What do the movies Seven Samurai, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Ringu, and Spirited Away have in common? They were all released by Toho Studios, Japan's most famous movie production company and distributor. DVDTalk reviewer and Japanese film scholar Stuart Galbraith IV examines the studio's output in his most recent book; The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography. This meticulously researched book is amazing in its scope. Chronicling every film Toho released from its inception in 1933 through 2007 each entry includes not only the name and release date of the film, but also full production credits. Filled with information that isn't accessible on-line, this is a truly indispensable work for anyone interested in this important studio. Be sure to check out Stuart's previous books too, including Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!, and his definitive biography of two of the giants in Japanese film: The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune.

Another great week for TV on DVD reviews with some wonderful shows, both new and old, arriving on DVD. Reviews you'll want to check out include: Robin of Sherwood: Complete Collection - a series that recreates a bygone era with panache, grace, and humor. Highly recommended; Robot Chicken: Star Wars - it skewers Star Wars films but does so with a very affectionate and playful sense of humor making this release a whole lot of fun; and Cannon: Season One, Volume One - Two tons of fun. Other shows recently reviewed include:  Gomer Pyle: The Fourth Season, Ruler of Your Own World, and Transformers Cybertron: The Ultimate Collection.  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: Inglorious Bastards - Enzo G. Castellari's big-scale Italian action epic is a rowdy, noisy exploitation hit; Privilege - Peter Watkins' challenging tale of a near future in which a pop singer becomes a tool for The Establishment. With Paul Jones (of Manfred Mann) and top model Jean Shrimpton, this one is packed with visionary political ideas; and Emile de Antonio: Films of a Radical Saint - The most challenging liberal documentary maker of the 1960s is represented by four complete films in beautiful transfers: Millhouse: A White Comedy, Underground, Mr. Hoover and I and In the Year of the Pig, a classic that's easily the best protest docu against the Vietnam war. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

The studios are doing their part to stimulate the economy by announcing some very cool titles that will be released over the coming months. Be sure to check out these coming discs: The Ultimate Matrix Collection [Blu-ray] - the Wachowski Brothers popular trilogy finally arrives on Blu-ray and is said to include a 1080p version of The Animatrix! 10-14-2008; The Simpsons - The Complete Eleventh Season - The 11th season of America's favorite animated family finally arrives on DVD on 10-7-08; and The Sarah Jane Adventures - The Complete First Season a spin off from Doctor Who, this series relates the Earth-bound adventures of one of the Doctor's favorite companions. 10-7-2008; Other newly announced titles include: Le Doulos: The Criterion Collection 10-7-2008, The Strangers 10-21-2008 and Knight Rider: Complete Series 10-21-08. 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.

Another interesting week for new releases with everything from direct-to-DVD sequels to canceled TV shows and classic Hollywood films coming out. A few of the more notable releases include: Witchblade - The Complete Series [review]- If you're looking for some good live action comic book fare then Warner's DVD release is worth the price of admission; Stargate - Continuum [review] - this direct-to-DVD continuation of the TV series finds the SG-1 team having to once again save the galaxy from oppressive domination; and Doomsday [Blu-ray review]- a blood-spattered love letter to that big stack of post-apocalyptic flicks from the early '80s. Other new releases include:  Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection [review], WarGames - 25th Anniversary Edition [review] and Centennial: The Complete Series. 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 been filled with a lot of reissues. Are they worth picking up? Our reviewers are here to set you straight. Check out our reviews of: The Mummy Returns - a film that's just as fun as the first; Hellboy Animated - enjoyable and exciting animated adventures of everyone's favorite demon that managed to reproduce the best aspects of the movies: an imaginative sense of fun; and 21 - fun entertainment with a little bit of brains to go with it. Other recent reviews include: Times and Winds, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, and Ring of Honor: Best in the World.  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.

Interested in the early days of film? Well Silent DVD has got that covered. This week reviewer John Sinnott has a look at the third wave of titles in Kino's Slapstick Symposium series. First off is a two-disc collection of early Stan Laurel films before he teamed up with Oliver Hardy: The Stan Laurel Collection Volume Two. Then John looks at Mabel Normand's final feature film, The Extra Girl. The last title in this round of releases is a Harry Langdon double feature including two of his final feature films: Three's a Crowd and The Chaser. Langdon's meteoric rise to fame came crashing down soon after these films were released, and watching these movies, it's not hard to understand why. All this and more in this week's Silent DVD.

