Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 8th, 2003
This is a collection of short stories set in the world of Beauty and the Beast featuring Belle, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere and a continuing cast of characters as they explore the castle. With all new songs and all of your favorite characters from the original film this is sure to delight any of the kids in your family.
Video
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 3rd, 2003
The lovable animated puppies from 1961 are back in their all new direct to video release just for the kids. The TV obsessed Patch heads of to London to find the star of his favorite TV show Thunderbolt. The star of Thunderbolt is about to be fired and he decides that the only way to save his job is to become a real life hero, so with Patches in tow he sets of for the streets on London. Creulla De Vil returns on probation for her previous bad deeds, still determined to steal the puppies and brings new henchman Lars with her after springing Horace and Jasper from jail. Hi-jinks ensue and the movie kind of feels like a mix between the fun of the original movie and the slapstick of the live action movies.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 10th, 2003
When I was 12 I rode my 10-speed down a huge hill and crashed down a concrete stairwell into a brick wall. I survived. The bike didn’t. If only I had known there was a career in this stuff it might have hurt a little less. Of course, in those days there was no such thing as X games. With this DVD, perhaps the X Games have arrived…with highlights from X Games VII in Philadelphia.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 8th, 2003
In 1988 Richard Chamberlin played the signature role of Jason Bourne in a made for TV adaptation of the classic novel The Bourne Identity. The show was a two-part pilot for a projected series that was never picked up. While the TV version might have been more faithful to the novel, the 2002 film with Matt Damon as Bourne effectively brings the spy yarn into the 21st century. Microfilm is replaced with a laser decoder and the awkward doctor is replaced with a more fitting female companion. Damon’s youth is both an asset and a liability. He certainly appears to be too young for such an accomplished assassin. Still Damon’s youthful energy brings the character to life in ways that a more seasoned actor could not. With obvious Bond elements and style, Jason has been re-Bourne for an audience with higher expectations.
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 18th, 2003
Why X-Men 1.5? This 2-Disc special edition re-release is set to coincide with the theatrical release of X2, the X-Men sequel. The 1.5 release is set up to be sort of a Director’s Cut of the original X-Men film. This new version has allowed for the film to be viewed with a number of deleted scenes to be branched into the film (not seamlessly... you have to hit enter on your remote to view the scenes). I am sure you know the premise, but here is a recap:
"Marvel's classic comic book comes to li...e in this exciting big-screen adaptation. The story focuses on the efforts of a well-intentioned professor, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). By pulling together a group of superhuman mutants, Professor X hopes to prove to the world that these genetically enhanced beings are not the dangerous, evil villains humanity claims them to be. When Magneto (Ian McKellen), an angry mutant, vows to eradicate human existence, it's up to the X-Men to save the day and keep the world united." – Fox
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on December 30th, 2002
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 22nd, 2002
Written by Dan Bradley
Ever since Dragonslayer lit up the screen, I've been waiting for a comparable dragon movie to come along. There have been a few between then and now, most recently the lighthearted Dragonheart, but none have come close to capturing the style and mood of Dragonslayer. Finally a dark depiction of the mythical beasts has returned to ravage audiences and scorch anything in sight, although it could have been a lot better.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 14th, 2002
Artisan has come through with a well-executed 10 Year Anniversary Edition of Glengarry GlenRoss. Well-executed, yes. Exceptional, no. The highlights of this set are definitely the DTS audio track and the new Widescreen transfer. Both are so exceptional as to make this set a “must purchase” for any fans of this movie or its cast. Beyond these two features, there is nothing particularly compelling about this set, however. Special features contain no standouts, and the second disc is largely the filler of a widescreen t...ansfer.
I approached this release without having seen the movie previously and was somewhat disappointed, given the media acclamation. Screenplays adapted from plays generally result in movies that hammer the watcher over the head with whatever message the movie is trying to communicate over and over and over again. Such is the case with Glengarry GlenRoss, and it quickly grew boring. David Mamet is undoubtedly a genius writer, but as we all know, that doesn’t necessarily translate into an enjoyable cinematic experience. Here’s my thought: In a play, the director, playwright, and cast have little to work with beyond dialog and some set design. In a movie, the director has full run of setting, special effects, weather, etc. As such, if the director doesn’t tone down the screenplay, allegory and heavy handed morality while perhaps subtly communicated on stage become a chore to watch on screen. In GgGR, the continual darkness, rain, and borderline pedantic dialog were all a bit too much for my taste.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 17th, 2002
Band of Brothers, as should be expected from multiple emmy award winner, is an amazing miniseries. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have collaborated on creating a memorable and poignant story that can be appreciate by all.
”Based on Stephen E. Ambrose's nonfiction bestseller, BAND OF BROTHERS tells the story of Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. Starting with their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942, it recounts the achievements of the elite rifle company fr...m D-Day to the fall of Nazi Germany and the surrender of Japan. Drawn from hours of interviews with survivors, as well as soldiers' journals and letters, BAND OF BROTHERS chronicles a unit that took 150 percent casualties and whose lives became legend.” - HBO
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 10th, 2002
Written by Dan Bradley
Jason Voorhees (Kane Hodder) has been about everywhere on earth, including to hell and back. It only seems fitting that his tenth feature takes him not only into space, but into the future as well. With the highest production value of a Jason movie to-date and one of the niftiest extra features I’ve ever seen, Jason X’s futuristic settings, slayings and familiar action feel right at home on DVD.
