This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: DVD Savant Picks the Most Impressive Discs of 2008 - For the eighth year running Savant picks his ten favorites for the year, adding a long list of great discs for those who may have missed an important title or two. Some tough decisions this year -- and several of the winners turn out to be westerns; The Shuttered Room & It! - Warners' Horror Double Feature combines two sixties thrillers. The first is an amusing murder spree in old Baltimore with Patrick O'Neal in fine form as a homicidal maniac, and the second an English reworking of The Golem legend with Roddy McDowall as a crazy museum curator. Good color, fun horror nostalgia; and Burn After Reading - The Coen Brothers take on a "conspiracy of morons" in the nation's capitol -- that has nothing to do with party politics. George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt become entangled in a mix-up between CIA spies, health club trainers and a crazy dating service. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

2009 is shaping up to be a good year for film buffs with several key titles being released in high definition and SD DVD. Recently announced DVDs and Blu-rays of note include: Max Fleischer's Superman - Some of the greatest cartoons ever made are restored and released by Warners. Look for them on 4-07-09; The next TCM set features a collection of films staring Doris Von Kapplehoff, better known as Doris Day. TCM Spotlight: Doris Day Collection appears on 4-07-09 and contains It's A Great Feeling, Tea For Two, April In Paris, The Tunnel Of Love, and Starlift; and the cheesy but fun SF TV show M.A.N.T.I.S: Complete Series escapes to DVD on 1-27-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

New DVD releases have slowed to a trickle with the holidays past us, but there's still a few good discs coming out, just in case anyone has any disposable income left. Some of this week's more notable releases include: Serenity (Blu-ray) [review] - with taut storytelling, its insistence on subverting stock cliches, a dazzling scale with some awe-inspiring visuals, and an indescribably engaging cast this film teeters on the brink of perfection; Hellbound: Hellraiser II - 20th Anniversary Edition [DVD review]- a creative and genuinely frightening effort and this is its best DVD release yet; and Surfer, Dude [review]- Matthew McConaughey settles into pretty much his dream role as Steve Addington, an ace surfer who always has an impossibly gorgeous woman and a joint within arm's reach. Other releases of note include:  Towelhead [review], Days of Thunder (Blu-ray) [review], and Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored [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.

Though the DVD releases may have slowed in the post-holiday season, DVDTalk's review panel continues to crank out the critiques. New DVD reviews include: Eagle Eye - LaBeouf and Monaghan both do an admirable job of giving this blend of real-time tech and outlandish action some personality; Planet B-Boy - people who enjoy a solid documentary with compelling stories and interesting participants won't want to miss this film; and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - one of the most refreshing anime films to be released in a very long time and it definitely leaves an impression. Other recent reviews include: A Hole in a Fence, Haunted Histories Collection: Dracula, Witches, Voodoo, and Exorcism, and Douglas Fairbanks: A Modern Musketeer.  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.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett hope to find the perfect age for love in David Fincher's outstanding The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2nd Review). Frank Miller tries to conjure the essence of Will Eisner in the loopy actioner The Spirit. And Tom Cruise wants to kill Hitler in Bryan Singer's taut WWII thriller Valkyrie. Also in theaters: Adam Sandler literally becomes the Sandman by telling Bedtime Stories. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet hate each other in Revolutionary Road. Politics get animated for the Waltz with Bashir. Daniel Craig takes on the Nazis in Defiance. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson learn to love inLast Chance Harvey. And Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston meet the world's worst dog in the comedy Marley & Me. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: The Wrestler, Seven Pounds, Doubt, Gran Torino, Milk, and Yes Man. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Happy Holidays! The review staff at Anime Talk has been busy as usual chipping away at our stacks of reviews and watching the bulk of anime on the market. With the consolidation of the industry titles have come in spurts. With less companies the release windows have changed and I'm sure you've noticed by reading our columns that one month is ginormous, and other months not so much. Well the past month or so has landed plenty of anime on our doorstep and we've pull everything together just in case you missed a certain title during the holiday rush. Cacth the latest anime reviews, DVD deals, and more in this month's Anime Talk.

