DVD Talk: January 2008 Archives

This week's Anime Talk has some interesting news. Hot on the heels of Geneon folding rumors have begun surfacing regarding ADV films canceling some titles. A leaked letter was released and the company is reportedly in the process of negotiating with licensees. The situations between the two publishers is seemingly different and we discuss it briefly in our latest column. Oh, and we did some reviews as well!

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Gunsmoke - The Second Season, Vol. 1 - in its second year the episodes are just great, terrific little semi-anthology dramas that rate consistently high.; The Royle Family: The Complete Second Season - one of the most brilliant, surreal, and horrifyingly funny sitcoms ever; The Odd Couple - The Third Season - a remarkably solid, consistent season doesn't have a misfire in the bunch, and many episodes rank right up there with series' favorites. Bright, sophisticated, urbane TV farce at its very best. Other shows include: Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey, Blue Murder: Set 2, The Best of Comedy Central Presents, and The Vietnam War. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Personal Best - Robert Towne's directing debut is a challenging drama about an affair between a pair of dedicated Olympic track stars, and the problems that personal emotions can wreak on professional goals.; Operation Petticoat - Cary Grant and Tony Curtis' amiable service comedy gets an unappealing reissue, using the same outdated transfer from 2001. ;The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers' story of strange relationships in a Southern town stars Alan Arkin as a deaf man who helps other people but cannot connect with them; Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure -This nature study, originally in Imax 3-D, is still a knockout on the DVD format, and 4 by AgnÃ©s Varda - The 'mother of the French New Wave' shines in this deluxe presentation of four of her most interesting films: La Pointe Courte, Cleo from 5 to 7, Le Bonheur and Vagabond. The boxed set includes interviews, TV shows and several of Varda's acclaimed short subjects. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters [review] - one of the most perfect documentaries ever about a man you will have no trouble cheering for.; El Cid - 2-Disc Deluxe Edition [review] - is on the short list of big, BIG scale films to show as much intelligence as spectacle, a picture that is as intimate is it is grand; and The Invasion [review]- this remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers unfolds as both a high-minded thriller and an adrenaline-charged action flick; Other releases of note include: Masterpiece Theatre: Mansfield Park, Damages: The Complete First Season [review], Monty Python's Life of Brian - The Immaculate Edition, Groundhog Day - 15th Anniversary Edition, Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 6, and 1942 (2007). 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.

With over 20K DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: 4 by Agnès Varda - The Criterion Collection has paid fitting tribute to one of the world's greatest living directors with this impressive four-disc box set. It collects the director's first three films, her most successful film, Vagabond, along with numerous extras; Harry Potter Limited Edition DVD Collection Years 1-5 - arguably the defining fantasy epic of our time, a sweeping, fiercely imaginative creation that only grows more compelling and rewarding with each installment; and Tell Me a Riddle - Moving, tender, and yet not afraid to present the subtleties of a complex relationship this beautiful film that didn't get the attention it deserved when it was premiered in 1980. Seen today, it's a touching, perceptive film that comes highly recommended.; Other recent reviews include: The Brave One, Earth Vs the Flying Saucers, Confessions of a Superhero, In the Heat of the Night, and Indie Sex. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

Sylvester Stallone is here to obliterate the Burmese Army in Rambo, the brutal return of an 80's action icon. Bring an umbrella for all the bloodshed. Even more horrifying, the creators of Epic Movie and Date Movie have been financed again, back with the loathsome Meet the Spartans. Brendan Fraser and Sarah Michelle Gellar battle the mighty forces of fate in The Air I Breathe, a picture critic Jamie S. Rich calls, "yet another hearts-and-flowers affirmation of how the good will out." Also in theaters this week: a frequently soaked Diane Lane battles the internet in Untraceable, step-dancing boogies out again in the jovial How She Move, and Bono and the boys slip right into your arms in the glorious concert experience, U2 3D. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films!

