McClane in A Good Day to Die Hard, set against the backdrop of deadly corruption and political vendetta in Russia. McClane arrives in Moscow to track down his estranged son, Jack, (Jai Courtney), and is stunned to discover he’s working undercover to protect a government whistleblower, Komarov. With their own necks on the line, the McClanes are forced to overcome their differences in order to get Komarov to safety and thwart a potentially disastrous crime in the most desolate place on Earth – Chernobyl. Keeping audiences on the edge of their seats for 25 years, this latest chapter of the popular action franchise delivers the thrills and the ultimate father-son action duo as A Good Day to Die Hard makes its debut on the Blu-ray and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Continue reading ‘A Good Day to Die Hard – Extended Cut (Blu-ray Review)’
June 21st, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
This summer, Walt Disney Studios invites audiences to get into the groove with two outrageously funny animated comedies, The Emperor’s New Groove and Kronk’s New Groove for the first time ever on Blu-ray hi-definition, in a 2 movie collection. The 3-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes both feature films on a single Blu-ray disc plus each film on individual DVDs. The fun begins with The Emperor’s New Groove, featuring an all-star cast and Academy Award-nominated music by Sting (Best Music, Original Song, Sting, 2000). When the young and spoiled Emperor Kuzco (voice of David Spade) is transformed into a llama by his sinister advisor Yzma (voice of Eartha Kitt) and her henchman Kronk (voice of Patrick Warburton), it takes a thoughtful peasant named Pasha (voice of John Goodman) to restore the kingdom and show Kuzco just how much fun it is to be true to yourself. Then audiences can continue the fun with Kronk’s New Groove. The outrageous sequel stars Yzma’s hilarious henchman Kronk in a riotous adventure that’s filled with hysterical mayhem and mishaps. Kronk cooks up a get-rich quick scheme to impress his Dad. But when things go wrong, Kronk kicks into comical high gear and discovers that the true riches in life are his friends and being “true to your groove.” Continue reading ‘The Emperor’s New Groove 2-Movie Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
June 21st, 2013 by Brian White
Stoker is one of those movies where I had every intention of seeing theatrically, but for whatever unknown reason or another the stars just didn’t align properly in my favor. Sadly, it came and went and I was forced to wait until now to finally check it out. In the meantime, I heard so many positive things about it. However, what really attracted my attention to this body of work is when I found out Prison Break’s Wentworth Miller actually penned the screenplay. He did so under a pseudonym of Ted Foulke in order to have his work taken seriously, but nevertheless you could say after I learned that I have been “stoked” to check out Stoker. You see, I’m a huge fan of his an actor so when I found this out I just had to see what all the buzz was about. It was being lauded as pretty good and to this day the film holds around a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Considering Man of Steel, a movie so many people seemed divided on, only holds a rating of 56% (keep in mind that Fast & Furious 6 has a 71%), how good or bad can Stoker be? I was hoping it would be the case of the former, but that’s what we are gathered here to talk about anyway today. So let the “stoking” begin! Continue reading ‘Stoker (Blu-ray Review)’
June 21st, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
World War Z is a big surprise and in a very favorable way. As a big fan of the gripping 2006 novel by Max Brooks (Son of Mel), everything I saw in the footage and news leading up to the release of the film adaptation indicated disaster. It seemed that everything about the book, with the exception of the title, was scrapped in order to make for a summer action film. That actually is what essentially happened in this film, but the surprising part is how enjoyable I found it to be. While this film has little to offer in the way of social commentary or political undertones in the ways all the best zombies films do, it has plenty of thrills and real confidence in the way the action and mayhem is presented. Despite all the production issues and a less satisfying third act, World War Z has far more confidence in its presentation than I expected and it plays as a solid piece of entertainment depicting a pandemic on a global scale.
Continue reading ‘‘World War Z’ Trades In Cliffnotes Of The Book For Cliffhanger Thrills (Movie Review)’
June 21st, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
This summer Walt Disney Studios treats audiences to two animated comedies about bringing friends and family together even when they seem worlds apart in one fun Lilo and Stitch 2-movie collection. Available June 11, 2013 for the first time on Blu-ray with great picture and sound quality, the Lilo & Stitch and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch movies are hours of fantastic fun in one incredible collection! The 3-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes both feature films on one Blu-ray disc plus each film on individual DVDs. Lilo and Stitch is the story of Lilo, a lonely little girl, and Stitch the mischievous little creature from outer space. When Stitch crash-lands in Hawaii, Lilo adopts him as her pet, but he soon turns her world upside down. Stitch takes Hawaii by storm, wreaking havoc and hanging ten while he evades the alien bounty hunters who are after him, and also learning about loyalty and friendship. Featuring six original Elvis Presley songs, Lilo and Stitch is fun for the entire family. The laughter continues in the sequel Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch. As Stitch settles into life with his human family it appears his molecular makeup is out of whack and his friendship with Lilo is threatened as a result. Lilo and her friends must find a way to restore his “goodness” level before he ruins everything, including Lilo’s big hula competition – the same competition her mother won years before. Continue reading ‘Lilo & Stitch 2-Movie Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
June 20th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot. Fame and fortune are his for the taking. That is until he meets three witches: Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity and even a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into a great wizard but into a better man as well. Continue reading ‘Oz The Great and Powerful 2D / 3D (Blu-ray Review)’
June 20th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
I wonder how many of my reviews for Pixar films begin with how I approach their studio with a lot of faith, given their track record. The notion to mention favorites from the beloved animation studio is also a tendency. It really should not matter and maybe in another 5-10 years, they will be just another studio that does not need to be called out for their past films. With all of that in mind, regardless of whatever Pixar has done in the past and how their newer films stack up, I can that I had a lot of fun with Monsters University, the prequel to 2001’s Monsters, Inc. It is a funny, bright, and colorful underdog story that relies on a lot of good-natured humor to make up for its traditional plotting. The emotional resonance is there, as per usual with Pixar, but the film is about as affecting as it needs to be, for a film that sets out to simply be a fun, all-ages comedy.
