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Woodsman, The

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

The Woodsman is not a story for the faint of heart. The content is disturbing to say the least… it is a story of a convicted pedophile that has a “thing” for young girls. The story is actually much more then that… it has a strong focus on the inner demons that the pedophile faces in attempt to clean up his life.

After being released from a 12-year prison sentence, Walter Rossworth (Kevin Bacon) tries to re-enter society by getting a job at a lumberyard, and moving into his own apartment (coincident…
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Astro Boy (2003) – The Complete Series

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

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I’ll start this review with a disclaimer about my Astro Boy knowledge level – for those Astro Boy fans reading this, I’m not an Astro Boy die-hard, and while I have some hazy recollections from my youth, until a few days ago, that’s about where my AB knowledge ended.

Astro Boy Backgrounder

The box set reviewed here contains 50 new episodes, released on television in their entirety overseas in, and in part in North America, in 2003. This is in fact the third incarnation of Astro Boy:

Be Cool

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on April 3rd, 2005

MGM Home Entertainment will release the Get Shorty sequel Be Cool (starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn & Cedric the Entertainer) on June 7th. This film will be presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include a “Be Cool, Very Cool” making-of documentary, deleted scenes, a gag reel, five close-up featurettes (on The Rock, Cedric the Entertainer, Christina Milian, Andre 3000, & the Dance Partners), the “You Ain’t Woma…
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Mad About You Collection

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

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If you’re not the type who enjoys watching complete seasons of your favorite show on DVD, this set was made for you. Mad About You has already had its complete first and second seasons released on DVD, but this collection takes the best episodes from the show entire run, and slams them out in this “Best of” collection.

I for one, as a completist, prefer complete seasons over these best-of collections. I find the flow very disjointed, with each episode having very little to do with each other.

Gone In 60 Seconds (Director’s Cut)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on April 2nd, 2005

On June 7th, Buena Vista will release the Director’s Cut of Gone in 60 Seconds (starring Nicholas Cage & Angelina Jolie). This “Unrated, New Enhanced Version” will include the following extras: four Featurettes (“Zero to 60”, “Wild Rides”, “The Big Chase”, & “Stars of the Film”), Conversations with Jerry Bruckheimer on the role of the producer, Action Overload highlight reel, the Theatrical trailer, and “The Cult” music video.

The Complete Monterey Pop Festival

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

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The Monterey Pop Festival has been mostly ignored by a lot of people, compared to the two other two large concerts that occurred after it, Woodstock, and Altamont. Those who do remember Monterey always mention the one incident it is most known for, Jimi Hendrix’ appearance on the U.S. stage. Jimi had been tearing it up in England, and he ended by setting his guitar on fire, which turned out to be a defining moment in music history. Criterion brings this event and others back to life in a comprehensive 3 disc set which is designed not only to showcase Jimi’s set during the show, but also breathes new life into the festival in general.
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Seinfeld – The Complete Fourth Season

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

On May 17th, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the Complete Fourth Season of Seinfeld on DVD. This set will include each season four episode presented in 1.33:1 fullscreen with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio tracks. Extras will include Deleted Scenes, Episode specific Audio Commentaries, Behind The Scenes Footage, Bloopers, and much more!

Lost – The Complete First Season

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 16th, 2005

Buena Vista will release the Complete First Season of the popular J.J Abrams action series Lost on September 6th. Each episode will be presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, along with English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include a never-before-seen extended uncut version of the original pilot, Featurettes (“Making of the show” & “Backstage with Drive Shaft” & “The art of Matthew Fox”), “Before They Were Lost” original casting tapes, a blooper reel, deleted scenes, as well as filmmak…
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Bright Young Things

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

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Bright Young Things is a sumptuous adapation of Evelyn Waugh’s novel “Vile Bodies”. The book is a cutting satire of British cafe society of the 1930’s. The director and adapter, Stephen Fry, retains much of the novels comic edge. I would expect nothing less from Fry, the noted British humorist and living embodiment of Oscar Wilde.