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (Deluxe Edition) - a gutsy show that successfully translates Charles Schulz' conflicted feelings about love and romance within the standard Peanuts TV special framework; A Tale of Two Cities - a sweeping saga of intrigue, retribution and ultimate redemption and salvation; Persuasion - wildly different in approach than the typical Jane Austen movie, this version is a fast-paced, nakedly emotional breath of fresh air. Other shows include: Hannah Montana - One in a Million, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch - The Third Season, and Swamp Thing - The Series. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: El Cid Limited Collector's Edition - It's Big, Colossal, Stupendous -- and good, too. Charlton Heston cleaves half of Spain with his broadsword with his best girl by his side. Umpteen zillion extras and a quivering Sophia Loren crowd the 70mm frame.; Martin Scorsese Presents Val Lewton: The Man in The Shadows - Kent Jones' feature documentary on the famous RKO producer is one of the best film bios ever; El Bruto (The Brute) - Luis BuÃ±uel examines the class struggle in Mexico city, discovering that it's all about greed, sex and predatory landlords. Pedro ArmendÃ¡riz and Katy Jurado are the illicit lovers trapped in a deadly triangle; Automatons - Robot wars of the future, rendered in a clever but visually limited micro-production that received glowing reviews; and No Regrets for Our Youth & I Live in Fear - Two powerful films in Eclipse's Postwar Kurosawa collection trace Akira Kurosawa's take on Japan's recent history of militarism, and his mid-fifties approach to the nuclear arms issue.; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

George Peppard is Thomas Banacek. As Boston's leading freelance investigator, when a crime proves too difficult for insurance investigators to solve, Banacek is called on in this classic TV show from the early '70s. Season Two contains eight action-packed episodes that feature guest appearances by Dick Van Patten, Richard Jordan, Dick Gautier, Sue Ane Langdon, Linda Evans, Victoria Principal, Cesar Romero, Pat Harrington and more! Contains the 2 hour PILOT EPISODE Never Before Seen on DVD (View a Clip).

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets: Torchwood - Season One [review] a spin-off from the new Doctor Who series that is recommended for genre fans; This Sporting Life - Criterion Collection [review] - a dazzling, smartly structured story of a footballer--played with primal fury by Richard Harris--trying to escape the drudgery of factory life, and Saw IV. Other releases of note include: Barney Miller: The Complete Second Season [review], Banacek - The Second Season [review], Hawaii Five-O - The Third Season, The Game Plan, Moliere [review], and The Kingdom - Series Two. 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.

HD Talk continues to grow each week with new releases. Ian Jane takes a look at one of the most anticipated HD DVD releases, The Bourne Ultimatum [Review] and finds that this spy adventure is even more exciting than the last two. Daniel Hirshleifer and new reviewer Ryan Keefer both agree that Zodiac [Review/Review] is one of the best HD DVDs to come out lately, and worth your time. Ryan Keefer also gives a nod to The Rock [Review] on Blu-ray, saying, "the audio and video definitely are worth the upgrade." John Sinnott was even more impressed with Pan's Labyrinth [Review] on Blu-ray, awarding the disc with the coveted DVD Talk Collector Series label. John also went nuts for SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next [Review], calling it "easily the best thing that Bandai Visual has released in the US." And while Adam Tyner didn't think much of White Noise [Review] on HD DVD, he did feel that its sequel, White Noise 2 [Review] was a "a dramatic improvement in just about every conceivable way." And for you music fans, we've got coverage of Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid [Review/Review] on both formats. We've got all this and more in our reviews section. And don't forget to visit the HD Talk Forum to chat with us about all these great discs, and much more besides.

