Archive Page 535
January 22nd, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
From Terence Winter, Emmy Award-winning writer of The Sopranos, and executive producer Martin Scorsese, comes the lavish and addictive HBO drama Boardwalk Empire that re-creates the glitter and decadence of 1920’s Atlantic City at a time when Prohibition proved to be a major catalyst in the rise of organized crime in America. Full of corruption, backroom politics, vicious power struggles and a fierce hunger for wealth, the critically-acclaimed series personifies one of the most colorful and violent time periods in American history. The Great War was over, Wall Street was about to boom, women got the vote and everything was for sale, even the World Series. The undisputed ruler of Atlantic City was the town’s treasurer, Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Buscemi), a political fixer and backroom dealer who was equal parts politician and criminal and equally comfortable in either role. Because of its strategic location on the seaboard, minutes from Philadelphia, hours from New York City and less than a day’s drive from Chicago, the town was a hub of activity for rum runners. And Nucky Thompson took full advantage. Continue reading ‘Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Review)’
January 22nd, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
HBO Films’ critically-acclaimed Thurgood was nominated for three Emmy awards including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for star Laurence Fishburne (Oscar nominee, What’s Love Got to Do with It). Shot before a live audience at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater in Washington, D.C., the film is a one-man show that traces the personal and professional history of civil rights pioneer and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. From childhood stories of his family and home life in Baltimore, to his college days at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., Marshall recollects his triumphs over adversity to pursue a successful career in the judicial system fighting for human rights. Establishing benchmarks in civil rights advancement, Marshall tried the historic case of Brown vs. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, successfully challenging the unconstitutional segregation of black and white students in public schools. His achievements eventually led him to become the first African-American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Continue reading ‘Thurgood (Blu-ray Review)’
January 21st, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
For the first time in Blu-ray High Definition, Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1997) delivers a tour-de-force performance in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the hit comedy Good Morning, Vietnam! Enjoy the improved digital sound quality of Blu-ray High Definition as Army deejay Adrian Cronauer (Williams) spins a red-hot soundtrack of ‘60s hits. His sidesplitting comedy and rapid fire wit make him a hero to the troops, but quickly get him in hot water with his by-the-book superiors. Featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ hilarious radio monologues, Good Morning, Vietnam remains the quintessential Robin Williams comedy. Continue reading ‘Good Morning Vietnam (Blu-ray Review)’
January 21st, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Red Tails is like a bad, unironic comic book movie come to life. It could have been a number of different things, including a thrilling war-time action/adventure or a moving depiction of the turmoil faced by African American pilots during wartime, as they had to prove themselves in the face of segregation. The film actually plays out as a really bland, by-the-numbers action/war film that is rife with clichés and one-note characters. There is no real look deeper into its message beyond “racism is bad” and the elaborately designed aerial dogfights feel almost too overproduced to actually have any dramatic weight to them. All of this and I haven’t even mentioned how dreadful the dialogue is. Continue reading ‘‘Red Tails’ Crash Lands’
January 20th, 2012 by John Hitch
Haywire’s protagonist, Mallory Kane, played by statuesque Mixed Martial Artist brawler Gina Carano, looks a lot like a younger version of America’s undisputed girl next door, Sandra Bullock. Too bad in her leading “lady” debut, she has all the charm of the door. Not that any of this will matter to moviegoers not burned out by the “burned spy out for revenge” genre. Continue reading ‘Haywire’s a Misfire’
January 20th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
Puss in Boots continues the legacy of Shrek, the #1 animated franchise of all time, with the uproarious and irresitable origin story of the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots. Filled with hilarious action and adventure, the true tail—er, 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. Boasting 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 with serious cat-itude. Continue reading ‘‘Puss In Boots’ on Blu-ray February 24th’
January 20th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze Muppet Studios and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the studio, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. Continue reading ‘The Muppets Arrive on Blu-ray March 20th!’
