Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 31st, 2007
Once Roger Moore left the Bond franchise (some would say three or four films too late), quite a few things left with him. When Timothy Dalton, whose most well-known work before this was an excellent supporting turn in The Lion in Winter, was brought in, several things seemed to change. First and perhaps most notably, the return of a James Bond that smoked cigarettes was most startling. Second, supporting characters like Lois Maxwell (who played Miss Moneypenny) and Bernard Lee (M) were replaced with younger, fresher (?) perspectives.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 31st, 2007
Admittedly after George Lazenby left the James Bond franchise when On Her Majesty's Secret Service was released, producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli wanted to go with a more American-based Bond in their seventh film, and were pretty serious in their intent. At one time, Adam West (yes, Batman) was even involved in negotiations to play the part. Actor John Gavin (Psycho) was signed and sealed for the role a week before principal photography started. But Sean Connery was pitched for it, a bunch of money was thrown at him, and he went upon his merry way to reprise the role that made him famous.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 31st, 2007
The Odd Couple on DVD was something that admittedly was a long time coming out on DVD. The set was previously available as a Time Life exclusive, and now Paramount has come to the rescue, releasing this as a standalone set. From the Neil Simon play (not to mention inspired by the 1968 film with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau), the show chronicles the lives of roommates Felix Unger (Tony Randall, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?) and Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman, 12 Angry Men), one's a neat freak, the other lives like a slob, and they live in New York.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 31st, 2007
Prior to this review, my familiarity with Jeff Foxworthy began and ended with his famous stand-up routine, "you might be a redneck if". That's how this comedian made it big back in the early to mid-90's, but his attempts at television, which is the usual next step for stand-ups, have failed.
And so, apparently, it goes for Foxworthy's Big Night Out, which aired last year on Country Music Television.
Posted in: Brain Blasters, News and Opinions by David Annandale on March 30th, 2007
In theatres now (and no doubt hitting DVD before long) is the Korean film The Host. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a monster movie this good, and even longer since we’ve had one with this much depth.
Any text, of course, has its subtext, and this is as true of giant monster movies as any other work of art. But some films are much more a much richer subtext than others, partly because the filmmakers were quite deliberate in seeing their monsters in a metaphorical or symbolic light. Though the e...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 30th, 2007
The first question I ask about any new version of a film is the obvious - is it better than the original? Same goes for Payback - Straight Up: The Director's Cut. Sometimes, the difference between versions is so minor that the answer is straightforward. In the case of this Special Collector's Edition DVD, however, we're talking about a very different film.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 29th, 2007
Pedro Almodévar is a big deal in Spanish film, and well respected worldwide by those in the know. Almodévar - director, screenwriter and producer - has had major success with films that explore complex themes and favor female characters. His latest, Volver, remains true to those qualities.
Starring Penélope Cruz (Vanilla Sky), Carmen Maura (Comunidad, La) and Lola Dueéas (The Sea Inside), Volver is a film about female resilience, and the power of death over life. Raimunda (Cruz) is a hardworking mother with a lazy husband and a teenage daughter, Paula.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 29th, 2007
Lovewrecked appears to be a standard teen movie chick flick, starring the likes of Amanda Bynes and Chris Carmack. Off the get-go the only things appealing to me about this movie are I get too see Chris Carmack on my TV for the first time since he played Luke on The OC and it takes place on a colorful island.
Jenny (Amanda Bynes) is a bookworm who just graduated high school and plans on attending medical school after the summer, during which she will be working at a resort with her best frien...
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on March 29th, 2007
Criterion has surprised me once again with this beautiful film. It amazes me ow they continue to find these “diamonds in the rough”. Films that couldn't possibly exist, yet here they are, widely available on the mas market. The Burmese Harp is a Japanese war film that is decidedly anti-war, and features some truly beautiful music.
At the end of World War II, a group of Japanese soldiers find themselves in Burma, held by British forces as prisoners of war. One soldier from the party has spent his free t...
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on March 28th, 2007
WOW the Rebuttal, Marvel at the Hulk, and a God of War mystery - Welcome to the column that has many mysteries, like the one of how it gets run every week known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. What do you get when you have a rusted out 11 year old water heater that leaks? You get a new freaking water heater. Grizzly Adams put it in on Tuesday. He did a fantastic job. I now have hot water and the leaks appear to be drying ...
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