DVD Talk: April 2014 Archives

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Get Carter - Michael Caine turns heads as a pitiless mob killer dealing out vengeance to the killers of his brother in Mike Hodges' powerful, influential modern gangster thriller; Broadway Danny Rose - Woody Allen settles on Mia Farrow as his longest-running love interest in this warm-hearted ode to a low-rent talent agent; and Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation - James Stewart suffers through a summer with the whole family, putting up with various forms of abuse and familial chaos. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Hill Street Blues: The Complete Series [review] - this is the show that started the trend towards more mature dramas on TV... an outstanding show that still plays well today; Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Volume 3 [review] - a must-have for animation buffs and a set guaranteed to enchant children and adults alike heretofore unfamiliar with these phantasmagorical cartoons; and Demons [review] - presented here completely uncut, seasoned fans of director Jess Franco's unconventional work should find much to appreciate here. Other reviews of note include These Birds Walk [review] , Black Torment [review], and The Rise and Fall Of The Clash [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.

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Touch of Evil - this bravura set includes three separate versions of Orson Welles' tale of murder and menace along with several commentaries and documentaries as extras; Sorcerer - this remake of The Wages of Fear is one of the most masterful and criminally overlooked films from the 1970s, and has at long last been lavished with the exceptional presentation it deserves; and Rita, Sue and Bob Too - the funny performances, sharp script, and inventively choreographed camerawork are just as memorable now as when the film was first released. Other recent reviews include: Wild at Heart, After Tiller, and Inspector Lavardin Collection. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Planning a trip to the local multiplex this weekend? Here are DVD Talk's reviews of the latest theatrical releases: Locke - an intriguing character study that ultimately succeeds in not only keeping its audiences entertained, but making us intrigued by this man's journey to keep a promise that he made to himself; Finding Vivian Maier - this documentary about an unknown artist will leave you both fascinated and inspired; The Other Woman (2014) - this romcom that tells a story of friendship, morale, and revenge just isn't very funny. Other recent films include: Transcendence, Blue Ruin , Draft Day, Oculus, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Noah, Nymphomaniac: Volume II, The Raid 2: Berandal, Muppets Most Wanted, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, and Bad Words. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

DVD Talk reviewer Jeff Nelson had a chance to sit down with Aaron and Abe at Out Now last week and talk about the latest releases. The main topic of discussion was Transcendence, among other things currently happening in entertainment news. You'll get a chance to hear what our most prolific theatrical reviewer thinks of the current crop of movies in this podcast. Click here to access the podcast and jump to 2:45 if you want to skip ahead to where Jeff joins the discussion. You can also keep track of Jeff's latest reviews in our theatrical section where his latest reviews are posted every week.

More TV shows have made their way on to DVD and Blu-ray, and DVD Talk has got them covered. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including: Star Trek: Enterprise - Season Four - from top to bottom, this fourth season represents the best Enterprise to date and is undoubtedly worth the price of admission; Angry Birds Toons - it's hard to ignore the charm of these ubiquitous bird, as they're witty, hilarious and highly reminiscent of the days when we used to watch Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry; and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts: Fully Roasted - a playful, mildly anarchic spirit rules the day in these 17 roasts making for a highly amusing collection of solid comedy. Other shows recently reviewed include: Rawhide: The Seventh Season, Volume 1, The Carol Burnett Show: Carol's Crack Ups, and Is this a Zombie! Season 1. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia - Sam Peckinpah either found the perfect expression for his nihilistic world view with this movie, or he went absolutely freaking nuts.; Used Cars - Bob Zemeckis and Bob Gale chalk up another anarchic comedy, this time a raunchy satire that equates American enterprise with chicanery, fraud and appeals to the baser instincts. Sign me up; and Men in War - This well-received "lost patrol" combat film is an intense low budget effort made by top talent... It got its reputation by sticking to a tough-minded, realistic script and giving free rein to an excellent cast. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Riot in Cell Block 11 [review] - a smart film that raises some issues to which there aren't a lot of easy answers... this Criterion Blu-ray is excellent in pretty much every regard; The Pawnbroker [review] - a great looking and sounding presentation marks the perfect time to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with this forgotten classic; and La Maison de la Radio [review] - by presenting a kaleidoscope of many little elements that go into the creation of public radio programming, director Nicolas Philibert has crafted a fascinating, quietly joyful film. Other reviews of note include Lady Whirlwind / Hapkido [review] , Master of the House [review], and Scream Park [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.

