Archive Page 538
December 17th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
When I think of books meant for the young adult crowd (not counting the onset of vampire romance fiction), I tend to think of books that center around characters in their teens dealing with various types of drama, regardless of the genre, dealing with it, and experiencing a healthy level of growth because of it. In the film Young Adult, we are given a protagonist who is the author behind a young adult book series, but does not practice the methods of a positive influence. Charlize Theron (who is great in this role) manages to play an unlikable character who manages to become more unlikable as the film goes on. That would generally be a bad thing, but this film actually uses that as its intention. As a result, Young Adult manages to be a somewhat unique character study, fitted inside an incredibly dark and at times awkward comedy that does not hold back the way other films would. Continue reading ‘Watch ‘Young Adult’ Down A Bottle Of Dark Comedy’
December 17th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Big Love: The Complete Collection brings together the series’ uniquely crafted story arc about modern day polygamists Bill Henrickson, his three wives (Barb, Nicki and Margene), and nine children as they struggle to overcome the myriad of challenges brought about by their beliefs, lifestyle and Bill’s entrepreneurial and political ambitions. The complete collection includes all 53 episodes from all five seasons, plus all of the extra features from the individual releases that offer additional insight into the Henrickson family dynamics. Big Love features an all-star ensemble cast which is lead by Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny (Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actress for the series) and Ginnifer Goodwin. Other cast members include Amanda Seyfried, Robert Patrick, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern, Anne Dudek, and Ellen Burstyn. Features include “Inside the Episodes,” “Their Stories So Far,” “Big Love: A Balancing Act on Ice,” “Big Love: End of Days,” three pre-quels, three mini-episodes and audio commentaries. Continue reading ‘Big Love: The Complete Collection (DVD Review)’
December 16th, 2011 by Brian White
Just what the world needs…another reboot of a legendary franchise. That was exactly my sentiments when I learned about the production of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I remember watching and enjoying the original films as a kid, but not enough to warrant my full attention to what was going on behind the scenes of this new production. I still cant get the bad taste of the Mark Walhberg adventure out of my mouth. Then one day I had not one, but several friends asking me if I caught the new trailer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Astonishingly, all of their recounts and tales had one thing in common. They all included the word bada$$. How could they all be wrong? So I reluctantly caved in and gave it a watch. And much to my surprise I thought…not bad! But that didn’t mean I became an instant fanboy overnight. Quite the opposite happened. Continue reading ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Blu-ray Review)’
December 16th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives – and a Mississippi town – upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Viola Davis), Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up – to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories – and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly – and unwillingly – caught up in the changing times.
Continue reading ‘The Help (Blu-ray Review)’
December 16th, 2011 by Matt Goodman
Here we go. My first annual top ten list for Why So Blu. It may surprise you, make you laugh, make you cry, make you hate, yet if you actually take the time to thoroughly view each of these Blu-ray’s, you will surely be on my side. To be honest, it was quite difficult choosing for the number one spot, but I knew in my heart that it was one tasty burger! So sit back, relax, and enter Matt’s top ten Blu-rays of 2011. Continue reading ‘Matt’s Top 10 Blu-rays of 2011′
December 15th, 2011 by Will Santana
I was born into watching Asian martial arts and samurai movies. Growing up in the early 80’s I can recall every Sunday on Fox around lunch time they would play random Asian films with subtitles. My TV had vertical hold on it to adjust the picture perfectly or if we taped it, I had to use the tracking on my VCR. Not only did we watch these movies on Fox, but my local barbershop use to carry all the bootleg copies of any new urban or kung-fu flick. After the 80’s, I started to expand my movie growth but the birth of The Wu-Tang Clan brought old flashbacks of my childhood and made me go back to my hallowed grounds. Continue reading ‘Kingdom of War Part 1 and Part 2 (Blu-ray Review)’
December 15th, 2011 by Will Santana
The 80’s and early 90’s was the platinum time for cartoons. With Saturday mornings jam-packed on several networks schedule list, no Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon blowing up after a Canadian TV series called You Can’t Do That On Television. The 80’s definitely had to have bee the prime decade for cartoons. Waking up early to start my weekend to marathon every cartoon became very routine for me. I would sit in one room watching toon after toon while the VCR was taping more content for me in another room. Now BraveStarr I caught a few times when it originally aired in 1987, I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but remember it being quite watchable. Continue reading ‘BraveStarr – The Complete Series (DVD Review)’