The movie is mostly about the posh lifestyle of novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes (played by Stephen Campbell Moore)and his lover Nina (played by Emily Mortimer). The circle …
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Hype!

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

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Hype! is a documentary of the “Seattle scene” of the early 90’s. Grunge was king. I remember wearing flannel shirts and listening to the big three: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. But what about the other bands? Hype! also talks about the lesser-known bands, like the Supersuckers and The Gits. Hype! is an examination of what went on underneath the “hype” of the Seattle music scene. This isn’t some VH1 doc. And it’s not all about Kurt Cobain either. Hype! covers it all, and cre…
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Phase IV

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

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Phase IV isnâ€™t a sequel, and it isnâ€™t a remake of the 1974 movie about aliens brainwashing desert ants to wage war over its human desert inhabitants. Those of you looking for that film might be disappointed. Instead, you get this modern action film staring Dean Cain and the Boz, Brian Bosworth. And it ainâ€™t half bad.

Simon Tate (Dean Cain) plays a reporter trying to clear the name of his best friend. The friend is involved in a mysterious death of a scientist. This death is just one in a s…
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MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (Xbox)

Posted in Game Reviews by Archive Authors on March 13th, 2005

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Day 1 Studio’s produced one of the most anticipated games associated with the early days of the X-Box; MechAssault. This original game captured gamers with in depth gameplay, excellent visuals and great sound. What’s not to like about jumping in a 40 ton carnage dealing machine and blowing up everything in sight? The only drawback to the first one was a lack of multiple modes of online play. Day 1 has returned with the sequel to the highly successful MechAssault with MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf and …
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Wildboyz – The Complete First Season

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

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At first glance when watching the MTV show Wildboyz with Steve O and the party boy Chris Pontius, one can easily say that some of the Jackass brethren found a nice little niche for themselves, with a nature appreciation show that could be described as National Geographic under the influence of Nyquil.

There is a quality to this show however that makes it worth revisiting several times, more than even Jackass would warrant. At the most basic element, MTV has given these guys a bunch of m…
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Chappelle’s Show – The Complete First Season

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

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Dave Chappelle and I are the same. Well, he’s a year younger than me. And he’s black. But we’re both from Washington DC, but I live in the suburbs, and usually never go into the downtown area unless someone dared me. But he’s a lot funnier than me, and Comedy Central decided to give him a 12 episode commitment on their network after seeing him in such films as Half Baked, Screwed and Undercover Brother.

And quietly, Dave has put together a smart, funny show that everyone instantly dismi…
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Jonny Quest – The Complete First Season

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

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This show the bomb diggity yo! Seriously though, Jonny Quest in a way revolutionized cartoons in the sense of realism that they tried to convey. Some of the cartoons that have come out since have done a pretty good job of it, but not too many shows were touching on topics such as laser technology, rockets and other concepts then looked at as “futuristic.” And put up against other shows of that era, the animation on Jonny Quest had an almost comic-book like feel to it, and it was a nice change of pace from the …
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Men Behaving Badly – Seasons One and Two

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

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No, this is not the NBC series from the mid-90’s starring Rob Schneider. This is the original UK show. All 12 episodes from the first two seasons are available here on 2 discs. In fact, it’s not just a two disc set, but two completely separate releases packaged together.

At first, I was a little surprised that this mediocre show lasted for six full seasons. I changed my mind, however, when I thought about such American staples as Family Matters and Boy Meets World. They are not great monuments…
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Man on Fire (Collector’s Edition)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 11th, 2005

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Fox Home Entertainment will release the collector’s edition of Man on Fire on May 24th. This 2-disc set will be presented in a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen trnasfer, along with both English Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS audio tracks. Extras will include two audio commentaries (the first by Director Tony Scott; the second by Lucas Foster, Brian Helgeland and Dakota Fanning), fifteen deleted scenes (including an alternate ending), a seventy-two minute documentary entitled “Vengeance is Mine: Reinventing Man on Fi…
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Heat

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

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I don’t remember hearing anything about Heat when it was coming out, but once I saw who was in it, I was hooked. With Al Pacino’s 8 Oscar nominations (with 1 award) and Robert DeNiro’s 6 nominations (and 2 awards), the two have had quintessential acting performances over the past 30 years, and the impact they have had on cinema speaks for itself.

