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Dallas – The Complete Third Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 24th, 2005

It sometimes becomes quite challenging to write a review of a television show release in the mid-seasons. The opening season of the show has plenty to talk about, and the final season wraps things up, but what about season six, say, of an eleven season show? What is there to say then? “Well, this season involves the same characters doing the same stuff they have been doing for years.”

Lucky for me, this is a mid-season set that has something to talk about. Something big. Something the whole nation was talking…
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Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 23rd, 2005

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Synopsis

Aspiring singer Ashanti (there’s some imaginative casting for you) and her pet Toto (Pepe the king prawn) are transported to Oz by a tornado. The story then plays out in familiar form, with the roles of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Wicked Witch of the West being essayed by, respectively, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzy and Miss Piggy.

Though I have reservations about forging on with the Muppets after Jim Henson’s death, there is still evidence of the old spirit here. The Muppet S…
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Land of the Dead

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on August 22nd, 2005

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Universal will release separate rated and unrated editions of George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead on October 18th. The rated edition (93 minutes) will be presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ration, while the unrated edition (97 minutes) will be presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer; both versions will include English DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. In terms of extras, both will include an audio commentary (with George Romero, producer Peter Grumwald and editor Michael Doherty), three featu…
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Pom Poko

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 21st, 2005

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Synopsis

When the economic boom in Japan leads to massive deforestation, the raccoons find their habitat threatened. They band together and mount a campaign to stop the destruction of their world by humans. They learn to shape change, and wreak merry havoc with construction crews. Some of their stunts simply frighten the people off, but some of the sabotage is deadly, too.

The packaging and the “From the Creators of Howl’s Moving Castle” might be a bit misleading in this case. Studio…
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Boudu Saved From Drowning

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 20th, 2005

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Boudu Saved From Drowning is a style of film that is quite popular in the modern independent film scene. Tales of understanding the outcasts and what it means to fit in with the status quo have always been powerful, especially ones such as this one, where the moral is that no particular group or culture is without its drawbacks.

This film tells the story of Boudu, a homeless man who decided to commit suicide by jumping off of a bridge, but is saved by a man of “integrity”. He is then taken in to the ma…
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Major Dundee

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 19th, 2005

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Synopsis

Charlton Heston is the title character, a Union officer who determines on his own hook to track down a group of Apache raiders. He gathers together a ragtag group of raw recruits, criminals and Confederate prisoners, and heads off to Mexico. His second-in-command is Confederate officer Richard Harris, and the two men have a long history of mutual hatred and respect. Heston forges ahead despite all obstacles, and despite the costs both to his men and to the civilians they encounter.

Constantine

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 19th, 2005

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I’ll bet the script to this film read like a dream. The Exorcist meets Hellboy meets The Mummy. Surely this is the ideal vehicle for Keanu Reeves following his three picture run on The Matrix. Sound too good to be true? Unfortunately, it is. Now, there is a lot that is admirable in this film. For example, the acting, which is is far above the tired bar set by most modern action/sci-fi flicks. Furthermore, the special effects in Constantineare simply fantastic. In fact, I would go so…
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Calamari Wrestler, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 19th, 2005

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Synopsis

A championship wrestling match is disrupted when the winner is challenged by a giant squid. The squid wins by using a move that was the distinctive trademark of a vanished former champion. Could there be a connection? The girlfriend of the current champ, old flame of the former, certainly wonders. There is something about the squid that draws her… Meanwhile, the wrestling bosses want a rematch, but also want the squid to throw the match. He refuses. Can he beat the corruption in the sport …
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Momentum

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 19th, 2005

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Synopsis

A gang of thieves using telekinetic powers is on the loose. They are the result of CIA experiments decades ago, but only about-to-retire Louis Gossett, Jr. (remember when he had a theatrical release career?) takes the threat seriously. He enlists a similarly powered young physics professor to infiltrate the gang. Meanwhile, FBI agent Teri Hatcher is also on the case. The poor prof is soon in over his head.