January 20th, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
Oscar Winner Gregory Peck gives the performance of his career in the timeless classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, available on Blu-ray for the first time ever January 31st. The 50th Anniversary Edition will be digitally remastered and fully restored with over three hours of bonus materials including two full-length documentaries, but better yet…WE HAVE TWO BLU-RAYS TO GIVE AWAY TO TWO LUCKY WINNERS WHO ENTER BELOW! What can be better than that? I know! NOTHING! And best of all…it’s really easy to enter. Check out the full press release below and enter today. Good luck! Continue reading ‘To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Giveaway!’
January 20th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
Once again, the month of January has actually managed to deliver some disposable fun, this time in the form of an action thriller from director Steven Soderbergh. Haywire falls into the director’s category of more mainstream, but it certainly boasts a strong cast and enough offbeat qualities to make it stand out a bit. Of course, the main thing to take away from this film is that star (and MMA fighter) Gina Carano can kick all of our asses, and look good doing it, which is especially important, given that the story is stripped down to basics and does not rely on having much complexity or originality in the narrative. Haywire is held together by its cast, authentic and brutal fights, and its style, which feels like a throwback to 70s revenge flicks. Continue reading ‘‘Haywire’ Is Streamlined, Offbeat, And Brutal’
January 20th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
While watching Margin Call, a movie that I overall enjoyed, mainly due to the ensemble cast, I felt like wishing I could appreciate it more, given the subject matter. It is based around the events leading up to the start of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and feels like a film that could be easily watched by someone more clued into economic affairs. Honestly, I am just not that person. Regardless of how I intake my news and grasp on the economy, however, I did manage to approach Margin Call with a level of understanding based on how I can rate the film in regards to its cast, pacing, filmmaking etc. While some elements may feel a bit murky to me, this Blu-ray gave me enough to consider in order to properly review it. Continue reading ‘Margin Call (Blu-ray Review)’
January 20th, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
A once-powerful warrior king takes on a new life as an assassin for hire in the DVD Original The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, which is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download. The latest chapter in Universal’s enormously popular The Mummy franchise, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption brings the heroic, larger-than-life saga of the dethroned king Mathayus to face some of his fiercest demons and most vicious rivals—both real and supernatural—ever. In a dangerous, action-packed battle to regain his glory and reclaim the empire, Mathayus’s journey is steeped in intrigue, sorcery and romance. The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption stars Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (“Sons of Anarchy,”Hellboy II: The Golden Army) as Horus, the powerful King of Egypt and Billy Zane (The Roommate, Titanic) as the villainous Talus. Directed by Roel Reiné, the film also stars Victor Webster (“Castle,” Surrogates) as Mathayus and UFC star Kimbo Slice (Locked Down), Bostin Christopher (Unbreakable); six-time WWE World Champion Dave Bautista, and Temeura Morrison (Green Lantern, Stars Wars: Episode 3 — Revenge of the Sith). Continue reading ‘The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption (Blu-ray Review)’
January 19th, 2012 by Blu-ray Brian
Next month, Image Entertainment goes Beneath The Darkness in a thriller that will take your breath away. Beneath The Darkness stars Dennis Quaid, Tony Oller, and Aimee Teegarden. The film’s official synopsis goes a little something like this: “In the film Quaid plays Ely, the well-respected mortician of rustic Smithville, Texas, where he was once a heralded high-school football star. Among the kids, however, he is legendary for a more sinister reason – [there are] rumors that his house is haunted. The truth is, this pillar of the community is actually a flesh-and-blood monster who buries his victims alive, [and] a sociopath who befriends adults and police while openly flaunting his murderous intentions to the youths.” Continue reading ‘Beneath The Darkness Will Take Your Breath Away on Blu-ray’
January 17th, 2012 by Brian White
