Video

SpongeBob Squarepants: Sea Stories

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 4th, 2002

Synopsis

SpongeBob tries to make Gary the snail take a bath. SpongeBob tries out an extreme sport(“riding the hooks”). And so on. More good-natured goofiness, and I have to confess this guy isbeginning to grow on me.

Audio

The 2.0 sound is very crisp and clear, completely distortion-free. The surround effect,however, is minimal. Even the music barely registers.

Video

No disappointment with the picture, however. Many TV shows, for som…
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The Complete Third Season

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on December 4th, 2002

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Synopsis

I’m not going to summarize an entire season for you. But this is the season where theBuffy/Angel arc reached its conclusion, since the spin-off series was about to begin.

Audio

The sound is limited to a 2.0 mix, but it is a solid mix. As ever with TV shows, the musicheavily dominates, but there is still some sound effect presence, and the result isn’t bad atall.

Video

The last collection was marred with some truly awful grai…
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Men in Black II

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

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Men in Black was a landmark film that almost came out of nowhere. Tom Baker’s standard setting makeup effects combined with the Lethal Weapon-like chemistry between Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones made it one of the best simple entertainment films in recent memory. The problem with a sequel is you aren’t going to sneak up on an innocent audience. Expectations are high and this film does not meet those high expectations. With that said, however, it really is an entertaining film. All the great elements from the original film are here: Frank the Pug is much more involved, Tony Shalhoub’s Jeebs is still loosing his head over the MIB, and The Practice’s Lara Flynn Boyle is a far more attractive bad guy … eh girl … eh something.
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Spider’s Web

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 28th, 2002

Synopsis

Kari Wuhrer is an ambitious corporate lawyer constantly hitting the glass ceiling in a male-dominated world. Her affair with Stephen Baldwin leads to a $40-million theft, and doubt,deception and betrayal follow. Now, if Wuhrer really turned your crank in Eight Legged Freaks,then you might be interested in a film that has her naked as often as possible (and thus makingthe plot’s pseudo-feminism even more laughable). And, if you’re into trivia, one-time JamesBond George Lazen…
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Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 28th, 2002

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Synopsis

David Krumholtz plays Benny Silman, and his performance is a rather startling bit ofmimicry (check out what the real Silman looks and sounds like in the extras). Our hero movesfrom New York (amusingly set up as if it were a small, provincial town) to Arizona StateUniversity, home of sun, fun, girls and gambling. The sexual politics are as bad as you’d expect,but the direct-to-camera addresses by Krumholtz are entertaining, and the story itself is notwithout interest.

My Neighbor Totoro

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 28th, 2002

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Synopsis

Two young children move to a new house with their father. Their mother is in the hospital,but they are hopeful she is getting better. In the garden, they have access to a magical world ofspirit creatures. This is a gentle, warm work, with the same delight in the fantastic as is present inPrincess Mononoke and Spirited Away (though unlike those films, this one can be enjoyed evenby very young children). Sweet but never cloying, moving but never saccharine, funny, andfrequent…
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Raw Heat

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

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Raw Heat is actually the video release of an early 90’s TV movie called Victim Of Love. Pierce Brosnan was cashing in on his Remington Steele fame then, not the much more sophisticated Bond image he struts today. Recently Brosnan announced he has been signed to at least one more Bond film after Die Another Day. If Raw Heat is the caliber of films he would otherwise be making count his further commitment to Bond as the greatest escape in 007 history.

Desert Saints

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

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The only reason I can see for this film getting a DVD release is the sudden reemergence of Kiefer Sutherland’s popularity with the trendy TV show 24. In all fairness to Sutherland he is the best thing about the film. He does an outstanding job of portraying the brooding hit man. The supporting cast is weak and uninteresting. Although Desert Saints is rated R and was a theatrical release it has the basic feel of a made for TV film with nudity. The most annoying thing about the film is the intercut of future scenes for no apparent reason than to achieve a film noir art flavor.

Fat City

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

Synopsis

Stacy Keach is a boxer in serious decline, now working odd jobs and hooking up withneurotic alcoholic Susan Tyrrell. He runs into Jeff Bridges, a young man who might have a futureas a boxer (emphasis on “might”). These are all downtrodden losers in an ugly California town.Fat City is definitely not for everyone. It is well put together, and the performances are great, butthe pace is very slow, and not very much happens.

Audio

The sound is mono, and …
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Dog Soldiers

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 26th, 2002

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This movie stunned me in its completely unexpected excellence. Its unrecognized title, cast of minors, typical B-movie premise, and sponsorship by the government of Luxembourg all suggested a weak slasher film to follow. Like Ginger Snaps before it, however, Dog Soldiers is a new brand of monster movie that blends subtle talent with creative plots, superb directorship, spectacular camera work, and over the top action to take viewers completely by surprise.