December 15th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Once again, the wrecking crew here at Why So Blu have come together to bring you our top 10 favorite Blu-rays of the year. Please keep in mind that we’re in the second week of December, so we will not be including Blu-rays that are scheduled to come out in the next two weeks. We would also like to remind folks that this is our personal list of favorites, so please don’t take offense if you don’t see something you like. My top 10 Blu-ray list of films range in topics that consist of horror, pain, suffering, and the human condition. Life isn’t always lollipops and rainbows, but the redeeming quality of the subject matter is that all of the films that I have picked have an entertainment factor to them. That’s the criteria that I’ve used in picking my favorite Blu-rays of the year, and some are also imports, so if you have a region free player then you can snag some of these Blu-rays and enjoy them immediately. Have fun and stay tuned for my top 10 films of 2011 coming next week! Continue reading ‘Gerard’s Top 10 Blu-rays of 2011′
December 14th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
On the heels of watching Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, I was able to see Another Earth. Apparently I am a sucker for existential sci-fi dramas that revolve around the dilemmas of the main characters as they deal with their own tragedies, along with the presence of another planet coming dangerously close to earth, because as with Melancholia, I really dug this film as well. While there is an intriguing subject in this film that involves the existence of a duplicate world and the chance to communicate with it, most of the sci-fi-ness, like Melancholia, is pushed into the background, as the film moves at a deliberate pace and deals with the drama surrounding the lead characters. As the first feature film from director Mike Cahill, I found Another Earth to be quite well acted and assuredly made; but the notion of thinking what my double would do, alone, managed to keep me involved with the film. Read on to hear more about the film and it’s Blu-ray presentation. Continue reading ‘Another Earth (Blu-ray Review)’
December 14th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
On December 6, 2011, respected filmmaker and three-time Oscar nominee Ridley Scott decided to make his voice heard in an article for Huffington Post in regards to the Blu-ray format. Given that we here at Why So Blu live and die by Blu-ray, I was excited to see such a notable filmmaker share his high regard for the format and provide a full article detailing his respect for it. I tip my hat to a great director and his admiration for the format and greatly anticipate his upcoming return to science fiction, with Prometheus due out June 2012. Continue on and you will find the entire article originally posted by Scott. Continue reading ‘Ridley Scott Gives Two Big Thumbs Up To Blu-ray!’
December 14th, 2011 by Brian White
It’s that time of the year already. I have been through so much this year so I thought f$&k it. I want to try something new this year. In the past few years, I had this complex algorithm where I weighted a disc by its film score, audio/video presentation and how many special features it had. In the past, that meant discs that I loved that didn’t have hefty quantities of special features (which I usually tend to ignore anyway) generally fell short on my lists. That’s bullsh!t. I’m not being that fake person anymore. I don’t care. This is my list dammit. These are the Blu-rays I personally own and are proud to call my favorites of the calendar year 2011. If you don’t agree with any of my selections, then A) I have to ask myself why are you reading this and/or B) that’s what the comment fields are there for. Hit me with your best shot. Let’s get this party started! Continue reading ‘Brian’s TOP 10 Blu-ray Picks of 2011′
December 14th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Victorian boys are back in town. Sherlock and Watson are back and this time they are wrapped up in a deadly game of shadows, as the threat of Professor Moriarty looms in the background. The first film, from 2009, turned out to be a lot of fun, given the new take on the character and universe. Mixed with the fun performances from Downey, Jr. and Law and the stylish direction of Guy Ritchie (not to mention Hans Zimmer’s wonderful score), Sherlock Holmes was able to get by on charm and wit, as much as it did by blockbuster spectacle. This sequel certainly goes the “bigger is better route” but does not lose sight of what made the first film enjoyable. Continue reading ‘‘Holmes’ Meets His Match In This Shadowy Sequel’
December 14th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
An imaginative fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, Farscape, produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with RHI Entertainment, featured mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters — all brought to rich life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Strap in and hold on tight for the extraordinary adventures of astronaut John Crichton, (Ben Browder) who, after a freak accident, finds himself surrounded by hostile aliens and soaring through the cosmos aboard Moya, a glorious living space ship. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with Moya’s crew — Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Luxan warrior Ka D’Argo (Anthony Simcoe), azure priestess Zhaan (Virginia Hey), spritely Nebari thief Chiana (Gigi Edgley), Dominar Rygel, the deposed royal ruler of the Hynerian Empire and Pilot – to search for a way out of this inconceivably alien world and return home. Continue reading ‘Farscape: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Review)’