Merry Christmas to all of our readers who celebrate the holiday! There's usually a quite time after all the presents have been opened but before dinner, and that's perfect time to check out the latest TV on DVD reviews here at DVDTalk. Some of the newest TV series reviews include:  The Odd Couple - The Final Season - One of the brightest, wittiest, most urbane sitcoms from any decade, comes to a triumphant close and ends on a high note; Bones - Season 3 - Fans of the series will not want to miss out on this fun season; and Lost - The Complete Fourth Season - It may be maddening at times, but more often than not it teeters more on the side of brilliance than overkill. Other shows recently reviewed include:  Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interviews, Transformers: Energon Ultimate Collection, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 6.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: The Matrix [Blu-ray] - Viewers who only want the first movie from the Matrix trilogy (often refered to as "the good one") in HD only have a short time to wait. It'll be released on Blu-ray on 3-24-09; You'll soon be able to watch Mitzi Gaynor wash that man right out of her hair in high definition when South Pacific appears on Blu-ray on 3-31-09; and the latest installment of one of Disney's hottest properties arrives on DVD when High School Musical 3: Senior Year hits the shelves on 2-17-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: The Day the Earth Stood Still - Fox ties in its remake with a stunning Blu-ray edition of the 1951 original. It's more powerful than ever in HD, with a particularly strong Bernard Herrmann soundtrack.; The Royal Air Force At War - Featuring 24 Unseen Films 1940-1944, ranging from training pictures to fascinating public service movies to convince civilians not to disturb crashed aircraft. Just the kind of thing Savant dotes on -- not because I'm addicted to war-related docus, but because it's fun to figure out exactly why each short was made and whether it serves its purpose. Very British, very detailed and a virtual time machine; and The Bill Douglas Trilogy - The Scottish director's trilogy is comprised of three autobiographical features made in the 1970s, My Childhood, My Ain Folk and My Way Home. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

With Christmas coming up this Thursday, many of the bigger released are hitting the shelves on Saturday. We can only surmise that Hollywood as a whole hasn't embraced The System advocated by editor John Sinnott. In any case, some of this week's more notable releases include: Ghost Town [DVD review] - the linear but original story paves the way for plenty of laughs; The Duchess [DVD review]- the picture is a winner, thanks in no small part to Keira Knightley and her accomplished ability to communicate utter despair with only a faint ripple of her porcelain features; and Eagle Eye [review]- an effective, white-knuckle ride. Other releases of note include:  Burn After Reading [1st review, 2nd review], Resident Evil: Degeneration [Blu-ray review], and Traitor [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.

You've been asking for it for years, and now it's finally a reality: DVDTalk's Premium Membership! Users now have the option of getting a bundle of extra features to enhance their DVDTalk experience including an avatar, access to a private "Premium Members Only" forum, a Panic Button, User Photo Albums, the ability to create and join Social Groups, a Premium Membership icon next to your screen name, and much more. Check out all of the new features here. All this for only $20 a year! To make the deal even sweeter, use the coupon HOL-PZXV0 before January 2nd, 2009 and get $10 off!

In case you haven't checked out the DVDTalk review database lately, it's filled with our review panel's take on the latest releases. New DVD reviews include: Nutty Professor - Lewis himself is reprising his most famous character in this enjoyable animated version of the classic film; The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea - fans will be delighted once more by this sequel, a nice addition to the "Mermaid" franchise; and Happy Funeral - it's like a John Hughes laugher from the '80s retrofitted into a post-millennial Chinese landscape, the end result is actually something quite enjoyable. Other recent reviews include: Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc., Pink Panther Ultimate Collection, and Chamber of Horrors/Brides of Fu Manchu.  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.

