DVD Talk: April 2006 Archives

We're excited to announce a complete overhaul of the DVD Talk Coupon Page now with a ton more regular coupons, offers and deals. Some of the deals on the coupon page right now include 1 Free Jules Jordan DVD with the purchase of any DVD from Gamelink, 3 Free Audiobooks from Audible, up to 90% off the cover price on tons of top books at Bookcloseouts.com and a free $2 voucher at CD Wow, . Check out these and other great coupons and deals on the DVD Talk Coupon Page. Also we've made it even easier to keep tabs on these coupons with our special DVD Talk Coupon Feed which you can easily add to your favorite start page or feed reeder (be sure to pick up all our feeds).

If you haven't been paying attention to some of the amazing International DVDs getting released, you're truly missing out. Recent International DVD Reviews include: Princess Aurora Limited Edition DTS (R3) - 1n inventive and genuinely dark thriller with some stand out performances, some grisly kill scenes, and an interesting, well thought out plot; Feerless (R3) - although lacking English subtitles this film is Jet Li at the top of his game; Takeshis (R2) - an interesting movie that could only have come from the warped mind of Takeshi Kitano; Blood and Bones (R3) - those who are appreciative of bleak cinema along the lines of Gasper Noe's work should find Blood And Bones to their taste; Bastards (R5) - a solid production that would certainly entertain those wishing to go that extra mile and experiment with what Russia has been producing lately; The Promise (Wu Ji) a movie filled with pretty colors and a lot of visual panache, as eye candy it's worth a rental; Qui etes-vous, Polly Maggoo? (R2) - a beautifully restored set of a very hard to find cult classic . Find these and many more in the DVD Talk Review Database.

Finally a light at the end of the dark tunnel that has been April in theaters with an unexpected home run Flight 93 - a film most people thought it was too soon to make is simply a masterpiece of focused historical tone almost unheard of these days; Akeelah and the Bee - a film that has its heart in the right place but ultimate misses the mark; RV - Think Vacation with Robin Williams but written by the guys who did Daddy Daycare and Stick it - a sweet but imperfect film that you should probably wait and 'Rent it'. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films including: American Dreamz, Silent Hill and The Sentinel. thoughts on films in theaters in our Movie Talk Forum Area.

This week Anime Talk has a look at Tatsunko Productions 40th anniversary extravaganza, Karas. This big budget OVA series involves demons and demon hunters in present day Japan and both Don Houston and John Sinnott give their thoughts on the project this week. Another release of note is Mr. Stain on Junk Alley. After teasing fans for the past few months by putting episodes on most of their discs, FUNimation has finally released this funny and creative show. It's been worth the wait. This week we also have a look at a show that wasn't made in Japan, but many anime fans will want to check out: Tripping The Rift an animated comedy filled with sexual innuendo, political incorrectness and a lot of laughs. In addition to that, Holly has a list of some of the best bargains in anime, we have out table of upcoming releases so you can plan your anime preorders, and capsule review of the latest anime discs. Make sure you check out any Anime Talk installments you might have missed such as out look at the Naruto manga, the latest Studio Ghibli releases, and Kamen Rider V3.

This week we have several clips from KOCH Lorber Film's Nathalie (view trailer). In this sexually charged story of infidelity, eroticism and desire, Emmanuelle Beart plays a Parisian prostitute who is hired by a married woman (Fanny Ardant) to seduce her husband (Gerard Depardieu). Clips from Nathalie include several behind-the-scenes featurettes: Emmanuelle Beart pole dancing, Paris on-location shoot and "Crude without being vulgar" (Get more information about the Nathalie DVD here). Be sure to catch past week's clips at DVD Talk TV.

