Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by J C on March 16th, 2018
“I was just trying not to offend you and yet I wound up offending you, which is quite ironic.”
Six long years passed between the last Curb Your Enthusiasm episode in 2011 and the show's season 9 premiere last fall. And yet it only takes about two minutes for Larry David — the curmudgeonly comic genius who stars as an exaggerated(?) version of himself on the long-running HBO sitcom — to utter the words above after inadvertently offending his latest unsuspecting victim. In other words, even though portions of this season feel creakier than past years, it is absolutely great to have Curb back!
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 15th, 2018
“We have to be ready. You, me, the others… there’s an attack coming from far away.”
The DC and Marvel rivalry can be quite fierce at times. I never completely understood the polarized fan base, however. Some of us are just fans of the genre and will welcome a good comic book movie from either and preferably both studios. When it comes to a cinematic universe, however DC has had some real issues with trying to bring together a combined hero world. Most of the films leading up to Justice League have been dark and filled with brooding heroes.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on March 15th, 2018
Girlfriends was a sitcom that ran from 2000 to 2008 back when The CW was known as UPN. It will also probably surprise people to learn that the series was executive produced by Kelsey Grammar, as the show is quite different from Frasier. Girlfriends was not the best comedy around, but it was a very important one for several reasons; every so often it tackled real world issues such as HIV, mental illness, miscarriages, and same-sex relationships. The series, as the title suggests, also featured a predominantly female-oriented cast.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Brent Lorentson on March 14th, 2018
I’ve been a fan of The Walking Dead ever since the first episode aired on AMC. I’m a sucker for zombie films and the original Dawn of the Dead remains as one of my all-time favorite horror films. I mention this because when the idea came along to do a spin-off of The Walking Dead, I was stoked. But when Fear the Walking Dead first aired, I have to admit there was something about it that just didn’t hook me. So I gave up after a couple episodes. I wish I had held out just a little bit longer.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Jeremy Butler on March 13th, 2018
“In a SEAL platoon, then as in now, you’re there for your mates. That’s what the men fight for on the ground. They don’t fight for their country’s objective. They don’t fight for their higher headquarters. They fight for the guys left and right of their patrol order.”
Though I'm not a SEAL nor a member of this branch of service, I am still able to attest to the truthfulness of the statement. Normally, the foot soldier is not privy to the bigger picture. Without that knowledge, you must find your own reasons to fight. That signal purpose that you will end up holding onto and reminding yourself of on a day-to-day basis in order to survive the difficulties that you will face.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 12th, 2018
"Well, I tried to start a revolution, but didn't print enough pamphlets, so hardly anyone turned up. Except for my mum and her boyfriend, who I hate. As punishment, I was forced to be in here and become a gladiator. Bit of a promotional disaster that one, but I'm actually organizing another revolution. I don't know if you'd be interested in something like that? Do you reckon you'd be interested?"
DC has finally gotten a recent comic superhero movie right with Wonder Woman.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on March 8th, 2018
“Sometimes I think I'm cursed.”
Up until recently, Pixar Animation Studios had a pretty spotless reputation. (At least when it came to the quality of their films.) But while the studio's last three efforts (Cars 3, Finding Dory, The Good Dinosaur) have been financially successful, Disney's own in-house animation studio (Moana, Zootopia, Big Hero 6) has been out Pixar-ing Pixar in terms of delivering creative, crowd-pleasing blockbusters for all ages. (I didn't even mention a little movie called Frozen.) That's why I'm pleased to report that Coco — Pixar's moving, colorful and exhilarating take on Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday — is a thrilling and touching return to form.
Posted in: No Huddle Reviews by Dan Holland on March 6th, 2018
What exactly is the purpose of an art museum? Oftentimes, people travel from all over the world to visit Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” at The Louvre or Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” spending upwards of $50 on admission only to stand in line for a chance to see. That is just one of many issues covered in #artoffline, a documentary created for the sole purpose of exploring the philosophical questions that arise when thinking of art (physical media) in the digital age.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by J C on March 5th, 2018
“Keeping the country safe is big business now. It's getting bigger.”
Much of this sixth season of Homeland is spent exploring the notion that the CIA's cloak-and-dagger activities in the Middle East might have outlived their usefulness and a new course of action is required. But considering that Showtime's previously white-hot spy drama — a Best Drama series Emmy winner for its stellar first season — is six seasons in and a lot less buzzy these days, it's hard not to extend that central question to the show itself: Is Homeland obsolete? Well judging by this twisty and thrilling collection of episodes, the answer is a resounding, “No!”
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 2nd, 2018
It was just two years after the release of the first Tomb Raider film that the second one reached the big screens. The film came with a ton of expectations not only from fans of the first one but fans of the video game who either loved the first movie or were disappointed and had hopes that their particular quirks would be addressed. To be sure, some of them were. Without the need to establish character and settings, Cradle Of Life wastes no time getting to the action at the heart of the video game experience. Gone were the rather laughable inflatable breasts as new director Jan de Bont wanted a more natural look for the character, abandoning the prominent look of the video game.