Before I continue, here’s the synopsis:…
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Frank McKlusky, C.I.

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002

Synopsis

Can’t afford Jim Carrey? Then hire Dave Sheridan, who will do his best impersonation of thebig star. As Frank McKlusky, Sheridan plays a young man so traumatized by his daredevilfather’s disastrous stunt that he has become psychotic about safety precautions (a neurosisencouraged by mother Dolly Parton). McKlusky’s dad (Randy Quaid) was denied medicalinsurance due to a crooked legal firm, who now, many years later, are up to no good again.McKlusky investigates, and the hilar…
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Pumpkin

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002

Synopsis

Carolyn McDuffy (Christina Ricci) appears to have it all. She is the most dynamic memberof her sorority. She’s dating the most popular boy on campus. Her unspeakably shallow life isperfect. The sorority does some charity work with challenged athletes, and Ricci is paired up withPumpkin (Hank Harris). She is at first disgusted, then fascinated, and then… Life, of course, goesspinning wildly out of control. Though the trailer suggests this might be another gross-outcomedy, …
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Winnie the Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 24th, 2002

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Synopsis

Despite the title, this holidays covered in this story run all the way from Christmas to theNew Year. Rabbit gets so touchy that, in order to placate him, the Hundred Acre Wood friendsmake resolutions to change, which involves exchanging roles. This is a gentle cartoon aimed atthe very, very young. The Carly Simon songs are pretty hard to take, though.

Audio

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 22nd, 2002

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Written by Dan Bradley

Ever since Dragonslayer lit up the screen, I’ve been waiting for a comparable dragon movie to come along. There have been a few between then and now, most recently the lighthearted Dragonheart, but none have come close to capturing the style and mood of Dragonslayer. Finally a dark depiction of the mythical beasts has returned to ravage audiences and scorch anything in sight, although it could have been a lot better.

The premise of Reign of Fire comes across like a classic bad B movie. Dragons are awakened…
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Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 21st, 2002

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The Greeks are well known for their complex and compelling mythology. Writers like Homer have for millennia defined the literary world of mythology. I challenge anyone to debate that J.R.R. Tolkien has filled that role for the 20th century and beyond. The foreword to The Fellowship of the Ring begins by saying: “The tale grew in the telling until it became a history…” I entered the theatre for a midnight showing of this ambitious film with very high expectations. Truth be told, it was not possible that those expectations could be met.
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Black Point

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 19th, 2002

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Several years ago David Caruso left a young TV series to pursue a career in the big time. That young series was NYPD Blue and the big time movie career ended up somewhat less successful. Caruso is back on TV now and his latest film is proof that’s where he belongs. It’s not that Black Point is a bad film at all. It’s not. It does, however, play out like a made for TV movie. Artisan must agree because they decided to release it in full screen format. It’s one of those several twists/ no honor among thieves affairs.
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Glengarry Glen Ross

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on November 14th, 2002

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Artisan has come through with a well-executed 10 Year Anniversary Edition of Glengarry GlenRoss. Well-executed, yes. Exceptional, no. The highlights of this set are definitely the DTS audio track and the new Widescreen transfer. Both are so exceptional as to make this set a “must purchase” for any fans of this movie or its cast. Beyond these two features, there is nothing particularly compelling about this set, however. Special features contain no standouts, and the second disc is largely the filler of a widescreen t…
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Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, The

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 13th, 2002

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Synopsis

Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch are best friends in a Catholic junior high. They are goingthrough the usual adolescent throes, but with a few twists. Hirsch’s budding romance with JenaMalone is complicated by a rather dark secret of hers. As well, their pranks, whose target is theirnemesis Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster), are spectacularly elaborate, not to mention dangerous.Hirsch’s hopes and fears also take the form of a cartoon (produced by Spawn creator ToddMcFarlane). Th…
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Where Sleeping Dogs Lie

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

Synopsis

Dylan McDermott is a struggling writer in LA (cue de rigueur pseudo-profundities about thesoulless evil of Hollywood, many provided by ice-bitch agent Sharon Stone). He sets himself upin a house where murders took place, and starts work on a book about the murders. He rents aroom to Tom Sizemore, Norman Bates-ish in his shyness and fastidiousness. Guess that meanshe’s bad news, right? The plot asks rather too much good faith on our part, and so suspense iscrushed by falling…
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Fingers

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

Synopsis

Jimmy is an aspiring concert pianist. He also has a few sexual knots that need untangling.And he’s a brutal debt collector for his bottom-of-the-ladder loanshark father. The movie tracesthe couple of days during which his life disintegrates. This is not for everyone. The pace isdeliberate, with looooong stretches of nothing much happening, punctuated by explosions ofsurprisingly brutal violence. The whole is also shaded by a pretty pronounced misogyny. But thefilm sticks wi…
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