Mickey Rourke piledrives brilliantly in Darren Aronofsky's magnificent drama The Wrestler [2nd review]. Jim Carrey just can't say no in the tepid slapstick offering Yes Man. And Will Smith carries the weight of the world on his shoulders in the tragedy Seven Pounds. Also in theaters: Kate DiCamillo's soup-and-big-eared-mouse saga hits the screen in The Tale of Despereaux. Kate Beckinsale stands up for journalism in Nothing But the Truth. And Jeff Goldblum barks like a dog (literally) in Paul Schrader's Holocaust drama Adam Resurrected. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Reader, Doubt, Gran Torino, Milk, and Wendy and Lucy. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

This month Silent DVD looks at Flicker Alley's latest release, a five disc - eleven film set of rarely seen Douglas Fairbanks films. Douglas Fairbanks - A Modern Musketeer contains a nice selection of Fairbanks early work, before he became a swashbuckler and adventure hero. These comedy films are quite enjoyable and illustrate what a talent Fairbanks was. Want more?  Check out our earlier columns including reviews of The General, Kino's Slapstick Symposium Wave Three, and The 2008 San Francisco Silent Film Festival TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

Studios have been releasing a good number of complete series sets. Now you can get the entire run of a show in one fell swoop, often cheaper than the individual season sets. Check out our reviews of the newest TV series sets including:  The Wire: The Complete Series - the kudos thrown to this show are not mere hyperbole. Believe the hype - this is a phenomenal series; Deadwood: The Complete Series - a compelling television drama about a ruthless, lawless camp turning into a bona fide township, which is known in the history books as Deadwood; and The Wild Wild West: The Complete Series - Taking the suspense and excitement of James Bond, the other worldly awe of science fiction shows, and setting it all in the old west, this show is still is as enjoyable today as it was 40 years ago. Other shows recently reviewed include:  Mythbusters: Big Blasts Collection, Inazuman: The Complete Series, and Power Rangers: Jungle Fury - Into the Jungle.  Want more?  Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: Gandhi [Blu-ray] - Sir Richard Attenborough's 1982 film won eight Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. It gets the HD treatment on 2-20-09; The Venture Bros.: Season Three - the Adult Swim cartoon appears on Blu-ray and DVD on 3-24-09, and Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, and Michael Rennie star in the historical epic The Robe which will get a Special Edition release on 3-17-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

a href="http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2768end.html" title="Encounters at the End of the World"> This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews including: Encounters at the End of the World - Werner Herzog's eccentric travelogue-of-discovery takes him to McMurdo in Antarctica, to investigate what the researchers at work there are really like. It's one impressive revelation after another; White Dog - Samuel Fuller's last Hollywood film is a twofold allegory on racism. An actress finds a stray "white dog", an animal trained by racists to attack black people -- men women, children. An animal trainer is determined to deprogram the killer -- which keeps managing to escape; and Still Life - Jia Zhang-Ke's intriguing drama uses the story of two people looking for loved ones to show the massive societal upheaval created by the building of the Three Gorges Dam, which has flooded entire cities and forced mass migrations. With an entire second feature about an artist who went to the construction site to paint the workers. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

From pop tune-filled musicals to big-budget sequels to remakes of B-movies, this week there's something for just about everyone. Some of this week's more notable releases include: Mamma Mia! The Movie [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - It's nothing serious, it's nothing deep, but it's glorious to look at and most of the time a lot of fun to listen to. Fun, fun, fun; The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor [DVD review, Blu-ray review]- a movie that offers a lot of diverting CG antics; and The Third Man (Blu-ray) [review]- few movies are as eminently watchable - and rewatchable as this classic. An absolute must on Blu-ray. Other releases of note include:  Death Race (Unrated) [review], Death Proof (Blu-ray) [review], and Planet Terror (Blu-ray) [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.

In case you haven't checked out the DVDTalk review database lately, you should stop by to check out our review panel's take on the latest releases. New DVD reviews include: The Day the Earth Stood Still: Two-Disc Special Edition [2nd DVD review, Blu-ray Review ]- One of the true landmarks of science fiction cinema; Man On Wire - a fantastic film and easily one of 2008's best; and The Who At Kilburn: 1977 [Blu-ray review, 2nd Blu-ray review]- one of the great bands of all time at the apex of their powers. The concert shows them off brilliantly. Other recent reviews include: American Shopper, Burn After Reading, and The Best Of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.  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.

