DVD Talk: May 2008 Archives

Well, what do you know? The anime market has been slowly building momentum again and if some recent acquisitions are good news then you can expect many great things to come down the road. This time around Anime Talk has a few new shows to look at as well as some older releases and Francis Rizzo III joins us to offer up his opinions on Shin-Chan!a>.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: The 4400 - The Complete Fourth Season - a show that evolved with time, this final season of the show that's been described as "X-Men meets X-Files" comes highly recommended ; Lovejoy - The Complete Season Three - Light and charming, this British comedy/mystery series is a delight, and the kind of TV show we rarely see here on American TV; and Tchaikovsky - one of British conductor Charles Hazlewood's remarkable tours-de-force for UK television. Other shows include: The Catherine Tate Show - The Complete Second Series, Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: The Collection Volume 1, and The Wild Wild West - The Fourth Season. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This month Silent DVD has reviews of two great examples of early cinema: The Eclipse release Silent Ozu and the Flicker Alley presentation of the newly restored Abel Gance epic, La Roue. Both are excellent sets and well worth owning. We aslo have information and the full line up for this year's San Fransisco Silent Film Festival (which will include a screening of the Tod Browning/Lon Chaney classic The Unknown) as well as the latest news on upcoming Silent films on DVD including Kino's Slapstick Symposium Part III and Abel Gance's classic inditement of WWI: J'Accuse. All this and more in this month's Silent DVD.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: The One That Got Away - Hardy Krüger is the downed German pilot who keeps escaping, no matter how the RAF prison keepers lock him up. An often humorous story that would seem ridiculous if it weren't true; Villa Rides! - This big budget epic places big stars and the Mexican revolution in a frame suitable for a spaghetti western. Yul Brynner is Pancho Villa, Charles Bronson is a kill-happy rebel and Robert Mitchum a biplane pilot scouting for them against the federales. With Herbert Lom and Alexander Knox; and Baby It's You - John Sayles' coming of age drama is a superior oddball romance, between good girl Rosanna Arquette and bad boy Vincent Spano. Very worthwhile and unusual. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets [review] - Nicolas Cage returns to his role as treasure-hunter Ben Gates in action-packed edge-of-your-seat race to find the Lost City of Gold; Square Pegs [review] - a sincere, heartfelt cultural marker that was way ahead of its time; and The Delirious Fictions of William Klein [review]- a trio of films that are savagely satirical, picking apart celebrity culture, American arrogance and imperialism, and the false promises of technology.; Other releases of note include: Cranford, The Muppet Show - The Complete Third Season, and Penn & Teller - Bullsh*t! - The Complete Fifth Season. 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.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including some discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD Reviews include: The Thief of Bagdad - a beloved unique classic, this Technicolor fantasy is a must see; Man of the West - Brutal, raw, deceptively simple but in reality powerfully layered and complex, this film is flat-out one of the best American westerns ever made; and The Rat Pack Ultimate Collectors Edition - a set of four films featuring the coolest group of actors/musicians to ever come out of the American entertainment scene. Other recent reviews include: A Date with Judy, Sand and Sorrow, and Visions of Hell: The Films of Jim VanBebber. 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.

The land of lions, dwarves, witches, and swashbuckling mice roars backs to life in the one-dimensional Chronicles of Narnia sequel Prince Caspian. Malcolm in the Middle's Chris Masterson finds his soul while wandering around South America in The Art of Travel. And a getaway of group singing and college memories turns ugly in a hurry during The Wedding Weekend. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Speed Racer, Son of Rambow, Monster Camp, Rogue, Made of Honor, Surfwise, What Happens in Vegas, Iron Man, Baby Mama, and Redbelt. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

DVD Stalk is back for your monthly dose of digital horror. This time around we've got a look at mainstream titles like The Orphanage and Untraceable as well as more obscure fare you may have not noticed before, like Lurker Films' H.P. Lovecraft collections and Wicked Pixel's homegrown horror efforts. Throw in some Japanese oddities, a necrophagous, killer genitalia and Jim VanBebber and you've got yourself a horror column to die for!

