DVD Talk: May 2016 Archives

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: Hail, Caesar! - Ethan and Joel Coen's affectionate look at Hollywood circa 1951 may be lightweight, but it's bright, breezy and funny at all times; The Player - a film that is just getting better with age and A/V quality on this Criterion release is stunning; and 99 River Street - this classic film noir is teeming with surprises, every last one of which are well-earned rather than clumsy attempts at yanking the rug out from under the audience. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Check out DVD Talk's latest reviews of movies that are in theatrical release. This week's crop includes: The Nice Guys - fun, clever, refrains from being goofy, and breathes life into the all but dead the buddy-cop movie and X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) - despite some relatively strong hype, the X-Men franchise has finally hit its decline with this film... a mediocre delivery building on the two previous features that promised so much more. Other recent films include: Captain America: Civil War, Tale of Tales, The Jungle Book, The Huntsman: Winter's War, 10 Cloverfield Lane.. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto home video recently including: Casual: Season One - a show that finds a fresh character dynamic that allows even some of the less inventive elements of its premise to become exciting and new again; Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Complete Series - this Japanese series that was used to create the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the US is a very fun and enjoyable show that's filled with wacky, bizarre villains and some good action; and Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume II (Shout! Factory Edition) - this reissue of the OOP set originally released by Rhino is a faultless collection of feature-length episodes and shorts from one of TV's finest and funniest comedies... there's not an underperformer in this bunch. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Several great movies and programs have come out recently, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Zapped! - Scott Baio stars in this silly bit of â€˜80s sex-comedy fun... undoubtedly enjoyable as a memento of a different time when you could use your telekinesis to perv on girls without being brought up on charges; The Chase - an underappreciated, wildly unconventional slice of noir relegated too long to substandard public domain releases has finally stormed onto Blu-ray; and The Private Affairs of Bel Ami - an outstanding new transfer of this little-remembered but worthy adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's novel from 1947... George Sanders is at his oily best and Angela Lansbury is a youthful revelation. 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 reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Deadpool - a superhero movie that doesn't take itself deadly seriously and is willing to have a little fun; The Witch - the scariest, most disturbing and just-plain best made horror film in ages, Robert Eggers' film deserves a harvest basket of praise; and Julia - popular and acclaimed, but still somehow one of the great unsung films of the 1970s, Fred Zinnemann's film about playwright Lillian Hellman overflows with the kinds of things that have become extremely rare in Hollywood movies today: subtlety, unspoken emotion, ambiguity, and richly woven characterizations expressed with a minimum of action and dialogue. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Cop Rock: The Complete Series - if you missed this show the first time around, it's deserving of your viewing now... Steven Bochco (Hill Street Blues) tested the bounds of what could be done in a TV show with this musical police drama; Cinema Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood - this interesting PBS documentary traces the impact that Hitler's rise to power had on the film industry in both Germany and America; and Heroes Reborn: Event Series - taking place several years after the conclusion to the original series, this show is a bit darker in tone and goes in some wacky directions. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Some pretty cool discs have made their way to store shelves over this week. Check out these new titles: Dark Passage [review] - this Humphry Bogart/Lauren Bacall feature is loaded with noir style and is ripe with tension and suspense; and The Naked Island: Criterion Collection [review] - Kaneto Shindo's film is equal parts beauty and despair, examining a small family unit toiling away in near isolation while the natural world spins without stopping for them; and Too Late for Tears [review] - Byron Haskin directs this 1949 film noir thriller, a strong film noir entry that stars the beautiful Lizabeth Scott as a consummate femme fatale... the direction is tight, the pacing is quick and the story is tense. 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 cool discs have been reviewed over the past week. Check out these recent entries: Dillinger - John Milius' film is a bloody, entertaining gangster biopic filled with shoot-outs and one-liners and displays the rogue charms of its director; Trailer Trauma 2: Drive-In Monsterama - packed with just shy of a hundred trailers and every last one of 'em has been newly-transferred in 4K from 35mm elements., this sequel is bigger and better all around; and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton are fantastic as a dysfunctional married couple that spends a booze-filled evening tormenting some houseguests. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: In a Lonely Place [review] - this Humphrey Bogart feature is an excellent film, a thriller with plenty of romance and drama that really benefits from some great performances and impressively tight direction by Nicholas Ray; and Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope [review] - Time-Life presents three Bob Hope USO Christmas tours- two during the Vietnam War in 1969 and 1970 and one from 1951 during the Korean War; and The Manhattan Project [review] - a fun watch, an entertaining mix of effective comedy and solid suspense done with a decidedly â€˜eighties' style. 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.