It's the end of the world and it feels strangely familiar in the remake of the 1951 classic The Day the Earth Stood Still. Clint Eastwood returns to growly acting with the racial redemption drama Gran Torino. And a Puerto Rican family endures a hectic Christmas week in the dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays. Also in theaters: Kate Winslet goes nude and Nazi in the mournful The Reader. Acting fireworks and religious deception are found in Doubt. The beat goes on in the musical Dark Streets. Animated family friendly fantasy hits a cruel low in Delgo. Kim Basinger singlehandedly battles a gang in While She Was Out. Steven Soderbergh retraces the footsteps of Che. And Michelle Williams takes the slow road to happiness with her dog in Wendy and Lucy. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Milk, Frost/Nixon, Punisher: War Zone, My Name is Bruce, Cadillac Records, and Australia. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

With the holidays approaching it's no surprise that a lot of great TV shows are making thier way to DVD. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including:  Sanford and Son - The Complete Series - The entire run of one of the most influential TV shows of the 1970s is released at a bargain basement price. Read Paul Mavis' excellent review and you won't be able to stop yourself from buying a copy; Freaks and Geeks: Yearbook Edition - a great show, worthy of multiple return visits, and Shout! Factory's first-rate packaging and comprehensive bonus features are an excellent compliment to a terrific series, making this set a no-brainer; The Sopranos - The Complete Series - simply put, this is television at its best; and The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection - Excellent content, excellent packaging, tons of special features that are extremely informative and never feel exhaustive.. it really doesn't get much better than this!. 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: Sabrina - Paramount's Centennial Edition of Billy Wilder's romantic hit improves on the older disc. Bogart, Hepburn and Holden are a great threesome and the movie is as light as ever; Casablanca - Warners Ultimate Collector's Edition may be the best looking B&W video release ever. Bogie and Bergman are back, but they look much, much better. A fancy box aimed at gift-givers contains some novelty extras; and The Third Man - Critierion's first Blu-ray out the gate is a beauty, making Carol Reed's superlative thriller even more stunning. All previous extras are duplicated. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: Max Payne - Mark Wahlberg brings the PC Game hero to the big screen, and now the little screen. It will be released on both DVD and Blu-ray on 1-20-09; Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - the movie based on the best-selling novel shows up on DVD and Blu-ray on 2-3-09, and the creator of The Office and Extras beings his stand-up routine to home video in Ricky Gervais: Out Of England - 3-31-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

This week one of the most talked about summer movies is coming out at last: The Dark Knight [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - this action-packed follow-up to Batman Begins only edged the bar higher for big-screen comic book adaptations; Believe it or not, there are other DVDs being released this week too. Some of the more notable titles include: Lost - The Complete Fourth Season [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - non-stop tension, brand new time mechanics, a handful of quality fresh faces, and a heaping helping of all the regular trimmings that make it one of the best television shows around; and Horton Hears a Who [review]- the Dr. Seuss classic gets adapted into a CGI film that will appeal the kids and adults alike. Other releases of note include:  Europa - Criterion Collection [review], I Am Legend Ultimate Collector's Edition, and Anamorph [DVD 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.

There have been some great movies and series released on DVD recently... so many our review staff is having a hard time keeping up. New DVD reviews include: Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection - a handsome set of the duo's entire output at Universal Studios, some 28 full-length features released between 1940 and 1955; Step Brothers - this Will Ferrell-John C. Reilly celebration of absurdity has plenty of gut-busting belly laughs; and Warner Bros. and the Homefront Collection - three of WB's top wartime all-star revues - "This is the Army," "Thank Your Lucky Stars," and "Hollywood Canteen" - presented together in a new three-disc box set. Other recent reviews include: Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow, Cinematic Titanic - Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, and 42nd Street Forever, Volume 4: Cooled by Refrigeration.  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.

