Archive Page 497
October 5th, 2012 by David Freedman
Liz, Sean and Aaron review the ‘re-animation’ of the Tim Burton short turned into a feature length stop-motion feature. Starring Liz Manashil, Sean Wright and Aaron Fink. Directed by Amy Taylor.
Synopsis: Victor and Sparky are the best of friends. When Sparky is hit by a car, Victor cannot cope with his grief. Victor uses his scientific wizardry to bring Sparky back from the dead.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit Continue reading ‘Frankenweenie Movie Review – Just Seen It’
October 5th, 2012 by David Freedman
Liz, Rachel and Teresa saddle up to the country musical drama on ABC. Starring Liz Manashil, Rachel Appelbaum and Teresa Lo. Directed by Sean Wright.
Synopsis: Rayna is a country superstar whose singing career is fading. Juliette is a teen country sensation but she is conniving and unpredictable. The two rivals are at odds in the small world of country music.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Nashville – ABC Fall 2012 Pilot Review – Just Seen It’
October 5th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
There is a reason why Taken 2 already stood a challenge of being a good movie. In 2008, the first taken arrived in theaters and became a smash hit for a very simple reason: Liam Neeson turned his genteel persona on its head. He became a determined father who would take down anyone in his way, when it came to getting his kidnapped daughter back. The film was not exactly original, but the confidence and tenacity seen in a respected man like Neeson made for an action film that could be taken a bit more seriously. Cut to 2012, Neeson has since become an action star at this point in his career and while revisiting Taken may seem like an obvious idea, it also does not lead down many more roads that haven’t been traveled already. It doesn’t help that the film’s choppy direction robs the action sequences or more delight, but the confidence of Neeson is not enough to give this film a pass either. Continue reading ‘Look Who’s ‘Taken’ Too’
October 5th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
It seems like The Paperboy should have enough to make it an entertaining, trashy thriller. It has all of the right ingredients, with several actors giving strong performances just for the sake of adding on to a film that does not even really need it. Yet, the plot is shapeless and lacks anything that resembles a sense of urgency. There is plenty of material present to make a story that is much more engaging, but the film instead putters out fairly inconsistently, not quite knowing what to stick with or know what works best. The Paperboy is a swamp noir that gets caught in the muck. Continue reading ‘‘The Paperboy’ Misses The Delivery’
October 4th, 2012 by Brian White
So Taken 2, huh? You think they could have came up with a “better” name like Taken Again, Retook, Taken Aback, Retake or whatever else you’re clever enough to come up with. But regardless, I’m just overjoyed to have Liam Neeson back in the 2008 bada$$ action role that redefined his career after Jedi Master Qui Gon Jin nearly did him in. I remember 2008’s Taken very fondly. I remember vacationing down in Mexico and seeing Taken’s name plastered around every theater down there. I had no idea what it was. It wasn’t until I came back to the States that one of my friends said I just watched the most amazing action movie that had me on the edge of my seat. When I asked him what movie he was referring to I nearly fell off my own rocker (literally speaking). Continue reading ‘It’s ‘Taken 2’ Long To Impress Me (Movie Review)’
October 4th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
This holiday season sees the arrival of Ice Age: Continental Drift on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD. The film is coming out on December 11th and is packed with bonus goodies for everyone to enjoy. The latest adventure for Manny and the gang (also Scrat) proved to be quite a profitable one, looking at the global intake, so hopefully everyone who loves this franchise will continue to enjoy all of the added extras. Featuring all of the same stars (Ray Ramano, John Leguizamo, and Denis Leary) and a few new ones, including Peter Dinklage and Jennifer Lopez, and some wonderfully stunning animation (I was somewhat surprised by this), this latest adventure certainly contains plenty of colorful fun for the kids and anyone who is still getting entertainment from a bunch of wacky animals doing what they can to be a strange looking pack. Continue on to hear all about the Blu-ray versions of this film and the added bonus content. Continue reading ‘‘Ice Age: Continental Drift Arrives’ on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & DVD December 11′
October 4th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
IDW Publishing is thrilled to announce that The Crow’s original creator, James O’Barr will be launching a brand-new story featuring the vengeful avian guide, THE CROW: SKINNING THE WOLVES, a three-issue miniseries set to debut this December. Fans of O’Barr’s dark signature style will be delighted to see him backed by co-artist Jim Terry with a story woven of the same supernatural mystique that made The Crow a favorite of fans worldwide. “I’ve been wanting to see a new Crow project from James O’Barr for a lot longer than we’ve had the Crow license,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief, “and what James has lined up for Skinning the Wolves and beyond is definitely delivering on those expectations.” Continue reading ‘O’Barr Returns to Comics with a New ‘Crow’ Series!’