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume Three - The Years of Change - The final installment of Indiana Jones' TV adventures is highly recommended and comes with a whopping supply of 31 documentaries and bonus features; Wildlife Specials - this set of eight high quality documentaries created by the BBC and hosted by David Attenborough is a very appealing package you'll definitely want to check out; and They Filmed the War in Color: Victory in Europe and The Pacific War - a stunning compilation of ultra-rare color footage of both civilian and military life during WWII, with surprisingly in-depth, thoughtful analysis. Other shows include: DNA, NOVA: Absolute Zero, and The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Merrill's Marauders - Sam Fuller takes on the Burma campaign in this much admired but little-shown big scale battle epic. It's Jeff Chandler's last film; The Skull - Peter Cushing carries this not-bad-at-all supernatural horror about the criminal cranium of none other than the Marquis de Sade, and its alarming habit of tearing people's throats out. Directed with style by Freddie Francis; also starring Christopher Lee and Patrick Wymark; and La Roue - Abel Gance's legendary 1923 silent movie surfaces in a magnificent restoration -- all 4.5 hours of it! This story of love and loss in the family of a railroad engineer is a milestone of cinematic innovation, hailed as the next step past D.W. Griffith and a strong influence on the direction of world cinema. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week we feature a film that isn't for the faint of heart: Frontier(s). After a group pulls off a daring heist, they hide out in a seemingly peaceful inn. But the mysterious innkeeper is hiding a secret more terrifying than anything they could ever imagine. Trapped in an endless maze of tunnels crawling with hungry subhuman cannibals, they must fight to survive their bloody initiation into the innkeeper's evil family cult. Frontier(s) is the latest installment in the After Dark Horrorfest series of DVDs released by Lions Gate Entertainment and is a "gripping French import that serves up the goods for hardcore horror film fans". Check out the trailer to this "memorable horror entry" that's filled with "style, energy and overall excess."

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: Indiana Jones - The Adventure Collection [review] - One of the best action trilogies ever filmed, these classic movies get a new release just before the fourth Indian Jones flick hits the theaters; Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Blu-ray) [review] - the movie looks and sounds phenomenal on Blu-ray. If that isn't enough, the stunning visuals, charming cast, and childlike sense of awe and wonder are sure to win viewers over; and The Lovers - Criterion Collection [review]- Louis Malle creates a sexy movie about sexual freedom that self-reflexively comments on the perils of getting what you wish for.; Other releases of note include: Two and a Half Men - The Complete Third Season, Twelfth Night [review], and The Big Trail [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.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including some discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD Reviews include: I'm Not There - a film that places a classic cultural icon in proper perspective, this set offers a quality representation of an equally important film; Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie - a delight to watch, presenting constant laughs and elastic visuals that make the film a unique experience; and King Corn - an entertaining and informative look at why corn has become the primarily component of the American diet and its impacts on the health of American consumers.; Other recent reviews include: Military Intelligence And You!, Tre, and Steel City. 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.

