Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 30th, 2010
Written by Diane Tillis
Lake Placid (1999) was a humorous film which played on our fears of animal attacks. It depicted a gigantic man-eating crocodile living in a lake near a rural town in Maine. The idea of crocodiles in Maine was a creative parallel to the alien-invasion scenario. The humans (park rangers, anthropologists, and wildlife experts) had to defeat the murderous alien (giant crocodile) before it destroyed the world (Maine). This concept continued in two direct-to-DVD films, Lake Placid 2 and Lake Placid 3.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 27th, 2010
"War and me took to each other real well. It felt like it had meaning. The feeling of doing what you thought was right. But it wasn't. Folks can believe what they like, but eventually a man's gotta decide if he's gonna do what's right. That choice cost me more than I bargained for..."
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 27th, 2010
It was the summer of 1987. Horror movies had just gone through a recent splatter craze, and it seemed as though the genre might be dead, at least for a while. Then Joel Schumacher delivered his little low-budget vampire film The Lost Boys. While the movie didn't exactly tear things up at the box office, the film developed quite a strong cult following and had earned pretty high praise from the folks within the horror community. The movie was fresh and was just the kick in the pants that the sequel-weary crowd was looking for. The movie was dark but managed to provide a camp atmosphere at times that worked as a wonderful counterbalance to the blood and guts that was a necessary ingredient, particularly at that time. It was a breakout role for the young Kiefer Sutherland, who was moving out of the shadows of his iconic father and into his own. With this film and the critically acclaimed Stand By Me just a year before, Sutherland was able to arrive on the scene without riding his father's coattails. The two very different roles also allowed him to stretch those thespian muscles quite a bit. The Lost Boys captured teenage angst in a far more thrilling and realistic manner and combined it with vampires and humor. And while it dealt with very similar themes, this was no Twilight.
Among the most memorable performances to come out of that original film were those of Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Haim would play the innocent kid just moving to a small town that happened to be infested with vampires. Feldman played Edgar Frog, a local comic-and-horror-lore geek who was aware of the vampire problem and saw himself as a modern-day Van Helsing, fighting the bloodsuckers whenever he encountered them. The two Coreys, as they would go on to be known, had wonderful chemistry and stole the film right out from under the adult cast and the evil doings of the teenaged vampire clan led by Sutherland. The two ended up doing several films together before having a somewhat public falling out.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on October 27th, 2010
This 1972 concert film has been seldom seen since its first release (which was in 1974) and is only now experiencing its first official release onto DVD and Blu Ray (never having been previously released on home video either). Promoting their just released Exile on Main St. album, the setlist is a high energy service to their love of Chuck Berry inspired rock n roll and complete worship of American blues music.
Some bands have become so popular that they have been mythologized in the public eye. The Rolling Stones are no exception, though much of said mythology is less like the mysticism that follows acts like The Beatles, and more lies in the infamous debauchery of its members...be it the drug consumption, partying with Canada's first lady and/or their various (other?) sexual conquests (David Bowie too?). Never the less, it is concert films like this were it is a relief to see such larger than life celebrities churning out some sloppy rock n roll on stage with loads of youthful energy. Granted, they aren't kids at this point, but don't tell that to the stage persona of Mick Jagger as he trollops about in various sparkling, skinny jumpsuits.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 26th, 2010
Written by Diane Tillis
I will admit, the moment I saw the cover of the DVD I was already convinced this was going to be one of the worst films I have ever seen or a close second. The cover has a dark figure cloaked in a blue throw blanket and is holding a leaf blower as a weapon… a leaf blower?! Four Boxes turned out to be one of those independent thriller films that should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 22nd, 2010
Wow, someone took Dolan’s Cadillac, one of my favourite Stephen King short stories, and made it into a movie! Awesome! Cool, not a bad cast either. Christian Slater and Wes Bentley. Good actors. A little bit of edge to them. This might be alright. What’s that? It’s a straight to DVD release? Well that’s not promising. Hmm? It was made in Saskatchewan? By a Canadian sit-com director? Okay, now you’re just messing with me…
As it turns out, it’s all true. King’s sun-scorched tale of madness and revenge has indeed been brought to the screen, even if that screen is the one hooked up to your DVD player.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 21st, 2010
“Mentalist: Someone who uses mental acuity, hypnosis, and/or suggestion. A master manipulator of thoughts and behavior.”
