Blu-ray Review “Lovely Molly”

Director: Eduardo Sanchez
Starring: Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis, Alexandra Holde, Jane Fleming
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Running Time: 99 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Lovely Molly” is a brutal and leaves you completely uncomfortable. But since that is the film’s goal, then it is very successful. This is one of those horror films that you need to watch a view times in order to completely absorb it all. It is directed by Eduardo Sanchez (“The Blair Witch Project”), who delivers the type of horror that he would want to watch. The star of the film though, literally, is Gretchen Lodge. This is her film debut and she really delivers a chilling and terrifying performance. You should expect great things from her. There are not many scares, per se, though the whole film is a unsettling experience that leaves you starring at the screen to see what happens next. Must see for all fans of horror, will not disappoint.

The film follows newlywed, Molly Reynolds (Lodge), who moves back into her childhood home. It has been long-abandoned and has quite the history hidden within its walls. Molly begins to hearing noises and voices of things that are impossible to believe. Starting off similar to “Paranormal Activity”, “Molly” then takes a violent left turn and leads to the unexpected. We find out the dark secrets that lie in Molly’s past as she is haunted by a malevolent force that is set o wreaking havoc and terror on Molly and her family.

Image delivers an impressive Blu-ray presentation. The film is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and 1080p transfer is sharp, even though is shot handheld. Besides Lodge’s performance, the second star of the film is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The sound effects and score really help to create the fantastic atmosphere that this film delivers. The special features are a little light but cover a lot of the mystery of the film and its story. There are various featurettes, which cover different aspects including “Path To Madness”, “Haunted Past”, “Demonic Forces” and “Is It Real”. If you enjoyed this film these are a great follow-up and highly  recommended. I would have liked to see a commentary track included as well but still decent. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, lovely, molly, review

Blu-ray Review “Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary Edition”

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Kevyn Major Howard
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Running Time: 116 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

As much as I absolutely love this film, the 25th Anniversary release of “Full Metal Jacket” feel a little but like a double dip…but you know you still need it if you are a die-hard fan. The main draw here is a newly added 60 minute documentary and an impressive 48-page DigiBook with photos from Matthew Modine’s personal collection. Also within there are behind-the-scenes stories on the production and the music. I think for this is honestly worth the purchase alone. If you agree then you don’t want to miss this release. I know it may be hard to believe but this is the first time I am watching this film on Blu-ray and it was definitely worth the wait.

The film says to included a new remastered video though it is the same as the 2007/2011 releases. Nonetheless it still looks incredibly impressive. It easily warrants 5/5 stars for 1080 transfer alone. There are many a few audio when it comes to the film’s audio. The Dolby Digital 5.1 is the default but the uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track is sharper and more impressive. The special features are decent but feels a little light overall. “Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes” is an hour-long documentary, which follows director Jon Ronson as he is given a chance to dig through thousands of boxes on Kubrick estate following his death. There is a commentary track from author/screenwriter Jay Cocks and actors Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’onofrio and Lee Ermey. Sounds perfect right? It would have been but it was recorded individually, so the fun was gone. Matthew Modine takes the lead in “Between Good and Evil” focusing on the filming, casting, and the overall production. Lastly, there is the theatrical trailer included.

Buy It 8/7 on Blu-ray™ – http://bit.ly/MHtK10
Like us on Facebook – http://on.fb.me/WBEntFB
Follow us on Twitter – http://bit.ly/WBHETW

Premise: Marine recruits endure basic training under a leather-lunged D.I., then plunge into the hell of Vietnam. Matthew Modine heads a talented ensemble in this searing look at a process that turns people into killers.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 25th, anniversary, bluray, edition, full, jacket, ...

