Genre

Velocity of Gary, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 11th, 2004

Synopsis

Vincent D’Onofrio plays Valentino, AIDS-stricken former porn star who is the centre ofa subcultural social whirl in NYC. He splits his affections between male prostitute Thomas Janeand in-your-face-and-then-some waitress Salma Hayek. As the disease takes its toll, Jane andHayek must overcome their differences to support D’Onofrio. Then there’s the fact that Hayekis pregnant…

The film is very affectionate toward its collection of flamboyantly non-mainstreamcharac…
Read More

Cracker – Series Three

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 10th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

More grim and smart crime tales from England. Robbie Coltrane’s “Fitz” — criminalpsychologist Dr. Fitzgerald — is up against not just criminals, but also himself (gambling,drinking, rocky marriage and family) and the world in general. “Brotherly Love” sees himspecifically fighting with his brother Danny and the Catholic Church (all to do with the death ofhis mother). In “Best Boys,” Fitz has become a father again, and things aren’t exactly rosy.Danny becomes perhaps a bit…
Read More

Carly Simon – Live from Martha’s Vineyard: The Classic Concert

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 10th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

I hate Carly Simon. However, I feel that as I am supposed to be an impartial reviewer, so I should get that out of the way right here at the start. I have never liked her, though I am not really sure why. Maybe it is her freakishly large mouth. Maybe it’s that fact that “You’re So Vain” really is about the person who thinks it’s about them. Whatever the reason, I just can’t help it. She makes me cringe.

The good news is, now that I have viewed this disc, I have plenty of valid reasons to hate her. Ob…
Read More

Prime Suspect 5

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 10th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

After the multi-story Prime Suspect 4, the series returns to the single case format.“Errors of Judgement” sees Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren) finds herself banished from Londonand shipped off to Manchester. This series was clearly not authorized by the Manchester TouristBoard, as the city comes across a bit like a crime-ridden Soviet Gulag, only more depressing.Tennison is up against a whole new hostile crowd on the force here, and her career is goingnowhere fast until…
Read More

Prime Suspect 4

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 10th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Once again, we return to the dark world of Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren). Though she is nowa Detective Superintendent, don’t think that promotion means life is any easier. Her personal lifeis just as much of a mess as before, and she is still contending with the old boys’ network on theforce. The cases themselves are pretty nasty stuff too. “The Lost Child” is a strong case in point.Here a young mother is found on her kitchen floor, bleeding from a head wound. Her baby girli…
Read More

Suspended Animation

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Suspended animation is a story with a lot of promise. Fifteen minutes into the film and it looks like we’re seeing a Misery ripoff with a cannibal twist. From that point on I’m not sure if I’m watching Misery, Deliverance, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre. There are some truly suspenseful moments in the film, but they are spaced too far apart with needless muddled plotlines. The film style is eerily reminiscent of the Italian suspense masters like Brava and Argento without the gore. The Spaghetti Nightmares are an obvious …
Read More

Schindler’s List

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Liam Neeson is Oskar Schindler, ladies man with an eye for the main chance. He makes afortune in German-occupied Warsaw, staffing his factory with the cut-rate labour provided bythe Jews. As the Nazi persecution of the Jews becomes more and more murderous, Schindler’sconscience is awakened, and he eventually becomes intent not on making money through cheaplabour, but in saving the lives of his employees.

Shot in black and white, with the disturbing exception of a li…
Read More

Sanford and Son – The Complete Fourth Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

In season four, Redd Foxx ended his eight episode holdout for more money after a significant raise. Redd’s return would make this one of the show’s most creative years. Ironically one of the series’ funniest moments occurs in the Redd-less opening episode when Grady feeds the local cops pot instead of parsley. Sanford and Son also reached the peak of its popularity with this 1974-1975 season. Many weeks it was the number one rated show and finished the entire season ranked second.