October 3rd, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
I think I was watching Spartacus: Vengeance on Blu-ray last month, when I had seen the first previews for Magic City: The Complete First Season. It took hold right then and there and I sent out a mass text to my fellow Why So Blu writers asking what the hell that was? It looked like a mesh of Mad Men and any other recent gangster flick combined. I made a request to review it and was blessed to have received the opportunity to do so. As is my custom with television shows and series – I dedicated an entire day to plowing through Magic City: The Complete First Season. It’s an 8-episode season, so it wouldn’t take me too long. Keep reading to see if it was worth my time. Continue reading ‘Magic City: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
October 3rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
This may be one of the more ironic results of the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again,” when it comes to filmmaking. Back in 1984, director Tim Burton was fired from Disney for making a live-action short called Frankenweenie, which was deemed ‘too scary’ for children. Now, for whatever reason, whether it’s the change in regime at Disney since the 80s or because of Tim Burton’s higher standing in Hollywood, he has been able to revisit the story he developed and co-wrote and turn it into a feature-length, stop-animated feature for mass audiences to enjoy. The results are decent enough, as the film is entertaining and light, in a Burton-y sort of way, but confining the original idea to a shorter length may have been the best call in retrospect. Still, the film is certainly enjoyable and one of the better features from Burton in a while. Continue reading ‘‘Frankenweenie’ Is Brought To Life! (Via Stop-Animation)’
October 3rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
I’m sure plenty of people are looking forward to this one. A new film that once again brings together Johnny Depp, director Gore Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer into an all new action/adventure film. Well now the trailer for The Lone Ranger has arrived and it looks to be all sorts of fun. Packed with fun western-style adventure and plenty of Depp zaniness. As long as this doesn’t turn into another Wild Wild West, I think this could be another fun adventure that brings an old property to life in an all new way. Continue on to see the debut trailer for The Lone Ranger, along with the poster and a few new images. Continue reading ‘Hi Ho Silver! The Lone Ranger Trailer Debuts’
October 2nd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Academy Award-winning film Finding Nemo returns to the big screen in thrilling Disney Digital 3D for the first time ever. Teeming with memorable comedic characters and heartfelt emotion, this stunning underwater adventure follows the momentous journey of an overprotective clown-fish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and his young son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home to a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home. Continue reading ‘Finding Nemo 3D (Movie Review)’
October 2nd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray as
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever,
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal’s legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes
documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of
Dracula and the first ever offering of
Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-ray 3D version.
Continue reading ‘Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is Available Now!’
October 1st, 2012 by David Freedman
Liz, Greg and Aaron review the new J.J. Abrams Science Fiction drama. Starring Liz Manashil, Greg Karber, and Aaron Fink. Directed by Sean Wright.
Synopsis: In this new NBC drama from executive producer J. J. Abrams, electricity stops working on a global scale. As a result, fifteen years later, a new world without technology has emerged. But a young girl seeks out to discover the reason for the blackout.
WATCH US ON PBS SOCAL Saturdays at 6PM or pbssocal.org/justseenit
Continue reading ‘Revolution – NBC Fall 2012 Pilot Review – Just Seen It’
October 1st, 2012 by Brian White
I think I have my work cut out for me here. Why? Well, tell me this, if you would. How does one truly and accurately describe the body of art known as American Horror Story: The Complete First Season to someone who has never seen it before? Let’s take the following quote for example. Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly goes on record saying that “AHS is pretty much all scare, all the time: a whole lotta screams, sex, jolts, mashed faces, psychotic behavior and dead babies.” Yes! You heard me (or read it) right. He said dead babies! And it’s because of all that and more that I absolutely adore AHS. Does that make me a sicko? Geez. I hope not. But wait! Who can forget to mention the black leather cladded S&M man too? Are you still with me? Good! This has the making to be a very interesting Blu-ray review. Continue reading ‘American Horror Story: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
October 1st, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
On November 13, 2012, Shout! Factory will release The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection of Unhinged Comedy, a 5-DVD/1-CD set that is a veritable treasure trove of all things Brooksian, a laugh-filled celebration of his illustrious career. This box set takes viewers on a journey through time with performances, extensive interviews, film clips and rare archival television footage, as well as some never-before-seen photos, and special tributes. Continue reading ‘Pre-order The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection of Unhinged Comedy’
October 1st, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Newly remastered and restored to their original U.K. broadcast order, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Series 4-6 have already been released on Blu-ray. The endearingly eccentric detective Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) is back on the case in these three feature-length series full of mysteries from the hit series. Brimming with beguiling 1930s period details and pitch-perfect performances, these lavish adaptations look better than ever in this remastered edition. Series 4 also stars Donald Sumpter (Game of Thrones), Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Hugh Fraser (Sharpe) as the affable Captain Hastings, and Philip Jackson (Little Voice) as Chief Inspector Japp. Series 5’s guest stars include Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Hermione Norris (MI-5, Cold Feet), and Jeremy Northam (Emma, The Tudors). Continue reading ‘Agatha Christie’s Poirot: Series 4, 5, and 6 (Blu-ray Review)’
October 1st, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
On October 9th, Ridley Scott returns to Blu-ray in the genre he helped define so long ago in PROMETHEUS. Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender lean an all-star cast in the epic, ambitious and bold sic-fi thriller. The Blu-ray contains over seven hours of bonus materials including an alternate opening and ending, deleted and alternate scenes and access to Peter Weyland’s files. Pre-order your copy today and check out the press release below from Fox Home Entertainment!
Continue reading ‘Prometheus Crash Lands on Blu-ray October 9th’
September 30th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Director Tim Burton brought the cult classic series “Dark Shadows” to the big screen in a film featuring an all-star cast, led by Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter and now it’s out on Blu-ray. In the year 1750, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from England to start a new life in America, where they build a fishing empire in the coastal Maine town that comes to carry their name: Collinsport. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of falling in love with a beauty named Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcote) and breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death—turning him into a vampire, and then burying him…alive. Continue reading ‘Dark Shadows (Blu-ray Review)’
Liz, Sean and Aaron review the ‘re-animation’ of the Tim Burton short turned into a feature length stop-motion feature. Starring Liz Manashil, Sean Wright and Aaron Fink. Directed by Amy Taylor.