Film Review “ParaNorman”

Directed by: Sam Fell, Chris Butler
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Tucker Albrizzi, Anna Kendrick, Casey Affleck, John Goodman, Leslie Mann
Jeff Garlin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elaine Stritch
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Focus Features
Running time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“ParaNorman” is the latest film from Laika, the studio behind one of my favorite films “Coraline”. It is a 3D stop-motion animated adventure but may be too scary for the kids and not entertaining enough for the adults.  The film starts off really great  straight through the middle but fails through a in the end.  I am a sucker though for stop-motion animation and you can just tell how much work actually went into this film. I was very impressed with its blend of CG as well.  It is also the first one of them to utilize a 3D Color Printer to create replacement faces for its puppets.   The 3D effects are very impressive and does add a lot to the film.  This is a decent follow-up feature for Laika but it doesn’t come close to the charm of “Coraline”.

The film takes place in the small town of Blithe Hollow.  The town is cursed by a 3,000 year old witches curse. We meet a young boy named Norman (Smit-McPhee), who is misunderstood by everyone around him, and is also the only person that can save the day.  He has the ability to speak with the dead and it is up to him to stop the undead from taking over and prevent the witch from destroying the town.

When it comes to the voice cast in an animated film, the casting is very important.  The main cast here are impressive choices sporting Kodi Smit-McPhee (“Let Me In”), Anna Kendrick (“Twilight” series), Casey Affleck (“Ocean’s Eleven”) and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (“Fright Night”). The supporting cast includes Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up”), Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and John Goodman (“RoseAnne”). Casey Affleck was the real shocker of the group and is completely unrecognizable.  There are also a lot of little surprise Easter eggs included for hardcore horror fans, so be sure to keep an eye…and an ear out for them.  Personally I may just be getting old myself but having a younger daughter, I wouldn’t want her seeing this film until she is much older.  “Coraline” is a dark creepy film but this one is a little more edgy.  It does have some really great laughs and looks absolutely amazing, so it is guess overall it is fair toss-up.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, paranorman, review

Blu-ray Review “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (International Version)”

Directed by: Te-Sheng Wei
Starring: Lin Ching-Tai, Umin Boya, Masanobu Ando
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Well Go USA
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Running Time: 422 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

When I reach out that “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” was the most expensive production in Taiwanese history (budgeted at around $25 million), I knew I just had to see it. I am a big fan of epic foreign films and definitely those produced by John Woo. When I say epic, this film delivers the epic. It runs over 4 1/2 hours long and split into two parts. If that is too long for you don’t worry there are two versions of “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” available on DVD and Blu-ray. There is also a cut two and a half hour version for the US. Though if you are looking for an equal amount of story to go along with the massive scale action sequences, then you are definitely going to want to watch the international version. The film was referred to as “Braveheart” meets “The Last of the Mohicans” but the film has the fierceness of these both and more.

The film itself chronicles the true story of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes and their battle against the Japanese colonizers. That’s the short premise. The story takes us between 1895 and 1945, following the rival between a Japanese colony that inhabits the island and the aboriginal tribes who originally settled on the land. The Seediq leader, Mouna Rudo, (Lin Ching-Tai) recruits a number of other clans in order to band together to fight the Japanese. The film is beautifully different by Wei Te-Sheng (“Cape No.7”). The Taiwan landscapes are absolutely stunning, which are matched with some really top notch CGI. The action scenes are so amped up and also well paced within the story.

“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” looks absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA. The 1080p transfer looks sharp and super clear within in aspect ratio of 2.34:1. It is a film that is meant for a high definition presentation and looks spectacular. There are two audio tracks, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks. Obviously, I feel that the 5.1 track works much better, especially with the action. The special features are only have extras but they are quite epic, just like the film. “The Epic Journey of the Warriors” runs well over 2 1/2 hours, just in case the film wasn’t long enough. It is very a intensive behind-the-scenes look at the production, which plays out like a graphic shooting diary. There are also additional “Interviews with Director Wei Te-Sheng and Producer John Woo” and “Make-Up and Visual Effects” included. Lastly there are the theatrical and international trailers included.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bale, bluray, international, rainbow, review, seediq, ...