Every once in awhile, a film comes around that’s so hard to classify and/or nail down to a specific genre. One can argue that 2011’s Drive just might be one of these movies. Is it a mainstream picture? Is it art house? Is it an independent film? Is it film noir? Is it a thriller? Is it a heist? Is it a bromance in regards to the legendary genre of car films? Is it a B-movie? Well… Would you believe me if I said it was all of the above? Am I really that far off by making that declaration? If I am, please correct me below in the comments section. I promise to learn from my mistakes. Let it be known that prior to writing this review below, this will only be my second time viewing this film that many critics herald as the number one cinematic product to come out of America last year. So how did I feel about my second test “drive?” Well I’m glad you asked. Read on… Continue reading ‘Drive (Blu-ray Review)’
January 16th, 2012 by Aaron Neuwirth
The tagline on the cover art for the Blu-ray for The Art of Getting By states, “From the studio that brought you Juno and (500) Days of Summer.” It is basically stating, “If you liked those films, you might like this one.” What is should have stated is, “If you liked those films, stick with ‘em, and don’t bother with this.” The Art of Getting By feels like the kind of film that justifies someone’s argument when they can appreciate a different indie film that has a sense of being pretentious, but is still good overall, because it is at least not as obnoxious as this titular indie romance. While this film may have in a nice collection of mellow soundtrack picks, it disappoints in feeling like anything but an exercise in how to make a conceited, coming-of-age story. Continue reading ‘The Art of Getting By (Blu-ray Review)’
January 16th, 2012 by Sean Ferguson
The Tuskegee Airmen, winner of three Emmy awards, comes to Blu-ray disc this January. Debuting just days before the theatrical release of the George Lucas-produced film Red Tails, which was inspired by the story of the Airmen, the film is encased in a stunning 32-page hard-bound book featuring sweeping unit and historical photography. Featuring an outstanding cast lead by two-time Emmy award winner Laurence Fishburne (Miss Evers’ Boys, Tribeca), Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire) and Emmy nominee Malcolm-Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show), The Tuskegee Airmen tells the story of the first squadron of African-American pilots allowed to fight for their country. It is 1943 and the Germans are winning the Second World War as the U.S. suffers huge losses on the ground and in the air. Four newly recruited pilots are united by a desire to serve their country, at a time when African-American flyers are not welcomed in the Air Force. Now, through the brutal demands of their training, to the perils of flying over nations at war, the men they call “The Tuskegee Airmen” must undertake the riskiest mission of their lives – to prove to America that courage knows no color. Continue reading ‘The Tuskegee Airmen (Blu-ray Review)’
January 15th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
In the continuing pursuit of music excellence, Eagle Rock has gone ahead and released the now legendary performance of The Rolling Stones from their unique Some Girls tour of 1978. I say unique, because the tour was a roller coster ride of stadiums, arenas, and halls. This Texas show had an audience of only 2,500, so that’s a bit odd to see, considering they were playing crowds of up to 90,000 people. Some Girls has been given a full restoration, according to the enclosed booklet. The video and audio have been remastered in high definition, so let us see how the legendary band’s performance holds up today. Continue reading ‘The Rolling Stones: Some Girls – Live in Texas ’78 (Blu-ray Review)’
January 15th, 2012 by Gerard Iribe
The low budget juggernaut phenomena that took the horror film world by storm just two years ago has returned with part 3 in the uber successful franchise known as Paranormal Activity – this is part 3 of the franchise. What separates this chapter from the previous installments is that it’s a prequel. This chapter will fill you in on how it all started. Paranormal Activity takes place in the late 80’s and as if that wasn’t scary enough, the journey is all captured on gigantic shoulder mounted consumer camcorders. I know we all remember those, right? Alright, so turn off the lights, if you dare, and don’t forget to program your VCR, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. This is Paranormal Activity 3. Enjoy! Continue reading ‘Paranormal Activity 3 (Blu-ray Review)’
January 14th, 2012 by Jami Ferguson
My son and I are both sick right now and it’s probably just a really bad cold, but as I watched the movie while coughing and sneezing, I realized that this probably isn’t the best time for me to watch a movie called Contagion. I’m not usually a hypochondriac, but I’m open to suggestion when I’m already sick. To make matters worse, I just returned from Disneyland which has got to be the world’s biggest petri dish of potential viruses carried from visitors from every point on the globe. I survived long enough to watch this effort from Steven Soderbergh that includes a superstar cast including Matt Damon, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne, Gweneth Paltrow, and Marion Cotillard. With all of these stars, you know some of them aren’t going to survive the contagion which always adds a new level of drama and interest from me. Continue reading ‘Contagion (Blu-ray Review)’
