Archive Page 485
November 26th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
IDW Limited today announced a deluxe limited-edition treatment of MONOCYTE from art visionary menton3 and writer/artist/entrepreneur Kasra Ghanbari. The book is now available for pre-order on the IDW Limited website (www.idwlimited.com). The special edition includes hand-drawn artwork from the book’s artist and co-creator menton3, as well as several other gallery artists, including George Pratt, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Ben Templesmith. Continue reading ‘MONOCYTE: Limited-Edition Book To Include Original Paintings By Artist Dream Team!’
November 26th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
So here is a movie about wiseguys dealing with a mob heist, presidential politics, and the American financial crisis. I have a feeling that some people are going to be upset with this film for not being what they expected. Regardless, Killing Them Softly is a sly, dark comedy-drama, with Brad Pitt in a wonderfully effective role as a professional enforcer. The film is well-acted, very stylish, often heavy-handed with how it presents politics, but at the same time very involving. I think it’s the dialogue and the unassuming, straight-forward flow of the film. Killing Them Softly does not feel like the traditional, hip, modern mob movie. It felt like something different, but something I was very happy to watch. Continue reading ‘‘Killing Them Softly’ Is A Sly, Satirical, Mob Vehicle Driven By Pitt (Movie Review)’
November 24th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
It certainly has been a great year for Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) who is back in this American period piece based on a true story about moonshine bootleggers out in Franklin County, West Virginia at the height of the prohibition area. While city folk are out and about searching for fine spirits the Bondurant brothers have a pretty lucrative operation of their own that they handle on a daily basis. Featuring a stellar cast and directed by John Hillcoat (The Proposition, The Road) and adapted from the book The Wettest County in the World by Nick Cave of The Bad Seeds, Lawless promises to take no prisoners in its depiction of crime, bootlegging, and those caught in the middle. Continue reading ‘Lawless (Blu-ray Review)’
November 24th, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
Snow at the holidays doesn’t always make for a cheery winter wonderland! On November 13th, Anchor Bay Entertainment released Snowmageddon on Blu-ray and DVD. This unforgettable doomsday film, which premiered on the Syfy Channel, imagines a deadly end of the world by evil snow globe scenario! Part thriller and part old-fashioned B-movie fun, Snowmageddon features a talented cast of cult fan favorites including David Cubitt (“Medium”), Magda Apanowicz (“Caprica”, “Kyle XY”, “Hellcats”), and Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”, Red Riding Hood). When the Miller family discovers a mysterious gift outside their home on Christmas Eve, they could never imagine it would contain the power to doom their idyllic mountain community. The gift contains a snow globe with a perfect reflection of their own town inside. When they shake it, snow even begins to fall – whatever happens inside the snow globe happens to their town for real. But when buttons on the snow globe unleash a series of terrible disasters on the town, the family must band together and find a way to destroy it, but will it be too late?
Continue reading ‘Snowmageddon (Blu-ray Review)’
November 24th, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
Goody (Alicia Silverstone) and Stacy (Krysten Ritter) are addicted to the night life, clubbing, hooking up and always looking for the next thrill, all the while keeping a big a secret-they happen to be modern-day vampires. But even with lifetimes of dating experience behind them, the duo realizes they still have a lot to learn about love when Stacy unexpectedly falls for the son of a vampire hunter, and Goody runs into the man of her dreams from decades earlier. With their destinies at stake, the girls are faced with a difficult choice; give up their eternal youth for a chance at love, or continue to live their uncomplicated fabulously single lives forever. Vamps also features an all-star supporting cast, including Sigourney Weaver, Richard Lewis, Dan Stevens, Justin Kirk, Wallace Shawn, Marilu Henner, and Kristen Johnston. Continue reading ‘Vamps (Blu-ray Review)’
November 24th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
In this warmhearted comic yarn from Aki Kaurismaki, fate throws the young African refugee Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) into the path of Marcel Marx (Andre Wilms), a kindly old bohemian who shines shoes for a living in the French harbor city Le Havre. With inborn optimism and the support of his tight-knit community, Marcel stands up to the officials doggedly pursuing the boy for deportation. A political fairy tale that exists somewhere between the reality of contemporary France and the classic French cinema of the past, Le Havre is a charming, deadpan delight and one of the Finnish director’s finest films. Continue reading ‘Le Havre: Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
