Archive Page 553
August 18th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
I am a big fan of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez; however, I never quite made the plunge to go and see his “kids” films. While Rodriguez has made some pretty hard R-rated features in his time (Desperado, From Dusk til Dawn, Sin City), he has also let his wild imagination carve himself out a niche in the kid friendly category as well. With his Spy Kids films finally hitting Blu-ray (in anticipation for the 4th film in the franchise), it seemed like a good opportunity to force myself to finally see this side of Rodriguez’s filmography. Having heard good things about the first two, I was excited to get a chance to check these flicks out. Unfortunately, I now know why I only heard good things about the first two films in this series, as the third film really drops the ball. Continue reading ‘Spy Kids 3: Game Over (Blu-ray Review)’
August 18th, 2011 by Gregg Senko
This past spring I had the luxury of attending one of the many Glee Concert performances. Yes, I am a gleek and the weekly series holds the #2 spot on my list of favorite shows. Regardless of how the show’s storyline would carry over to the stage was mostly irrelevant to me. I just wanted to see and hear the talented cast in person. I left the event a very happy gleek, minus the salsa splattered on my white dress shirt from one clutzy fellow concert-goer. Now take that same show and put it on the big screen. Will it carry the same song and dance one-two punch?
Continue reading ‘Glee 3D Concert Movie a Mostly Solid Performance’
August 18th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is nice to see more films from director Brian De Palma making there way to Blu-ray. September already has people looking forward to the release of
Scarface, but everyone will now also see the arrival of another De Palma thriller.
Dressed To Kill makes its way to Blu-ray this September and it is apparently packed with extra features. This dark psychological thriller has been one of the De Palma films to have alluded me for many years, so I am happy to finally have a chance to check it out. The film stars Michael Caine as a psychiatrist who becomes involved in extreme situations, after a mysterious blonde woman in sunglasses murders one of his patients. The only witness is a prostitute (Nancy Allen), who soon becomes the target of the mysterious blonde. Sure to be filled with all of the tension of a De Palma film, learn more about this upcoming release by reading further.
Continue reading ‘Get ‘Dressed To Kill’ This September’
August 18th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
Something Borrowed is one of those movies that I saw previews for and thought I didn’t need to see it in the theaters and would wait and rent it. I’m sorry I waited because it is my new favorite chick flick, and I’m so thrilled to own it because it’s the kind of movie I’ll watch over and over again. It’s a pretty stereotypical romantic comedy, although it does not star Matthew McConaughey like most of them do. If romantic comedies are not your thing, then this movie isn’t for you. If you enjoyed films like the Wedding Planner, Made of Honor, 27 Dresses, and Failure to Launch, this may be your new favorite chick flick. I was excited to find out that the cast includes John Krasinski (The Office and other movies I can’t remember right now) but I was pleasantly surprised as a new guy, Colin Egglesfield, entered my radar and found a place on the list of hot young actors that I admire. Continue reading ‘Something Borrowed (Blu-ray Review)’
August 17th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
I am a big fan of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez; however, I never quite made the plunge to go and see his “kids” films. While Rodriguez has made some pretty hard R-rated features in his time (Desperado, From Dusk til Dawn, Sin City), he has also let his wild imagination carve himself out a niche in the kid friendly category as well. With his Spy Kids films finally hitting Blu-ray (in anticipation for the 4th film in the franchise), it seemed like a good opportunity to force myself to finally see this side of Rodriguez’s filmography. Having heard good things about the first two, I was excited to get a chance to check these flicks out. The 2nd Spy Kids film manages to continue with the same fun and creative nature that made the first film so entertaining. Continue reading ‘Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (Blu-ray Review)’
August 17th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Celebrating twenty-five years of the need for speed, the action-packed, sexy and breathtaking thrill-ride Top Gun is now available on a Blu-ray/Digital Copy Combo from Paramount Home Entertainment. The story of an elite group of pilots competing to be the best in their class and earn the title of “Top Gun” captured the imagination of a generation and earned a worldwide box office of over $350 million. Tom Cruise is superb as the cocky but talented pilot known as Maverick and Kelly McGillis sizzles as the civilian instructor who teaches Maverick a few things you can’t learn in a classroom. Featuring a sensational soundtrack with unforgettable songs from the 80s including Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”, the film also stars Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan. Continue reading ‘Top Gun (Blu-ray Review)’