Some really excellent discs have been released lately... just take a look at these Highly Recommended titles: Fargo: Remastered Edition - this classic from the Coen Brothers faultlessly treads the line between idiosyncratic comedy and nailbiter tension; Double Indemnity - 70th Anniversary Limited Edition - a film noir classic that takes one's breath away even after multiple viewings; and Norma Rae: 35th Anniversary - Sally Field an Academy Award for this film that seeks to remind us of the importance of the unity of people, and also the profound impact that can be felt because of the determination of a few. Other recent reviews include: Demons, The First Time, and Dead Shadows. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Planning a trip to the local multiplex this weekend? Here are DVD Talk's reviews of the latest theatrical releases: Transcendence - an interesting premise with crucial social commentary hidden underneath the massive flood of issues, and pacing is incredibly slow making the film feel much longer than it actually is; Blue Ruin - one of the most unique revenge thrillers to come about in the past decade... this is a powerful feature that has put writer/director Jeremy Saulnier on the list of the top filmmakers to watch; Hank and Asha - Director James E. Duff puts us right in the middle of this love story as it develops, making it feel as important as one of our own relationships. Other recent films include: Draft Day, Oculus, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Noah, Nymphomaniac: Volume II, The Raid 2: Berandal, Muppets Most Wanted, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, Bad Words, Need for Speed, and Veronica Mars. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Little House on the Prairie - Season One & The Pilot Movie

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Little House on the Prairie - Season One & The Pilot Movie - now on Blu-ray, this superb and unique series began impressively, realistically depicting harsh, often grueling and cruel pioneer life, seen through the eyes of a young girl; Teen Titans Go: Mission to Misbehave - Season 1, Part 1 - exciting, fun, and a comedic goldmine, this show reunites the original Teen Titans voice cast for animated sketch-comedy; and NYPD Blue: Season Five - season 5 of this police drama demonstrates that the show could transcend its signature gimmicks and still hold TV viewers' rapt attention. Other shows recently reviewed include: Criminal Minds: The Eighth Season, My Mother the Car: The Complete Series, and The Bletchley Circle: Season 2. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant is attending the TCM Classic Film Festival, which means his posts will be a little sparse this week. To tide you over, here are some recent articles you may have missed: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad - The new HD transfer for this Ray Harryhausen's two production is good, and completely rescues the fire from the greenish murk of most previous versions; The Puppetoon Movie - Arnold Leibovit's theatrical collection of George Pal Puppetoon short subjects is just the headliner item on this two-disc collection. The 1987 feature contains a number of Puppetoons, but twenty more are included as extras;; and The Most Impressive Discs of 2013 - Now in its 13th year, here's a roundup of the best releases from last year... this is the armload of last year's discs the Savant would save if my house were sucked into an interdimensional black hole, and he could only make one trip to the shelves; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: Ride Along [review] - main of this buddy cop comedy is the great chemistry created by Kevin Hart's manic energy and Ice Cube's stoic grouchiness; Breaking the Waves [review] - this film is director Lars von Trier's most emotionally substantial work; and Sleep, My Love [review] - Douglas Sirk's 1948 melodrama, melds noir aesthetics with what would become the famed filmmaker's signature storytelling to create a wonderful picture. Other reviews of note include Men in War [review] , Philomena [review], and Interior. Leather Bar. [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.

Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Volume 3

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD reviews include: Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Volume 3 - Olive Films' best collection of Max and Dave Fleischer cartoons to date; Riot in Cell Block 11 - a smart film that raises some issues to which there aren't a lot of easy answers and this Criterion Blu-ray is excellent in pretty much every regard; and Show Boat - a landmark film, one still quite emotionally powerful, adult, and captivating it just has to be seen. Other recent reviews include: King Kong Escapes, Zatch Bell Collection, and Pig. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Before you head off to the cinema this weekend, check out DVD Talk's reviews of the latest releases including: Draft Day - Kevin Costner stars as the GM of the Cleveland Browns in the first real surprise of 2014... it is a lot of fun; Oculus - an eerie film that defies expectations and delivers on both its scares and its intelligent sense of storytelling; Jodorowsky's Dune - a ripping yarn about director Alejandro Jodorowky's aborted mid-1970s adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune that deserves to be seen as more than just a niche film; and Under the Skin - Jonathan Glazer's adaptation of Michel Faber's violent science-fiction novel is a film that people will either love or hate, but it is the kind of movie that obsessive cinephiles could talk about for hours on end . Other recent films include: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Noah, Nymphomaniac: Volume II, The Raid 2: Berandal, Muppets Most Wanted, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, Bad Words, Need for Speed, Veronica Mars, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Wind Rises, and The Lego Movie (3D). Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Ranma 1/2 Set 1 - This classic anime series is funny, exciting, and has a surprising amount of heart.... and Viz gets everything right with this HD release; Dr. Kildare: The Complete Second Season - a wealth of intelligent, finely-wrought dramas, beautifully packaged and delivered, episode after episode; and William & Mary: The Complete Collection - a wonderfully romantic yet realistic dramedy from the UK staring Martin Clunes. Other shows recently reviewed include: Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIX, George Gently - Series 6, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012): Mutagen Mayhem. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: King Kong vs. Godzilla - Goofy dialogue and Universal stock music peg the classic confrontation of the atomic dragon and the hairy ape as a kiddie attraction plain and simple; The Hidden Fortress - Toshiro Mifune must trick two foolish runaway soldiers into helping him sneak a princess through enemy lines... it's high adventure in good humor; and Riot in Cell Block 11 - Don Siegel made his name as a maker of hard hitting genre thrillers in this prison riot/exposÃ© of prison conditions. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug [review] - Action packed with a constantly moving narrative, this film takes plenty of liberties with the Tolkien source but expands into a grand cinematic adventure; August: Osage County [review] - With its arrival to video, those who have only heard about this movie have little excuse left to miss out on engaging performances from Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and Margo Martindale; and Young at Heart [review] - Gordon Douglas' 1954 romance is an enjoyable melodrama that effectively uses the seemingly unlikely pairing of good girl Doris Day and bad boy Frank Sinatra. Other reviews of note include I Am Divine [review] , A Touch of Sin [review], and Bang! Bang! You're Dead! [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.

