DVD Talk: October 2016 Archives

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: X-Men: Apocalypse (4K Ultra HD) - the film offers a lot of frenetic action and flashy effects and the cast is solid across the board; McCabe & Mrs. Miller - this Robert Altman movie is a thought provoking film that plays towards the clichÃ©s of westerns while simultaneously taking those clichÃ©s in interesting and unexpected directions; and The Wailing - mysticism, moral dilemmas, and the battle between light and dark fill this thriller hinged on a disease that has emerged and spread upon the arrival of a stranger within a Korean town. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

The goofy charm of the 1960s Batman television series, starring Adam West and Burt Ward, holds a special spot in the hearts of fans across several generations. Old fans and new alike will have a chance to meet those heroes all over again in the new animated adventure Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, which will remind many of a far less dark knight, while still offering some surprises. DVDTalkâ€™s Francis Rizzo III had a chance to speak with director Rick Morales and writers Michael Jelenic and James Tucker to find out from where they drew their inspiration, any concerns they had about putting West back in the cowl and their thoughts on ruining childhoods. Listen to their entire discussion here.

Before you head off to the cinema this weekend, check out DVD Talk's reviews of the latest releases including: Doctor Strange - Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme in this wholly satisfying piece of mainstream entertainment; Jack Reacher: Never Go Back - Jack Reacher on the road again, doing good because he can, walking away because he wants to; and The Handmaiden - writer/director Park Chan-wook executes the story's series of twists and turns in a way that constantly keeps the audience guessing until its final frame Other recent films include: The Girl on the Train, Deepwater Horizon, The Birth of a Nation, Kubo and the Two Strings, Sully, Don't Breathe, Pete's Dragon, Sausage Party , Suicide Squad, The Neon Demon, The BFG, and Finding Dory. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! Recent notable entries include: Chicago Med: Season One - the sister series of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D., viewers are given an up-close and personal view of what takes place each and every day throughout the halls of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center; The Wonder Years: Season 6 - this season brings the series to a close with all the warmth and drama and humor you would want from the show... the writing and performances are uniformly excellent as is the series' production values, attention to period detail and use of music; and Superstore - not a great show... even at its mediocre best, this program never does more than rely on what came before it as a guideline for where to go next. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Returning to the character that made him a TV icon, Adam West dons the cowl of Batman once again as he provides his well-known voice for the new animated feature Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, arriving on home video on November 1st. This new feature captures a similar feel to the popular 1960s television series, but takes it in an entirely different direction. DVDTalkâ€™s Francis Rizzo III had a chance to sit down with West at New York Comic Con to chat about working with a new and old collaborators, the state of the TV industry and his advice for other Batmen. Listen to the whole interview here.

Another banner week for home video with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: The Executioner: Criterion Collection - director Luis GarcÃa Berlanga's incisive and brilliant critique of the death penalty holds up quite well more than 50 years later, and Criterion's terrific and long-overdue Blu-ray serves up a flawless 4K-sourced transfer and a handful of extras that help cement its place in Spanish pop culture; The Exorcist III - an excellent sequel that stands on its own merits... intriguing and often frightening, the film benefits from excellent performances and a compelling story; and Manhattan Baby - one of the most exceptional special edition releases of Lucio Fulci's work on Blu-ray to date, boasting a couple of hours' worth of extras, a soundtrack CD, and an indescribably gorgeous presentation. 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.

TBSâ€™s newest comedy, People of Earth, starring former Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac, kicks off a 10-episode season, appropriately enough, on Halloween, October 31st. Cenac plays a journalist who gets sucked into strange happenings in the small upstate New York town of Beacon, the home of a support group for people who have had encounters with extraterrestrials. The show, which features an all-star cast including Ana Gasteyer, H. Jon Benjamin, Brian Huskey and more, is a comedy first, but has an off-kilter mythology and serial story at its core that gives it a different feel than most half-hour comedies. DVDTalkâ€™s Francis Rizzo III had a chance to sit down with stars Cenac, Oscar Nunez, Alice Wetterlund, Daâ€™Vine Joy Randolph and Michael Cassidy, along with Executive Producer David Kissinger and writer/director David Jenkins at the New York Comic Con to talk aliens, improv and where the producers have hidden the showâ€™s ending. Listen to the whole interview here.

Check out the latest reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Highlander - 30th Anniversary Edition - not a traditionally "great" movie, yet it is great... an utterly delightful slice of completely uninhibited insanity and its inventiveness is infectious; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - the film's jaw-dropping production design, artful compositions, terrific acting, and stunning fight choreography are still a joy to watch; and Boiling Point - a darkly comedic look at violence and honor among thieves delivered in director Takeshi Kitano's inimitable style. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this 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: Banshee: The Complete Fourth Season - this fourth and final season is a fine conclusion for the show and offers closure for the characters; Gotham: The Complete Second Season - this second season amplifies the already-exaggerated elements of the first season making the show a bit of a mess; and The Good Wife: The Final Season - while this show was fun at times and downright superb in others, the show's creators made some poor story choices in the last couple of years that led to its demise, culminated in a finale that was disappointing and strange. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