DVD Review “Heidi’s Song”

Directed by: Robert Taylor
Starring: Lorne Greene, Margery Gray, Sammy Davis, Jr.
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: G
Running Time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to classic Hanna-Barbera animated films, I immediately become interested.  “Heidi’s Song” has never been released to DVD in the past, so thanks to Warner Archive for finally releasing this film.  Released originally back in 1982, this is time perfectly for the 30th Anniversary of this film. It is based on Johanna Spyri’s children’s classic, “Heidi” and has been translated into a full-length animated musical motion picture. It includes sixteen original songs written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane. The songs are fun but very 80’s.

This DVD released features the film newly remastered.  Though as much as I say that it looks good, the film really shows its age.  The film is very colorful but some of the shades come off still as a bit dull and faded.  But since this is the first time it has ever hit DVD, it is better than nothing and obviously VHS quality as well.  The audio includes a great stereo track, which works with the film’s songs.  There are no special features either like most releases from Warner Archive.  This title might not be the most popular but if you are a fan of retro Hanna-Barbera, it will be cool just to see this film getting a little love and restored on DVD.

Synopsis: Johanna Spyri’s best-loved children’s classic, Heidi, is affectionately retold in this colorful, full-length animated musical motion picture. The famed story has been supplemented with three new, unforgettable sequences: a musical review, The Nightmare Ballet, in which Heidi meets the mountain creatures of the Wunderhorn; a dream fantasy in which Clara, Heidi’s wheelchair confined friend, meets her Prince Charming at a fantastic ball; and Ode to a Rat, in which a band of evil but clownish rats, led by King Rat, are roused into attacking Heidi in a dark cellar. Voices are provided by Lorne Greene as Grandfather, Margery Gray as Heidi and Sammy Davis, Jr. as King Rat. Sixteen original songs were written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane. Heidi’s Song has all the elements to make a thoroughly enjoyable film that children will cherish a lifetime.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: dvd, heidis, review, song

Book Review “The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy”

Author: Jody Duncan Jesser
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Abrams
Release Date: July 20, 2012

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First things first, let me clear this up right off the bat (get the pun?). This book is labeled as a “Art of” book but really this leans a lot more in the “making of” aspect. It you look at it from that prospective then it works well. I would have love to see a full on “art of” book though. Director Christopher Nolan really did an amazing job of reviving the Batman franchise. Casting Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader was such an amazing choice, as he was perfect for the role. “Batman Begins” was a really sharp reboot of the franchise exploring the origins of billionaire Bruce Wayne to Batman. “The Dark Knight”, which is my personal favorite in the series, took the franchise to such a high level putting Batman against the Joker (plays by the late Heath Ledger). The final film of Nolan’s trilogy, “The Dark Knight Rises”, provided a very exciting and satisfying closing to this trilogy. Bane is one of my new favorite villains, played by Tom Hardy, who was out of this world. “The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy” focuses on the complete behind-the-scenes stories from each of these three epic films. Die-hard fans of The Dark Knight should know that this is a no-brainer.

There are eleven chapters included in the book.  The first focuses on “Screenplay”, the birth of the scripts and inspiration from the comics.  The second takes a look at the “Production Design”, which is key to this series.   It focuses on the sets, shooting locations and includes some nice concept art. Next up is “Cast”, which focuses on picking Christian Bale to play Bruce Wayne but look at all primary roles. Chapter four is titled, “Costumes & Makeup” and goes into details on Bat’s suit, the Joker’s makeup etc. The next three chapters are titled “The Shoot” and covers each of the film in the trilogy during production.  Special effects coordinator Chris Corbould takes the lead in the next chapter “Special Effects & Stunts “, covering the fight sequences and stunts from the three films. Next up, Lee Smith covers “Editing, Music, and Sound”, also includes quotes from composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. “Visual Effects” is a great chapter, especially since it was a critical part of the franchise.  This series used multiple different types of visual effects ranging from models and miniatures to CGI.  The last chapter focuses on the franchises “Marketing” and various aspects of promotion for these films. I mean can you ask for more? I think not.