Audio

A …
Read More

Helter Skelter

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

The film begins on the night of the murder of Sharon Tate and her friends. We then followthe often maddening investigation, where the forces of law and order frequently sabotage eachother through turf wars, false assumptions, and shoddy police work. George DiCenzo playsprosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, and he narrates, Rod Serling-style, as well. Bit by bit, the casecomes together, and the prosecution of the cult begins.

Meticulous in its detail, and often very chilling,…
Read More

Call Me Madam

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Inspired by a real figure, Call Me Madam is a good-nature political satire, which seesEthel Merman appointed ambassador to Lichtenberg (i.e. Luxembourg). The government of thetiny dukedom is hoping for a massive US loan (which will make possible the marriage betweenVera-Ellen and a neighbouring country’s cold fish nobleman). Merman, however, has nointention of granting that loan, until she meets General George Sanders (sporting a silly MittleEuropean accent). Sanders…
Read More

Final Countdown, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 9th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

The Final Countdown belongs to that subculture of science fiction that asks the time related what if’s. There have been a great number of books and stories about alternative histories. The Civil War has long been one of the most fertile grounds for this speculative fiction. Most scenarios about World War II generally involved the killing of Hitler as a child or sometime before his leadership. This film not only explores a different aspect of the War but is brave enough to not resolve the question. What would happen i…
Read More

Walk Like a Man

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 8th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

The 80’s were full of fun, campy comedies. Weird Science, The Money Pit… even Funny Farm had a certain charm. Unfortunately, for every Stripes there were as least six films like our feature presentation.

Walk Like a Man stars Howie Mandell, the 80’s version of Carrot Top. He’s an annoying hack, yet somehow he remained in the public spotlight. The film’s plot is a simple one; Bobo (Mandell) is a boy that was raised by wolves, and now he must learn to fit into society, or el…
Read More

Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 8th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Come join the Baker family (all twelve of them) for a fun, entertaining and albeit crazy ride through their life. While trying to manage twelve kids and a job Tom and Kate Baker (Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt) manage to do it all, while still staying somewhat sane.

With a great cast of Hollywood veterans and up and comers “Cheaper By the Dozen” offers something for kids and adults of all ages. The dynamic between Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt presents a real sense of family togetherness and even the idea that a…
Read More

Master and Commander – The Far Side of the World

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 5th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Master and Commander is an epic tale that is adapted from 2 novels of a 20 novel collection by writer Patrick O’Brian. This Napoleonic-era story follows the escapades of Captain “Lucky” Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) and his intrepid crew aboard the British war frigate HMS Surprise, as they try to hunt down and capture or destroy the French warship Acheron. The Film gets off to a fast start as Capt. Aubrey and crew are ambushed by the Acheron and decimated in short order. This initial attack is well done and well acted …
Read More

Lizzie McGuire – Totally Crushed (Volume 4)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 3rd, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Ahh, little Lizzie McGuire. The last time we saw our teen queen on DVD, she was surrounded by an assortment of special guest stars. This time around, the topic is one of the most popular among teen girls… the crush. Specifically, we’re talking about such dreamboats as the paperboy, a substitute teacher, Larry the geek, and of course, Ethan.

For me, some of the best scenes in this show feature my favorite Nerd, Robert Carradine. Many sitcoms paint the character of the father as either disinterested in…
Read More

C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation – The Complete Third Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on April 3rd, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

CSI continued to improve into its third season. The stories are as crisp and innovative as ever. Surprisingly, the show did not suffer from the addition of its fine but inferior Miami cousin. Minor characters like lab tech Greg are put to much better use. The f/x get better also, and a strong cast of guest stars doesn’t hurt the mix either.

Audio

This Dolby Digital 5.1 sound once again reinvents TV sound. Highs and lows both exhibit dynamic performance. Dialogue is crisp and always clear. …
Read More

Wishcraft

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 3rd, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

I am often fooled into watching a bad film because the box looked good. I can’t tell you how many times I have been in the video store and uttered the phrase “this looks good”, only to get home and be reminded that looks can be deceiving. Rare have been the times when I found a good film packaged in a bad box. It happens, but not that often. Lucky for me, this is one of those times.