Nothing here that hasn’t been done before and better. Take Firestarter, for instance, and that movie isn’t even that good. The production is workmanlike but ho-hum, and the telekinetic drafted to fight bad guys by means of budget-conscious special effects puts me in mind of a failed TV pilot I saw back in the 70s: The Man With The Power.

Audio

The audio is a generous 5.1 (one of the few generous things about this bare-bones disc). The placement of the sound effects is good, and the sense of an environment is quite nicely done. The dialgoue is clear and undistorted. The music sounds fine, though it isn’t exactly booming.

Video

The colours are very strong, with excellent flesh tones. The blacks are deep, the contrasts fine, and the image is sharp. In other words, a very good transfer. So even if what’s on the screen isn’t really worth watching, it looks nice.

Special Features

Nothing here but a trailer for Sin City and (surprise, surprise) Desperate Housewives. The menu is basic.

Closing Thoughts

Deeply ordinary stuff. Don’t waste your time.

Special Features List

Trailers

Crash (2005)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on August 18th, 2005

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Lions Gate Home Entertainment will release Crash (starring Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito & Ludacris) on September 6th. This disc will be presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with English Dolby Digital 2.0 & 5.1 audio tracks. Extras will include an Introduction by Director Paul Haggis, a Director’s Commentary, and a Making-of Featurette.

Columbo – The Complete Third Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 14th, 2005

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Synopsis

Another eight Columbo mystery movies are included here. The formula they follow is familiar: a murder is committed (and we generally know whodunit right off the bat), and we watch as Columbo, apparently absent-minded, closes in on the culprit, making said individual sweat like the dickens before he closes in for the kill. The episodes here also feature turns by such stars as Martin Sheen, Vincent Price and Johnny Cash, which makes this nostalgic trip all the more fun. These short movies-of-t…
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Imaginary Heroes

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on August 12th, 2005

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This is one of those films that is depressing solely for the sake of being depressing. There was a string of these kinds of films in the 90’s, but they have gone out of style as of the past seven years or so. This particular film tells the story of what happens to a dysfunctional family when one of the members commits suicide. Apparently, each member of the family grieves in his or her own way, all of which are wildly dangerous. Sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, lawlessness and despair abound in this tale of miser…
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Mr. & Mrs. Smtih

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on August 4th, 2005

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Fox Home Entertainment will release the Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt box-office hit Mr. & Mrs. Smith on November 29th. This disc will include both anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include two audio commentaries (the first by Director Doug Liman; the second by Producers Lucas Foster & Akiva Goldsman), deleted scenes, trailers, and an “inside look”.

Cypher

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

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Synopsis

Jeremy Northam plays the rather insecure Morgan Sullivan, who applies for a job as a corporate spy for Digicorp. His first few missions under the identity of James Thursby go well, but he is tormented by headaches and strange nightmares. Then he encounters Lucy Liu, who reveals that his missions are a sham and that Digicorp is brainwashing him to believe that he really IS Thursby, and so will be the perfect double agent to spy on another company.

Then the plot gets complicated. Thi…
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Whole Shebang, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 31st, 2005

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On the one hand, I have pretty low expectations for movies that were made for TV. On the other hand, this is an HBO film, so my expectations are just a bit higher than normal. My interest was further peaked when I saw that this was a romantic comedy. It is nice to see the network famous for drama branch out into comedy, and I was curious to see the results.

