Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 4th, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 4th, 2003
Synopsis
Nicolas Cage is a fantastic actor. I will be the first to admit that he has had some mistakes (“Face/Off” and “Snake Eyes”, to name a few), but for the most part, his performances are gutsy and honest, with just a hint of cool 60’s Rat Pack style smoldering underneath the surface. My favorite Cage performance came in the fantastic film “Leaving Las Vegas”, where he brought the struggles of a dying alcoholic to life in beautiful and tragic detail.
Posted in: Game Reviews by Archive Authors on November 3rd, 2003
The most popular skateboarding series ever to grace the realm of video games returns with Activation’s yearly installment of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Tony Hawk 4 continues to improve upon last year’s incarnation, tweaking in-game elements, changing the career mode and adding a new multiplayer mode.
Graphics
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 3rd, 2003
Synopsis
In a cellar (all that remains of a great mansion) lurks a demonic bed. Anyone who lies on it will be eaten (and being eaten involves being surrounded by yellow foam and dragged down into yellow liquid limbo and dissolved). Trapped behind his own painting is the ghost of artist Aubrey Beardsley. He witnesses the bed's depredations (and his narration explains the plot to us), but there is nothing he can do to stop the evil. That, more or less, is the plot. The 80 minutes meander along, and the...story is padded out with lots of scenes (some quite humorous) of one victim after another being devoured. Made for next-to-nothing, and looking it, Death Bed nonetheless benefits from some interesting camera movement and startling production design (especially of the bed itself). There is almost no direct sound, and with the majority of the story explained to us in voice-over, there is a distinct resemblance to the films of Doris Wishman (see A Night to Dismember). However, the off-kilter fairy tale qualities of the story, and some very striking imagery (especially at the end) raise Death Bed well above Wishman's so-bad-it's-great level. Fans of really obscure horror should check this out.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 3rd, 2003
Adam Sandler and his crazy antics are back… this time, he is animated. I went into the viewing of this film with very low expectations; and although this is not a quality movie, it did turn out to be mildly more entertaining then I expected. This film is over-the-top and childish at time, but Sandler is comical as the voices of the three main characters, and the musical numbers are entertaining in a manner in which only Adam Sandler can provide. This movie will not be for everyone, but die-hard Sandler fans will p...obably be entertained.
Audio
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 2nd, 2003
The Tick was a live action show based on the wildly different super-hero of the same name. He was also featured in an incredibly funny animated series in the early 90’s that also ended way before it’s time. The Tick follows the comedic adventures of a muscular, but dim witted 300 lb powerhouse whose duty is to clean the city of evil-doers while shouting inane phrases such as the always catchy “Spoon!”
When I first heard that they were going to make a live action version of the Tick, I was very skeptical ...- but then I learned that they cast Patrick Warburton (Putty from Seinfeld) as the blue guy and I thought this could work. I was thoroughly impressed after seeing the pilot that they had truthfully captured the off-beat antics that the animated series perfected. Having Ben Edlund (the Tick’s creator) intimately involved in the creation of the series really paid off from the perspective that none of the Tick’s quirky charms were lost in his jump to the small screen; however poor marketing from Fox played a role in its too early demise.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 2nd, 2003
Synopsis
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 1st, 2003
The Christian rock/rap group dc Talk had gone about as far as it could go by the new millennium, and they found themselves at a crossroads. There was virtually no new ground for them to tread upon as a group, but they didn’t want to shut down the show, either. Instead, the band went on hiatus. Each member subsequently put out a solo record, and started the process of building a fan base all over again.
All of the solo albums are surprisingly good in their own unique way, and all have done fairly well at re...ail. This DVD is the companion piece to tobyMac’s “Momentum” record, the only one with such a support piece. The disc’s main event is a collection of three videos from the album; “Extreme Days”, “Get This Party Started” and “Irene”. The “Extreme Days” piece also comes with a bonus alternate ending, which I happen to prefer to the original.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 1st, 2003
I can sum up my feelings about the documentary “Stevie” with one word; “uneven”. Some portions of the film are surprising, touching and moving. Other portions, however, leave the viewer feeling a little sick, wondering how anyone could feel sorry for a person as desperately evil as Stevie.
In the end, all of the various problems with this film rest solely on the shoulders of its director. By bringing cameras into Stevie’s world, he has colored it, and made it something different than what it would otherwise...be. One of the greatest challenges facing documentary directors is the issue of how to capture the story while not affecting its outcome. James ignores this issue completely, however, and eagerly thrusts himself in front of the camera, actively engaging himself in the lives of his subjects.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 31st, 2003
Not since the height of the American Western has there been a film genre where we find ourselves rooting for the bad guys and booing the good guys. Yesterday’s Jesse James and Billy The Kid have become Michael Corleone and Tony Soprano. Add to the mix that The Sopranos have totally revolutionized the face of the television drama. It’s no fluke that this show dominates nearly every Emmy category there is. The cinematography is feature film quality. The cast is high end and the writing is gutsy and tight. Make no mistake about it. Season Four was not the best Sopranos by any measure. Still, even at its weakest, the show delivers what most shows can’t at their best.
Audio