There are a few new releases this week that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection - this collection, which offers high-definition transfers of the brothers first five films in newly-restored versions, likely looks and sounds as good as these movies ever will and offers a nice spread of extras that should appeal to fans; Trilogia de Guillermo del Toro: Criterion Collection - Criterion's handsomely-designed set collects three of director Guillermo del Toro finest films: Cronos, The Devil's Backbone, and Pan's Labyrinth; and The Pit - a gloriously strange movie that leapss back and forth between a psychological drama/thriller, straight-up comedy, and visceral horror. 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: Ghostbusters - this is a bold commercial step, grafting a female ensemble comedy onto an existing big-ticket franchise, but in this case it certainly works; Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates - a goofy, raunchy comedy blessed with a fantastic cast; and The Legend of Tarzan - it's nice that someone wanted to try and find new ground with a familiar character, but the result it does more harm to the figure than good. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

TV on DVD and Blu-ray remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Modern Family - Season 7 - seven seasons in, this show remains one of the tightest-written sitcoms on network TV, with excellent wordplay and intertwined plots that leave none of the show's large cast on the sideline for long; Salem's Lot (1979) - in this 1979 television adaptation of Stephen King's novel, director Tobe Hooper provides spooks and dread after a slow first half; and Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever - this two-hour televised show celebrating Motown's 25th anniversary is as timeless as ever... the music is vibrant and infectious, and the performances have enough variety to keep the show from going stale. 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: The Thing - John Carpenter's remake of Howard Hawks' 1950's classic remains one of the better horror films since its release 25 years ago; The Hills Have Eyes - Wes Craven's 70s low budget horror classic shows a talented genre director being able to squeeze a classic out of the meager opportunities he was given; and The Astro-Zombies - Ted V. Mikels' 1968 movie is definitely an endurance test of a film, but it is not without its own bizarre charm. 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.

DVDTalk's Francis Rizzo III sat down with author Kevin Smokler at New York Comic Con to talk about his new book, Brat Pack America, hitting stores October 11, from Rare Bird Books. Brat Pack America looks at the importance of location in '80s teen movies, both in terms of where they were set and where they were shot. Rizzo III talks with Smokler about the research that went into the book, some of the '80s icons who didn't make it into the final draft and what exactly is an '80s movie. See the whole interview here.

Our reviewers have been busy this week, filling the DVD Talk Review Database more great entries. Some new reviews of note include: Transformers: The Movie -surprisingly good, the film loads up on the big robot battles as well as the peril to the heroes... it's definitely a fun time; Hunt for the Wilderpeople - an oddball comedy from director Taika Waititi... a movie that will remind you why you began loving movies in the first place.; and Tenebrae - a stylish and exciting horror film and a fairly delightful rebuke by director Dario Argento that takes the complaints usually lobbed at horror directors and lobs them right back at them. 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 week to go to the movies. Here are DVD Talk's recent theatrical reviews: The Girl on the Train [a 2nd review] - Emily Blunt stars in this adaptaion of the best-selling book directed by Tate Taylor that gets off to a strong start, but ultimately goes a bit too far off the rails; Deepwater Horizon - everything you could wish for from an end-of-the-summer blockbuster, with the added attraction of actually being a well-made stand-alone film; and The Birth of a Nation [a 2nd review] - Nate Parker wrote, directed, and stars in this controversial drama... this film is a shout, which is easily heard but not meant to be enjoyed . Other recent films include: Kubo and the Two Strings, Sully, Don't Breathe, Pete's Dragon, Sausage Party , Suicide Squad, The Neon Demon, The BFG, and Finding Dory.. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto home video recently including: Dexter: The Complete Series - one of the best shows to have graced television in the last 20 years, and remains just as engaging and entertaining as it did throughout its initial run; Dekalog: Criterion Collection - Krzysztof Kieslowski's ten-part series of accessible short films weaves together plenty of intrigue, bleakness, drama, and even a bit of black humor; and Friday the 13th: The Series (The Complete Series) - this campy horror show (which has nothing to do with the film series) has a couple of minor triumphs amid the filler 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: Stephen King's It - the film loses steam in its second half but remains a pretty engaging watch thanks to some great characters, solid direction and a truly memorable turn from Tim Curry as Pennywise; The Earth Dies Screaming - the movie gets slow and talky for a length middle stretch but that's bookended by some pretty great stuff and Kino's Blu-ray presents the movie in very nice shape and with an enjoyable commentary track; and Daughter of Dracula - Jess Franco in fine form, delivering his trademark mix of sex and violence with plenty of style in a film that features a pretty solid cast and some gorgeous camerawork. 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: Carrie: Collector's Edition - a landmark horror film that shows its age but is still as enjoyable as ever, thanks to the fantastic lead performances by Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie; Neon Demon - an exercise in style over substance but it's not in the least bit devoid of the latter... it's one of those pictures that, the more you think about it and the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it; and Labyrinth: 30th Anniversary Edition - Jim Henson's film is a coming-of-age tale mixing humans with his unique brand of characters to create a fantasy film bursting with style and charm. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.