Continue reading ‘‘Monsters University’ Is A Fun Trip Back To School (Movie Review)’
June 19th, 2013 by Brandon Peters
This title piqued my interest when it came through. A zombie tale based off of a graphic novel I’d never heard of. It deals with zombies and one is a superhero of sorts. It was a fully imagined CG movie as well. The key demo for it appeared to be the older, mature crowd. A zombie who is all about being ready and able to “kick ass” is how the box tries to sell it. Well, I’ve never seen that approach to the zombie genre (one I’m a sucker for), so bring it. I had not seen a trailer or anything from it, but I felt optimistic going in blind. Unfortunately this turned out to be a complete failure for me at every turn. Maybe I was too old for this. Maybe I’m not of the ilk that would enjoy something like this. I wasn’t familiar with the source material, but I’m pretty positive I wasn’t really missing out on anything. As a film itself, it’s quite a challenging piece to get through and it’s also a short one to boot. Continue reading ‘The Amazing Adventures Of The Living Corpse (Blu-ray Review)’
June 19th, 2013 by Brian White
It feels like this movie has been in production for so long that it would be a miracle if it was any good. Let’s take a quick look back and count the ways World War Z has suffered from setbacks. First thing first, Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B Entertainment, first secured film rights in 2007 from the novel of the same name by Max Brooks. That’s when director Marc Forster was first approached to direct. Things proceeded slowly as Matthew Michael Carnahan was hired to write the screenplay in 2009 and filming didn’t begin until around July 2011. The movie originally was set for a December 2012 release date. However, in July 2012 the film’s release date was pushed back and seven weeks of reshoots were scheduled. Wow! That’s right…seven weeks! During that time Damon Lindelof was hired to rewrite the third act, but he didn’t have time and Drew Goddard was hired to rewrite it. What is this, Prometheus? Now with all that in hindsight, the thing that worries me the most is the flick’s PG-13 rating for what looks like one hell of a wild, zombie invasion ride. Were my worries justified? Read on and find out you will.
Continue reading ‘Don’t Be Afraid To Go Into Battle With ‘World War Z’ (Movie Review)’
June 18th, 2013 by Jami Ferguson
Jack the Giant Slayer tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself. Continue reading ‘Jack The Giant Slayer (Blu-ray Review)’
June 18th, 2013 by Brandon Peters
Magicians, or Illusionists, have sort of become a dying breed in modern times. In the 80s and 90s they were a pretty big deal. There were television specials, tours and merchandising. Growing up, one of my favorite celebrities was David Copperfield. I taped his television specials and went and saw him when his tour came to my hometown. For those who read my blog, by mentioning David Copperfield, I’ll once again tip my hat to Terror Train. Nowadays, though, the Illusionists seem to be relegated to the city of Las Vegas, little parties or special nights at a restaurant. The tricks are still dazzling and still marvelous but they’ve been done so much over the years the general public maybe jus thinks they’ve seen it all. And in place of popularity comes these “street magicians” who perform moreso stunts having them pass as magic. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a comedy that tries to parody both types of magicians and showing respect to the age old craft. Continue reading ‘The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (Blu-ray Review)’
June 17th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Wilfred is a series that has only gotten stronger as it has continued. I was happy to enjoy the first season on a weekly basis, merely for the surreal type of comedy it was presenting (a man and a man in a dog suit have adventures), but did not see much more in it, until the first season reached its end. The second season was much more confident in what was being presented and benefited greatly because of it. Now, with the third season about to begin airing on FX, the complete second season has arrived on Blu-ray, with a few bonuses to keep you further entertained. Continue on to learn more about this Blu-ray package.
Continue reading ‘Wilfred: Season 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
June 17th, 2013 by Sean Ferguson
Based on a true story, The Great Escape is
also one of AFI’s “100 Most Thrilling American Films”. In 1943, the Germans opened a maximum security prison-of-war camp, designed to hold even the craftiest escape artists. By doing so, they unwittingly assembled the finest escape team in military history – brilliantly portrayed by Steve McQueen, James Garner, Charles Bronson, and James Coburn- who worked on what became the largest prison breakout ever attempted. The Blu-ray comes fully loaded with over three hours of special features including commentary with Director Preston Sturges and crew, multiple making of featurettes, the original theatrical trailer and more. Continue reading ‘The Great Escape: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
