Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 18th, 2012
Written by Joe Gause
What can be said about Dead Poets Society that has not been said before? This is what I consider a landmark in filmmaking. Director Peter Weir demonstrated true vision in the film process to deliver what some call an epic cinematic achievement. Combine that with an all-star cast (though many of them were just starting their careers), and it’s a true work of genius.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 12th, 2012
And so, for the second time, Hawaii Five-O has reached the end of its run. The first time happened on April 5th, 1980 when the final episode aired. Now the series ends its run of DVD releases as Paramount now issues the 12th and final season of the landmark series. There will be a third ending, let's hope not for a long time when the revival series closes its doors in the future. For now fans can be content that they can finally complete their collection of the original series.
Have you ever walked down the street and heard a chorus of “Five Oh” making the rounds? In street lexicon, that means the police. It’s a warning to the drug dealers and any other illegal activities that the police are on the way. That’s just one of the ways that Hawaii Five-0 has invaded our pop culture. Who hasn’t heard the phrase, “Book him, Danno”? It’s no surprise, because until Law & Order, Hawaii Five-0 was the longest running crime drama on television. It started in 1968 and didn’t end until 1980 when the production staff and facilities were immediately retooled to produce Magnum P.I., which was an unofficial spin-off of Hawaii Five-0. While he never actually appeared on Magnum, Five-0’s McGarrett was often referred to by characters on the series. The series continued for a few years in syndication where the episodes were all mixed up. These DVDs allow the first chance since their original broadcast for these episodes to air complete and in the correct order. While continuity wasn’t huge, as there were few actual story arcs beyond the episodes, there were minor changes that made the show look strange in syndication. The final season was aired under the title “McGarrett”.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 10th, 2012
James M Cain wrote Mildred Pierce in 1941 and based the character on a woman he was seeing at the time. It's said that she offered much of the insight into women's plights of the depression era from undisclosed women. Not that Cain needed help in writing a compelling story. He's had a few hit novels that include The Postman Always Rings Twice. Mildred Pierce was an almost instant hit and was soon optioned for a film in 1945 staring Joan Crawford, for which she won an Oscar, and while she had been nominated three separate times, it would be her only win. The filmed did huge at the box office, and that's where the character and story have pretty much resided for over 60 years.
HBO is no stranger to quality series or mini-series. The John Adams production is considered one of the best period mini-series ever made. The list of Emmys is long and well deserved. So, it is in their hands that the long-dormant Mildred Pierce would make her resurrection in the form of Kate Winslet. The all-star cast also includes: Homicide's Melissa Leo, Guy Pearce, Mare Winningham, Evan Rachel Wood.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on January 4th, 2012
“If you run, they catch you; if you don't run, they catch you.”
Just miles from one of the most glamorous cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro, resides a favela (slum) known as Cidade de Deus or City of God. The poor were routinely pulled off the streets of Rio and forced to live in squalor in this favela. For decades this hell hole was run by murderously corrupt police and street gangs. Like a roach motel, once you checked into the City of God these dehumanizing elements, combined with brutal poverty, made sure you never checked out. This heartless system thrived with the blessings of the local government, because the poor are offensive to the affluent, and if you keep them out of sight they stay out of mind.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 2nd, 2012
By John Delia
Slick, compelling, and gripping, Contagion uses the fright brought on by past outbreaks of deadly virus attacks around the world to punch home a ‘what if’ plot that succeeds in scaring the pants off accepting moviegoers. The recognizable actors save the plot from being hard to follow as it jumps from country to country in this thriller that ‘could actually happen’.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on December 23rd, 2011
Most people know me to be a pretty big fight fan (with the exception of boxing which has gone tremendously downhill since the eighties). I love wrestling (even though it is scripted) and watch a great deal of Mixed martial arts, better known as MMA. The thrill of combat, the fascination of pure athleticism and talent is what straps me to my seat and never lets me go. I had the immense pleasure to catch the movie Warrior before it hit theaters and now I get to visit it a second time on DVD.
(*Author’s Note: Most of this is borrowed from my review when I watched it in theaters. However, I have added a few notes along with video/audio/extras. Enjoy.*)
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on December 22nd, 2011
By John Delia
At first look you may think that Margin Call is an extension of the film Wall Street, but as the film progresses I found a very good movie that really shows the effect of greed, contempt, lack of compassion, and survival of the fittest, no matter who gets squashed in the process. It’s like our economical climate these days; you never know when or where the next shoe will drop.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on December 21st, 2011
Most people if they were to look at my music collection would notice one genre more than others. That is glam rock. From the mid 80’s to early 90’s, glam rock was completely in vogue with bands like Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and Motley Crue. However, if you were to read up on your glam history, it actually started in the seventies with groups like the New York Dolls and stars such as David Bowie. Enter the movie, Velvet Goldmine, a fictional look at Brian Slade, better known as Maxwell Demon.
In 1854, at the city of Dublin it is said that aliens came down and delivered Oscar Wilde, a famous writer and poet, to a local monastery. He was quote once that he wanted to be a pop idol. On his neck, we can see a green broach that somehow found its way one hundred years later to the hands of a young Jack Fairy. Jack knew that he had been singled out for his great gift and that the whole stinking world would be theirs.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by M. W. Phillips on December 14th, 2011
“Here's the thing, I... I live my life a certain way. And that is that I like to think that if you put your trust out there, I mean, if you really give people the benefit of the doubt, see their best intentions, they're gonna want to live up to it. It doesn't always work out, clearly, but, more often than not, I think that if you do, people will rise to the occasion. I really believe that.”
In a deck of Tarot cards there is a major arcana card called The Fool. It depicts a young man wearing colorful motley clothes and carrying all his possessions in a bag on his back. A dog barks at his heel as he heads off into the world, his eyes so full of wonder and excitement he doesn’t see the cliff directly in front of him. Our Idiot Brother is a movie about that kind of fool.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Michael Durr on December 10th, 2011
As one could probably surmise from reading many of my reviews, I don't know a thing about women. I am after all a man, that is really the only reason I need. But then again, we are slow witted creatures. But I do know I like watching women (that does not sound too perverted does it?). So perhaps when I saw a list of titles to review, I gravitated towards one called Tanner Hall which follows the story of four teenage girls becoming women. I probably still will not learn a thing.
They say the first time in life you have a chance to do something wrong, you end up doing it anyway. Fernanda finds out first hand that bad things can happen to people on purpose when she witnesses her childhood friend, Victoria release a pet bird that is not hers. But that was many years ago and we rejoin the present day. Fern (played by Rooney Mara) is taking the five hour journey to Tanner Hall, a boarding school for young women.
![Dead Poets Society [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/dead-poets-society-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![City of God [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/city-of-god-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![Margin Call [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/margin-call-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![Velvet Goldmine [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/velvet-goldmine-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![Our Idiot Brother [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/our-idiot-brother-blu-ray-large.jpg)
![Tanner Hall [Blu-ray] dvd cover art](https://upcomingdiscs.com/ecs_covers/tanner-hall-blu-ray-large.jpg)
