Michael Zupan's DVD Talk DVD Reviews

Cloud Atlas (Blu-ray)

Sat, 11 May 2013 08:24:13 PDT

Highly Recommended

*Click on all images in this review for full 1080p screenshots.

Although I try my best to stay on top of all the current movie buzz, I somehow managed to evade the hype around Cloud Atlas entirely. Well, I didn't evade it, exactly. Despite hearing some wonderful things from friends, I just never got around to reading David Mitchell's novel. I almost watc...Read the entire review

Dexter: The Seventh Season (Blu-ray)

Sun, 05 May 2013 16:38:57 PDT

Highly Recommended

*Click on all images for full 1080p screenshots.

Warning - Discussing the latest season of Dexter is nearly impossible without spoiling the previous season. If you haven't seen the sixth season in its entirety, you should probably skip down to the other segments of this review.

The writers were so concerned with providing us so many shock...Read the entire review

Oblivion (IMAX)

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:09:13 PDT

Recommended

Many are going to be quick to compare this to Joseph Kosinski's previous effort, and words to follow probably wouldn't be very kind. That being said, I actually enjoyed Tron: Legacy for what it was - a gorgeous ride on the back of popcorn fun (even though its narrative was devastatingly flawed) - so I was curious to see what the director would drum up with Oblivion. Well, if there's a single word I'd use to describe this film, it's 'ambitious'. From a marketing standpoint, it's the first science fiction film to break through the gates of summer, and Universal Studios is undoubtedly hoping to avoid competition from the likes of Star Trek, After Earth and Pacific Rim. To this end, advertising has been particularly effective - The trailer hinted at...Read the entire review

Blue Planet: Seas of Life (Blu-ray)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:14:43 PDT

Rent It

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Growing up, I felt nature documentaries were the ultimate bore... but then again, I wasn't exposed to the BBC's stellar line of work. No, just your bottom of the barrel, 'whatever my teacher decided to record off PBS' dreck. That's not to say I wasn't interested in the topic though, because that couldn't be further f...Read the entire review

Rise of the Guardians - Limited Edition Easter Gift Pack (Blu-ray)

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:16:19 PDT

Highly Recommended

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The Guardians of Childhood (book) series by William Joyce was quite the find for Dreamworks Animation, as it clearly held the potential to be a gold mine. From a marketing standpoint, it was brilliant in its simplicity. First, they'd be able to cash in on Christmas filmgoers by incorporating our f...Read the entire review

This Is 40 (Blu-ray)

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:58:53 PDT

Highly Recommended

*Click on all images in this review for full 1080p screenshots.

With the mention of most any director, I find myself flooded with thoughts, feelings and even inspiration, but when it comes to Judd Apatow, the only thing I'm left with is indifference. I've enjoyed his work on The 40 Year Old Virgin and The Pineapple Express, and examining his career out...Read the entire review

Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Four (Blu-ray)

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 11:14:34 PST

Highly Recommended

*All images in this review taken from the Blu-ray discs in this set. Click on all images to view full size caps.

"As nice of an idea as Dragon Ball Z Kai was, I personally feel it took away one of the greatest strengths from the series as a whole - The sagas all made use of the (very) slow burn technique, but that's what made many of the big reveals such a big payoff. You invested your time hanging on the edge of your seat, and in the end you were greatly rewarded. Kai offers all the payoff with little build-up or viewing discipline, and in my opinion, greatly reduces the effect of many of the best moments the series ...Read the entire review

Paranormal Activity 4: Unrated Edition/Rated Version (Blu-ray)

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:45:55 PST

Skip It

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Halloween is the time of year when critics wipe the beaded sweat from their brow, hoping to survive yet another round of debates regarding Paranormal Activity. OK, I'm being a little dramatic here, but opinions of this franchise have gravitated to both extremes since day one. There are those who look forward to ...Read the entire review

Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray)

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:35:05 PST

DVD Talk Collector Series

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Delving into the fantasy genre inherently means you have to do something special to earn your audience, because anything that involves magic or mythical creatures will be instantly perceived as a key to dorkdom. The very word - fantasy - is likely to conjure images of pimple-faced teens sitting at a table, stuffing their faces with pizza while slingin' polyhedral dice. So, really, you have to admire HBO not only for the risk they took in transforming A Song of Ice and Fire into a sprawling live action epic, but for shattering expectations and making it ...Read the entire review

Argo (Blu-ray)

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:33:43 PST

Highly Recommended

*Click on all images for full 1080p screenshots.