The names of the characters are hardly consequential, as they are used to further storylines more than develop character. But Pacino plays a cop who is tr…
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Alice Through the Looking Glass

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

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Alice Through the Looking Glass is a 1998 television version of the Lewis Carroll classic. Now this is NOT Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Looking Glassis Carroll’s lesser known follow up. There’s no mad hatter or chasing white rabbits. But there are white queens, talking insects, and discussions of the Jabberwocky. This is a fairly faithful adaptation.

The story is simple. Alice, through her magic mirror, enters Carroll’s world of dream logic and nonsense. Kate Beckinsale (re…
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Jeremy

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

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Jeremyis an early 70’s film that put Robby Benson on the map (for what that’s worth). Benson was nominated for a Golden Globe for his tender performance as the title character. This is quite an intimate little perforance. Glynnis O’Connor plays Jeremy’s love interest, Susan. O’Connor matches Benson’s truthful performance. The film centers around Susan and Jeremy’s awkward, but authentic, teenage romance.

The film moves along at a snail’s pace. But that’s part of the point. There are no major Romeo…
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MI-5, Volume 2

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

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Five discs, ten episodes, one amazing show.

For those that are unaware, MI-5 (or Spooks, as it is called in the UK) is a popular spy series set in London. While some similarities will inevitably be drawn to ABC‘s Alias, MI-5 is an excellent show in its own right. I highly recommend that those that are new to the series start with Season One of the show and work their way up. Starting in the middle of a series cliffhanger is never a good idea, as I learned all-too-late. Of course,…
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Gilligan’s Island – The Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 6th, 2005

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There are two kinds of men on the planet; those that are fans of Gilligan‘s Island, and those that are not. Now, every man will gladly participate in the Ginger vs. Mary Ann debate, but as for actually liking the show for it’s intended purpose, that‘s something different altogether. I must admit, I am not a fan. I find the show unbearably lame, and have a hard time putting aside my desire for quality programming to enjoy the campy and carefree nature of the classic series.

There are a whopping 32 epi…
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Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 6th, 2005

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I’m still trying to figure out why no one wanted anything to do with this project. Among some of the names I read that were attached to this in some fashion or another were Sean Penn, Mike Myers, Johnny Depp and Nicole Kidman. After what seemed like an eternity, George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven) decided to tackle the film as a first time director. The project seemed to roll from there, casting Sam Rockwell (Heist) as the lead, along with marquee names Drew Barrymore (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle…
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Coupling – The Complete Fourth Season

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

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The complete fourth season of the UK’s hit show Coupling arrives on DVD in 6 exciting episodes.

Wait a minute…did I just say “complete season” and “6 episodes” in the same breath? Unfortunately, yes. Now, I can’t really blame the DVD producers; they’re just putting out content that has already been made. Television seasons are short in the UK… what are you going to do? The rumor is that season five has been ordered for production by the BBC, but the show is currently on hiatus, so there is no guarant…
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The Day After Tomorrow (Collector’s Edition)

Posted in News and Opinions by Archive Authors on March 2nd, 2005

Fox Home Entertainment will release the Collector’s Edition of The Day After Tomorrow on May 24th. This 2-disc set will be presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS audio tracks. Extras will include two audio commentaries (the first by Director/Co-writer Roland Emmerich and Producer Mark Gordon; the second by Co-writer Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Cinematographer Ueli Steiger, film Editor David Brenner & Production Designer Barry Chusid), four featurettes (“pre-visu…
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