The Wachowski Brothers return to the big screen with their valentine to the cult Japanese anime series Speed Racer. DVD Talk film critics Brian Orndorf and Jamie S. Rich were not pleased with the results. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz engage in a battle of the sexes in the awful romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas. And World of Warcraft addicts taste the dragon-slaying reality of NERO in Monster Camp. Also in theaters: Dorian Paskowitz and the story of his enormous surfing brood is explored in Surfwise. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Iron Man, Son of Rambow, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Rogue, Made of Honor, Redbelt, Prom Night, and Google Me. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Friday Night Lights: The Second Season - Superlative in every sense, if you haven't yet fallen in love with this series, it's because you haven't seen an episode; Nova: Secrets of the Parthenon - irresistibly engrossing as it details the mind-boggling restoration of the Parthenon -- as well as the equally astounding original construction of the iconic ideal of Western civilization; The Color Honeymooners (Collection 3) - while the added length, the cast changes, the addition of color and musical numbers, make this a significantly different show than the "Classic 39" we all love, this incarnation does offer its own unique charm; Other shows include: Nova: Astrospies, Ben 10: Race Against Time, and Oprah Winfrey Presents Mitch Albom's for One More Day. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Here's another edition of Anime Talk for you to pour through! We've reviewed some very interesting and entertaining shows this time around. From the panty-shot heavy Agent Aika to the absolutely superb Death Note there is a lot of variety in the market right now and to be honest there's something for everyone. We also take a look at a show that's "technically" not anime but in many ways it deserves a look for otaku seeking something else to watch. Check out all this and more in this week's Anime Talk.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Fox Western Classics - An excellent and budget priced trio of great 50s' oaters -- a classic, a good suspense picture and a cult oddity blending weird landscapes with the music of Bernard Herrmann: The Gunfighter, Rawhide, Garden of Evil; Serial - A bawdy comedy from 1980 that assaults Marin County sexual libertarians with devastatingly funny jokes that don't quite add up to a coherent satire. Yet there's no denying that the farce has its good qualities -- mostly in its laugh quotient; and Death of a Cyclist - Juan Antonio Bardem's masterpiece uses Italian actors and resembles an American noir thriller, but concocts a specifically Spanish drama of class guilt and violent atonement. Starring Italian heartthrob Lucia Bosé.; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie - In their theatricaly released feature film, Joel and the 'bots riff 1955's This Island Earth. Back in print once again, snag it while you can; Teeth [review] - Though not for everyone, this daring and original dark comedy has enough campy laughs and blood to please those willing to take the plunge; and P.S. I Love You [review]- Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler star in this film about a dead husband sending his wife letters from beyond the grave and instructing her how to live; Other releases of note include: I'm Not There, La Roue, Saawariya [Blu-ray] [review], and Delirious [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.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including some discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD Reviews include: The Big Trail - one of the most visually spectacular Westerns ever, it also introduced the man soon to become the biggest star in the history of motion pictures; Party 7 - Katsuhito Ishii's second feature is a hilarious hodgepodge of post-Pulp Fiction quirks. Oh yeah, and it's great; and Mannequin & Mannequin 2: On the Move - Okay, why feature a disc devoted to one of movie history's worst franchises on the front page? Because the review is hilarious. Read it; Other recent reviews include: The Lovers - Criterion Collection, Karaoke Terror: The Complete Japanese Showa Songbook, Bamako, and Fiorile. 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.

Robert Downey Jr. proves himself a remarkable superhero asset in Jon Favreau's thrilling comic-book adventure Iron Man. Patrick Dempsey struggles to breathe in the smothering romantic comedy Made of Honor. And David Mamet explores honor and Jiu-Jitsu in Redbelt. Also in theaters: Director Garth Jennings finds rich pockets of humor with childhood dreams of Sylvester Stallone in Son of Rambow, actor Jim Killeen looks at the search engine ties that bind in Google Me, A monster crocodile is on the loose in Craig Mclean's Rogue, and Magnolia Pictures tees up two action features: Kiltro and Mirageman. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Deception, Baby Mama, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Then She Found Me, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Life Before Her Eyes, Prom Night, and 88 Minutes. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

The bridge between the comedy and anime halves of the [adult swim] line-up, "Shin Chan" blends an anime look with very American comedy to create a unique series for the nighttime TV destination. Jared Hedges, Joel Bergen and Alex Muniz are the twisted minds who write the English langage scripts for the originally Japanese show about an unusual six-year-old with an unusual family. With a second season of the series starting on [adult swim] and new DVDs hitting stores in May, the guys made an appearance at the New York ComicCon in April to promote the series, and spent a moment with Francis Rizzo III to talk about how they make a "Shin Chan" episode. Read the entire interview here

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including:: Intelligence: Season One - The best new television crime drama since HBO's The Wire; Doctor Who - The Time Warrior - a strong episode from the show's own Middle Ages, a simpler time both in terms of its setting and the charming comparative simplicity of the production coupled with some fine writing and performances; Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Season One - a glossy, enthusiastic television documentary series that promotes environmentally-friendly change through individual consumer choices; Other shows include: The Big Gay Sketch Show: The Complete First Season, A Raisin in the Sun, and WWE - Twist of Fate: The Matt and Jeff Hardy Story. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.