Regardless of personal taste, there's no denying the market is consistently flooded with an insufferable amount of crap. Every year, studios show off their shallow shells of CGI driven entertainment, and every year I find myself avoiding the sanctuary of my local movie house that much more. There's nothing wrong with poi...Read the entire review

Alex Cross (Blu-ray)

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:05:42 PST

Skip It

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I was intrigued when I saw the trailer for Alex Cross some time ago, but there were two things about it that heightened my skepticism - First, the trailer went to extraordinary lengths to promote style over substance, and second but most certainly not least, Tyler Perry wasn't reaching out to me in a way th...Read the entire review

Blood C: Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:48:15 PST

Highly Recommended

*Click on ALL images in this review for full 1080p screenshots.

I appreciate delving into an anime without being exposed to the hype beforehand, so having the opportunity to review Blood-C was an exciting prospect. Having watched the series in its entirety over the last few days, I came away with mixed feelings. I'll get to the pros and cons in a bit, but th...Read the entire review

Notebook: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Blu-ray)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:42:45 PST

Recommended

Having previously reviewed Nights in Rodanthe and The Lucky One, I made it pretty clear that I'm not a fan of generic chick flicks. Hollywood has crafted a mold that goes a little something like this - Man and woman meet, but one of them isn't exactly forthcoming with who they truly are. Although they hit it off and fall madly in love with one another, the dishonest party grows a conscience and ...Read the entire review

Black Lagoon: Complete Set - Season 1 & 2 (Blu-ray)

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:16:19 PST

Highly Recommended

*CLICK on ALL images in this review for 1080p screenshots.

Wading through the pools of anime can be a difficult task to endure. Sure, once in a while you're rewarded with that something special, but most of the time you're trudging ankle-deep through the wet sand of mediocrity, which can of course dishearten even the most devout anime fan. FUNimation may have se...Read the entire review

Tenchi Muyo!: Movie Collection (Blu-ray)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 06:51:34 PST

Recommended

*CLICK on ALL images in this review for full 1080p screenshots.

Tenchi Muyo is one of the most beloved anime franchises of all time. Just do a quick search on Google, and you'll see there's a slew of fan communities, tons of merchandise and more Tenchi series than you ever thought existed (a slew of OVA's and a few other series that radically depart from t...Read the entire review

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Blu-ray)

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:02:21 PST

Recommended

*CLICK on ALL images in this review for full-size, 1080p screenshots.

Film franchises often fall victim to 'sequelitis', which typically refers to the rapid degeneration of quality with each successive installment. However, I've found Ice Age to be one of the exceptions to the rule. I was so impressed with Dawn of the Dinosaurs in fact, that I wasn't sure...Read the entire review

Tenchi Muyo!: OVA Series (Blu-ray)

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 05:27:39 PST

Highly Recommended

A friend from my freshman year of high school was something of a Japanese entertainment fanatic. I don't mean just anime, but he had an extensive collection of manga, music, and went as far as to study Japanese so he could eventually understand imported books and video. None of it was really my bag at the time, and hell, much of it stillisn't, as I've never been able to share his love for...Read the entire review

This Is 40

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:51:44 PST

Highly Recommended

With the mention of most any director, I find myself flooded with thoughts,feelings and even inspiration, but when it comes to Judd Apatow, the onlything I'm left with is indifference. I've enjoyed his work on The 40Year Old Virgin and The Pineapple Express, and examining hiscareer outside the scope as a director, I'm also thankful for much of hisearly writing, both credited and otherwise, as well as his work onFreaks and Geeks. That being said, there's plenty he's done thatjust didn't do anything for me - I didn't care for any of his Will Farrellstarring films, and I found Bridesmaids to be bloated and overrated.So, despite the fact I know Apatow to be highly capable of delivering thegoods, he's also been highly inconsistent. Still, I had hope w...Read the entire review

A Christmas Carol (1951) - Restored (Blu-ray)

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:41:08 PST

Highly Recommended

Throughout this review, 2009 on left, 2011/12 on right. Click on ALL images in this review to see 1080p screenshots.

