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Reign Over Me

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 26th, 2007

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I have no idea what critics thought of this film. I don’t know how it did at the box office. I can’t even recall knowing anything about it, except for seeing its title on the showtimes board at the theatre. It doesn’t matter. I’m telling you now, Reign Over Me is a wonderful film.

I’m in one of those situations when I’ve discovered a really special movie, and want to recommend it to everyone I know without telling them anything about it. I’m not sure whether I can get away with that here, but I’ll try. Let’s talk about the DVD. Does it give Reign Over Me a fair shake? Read on to find out.

Supernatural – The Complete Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 25th, 2007

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If you are a fan of the original Kolchak: The Night Stalker, you were more than likely disappointed in the remake a couple of years ago on ABC. Your hope is now once again restored. Supernatural is the closest thing I’ve ever seen to The Night Stalker. Like Kolchak, the Winchester brothers are faced with weekly incarnations of evil. They’re forced to research these legends and figure out a way to stop them. As Kolchak discovered, it’s a thankless job. Sure, Supernatural is populated with all sorts of beasties and nasties, but it also manages to hold on to a sense of humor that rounds out these adventures to make this one of the most entertaining shows around. When UPN and WB merged, I was a little worried about Supernatural.
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Numb3rs – The Third Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 25th, 2007

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Do you believe that a numbers wizard can predict the most random of human actions with mathematical equations so accurately as to know where and when such a person will be? If so, then I suggest you put down that letter you are writing to Santa, finish eating that egg a bunny left for you, go to your pillow and pull together all of the loot you got from the tooth fairy, and plunk it down on season three of Numb3ers. No, that’s not a typo, apparently they believe that letters aren’t good enough to stand on their own so they inserted a 3 where the e should be. Aren’t they so clever? Not. In the fairy tale world of Numb3ers, all you need is an almost obsessive knowledge of math and the crooks don’t stand a chance. It’s almost unfair, isn’t it.
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Lucky You

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 25th, 2007

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If you told me about a film by the screenwriter of Forrest Gump, The Insider and Munich, and the director who brought us L.A. Confidential, I’d say bring it on. If you went on that it was set in the high stakes world of professional poker, I’d be excited. But then you’d say it’s a romance starring Eric Bana (Troy) and Drew Barrymore (Never Been Kissed). I’d begin to doubt. Then I’d think back to The Insider, and tell myself a great script is the only way to make a great film.

Then I’d watch Lucky You and realize even a great screenwriter can turn out a clunker. But maybe there’d be hope for the DVD?

Next

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 24th, 2007

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“Here’s the thing about the future. If you look at it it changes, and every time you look at it it changes again…”

If Nicolas Cage had Chris Johnson’s ability to see into the future, he might have avoided his latest film, Next. At the very least he might have been tempted to monkey with it in order to get a better box office take than it ultimately received. The film was in and out of theatres faster than I could blink, let alone catch it. If Cage had foreseen the film’s demise, it would have been unfortunate for us who got to see this film on DVD for the first time.
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Reeker

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 24th, 2007

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Stop me if you’ve heard any of this before. Four teens set out on a road trip …

STOP.

OK. That’s just unfair. Let me go on a little longer.

They’re going to the “biggest party in the world” when their vehicle stalls and leaves them stranded out in the middle of nowhere…

STOP

Well. One of them is blind and they’re not all horny drug fiends.

OK. Go on.

They find an abandoned hotel and café where everyone has mysteriously disappeared…

STOP

I guess you get the idea.

Troy – Director’s Cut (Special Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 24th, 2007

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2004 brought moviegoers two big-budget historical epics in Oliver Stone’s Alexander and Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy. One bombed. The other performed well, but was by no means heralded as a critical success. No, Troy was praised for slick production values and exciting battles, but derided for a lack of emotional depth.

Can it all be blamed on running-time constraints and compromises made for the ratings board? The answer is here, with the unrated Troy: Director’s Cut, Petersen’s second shot at eternal glory, this time with more than 30 minutes of additional footage.

Darkman (HD DVD)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 22nd, 2007

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It’s hard for me to believe that Darkman comes from a time when Sam Raimi was fresh off directing Evil Dead 2 and Liam Neeson was a little known Irish actor. A lot has changed since then, but a true classic can stand the test of time, and although I was very young when I first saw this movie, I remember it being very unique. Of course my perspective on films has blossomed since the time I was watching Rugrats, and it has literally been that long since I’ve seen Darkman. Nonetheless I’m pleased to finally get the chance to watch this Liam Neeson classic, and in HD to boot.
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Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2-Disc Power Cosmic Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 21st, 2007

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It’s clear watching Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer that Tim Story and company spent lots of time on the Silver Surfer and little gags for the Four’s powers, and not so much time on the actual story.