August 16th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
It’s time for another edition of Donnie Darko for home media consumption. There has been a previous couple DVD releases, followed by a Blu-ray release back in 2009. Now we have the four-disc set, dubbed the “10th Anniversary Edition”, which features the same Blu-ray set, but also includes the original DVD, as well as a digital copy of the film. Regardless, I now get to write a bit about the film again (although I managed to use some old notes I had). Donnie Darko is an 80’s teenage angst movie, with a few twists. It involves a bright kid with an eccentric side, a creepy bunny, time travel, and a trippy plot that keeps you wondering as well as entertained. Continue reading ‘Donnie Darko 10th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
August 16th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
I am a big fan of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez; however, I never quite made the plunge to go and see his “kids” films. While Rodriguez has made some pretty hard R-rated features in his time (Desperado, From Dusk til Dawn, Sin City), he has also let his wild imagination carve himself out a niche in the kid friendly category as well. With his Spy Kids films finally hitting Blu-ray (in anticipation for the 4th film in the franchise), it seemed like a good opportunity to force myself to finally see this side of Rodriguez’s filmography. Continue reading ‘Spy Kids (Blu-ray Review)’
August 16th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Take a trip to Bedford Falls to experience the life-affirming message of director Frank Capra’s enduringly popular classic all over again when IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE gets its wings in a new two-disc Blu-ray™ Shadow Box Gift Set on November 1, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Starring James Stewart (Mr. Smith Goes To Washington), Donna Reed (From Here to Eternity), Lionel Barrymore (Key Largo), Thomas Mitchell (Three Wise Fools) and Henry Travers (The Bells of St. Mary’s), the film has made an indelible impact on popular culture and continues to be a beloved part of many families’ holiday tradition. Continue reading ‘‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ Debuts on Blu-ray November 1st’
August 16th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Celebrate Christmas past, present and future with an uproarious and contemporary take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale when SCROOGED makes its Blu-ray debut on November 1, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Starring Bill Murray as a television executive with a heart of stone, the film takes viewers on a darkly comic adventure populated by an all-star cast including Karen Allen (Raiders Of The Lost Ark), John Forsythe (“Dynasty”), Bobcat Goldthwait (Shakes The Clown), Carol Kane (The Pacifier), Robert Mitchum (The Big Sleep), Alfre Woodard (“Desperate Housewives”) and Jamie Farr (“M*A*S*H”). Continue reading ‘‘Scrooged’ Debuts on Blu-ray November 1st’
August 16th, 2011 by Gerard Iribe
Surely everyone will want to own three of the funniest comedies of the 1980s in high definition. Thankfully, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, AIRPLANE! and THE NAKED GUN: From the Files of Police Squad make their Blu-ray debut exclusively at Best Buy on September 25 from Paramount Home Entertainment. And don’t call me Shirley. Written and directed by John Hughes, the hilarious classic PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES stars Steve Martin and John Candy as a businessman and traveling salesman forced together by circumstance as they try to get home in time for Thanksgiving. The Blu-ray features a brand new, in-depth retrospective on John Hughes’ career that includes new interviews and explores his indelible impact as a writer and filmmaker. Additional features include “Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains And Automobiles”, “John Hughes For Adults”, a tribute to John Candy and a deleted scene. A masterpiece of off-the-wall comedy, AIRPLANE! tells the story of an ex-fighter pilot who takes control of an airliner when the crew is incapacitated—and skewers airplane disaster flicks, religious zealots, television commercials and everything else in its path along the way. Continue reading ‘‘Airplane,’ ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,’ and ‘The Naked Gun’ Debut on Blu-ray September 25th’
August 15th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
Bad Teacher turned out to be a decent-sized hit during this summer, which featured many R-rated comedies. I thought it was fun enough (review HERE), but now people will have their chance to own it for themselves, as Bad Teacher comes to Blu-ray on October 18th. As you may recall, the film stars Cameron Diaz as a foul-mouthed teacher who is more focused on landing the rich husband of her dreams, opposed to actually teaching her students anything. The film costars Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel, along with a number of funny supporting actors as well. The Blu-ray actually includes both theatrical and unrated versions of the film, so be prepared to enjoy additional footage of this raunchy comedy this October. Read on to see all the details about this release. Continue reading ‘The Syllabus States That ‘Bad Teacher’ Is Due This October’
August 15th, 2011 by Jami Ferguson
