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Disc Audio

Barcelona

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2002

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Film

Genuinely witty comedies with an idea or two in their heads are rare enough that each one that shows up is cause for celebration. So go ahead. Celebrate.

The set-up is familiar: the romantic misadventures of two mismatched friends. The odd couple are Ted (Taylor Nichols), basically a yuppie Woody Allen, and Fred (Chris Eigeman), who cheerfully admits to being every European’s worst assumptions about Americans. The objects of their affections are Tushka Bergen and Mira Sorvino. What’s d…
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Boxcar Bertha

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 1st, 2002

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There is something rather humorous about the fact that this film, originally firmly in the exploitation genre (this is an American-International picture, produced by Roger Corman after all), should now be released under the “Avant-Garde Cinema” label. Go figure. It is important, however, as Martin Scorsese’s 1972 directorial debut.

Synopsis

Clearly inspired by the success of Bonnie and Clyde, Boxcar Bertha chronicles of the adventures of Bertha Thompson (Barbara Hershey, excellent) and her quartet …
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Terminator 2

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 1st, 2002

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The most basic rule in Hollywood seems to be that a sequel can never be as good as the original. If you’ve seen enough Police Academy films you know the rule by heart. This rule has been broken with Terminator 2. Not only is it better then the original, it is so much better that it has become “the” Terminator film. It’s no surprise that the DVD would have to be something special right down to a metal cover for the box. This is an ultimate edition that truly lives up to the name, and will make you forget about all previous issues of the film.

Romeo & Juliet

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 28th, 2002

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Intro

Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo & Juliet, as is the case with Moulin Rouge, was made to be seen and heard in a format such as DVD. His films are so visual that they can only be truly appreciated in the highest of quality… that is where this Special Edition release comes in.

Synopsis

“This ambitious undertaking takes William Shakespeare’s classic tale of star cross’d lovers and relates the story in a glossy music video style in modern day (1996) Florida. Leonardo DiCaprio and …
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Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin (Remastered)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 27th, 2002

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Intro

Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin finally gets a DVD re-release with an anamorphic widescreen transfer. It is too bad that the quality of this DVD is so low.

Synopsis

“International superstar Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) stars in the film that real Kung Fu fans call the best traditional martial arts movie Jackie’s ever made, Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin. Jackie is a young warrior suspected of poisoning all the Shaolin Masters, the creators of a new unbeatable fighting style cal…
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To Kill With Intrigue (Remastered)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 27th, 2002

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Intro

Columbia-Tristar has re-released To Kill with Intrigue, along with New Fists of Fury and Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin with a new anamorphic widescreen transfer. To Kill with Intrigue looks better than the other two releases, but still is nothing stellar on DVD.

Synopsis

“In To Kill With Intrigue, Kung Fu fans get a rare chance to see international martial arts legend Jackie Chan (Rush Hour) as a serious dramatic hero with a fighting style to match. Jackie plays a young …
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New Fist of Fury (Remastered)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 27th, 2002

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Intro

It is nice to see one of Jackie Chan’s first films, New Fist of Fury, get re-released with an anamorphic widescreen transfer. Unfortunately, that is the only bonus to this disc.

Synopsis

“Jackie Chan (Rush Hour), the master of kung-fu and Chinese acrobatics, stars in this action- packed sequel to Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury. In one of his first leading roles, he displays the style that would make him an international superstar. During WWII in Japanese-occupied Taiwan, Jacki…
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Va Savoir

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on February 26th, 2002

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The sort of film it seems comes out of Hollywood only as a fluke, but emerges regularly out of Europe: the intellectual romantic comedy.

Synopsis

Camille, leading lady of an Italian-language theatre troupe, has returned to Paris for the first time in three years. Though her lover is the director Ugo, she seeks out her ex, Pierre, and her feelings are not exactly simple. Ugo, meanwhile, is searching for a rare play, and is attracted to the daughter of the woman who owns the manuscript. The set-up is…
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Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 26th, 2002

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Intro

It is about damn time that The Empire Strikes Back made it to DVD… oh wait; this is Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, not The Empire Strikes Back (Damn it). Oh well, at least we now have one “Strikes Back” on DVD, and it is a dandy DVD release.