The result is a shiny hunk of refuse. There are holes all over the place, and once again the filmmakers have failed to present characters and conflicts the audience will actually care about. The world’s going to end? Big deal. On the bright side, while the film sucks, this 2-Disc Power Cosmic Edition DVD set is pretty fantastic.

Friday Night Lights – The First Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 20th, 2007

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What would happen if a studio was so confident in a show that it offered the DVD’s at a reduced price and slapped on a money back guarantee? Universal has done just that with Friday Night Lights. There is a rebate program where you can turn your discs back in for a full refund if you’re not completely satisfied with the show. Couple that with the fact I picked up this entire season for only 20 bucks, and I’d say somebody is either really stupid, or they’ve got a hell of a television series. Friday Night Lights is the latter.
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The Guns of Navarone (Collector’s Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 19th, 2007

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Based on a popular 1957 novel by Alistair MacLean, The Guns of Navarone was a smash hit in 1961, and the highest grossing film of that year. It’s a World War II movie, and for its time was considered to be packed with excitement. While it definitely has some great action sequences, for modern standards the film has nowhere near the fast pace or high action-to-dialogue ratio we’ve come to expect from the genre.

So many years later, can a slow, talky action movie still excite audiences? And is The Guns of Navarone – 2-disc Collector’s Edition a worthy upgrade over the 2000 special edition release? Read on to find out.

Ghost Whisperer – The Second Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 18th, 2007

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Ghost Whisperer changed a lot in its second season. Frankly, the level of changes took me by surprise, considering that the show was pretty successful as it was. These are the kind of wholesale changes you see when a borderline series is retooled for a second, and usually final, chance to connect with enough viewers. It was risky, and while I’m not too happy about a couple of these changes, I was for the most part impressed with the final result.
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College Essentials: History 101 (Platoon, Windtalkers, Dances With Wolves)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 18th, 2007

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As any respectable history professor will tell you, if you want to learn about our past you should watch Hollywood historical fiction. That explains why MGM’s College Essentials: History 101 features Platoon – Special Edition, Windtalkers and Dances With Wolves. All three are clearly excellent examples of thoroughly accurate representations of historical conflicts, right?

Alright, so maybe educational impact isn’t the intention here. This is just MGM’s way of unloading some sub-par discs on unsuspecting buyers. What’s wrong with getting three movies for the price of one, you ask? Nothing. Unless one disc is out-dated and the other two should be incinerated by a giant laser.

College Essentials: Romance 101 (Heartbreakers/Legally Blonde/The Cutting Edge)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 18th, 2007

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Looking for romance? This three-movie collection from MGM likes long walks on the beach, candle-light dinners and formulaic plots. The films have been around a while, but a fresh new look makes this set an attractive option.

As is usually the case for common-theme boxed sets, Romance 101 includes one stinker, one hit and one older gem you probably forgot about years ago. The movies aren’t the greatest examples of the genre, but the studio sweetens the deal, offering you three films for the price of one new-release DVD. Hit the jump for a rundown of these three discs.

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 16th, 2007

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Every time I long for the free and easy days of my youth, something like Disney Princess Enchanted Tales comes along to remind me why it’s good to be done with childhood. If I was a kid, I’d be entertained by this stuff. Since I can no longer appreciate kid-friendly, sitcom-like productions, I will imagine I’m a seven-year-old girl for the remainder of this review. In order to keep things nice and coherent, though, I’ll write like I’m not.

All you need to know about this original release from Disney is that it’s Disney-lite, with lower production values and more heavy-handed stories. However, I’m sure it will please children, especially those who love all things princess.

Brothers & Sisters The Complete First Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 15th, 2007

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There have certainly been more interesting family business shows on television over the years, so the premise for Brothers & Sisters is anything but original. Both Dallas and Dynasty set the standard for this kind of show many years ago. Tony Soprano’s family business is far more interesting than the Walker organic fruit business. Hell, the Ewings had more color with “dem dang blasted oil fields”. If you end up liking or are already a fan of Brothers & Sisters, originality isn’t the reason. I found the stories were far too slow and uninteresting to keep my attention for more than an episode. The impressive, potent performances offered by this solid cast carry all the weight on this series.
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Babel (2-disc Collector’s Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 14th, 2007

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One of the handful of films deemed extra special in 2006, Babel had lofty intentions, a lot of hype and plenty of Oscar nominations. And yet, while the film was well directed and very well acted, it falls well short of its reputation. In fact, Babel fails to create a real impact, unless you count the utter depression one experiences while watching it.

Still, the film has lots of fans willing to call it one of the best of 2006. Those folks will be happy to add Babel: 2-disc Collector’s Edition to their own collections. That is, unless they already picked up the single-disc version released back in February. Is this double-dip good enough to say, “out with the old, in with the new?” Read on to find out.

Commando (Director’s Cut)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 13th, 2007

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“Remember when I promised I’d kill you last? I lied.”