Fox Mulder and Dana Scully emerge from a 10-year-long big-screen hiatus with the provocative sci-fi sequel The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly trade punches and laughs in Step Brothers. And trouble has returned, in the form of lousy filmmaking and Corey Feldman in the needless remake Lost Boys: The Tribe. Also in theaters: The Midwestern teenage experience is exposed in the documentary American Teen. A classic novel is brought to life in Brideshead Revisited. The astonishing story of World Trade Center daredevil Philippe Petit is recalled in Man on Wire. 1994 lives in the hip-hop drama The Wackness. Houdini finds his greatest trap in Catherine Zeta Jones in Death Defying Acts. And horror and comedy find independent film stasis in the dreadful Baghead. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: The Dark Knight, Mamma Mia!, Hellboy II: the Golden Army, Wanted, Wall-E, Hancock, Encounters at the End of the World, Space Chimps, Up the Yangtze, Diminished Capacity, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Get Smart, And Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Not able to go to this year's Comic Con in San Diego? Not to worry, DVDTalk has you covered. Intrepid reporter Daniel Hirshleifer is there fighting the crowds so you don't have to. He'll be reporting on all the media announcements, flim panels and more. Find out the latest goings on in his DVDTalk exclusive blog. Be sure to check back frequently as he'll be updating it all weekend.

Another great week for TV on DVD reviews with some wonderful shows, both new and old, arriving on DVD. Reviews you'll want to check out include: Psych - The Complete Second Season - a series that doesn't take itself too seriously with a cast that is obviously enjoying themselves; Monk - Season Six - a really fun television series that deftly mixes comedy, mystery, and crime; and Teen Titans - The Complete Fifth Season - This final season of the show hits all the right marks. Other shows include:  Jake and the Fatman - Season One, Volume One, Sweet Spy (Korean TV Series), and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit - The Seventh Year.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

We keep buying 'em and the studios keep putting 'em out. Here are some of the recently announced DVDs: Family Guy, Vol. 6 - the Griffins return for another three discs worth of fun on 10-21-2008; Speed Racer - The Wachowski brothers turn the classic cartoon into a real life/CGI extravaganza which arrives on DVD on 9-16-08; and Baby Mama SNL alumni Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's wacky comedy delivers on 9-9-2008; Other newly announced titles include: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (3 Disc Unrated Collector's Edition) 9-30-2008, Comedy Central Salutes George W. Bush 10-21-2008 and L.A. Confidential (Two-Disc Special Edition) 9-23-08. 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 Savant has a number of new reviews including: Stop-Loss - Ryan Phillippe and Abbie Cornish star in a story of an ugly policy being exploited in the Iraq war -- what John Kerry called a "back door draft". An eye-opening film in support of our troops deployed overseas; Berlin-Schonhauser Corner - First Run Features comes up with a winner, a great co-feature for The Lives of Others. This East German juvenile deliquency picture from 1957 bears close parallels with American JD films, but with a pronounced socialist message. An effective piece of propaganda that the East Germans tried to suppress -- because, as everyone knows, the perfect Worker's Society doesn't have juvenile delinquency!; and Before the Rain - Milo Manchevski's 1994 tale of ethnic and religious violence in Macedonia, told in three oddly intersecting episodes. Stars Katrin Cartlidge and Rade Serbdzija, from Criterion. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week the studios have some good releases scheduled, everything from BBC comedies to classic European films. A few of the more notable releases include: 21 [review] propelled by deft camerawork, lavish production design, and an infectious, electronic-heavy soundstack this film is a blast to watch; Spaced: The Complete Series [review] - a genuinely funny and utterly brilliant show; and Vampyr - Criterion Collection [review]- Dreyer has crafted a magnificent work, one that is both haunting and engaging. Other new releases include:  Comedy Central's TV Funhouse [review], Robot Chicken: Star Wars and Earth - The Biography. 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.