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: Persona: The Criterion Collection - Ingmar Bergman's Persona challenges the audience's perception of identity and psychosis in ways that continue to influence the psychological-drama genre, ; The Pawnbroker - This great-looking and great-sounding presentation marks the perfect time to acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with this forgotten classic; and Men in War - A low-budget combat drama with the intensity of a paranoid thriller, this movie is an exciting, tough, and surprisingly suspenseful film. Other recent reviews include: Sleep, My Love, Vitaphone Comedy Collection, Volume Two: Shemp Howard (1933-1937), and 5 Fingers. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

It'd be a good weekend to go to the movies. Here are DVDTalk's recent theatrical reviews: Captain America: The Winter Soldier - a fun action feature that is an entertaining ride and improves upon the first one; Afflicted - this film proves that there are still filmmakers out there who are coming up with unique ideas, who enjoy keeping us on the edge of our seats; Nymphomaniac: Volume II - an impressive way for Lars von Trier to end his Depression Trilogy, as he utilizes unique story mechanics that many filmmakers would never dream of attempting. Other recent films include: Noah, The Raid 2: Berandal, Muppets Most Wanted, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, Bad Words, Need for Speed, Veronica Mars, The Grand Budapest Hotel, 300: Rise of an Empire, The Wind Rises, The Monuments Men, and The Lego Movie (3D). Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Legit: Season 1 - an irreverent and highly recommended crowd-pleaser that pretty much manages to stay true to its creator Jim Jefferies' stand-up persona; Monsters: Complete Series - Fans of horror anthology series should definitely check out this fun and enjoyable show; and Passion Flower - a surprisingly good made-for-TV retro-noir with a complicated and frequently witty script. Other shows recently reviewed include: The Story of Medicine: Pain, Pus & Poison, K - Complete Series, and Beware the Batman: Shadows of Gotham. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: The Front - Woody Allen thought so much of this project about the blacklisting of writers and entertainers that he broke his personal policy to act in a movie made by others; Cry Danger - Dick Powell is in top form as a tough-guy hero fresh from prison and bent on finding out who framed him for robbery and murder; and The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah - Robert Aldrich finally gets to exercise his apocalyptic muscles in a Biblical spectacle with big stars and a huge production filmed in Morocco. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Conquer the demon. Defend the realm. Kick some ass! Fantasy and reality collide on the Fields of Evermore in KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM, available now on Blu-ray and DVD. When a group of Live Action Role Players inadvertently summon a blood-lusting succubus from the pits of Hell, three best friends (Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn and Ryan Kwanten) and one incredibly hot babe (Summer Glau) must prove they are more than just make-believe warriors and become true heroes. Enter now for your chance to win one of 5 copies of KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM on DVD from Entertainment One.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues [review] - the hype machine made it impossible for this film to meet expectations, but there are some quality moments, especially if you happen to be a fan of the many big names who pass by the screen at one point or another L'Immortelle [review] - Alain Robbe-Grillet's inaugural directorial effort is interesting, artsy, sexy and fairly compelling; and Meet Him and Die [review] - a fast paced, violent film that features a dashing hero often fighting and shooting his way out of trouble to serve the greater good. 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.