With over 20K DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD reviews include: When Harry Met Sally... - One of the best romantic comedies of the past 30 years, this film is a modern-day classic that just gets better with repeated viewings; El Cid - Two-Disc Deluxe Edition - one of the great film epics, this DVD gives the film the special treatment it deserves; Postwar Kurosawa - These five films represent an important segment of the filmography of one of cinema's greatest storytellers, they not only represent a decade of work in the Japanese auteur's life, but also his questioning of the Japanese identity following World War II; and Payday - one of the most effective, searing dramas of the 1970s, it's hard to call this movie a forgotten gem, because nobody saw it in the first place.; Other recent reviews include: Kaspar Hauser, The Sasquatch Gang, Miss Julie - The Criterion Collection, Moliere, and 42nd Street Forever Vol. 3: Exploitation Explosion. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

So, this week Anime Talk is catching up on some releases that came out closer to the holidays. ADV's reissues of Nadia and Neon Genesis have gone over well with viewers but do they hold up to our scrutiny? Other shows like Gunslinger Girl, GTO, and Slayers also got some nice shiny new packages. Check out what we thought in this week's Anime Talk!

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Rawhide: The Second Season Vol 2 - one of the finest dramas to come out of the golden age of TV Westerns; The Wire - The Complete Fourth Season - continues to offer the same high quality of entertainment with topnotch writing, engaging storylines, riveting characters, and intense drama as the previous seasons; The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Vol. Two - The War Years - The eight films included here are fantastic and the addition of interesting educational documentaries tips the scales. A must buy. Other shows include: Torchwood - The Complete First Season, Terry Jones' Barbarians, Secrets of Egypt's Lost Queen, The Littles - The Complete Unedited Series, and Charlie & Lola, Vol 7 - This Is Actually My Party. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Chameleon Street - The remarkably talented Wendell B. Harris, Jr. makes a funny, absorbing movie out of the crooked career of William Douglas Street, a con man and impersonator who could succeed at his schemes, if only the law and tattlers didn't keep turning him in; 3:10 to Yuma - This action-packed event western remake inflates the original with a lot of tangents and digressions, but also keeps much of what was good. And Russell Crowe's sly outlaw prisoner is outstanding; and The Naked Prey - This realistic death chase survival tale is one of the great adventure movies, brilliantly directed by its actor-star. With the magnificent Ken Gampu, great African cinematography and some truly horrific moments; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Amidst the opulence of Vienna, Gustav Klimt lived his life like he painted it - full of sensuality and passion. New on DVD from KOCH LORBER FILMS, John Malkovich and Saffron Burrows star as artist and muse in Klimt (view trailer), a "lavish biographical fantasia" (The New York Times) from director Raúl Ruiz. Enjoy these provocative clips from Klimt: Exhibition Surprise, Masked Muse, Making-of Footage. Also debuting on DVD this month is Lars von Trier's second and final installment of his acclaimed supernatural thriller The Kingdom (view trailer). Delve even further into the twisted madness of The Kingdom: Series Two with this Behind-the-Scenes Clip and "The Shiver" Musikvideo.

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets: The Naked Prey - Criterion Collection [review]- a brutal, pulse-pounding story about survival that plays like a classic frontier narrative; An Affair To Remember - 50th Anniversary Edition [review] - a classic romance, with a convincing relationship between two characters played with considerable charm by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr; and Good Luck Chuck: Chucked Up! Unrated Edition [review] - a well-intentioned, gleefully dirty romantic comedy that manages not to overstay its welcome and keep the laughs coming at an acceptable clip. Other releases of note include: Family Guy - Blue Harvest [review], Strays [review], Extras - The Complete Series, and The Post-War Kurosawa Box. 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.

With over 20K DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter - an emotionally devastating examination of people unable to communicate, the film communicates this sad dysfunction with unusual eloquence and emotion; The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - an utterly fascinating look at an obsessive man, people you would try to avoid at all costs and the incredible way that even geeks have exclusive cliques; The Devil Came On Horseback - A disturbing look at the ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan; Other recent reviews include: The Evil Dead, Wallace and Gromit: Three Amazing Adventures, Rocky - The Complete Saga Collection, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox, and Kiss - Kissology, Vol. 3: 1992-2000. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

Rob Reiner directs Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill adventure-seekers in The Bucket List. This heartstring-tugger will most certainly grab an Oscar nomination for one of the two lead actors and probably put Reiner back on the map. The Bucket List seizes the day in theaters everywhere this weekend. Also in theaters this week is First Sunday - remember the days when Ice Cube was in that really funny movie with a day of the week in the title? yeah...those days are clearly over; One Missed Call - Ed Burns and Shannyn Sossamon star in this remake of a Takashi Miike film; and The Business of Being Born - Ricki Lake produced this film, which should be required viewing for those about to bring a baby into the world. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Tammytown, The Orphanage, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, The Walker, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, There Will Be Blood, Persepolis. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films in theaters in our Movie Talk Forum Area.