I remember fondly Simon Baker’s last television series, The Guardian. It wasn’t exactly a great or groundbreaking show, but it chugged on somewhat quietly for five seasons. It didn’t seem like anyone was really noticing this quality show. So as much as I like this new series, I think what pleases me most is that The Guardian has made it to DVD. I’m not sure it would have happened if The Mentalist hadn’t broken out as the number one new series last year. And as much as I’d love to tell you more about that earlier series, I’m going to get that chance next month, so stay tuned.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 21st, 2010
Bo Burnham is one of those very young up-and-coming comedians that will either turn you completely off or make you very happy that you made his acquaintance. I think I'm one of those rare folks who finds himself in the middle after watching this hour-long performance.
There is no question at all that Burnham processes incredible talent. He is one of the most clever comedians I've seen in ages. He has an understanding of the English language that we haven't seen since the likes of George Carlin. There is a sophisticated intelligence at work here that is, unfortunately, easy to miss, if you don't pay particular attention. Burnham is manic in his delivery. He changes subjects and speeds with a suddenness that is liable to leave you with whiplash. Before you can really think about what he's said, he's already three subjects down the road flipping you the finger for not keeping up. And while I appreciate comics who push the limits of political correctness, there are moments that Burnham pushes the taboos much farther than he should. His 9/11 joke fell flat for the live audience. He uses Hitler and the holocaust a bit too much. It's almost as if he's hoping you'll tire of the routine. And then there's his age. Some of the more risqué sexual stuff just seems wrong from a guy who looks like he's a freshman in high school. He does a routine about Charlie Brown being molested. Way too far, dude.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on October 20th, 2010
The album, Holy Diver was released on May 25th, 1983. It was Dio’s best work featuring two singles that would hit the American top 40. It would actually take a full year for the album to hit Gold and almost 6 years to reach Platinum status. However, Dio remains popular today and is still listened to around the world. With that said, it is my pleasure to bring you the last recorded concert of one Ronnie James Dio as he plays the Astoria Theatre in London, England.
October 22nd, 2005. It is the final stop of an 11 date British Tour and Dio has hit the Astoria Theatre in London along Charing Cross Road. However, despite the band playing there a multitude of times, this one was a little different. Earlier in the year, Rock Candy Records had re-released the epic Holy Diver and the band had to figure out a way to best promote the re-release. They came up with the idea of playing the entire album, front to back in order.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on October 13th, 2010
Having been dropped by NBC, Medium finds a new home for its sixth season at CBS. The story of a psychic working for a Phoenix (I could have played off their location's name and used it as a metaphor for this show rising from the ashes onto a new network...but I'm a much classier and restrained writer than that) district attorney's office. Meanwhile, her husband struggles with a new job and when it comes to her daughters, there is evidence that there might be more than one psychic in her household.
I did not follow this show before, but had watched a few episodes previous to reviewing this season. Something I had always admired about this program was the dynamic the family has with each other. Driving the plot of each episode is a crime mystery, but instead of new evidence arriving as it might in a CSI or Law and Order, our hero would dream the truth, making for a supernatural side to things. Despite this, the writing would blend said supernatural elements into their daily bickering and family matters until it seemed utterly domestic. Now with a daughter showing powers the family is becoming significant in different ways but all the while never ignoring facts of life that occur and change over the six years that this show existed, such as the girls growing up, job changes, sickness etc. Perhaps what I admire about this is not only how the show does not hinge on the psychic aspect of things, but also creates an all the more believable family unit while doing so. Much credit for this goes to the more than capable leads Patricia Arquette and Jake Weber (who plays her husband) as well as the writing staff.
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