The plot of this film reminded me somewhat of the Keanu Reeves sleeper hit A Walk in the Clouds. In this case, however, the family business is not …
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Unreal

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 28th, 2005

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I remember a couple of years ago when MTV produced The Real World Movie: The Lost Season. I was sitting at home on a Saturday, and didn’t know exactly what I had tuned in to. At first, I was just watching the show as if it were any other first-episode of a season of The Real World. It wasn’t long, however, before I realized that something strange was going on. Once I realized that the “documentary” was an elaborate hoax, I promptly changed the channel. Let’s be honest… reality shows are manipulated en…
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Friends – The Complete 10th Season

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on July 27th, 2005

Warner Bros. will release the Complete 10th and final season of Friends on November 15th. This four-disc set will include all 18 season 10 episodes presented in 1.33:1 full frame, along with Dolby Digital 5.0 audio. Extras will include multiple audio commentaries, deleted/additional scenes, documentaries, a featurette, interviews, a music video & a gag reel.

Daily Show With John Stewart, The – Indecision 2004

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 22nd, 2005

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In its early days of existence, I was a big fan of The Daily Show. I assumed that when Craig Kilborn left the show, it would die off (in much the same way that Talk Soup tanked after Jon Hensen left). Boy, was I wrong. Instead of fading away, the show took off beyond my wildest expectations. No longer a funny little show on cable, The Daily Show became a cultural and critical phenomenon. What was really surprising, however, is the political importance of the show, as guests went from the People M…
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Lords of Dogtown

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on July 20th, 2005

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Lords of Dogtown (starring Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch, John Robinson & Victor Rasuk) in separate theatrical (107 min.) and unrated (109 min.) editions on September 27th. Specs have yet to be announced, but we will pass them on as they are made available.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on July 18th, 2005

Well Star Wars fans, Fox Home Entertainment has just announced the release of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith for November 8th. The specs on this release are still up in the air, but as far as we know, this disc will feature Dolby Digital EX audio, along with an Audio Commentary, a brand new long-form Documentary, Behind the scenes & Making-of Featurettes, Deleted scenes, and much more. We will pass on more info as it is made available.

Brady Bunch – The Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on July 15th, 2005

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“Here’s the story…of a lovely lady…”. We all know the beginning of this familiar ditty. It’s the Brady Bunch. And they’re back in The Brady Bunch – The Complete Second Season. All 24 episodes are classic Brady Bunch fare. Oh to live in a world of ice cream contests, science projects, and slumber parties; and the worst thing you could do was “smoke” *sigh*. Alice, the housekeeper, is along for this harmless ride. The astroturf front yard is still there. The Brady Bunch is a trip back to the “garden”…
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Carol Burnett Show – Let’s Bump Up the Lights!

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

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The Carol Burnett Show – Let’s Bump Up the Lights! is the DVD re-issue of an original CBC broadcast. The content is in the form of one of Carol’s famous Q & A sessions that started every show. Carol answers questions, she does her Tarzan yell. Burnett does there here too. But she asks other cast regulars (Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner) to join in. Clips from the show are interspersed to back up the answers to the questions.

The 42 minute disc is too short to make a…
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Prisoner of Paradise

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

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Prisoner of Paradise is the haunting story of German film and theatre actor, Kurt Gerron. This Oscar nominated documentary follows his rise and fall. Gerron was one of Germany’s most popular stage and screen actors before World War II. He was the original singer, in fact, of “Mack the Knife” in Brecht’s “Three Penny Opera”. Gerron’s popularity, however, took a different turn with the rise of Hitler’s Germany. Gerron was Jewish and, eventually, was forced to flee. But later he was captured and then hired…
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Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman – The Complete First Season

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

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Years before she was a resident on Wisteria Lane, and even before she was a notorious Bond girl, Teri Hatcher played Lois Lane on the New Adventures of Superman. Along with Dean Cain who played Clark Kent (aka Superman), these two actors brought the traditional story (unlike the recent Smallville) of superman once again to the small screen. Although Cain has not been able to reach the recent success that Hatcher has, the pair did share good chemistry on this show – creating an enjoyable television ex…
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Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on July 8th, 2005

Warner Home Video will release the teen-flick Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on September 27th. This discs will be presented in a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 (English & French) audio tracks. No word of extras as of yet, but we will pass on any further information on this release as it is made available.

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