November 24th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
The Last Days of Disco, from director Whit Stillman, is a cleverly comic look at the early 1980’s Manhattan party scene from the vantage point of the late nineties. At the center of the film’s roundelay of revelers are the icy Charlotte (Kate Bekinsale) and the demure Alice (Chloe Sevigny), by day toiling as publishing house assistants and by night looking for romance and entertainment at a Studio 54-like club. Brimming with Stillman’s trademark dry humor, The Last Days of Disco is an affectionate yet unsentimental look at the end of an era. Continue reading ‘The Last Days of Disco: Criterion Collection (Blu-ray Review)’
November 23rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
I am all for a good comedy and fun & games, but I do also appreciate when the pieces of a film, no matter how initially scatterbrained, eventually work out within the realm of logic that said film has established. The Watch is very funny in various moments, because it features funny people getting to say and do funny things with each other, (the blooper reel was, of course, quite funny). That said, the film is really messy as a whole and does not come together in a way that could be considered clever or successful in a memorable way. Bits of it work really well and put it in the league of Ghostbusters, but by the end, it really just turns out to be more like Evolution. Now The Watch is available on Blu-ray, but does that make it a purchase to watch for? Continue reading ‘The Watch (Blu-ray Review)’
November 23rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
I haven’t been able to play as many video games as I would have liked to this year, but I have been incredibly happy to have gone through the The Walking Dead game. It is a video game by Telltale Games, which utilizes the point-and-click adventure game mold and has found the perfect property license to apply that style to. As opposed to being a fast-paced shooter like Left 4 Dead, The Walking Dead is designed to play at a much more deliberate pace that focuses on having the player develop their character and influence the story around them based on choice. As a result, this game has one of the most compelling stories I have seen in a video game, with great characterization, influenced by my own decisions. It also features a great signature art style and enough zombie-related scenarios that make it, in many ways, superior to the TV series and up to the same level as the comic that inspired it. Having now completed the first season of this game, I am happy to share my thoughts in a more structured way. Continue reading ‘‘The Walking Dead’ – A Telltale Games Series (Video Game Review)’
November 23rd, 2012 by Charles Cassady
The sun rises on a thrilling new era in Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker – the first feature-length animated addition to the Dragon Age world. In the land of Orlais a brash young seeker – Cassandra – fights to stop a blood-soaked conspiracy. Hidden hands seek to tear apart the realm’s most powerful religious order. And, as the sinister plot unfolds, Cassandra is accused of trewason and murder. Hunted by friends and foes alike, the impulsive beauty must clear her name while clashing with corrupt Templars and rogue Blood Mages. Should she fail, the executioner’s blade awaits. Should she overcome her rage and expose the unseen forces threatening the rule of the Divine, Cassandra will take her place in legend. Continue reading ‘Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Blu-ray Review)’
November 22nd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Among the people that I would offhand list as my favorite directors, Alfred Hitchcock would be one of them. The movie I regard as my favorite horror movie (let alone a favorite movie of mine in general) is Psycho. The idea of a movie revolving around the making of Psycho is certainly an intriguing one, made better by the fantastic cast that is involved, with a wonderful looking Anthony Hopkins in the guise of the Master of Suspense. That is not exactly what I got, but what I liked about this movie, is how it chose to be a fun, romanticized story about a man continuing to challenge himself, as well as a relationship drama involving his wife. It could have been a stodgy drama that follows recorded details to the letter, but the film is much more energized than that, which is impressive, given the corpulence of Alfred Hitchcock. Continue reading ‘Dial H For ‘Hitchcock’ (Movie Review)’
November 22nd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Well I certainly liked the idea of remaking the film Red Dawn (which is not all that good), more than actually watching the remake. This film is pretty terrible. From the drab energy and look of the film, to the horrid acting and casting of many involved, to the basic logic and storytelling that this film puts forward, Red Dawn is a travesty. I went in expecting to have a dopey, but somewhat fun time, but instead I sat through a painfully dull film that has almost nothing to offer as a redeeming value. The only thing that makes this worse is the fact that a film about teenagers causing all sorts of carnage has been made bloodless and rated PG-13 so general audiences can presumably spend the holiday season watch a terribly stupid film in all its jingoistic glory. Continue reading ‘‘Red Dawn’ Should Have Stayed Behind Enemy Lines (Movie Review)’