Everyone's favorite vigilante makes a third pass at big screen glory in the absurdly violent comic book spectacle Punisher: War Zone [2nd review]. Bruce Campbell arrives to lampoon Bruce Campbell in the horror comedy My Name Is Bruce. And Richard Nixon engages in a war of minds with television personality David Frost in Ron Howard's drama Frost/Nixon [2nd review]. Also in theaters: Sean Penn portrays slain San Francisco politician Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's Milk. The Chess Records saga is dramatized in the musical Cadillac Records. And Alan Rickman heads a cast of plenty in the unfortunate thriller Nobel Son [review coming soon]. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Australia, Transporter 3, Slumdog Millionaire, Quantum of Solace, Four Christmases, and Twilight. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Some great TV shows have recently made their way on to DVD, including some rarely seen shows. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including:  Saturday Night Live - The Complete Fourth Season - a must-own for comedy connoisseurs; Burke's Law: Season One Volume Two - one of the most consistently sophisticated crime shows on the air in the mid-60s; and Mister Peepers: Season 2 - a lovely, heartfelt show with a minimalist attitude bolstered by exceptionally fine work by Wally Cox. Other shows recently reviewed include:  The New Adventures of Old Christine - The Complete Second Season [2nd review], Life with Derek: The Complete First Season, and The Starlost - Complete 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: The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc - Milla Jovovich is a trembling, frantic Jeanne d'Arc in Luc Besson's beautifully filmed, historically questionable epic; Irma Vep - Olivier Assayas gives us a slice of French filmmaking, on an ill-fated production based on how good Maggie Cheung looks in black tights. Funny and interesting, with a great turn by Nathalie Richard; and Capricorn One - Peter Hyams' space fraud thriller is pretty silly, but it does have O.J. Simpson! Elliott Gould and James Brolin co-star in a movie about a faked Mars mission. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

A few more interesting discs have been announced in the last week or so. Recently announced DVDs and of note include: Religulous - Bill Maher teams up with Borat director Larry Charles to skewer some sacred cows. 2-17-09; Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway - the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical comes to DVD and Blu-ray on 2-3-09, and RocknRolla Guy Ritchie's latest film about crooks, a large pile of cash, and a burned out rock star arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on 1-27-09. Keep track of all the upcoming DVDs with the DVDTalk Release List.

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and the studios are releasing some great movies in hopes of cashing in. Some of the more notable titles include: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - steps up its game in almost every way. It's darker, more mature, and a better paced film than the last outing, and to top it all off, it's still 100 percent suitable for your kids!; Wanted [DVD review, Blu-ray review] - a rewarding rocket-powered ride of escapism, it's damn near-perfect lunacy at times; and The Shawshank Redemption (Blu-ray) [review]- one of the best films of the 1990's, this note-perfect film is presented in HD for the first time just in time for the holidays. Other releases of note include:  Step Brothers [DVD review, Blu-ray review], The X-Files: I Want to Believe [DVD review, 2-Disc Extended Cut review], and The Longshots [DVD 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.

One of the most common problems that DVD Collectors face is how to store their discs. Just where do you put all of those movies so that you can have easy access whenever you want? The people at Slappa have come up with an ingenious solution: their patented d2 pockets. Each pocket holds two DVDs, Blu-rays or HD DVDs along with the covers and inserts. Multi-disc sets are no problem either with Slappa's d3i pages which can each hold up to four DVDs and covers. The d2 and d3i pockets can then be stored in Slappa's custom designed DVD Wallets or their compact Storage Boxes. With 70 DVDs and covers fitting into a Storage Box and 40 or 90 in a portable, hard bodied DVD Wallet your collection will be safe, accessible and it will take up considerably less space. For the holidays Slappa is having a 10% off sale, offering a free shipping option, and including freebies with every order! There's never been a better time to check out Slappa's DVD Storage System.

Here's hoping all our American readers had a nice Thanksgiving. The editor was planning on a nice Thanksgiving Day post to the front page, but he bloated himself on turkey and pie and fell into a coma. Happily the reviewers were still working! New DVD reviews include: Chungking Express: Criterion Collection - one of the great films of the '90s, it lingers like a personal memory long after its final frames have faded; Cowboy Smoke - this movie is a hell of a find, a small indie carrying a great big story. One of the year's finest independent works; and White Dog - Criterion Collection -a solid film that serves as a great showcase for a director who was not afraid to take chances. Other recent reviews include: The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, Black Metal Satanica, and Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps - Ballets by Uwe Scholz.  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.

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