Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2006
Synopsis
Well with this particular incarnation of reality shows, beautiful people show us common folk how tough it is to look pretty. The wonders of being paid thousands of dollars to get up and dress in clothes that you won’t wear because they’re either ugly or too expensive. People like Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks trying to illustrate that fashion and glamour is tough, demanding work is simply silly. Now bear in mind, this point of view is from a bitter, bald and dumpy looking guy whose idea of fashion is m...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2006
Synopsis
I think the only thing I remember about Ronin initially was that Robert DeNiro (Heat) was involved in some scandal involving a French "house of ill-repute" or something along those lines. But when Ronin was released, people quickly forgot about that mess, as what came from it was an action film that put a little more effort into the characters than other action films. But that’s not to say the action scenes were neglected; the car chase scenes that negotiate through winding French cou...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 7th, 2006
The Bad Sleep Well reminded me a lot of The Godfather. Both films begin with a large wedding, where the story behind the wedding is more fascinating than the event itself. Both films are also about corruption, what it means to be loyal, and what happens if you do favors for the wrong people. The Bad Sleep Well is particularly meaningful to our modern society, as instead of the subject of the film being gangsters, the focus is on the new heavies on the block... corrupt corporate heads. In the wake of the scandals at Tyco, Worldcom, Enron and others, this 1963 film carries new weight for American audiences.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on January 6th, 2006
Universal Home Video (along with Focus Features) will release Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley on February 28th. This disc will be presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks (English, French and Spanish). Extras will include an audio commentary (with director Joe Wright), three featurettes ("A Bennet Family Portrait," "Jane Austen, Ahead of Her Time" & "Behind-the-Scenes at the Ball"), a HBO First Look, and a collection of trailers.
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on January 6th, 2006
Universal Home Video (along with Focus Features) will release Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley on February 28th. This disc will be presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks (English, French and Spanish). Extras will include an audio commentary (with director Joe Wright), three featurettes ("A Bennet Family Portrait," "Jane Austen, Ahead of Her Time" & "Behind-the-Scenes at the Ball"), a HBO First Look, and a collection of trailers.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 6th, 2006
Peter Weir’s Gallipoli is a remarkable film. Starring an inexperienced model, who was only intended to be used for a photo shoot to promote the picture and shot on a small budget, this film's longevity and frequently attained levels of excellence could have never been predicted. That doesn't mean Gallipoli will be turning up on any all-time best lists any time soon, as the first half has a tendency to drag its feet. However, a solid hour two punctuated by one of the most haunting images I have seen in a...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 6th, 2006
Synopsis
Welcome to Vince Lombardi High School, where new principal Mary Woronov (coming on like a cross between Miss Jean Brodie and Ilsa) is determined to stomp the student body into submission. In order to do this, she wants to banish rock music. Her chief antagonist is PJ Soles, a huge fan of the Ramones, and she eventually enlists the band itself to help defeat Woronov and her fascistic hall monitors.
The chaos may reach epically destructive proportions (KABOOOM!), but this is all in g...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 5th, 2006
Synopsis
Can someone stop the multimedia empire that Oprah Winfrey imparts on the rest of the world? I mean really, you’ve got the TV show, you’ve got the books, and you’ve done the movies, what else is there to do? Oh, provide reading and watching lists of material you enjoy? Um, OK. But why?
Take the case of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Based on a novel by Zora Neale Hurston and directed by Law and Order veteran Darnell Martin, the film covers the story of a black woman in the tu...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on January 5th, 2006
Synopsis
Sometimes, you’ve gotta watch something because you’re waiting for a new satellite dish to be installed, plus your better half wants to see a Bond movie. Then I pulled out Never Say Never Again. Call it an "unofficial" Bond movie I guess. And I’ve always watched this pretty much before when I’ve seen it on TV. But I watched it this weekend, and it just seemed really dated to me. Or maybe dated isn’t the word. But for someone who’s watched the Austin Powers movies numerous times, boy oh boy d...
Posted in: News and Opinions by Archive Authors on January 4th, 2006
New Line will release the Ryan Reynolds & Amy Smart romantic comedy Just Friends on March 7th. This disc will be presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include an audio commentary (with director Roger Kumble, writer Adam “Tex” Davis, and the Producers), deleted scenes (with optional commentary), nine behind the scenes featurettes (“Tales From the Friend Zone”, “Developing Just Friends”, “A Director’s Guide to Comedy”, “The Tra...
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