Time to relieve the glory days. Arguably the finest of Schwarzenegger’s over-the-top, muscle-bound 80s action flicks, Commando is finally getting the respect it deserves. This is the perfect example of a movie so bad it’s good. Really bad, and really good. Commando has it all: copious one-liners, a ridiculously huge Ah-nold physique, and a body count so high you’ll run out of fingers and toes in no time flat.

Yes, Commando is the quintessential 80s action extravaganza, and proof positive that the governator used to be a one-man Ah-my.

Wrong Turn 2 (Unrated)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 12th, 2007

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I love horror movies, but lately Hollywood hasn’t done it for me, and Wrong Turn wasn’t an exception. So I wonder how a low budget sequel is going to manage to be better than its phony prequel. But I won’t judge this one until I’ve seen, lets just hope its nothing like The Hills Have Eyes 2, or The Grudge 2, etc.

Wrong Turn 2 takes off shortly after the events of the first film. Right away I’ll let you know that other than the mutant freaks of the first film, this movie has no other links to the first installment, i.e. characters.
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‘Til Death – The Complete First Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 10th, 2007

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Written by Evan Braun

Unfortunately, one of the best things you could say about the first season of ’Til Death is that it’s consistently inconsistent. It’s sometimes boring, it’s sometimes sentimental. Occasionally it’s angry. From time to time, it’s even funny. That said, I have a hard time believing the back cover’s assertion that this sitcom is a “top rated comedy.”

Here’s the premise, which is hardly new to television. Eddie and Joy Stark (Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher) have been married 24 years and have settled into a period of their lives that could charitably be described as stable, but more honestly as a rut. They love each other, but they take each other for granted. The magic is gone. Unfortunately, there’s no chemistry, either.
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Blades of Glory

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 8th, 2007

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There are those of us who love Will Ferrell and just about everything he’s done lately, and there are those of you who can’t stand the guy. Read that last sentence carefully and you’ll be able to determine which one I am, but I’m sure you won’t have to read much past this sentence to figure it out anyways. Starting back with A Night at the Roxbury and ranging to Old School and Anchorman, comedically I can’t get enough of these nonsense full movies. Surprisingly I didn’t check this one out in the theatres, but I eagerly welcome the opportunity now.
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Everything’s Gone Green

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 7th, 2007

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When I first heard the title I was thinking, documentary on celebrities impact on making the planet go green. But now having seen Everyone’s Gone Green I can assure you that’s not the case. Instead this is a low budget Canadian movie about a slacker, which doesn’t leave me with much more expectations than when I thought it was a documentary on global warming. As a Canadian I can admit that besides producing some great actors and actresses and supplying some great filming locations, Canadian cinema is about as entertaining as watching the wind blowing around a plastic bag. This movie doesn’t prove to be any different.
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Face/Off (Special Collector’s Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 7th, 2007

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I am a huge John Woo fan, especially his earlier classics like Hard Boiled. I’ll admit it’s been several years since I last seen Face/Off, but I don’t have a reason why, as I remember really liking this movie then. At either rate now I have a copy of the movie to call my own, and a special two disc release at that. Let’s just hope that it is what I remember, but as a big fan of Nick Cage I don’t think I’ll be let down.

In order to catch him, he must become him. I couldn’t put it any better myself, Face/Off tells quite the eccentric story of revenge, devotion, and of course crime.
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Bobby Z

Posted in Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on September 6th, 2007

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I like Paul Walker; I tend to enjoy his movies. However my experience with Paul Walker starts with JoyRide and ends with Running Scared. (we’ll ignore the Fast and the Furious) So I was kinda excited at the chance to review Bobby Z, a straight to video release that also starred the clever Laurence Fishburne. Two fun actors in what looked like to be a fun action movie. The basic premise was that Tim Kearney (Paul Walker’s character) is plucked from a prison by Tad Gruzsa (Laurence Fishburne’s character) and his assistant because he looks exactly like the infamous Bobby Z, a drug runner who is supposedly dead. So, Kearney takes on the persona of Bobby Z and is used in a trade for a federal agent that was captured. Of course the deal goes horribly wrong and Kearney finds himself in the Mexican desert. Here he has to stay in the Bobby Z persona as he finds out that Bobby Z had a kid among many other plot points. This drives forward to a conclusion with some predictable twists where Kearney does everything he can to stay alive.
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Firehouse Dog

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on September 6th, 2007

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I’ve said in the past and still believe that Josh Hutcherson will be a pretty good adult actor if he chooses to go down that path. I liked his work in Little Manhattan and recently finished watching him in Bridge to Terabithia, but then he comes back and makes films like Firehouse Dog, which seem to flush away a lot of that goodwill in my opinion. He doesn’t try at all and becomes the typical sweet kid, rather than the intellectual who acts larger than his shoes.

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