DVD Talk

DVD Savant: Joan of Arc, Irma Vep and Capricorn One

2008-12-03T07:00:42-05:00

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc - Milla Jovovich is a trembling, frantic Jeanne d'Arc in Luc Besson's beautifully filmed, historically questionable epic; Irma Vep - Olivier Assayas gives us a slice of French filmmaking, on an ill-fated production based on how good Maggie Cheung looks in black tights. Funny and interesting, with a great turn by Nathalie Richard; and Capricorn One - Peter Hyams' space fraud thriller is pretty silly, but it does have O.J. Simpson! Elliott Gould and James Brolin co-star in a movie about a faked Mars mission. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Recently Announced Discs: Religulous, Rent, and RocknRolla

2008-12-03T07:00:42-05:00

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: Religulous - Bill Maher teams up with Borat director Larry Charles to skewer some sacred cows. 2-17-09; Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway - the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical comes to DVD and Blu-ray on 2-3-09, and RocknRolla Guy Ritchie's latest film about crooks, a large pile of cash, and a burned out rock star arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on 1-27-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This Week's Notable DVDs: Prince Caspian, Wanted, and The Shawshank Redemption

2008-12-02T07:00:04-05:00

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and the studios are releasing some great movies in hopes of cashing in. Some of the more notable titles include: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - steps up its game in almost every way. It's darker, more mature, and a better paced film than the last outing, and to top it all off, it's still 100 percent suitable for your kids!; Wanted [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - a rewarding rocket-powered ride of escapism, it's damn near-perfect lunacy at times; and The Shawshank Redemption (Blu-ray) [review]- one of the best films of the 1990's, this note-perfect film is presented in HD for the first time just in time for the holidays. Other releases of note include: Step Brothers [DVD review, Blu-ray review], The X-Files: I Want to Believe [DVD review, 2-Disc Extended Cut review], and The Longshots [DVD review]. Be sure to check out our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Support our Sponsor: Slappa

2008-12-01T21:43:50-05:00

One of the most common problems that DVD Collectors face is how to store their discs. Just where do you put all of those movies so that you can have easy access whenever you want? The people at Slappa have come up with an ingenious solution: their patented d2 pockets. Each pocket holds two DVDs, Blu-rays or HD DVDs along with the covers and inserts. Multi-disc sets are no problem either with Slappa's d3i pages which can each hold up to four DVDs and covers. The d2 and d3i pockets can then be stored in Slappa's custom designed DVD Wallets or their compact Storage Boxes. With 70 DVDs and covers fitting into a Storage Box and 40 or 90 in a portable, hard bodied DVD Wallet your collection will be safe, accessible and it will take up considerably less space. For the holidays Slappa is having a 10% off sale, offering a free shipping option, and including freebies with every order! There's never been a better time to check out Slappa's DVD Storage System.

New DVD Reviews: Chungking Express, Cowboy Smoke, and White Dog

2008-12-01T07:00:55-05:00

Here's hoping all our American readers had a nice Thanksgiving. The editor was planning on a nice Thanksgiving Day post to the front page, but he bloated himself on turkey and pie and fell into a coma. Happily the reviewers were still working! New DVD reviews include: Chungking Express: Criterion Collection - one of the great films of the '90s, it lingers like a personal memory long after its final frames have faded; Cowboy Smoke - this movie is a hell of a find, a small indie carrying a great big story. One of the year's finest independent works; and White Dog - Criterion Collection -a solid film that serves as a great showcase for a director who was not afraid to take chances. Other recent reviews include: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Black Metal Satanica, and Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps - Ballets by Uwe Scholz. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

New Movie Reviews: Australia, Transporter 3, Four Christmases

2008-11-28T22:50:10-05:00

Flamboyant director Baz Luhrmann emerges from self-imposed industry exile to direct Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in the extravagantly mounted outback adventure Australia. Jason Statham saddles up his growl and warms up his fists to return as Frank the driver in Transporter 3. And the holiday season is ruined by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon in the comedy Four Christmases. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Twilight, Bolt, Slumdog Millionaire, Quantum of Solace, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and I Can't Think Straight. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

TV on DVD: Hannah Montana, Mitzi Gaynor, and Monty Python

2008-11-27T07:00:10-05:00

More TV shows are popping up on DVD, and as long as the studios release them, DVDTalk's review panel will tell you which ones are worth picking up. Recent TV on DVD reviews include: Hannah Montana: The Complete First Season - A consistently funny laugh-getter, the shwo is a surprisingly strong sitcom - regardless of its tween origins; Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years - a triumphant reminder of the triple-threat talents of Mitzi Gaynor: dancer, singer, and actress; and The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus [second review]- The content has aged better than a fine wine and the wealth of supplemental material that accompanies it is both interesting and ridiculously funny. Other shows recently reviewed include: I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Series, Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection, and Jesus and Mary in Art. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Support our Sponsor: iNetVideo.com - find Entertainment for Less

2008-11-26T16:46:14-05:00

Are you on a budget or know someone who has gone to a high definition set up? Check out our list of amazing deals at iNetVideo.com on the DVDTalk Holiday Gift Guide. Featuring $3.99 HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs starting at only $9.99, iNetVideo.com is known for their low prices, but they also provide superior customer service including a live chat option to help you with your purchase. iNetVideo.com is the place to find entertainment for less this holiday season.