Some great TV on DVD releases reviewed this week including: Robot Chicken, Vol. 1 - one of the most original, bizarre, and genuinely disturbing programming ever offered on TV; Odyssey 5: Complete Series - the series doesn't get completely resolved but the ride is just as much fun as getting to the destination; The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 9 - this set covers as many different eras from MST3K's ten season run as you can squeeze out of a four-disc set; 3rd Rock From The Sun: Season 4 - a show with an awesome cast who continue to be great together on screen; I Love Lucy - The Complete Sixth Season - another wonderful set of very funny shows. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted TV on DVD.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Sweet Bird of Youth - Geraldine Page steals the show in this cleaned-up but still-spicy version of Tennessee Williams' near-hysterical play; Ziegfeld Follies - Gigantic, opulent all-star revue swoops from terrific Fred Astaire ballets to dated comedy sketches; Till the Clouds Roll By - Jerome Kern musical bio; A Streetcar Named Desire - Leigh, Brando, Hunter and Malden go to town; The Passenger - Michelangelo Antonioni and Jack Nicholson plumb the depths of personal identity in this arid spy chase; Three Little Words - An enjoyable and engaging MGM musical bio; Frankenstein meets the Space Monster - An android astronaut battles a Martian mutant in this engagingly silly "Z" picture from the depths of 1960s monster exploitation. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

A solid week for notable DVDs including:Shopgirl [Review] - Steve Martin adapts his popular novellla into a light romantic comedy that could best be described as L.A. Story meets Lost in Translation; American Dad: V1 [Review] - Seth MacFarlane hits it out of the park in his sophomore series effort; Crumb: SE [Review] - a great documentary gets an even better DVD release; Magic [Review] - a great cult classic finally on DVD. Other notable DVDs out this week include: Casanova [Review], Aeon Flux [Review], Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children [Review], The Passenger [Review], Robert Altman Collection and Tristan and Isolde. Read our List of Top Upcoming DVDs for more great DVDs out this week, visit our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Without huge fanfare or even much marketing support, the next generation of home entertainment finally made its way into consumers hands the past week. DVD Talk Reviewer Joshua Zyber was fortunate enough to get a Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player (which have been reportedly hard to get), and he puts the player through its all paces in this report. Read the complete review of Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player. Also be sure to check out our first HD-DVD Review for Joss Whedon's Serenity. Since studios have been less than public about ANYTHING HD related, we invite you to join our HD Talk Forum area to share your thoughts and compare notes with other people interested in HD in all its forms and formats.

We're excited to take the wraps off a redesign of our DVD Talk Review Page. With over 20,000 Reviews in all categories of DVD we've got the largest database of DVD reviews. This new redesign should make it even easier to find and read these great reviews (post your thoughts and feedback here). This week we have new reviews of: Planet of the Apes - The Ultimate DVD Collection - With Ape Head Packaging - sheer indulgent insanity that will be true bliss for any fan of the Apes franchise; Hoodwinked - unfairly slammed by theatrical critics, it's an extremely fun and inventive film worth seeking out on DVD; Mission: Impossible - Special Collector's Edition - a studio 'double dip' doesn't really impress; The Chess Players Satyajit Ray's film is an impressive, witty work, full of insight into human behavior. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Hollywood's theatrical nose dive continues this week with another very poor slate of movies in theaters. This week our reviewers give their thoughts on: Silent Hill - another video game makes its way onto the big screen in problematic fashion; The Sentinel - a very poor big screen attempt at "24" with Kiefer Sutherland doing the same character in a much poorer project; American Dreamz - a mixed bag from the director of American Pie, it has our reviewers split one saying check it out, another skip it. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films including: Scary Movie 4, Hard Candy, The Wild, Friends with Money, The Notorious Bettie Page and The Benchwarmers. As always we invite you to share your thoughts on films in theaters in our Movie Talk Forum Area.

Some great TV on DVD releases reviewed this week including: Home Movies: S4 - a solid finish to a great series; The Facts of Life: S1 & 2 - a corny, dated, intermittently amusing little piece of nostalgia-fluff; Tripping the Rift: S2 - a combination of parody, social satire, and an obvious love of movies make this dark series laugh-out lout funny; The Flintstones: S5 - a fantastic season from one of longest running animated prime time series in television history; Magnum P.I.: S4 - isn't classic TV but it's a step above the dismal third season; Garbage Pail Kids - about as good an animated series as you could probably get from a fad created by a trading card. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted TV on DVD.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: It's Always Fair Weather - MGM's last big Golden-Era musical is an unappreciated marvel; Winter Soldier - A 1971 picture about The Vietnam Veterans Against the War; Stalin's Bride - a parable about life under the communists in the Soviet Union; The Emilio Miraglia Killer Queen Box Set - Two giallo thrillers from the early 70s with glossy production values, beautiful female victims and general air of misanthropy; Mae West: The Glamour Collection - Universal groups five of Mae West's 9 classic films; The Complete Mr. Arkadin - Criterion's boxed set presents 3 versions of Orson Welles' fractured noir masterpiece; Mrs. Henderson Presents - Good taste, great actors, pleasant music and historically-accurate naughtiness on stage in 1930s London. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

