Blu-ray Review: Quantum of Solace
Despite the reservations of many critics, Quantum of Solace is a solid entry into the James Bond franchise. While the movie itself isn’t quite a strong as its predecessor Casino Royale, Daniel Craig continues to prove himself to be a solid choice to play the vaunted British super spy. While I’m not prepared to say […]
DVD Review: Happy-Go-Lucky
Writer/Director Mike Leigh has been in the entertainment business for more than forty years. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and did his early acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He began his career as a theater director and playwright in the 1960’s. By the 1970’s, he made a transition to […]
DVD Review: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Directed by Mark Herman (Little Voice), The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is based on the book of the same name by Irish novelist John Boyne. The story focuses on a little boy who is friends with another little boy who is in a Nazi concentration camp, their friendship conducted almost entirely through an electrified […]
Blu-ray Review: Pinocchio (70th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
After having such tremendous success in 1937, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs–which marked the first time animation was used to produce an entire feature length film–some were skeptical when Walt Disney decided to follow it up with yet another animated movie. Moviegoers wondered if a second animated film could hold the attention of […]
Blu-ray Review: Quo Vadis
One of the earliest epics Hollywood would produce, when Quo Vadis was released in November of 1951, it set in motion a wave of dramatic epics that would continue throughout the decade. The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Ben Hur (1959), The Ten Commandments (1956) and El Cid (1961), were likely inspired at least in […]
DVD Review: Return from Witch Mountain (Special Edition)
Often times, the most beloved films, generate the most dreadful sequels. As I said in my review of Escape to Witch Mountain, I was a huge fan of that film, having viewed it numerous times on television. However, it’s sequel, Return from Witch Mountain, failed to capture my imagination; I only remember watching it once […]
Blu-ray Review: Boondock Saints
Boondock Saints is one of those films with a back story almost more interesting than the film itself. Writer/Director Troy Duffy had originally moved to Los Angeles in an effort to find gigs for his band The Brood. He claims he was inspired to write the screenplay for Boondock Saints when he came home from […]
DVD Review: Escape to Witch Mountain (Special Edition)
I absolutely loved Escape to Witch Mountain as a child, so I was pretty excited when I heard it was being released on DVD again. The release is undoubtedly timed to coincide with the remake, Race to Witch Mountain starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Alexander Ludwig and AnnaSophia Robb. Judging by the trailer, the remake […]
Blu-ray Review: Igor
Directed by Anthony Leondis (Lilo & Stitch 2), Igor is a somewhat fun but ultimately disappointing exercise in animation. Had it not been for the voice talents of Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, John Cleese, Molly Shannon, Jay Leno, Christian Slater and Arsenio Hall Igor would have been written off as a formulaic romantic comedy. However, […]
Blu-ray Review: Australia
Writer/Director Baz Luhrmann isn’t known for making small, little movies. The Australian born auteur showed he preferred big, ambitious projects with the 2001 release of Moulin Rouge! which netted a 2001 Best Picture Oscar nomination. For his follow up, Luhrmann released Australia, a sprawling and ambitious project, starring two of the movie worlds brightest stars–Hugh […]