Synopsis

“First seen in Kevin Smith’s breakthrough film “Clerks,” Jay and Silent Bob have continued their adventures in both live-action movies and animated television shows. In JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, when they learn that t…
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Beastie Boys Video Anthology

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 24th, 2002

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Written By Kelly Stifora

Intro

The bad boys from Brooklyn dish up an audio/video career retrospective from seemingly endless angles, and raise the bar on the entire DVD format just as they’ve always done in the worlds of rap and music videos.

Synopsis

Three geeky white kids from the Brooklyn underground punk scene form a band, calling themselves the Beastie Boys. A couple of years later they release their first album, Licensed to Ill, helping to spawn both the rap and the rap/rock genres. In the ensuing two de…
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Drive By

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 24th, 2002

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Written By Kelly Stifora

Intro

This is an independent about a young Latino kid’s struggle to become a man in Chicago’s Little Village, where his older brother is the head of the Brotherhood, a local gang. A cast full of non-actors and a meandering, often-pointless script drag down this effort from first time director Jaun J. Fasto. And the trip to disc doesn’t save it.

Synopsis

The film opens with an intriguing murder scene, but it’s straight downhill from there. Ceaser O’Campo (Felipe Camacho), the young pro…
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Superman – The Movie

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 18th, 2002

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“You will believe a man can fly” was the promise on a movie poster that tempted this teenager into the brand new multiplex to see Superman – The Movie. Did the film deliver? Let’s just say there were no lawsuits for breech of contract. What teenage kid could help but be swept into the air with Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. Brando had also been a hero of mine and who better to play Superman’s dad than the Godfather himself. No film had to that point ever accomplished the feat of putting a human in flight that rivals the abilities of today’s digital effects. Hell yes, I believe a man can fly.

Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 13th, 2002

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Intro

From its tissue-paper thin plot to the loss of the two main performers from the original Bad News Bears, what you see as you watch The Bad News Bears In Breaking Training, is the death of a franchise. Sure, there’s another haphazard follow-up, but the writing is on the wall.

Synopsis

This installment has The Bears traveling to Houston to play a single game against the Texas little league champs for the right to go to Japan. Why the Bears are chosen for this trip is never made c…
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Bad News Bears go to Japan

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 13th, 2002

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Intro

It’s official. The franchise has been run into the ground. They’ve made a baseball movie with virtually no baseball and the little bit that you do see has no tension or comedy.

Synopsis

The Bears head to Japan at the urging of a scam artist (Tony Curtis) hoping to make big bucks in endorsement deals. Along the way they discover that love of the game is more important than competition. And in his last gasp at stardom, Jackie Earle Haley falls in love with a Japanese girl, walk…
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Devil’s Advocate

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 13th, 2002

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“Can you summon your talent at will?” This is a question from Satan himself in the The Devil’s Advocate. For Al Pacino I would say the answer is a resounding yes. Pacino has been making us offers we just couldn’t refuse for 30 years. Just a list of his exceptional films would require more space than I have here. You’ll find this film to be one of his more underrated gems.

Synopsis

Kevin Lomax (Reeves) is a hot young lawyer with an uncanny ability to pick a winning jury; in fact he’s never lost.
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Bad News Bears

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 9th, 2002

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Intro

In this world of political correctness it’s a breath of fresh air to revisit this classic film from 1976. Sadly, it’s been given a completely lackluster DVD release.

Synopsis

A washed up former minor league baseball player (Walter Matthau) is given the task of taking a hapless group of kids and turning them into a team. With the help of his secret pitching weapon (Tatum O’Neal) they take a run at the pennant.

Audio

Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Mono. Gi…
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Sexy Beast

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 9th, 2002

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Intro

I have been hearing about this film for quite some time now… and now that I have had the pleasure of viewing it, I can honestly say it is a great film. If you like British style films (Lock Stock, Snatch, Gangster No. 1)… you will thoroughly enjoy Sexy Beast.

