Archive Page 523
March 10th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
It’s always great discovering “world films” that normally wouldn’t be seen by the general public unless a big studio were to import the film for stateside consumption. I’m glad that Magnolia has stepped up and not only not brought Mandrill stateside from Chile, but continues to deliver world films from all over to us. And on Blu-ray no less! Mandrill, which means “baboon” in Spanish, stars martial artist sensation Marko Zaror (Undisputed 3) as a James Bond-ish hitman who is out for revenge. Mandrill will encounter dangerous men and even more dangerous women while trying to solve the murder of his parents. Let us see if Mandrill is worth your time. Continue reading ‘Mandrill (Blu-ray Review)’
March 9th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Well I had fun with this space jam. It must be tough for guys like James Cameron, George Lucas, or in this case – director Andrew Stanton, who work years on end to deliver a passion project of theirs, but have so much negative thought put into whether it will succeed or not based on early impressions. I am not sure how John Carter will do in its opening weekend and I am not sure how the majority of the population will react to it, but I had fun; warts and all. While the story rides the line between being too old fashioned and too involved, given the lack of a clear backstory build up, I really admired the spectacle that was presented. I found this to be a fun sci-fi yarn, full of inventive visuals, a handful of interesting characters, and some well-staged action. It has a few flaws, but it plays well enough as an old tale finally brought to life on the big screen. Continue reading ‘‘John Carter’ – Get Your Ass To Mars’
March 9th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
From Academy Award–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes John Carter – a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. Continue reading ‘John Carter 3D (Movie Review)’
March 8th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
There were two films that hit at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, which featured rising star Elizabeth Olsen. One was the tense, but quiet thriller, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and the other is a remake of the Uruguayan, Spanish-language horror film, La Casa Muda, known as Silent House. What makes the original and this remake unique is that both films were designed to portray one continuous shot throughout its entire running time. Quite the feat to achieve, for sure, and whether or not the films have actually been done in one entire take or not, whatever edits there could be are certainly very few and far between, which is a stunning technical achievement in itself. Additionally, the film gets points for being a suspenseful experience and once showing once again that Elizabeth Olsen is a young force to be reckoned with. It is a neat take two for an experimental type of film, regardless of similar narrative problems. Continue reading ‘‘Silent House’ Is One Long Shot Of Suspense’
March 8th, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
On behalf of Anchor Bay Entertainment, we are excited to announce that W.E., the ultimate love story and Madonna-directed drama, will be coming out on Blu-ray and DVD May 1st, 2012! W.E. has received numerous accolades, including a 2011 Academy Award® nomination for Best Achievement in Costume Design, a 2012 Golden Globe® Award for Best Original Song (Motion Picture) for the song “Masterpiece”, and a 2012 Golden Globe® Award for Best Original Score (Motion Picture). Madonna’s W.E. delivers an elegantly stylish and beautifully dramatic look into the lives of two fragile yet passionate women intertwined across the decades. Continue reading ‘Madonna’s W.E. Bows on Blu-ray This May!’
