Series 6 of the revival of Doctor Who managed to do something that, despite growing and significant popularity, the revamp hadn't really been able to do before... it caused a stir. A legitimate, all out tizzy, and as the first few episodes aired, the blip of awareness that is Doctor Who skyrocketed as more and more people actually said the words, "Doctor Who." On the whole, the show has been … [Read more...]
Fans of Winnie the Pooh will find the new movie reminiscent of earlier times, both in story and appearance. A kind of throwback effort, both in the fact that we are delivering a simple story (hence the easy title), and in the hand-drawn workmanship, Winnie the Pooh has more in common with the earliest video productions of the franchise than with anything we've seen in recent years. The story is … [Read more...]
Green Lantern is available on Blu-Ray (and Blu-Ray 3D), and for all that many critics didn't cheer for the film, the home release is a pretty nice offering. There are actually a few holes in the list of special features that might have been filled, but what you do get is solid, though the video transfer of the film is surprisingly not the best I've seen. Complete list of special features and … [Read more...]
Disney has released the latest installment in its Diamond Edition collection, and The Lion King lives up to everything fans have come to expect from this truly special set of releases. Timed with the recent release of The Lion King in 3D in theaters, you can now own a variety of Diamond Edition possibilities, including a Blu-Ray 3D version. There isn't much anyone can say about the family … [Read more...]
I have to tell you, as odd as it may sound, I'm not really a guy who needs his TV shows in HD. A Blu-Ray release might be different, because you're bound to get some cool special features, but as far the show itself being in HD, I could take it or leave it. Now, when it comes to Star Trek: The Next Generation, that might be a different story. I'm not absolutely sure it's a different story, but it … [Read more...]
Does it seem like five years? For some it may seem like Blu-Rays just turned up, and others may surely feel like it's been a lot longer (some may even wish it were so given the size of their collection), but Blu-Ray has turned five. To celebrate, the BFCA coordinated with the Blu-Ray Disc Association to develop a Critics' Choice list of the top five titles from the first five years of Blu-Ray … [Read more...]
The Conspirator is a film that is very sure of its genre placement, and takes great pride in it. Alongside such films as Spielberg's Amistad, and Scorsese's Gangs of New York, Robert Redford's The Conspirator is a film that finds a big name in the director's chair, putting out a movie that is ultimately rather boring, and falls flat on a variety of film-making fronts. Part of the genre's creed is … [Read more...]
Prom is one of those films that comes along every once in a while with the general purpose of proving yet again that John Hughes was (not counting anything after 1990) a God, and moreover that the "era" spanning roughly 1986-1994 was perhaps the greatest time to grow up in all of history. As a High School effort, focusing on a lot of angst, relationship woes, rebels, and a philosophic geek who … [Read more...]
I'm sure you've heard about Planes, the upcoming film that is a spin-off (or something) of the Cars franchise, and now Jon Cryer is officially attached to lend his voice to the film as Dusty, the single-prop star. You've got a long wait in store, because this one is set to release on Blu-Ray and DVD in Spring 2013, but it's looking more and more fun all the time. I wonder how the … [Read more...]
The Hoodwinked franchise hasn't really managed to take off like a lot of other animated ventures, and that's something of a shame really, because both films deliver for the target audience. We've gotten to a point in the theatrical release world where, because there have been so many releases that work wonderfully for both children and adults, that all films have to in order to be given a fair … [Read more...]
When the subject of Disney movies comes up, one film always stands out to me as not getting enough attention. The Fox and the Hound is now out in a 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray release which includes The Fox and the Hound 2, and I'm hopeful that the re-issue allows another generation to add some support to the popularity of both films. For all that weaves of complicated friendship are not at all … [Read more...]
Mars Needs Moms starts out at a run, and never lets up until you're already on Mars and far too involved to let it go. It would be nice if a lot more movies had the self-assurance to reel you in first, and let you figure things out later, rather than spelling everything out before anything happens. Funny, it's the kid movie that has this much respect for its audiences. Young Milo has had his … [Read more...]
When news hit that Arthur was being remade, many fans were irritated to say the least, myself included. Not only a classic, it's a film of an age, and one long gone. No one is drunk like Dudley Moore, no one could match his wild charm, and it's hard to imagine a positive reaction to the outlandish excesses of the insanely wealthy right now. Russell Brand's Arthur is a very different fellow … [Read more...]
The sixth series of the new Doctor Who has pulled out all the stops in the continuing effort to hold onto the success David Tennant brought to the franchise. Matt Smith seems to have won over fans (by and large), but the show clearly aims at raising the bar, instilling as much drama as possible, and working the long arc as much as possible. It's hard to imagine boring straight to the heart of … [Read more...]
Gear up true-believers! Just when you thought no one was going to pay attention to West Side Story, the 50th Anniversary has arrived, and on 11/15/11, so will the 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray. It promises to be the film as you've never seen it before, and it comes in a package that is sure to win over fans. Now, call me crazy if you will, but I love this movie. Check out all the info … [Read more...]
The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition has finally come to Blu-Ray, and in true "My Precious" fashion, this is the collection to own. For those who have already seen the extended editions of the films, you know that they add a new level to the already incredible series. For those who haven't, put together you're adding two additional hours of runtime. That's a pretty … [Read more...]