On the latest episode of DVD Talk Radio, DVD Talk Editor Geoffrey Kleinman speaks with Eli Roth - writer and director of the uber splatter flick Hostel - a solid entry into the next American wave of extreme horror films. Eli Roth speaks about his experience making Hostel, working with Quentin Tarantino, the importance of online horror fans and 'The Splat Pack'. Listen to our interview with Eli Roth using our Online DVD Talk Radio Player or Download the complete interview with Eli Roth (24 min 17MB). Also be sure to listen to our recent interviews on DVD Talk Radio with Bill Paxton, Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, Darren Lynn Bousman and Chris Gorak.

A number of interesting and notable DVDs out this week including: Hostel [Review] - 'Splat Pack' director Eli Roth shows that American directors can get as extreme as their Asian counterparts; Breakfast on Pluto [Review] - Neil Jordan's latest adaptation of a Pat McCabe novel features an excellent performance from Cillian Murphy; Herbie Hancock - Possibilities - another Day and Date - Theatrical, DVD and HDNet; Deep Blue [Review] - a feature length version of the amazing BBC series Blue Planet - Seas of Life. Other notable DVDs out this week include: Coachella: The Film [Review], The Complete Mr. Arkadin [Review], Cross of Iron [Review], Event Horizon: SE [Review] and Mrs. Henderson Presents [Review]. Read our List of Top Upcoming DVDs for more great DVDs out this week, visit our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week we have a clip from BCI from the DVD release of Joecartoon.com Greatest Hits Volume 1. Joe Shields, a cult hero, widely considered to be the "godfather" of interactive animated content, created the award winning independent animation website better known as joecartoon.com. Now on DVD Joecartoon.com Greatest Hits Volume 1 features 40 outrageously funny episodes. In addition the DVD features 4 comical video clips, 8 Yo-Yo-Yo episodes and 3 Vintage Joe episodes. Check out a clip from the Joecartoon.com DVD. ( Purchase the Joecartoon.com Greatest Hits Volume 1 DVD here). Be sure to catch past week's clips at DVD Talk TV.

Now with over 15,400 DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: Event Horizon: SE - Paramount finally revisits Paul W.S. Anderson's darkest haunted house sci-fi spooktacular with a solid special edition; Magic - the cult classic finally comes to DVD; Silver Streak - Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor are a match made in comedic heaven and this film ages so well it's amazing; The Children Are Watching Us - both an important work in the artistic development of Vittorio De Sica and a transitional film bridging pre-war Italian cinema with postwar Neorealism; Paradise Now - easily the most controversial film to be released in North America this year; The Chicago White Sox: 2005 World Series - history is written by the winners and this time is a great underdog story. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Some great TV on DVD releases reviewed this week including: American Dad: Vol 1 - managed a rare trick by somewhat turning its back on a built-in audience, and trying something different; Star Trek Fan Collective - Time Travel - a great collection for people who don't already own the series; Justice League: S1 - anybody who is a fan of comic books will definitely want to pick this up; Columbo: S4 - a lot of fun with Falk who continues to give a riveting performance as Columbo; The Triangle - a made-for-the-SciFi Channel mini-series that focuses on the deep, dark dangers found within everyone's favorite mythical clump of ocean; Bewitched: S3 - the series moves into color with a fun and silly season; Gidget: The Complete Series - a must-have for fans of the series and a charming look back at mid-1960s television; Patton Oswalt - No Reason to Complain - an extremely funny Comedy Central special from a brilliant comedian. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted TV on DVD.