There are countless reiterations of A Christmas Carol, but I never took the time to familiarize myself with 1951's Alastair Sim starring Scrooge (later renamed A Christmas Carol for its American release). Friends and acquaintance...Read the entire review

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (Blu-ray)

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:04:47 PST

Highly Recommended

*CLICK on ALL images in this review for 1080p, full resolution screenshots

I've been both anticipating and dreading the (not so?) inevitable release of a live-action Halo film. Whether you love the franchise or think it's been overhyped since day one, nobody can deny it's one of the most iconic first person shooters of all time... but does that necessar...Read the entire review

DreamWorks Holiday Classics (Blu-ray)

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:18:12 PST

Recommended

*Click on ALL images in this review for full 1080p screenshots

Just a few short months ago, Dreamworks put their stamp on the holiday home video market with a collection of Halloween shorts, and there's no question that it was a delightful treat. Of course, it had an advantage, as there really aren't too many worthwhile Halloween specials on the market, but Christma...Read the entire review

Boogiepop Phantom Complete TV Series

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:17 PST

Recommended

I have to admit, it's been a while since I've had the will to take on an anime I've never seen before. Taking the chance on new (to me) series just wasn't paying off. So much of what's available follows the same formula, or panders to certain sects of the audience that want little more than style over substance, fan service, or whatever you want to call it. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate certain guilty pleasures, such as Dragon Ball Z and Hellsing, amongst various others, but indulging in these visual treats is like beginning a love affair with pizza - You might enjoy eating it every night at first, but after a while, you're bound to grow sick of it and move on to something else. Well, I'll preface this discussion by saying that I've heard a lot of interesting things ...Read the entire review

The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 18:34:13 PST

DVD Talk Collector Series

*Click on the screenshots in this review to see them at full, 1080p resolution.

I'm not exactly the sentimental type, but sitting down to write this review has opened my eyes to something - My grandfather is mostly responsible for my taste in classic cinema and television, due in large part to our nightly tradition of watching Nick at Nite. At first, I tuned in not for...Read the entire review

Hellsing Ultimate: Volumes 5-8 Collection (Blu-ray)

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:07:59 PST

Highly Recommended

CLICK on ALL images in this review for full resolution screenshots!

This review is similar to my previous Hellsing Ultimate review as most of what I said still applies. Appropriate parts have been updated to reflect this release.

When I first took an interest in anime some years ago, Hellsing blew my mind. Of course, I had no knowledge of the manga at the time, nor had I developed any standards for anime in general. Ever since, I have become familiar with the manga and figured out what my pr...Read the entire review

Universal 100th Anniversary Collection (Blu-ray)

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:35:59 PST

Highly Recommended

If you've been perusing the DVD and Blu-ray sections of your local retailers this year, then you've undoubtedly seen the banner atop many a disc that celebrates 100 years of filmmaking for Universal Studios. I know this comes off as a marketing gimmick to some, but the legacy Universal have established in the last century truly does warrant a bit of attention, don't you think? If you've always been an avid filmgoer, think back to your childhood 'career' at the movies - I'd bet most of your favorites were products from Universal. Hell, I'd go as far as to say my childhood was practically defined by watching the Earth rotate on-screen while 'Universal' spun counterclockwise in gold lettering. The logo was simple, yet effective, because every time I saw it, I knew the ...Read the entire review

The Muppet Christmas Carol (Blu-ray)

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 14:08:46 PST

Recommended

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My preferred version of A Christmas Carol is the 1951 Alistair Sim starring classic, but The Muppet Christmas Carol comes in at a very close second. I know it seems silly of me to match the heartwarming, yet often eerie tale with an iteration of Charles Dickens' classic that stars none other than the Muppets, and if you've never seen the Muppets take on the wintry holiday, I certainly can't blame you for thinking so. I myself admit I wasn't a fan of their previous theat...Read the entire review

Guys & Dolls (Blu-ray)

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:30:30 PST

Highly Recommended

*CLICK on ALL images in this review for high resolution screenshots

I'm a fan of musicals, but they need to be more than mere tales spun by musical notes. There needs to be some passion in the storytelling, or at least a charismatic cast that makes the production worthwhile. Nowadays, the plot is pushed aside in order to make way for spectacle. In recent years alone, ...Read the entire review

The Santa Clause: The Complete 3-Movie Collection (Blu-ray)