While our TV reviews are a bit scant this week once again, there are still some solid series being released including: Barney Miller: The Complete Second Season - a favorite of fans who appreciated smart, humorous writing, along with a second-to-none stellar ensemble cast, Barney Miller's warm, hilarious, funky groove plays just as well today as it did over thirty years ago.; Beverly Hills 90210 - The Third Season - another wild ride that diverges from the show's teenage angst format with more sordid soap opera quality drama. It works for the best and fans of the show will appreciate the nonstop drama; The History Channel Presents Sherman's March - one of the finest documentaries The History Channel has offered, it is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this sad chapter of the Civil War. Other shows include: The Tudors - The Complete First Season and Rob & Big: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 - Uncensored. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

This week the DVD Savant takes a look at a couple of new releases including: O Lucky Man! - Lindsay Anderson's most ambitious film comes to DVD in a picture-perfect 2-disc set, with a feature length docu bio on star Malcolm McDowell. ; Behind Locked Doors - Kino comes forward with a snappy Eagle Lion mini-noir, a tight little thriller starring Richard Carlson, Lucille Bremer, and ... wait for it ... Tor Johnson as "The Champ", a (surprise) mindless, dangerous asylum resident.; and the Savant's 2008 Wish List - Savant's wish list is open for business for a second year. See what desired pix have and haven't been announced for DVD release.; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Compared to previous years, the double-dips were fairly light in 2007. That didn't stop the stupid edition names from coming though including the "One Size Fits All" Edition (Porky's), the "Extra-Curricular" Edition (Back to School), and the "Looking Good, Feeling Good" Edition (Trading Places.) But amongst some blatant grabs for cash, the year featured a surprisingly decent amount of genuine attempts to improve the DVD presentation of several films. Which new editions featured the most improvements and were worthy of your hard earned cash? Find out on DVDTalk's list of the Top 10 Double-Dips of 2007.

January is starting off with some solid DVD releases. Coming out this week are several DVDs that are worth a look including: Sunshine [review] - This thought provoking, heartbreaking film is another brilliant canvas in Danny Boyle's considerable creative gallery; 3:10 to Yuma [review]- combines Old West values with modern filmmaking sensibilities, and it never fails to be compelling, right down to the tense, harrowing finale; and Zodiac: 2-Disc Director's Cut [reviews here and here]- Fincher's finest directing work, an enthralling story and an outstanding cast make what could have been an overlong exercise in indulgent filmmaking into one of the best serial killer films ever. Other releases of note include: Death Sentence [review], Dragon Wars - D-War [review], and The Riches - Season 1 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.

There's big news in the high definition format war and HD Talk has it covered. On January 4th, 2008, Warner Bros. announced that they would phase out their HD DVD releases in favor of Blu-ray, not producing any new HD DVD discs after the month of May. With Hollywood's biggest DVD producer jumping over into the Blu-ray camp what does this mean for the other high definition format? Within hours of the announcement, the HD DVD group canceled their CES presentation, and only time will tell how this decision affects the future of HD DVD. No matter what, DVD Talk is committed to full coverage of both formats. Find out all the details in this week's HD Talk. And in case you missed it, be sure to check out our Top HD releases of 2007. And you can always go to the HD Talk Forum to get the word on all the latest High Definition news.