December 13th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Tsukiko (Moe Arai), who belongs to a photography club at high school, always feels inferior to her elder sister, Tomie (Miu Nakamura). Tomie is breathtakingly beautiful and popular among the male students, including Toshio, whom Tsukiko is secretly in love with. One day an awful accident kills Tomie right in front of her younger sister. Since then Tsukiko suffers from a nightmare night after night. A year later Tsukiko and her parents are surrounding a birthday cake to celebrate dead Tomie’s 18th birthday. Suddenly they hear an eerie knock at the door. Unbelievably, it is Tomie. She’s back. The father and mother blindly welcome Tomie in tears, but Tsukiko feels instinctive fear. Tomie gradually reveals her true face, but only when she is with Tsukiko. Now Tsukiko’s nightmare becomes reality, and the terrifying days begin… Continue reading ‘‘Tomie Unlimited’ on Blu-ray in the UK January 23′
December 12th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Ambition seduces and power corrupts in a nerve-wracking thriller from Academy Award nominated director George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck). Idealistic campaign worker Stephen Myers (Ryan Gosling) has sworn to give all for Governor Mike Morris (Clooney), a wild card presidential candidate whose groundbreaking ideas could change the political landscape. However, a brutal Ohio primary threatens to test Morris’s integrity. Stephen gets trapped in the down-and-dirty battle, discovering himself caught up in a scandal where the only path to survival is to play both sides. The all-star cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Continue reading ‘The Ides of March Comes out on Blu-ray January 17!’
December 11th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is done with relationships. Jamie (Mila Kunis) decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction – but without any emotional attachment. Physical pleasure without the entanglements. Sounds easy enough for two logical adults, right? Not so much. They soon realize romantic comedy stereotypes might exist for a reason. Directed by Will Gluck (Easy A), and starring Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) and Mila Kunis (Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress, Drama, Black Swan, 2010) Friends With Benefits also boasts hilarious performances by Woody Harrelson (Zombieland), Emma Stone (Easy A), and Andy Samberg (“Saturday Night Live”). Continue reading ‘Friends With Benefits (Blu-ray Review)’
December 11th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, and Martin Balsam lead an all-star cast in this suspenseful film based on the sizzling best seller by John Godey. A gang of thugs who have hijacked a subway train near New York’s Pelham Station threaten to kill one hostage per minute. Forced to stall the assailants until a ransom is delivered or a rescue made, transit chief Lt. Garber (Walter Matthau) must somehow ad-lib, con and outmaneuver one of the craftiest, cruelest villains (Robert Shaw) ever. It’s a race against time, and no one knows whether things will end heroically or tragically in this pulse-pounding thrill ride! Continue reading ‘The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) (Blu-ray Review)’
December 10th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
This past year has been notable to me in the way nostalgia has been informing many films. Hugo, The Muppets, The Illusionist, Midnight in Paris, and Super 8, among many others I could make arguments for have all had this theme running through them. Now we have The Artist, an incredibly likable film that serves as a tribute to the silent film era by literally embodying the genre. The film plays out just as a silent film would, leaving the audience to react accordingly, given only the black and white images see on screen (accompanied by a great musical score), with only small instances that break the realm of the genre. Added benefits to the story, which is purposefully melodramatic as well as reflective on its own subject matter, are the incredibly charming performances. Those with knowledge of film can certainly see what this film is doing quite easily, but that shouldn’t stop all from acknowledging how entertaining, stylish, and well put together The Artist truly is.
Continue reading ‘‘The Artist’ Speaks Volumes As A Likable Ode To The Silent Film Era’
When I think of books meant for the young adult crowd (not counting the onset of vampire romance fiction), I tend to think of books that center around characters in their teens dealing with various types of drama, regardless of the genre, dealing with it, and experiencing a healthy level of growth because of it. In the film Young Adult, we are given a protagonist who is the author behind a young adult book series, but does not practice the methods of a positive influence. Charlize Theron (who is great in this role) manages to play an unlikable character who manages to become more unlikable as the film goes on. That would generally be a bad thing, but this film actually uses that as its intention. As a result, Young Adult manages to be a somewhat unique character study, fitted inside an incredibly dark and at times awkward comedy that does not hold back the way other films would. Continue reading ‘Watch ‘Young Adult’ Down A Bottle Of Dark Comedy’