The Inglorious Bastards is more than just the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino's long-rumored next movie; this 1978 international smash remains perhaps the biggest and most badass war movie in EuroCult history! Exploitation legends Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson and Bo (Walking Tall, Kill Bill) Svenson star as the leaders of a gang of condemned criminals who escape from an Allied prison camp with a plan to blast their way to the Swiss border, only to find themselves 'volunteering' for a suicide mission deep inside Nazi occupied France. Academy Award¨ nominee Ian Bannen (Flight of the Phoenix, Braveheart) co-stars in this explosive action epic from director Enzo Castellari (Street Law, The Big Racket), now fully restored from original vault elements for the first time ever in America! Now available in a 3 Disc Explosive Special Edition! Check out these three clips from the movie: Fred Williamson Intro, Firefight, and Bridge Attack!

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, from classic Hollywood fare to '80 comedies and some excellent foreign films. Be sure to check out some of the recent entries including: Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection - best of this 10 moive lot show why Power stood at the apex of Fox's star system for close to two decades; High and Low: Criterion Collection - this film remains one of Kurosawa's lesser-known masterpieces...and arguably the best of his contemporary films; and Don Camillo and The Return of Don Camillo - charming little comedies featureing the great French comedy star Fernandel that deserve a wider American audience. Other recent reviews include: Desperate Characters, Jacques Tati's Trafic - Criterion Collection, and Before the Rain - Criterion Collection.  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.

The 13th Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival was held on July 11-13, and DVD Talk reviewer and silent film buff John Sinnott was there to cover the whole event. With such diverse films as Harold Lloyd's The Kid Brother, Lon Chaney and Todd Browning's The Unknown, and Japanese master Teinosuke Kinugasa's Jujiro there was something for everyone. Read John's take on the festival in this week's Silent DVD and make your plans to join him next year now. Be sure to check out other recent columns including a look at the films of magician Harry Houdini and Kino's First Ladies: Early Women Filmmakers series

Lots of stuff is happening in the anime world and the coming months are going to be interesting as FUNimation begins picking up some of Geneon's defunct titles as well as some of ADV's releases. In the meantime there's a lot out there worthwhile such as the phenomenal Gurren Lagann, romantic Emma, and classic Full Metal Panic. Check out this week's column for all the anime reviews you'll need to pass the summer months away!

Batman returns to screens in Christopher Nolan's masterful crime epic The Dark Knight. DVD Talk critics Brian Orndorf and Jamie S. Rich take turns praising the event film. The music of ABBA explodes within Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan in the musical Mamma Mia!. And a trio of hairy astronauts are launched into orbit in the animated comedy Space Chimps. Also in theaters: China's greatest water source is slowly taken away from the citizens in the stunning documentary Up the Yangtze. And Matthew Broderick tries to find his memory in the dramedy Diminished Capacity. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Hellboy II: the Golden Army, Wanted, Wall-E, Hancock, Encounters at the End of the World, Kung Fu Panda, Brick Lane, The Incredible Hulk, Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D, Get Smart, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, and Meet Dave. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Another great week for TV on DVD reviews with some wonderful shows, both new and old, arriving on DVD. Reviews you'll want to check out include: The Batman - The Complete Fifth Season - a very enjoyable romp through Gotham; The Closer - The Complete Third Season - an excellent show with well thought out scripts, interesting stories, and a stellar ensemble cast; and Comedy Central's TV Funhouse - a short-lived series with some extremely funny highlights that any fan of grown-up comedy will enjoy. Other shows include:  Intervention Season One: Then and Now, Stargate - Continuum, and Dogfights -The Complete Season 2.  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: Popeye The Sailor Volume 2 - This second Popeye disc set is just as good as the first volume. The cartoons are consistently funny in ways that haven't dated one iota. The transfer quality is consistently superb, and original title sequences have been restored to all but one or two of the shorts; and Firestorm: The Allied Bombing of Nazi Germany - An unflinching German documentary about the 'round the clock strategic bombing in WW2, evaluating the lessons of Total War and whether or not the policy was morally, or even militarily, correct. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Continuing with a trend that has become more pronounced lately, most of this week's high profile releases are TV shows. Some of this week's notable releases include: Eureka - Season Two [review] Comedy and science fiction continue to meld nicely in the second season of this quirky but enjoyable show; Reno 911 - The Complete Fifth Season [review] - there are plenty of chances for laughs in this show with comedy that's both absurd and rapid-fire; and Penelope [review]- there is a lot to appreciate in this film including the great performances and competent directing. Other new releases include:  Birds of Prey: The Complete Series, Robbie Coltrane: Incredible Britain [review] and College Road Trip [review]. 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 seen the addition of a slew of re-releases, a tawdry look at English history, and the latest Wong Kar-Wai film, among many others. With The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor set to be released in a few short weeks, Universal is hoping to build interest in this sequel by releasing the original films on DVD once again. We have reviews of these new versions of The Mummy (1999), and The Mummy Returns [review one, review two] as well as the original Boris Karloff film, The Mummy (1932). Other recent reviews include: My Blueberry Nights - with great performances and a laid-back rhythm, Kar-Wai's film is a enjoyably rewarding achievement; and The Other Boleyn Girl - this feature debut from director Justin Chadwick boasts beautiful visuals, a tremendously talented cast and a story full of intrigue, betrayal and scandal. Other recent reviews include: Chop Shop, the documentary Domestic Violence 2, and The Carmen Miranda Collection.  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.