Author Jody Duncan Jesser, editor of Cinefex magazine since 1992, really delivered a very intensive and thorough look into this franchise. She is no stranger to “making of” angle for Hollywood films having worked books for “Terminator 2”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Avatar”. She includes many in-depth interviews with Christopher Nolan and the films’ key cast and crew, including cowriters David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfister. There is much detail into the creative process behind the epic “Dark Knight” Trilogy, which is backed with (some) art and beautiful never-before-seen photography. The book runs over 300 pages and includes hundreds of photos, so it guaranteed to please any fan of the series. The book also includes a foreword by Christopher Nolan and an intro by Michael Caine. If that all isn’t enough there is also Nolan’s tribute originally published in Newsweek in 2008 about Heath Ledger, titled “Charisma as Natural as Gravity”. As good as this book does in covering each film, I also really enjoyed and highly recommend this book: “The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave”.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: art, book, dark, knight, making, review, ...

CD Review “The Dark Knight Rises: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Composer: Hans Zimmer
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Label: WaterTower Music
Tracks: 15
Running Time: 43 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Hans Zimmer has worked on every score in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy along with James Newton Howard.  On “The Dark Knight Rises“, he takes this task on solo.  It ended up but being a decent but not outstanding finale score to a fantastic trilogy.  “The Dark Knight” score definitely trumps this one by quite a bit, sort of like the film does as well.  Normally, I really do love Hans Zimmer’s work but overall it is not his best work.  I just don’t see myself spending a lot of time revisiting it like I did with his past work like “Inception”.  Also there were a definitely some mastering and clipping volume issues on a bunch of tracks. Despite my feelings on the album, it is still a big success charting at #7 on the Billboard top 200 making it the first score in over 10 years to break the top 10!

The score runs a very short 43 minutes and the only real notable track is “Rise”.  If the whole album played as epic on this track, then the whole album would have benefited. “Rise” also is the final track on the album and in fact possibly the last Batman track from Zimmer.  The song takes it time getting started but really gets epic and runs a nice 7+ minutes. But it is so good I just wish it was longer.  I do see myself leaving this song on my iPhone for many months to come.  Although not able to be reviewed, there are 3 additional tracks available for download and 2 are exclusive to the CD: “Bombers Over Ibiza (JunkieXL remix)”, “No Stone Unturned (exclusive)” and “Risen From Darkness (exclusive)”.  There is also an Extended Original Motion Picture Soundtrack available but I am not sure how much it could improve the overall score. Overall, if you are a die-hard Batman fan, you might enjoy this final chapter in the trilogy…or at least keep “Rise” on loop.

Track Listings:
1. A Storm Is Coming
2. On Thin Ice
3. Gotham’s Reckoning
4. Mind If I Cut In?
5. Underground Army
6. Born In Darkness
7. The Fire Rises
8. Nothing Out There
9. Despair
10. Fear Will Find You
11. Why Do We Fall?
12. Death By Exile
13. Imagine The Fire
14. Necessary Evil
15. Rise

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, dark, knight, motion, original, picture, ...

DVD Review “The Devil Makes Three”

Directed by: Andrew Marton
Starring: Gene Kelly, Pier Angeli
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Gene Kelly is known best for his musicals but this film is one of his dramatic performances.  The film itself has some problems and but honestly.  I am a sucker for Kelly and this performance was great.  The film was also shot on location which is breathtaking, especially some of the scenery in Germany.  Pier Angeli is also amazing, such a beauty. Warner Archive scores again for finally releasing the remaining, unreleased Gene Kelly films from the Warner Bros. vaults. The other film recently released is “Black Hand”, read review here. Fans of Gene Kelly’s work will not want to miss this opportunity to finally own this film on DVD.