Now, there’s really nothing special about this movie, mind you. The film is just a rehash of the plethora of teen slasher flic…
Read More

Undefeated

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 2nd, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Let’s face it… when it comes to boxing movies, there’s Raging Bull, and then there’s everything else. Rocky (and the subsequent cash driven vehicles) is a great film, but not really a great film about boxing. Even Daniel Day-Lewis’ The Boxer is more about the man than the sport. It’s hard to make a great boxing film. Not only is it extremely difficult to capture the action authentically, but very few actors have the physical ability to pull off such a role.

Well, I don’t know how easily…
Read More

For the Moment

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 1st, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

World War II is in full swing. A constant stream of pilots is needed in Europe, and trainingfacility in Manitoba is helping meet that demand. Men from all over the world come here to bemolded, in six weeks, into pilots. Among them is Australian Russell Crowe. Living nearby isChristianne Hirt, whose husband has been overseas for two years. She and Crowe meet at adance, and despite good intentions and an awareness of how fleeting their time together is, theyfall in love.

Meet Me in St. Louis

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 1st, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

The story begins in summer of 1903, some seven months before the World’s Fair arrives inSt. Louis. The film is then divided up into the seasons as we follow the life of the Smith family.At the centre is Judy Garland as Esther Smith, backed up by a very young Margaret O’Brien aslittle sister “Tootie.” In terms of plot, nothing much happens: Garland falls in love, and there issome tension when it seems that the pater familias has landed a job in New York and the familywill ha…
Read More

Campfire Stories

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 1st, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Oh, where to begin? I guess I should start with the directors. That’s right, DIRECTORS. Plural. There are three of them. Apparently, the first two didn’t suck enough, so they had to bring in a third to fill out the talentless triumvirate. Any film directed by three people who are not related should make moviegoers instantly suspicious.

You know what else makes me suspicious? Any movie that stars both Meadow Soprano and Buster Poindexter. My suspicions grew when I realized that they were only in a small port…
Read More

S.I.C.K.

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 31st, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Ken Hebert (lead actor and film’s producer) invites three friends out to his cabin in thewoods. Oddly, these friends are either people he hasn’t seen in years, or barely knows. Along theway, they pick up another young woman who’s been having some hitch-hiking problems. Thatnight, the stranger tells a gruesome story about a killer clown. And wouldn’t you know it? Oneby one, the cast starts being killed by that very figure.

It’s amateur hour, folks. Looks like a bunch…
Read More

Kung Fu – The Complete First Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 30th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

JULES – “That’s what I’ve been sitting here contemplating. First, I’m gonna’ deliver this case to Marsellus. Then, basically, I’m gonna’ walk the earth.”

VINCENT – “What do you mean, walk the earth?”

JULES – “You know, like Caine in KUNG FU. Just walk from town to town, meet people, get in adventures.”

These words, spoken between John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarrantino’s amazing film Pulp Fiction, marked the first time that I ever heard of …
Read More

King of New York

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 30th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Crime kingpin Christopher Walken is released from prison, and immediately reasserts hiscontrol over the underworld. All sorts of rivals are dispatched messily. He is also at odds withthe police, who are determined to bring him down. Our ganglord isn’t all bad, though: he hasall sorts of impressive community projects in mind.

This last detail is perhaps the most telling point: we are in the realm of full-on fantasy here.Director Abel Ferrara and long-time screenwrite…
Read More

Wild Things 2

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 30th, 2004

Buy at Amazon.com

Synopsis

Susan Ward, presumably cast because she’s a dead ringer for Denise Richards, is a sad littlerich girl at one of those beachfront high schools populated, to judge from the evidence on hand,by porn stars. In between slow-motion beach volleyball games, her life seems to be falling apart.Her mother died years go in the Louisiana swamp. Her rich stepfather is first threatened by agangster, and is then killed in a plane crash. Not only is Ward’s inheritance pitiful, but queenbitc…
Read More

«< 272 273 274 275 276 >»