The boundless imagination of Guillermo del Toro is unleashed again with the long-awaited fantasy sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army. DVD Talk critics Brian Orndorf, Jamie S. Rich, and David Walker all weigh in on the crimson hero's return to the big screen. Eddie Murphy becomes a spaceship in the shockingly entertaining sci-fi comedy Meet Dave. And a classic Jules Verne story receives a glossy, headache-inducing 3-D upgrade in Journey to the Center of the Earth. Also in theaters: Werner Herzog heads to the South Pole to observe nature and hassle the locals in the documentary Encounters at the End of the World. And DVD Talk is proud to present an early look at The Dark Knight, the summer's most anticipated sequel, opening in theaters on July 18th. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Wanted, Wall-E, Hancock, Kung Fu Panda, The Love Guru, Brick Lane, The Incredible Hulk, The Happening, Get Smart, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, and Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

DVD Stalk is back for it's monthly stab at the latest and greatest horror DVDs to hit shelves for the fine month of July. This time around we cover everything from the black comedy of Otis to the Pakistani backwoods slasher highjinks of Hell's Ground with some interesting stops along the way as we peek in at some interesting Blu-ray and standard definition releases from the last month or so. Dig in!.

Another great week for TV on DVD reviews with some wonderful shows, both new and old, arriving on DVD. Reviews you'll want to check out include:  Spaced: The Complete Series - What creativity can do for the common sitcom; 30 Days - The Complete Second Season [second review] - an interesting and thought provoking reality show that delves into the complexities that surround controversial topics within the American stratosphere; and Howard Goodall's Big Bangs - a must-see and must-listen for all music fans, no matter what your particular stripe might be. So much information is presented in such a wonderfully imaginative way that you'll be entranced. Other shows include:  Dark Shadows: The Beginning, Vol. 5, Melrose Place - The Fourth Season, and America's Test Kitchen: Season 8.  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: Sophia Loren Four Film Collection - Lionsgate takes a dip in a selection of vintage Sophia Loren pictures: Attila, Carosello Napoletano, Madame Sans-Gêne, and I Girasole. No top pictures, but a couple of surprises.; The Furies - Anthony Mann's earliest Western epic contains great performances by Barbara Stanwyck and Walter Huston, in a story that plays out like Greek drama crossed with Bonanza. Great dialogue, surprising violence, cruel turns of fate -- a real keeper; and Phase IV - Saul Bass goes Sci-Fi ethereal, with this ecological, apocalyptic tale of researchers battling a super-intelligent ant colony. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some great DVDs are being released this week, and DVDTalk has them covered. Some of the more notable releases include: Stargate Atlantis - The Complete Fourth Season [review] Though this season is a bit of a mixed bag, it's still recommended, especially for fans of the show; The Ruins - Unrated [review 1 and review 2] - one of those strap-in-and-ride-it-out experiences that are all too rare; forgoing elaborate strands of exposition to settle on more direct lunges of terror; and Batman - Gotham Knight [review]- An Animatrix-like look at Batman. These six episodes all feature amazing, and Eastern influanced, interpretations of the character. Other new releases include:  The X-Files: Revelations [review], WWE: Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection [review] and Monk - Season Six. 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.