March 8th, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
You know I can NEVER resist a good horror remake…especially if done right! Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III and IV) with screen story and screenplay by Scott Milam based on the original Mother’s Day written by Charles Kaufman and Warren Leight, Mother’s Day is a graphic remake of the Troma horror classic. After a bank robbery gone wrong, three brothers go home to hide out…only todiscover that their Mother (Rebecca De Mornay) lost their house in a foreclosure. The new owners and their party guests become the depraved brothers’ unwitting hostages. Their sadistic Mother soon arrives and brilliantly takes control of the situation, ratcheting up the terror. As the hostages struggle desperately to survive the harrowing torture, they realize that there is nothing a Mother won’t do to protect her children. Continue reading ‘Celebrate This May With Anchor Bay’s Remake of ‘Mother’s Day’’
March 8th, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
I have to admit, I knew nothing about this movie before today, but I’m pretty damn intrigued. Based on Robin Hardy’s acclaimed 2006 novel “Cowboys for Christ,” THE WICKER TREE tells the story of Texas-based singer Beth Boothby (newcomer Brittania Nicol —I’m pretty excited to see her…do a Google Image search for her…LOL) and her friend Steve Thomson (Henry Garrett), two born-again Christians who come to Scotland to spread the gospel. When their initial efforts are met with disdain and disinterest, they find comfort in an invitation to sing in Tressock, the border fiefdom owned by Sir Lachlan Morrison (Graham McTavish). Continue reading ‘‘The Wicker Tree’ Branches Onto Blu-ray This April’
March 7th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
The Transformers saga starts a new chapter as old foes return, legendary heroes rise, and new ones are found in unlikely places. This visually stunning five-part miniseries started out on The HUB and led to an Emmy winning show. Fan favorites Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and many others are back to “roll out” against Megatron’s latest attempt to conquer Earth. And Megatron proves to be more powerful than ever, having acquired a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. Optimus Prime and the Autbots may be few against the Decepticon hordes, but they find increased strength through bonds forged with three human teenagers. Season One of Transformers Prime boasts an all-star voice cast, including Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Steve Blum, Jeffrey Combs, Adam Baldwin, Markie Post, Ernie Hudson, among other notables. Transformers Prime is produced by Hasbro Studios, with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Kline serving as executive producers. Kurtzman and Orci served as writers for the feature films Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Continue reading ‘Transformers Prime: The Complete Season One (Blu-ray Review)’
March 7th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
American icon John Wayne stars in the powerful and exciting Western classic HONDO, debuting on Blu-ray June 5, 2012 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Renowned actress Geraldine Page made her feature film debut as the strong-willed Angie Lowe, an isolated female rancher caught between warring Native American tribes. When Cavalry rider Hondo Lane (Wayne) comes upon Angie and her son, he becomes their designated protector and finds himself embroiled in Angie’s personal drama, as well as the growing danger from the nearby Apache. Meanwhile, Angie grows more and more captivated by Hondo—a man hardened by experience but still capable of sympathy, kindness and love. Boasting superb acting (including an Academy Award®-nominated performance* by Page), spectacular scenery and a powerfully compelling story, HONDO is an unforgettable cinematic experience. Continue reading ‘‘Hondo’ on Blu-ray June 5th’
March 5th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
When a murder mystery next door forces agoraphobic heiress Abigail Clayton (Selma Blair – Hellboy,“Kath and Kim”) to face her terrifying new neighbors, the safe and solitary world she created for herself violently unravels. A dark and suspenseful thriller, Columbus Circle debuts on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download and On Demand on March 6, 2012, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, but you can win one of two Blu-ray copies right here! Read on for more information on how to win… Continue reading ‘Win a Blu-ray Copy of Columbus Circle from Universal and WSB!’
March 4th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is not rare to see independently made thrillers every so often, but it certainly is satisfying to see one that is well acted and crafted, rich with intrigue, and full of disturbingly quiet tension. The tongue twistery-titled film Martha Marcy May Marlene is one that unfolds skillfully, telling a story set within two timelines that involves a young girl’s plight while under the control of a cult and her struggle to assimilate back into normal life after escaping it. The overall narrative does not supply any more information than it has to and plays out like a slow burn, but there is a strong level tension that boils under the surface and a number of uncomfortable scenes that work very well with the story that is presented. Along with the breakout work from the lead actress, the rest of the effort done to put together Martha Marcy May Marlene was strong enough to have the film creep its way into being one of my favorite films of 2011 and now it is available on Blu-ray. Continue reading ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene (Blu-ray Review)’
March 4th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