Synopsis

“Jonathan Glazer, the award-winning director of advertisements and music videos, presents his feature film debut with this lushly photographed, expertly written, and brilliantly performed convention-defying …
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Matrix

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 7th, 2002

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What is the Matrix? That’s the question everyone’s looking to answer in this sci-fi spectacular from Wachowski brothers. One thing it was — groundbreaking both in the spectacular special effects that we’ve since taken for granted even in tv commercials and in actual ground (the tons of concrete) broken in the film itself.

Synopsis

Computer hacker extraordinaire Neo (Reeves) has this gut feeling that life isn’t all that it seems to be. Turns out he’s right in a big way. A group of revolutionaries l…
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American Rhapsody

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 3rd, 2002

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Intro

Based on a true story, unfortunately, the story is just average and the DVD release is on the same par.

Synopsis

American Rhapsody tells the story of a Hungarian families (Nastassja Kinski, Tony Goldwyn) escape from their country during Communist rule. Because of the danger they must leave their baby behind and circumstances prevent her from coming to America for another six years. Once she becomes a teenager (Scarlett Johansson), the young girl knows something is missing from h…
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Thumbelina

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 2nd, 2002

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Intro

From the washed out video to the sappy Barry Manilow songs the best that can be said about this disc is it might be a good babysitter for a 3 year old.

Synopsis

The story is derived from the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale Thumbelina. After Thumbelina falls in love with a fairy prince she is kidnapped by a family of show toads, and upon her escape goes from one adventure to the next in trying to find her true love.

Audio

The audio is presented in Dol…
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Gladiator

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on February 2nd, 2002

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“Imagine where you will be and it will be so”. That was how Maximus comforted his troops before battle. If you imagine yourself in Rome during the days of the Gladiator then Ridley Scott makes it very easy to do. Russell Crowe plays the role of a lifetime as Maximus. I have often heard film lovers state that they don?t make classics anymore. Whether Gladiator is the exception that proves the rule or proof against the rule is uncertain. What is sure is that Gladiator will become a true classic.
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Grateful Dawg

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on February 2nd, 2002

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Intro

A labour of love…the director (Gillian Grisman) has taken home movie and live performance footage to create a compelling documentary about the friendship between her father (David Grisman) and the late Jerry Garcia.

Jerry Garcia best known as the lead guitarist of the Grateful Dead and the lesser known, at least in my musical knowledge, mandolin maestro David Grisman could easily have been separated at birth. The “twin” musicians have a sound all there own and even if the music isn’t to your…
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Blind Date

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 30th, 2002

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Written By Kelly Stifora

Intro

Kim Basinger and Dan Larroquette upstage Bruce Willis in his tepid debut as a leading man. Don’t let the fact that Blake Edwards directed blind you: this is a dud.

Synopsis

Walter (Willis) gets set up on a blind date with Nadia (Basinger) for an incredibly important business dinner at which his boss is expecting him to make a good impression on a prospective client. After being explicitly told not to let Nadia imbibe, Walter heads straight out to get a bottle of champagne and sta…
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Sandlot

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 30th, 2002

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Written By Kelly Stifora

Intro

Arliss Howard narrates this piece of child-oriented Americana (in the vein of Stand By Me and The Wonder Years) about a group of 1962 youngsters, their obsession with baseball, and the gigantic dog that lives over the left field fence.

Synopsis

Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) is the new kid in town. Regarded as a geek by the boys who hang out at the local sand lot playing scratch baseball for his inability to throw or catch, Scotty wants nothing more than for his inattentive step dad (…
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Venomous

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 29th, 2002

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Fred Olen Ray, director of B-movies beyond counting, strikes again, with a DVD release some steps up from what many movies of this type receive.

Synopsis

In 1991, Iraqi agents blow up a secret US government lab, releasing genetically modified rattlesnakes (don’t ask). Over the years, these snakes breed, and in the present, minor earthquakes drive them to the surface, and they infect whoever they bite with a virulently fatal virus. Treat Williams is the small town doctor who must save the day, while…
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