Ozzie & Harriet: The Best Of Ricky & Dave presents 24 episodes of America's best-loved family including 12 performances by Ricky Nelson! Ricky and David Nelson grew up before America's eyes. As time went on, both boys grew into popular heartthrobs with Ricky becoming a genuine teen idol and recording star. This set includes Ricky performing such classics as "Fools Rush In" and "Hello Mary Lou," to name a few. Sing along with Ricky through all 12 performances. We know that you know the words! Now on a 4-DVD set! Check out a clip from the show as well as this Ricky Nelson song!

Some great new discs were added to the DVD Talk Review Database over the past week. From a comic look at teenage suicide to comic strip heroes, there's been a review for almost every taste. Some new reviews of note include: Heathers - 20th High School Reunion Edition - a darkly comic masterpiece and one of the best films of the 1980s; In Bruges - a provocative black comedy with surprising depth; and Cinematic Titanic - Doomsday Machine - sublime bad movie riffing from masters of the genre, the execution is uproarious and near-perfect. Other recent reviews include: Heaven, The Dick Tracy RKO Classic Collection, and The Hammer.  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.

If it's the Fourth of July, it must be time for a Will Smith movie. The superstar returns to screens with the bad attitude superhero extravaganza Hancock. DVD Talk critics Brian Orndorf, Jamie S. Rich, and David Walker all weigh in on the action tale. Monica Ali's best-selling novel comes to life in the searing drama Brick Lane. And the kid-sized mystery Kit Kittredge: An American Girl opens wide across North America. Also in theaters: The life and madness of Hunter S. Thompson is explored in the documentary Gonzo. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Wanted, Wall-E, The Incredible Hulk, The Happening, Get Smart, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Kung Fu Panda, The Love Guru, The Fall, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Finding Amanda, and Iron Man. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

This week there are a few reviews of some great TV series, especially if your a fan of older shows. Some of the TV on DVD reviews you'll want to read include:  Doctor Who - Beneath The Surface - These three stories from the long-running BBC show feature all of the appearances of both the Silurians and the Sea Devils, and is a must-buy for fans of the show; The Rat Patrol: The Complete Series - Clean, efficient, and professional each episode is competently executed for maximum action and excitement; Ice Road Truckers: On & Off The Ice - a solid release that stands as a fine accompaniment to the first season of History Channel's successful show. Other shows include:  Early Edition: The First Season, Prehistoric Earth, and The X-Files: Revelations.  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: Journey to the Far Side of the Sun - We like it, it's a childhood favorite, but Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's far-out space picture is a bare concept that goes absolutely nowhere. Psychedelic space naps, actors without marionette strings, rockets, things blowin' up. Boom!; The Night They Raided Minsky's - This affectionate comedy-musical has great songs, funnymen, a sparkling cast and an interesting lesson to teach about the changes in popular taste -- lowbrow taste. Directed by William Friedkin, the film is an editorial battleground, one of the most famous films "created" in post-production; and Hitler: The Last Ten Days - Legend reaches into Paramount's vault again to present this respectable true story of the final week + of the Third Reich, holed up in a battered Berlin bunker. The big attraction is Alec Guinness' interpretation of Adolph Hitler -- he gets high marks for a difficult role. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

From silly comedies to thought proviking documentaries and a look inside Madison Avenue, this week's DVD releases have something for everyone. 30 Days: The Complete Second Season [review] The second season of Morgan Spurlock's show is even better than the first. Episodes are informative, promote intelligent discussion, entertaining, and at times alternately funny and heartbreaking; Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters - Criterion Collection [review] - Paul Schrader's biopic of the controversial and provocative Japanese author works on multiple levels to break down the writer's life, to show how much of it is interior and how fact and fiction blend into one another; and Mad Men - Season One [review]- If you're a fan of well-written, character-driven drama, especially one that recreates an era in loving (and sometimes frightening) detail, Mad Men will not disappoint. Other new releases include:  Quantum Hoops [review], Drillbit Taylor [review] and My Blueberry Nights [review]. 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.

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