The Iceman Movie Review – Just Seen It
May 5th, 2013 by David Freedman
We review this mob drama based on true events
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Archive Page 467
Mud Movie Review – Just Seen It
May 5th, 2013 by David Freedman
Two teens stumble upon a small island in the Mississippi inhabited by Mud. Claiming to be a fugitive from the law, he plans to reunite with his lost love. Though skeptical of his plans, they help him making a daring escape.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
The Latest ‘Iron Man’ Is Back With Black (Movie Review)
May 3rd, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Following the fever dream of comic geekery meets worldwide appeal that was 2012’s The Avengers, Marvel Studios is now back to producing a standalone feature for the star that kicked it all off – Iron Man. Taking a step away from his super friends, Iron Man 3 is refreshing in how it does not need to try and work in a grander plot in order to set up films down the line, in the way that made Iron Man 2 suffer. Instead, this is a story that tests all of Tony Stark’s abilities, beyond just having a protective suit of armor. It certainly works as a grand summer spectacle and the re-teaming of Robert Downey Jr. and writer/director Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) certainly makes for a highly entertaining experience. The real question is whether or not this third entry is really able to balance all that it tries to throw at the audience. For now, I would say that it at least does it better than many other third entries in superhero film franchises, but this time around does feel a lot like having a new and improved model of the Iron Man suit on the same sort of material.
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NBFF Reviews: The Iceman and Ghost Team One
May 3rd, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
I have already reviewed the Closing Night film of the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival (the very entertaining The Way Way Back), but this is my final article in regards to the films I saw on Thursday night, closing out my time covering the festival. It has been an exciting and exhausting experience, but I have been very pleased with the amount of coverage I have been able to provide this year and look forward to continuing to cover the festival next year. The final round of films I will be reviewing here are very different from each other, but have their merits. The Iceman is a crime drama based on true events that recounts the story of one of America’s most notorious contract killers. Ghost Team One is a pseudo-documentary made in the vein of Paranormal Activity, but handled with a very comedic touch. I was looking forward to both of these features and can now delve into what I thought about them.
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NBFF Review: The Way Way Back
May 2nd, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
The closing night film for the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival is a real audience pleaser. The Way Way Back is a fairly standard coming-of-age story about an introverted boy opening up to others thanks to good-natured people he befriends, away from his family. The film is not breaking any new ground nor is it taking a familiar story to the next level in the way a film like Adventureland did, but it is incredibly likable, thanks to some key performances and a winning level of energy. Not every film needs to be something new and in the case of The Way Way Back, it succeeds by going back to the basics and letting us enjoy a traditional tale.
Delhi Safari (Blu-ray Review)
May 2nd, 2013 by Jami Ferguson
A wacky pack of mismatched animals takes on the human race as they travel to the big city to protest the destruction of their jungle. How can a leopard cub and his mother, a peace-loving bear, a mischievous monkey, and a wisecracking parrot present their ideas to a bunch of humans? You’ll find out in this hilarious and heart-warming adventure that will have you cheering at the end. Delhi Safari was released in both a Hindi version and an English version. Bollywood stars voice the Hindi version while the English version, reviewed here, is voiced by notable small and big screen actors. In addition, the English Blu-ray version of Delhi Safari is a Walmart exclusive.
The Last Stand (iTunes HD Digital Download Review)
May 2nd, 2013 by Brian White
Like my curious flirtation with Mama in my last HD Digital Download review over here, I really wanted nothing to do with The Last Stand. Why? Quite simply…I felt embarrassed for Arnold Schwarzenegger in it after seeing how much he makes fun of himself in the trailers. It was funny at first, but I have heard and seen enough of it in the Expendables films. However, unlike the boring and painful experience of sitting through Mama, The Last Stand was actually a decent/fun movie and a great action vehicle for Arnold to launch his feature film comeback with his first starring role since 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. So join me, if you’re brave enough, at taking a behind-the-scenes look at a fun action and adrenaline charged film, which hit theaters this past January. Complete with outrageous stunts and humor, I promise you’ll have a good time with it. I did. So I know you will too. Moving on… Continue reading ‘The Last Stand (iTunes HD Digital Download Review)’
Oz The Great and Powerful Arrives on Blu-ray June 11!
May 2nd, 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.
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NBFF Reviews: Geography Club And Paris Manhattan
May 2nd, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Compared to my Tuesday night at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival, Wednesday was a much lighter affair. While The Hunt is still my favorite film that I have seen at the festival this year, both Geography Club and Paris Manhattan were much cheerier films that I can imagine would win over many audiences. While neither is necessarily great, I would say that there is much to enjoy in each and they served as a nice turnaround from some of the darker films that I have been watching at the festival. Geography Club is a light high school comedy-drama about a student facing a truth that will affect his social standing. Paris Manhattan is a French romantic comedy that would make a certain New York filmmaker proud. Considering the breeziness of both features, it was easy enough for me to let the charm of them have an effect.
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Writer Wanted: Why So Blu is Looking For You!