DVD Savant: 300, A Christmas Story, and Wall-E

2008-11-26T07:00:54-05:00

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: 300 Limited Collector's Edition - Zack Snyder turns 300 Spartans loose against a million Persians, by filming 40 gung-ho Greek soldiers against a blue screen. Big, impressive and faithful to Frank Miller's graphic novel -- and dedicated to the proposition that chopping up people is a virtue unto itself. In a very fancy box-set release; A Christmas Story [Blu-ray] - Warners Blu-ray gives us the best-looking version to date of the modern Christmas classic about tongues stuck to poles, fathers battling home heating furnaces and Christmas presents that will shoot your eye out. With a host of amusing extras; and WALL-E [Blu-ray] - Disney's 3-Disc Blu-ray gives us what might be the best movie of 2008 in a stunning presentation. Pixar's work is the pinnacle of animation entertainment. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Recently Announced Discs: Groundhog Day, Sidney Portier, and 400 Blows

2008-11-26T06:59:07-05:00

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: Groundhog Day [Blu-ray] - a film where Bill Murray has to live the same day over and over until he gets it right. 1-27-09; The Sidney Portier Collection - includes Edge Of The City, Something Of Value, A Warm December and A Patch Of Blue 1-27-09, and 400 Blows Francois Truffaut's first feature is an amazing film that should be a part of every film-lovers collection. This new release hits shelves on 2-10-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This Week's Notable DVDs: Hancock, Carlin, and The Spy

2008-11-25T07:00:10-05:00

With Thanksgiving coming up this week, it's a bit of a slow week for DVD releases though there are some good titles hitting the shelves. Some of the more notable titles include: Hancock: 2-Disc Unrated Special Edition [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - a fun action flick capitalizing on the popularity and charm of Will Smith that his fans should really appreciate; George Carlin: It's Bad For Ya [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - a special worthy of his name, this is a show full of material that's thoughtful and funny; and Spy Who Came in from the Cold - Criterion Collection [ DVD review]- a tremendously influential and powerful entry in the espionage genre, Richard Burton is fantastic as a secret agent at the end of his tether. Other releases of note include: 24: Redemption, Space Chimps [DVD review], and The Kingdom [Blu-ray review]. Be sure to check out our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

New DVD Reviews: Kung Fu Panda, Paris, Je T'Aime, and Gregory Peck

2008-11-24T07:00:05-05:00

Not sure what DVD to pop into the player after Thanksgiving dinner? Let the DVDTalk review staff help you out. Reviews of some of the more notable recent DVD releases include: Kung Fu Panda - an energetic and aptly-voiced animated narrative, chock full of action, humor, and heart; Paris, Je T'Aime (Steelbook) - a love letter to the City of Light, and a love letter to film making itself, there is no real clunker amongst the 18 segments; and The Gregory Peck Film Collection -including the classic To Kill a Mockingbird as well as six other films: Arabesque, Mirage, Captain Newman, M.D., Cape Fear, and World in His Arms. Other recent reviews include: Sukiyaki Western Django, Tropical Malady, and an incredibly entertaining review of The Genius Club. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

DVD Stalk: X-Files, Naschy, and Black Christmas

2008-11-21T09:40:01-05:00

With Halloween over and done with you might think that DVD Stalk would take November off, you know, for Thanksgiving or something, but as the old adage goes, there's no rest for the wicked. This month we look at: The X-Files - I Want To Believe which functions well as a stand-alone movie, one full of mystery, suspense, and sci-fi; The Paul Naschy Collection featuring five of the 'Spanish Lon Chaney's' more interesting films; and appropriately enough, Black Christmas - one of the most influential horror films of the seventies so it's fitting to see it released on Blu-ray. All this and more in this month's DVD Stalk! In case you missed them, check out our earlier installments where we covered Basket Case 2, Hostel Part II, and Planet Terror.

New Movie Reviews: Twilight, Bolt, and I Can't Think Straight

2008-11-21T07:18:23-05:00

The best-selling, tween-worshipped vampire saga by Stephenie Meyer receives a hotly anticipated big screen treatment in Twilight [2nd review]. John Travolta and Miley Cyrus provide spunky voices for Disney's animated superpooch adventure Bolt. And lesbians face off against Middle East political discomfort in the strained dramedy I Can't Think Straight. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Quantum of Solace, Slumdog Millionaire, Role Models, Soul Men, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Changeling, and High School Musical 3: Senior Year. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

TV on DVD: Fraggle Rock, The Cosby Show, and Monty Python

2008-11-20T07:00:47-05:00

What does a studio do after they're released every season of a TV show? Why release a complete series set of course! This week we're featuring reviews of the latest series boxed sets including: Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection - a fantastic show in an attractive binder with some fantastic bonus features; The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition - one of the great TV sitcoms of all time, period, no argument, and it should be in the library of any serious television comedy fan; and The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus - inarguably the most influential comedy troupe, and probably comedy television program, of the past 40 years. Get this set. Other shows recently reviewed include: Speed Racer - The Complete Classic Series Collection, The 4400: The Complete Series, and Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Collection. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.