This newly restored DVD looks great for a film that has never before released and was made almost 60 years ago. “The Devil Makes Three” is presented in black and white in full frame and the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio track presented is mono and sounds great, especially with the film’s music scenes. The only special feature on this release is an original trailer, which is honestly better than nothing. Even though Warner Archive is known for just delivering such great quality on their DVDs. I have yet to be disappointed. Keep them coming guys!

Synopsis: Capt. Jeff Eliot (Gene Kelly) roams the tawdry dives of post-war Munich searching for a delicate young beauty named Wilhelmina (Pier Angeli), the only survivor of the family that hid him from the Nazis after his plane was shot down during the war. He wants to help her. She wants to use him to smuggle contraband into Austria. But what looks like a small-time black market scheme hides something far more sinister: a vicious, well-financed conspiracy to revive the Third Reich. Shot on location and boasting a skilled international cast, The Devil Makes Three features footage of motorcycles zooming along Hitler’s sleek Autobahn and competing in a thrilling race on a frozen lake, plus a climatic showdown filmed at the Führer’s mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden. Kelly is both virile action hero and shrewd detective “in a fine, restrained characterization” (Howard Thompson, The New York Times) that anchors the intrigue-laced plot.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: devil, dvd, review

DVD Review “Black Hand”

Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Starring: Gene Kelly, J. Carroll Nash, Teresa Celli
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you think of Gene Kelly you think of singing and dancing.  “Black Hand” was one of the first films to really showcase Kelly’s dramatic chops.  It is a real change of pace for him and pays off.  It is honestly surprising how suspenseful this film really is.  It leaves you sitting on the edge of your chair biting your nails.  Warner Archive scores again for finally releasing the remaining, unreleased Gene Kelly films from the Warner Bros. vaults.  The other film recently released is “The Devil Makes Three”, read review here. Fans of Gene Kelly’s work will not want to miss this opportunity to finally own this film on DVD.

For a film from 1950 that has been stuck in a vault and never before released.  It looks damn good. Of course there is the grain and age spots but this newly restored DVD really delivers the goods.  “Black Hand” is presented in black and white in full frame and the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  The audio track presented is mono and works perfectly with this release. Even though this film solely consists of just the film no special features.  You still feel like you are getting your money’s worth.  When I think of Warner Archive, I just feel comfort with quality.

Synopsis: Johnny Columbo was just a boy in 1900 New York when a gang of extortionists known as the Black Hand murdered his father. Now Johnny’s a grown man eager for vengeance. His switchblade and his anger are the weapons he intends to use but he ultimately realizes there’s a better way. He can use the legal system to deport the Black Hand terrorists by proving they are in the U.S. under false identities. but brining that proof to light will put Johnny and the people close to him in great peril. Movie-musical great Gene Kelly plays the change-of-pace role of Johnny in this suspenseful tale directed by the prolific Richard Thorpe (more than 180 IMDb credits). Kelly had played an Italian-American before in Pilot #5. He would portray a Greek-American in It’s a Big Country.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: black, dvd, hand, review

Blu-ray Review “The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season”

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 558 minutes

Season Two: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The second season of “The Big Bang Theory” really kicked this show into full gear. During the first season, we got to meet and love our science nerds Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard and their neighbor Penny.  When you are watching you don’t even realize that you just finished zipped through 23 episodes without moving from the couch once.  Now that this season has been released, the entire series is finally available on Blu-ray minus the fifth season, which is due in September 2012. Within this season, there are 23 very funny episodes. You can tell that Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady are really getting into a groove with this season and really deliver one of the best seasons.  The cast has really discovered their comfort zone in their characters as well. Fans of the series, should definitely pick this up.