With over 20K DVD reviews in the DVD Talk Review Database, it's easy to overlook some of the great reviews. Recent DVD Reviews include: The Ocean's Trilogy - Sparkling with a gaggle of big stars and rocking along on rollicking scripts that delight with their clever cons, Steven Soderbergh has reinvented a 1960s franchise using 1970s film technique to give us something purely 21st Century; Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life - one of the most life-affirming films you will ever see. Not only does it make you think and feel, it serves as a reminder that we, as human beings, have a capacity for greatness that can't be bound by the limitations of the physical world; Other recent reviews include: Good Luck Chuck: Chucked Up! Unrated Edition, Ping Pong, Pilates For Indie Rockers, Mikogami Trilogy, and Death Sentence. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week and the ability to browse reviews by studio.

A new year dawns at HD Talk, but where DVD releases are often slow after the holidays, we're brimming with HD DVD and Blu-ray reviews! John Sinnott looks at one of the first Profile 1.1 Blu-ray discs, Resident Evil: Extinction [Review] and the film that started the whole series off, Resident Evil [Review]. Meanwhile, if you can't get enough Lost [Review/Review], we can ease your pain with a double helping of season three reviews on Blu-ray. Want more sci-fi in your TV? Stuart Galbraith IV reviews Battlestar Galactica - Season One [Review] on HD DVD. Daniel Hirshleifer compares Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [Review/Review] on both formats and likes what he sees. This is just the tip of the iceberg, so take a peek at the other exciting reviews we've added lately. And you can always go to the HD Talk Forum to get the word on all the latest High Definition news.

What does a stripper with a gun for a leg, bowling pin-wielding maniacs, and "Donkey Kong" kill screens have in common? They all appear in films that earned a place on DVDTalk Reviewer Brian Orndorf's List of the Best Theatrical Releases of 2007. If that's not enough, Brian also created a list of the worst films from last year too, which included such diverse things as mindless zombies with key card awareness, Kevin Bacon channeling Charles Bronson, Lindsay Lohan stripping. Read both lists, and in case you missed it, don't forget to check out DVDTalk's Top 20 DVD Releases of 2007

While our TV reviews are a bit scant this week, there are still some solid series being released including: Chappelle's Show: The Series Collection - a show that used its two seasons to the utmost potential, creating consistently hilarious material that ruffles feathers while forcing you to think; Dave Attell - Captain Miserable - in an 51-minute special shot in Washington, D.C., Attell once again manages to shock and entertain, mixing talk of several highly-illegal acts into a frequently self-deprecating and funny set; Chancer: Series 2 - Flat-out one of the best British serials reviewer Paul Mavis has ever encountered. High Shakespearean tragedy, coupled with Dickensian social commentary and intricate, multi-character relationships, fitted into a melodramatic, punchy soap opera, make for a most unusual, satisfying British serial. Other shows include: City of Men and Little Women. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Well, the holidays are finally over and we can finally get back to what's important...Anime! During the past few weeks in between shopping and family dinners we churned out several reviews for some great new shows, continuing volumes, and complete collections. Considering it also just happened to have turned 2008 we figured we'd take a look back at 2007 and come up with our top three favorite releases from the year.

This week the DVD Savant takes a look at a couple of new releases including: Walking Tall (1973) - THE big redneck movie of the 1970s, this vigilante epic is an inverted remake of an earlier socially conscious film noir by its director, Phil Karlson; Sawdust and Tinsel - Seldom-screened but nearly perfect, this early Ingmar Bergman show pits a nervous circus man against haughty city theater folk and his own ex-wife; and Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? - Made over a number of years, this beautiful Korean picture alludes to Buddhist teachings and could serve as an aid to meditiation.; Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

The week after Christmas has traditionally been a slow time for DVD releases, but there are some discs coming out that are worth a look: Resident Evil - Extinction [review] - This film sticks to a pretty standard but completely reliable formula: hot chick fights zombies and stuff blows up; Shoot 'Em Up [review] - the ultimate anti-film-snob movie, lacking most anything resembling substance, but loaded with tons of fun, action and style; and September Dawn [review]- a maddening grab-bag of excellent and trite elements concerning the massacre of westbound wagon train settlers which was probably instigated by and involved the Mormons. Other releases of note include: The Tudors - The Complete First Season, War, and Seaquest DSV: Season Two 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.