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Stealth

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on September 13th, 2005

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the recent Jamie Foxx / Jessica Biel film Stealth on November 15th. This 2-disc Special Edition will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with both DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. Extras will include two MX multi-angle scene breakdowns, a “Music of Stealth” featurette, a “Harnessing Speed” documentary, scene deconstructions, and a “Make A Move” music video by Incubus.

Blues Brothers, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 13th, 2005

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Synopsis

The orphanage where brothers Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) grew up is going to be expropriated unless back taxes are paid, and our heroes are resolved to help. The nun in charge won’t accept any of their ill-gotten gains, however, and so they embark on a frenetic cross-county chase to reassemble their old band for a benefit gig. Cue many famous music cameos, and massive car chases.

As happened in the sixties, the eighties were plagued by a particular form of bloated,…
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Ring Two, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 13th, 2005

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Synopsis

After the events of the first film, Naomi Watts and her young son are starting a new life for themselves in a small town. But the curse of Samara reaches out to them, as not only are there more victims of the lethal videotape in this town (thus driving home Watts’ guilt for having copied the tape herself), but Samara strives to possess Watts’ son.

Everything is here, conceptually, for a pretty gruelling exercise in horror. Every mother’s nightmare is played on as Watts is suspected…
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Platoon

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 11th, 2005

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Synopsis

There are a good number of people who have labeled Oliver Stone as a fan of conspiracy theories, out to destroy foundations of conservative ideology, while at the same time re-visiting 60’s nostalgic icons. Despite the jokes and the stereotyping, one has to admit that, as a filmmaker, he has helped bring to screen some of the most talked about cinematic experiences of our time, including Midnight Express, Scarface, not to mention Conan the Barbarian. As a director, his works, s…
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Saturday Night Live – The First Five Years

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 11th, 2005

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Synopsis

With all due respect to The Kids in the Hall, Saturday Night Live has an uncontested place in television history as one of the most influential shows ever to air on a small box of cathode ray tubes and circuit boards. Over the years, the show has launched the careers of Will Ferrell (Anchorman), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop), Adam Sandler (The Waterboy) and a host of other notable actors. The talent that creator Lorne Michaels has put together for over a quarte…
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Whirlpool

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 10th, 2005

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Synopsis

Gene Tierney plays the kleptomaniac wife of respected psychiatrist Richard Conte. When she is caught shoplifting a pin, she is rescued from embarrassment by con artist and hypnotist Jose Ferrer, who wins her confidence, and then sets her up for a murder wrap. His alibi is airtight, and the evidence all points to her guilt.

Tierney, as ever, excels at being beautiful and unstable, though here she is sympathetic, as opposed to the monsters she plays in Leave Her to Heaven and …
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Somewhere in the Night

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 9th, 2005

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Synopsis

John Hodiak plays a soldier who wakes up after being wounded with no memory. All he knows is what he is told: that his name is George Taylor. He makes his way to LA, and before long is looking for one Larry Cravat, a man who is apparently his friend. But lots of other people are looking for Cravat too, both hoodlums and cops, and our hero is quickly up to his neck in danger, without even knowing why.

An early storyline centred around amnesia, Somehwere in the Night’s twists …
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House on 92nd Street, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 8th, 2005

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Synopsis

As the US enters the conflict of WWII, a ring of Nazi spies works to uncover American research into the atomic bomb. The are based out of a dress shop at the house of the title, and they are infiltrated by double agent William Eythe. Will he uncover the traitor in the nuclear program before the Nazis uncover the traitor in their own midst?

This isn’t, properly speaking, a noir, something that the commentary itself points out, adding that this is, rather, the first of the pseudo-doc…
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Cabinet of Caligari, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 7th, 2005

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Synopsis

When Glynis Johns’ car breaks down, she seeks help at the mansion run by Dr. Caligari (Dan O’Herlihy), who promptly makes her prisoner. He won’t let her leave, he says, until she tells him everything about her most intimate life. All of the other guests at the house won’t help her, and everyone has a tendency to speak in riddles. Our heroine descends deeper and deeper into a nightmarish psychological trap.

Not a remakes, as such, of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, this does owe…
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Deal, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 7th, 2005

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What’s the dealio with The Deal? Well… Christian Slater’s in it. Selma Blair’s in it. What’s it about? The Deal is a thriller set in the world of insider trading and the oil market. Sounds like a bore? Well, the film is fairly knowledgable about its information. The screenplay has a lot of “insider” gobbledegook. The characters talk the talk, but can they walk the walk?

The Deal, on a thriller level, gets lost in its own plot. Tom Hanson (Christian Slater) slogs through a maz…
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Harry and Tonto

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 5th, 2005

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Synopsis

Art Carney is a spirited senior (the Harry of the title) who is evicted from his home (the building is going to be torn down to make way for a parking lot). He sets out with his cat Tonto on a cross-country journey that sees him bouncing off family members and strangers on their own journeys.

Some of these encounters are less believable than others (the Hooker With The Heart of Gold, for example), but the tone of the film is a gentle, wry, observational humour. Carney is excellent,…
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Doctor and the Devils, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 5th, 2005

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Synopsis

In 19th-Century Edinburgh, medical doctor Timothy Dalton needs bodies in order to further medical science. He avails himself of the services of two scoundrels (Johnathan Pryce and Stephen Rea), who provide him with extremely fresh specimens. Disturbingly fresh, as assistant Julian Sands is quick to realize. Dalton contends that the ends justify the means, even if those means are murder.