November 22nd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
“Perry Mason,” the popular TV franchise that inspired a genre of courtroom dramas returns with the second half of the seventh season. Raymond Burr continues igniting the screen as a brilliant attorney who will stop at nothing to crack the most impossible cases to uncover the truth. This Emmy Award winning court drama stars Raymond Burr and all fifteen episodes have been digitally re-mastered on four discs and include guest stars like Ryan O’Neil, Paul Winchell, Barry Atwater, David McCallum, Jackie Coogan, William Smith, Stacy Keach Sr., Jerry Van Dyke, Joyce Meadows, Victor Buono, Malachi Throne, Michael Ansara, Neil Hamilton, Ann Rutherford, Ford Rainey and William Boyett., Les Tremayne, Jeanne Cooper, Tom Greenway, Arthur Franz, Richard Devon, Mala Powers, Holly McIntire, Sue Randall, Jacques Aubuchon, Douglas Lambert, Rebecca Welles, Jena Engstrom, Peter Hobbs, Mimsy Farmer, Mark Slade, Malcolm Atterbury, Constance Towers, and many many more! Continue reading ‘Perry Mason: Season 7 Volume 2 (DVD Review)’
November 21st, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
I have to admit. I’m really excited about this one. I have heard so many good things about this film and unfortunately I missed out on seeing it in the theater. Thank God, I don’t have too much longer to wait as a January 22nd Blu-ray release date has just been announced today for the Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña police thriller, End of Watch. Pre-order your copy today and check out the full press release below for more information. Continue reading ‘‘End of Watch’ Tackles Crime on Blu-ray January 22nd’
November 21st, 2012 by Charles Cassady
“From the studio behind Toradora! and Okami-san and Her Seven Companions comes the iconic series centered around the heated bond and supernatural battles of two friends from very different worlds. Wielding a blazing sword, Shana is a fiery huntress whose sole purpose is to fight demon-like beings that consume human lives. To reduce the impact on the human realm, Shana turns the slain into shadows of their former selves. Once a flame that represents their remaining life goes out, they fade from existence. This should be Yuji’s fate, but when he discovers he holds a special power that ignites a newfound strength in Shana, they join forces in her ongoing mission to maingain the balance between the ordinary world and the supernatural.” Continue reading ‘Shakugan no Shana: Season One (Blu-ray Review)’
November 20th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Beca (Anna Kendrick) arrives at her new college to find herself not right for any clique but somehow muscled into one she never would have picked on her own: alongside mean girls, sweet girls and weird girls whose only thing in common is how good they sound when they sing together in this hilarious laugh out-loud comedy, Pitch Perfect. The outrageous and irreverently fun Pitch Perfect, packed with deleted and extended scenes, line-o-ramas, music videos and more, will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on December 18, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Continue reading ‘Pitch Perfect Arrives for the Holidays on December 18th!’
November 20th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
This would seem like the perfect time for a movie like Rise of the Guardians to come out. It arrives in theaters in the same year that audiences around the globe have already witnessed the ultimate superhero mash-up film, The Avengers, watched the end of Batman’s journey in The Dark Knight Rises, and are preparing to take a step back into Middle Earth with The Hobbit. An animated hero’s journey film that combines Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost in an adventure together feels pretty appropriate. However, while imaginative in its visuals, the film feels like it is riding on assumed knowledge regarding these characters in a very familiar story. I will be curious to see if family audiences embrace this as new holiday favorite, but for the time being, Rise of the Guardians provides some fun. Continue reading ‘‘Rise Of The Guardians’ Unites Holiday Legends With Decent Success (Movie Review)’
November 20th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
After witnessing the brutal murders of a convenience store owner and his son; firefighter Jeremy Coleman barely escapes with his life. As he is forced to testify against the crime lord, Hagan, he is placed in the witness protection program under the watch of the U.S. Marshalls. As his new identity becomes compromised Jeremy is forced to take an unexpected course of action in order to get his life back and save the lives of those he loves. Fire With Fire stars franchise favorites Josh Duhamel (Transformers), Bruce Willis (The Expendables 2), Rosario Dawson (Unstoppable) and Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”). The film also stars Julian McMahon (TV’s “Nip/Tuck”), Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (The A-Team), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Freelancers), Richard Schiff (TV’s “The West Wing”) and Vinnie Jones (X-Men: The Last Stand).
Continue reading ‘Fire With Fire (Blu-ray Review)’