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:22:05 PDT

Recommended

Being Santa Claus has to be the best job on the planet. Your primary diet would consist of cookies, milk and hot cocoa. Forget about those stressful commutes in the morning, because all you have to do is wake up and go downstairs to the toy factory. Sure, once a year you have to travel the globe, but that's not exactly a chore now, is it? You'd have flying reindeer at your disposal, man, and you wouldn't have to worry about gas prices or traffic jams. Oh, and let's not forget seriously prolonged life expectancy. Talk about your dream job! And that's really all it is, isn't it? A dream? It's just not fair. There should be term limits on such a sweet gig! There's been one guy hogging the title for, what, 200 years or so? I know he delivers presents to the little kiddies and all, but isn't this borderline criminal? Let someone else take a crack at it already! But hold on, let's not be...Read the entire review

DreamWorks Spooky Stories (Blu-ray)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:33:43 PDT

Highly Recommended

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Each October, I comb through my horror films and watch as many as my schedule allows, and this year is no exception. But, why do studios have to work under the assumption that we crave nothing but bad make-up and buckets of red corn syrup...Read the entire review

Hellsing Ultimate: Volumes 1-4 Collection (Blu-ray)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:05:29 PDT

Highly Recommended

CLICK on ALL images in this review for full resolution screenshots!

When I first took an interest in anime some years ago, Hellsing blew my mind. Of course, I had no knowledge of the manga at the time, nor had I developed any standards for anime in general. Ever since, I have become familiar with the manga and figured out what my preferences were. Still, Hellsing remained high on my list of personal favorites, but more as a guilty pleasure than anything else. My enjoyment of the series had diminished somewhat as it strayed too far from the original, superior plot, was bleak to the point...Read the entire review

Paranormal Activity 4

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 09:18:17 PDT

Skip It

If it's Halloween, it must be ~~Saw~~ Paranormal Activity!

Yes, it's that time of year again... and I don't mean when little kids dress up as ghouls and go door to door looking for treats. No, it's when film critics wipe the beaded sweat from their brow and hope to survive yet another round of debates regarding Paranormal Activity. OK, I'm being a little dramatic, but opinions on this franchise have gravitated to one extreme or the other since day one. There are those who look forward to this spooky holiday staple year round, while others continue to wonder how these films are able to make so much money in the first place. I'm in the camp that believes there's an appreciable middle ground. Sure, these films aren't complex and they cert...Read the entire review

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (Blu-ray)

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:06:49 PDT

Highly Recommended

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I'm a big kid at heart, so I've enjoyed most of the films that have been marketed to our children in recent years - Happy Feet, Ice Age, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, and even Madagascar. That being said, Happy Feet Two was single handedly responsible for raising my skepticism to an all time high. Why? Because it was made for one reason and one reason only - To rake in a whole lot of dough. Needless to say, the end result was abysmal. Gr...Read the entire review

A League of Their Own (Blu-ray)

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:06:23 PDT

Highly Recommended

*Click on all images in this review to see full resolution screenshots

Before watching 1992's A League of Their Own, I had no idea there was such thing as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Am I some sort of sexist pig that refuses to acknowledge important moments in women's history, or our history overall for that matter? No, fact of the matter is, that information was simply never presented to me. Sure, I heard all about Rosie the Riveter and the other vital roles that women provided during World War II -such as producing munitions and war supplies - but my history books completely...Read the entire review

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Blu-ray)

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:49:56 PDT

DVD Talk Collector Series

Growing up, I obviously knew about the classic monsters that appear in this set, but that was a courtesy extended to me by the costumes donned by kids and adults alike on Halloween. As far as knowing what a monster movie actually was, I was clueless. To me, King Kong and Godzilla were the closest things to monster films I had known, that is, until I was fortunate enough to catch The Monster Squad on VHS. There were Universal's most recognized monsters, all in one place - Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Mummy, Creature From the Black Lagoon (Gill-man) and The Wolf Man. The movie blew my mind, and I was hooked on monster cinema ever since. Reruns of The Munsters would also be partly responsible for the obsession that followed, but it was the...Read the entire review

Annie (Blu-ray)

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:19:31 PDT

Rent It

*CLICK on all images to enlarge. These screenshots have been taken from the Blu-ray and ARE indicative of what you'll see at home.

Growing up, I wasn't all about the family friendly stuff. At a young age, I instead familiarized myself with the Star Wars Trilogy, Alien, Predator and The Terminator. I mean, I was fond of The Wizard of Oz and Saturday morning cartoons and all, but I wanted nothing to do with cutesy musicals like Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Annie. Yes, it was foolish of me to pass judgment on such films without even giving th...Read the entire review