Puss in Boots continues the legacy of Shrek, the #1 animated franchise of all time, with the uproarious and irresistible origin story of the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots. Filled with hilarious action and adventure, the missing tale – of how Puss became a hero long before he met Shrek – delighted audiences of all ages with its non-stop laughs, daring deeds and original story. Even if you’ve become as disenchanted with the Shrek franchise as I have, Puss in Boots will restore your faith in Dreamworks Animation. Puss in Boots also benefits from an all-star cast of voice talent including Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris, Puss in Boots is a must-own family film! Continue reading ‘Puss in Boots (Blu-ray Review)’
March 4th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
I came across Todd and the Book of Pure Evil by accident and just rolled with the fact that it had a neat sounding name that promised hijinx. At least the cover art did, but that’s all I knew of the show. Okay, and I also knew that the show was a Canadian production, so how funny could Todd and the Book of Pure Evil really be? I’ll just say that I received the DVD yesterday and I quickly sat down to devour the entire first season marathon style today. It’s a 13 episode first season, so it damn well better be the bomb, right? Read on and find out if it cut the mustard or not. Continue reading ‘‘Todd and the Book of Pure Evil’ Season One (DVD Review)’
March 3rd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
The conclusion to the mystical retelling of the Robin Hood legend with breakthrough roles for Jason Connery and Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones 4, The Departed, Sexy Beast), Robin Of Sherwood Set 2, is now available on Blu-ray. Presented in stunning high-definition, the Blu-ray 3-disc/DVD bonus disc set includes 13 episodes and more than nine hours of special features, including nine episode commentaries, a 76 minute making of documentary, outtakes, and much more. Robin of Sherwood also launched the TV writing career of Anthony Horowitz (Foyle’s War, Midsomer Murders, Poirot, and the newest Sherlock Holmes novel), who wrote five of the episodes and participates in one of the commentaries. Continue reading ‘Robin of Sherwood: Set 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
March 3rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
I was kind of excited about this one. That’s saying something in my eyes, as I have yet to really enjoy a full length Dr. Seuss feature film. How the Grinch Stole Christmas was pretty forgettable, I try not to talk about The Cat in the Hat, and Horton Hears a Who was a step in the right direction, but they all suffer from the same problem. Dr. Seuss’ books simply were not really meant to be stretched into 90-minute films. Sure one could feasibly write enough new material to keep things interesting, but that still has not really worked. The Lorax is the latest attempt at this, but once again, I found myself quite bored with the attempt at making this film last longer than it needed to. It didn’t help that the musical numbers, which there are quite a few of, were fairly uninteresting, let alone the fact that two of the lead actors are singers that didn’t sing. I was also kind of missing out on learning more about the title character, who only appears so much in this film. There was a certain amount of charm that I thought could be had with The Lorax, but unfortunately, it did not pan out as well as I was hoping; though it is a brightly animated experience. Continue reading ‘‘The Lorax’ Is Certainly A Colorful Film…’
March 3rd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
I tend to dislike the reviews where I feel like I have to write about the qualifiers needed to justify where I am coming from on certain films. Project X, for example, is a film that is seemingly designed to be enjoyed by the teenage boy crowd, despite being an incredibly hard-R rated film full of debauchery throughout (that description would have saved space for the poster and the MPAA, by the way). I can say I went in open-minded, as, behind the scenes, there are a number of people involved that made this project more intriguing to me. Coming out of it, beyond a few chuckles here and there, there is not really much for me to recommend to the paying movie-going public that couldn’t be found in other, better films or on the internet for other…obvious reasons. Take away the gimmick of making this a ‘found footage’ film and all you have is an unoriginal, tepid, and fairly mean-spirited film that provides plenty in the way of raunchiness, but not much else. Continue reading ‘Way Too Much Monkey Business In ‘Project X’’
March 3rd, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
With their powers combined, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have sought to bring Herge’s beloved classic journalist Tintin to the big screen in an ambitious motion capture project entitled The Adventures of Tintin. Using the latest in performance capture technology, along with Jackson acting as producer with Spielberg directing, they were to bring the character from the books to the screen in the first of a 3-part adaptation. We all know how that goes with regards to adapting beloved children’s books into films and we also know how it goes when they’re filmed in performance capture. It can go either way. With box-office heavyweight champions of the world behind the project the odds are actually in our favor, but we shall see how it goes nonetheless. Let’s take a look at The Adventures of Tintin on Blu-ray! Continue reading ‘The Adventures of Tintin (Blu-ray Review)’
March 2nd, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Secret World of Arrietty is a charming and wonderfully detailed animated film. This is an anime that has come out of Studio Ghibli, which is way more focused on delivering a relaxed story and providing plenty of details through its wonderful hand-drawn animation, than flooding the eyes of its viewers with non-stop wackiness and forced jokes. Now that isn’t to say that this is some sort of animated prestige picture, but it is a film that differs from most mainstream fare. In any case, it is a fine, low-key, but wonderfully made animated feature that is fortunately a part of a fairly-wide theatrical release. Continue reading ‘Borrow A Pass And Enter ‘The Secret World Of Arrietty’’