In the tradition of heart-warming films, such as Bambi and Dumbo, comes Disney’s classic tales that taught us the power of friendship in The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound II, in this special 30th Anniversary 2-Movie Collection. For the first time ever in high-definition, audiences can now experience the brilliant, humor-filled adventures of best friends Copper and Tod in an all-new digitally restored version of the original 1981 film with this new Blu-ray. The Fox and The Hound, Disney’s 24th animated feature released in 1981, marked a changing of the guard from the legendary nine old men to a new generation of animators including Ron Clements, Glen Keane, and John Musker, who would kick off Disney animation’s renaissance that started in the 1980’s with new landmark animated films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and later Aladdin. Continue reading ‘The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound II (Blu-ray Review)’
August 14th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
Much like many horror movie franchises that carry on to have a ridiculous number of sequels, the Final Destination series seemed to have passed the point of parody at this point; or at least so I thought. While I have been indifferent to the series that I refer to as Death’s Mouse Trap, as it tries its hardest to fit into the world of Rube Goldberg, I have to admit that I was surprised as to how much I appreciated this fourth sequel in the series. While still over the top in how elaborate the deaths in the film are presented, the film actually handles its tone with a level of seriousness that I could get behind, while reveling in some of its dark humor. Continue reading ‘The Franchise Returns With This ‘Final Destination’’
August 13th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Bowling, nihilists, a stolen rug and the occasional acid flashback have never been funnier when one of the most popular cult classics in history, The Big Lebowski Limited Edition, debuts on Blu-ray August 16, 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. From the Academy Award-winning Coen brothers, The Big Lebowski is a hilariously quirky comedy about bowling, a severed toe, White Russians and a guy named…The Dude. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski doesn’t want any drama in his life…heck, he can’t even be bothered with a job. But, he must embark on a quest with his bowling buddies after his rug is destroyed in a twisted case of mistaken identity. Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Turturro, experience the cultural phenomenon of The Dude in this newly remastered in high definition transfer that’s sure to provide longtime fans and first-time viewers alike with the best possible Lebowski experience. Continue reading ‘The Big Lebowski Limited Edition Digibook (Blu-ray Review)’
August 13th, 2011 by Aaron Neuwirth
Maybe I should have been eating pizza while watching the movie. For a breezy “action-comedy” that only lasts 83 minutes, I really don’t think there should have been as much down time as there was. 30 Minutes or Less has the kind of high concept premise that seemed good for a fun flick. It is a simple enough story and has enough talent within the cast to have made for a solid summer comedy. Unfortunately, the film is kind of all over the place in terms of its tone and the performances. There are some very funny parts and there are also some exciting parts, but unfortunately, there are also slow parts and weak parts. In a summer that has had a lot of solid R-rated comedies, 30 Minutes or Less lands in a decidedly “meh” sort of realm, as it is quite late in its delivery. Continue reading ‘’30 Minutes Or Less’ Wasn’t Quite A Speedy Delivery’
August 13th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Captured as a young bird from the wild, Blu (Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network) is a domesticated spix macaw living thousands of miles away from his homeland, Brazil. When his human owner Linda (Leslie Mann,17 Again) discovers that he is the last male of his kind, they head south to Rio de Janeiro to meet the only other female. But it’s far from love at first sight between the socially-awkward, flight-challenged Blu and the fiercely independent, high-flying female, Jewel (Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries). Shortly after Blu’s arrival, the two rare birds are captured by greedy animal smugglers and find themselves lost in the Brazilian rain-forest. Unexpectedly thrown together, they embark on a hilarious and clumsy adventure where they learn about friendship, love, courage and spreading one’s wings to fly. Continue reading ‘Rio (Blu-ray Review)’
August 12th, 2011 by Sean Ferguson
Kenny Powers, the washed up former Major League pitcher, is back with more of his self-destructive behavior and penchant for profanity in Eastbound & Down: The Complete Second Season. Outrageous and irreverent, Powers (Danny McBride) finds himself heading south of the border after a humiliating letdown that would have put him back in baseball changes his game plan. When we last saw Powers, he thought he’d scored a shot at a comeback in the majors, but soon discovered the offer was bogus. Now, having left his North Carolina life behind, he’s making a fresh start in a small Mexican town, where he can both nurse his wounds and bless the locals with his awesomeness. Continue reading ‘Eastbound and Down – The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)’