Let’s get to the meat of this release.  Warner’s spared no expenses with this release rounding up a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and four DVDs. So you can watch the series in high-def at home and bring the DVDs to leave at work. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 23 episodes.  I really look forward to revisiting this series on the go whenever I want from my iPhone. The 1080p video transfer is similar to the first season and is definitely sharp looking.  The audio included is an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is on par with the first season.  The show is all dialogue but is well-balanced and very clear.

The special features on this release though are not as impressive as the season itself. They are also only presented in standard definition.  I was also hoping for some commentary tracks included but they seem to be MIA.  “The Big Bang Theory: Physicist to the Stars”,  runs about 10 minutes and takes a look into the show’s physics consultant Dr. David Saltzberg.  “Testing the Infinite Hilarity Thesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory” is a basic behind-the-scenes look into season 2. Lastly there is a very funny “Gag Reel” included as well, though not uncensored.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bang, big, bluray, complete, review, season, ...

Blu-ray Review “The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season”

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 374 minutes

Season Two: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

.

“Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait…
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!”

If you are a fan of the show, you probably find yourself, like me singing along to this theme song…even when the show is not on. “The Big Bang Theory” is easily my favorite comedy on television…period.  I have to be honest though, I was not always a fan of this show.  I remember dating back to 2007-2008, when friends of mine insisted we watch it and I just kept thinking “A show about science…Yeah right!”  Boy, was I so wrong.  This show is so much more and only has gotten better with each season. Thankfully Warner Bros has finally released this show’s first and second seasons on high-definition Blu-ray. “The Big Bang Theory” started its Blu-ray releases with season 3 back in 2010.  So luckily now we are all caught up, until the upcoming release of season 5 in September 2012.  If you are a fan of the show, this release is very welcomed and does not disappoint.

Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady have really created one of the most unique and funniest shows on television.  It is packed with some great pop culture aspects merged with a very creative use of scientific jargon and rapid-fire dialogue (mostly courtesy of the amazing  Jim Parsons). The first season is the shortest of the series due to the Writers Guild strike of 2007, but it still is able to capture its audience.  Fall 2012 also begins the show’s sixth season and it currently shows no signs of slowing down.  In the first season, we meet Leonard and Sheldon, who are science nerds and also roommates.  When they meet their new neighbor Penny, an aspiring actress/currently waitressing at The Cheescake Factory, Leonard goes on the prowl to get her.  We also get introduced to Leonard and Sheldon’s hilarious duo of friends, Howard, who is a suave nerd and Raj, who cannot speak with women (unless he is drunk).  Overall, this season is a great kick-off to a great series.

This Blu-ray release is much more impressive over seasons 3 and 4. This is a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and 4 DVDs. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 17 episodes. When I originally saw the first season of “The Big Bang Theory”, it was not in high definition.  So it was great revisit this show on high-def Blu-ray.  The 1080p transfer is very sharp and colorful, definitely does not disappoint.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also is great but of course isn’t challenged much especially since the show is 99.9% dialogue. The special features though are a bit of a letdown, not some much in what is presented but by what is not included.  “Quantum Mechanics of The Big Bang Theory”, runs just short of 20 minutes and is a retrospective on the origins of the series.  Lorre and Prady and all the principal cast chat about the series. Lastly there is a “Gag Reel” includes, which had me literally crying.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bang, big, bluray, complete, review, season, ...

Film Review “Hope Springs”

Starring:  Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell
Directed by:  David Frankel
Rated:  PG 13
Running time:  1 hour 40 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Kay (Streep) and Arnold (Jones) have been married for 31 years.  Their daily routines have become just that…routine.  Kay rises early to make Arnold’s breakfast (2 eggs and 1 strip of bacon) and watches him go off to work.  She has his dinner waiting when he comes home.  Then she wakes him up after he’s fallen asleep in front of the television watching the Golf Channel.  They sleep in seperate bedrooms.  Kay longs for the times when Arnold thought of her more as a wife then a roommate.  Arnold is clueless, considering his presentation of an expanded cable subscription ideal for their most recent anniversary.  At the end of her wits, Kay books her and Arnold into an intensive week-long couples therapy session run by relationship expert Dr. Feld (Carell).  Will Arnold join Kay in Maine?  And if so, can the spark be rekindled?