Our reviewers have been busy this week, filling the DVD Talk Review Database more great entries. Some new reviews of note include: A Fine Pair - Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale are the unlikely couple at the center of the romantic caper comedy that is silly fun; A Prayer for the Dying - Director Mike Hodges' film is a modern western with some moments of explosive action and a characteristically moody Mickey Rourke in the lead; and Melinda - for fans of '70s blaxploitation, this is a must-see... great performances and assured writing and direction make this a cut above typical grindhouse fare. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

It would be a great week to go to the movies. Here are DVD Talk's recent theatrical reviews: Captain America: Civil War - undeniably one of the better films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... it is a lot of fun; Tale of Tales - three strange and morbid tales of kings and magic taken from the writings of 17th Century Italian poet Giambattista Basile; and Midnight Special - director Jeff Nichols' latest offering is a nice work, but while the pieces really were all prepared to slide together they just got stuck in the mud before they had the chance. Other recent films include: The Jungle Book, The Huntsman: Winter's War, Hardcore Henry, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Deadpool, Zoolander 2, Hail, Caesar!, and Room. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: The Jim Gaffigan Show: Season 1 - Gaffigan's comedy cuts across plenty of demographics, with an act that's quirky yet relatable and his sitcom offers more of what people already enjoy about him; Crazylegs Crane - these cartoons are a bit simple, but definitely funny and it's amazing how good they look on this disc; and Nickelodeon Favorites: Whiskers & Paws - this themed variety collection is cute enough with a broad range of shows and more than 2.5 hours of total content. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Fans of quality Blu-ray releases should be familar with Arrow Video, a British label that first officially crossed over to the R1 side of the Atlantic early last year. Releasing an expansive yet carefully curated slate of titles, Arrow funds and oversees the remastering of much of what they release. The results over the past few years have invariably been achingly gorgeous. Filled with copious extras and impressive booklets Arrow's releases are something to watch for and this hardcover book is no exception. Cult Cinema: An Arrow Video Companion collects twenty standout essays from Arrow's catalog along with ten new pieces, each penned by a seasoned film critic, cult cinema historian, or filmmaker. The result is immediately striking, from its painted cover art by the legendary Graham Humphreys to the weight of its glossy pages. Every one of these essays strikes a brilliant balance between being entertaining and genuinely informative, and the book comes highly recommended.

There are some new titles coming out that might make it worth a trip to the video store this week. Check out these recent releases: Top Gun [review] - one of the biggest blockbuster films of the eighties, Top Gun is still a fun watch, though a little dated; and Arabian Nights [review] - director Migues Gomes uses the framework of the Persian fables to tell the personal tale of the many socioeconomic problems Portugal has faced since the economic collapse in 2008... the sheer ambition is hard not to praise; and A Kiss Before Dying [review] - while this film never quite hits masterpiece status, it is well-directed, tightly paced, and comprised of good technical values and very solid acting from an interesting cast. 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 a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD reviews include: The Revenant - an easy film to get completely absorbed by and the end result is often jaw-dropping and will likely stick in your mind for days afterwards; What's The Worst That Could Happen? - a meager attempt to pair up two completely opposite performers (Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito) but a handful of solid belly-laughs and quotable lines end up salvaging, to some extent, what many consider to be a missed opportunity; and Winners Tape All - the faux documentary will no doubt work for many as a nostalgia trip to the pre-Netflix era, when you would browse rental stores for hours and sometimes take chances on the lesser-known titles Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.