Anime Talk has a look at the new Patlabor Movie release this week: Patlabor: Limited Edition - a rerelease that has improved sound and picture and is definitely worth the double dip. Another interesting title this week is Saikano a series that asks the question "what would you do if your girlfriend turned out to be an ultimate weapon of mass destruction?" With all the press about the new Naruto anime series on TV and on DVD, writer Todd Douglass takes a looks at the manga series. Not only is it where the character started, but its the best selling manga in Viz' line. Also this week we also have Holly's Anime Bargains and our table of anime discs that are scheduled to be released in the next couple or weeks. In case you missed them, be sure to check out recent Anime Talk columns featuring: The latest Studio Ghibli wave and the Death Note manga, Naruto and Desert Punk and UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie, Gantz Season 1.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Carole Lombard: The Glamour Collection - everyone's favorite 30s comedienne returns with a carefully chosen selection of roles; The Jackal of Nahueltoro - a celebrated protest film from Third World director Miguel Littin; El Compadre Mendoza - Classic Mexican cinema from Juan Bustillo Oro and Fernando de Fuentes; Monster of London City & Secret of the Red Orchid - A double bill of German Krimi thrillers star cult actors Christopher Lee, Marisa Mell and Marianne Koch; Marlene Dietrich: The Glamour Collection - One of the most glamorous goddesses of the 1930s debuts from Universal, with an interesting cross-section of titles; Violent Midnight - Del Tenney practically invents the slasher murder mystery while introducing a gallery of new faces. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

On the latest episode of DVD Talk Radio, DVD Talk Editor Geoffrey Kleinman speaks with Bill Paxton - director of The Greatest Game Ever Played - a film which chronicles the 1913 US Open which pitted amateur Francis Ouimet against golf legend Harry Vardon. Bill Paxton talks about his experience directing The Greatest Game Ever Played, how he went from Frailty to a big budget studio film and what the experience has done for his career. Paxton also talks about his work on the HBO series Big Love and the fate of the film Haven (which still hasn't hit theaters). Listen to our interview with Bill Paxton using our Online DVD Talk Radio Player or Download the complete interview with Bill Paxton (15 min 12MB). Also be sure to listen to our recent interviews on DVD Talk Radio with Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, Darren Lynn Bousman, Chris Gorak and Neil Marshall.

