DVD Talk: May 2011 Archives

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: True Blood: The Complete Third Season [Blu-ray review] - this set of shows is even more engrossing than the previous two seasons; American Graffiti (Blu-ray) [Blu-ray review, DVD review] - holds up amazingly well as a funny, smart and well written movie full of great characters, great performances and memorable scenes; and Shanghai Red [DVD review] - a gem of a film that is an experience not to be missed. Other reviews of note include: A Man Called Horse [Blu-ray review], Big Jake [Blu-ray review], and Rio Lobo [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.

Serve. Protect. Don't Screw Up! This week, Entertainment One invites you to ride along with Missy Peregrym and the cast of Rookie Blue (watch trailer) on DVD and Blu-ray. At the police academy they trained together. Now, they're on the job together. Rookie cop Andy McNally and her fellow new recruits are ready to brave anything, but in the world of big city policing, even the smallest mistake can have life-or-death consequences. This week, Rookie Blue, the addictive ABC series that Entertainment Weekly recommended as "What to Watch," arrives fully loaded on DVD and Blu-ray with exclusive bonus features! Look for last summer's #1 new show in stores and online, and don't miss the season premiere of Rookie Blue Thursday, June 23rd at 10|9c on ABC. Enter now for your chance to win one of five sets of Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season on DVD!

Some cool discs have been reviewed over the past week. Check out these recent entries: Some Like It Hot (Blu-ray) - Billy Wilder crafted one of his finest efforts with this silly and perfectly charming comedy; The Firm (Best Buy Exclusive) - one of the most entertaining thrillers of the 1990's; and How I Ended This Summer - an intelligent, slow-building, and fiercely original thriller. Other recent reviews include: Such Good Friends, The Beautiful Person, and 3 Idiots. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis take their blackout debauchery to Bangkok in the slapstick sequel The Hangover: Part II. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf, Tyler Foster, and Jason Bailey. Jack Black returns to learn about himself and destroy half of China in the animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf and Tyler Foster. And Yuen Woo-ping directs high-flying action in True Legend. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Bridesmaids, Thor, Priest, Fast Five, Deep Gold, Hard Breakers, Something Borrowed, Hesher, Jumping the Broom, The People vs. George Lucas, and Rio. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

More TV shows have made their way on to DVD, and DVD Talk has got them covered. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including: Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles - Two great 60's spoofs in one action-packed half hour show. What more could you want?; Upstairs Downstairs (2010) - a must-see even if you've not seen the original program; and The Unknown War: WWII And The Epic Battles Of The Russian Front - an important documentary and well worth watching. Other shows recently reviewed include: Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Complete Season Two, Big Time Rush, and The Bionic Woman: Season Two. 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 and articles including: Our Hospitality - Buster Keaton's first full-length comedy with one storyline is a gem of movie construction and a comedic innovation; The Horse Soldiers - John Ford's last great cavalry saga is now out in a brilliant Blu-ray transfer, restoring the 'bigness' to Ford's old-fashioned style of direction; and Diabolique - Henri-Georges Clouzot's original murder chiller packs a solid impact for viewers with the patience to fall into its icy spell. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

It's just about time for another Anime Talk column! As usual the same rules apply with capsulated anime reviews being published here as well as a selection of anime bargains. Towards the bottom of the page we have included a figure review and a piece on Anime Boston, which was held in the latter part of April. For manga reviews, we are doing something a little different and posting them in the Anime Talk forum. Please feel free to follow our book reviews there! Read about all this and more in this month's Anime Talk!

There are some new titles coming out that might make it worth a trip to the video store this week. Check out these recent releases: Gnomeo & Juliet [Blu-ray review] - a vibrant bit of cheeky entertainment and a beautifully animated romp; The Great Dictator [Blu-ray review] - Chaplin's first 'talking' film is a funny, pointed, smart, and bold satire of Hitler's Germany; and I Am Number Four [Blu-ray review] - a glossy, effects-heavy, studio science fiction flick that hits the target dead-center over and over again. Other reviews of note include: The Unloved [DVD review], The Ron Howard Action Pack [DVD review], and Burning Palms [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.