Though advertised as a comedy, “Hope Springs” is one of the best dramas to come down the pipe in many years.  Written by Vanessa Taylor, a long time television writer (“Alias,” “Game of Thrones”) making her feature screenwriting debut, the film takes a look at the very core of a once loving couple that, due to familiarity and lack of change, has become nothing more then two friends sharing a house.  Her script is unfailingly quick to get below the surface of Kay and Arnold’s feelings.  That script is helped by a cast that delivers an acting tour de force.  Three time Oscar winner Streep is surely on the way to nomination number eighteen!  Whether toying with her hair while looking in the mirror, relieving some pressure with a few drinks at a local pub or confronting Arnold face to face, she is incredibly vulnerable and yet strong at the same time.  Within five minutes you’re convinced that you’re watching a woman named “Kay” share her story, never an actress playing a role.  Of course, that is why Streep will be remembered as the greatest film actress of her generation hundreds of years from now.  Jones, an Oscar winner himself, gives a performance that could have gone wrong in the hands of a less capable actor.  Yes, Arnold is neglective of his wife and her feelings.  But, thanks to Jones performance, you pity him more then loathe him.  But the acting surprise here is Carell.  He’s given strong performances in the past, most notably in “Dan In Real Life” and last years “Crazy, Stupid, Love.”  But here he’s sharply nuanced…there is no sly wink or quick one liner.  I look for all three to be recognized by the Academy next year.

Director Frankel, who directed Streep to one of her previous Oscar nominations in “The Devil Wears Prada,” takes his camera inside Kay and Arnold’s lives, allowing the audience to eavesdrop on their most inner thoughts.  In doing so, he has created one of the best adult dramas in some time.

 

Related Content

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, hope, review, springs

Film Review “Total Recall”

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Bryan Cranston
Directed by: Len Wiseman
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 58 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Total Recall?” Remember Mars, three breasted women, little Kuato and Arnie’s hilarious one-liners (“consider that a divorce!”)? Well, if you’re looking for a walk down memory lane (ooh, a “Total Recall” pun), unless you like the occasional extra boob you’re going to be sadly disappointed.

Doug Quaid (Farrell) lives on what’s left of a futuristic Earth on the former continent of Australia, now referred to as “The Colony.” The Colony is where the dregs of society seem to dwell. The only other inhabited part of the planet is a majority of Europe, know known as the United Federation of Britain (UFB). The main form of transportation is referred to as the Falls. Basically you get inside and travel the 17 minutes it takes to get from one place to another. Through the center of the Earth. Hold onto that coffee! Doug spends his days working at a factory where synthetic policemen (imagine the Storm Troopers in “Star Wars” starring in “Robocop”) and his nights waking up after having the same reoccurring dream. Looking to get out of his funk he decides to stop at a business known as REKALL. There you can have your brain fitted with fond memories of things that never happened. Want to be a pro basketball player? A singer. A secret agent? REKALL can make it seem like you’ve already been one. The only catch is that if you, say, want to have an affair behind your wife’s back, the only way REKALL can plant the memory is if you’ve never really had an affair behind your wife’s back, otherwise things can go really bad. Doug decides that he’d like the adventure of being a secret agent. How bad could that be?

