Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on April 29th, 2012
In my comic travels, I usually do not read the really popular heroes. Sure I have read Spider-Man, SuperMan or Batman but if you had to ask me my favorites, it would not be among these three. My favorites include the likes of Daredevil, Robin (any of them pretty much) along with Conan and others. It just so happens that this three pack before me today includes another couple of favorites of mine. The Incredible Hulk and Dr. Strange. That and it also includes yet another origin story on Iron Man. Let us see how it looks.
(*Note: some of this material is re-used from not only my Planet Hulk on Blu-Ray review but also the Avengers 3-pack I reviewed earlier this week. These are the same discs previously provided by Lionsgate just in an amazing value 3-disc package. Yes, Planet Hulk did lose its digital copy, you will live*)
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 26th, 2012
"Contestants are experienced marksmen operating on a closed course. Do not attempt this at home."
So just in case you have access to all kinds of firearms and a few spare acres to set up a range, you might want to think twice before trying to reproduce the challenges you'll find in History's latest reality show Top Shot. It's part Survivor and part Big Brother with the added dimension of marksmanship. And, honestly, it's quite a bit more compelling than either of those shows.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on April 25th, 2012
"One must never let the public behind the scenes for they are easily disillusioned, and then they're angry with you for it is the illusion they love."
Sure, this quote is spoken by a very minor character and awkwardly shoehorned into the story, but it still makes its point. I realize it's almost impossible to imagine now, but there was a time we didn't have to capitalize the words "Real Housewives" and people were actually ashamed if they came off badly in front of a camera. HBO's Cinema Verite tells the behind-the-scenes story of the creation of An American Family, the PBS documentary widely considered to be the first reality television show.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on April 24th, 2012
Most of us are aware (well movie and comic book fans anyway) that on May 4th, the Avengers movie will be released to the public. For years now we have watched the Iron Mans, Thor, Captain America and even a Hulk movie or two in anticipation of something greater. With that day coming closer all the time, I received a very nice 3 movie set of Avengers, animated style. Avengers might be the best movie of the summer (sorry Dark Knight), but this might be the best animated blu-ray value of the spring.
Ultimate Avengers
World War II among many other things brought us a great hero, Captain America. Steve Rogers with the help of a Super Solider serum became the mighty hero and was very successful in fighting the Nazis. However, after a missile explosion, Rogers crashes into the North Atlantic and is frozen for decades. Years later, Nick Fury and a SHIELD team would find his frozen form and revive him back to full health.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on April 24th, 2012
At the very least, London River deserves credit for exposing audiences to a different side of English life beyond "upstairs, downstairs" period drama (Gosford Park, Downton Abbey), twee stories in a small-town setting (Waking Ned Devine, Calendar Girls) or the rich white people problems of Woody Allen's contemporary London (Match Point, Scoop).
Set against the backdrop of the 7/7 terrorist bombings that rocked London in 2005, London River follows the parallel stories of Elisabeth (Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn) and Ousmane (the late Sotigui Kouyate) as they travel to the English capital and search for their respective children in the wake of the attacks. The two parents eventually meet and try to put aside their cultural differences and prejudices — though one of them clearly had more prejudices to put aside — so they can support each other in their journey.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on April 24th, 2012
I am not sure about others, but I often I think I daydream more than most. Perhaps it is about being a published author, perhaps it is about being an adventurer in mythic times. When I watch movies, I want to travel to a New World, whether scary or magical where I can let my fantasies wander in any direction I wish. Today, I review Witches of Oz which sounds like it might involve the magical land of Oz. In reality, it only involves the world of New York City. Wicked witches indeed.
Stop me if you have heard this part before. Ages ago, when magic filled the land and all sorts of magical creatures roamed the landscape. Now, there was good and dark magic. However, evil always has dark intentions and was able to conquer good magic. The world grew dark except for something called “The Changing Word” which was used to create a new realm called Oz. “The Changing Word” was never supposed to be used again.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 24th, 2012
"At the top of the world, there's a job only a few would dare. The Ice Road Truckers are back.."
It was the peak of the 1970's, and CW McCall was teaching ordinary people like us about Cabover Petes with reefers on and getting by those Smokeys. The man practically started a new genre of music with the hit song Convoy. The song was so popular that the backup band used their cut to start a little project of their own. They became Mannheim Steamroller and used the cash to cut their own music. The movies started giving us things like Smokey And The Bear. Truckin' was in fashion, and a good time was had by all.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on April 23rd, 2012
“Here in Tresock, I believe the old religion of the Celts fits our needs at this time. Isn’t that all you can ask of a religion?”
In 1973 Director Robin Hardy captured lightning in a bottle with the classic The Wicker Man. Based on David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual and loosely adapted into Anthony Shaffer’s sharp screenplay. Shaffer painstakingly researched paganism giving the film an undeniable authenticity, The Wicker Man became a genre of its own known as Folk Horror. The beauty of the film was the war of counter-religions, Christianity vs. Celtic Paganism. Both religions were well respected and represented, never sinking to the point of parody or cynicism. Of course, the lion’s share of the cultural clash leaned to the side of the pagans, robustly embracing their music and daily rituals. The film served as a horror movie for Christians and a victorious feel-good movie for pagans. Either side found it unforgettable.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 21st, 2012
The fourth Mission: Impossible entry exchanges digits for a subtitle, and brings in Brad Bird to direct his first live-action feature. So the man whose The Incredibles made fun of the sort of thing that is the bread-and-butter of the M:I franchise is brought in to revitalize said franchise. Result? Job done.
Gotcha. You thought I was going to say, “Mission accomplished,” didn’t you?
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 19th, 2012
"This is how it starts..."
You know, it's getting awfully hard to make an original alien invasion film. Most filmmakers have accepted the obvious and go for mind-blowing f/x and never mind the story. Still others go the trendy found-footage route. I was pleasantly surprised that The Darkest Hour appears to prove that there just might be more than just fumes in the creative tank after all. I'm not going to try to convince you that the film doesn't rely on much of the tried and true standby material. It covers most of the traditional formula. What I will try to convince you of, however, is that The Darkest Hour feels fresh even if it does rely on many of the standard conventions. In the end, it's a very entertaining film that proves you don't have to break the bank or take the shaky camera angle to put some quality on the screen.