Our reviewers have been busy this week, filling the DVD Talk Review Database more great entries. Some new reviews of note include: American Graffiti: Special Edition - Arguably the best thing that George Lucas has ever directed; Monogamy - In its own quiet way, it's a marvelous picture; and Blue Valentine - a sad and painfully-realized story, but there's also an inherent beauty within its blend of both hopefulness and hopelessness. Other recent reviews include: Sledgehammer, The Unloved, and Deep Red. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Following the success of Warner Brothers' Warner Archive Collection of manufactured-on-demand DVDs, MGM/Fox has followed suit with their own MOD program, the MGM Limited Edition Collection. DVD Talk recently received the first wave of titles and was generally impressed with the mix and quality of the releases. Writer Stuart Galbraith IV looks at the history of MGM's (and other studios) forays into MOD releases and compiles the review from this first set of releases. It's everything you need to know about MGM's exciting new program in one spot. Be sure to check out our feature on MGM's Limited Edition Collection.

Penelope Cruz joins Johnny Depp on the high seas as Jack Sparrow returns in the blockbuster sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf and Tyler Foster. Mickey Rourke and Bill Murray fight to possess an angelic Megan Fox in Passion Play. Also in theaters: Sophie Monk and Cameron Richardson beat on the boys as the Hard Breakers. And pretty ladies race for sunken treasure in the Filipino actioner Deep Gold. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Bridesmaids, Thor, Priest, Fast Five, Everything Must Go, The Beaver, Last Night, Something Borrowed, Hesher, Water for Elephants, Jumping the Broom, The People vs. George Lucas, and Rio. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

More TV shows have made their way on to DVD, and DVD Talk has got them covered. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including: The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Vol. 1 and The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Vol. 2 - It's what superhero series should aspire to be - the scripts are smart, well paced, and never guilty of alienating the young or old comic book fan; The PJs: Season 1 - Ahead of its time and cruelly comical, this is strong street humor at its irascible best; and Doctor Who: Terror of the Autons - great story that introduces a new companion as well as The Doctor's main foe, The Master, and wraps it up in a fun adventure with some very subtle humor. Other shows recently reviewed include: The Lucy Show - The Official Fourth Season, The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes To Town, and A Mind to Kill: Series 3. 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 and articles including: The Black Sleep - We rabid classic horror fans couldn't wait to catch up with this All Star monster rally -- Lon Chaney Jr.!, John Carradine!, Bela Lugosi!, Basil Rathbone!, Tor Johnson! -- only to discover that the story was limp and our favorite ghouls woefully underused; The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Troublesome casting prevents Vincente Minnelli from pulling this extravagant epic together; and VCI War Films -separate releases of four exciting war themed pictures for Father's Day: The Way to the Stars, Malta Story, Above Us the Waves and Sea of Sand. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: Thor: Tales of Asgard [Blu-ray review] - a very deft blend of action, drama, comedy, and high adventure; ESPN Films 30 for 30 Gift Set Collection, Volume 2 [Blu-ray review] - the films in this second collection are first-rate filmmaking and among the best documentaries in recent memory; and Sophia Loren: Award Collection [DVD review] - an excellent set and it is well worth owning considering the high quality of the films themselves. Other reviews of note include: Feathered Serpent: The Complete Series [DVD review], Araya [DVD review], and Shoeshine [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.

Penn & Teller Bullshit: The Complete Eighth Season

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD reviews include: Penn & Teller Bullshit: The Complete Eighth Season - this final season of the show is still entertaining; If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise - easily one of the best documentaries ever made; and The Scent of Green Papaya - Kino-Lorber's DVD does an incredible job of presenting the film in as beautiful and accurate a fashion as possible. Other recent reviews include: Doctor Who: Snakedance, Cropsey, and Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Kristen Wiig tackles the anxiety of weddings and friendships in the comedy Bridesmaids. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf and Jamie S. Rich. Paul Bettany faces off against a rising vampire nation as the Priest. And Mel Gibson returns to screens as a nut in charge of The Beaver. Also in theaters: Joseph Gordon-Levitt finds his headbanging roots as Hesher. And Will Ferrell sings the suburban blues in the drama Everything Must Go. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Thor, Fast Five, Prom, Last Night, Something Borrowed, Water for Elephants, Jumping the Broom, The People vs. George Lucas, Poetry, Rio, and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: All in the Family - The Complete Ninth Season - completists will be happy that the final season finally made it to DVD; The Murder Of Mary Phagan - a class act with well-acted moments and an interesting story; and American Dad!, Vol. 6 - a bundle of satisfying installments of the animated comedy. Other shows recently reviewed include: The Third Reich: Rise and Fall, Thomas & Friends: Action Pack, and Doc Martin Collection: Series 1-4. 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 and articles including: Dementia 13 - Francis Coppola's first full feature as a director is a surprisingly accomplished horror offering with a couple of impressive shock scenes; Blow Out - Brian De Palma's paranoid conspiracy thriller is one of his most visually polished productions, but its story and situations are still come off as a collection of borrowings from other more original movies; and The Terror -Roger Corman's under-the-counter horror effort ran an end run around the Hollywood guilds by dispatching four aspiring filmmakers on stealth second unit shoots - Boris Karloff toplines the picture even though he only worked for a few days left over on his contract for The Raven. 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: No Strings Attached [Blu-ray review] - don't let the cringe-worthy trailers throw you off... this is a clever romantic comedy that comes highly recommended ; Something Wild [Blu-ray review] - Jonathan Demme's multi-hued comedy never loses its infectious, grin-inducing energy; and Blue Valentine [Blu-ray review] - a cold, hard, unforgiving, and brilliant movie. 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.