Not a huge week for DVD, but a few stand-outs worth checking out including: The Greatest Game Ever Played - Bill Paxton injects a ton of energy and excitement into a period golf film; Wolf Creek - Unrated Widescreen Edition [Review] - a very solid low budget horror film that messes with your head a little bit and gets under your skin; Fun With Dick & Jane [Review] - not a great film, but Jim Carrey is always fun to watch. Other notable DVDs out this week include: Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo [Review], Greenaway - The Early Films [Review] and An Unfinished Life. Read our List of Top Upcoming DVDs for more great DVDs out this week, visit our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Now with over 15,400 DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: 24 Hours on Craigslist - a single day in the life of one of the Internet's most inpactual and vibrant communities; Bukowski - Born Into This - an astonishing documentary that dives deep into the world of a man who created as many passionate admirers as dedicated haters; Little Manhattan - a wonderfully charming romantic comedy that both kids and adults can enjoy; 3 Films by Louis Malle - probably the best release to come out of Criterion's vaults this year and it's absolutely an essential buy for any film lover; Hostel - Eli Roth's latest is dripping blood from every orifice and a must for any gore hound; Spike Lee Joint Collection - five great Spike Lee films in an incredibility affordable package; Loggerheads - a solid film that's told out of order, but one that doesn't use the construction as a gimmick meant to carry the film. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Wow. What a truly crappy week at the theaters. Hollywood always seems to battling a slump and it's clear this week won't help. While we generally try to find and highlight the best films out every week, this week all we can do is try to warn you away from some less than wonderful ones: Phat Girlz - held from most critics, but Brian Orndorf managed to get a gander at Mo'Nique's latest film that has something to say but does it quite poorly; Lucky Number Slevin - sfter a very mixed debut at Sundance it swaped distributors like a hot potato and there's a reason why; Take The Lead - Antonio Banderas stars in a film that tries to hip up ballroom dancing, a nice attempt but without the needed magic. Finally this week, there is one piece of good news with On a Clear Day - a reason to go beyond the multiplex to your local art house theater with a film that has strong performances and extremely well draw characters. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films including: Slither, Inside Man, ATL, V for Vendetta and Find Me Guilty. As always we invite you to share your thoughts on films in theaters in our Movie Talk Forum Area.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: King Kong: 2 Disc SE - Peter Jackson's monster of a monster movie is a home run and Savant gives it the same Kong Sized review as he did the 1933 King Kong DVD; The Long Good Friday - Bob Hoskins' Cockney mob boss Harold Shand rips up the screen in John Mackenzie's ferocious gangster epic; Indian Babu - a s gaudy 2.5-hour musical extravaganza that covers the whole spectrum of entertainment; The Fifth Cord - a middling Giallo beefed up with excellent camerawork; Thank God It's Friday - Donna Summer brightens this time capsule of the Disco era; The Fantastic World of M.C. Escher - A 1980 show on the mathematical complexities of artist Escher's enigmatic graphic illusions. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Response to last week's featuring of our TV on DVD Reviews was fantastic, so we've decided to feature them now on a regular basis. This week new TV on DVD Reviews include: Doctor Who: The Beginning - William Hartnell's unique take on the Dr. in an extremely well restored collection; Six Feet Under: S5 -one of the best shows in recent memory successfully rebounded from a shaky 4th season and went out in style; Batman Beyond: S1 - one of the best animated incarnations of the Dark Knight; Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out - S1 - energetic, sharp and hilarious; Dog: The Bounty Hunter - S2 - a compelling reality show looking into a profession rarely discussed; Roseanne: S3 - perhaps the strongest of the 3 seasons now on DVD; The Cosby Show: S2 - classic TV on a fantastic DVD; The Simple Life 3 -a veritable jubilee of American stupidity at its apex; Wonder Showzen: S1 - outrageously funny, for the sicko in all of us. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted TV on DVD.

This week we have a special giveaway from Universal Home Entertainment for Ang Lee's Academy Award winning Brokeback Mountain [Review]. Winner of The Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay Awards Brokeback Mountain is an exquisite film about living a life of longing. The Brokeback Mountain DVD features: "On Being a Cowboy" - the study and preparation that went into making the western action more real, Directing from the Heart: Ang Lee" - a look at the Academy Award-winner for Best Director, From Script to Screen - with Best Adapted Screenplay winners Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana Sharing the Story: The Making of Brokeback Mountain - a look at the making of the film. Enter now for your chance to one of 5 copies of the Brokeback Mountain DVD.

A fantastic week for notable DVDs including: New York Doll [Review] - a captivating look at the journey of New York Doll Arthur "Killer" Kane; Brokeback Mountain [Review] - a heartbreaking film with excellent acting and some of the most beautiful settings captured on celluloid; Mel Brooks Box Set [Review] - four Brooks films get their DVD debut in a collection that's a mixed bag; The Chronicles of Narnia [Review] - unfortunately not the movie we had all hoped for. Other notable DVDs this week include: 9 to 5 [Review], Bee Season [Review], Crash - 2-Disc Director's Cut Edition and The Long Good Friday [Review]. Read our List of Top Upcoming DVDs for more great DVDs out this week, visit our DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week

Now with over 15,400 DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: Breakfast on Pluto - Neil Jordan's latest adaptation of a Pat McCabe novel features an excellent performance from Cillian Murphy; Dreamer - Inspired By a True Story - with Dakota Fanning but that's a good thing, we promise; Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo - a much more serious and gothic looking installment from Cirque; Cowboy Del Amor - another exclusive review from the Netflix First program; TCM Archives - The Laurel and Hardy Collection - an excellent set worthy of buy for The Devil's Brother if for no other reason; The Ten Commandments - 50th Ann - finally an epic DVD release for a truly epic film; The Thief Lord - a film that treats its younger viewers with respect and that rewards intelligence and imagination. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.