The story of murderous grave robbers Burke and Hare has been committed to screen in one form or …
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Kingdom Hospital: The Beginning

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 4th, 2005

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Synopsis

Kingdome Hospital is built on the site of a former Civil War textile mill, where many children lost their lives in a tragic fire. The ground is therefore haunted, and strange things are happening in the hospital. We follow the lives of many characters here, including one particular patient, an artist who was hit by a truck (the incident is very faithful reproduction of what happened to Stephen King himself) and is haunted, in his comatose state, by visions of a supernatural anteater (I’m not…
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Innocents, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 4th, 2005

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Synopsis

Based on Henry James’ novella The Turn of the Screw, this is the tale of a repressed governess (Deborah Kerr), who arrives at a country estate to care for two young children. She soon becomes convinced that the ghosts of the valet and the previous governess are haunting the place, and have evil designs on the children.

The Turn of the Screw is not only one of the masterpieces of the ghost story in English literature, it is also the very model of ambiguity. Are the gho…
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Killer Tomatoes Strike Back

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005

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Synopsis

Professor Gangreen (John Astin) and his evil killer tomatoes are back with yet another attempt to take over the world. This time, the mad scientist and his hapless assistant Igor are spreading their message by running a trashy TV daytime talk show out of their base on Crystal Mountain (kinda like Crystal Lake, geddit? Cue Friday the 13th parody). Investigating are a clueless hardboiled cop and the oh-so-hot tomatologist.

It is astonishing that a one-joke title spawned an ent…
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Killer Tomatoes Eat France

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005

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Synopsis

Narrowly escaping the guillotine thanks to the intervention of the evil tomatoes, Professor Gangreen (John Astin) sets up shop with Igor in a medieval castle/tourist attraction. A young American tourist, embarrassed at starring in a killer tomatoes movie, pretends to be Michael J. Fox (thus landing a comely French girlfriend), and winds up fighting against the evil doctor and his vegetables. (Or are tomatoes a fruit?)

There are some chuckles to be had in the opening credits, but th…
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Hexed

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005

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I can sum up this entire film in a single word; lame. There is nothing sadder than a comedy that is not funny, and this is certainly that. Bad acting, bad jokes and the feel of an 80’s comedy makes this film the very definition of lame. Imagine Blind Date without the humor. Now add blatant rip-offs from Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction. Throw in some bad jokes and you’re ready to go.

The plot has something to do with a hotel bellhop who impersonates people for entertainment, and tells …
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Married With Children – The Complete Fourth Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005

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Married With Children was something of an anomaly among the pantheon of breakthrough television shows throughout history. Shows such as Archie Bunker and Roseanne broke through the stereotypes of the television family, and showed life much more as it really is in most American households. What made Married With Children especially unique is that while those other shows often-times made very real comments about society through their laughter, this program mainly focused on the American mal…
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With Six You Get Eggroll

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 3rd, 2005

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With Six You Get Eggroll is special for one reason. Other than the politically incorrect title, the movie features the last film appearance by Doris Day. Too bad she couldn’t go out with a bang. I will admit: I like Doris Day. The Man Who Knew Too Much is a great film. And all that “Pillow Talk” stuff. C’mon, it’s fun. But let’s get to the Eggroll, shall we?

With Six… starts off as a fairly realistic romance/comedy. Day plays Abby McClure, the owner of a construction company (…
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Katrina Support

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on September 1st, 2005

In support of the victims of the horrific disaster in the New Orleans area, we have started a support website to help find temporary homes for those affected. If you are able, please visit Katrina Home to register your space to those in need. Thanks for your support!

House on Haunted Hill

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005

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Synopsis

Vincent Price is in definitive creepy form as a millionaire who invites an oddball group of characters to spend the night in a sinister house. If his guests survive, they will be paid $10 000. Price is at war with his wife, and it is pretty clear that each would love to see the other dead. Strange events start occurring in the house, with one young woman in particular being driven to the edge of hysteria by one monstrous apparition after another.

Affectionately remade a few years b…
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Out of Sight

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005

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Synopsis

After being the hunk of the moment on E.R., George Clooney came out of the starting blocks as a film actor in a few films, ranging the gamut from cult favorite (From Dusk ‘Til Dawn) to somewhat critically praised (The Peacemaker). He was also played the starring role in the film that put the Batman franchise on life support. One of his first smart acting choices came in Out Of Sight, directed by Steven Soderbergh, before Soderbergh became the Hollywood flavor of the mont…
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Reno 911! The Complete Second Season (Uncensored)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 27th, 2005

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Synopsis

While some sketch shows like The Ben Stiller Show and Mr. Show have managed to touch on the Cops parody with their material, the only one that does it regularly now is a show that uses it for inspiration.

In Reno 911!, produced and aired on Comedy Central, the show focuses on a group of police in the sleepy Nevada town doing what they can to keep law and order. You’ve got Lieutenant Dangle (Thomas Lennon, The State), a bicycle cop who perpetually wears h…
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Red Tent, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 26th, 2005

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Synopsis

Peter Finch plays Umberto Nobile, an Italian general and explorer who is haunted by his disastrous attempt to fly over the pole in a dirigible in 1928. In the present day, sleepless, he summons the ghosts of his crew and the people affected by the disaster to sit as judge and jury, and the film then proceeds to tell the tale in flashback. When the dirigible crashes, Nobile and his men are marooned on pack ice, while rescue attempts are met with one tragic setback after another. Among those s…
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My Left Foot

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 25th, 2005

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Synopsis

This is the biopic of Irish painter and writer Christy Brown. Born with crippling cerebral palsy, he retained movement only in his left foot. His body is a cage for his mind, and at first, only his mother believes that he is an intelligent being. When, as a child, he spells “MOTHER” on the floor in chalk, this is the breakthrough moment, and we follow him through the triumphs and frustrations of his adult years.

The film is markedly different from what one would imagine would be th…
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