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: The Mexican Spitfire Collection - Lupe Velez and Leon Errol star in these eight funny and charming films; Wholphin Issue 12 - another collection of shorts from the Wholphin crew, including two of the best movies it's presented to date; and Sophia Loren: Award Collection - an excellent set and it is well worth owning considering the high quality of the films. Other recent reviews include: Tales From Earthsea, Araya, and Marwencol. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Chris Hemsworth is the God of Thunder wooing Natalie Portman in the comic book spectacular Thor. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf and Jamie S. Rich. Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson are BFFs hitting a rough patch of love in the romantic comedy Something Borrowed. And Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington work on their marriage in the worst possible way in the drama Last Night. Read reviews from Brian Orndorf and Jason Bailey. Also in theaters: Geeks take on their Jedi master in the documentary The People vs. George Lucas. A wedding weekend for two families goes wrong in every way in Jumping the Broom. And a South Korean grandmother finds beauty in creativity in Poetry. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Fast Five, Prom, Water for Elephants, Scream 4, Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, Stake Land, Rio, Hanna, Madea's Big Happy Family, Hobo with a Shotgun, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Source Code, Insidious. As always, we invite you to share your thoughts on films In Theaters in our Movie Talk Forum.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Car 54, Where Are You? - a sitcom milestone - wonderfully loopy and ahead-of-its-time; Human Planet - a must-own for anyone who was impressed with previous BBC nature documentaries; and South Park: Complete Fourteenth Season - a welcome treat...this season brings the show back in a big way. Other shows recently reviewed include: Doctor Who: Kinda, Captain Planet And The Planeteers: Season One, and Stan Lee's Superhumans. 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 and articles including: Queen of Blood - Curtis Harrington refurbishes a dreamy Soviet space epic into an A.I.P. horror picture about a green vampire alien with a lethal talent for hypnosis; While the City Sleeps & Beyond a Reasonable Doubt - Fritz Lang's last two American films are fascinating crime stories about serious topics and constructed with Lang's usual flair for visual complexity; and Altin Ã‡ocuk - a wild & wooly Turkish takeoff on a 007 James Bond adventure. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

After 11 days and 93 feature films, the 10th annual Tribeca Film Festival has come to a close. DVD Talk's man on the scene, Jason Bailey, has filed his festival wrap-up, including his favorite films and performances of the fest. Read it here, and check out some of his late faves from the fest, including the dark comedy The Guard, featuring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle; Abigail Breslin and Alessandro Nivola in top form in the music-infused drama Janie Jones; and the festival's Best Documentary Editing winner, the heart-wrenching Semper Fi: Always Faithful. Check out Jason's daily Tribeca Reports, and all 35 of his Tribeca reviews in our Theatrical Reviews section.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: Being Human: Season Three [Blu-ray review] - the best season yet of this BBC supernatural drama; The Green Hornet - Seth Rogen stars in this update of the costumed crime-fighter; and From Prada to Nada [Blu-ray review] - Love is lost and regained and lives flourish in East L.A. in this innocuous comedy. 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.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Criterion Collection (Blu-ray) - Terry Gilliam has done the impossible by making Hunter S. Thompson's iconic book into a streamlined, cohesive movie; Benny & Joon (Blu-ray) - one of the most memorable and charming romantic comedies made in the 1990's; and Tracy & Hepburn: The Definitive Collection - all nine collaborations in one handy set - a value too great to pass up. Other recent reviews include: Return From The Ashes, Kes, and Sweetie. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.