May 2nd, 2013 by Blu-ray Brian
Hey. I’m not too proud to admit it, time is short in this universe. There’s a lot of things going on in one’s life. We all work full time jobs and pursue our passion and hobbies in our free time. Why So Blu started as a hobby for me back in 2008, but thanks to a good friend, Gregg Senko, and three kick a$$ writers later, Gerard Iribe, Sean Ferguson and Aaron Neuwirth, the site grew into so much more. We have a need for another writer to help out around the site, write reviews, cover screenings and/or events whenever possible and help promote and grow our site on popular social media platforms. Are you a regular reader or fan of our site? Think this would be something you’d be interested in? Well if so, by all means keep on reading! Continue reading ‘Writer Wanted: Why So Blu is Looking For You!’
NBFF Reviews: Rushlights And The Hunt
May 1st, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Tuesday night at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival was a bit of a dark one, as both films settled into dramatic territory, with one pulling this off way more effectively than the other. To put it bluntly, on this night I saw both my worst film of the festival so far and my best film of the festival so far. Rushlights was a silly crime thriller that amounted to nothing special, while The Hunt was a compelling drama that needed no more than characters and dialogue to keep it effective throughout. The night could be deemed bittersweet, in a way, as I only saw one good film, but the fact that The Hunt was the film I ended my night of screenings on is bittersweet in and of itself, as the movie was very good, but deals with intense subject matter that really had me riled up at points. Regardless, I at least have the chance to share my thoughts on these films and why one of them should be sought out.
Interview with Pierce Bronan and Trine Dyrholm – Love Is All You Need – Just Seen It
April 30th, 2013 by David Freedman
Brenna chats with Pierce Bronan and Trine Dyrholm about their new romantic comedy – Love Is All You Need
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Love Is All You Need Review – Just Seen It
April 30th, 2013 by David Freedman
As Ida’s cancer goes into remission, she discovers her husband has been unfaithful. When she travels to Italy for her daughter’s wedding, she meets Phillip, the father of the groom. As their children prepare to marry, the two find a love of their own.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
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Star Trek Retrospective and Into Darkness Preview – Just Seen It
April 30th, 2013 by David Freedman
Brenna, Salim and guest reviewer Scott Mantz look back at the Star Trek movies and TV shows and discuss the upcoming next installment in the new re-boot of the movie franchise.
Space – the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Trek universe. As its on-going mission approaches its 50th anniversary, we do a special retrospective and a preview of Star Trek – Into Darkness.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
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The Assassin’s Blade Blu-ray Giveaway
April 30th, 2013 by Blu-ray Brian
Zhu Yanzhi (Charlene Choi) is the daughter of a wealthy wine merchant (Ti Lung), sent into the mountains disguised as a man to learn martial arts with an elite clan. Once she begins her intense training, Zhu finds herself at odds with her trainer and superior, Liang (Chun Wu). But soon, a stronger connection is revealed between the two, and as their attraction grows, so does the danger of Liang discovering Zhu s real identity. Could it be that they’re destined to be together? As the two lovers dare voice their feelings, Zhu learns that her parents are in danger and she must return home immediately, in the company of a childhood friend who also happens to be an aspiring court politician. Could there be more to his intentions than she knows? From the action director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers, this comedy romance crackles with action, danger, hidden identities and unrequited love. Continue reading ‘The Assassin’s Blade Blu-ray Giveaway’
NBFF Reviews: Wasteland, Fruit Of Labor, And Gus
April 30th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Monday night at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival put me right back on schedule for viewing two films a night for the remainder of the week, possibly seeking a bit of solace (and food) at the wonderful after parties, and then stationing myself back at home, where I can deliver my thoughts on the various films I had a chance to view amongst audiences. On this night, I was able to see two movies and a short film. The films were Wasteland, which was preceded by the short film Fruit of Labor, and Gus. Each film was decidedly different from the other, but I would say I ended up having a good time overall, with Wasteland serving as the standout of the night.
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NBFF Review: Greetings From Tim Buckley, Isolated, And Welcome To The Jungle
April 28th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Saturday at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival was a busy day. I specifically planned it that way, as I wanted my Sunday to be more relaxed. So I ended up seeing 4 different films, none of which were similar in any way. It was a full schedule and I have thoughts on three of them. I say three, because the first film of the day was a retrospective screening of the John Wayne western, The Searchers. This classic film was preceded by an interview with author Glenn Frankel who recently released “The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend”, essentially making it unnecessary for me to write anything about the film. Unfortunately (and this really upset me), the recording of this conversation has been lost on my part. Still, while many have written about The Searchers already (and it is a great film), I would rather spend my time sharing my thoughts on three new films that have been largely unseen by general audiences: Greetings from Tim Buckley, Isolated, and Welcome to the Jungle.
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NBFF Reviews: Blood Type Unknown and A Single Shot
April 27th, 2013 by Aaron Neuwirth
Friday night at the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival allowed me the chance to see two films. One was a romance drama with a twist called Blood Type: Unknown. The other was a dramatic thriller called A Single Shot. I was very pleased with one of these films, but still enjoyed my time at the festival, as per usual. For my regular festival coverage this year, starting with this post, I am going to try something a bit different and write a little about all the films I see during one day at the festival, rather than exhaust myself and try to write full reviews for every film, as I have been doing in years past. Hopefully I will provide the same level of insight, albeit in a more abridged version.
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