Full of almost non-stop action the drawback to the new “Total Recall,” sadly, is that it’s full of almost non-stop action! Lots of gunfire and running across rooftops with an occasional line of dialogue does not a great movie make. As staged by director Wiseman, who did such a great job with the last “Die Hard” film, the action and stunts are over the top and sometimes breathtaking. However, when the cast stops to catch its breath, the film slows to a crawl. On the bright side, it appears that Wiseman is a fan of “Blade Runner” which, like “Total Recall,” is a film based on a Philip K. Dick story. His vision of the future is very similar to Ridley Scott’s; an overcrowded world with people literally living on top of one another. Apparently it’s also a future where cars now fly yet also use the side streets and giant elevators shuffle people here and there yet you have to run up a seven story staircase to catch the bad guy. Technology my butt!

At least the cast is up for the adventure. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Colin Farrell on screen (in a horrible comb-over in “Horrible Bosses”) that if this had been the early 1980s I would have thought I was watching Treat Williams. As Quaid’s “wife” Lori, Beckinsale is both cunning and bad ass. Former/future love interest Melina (Jessica Biel) matches Beckinsale in both brawn and brains. And both look good in black.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, recall, review, total

Film Review “The Babymakers”

Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
Starring: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn and Kevin Heffernan
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan and Olivia Munn attached to this film, I was immediately interested. I am a big fan of Broken Lizard and G4’s “Attack of the Show”. This film is laugh-out-loud funny but takes a more mature route than past work from Jay and Kevin. Although Kevin said during an interview with us that he feels that his character is similar to his past Broken Lizard roles. Jay also has an acting role besides directing, playing Ron Jon and easily steals the show. I don’t feel that Olivia Munn was really used to her full potential but in the end she is still a hell of a sight to look at.

“The Babymakers” follows a married couple whose main objective is to have a baby. But after 9 months of trying, Audrey (Munn) and her husband Tommy (Schneider) are unable to get pregnant. After finding out that his sperm is lacking in the baby department, Tommy recruits his pals in order to steal a deposit he made at a sperm bank years earlier. Simple plot though this is not a one-joke comedy and does manage to entertain throughout.

Fans of Broken Lizard should keep an eye out for alums like Nat Faxon, M.C. Gainey and Philippe Brenninkmeyer. Also if you were a fan of Munn’s failed TV series “Perfect Couples” (like myself), keep an eye out for her co-star Hayes MacArthur who is a laugh riot in the film as well. Though if you are looking for another Broken Lizard film, you will be disappointed. I feel it still really delivers and “The Babymakers” is a simple yet very fun comedy. If you need something to do on a Saturday night, this is definitely worth checking out.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: babymakers, film, review

Film Review “Red Lights”

Directed by: Rodrigo Cortés
Starring: Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver, Cillian Murphy, Joely Richardson, Elizabeth Olsen, Toby Jones, Leonardo Sbaraglia
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 113 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Hold on a sec, a paranormal thriller/horror film with Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver and Cillian Murphy? Where do I sign up? This little film has flown under my radar this summer with big budget superhero movies taken the spotlight. “Red Lights” deserves some major attention.  It is extremely well-done and really delivers from the moment it starts through the its shocking ending. I am a big fan of Rodrigo Cortés, especially after his film “Buried”. He is really able to do a lot in a film with not much. Cillian Murphy also gives an amazing performance and really carries this film.

The film follows psychologist and paranormal investigator, Margaret Matheson, (Weaver), and her physicist assistant, Tom Buckley (Murphy) as they aim to disprove the paranormal experiences with science and technology. When they get involved with investigating a famous psychic, Simon Silver (De Niro) things get a little too hot and they find themselves in deeper than they expected. Is Silver a true psychic medium or just another fraud?

“Red Lights” does a great job of blending its horror, thriller and drama aspects all together to one entertaining film. It has some good spooks but isn’t full blown horror. With the televisions and cinemas being flooded with films about paranormal activities and ghost huntings, this will probably be filed in with the rest but is actually able to stand on its own. It is not only well directed and executed but also packed with impressive performances, I highly recommend checking this film out.

Read Complete Article
Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, lights, red, review
« sdf
Previous
Page 205 of 272
Next
Next Page »