DVD Talk: March 2012 Archives

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen - the second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) is delightful in this fun adventure; I, Claudius - classic television... but be forewarned: It's very possible that you'll be dead to the world for a while due to the "let's watch just one more" virus; and Murder Investigation Team, Series Two - for those who like their crime television straight down the line, it doesn't get much better than this. Other shows recently reviewed include: Young Justice - Season One, Volume Three, Fan Favorites: The Best of Frasier, and The Angry Beavers: Season Three, Part One. 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 Descendants - George Clooney tries to hold his nuclear family together when an accident puts his wife into a coma, all the while dreading a decision he must make on behalf of his extended family, which can't wait for him to sell the family's heritage, the last giant parcel of undeveloped land in Hawaii; Something to Live For - AA rep Ray Milland tries to help actress Joan Fontaine kick the bottle, and they grow fond of one another in no time at all. But Milland's married to Teresa Wright.; and Letter Never Sent - A fantastic visual discovery, Mikhail Kalatozov's tale of four geologists stranded in the midst of an enormous Siberian wildfire is the artistic equal of his earlier The Cranes are Flying. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

April is coming up, and that means it's time for DVDTalk's Third Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge! In this event, fans of trash cinema, the dreck and dross of films, will try to watch 100 B-movies in a single month and (optionally) complete the movie checklist that has such diverse items as watching a cannibal movie, a Mexican wrestling film, a "bad sequel to a well regarded film" and a nunsploitation flick (and much more!). Can you spend the evening chatting about the relative merits of various Bruce Lee imposters or are you someone who realizes that Russ Meyer films are an art form unto themselves? Then this is the event for you! If you think you're up to the test, or even if you just want to watch, check out the official Challenge thread. It'll be loads of fun, and there are prizes too! The fun all starts on Saturday, March 31st!

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: Casablanca [Blu-ray review] - There are good films, there are great films, and then there are the very few motion pictures that are truly timeless... like this one; Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close [Blu-ray review] - First-time actor Thomas Horn gives a tremendous performance in this Oscar-nominated film; and Corman's World [Blu-ray review, DVD review] - an insightful, engaging, and wildly entertaining look into Roger Corman's long reign as the king of the drive-in and one of the best film-related documentaries in recent years. Other reviews of note include A Dangerous Method [Blu-ray review], Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIII [DVD review], and South Park: The Complete Fifteenth Season [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.

This past weekend, and the one coming up, the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California will screen the rarely seen 5 1/2 hour restoration of Abel Gance's 1927 masterpiece, Napoleon. With live accompaniment by the Oakland East Bay Symphony conducted by Carl Davis and using his original score, it was an impressive presentation. DVDTalk's John Sinnott was there on opening night and has filed his report on the event. Since the film has been tied up in legal disputes for years, is doubtful that it will ever be released to home video. Even if it is released, it won't be possible to reproduce the finale, a 20-minute panoramic sequence with three projectors casting a connected image across three screens. It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Read DVDTalk's full coverage!

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD reviews include: Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention - Charming, funny and occasionally informative, this show offers a mixture of quirky documentaries, trivial tidbits, and top-tier claymation; The Help - a polished, well-acted charmer; and Sons of Perdition - a strong and weighty film, potent and powerful. Other recent reviews include: The Slams; Young, Violent, Dangerous, and The Double Hour. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week in theaters, the bestselling book makes an eagerly anticipated leap to the big screen in The Hunger Games. A SWAT team tries to take over an apartment building controlled by an underworld boss in The Raid: Redemption. And Willem Dafoe faces down the end of the world in Abel Ferrara's 4:44 Last Day on Earth. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: 21 Jump Street, Casa de Mi Padre, Jeff, Who Lives at Home, John Carter, Friends with Kids, Silent House, The Conquest, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Project X, and Last Days Here.

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: Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIII - a strong sampling from the show, offering a two-Joel, two-Mike mix; Designing Women: The Complete Fifth Season - high-quality stuff from a great series, an essential addition for fans of the show; and Matlock: The Seventh Season - different network, different cast...same great show. Other shows recently reviewed include: Ocean Giants, Here Come The Brides: The Complete Season Two, and Public Image Limited - Live At Rockpalast 1983. 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: Anatomy of a Murder - Otto Preminger's best movie is also the best courtroom drama to date -- and it's half a century old; The Deer Hunter - Michael Cimino's Best Picture Oscar winner has a fantastic dream cast that brings some great characters to life; and No Man of Her Own - Destitute unwed mother Barbara Stanwyck assumes the identity of another woman, and finds herself welcomed as a lost daughter-in-law by a gracious, loving family. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

There are a few new releases this week that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [Blu-ray review] - a stylish, moody, contemplative adaptation of the international bestseller; Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy [Blu-ray review] - an easy film to get lost in...even if you don't find your way out; and Battle Royale: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray review] - The set starts with a bold, daring, and through provoking film that never skimps on entertainment value. Other reviews of note include Hop [Blu-ray review], Letter Never Sent: Criterion Collection [Blu-ray review], and Women Art Revolution [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.

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: Charade - a romantic comedy with some stakes, a thriller with charm, and it's still as wonderfully entertaining now as it was when it was made; The Descendants - an insightful, tough drama that Clooney spearheads with an excellent performance; and Carnage - Roman Polanski's latest is a dark comedy of manners with a gifted ensemble that know the key to good humor is to play it dead serious. Other recent reviews include: My Week with Marilyn; Wizards, and Where The Dead Go To Die. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

The South by Southwest Film Festival has wrapped up in Austin, Texas, and DVD Talk's own Jason Bailey has filed his final reviews from the fest, which featured some of the most intriguing indies and genre pictures of the coming year, including: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey in Richard Linklater's dark Texas comedy Bernie; Parks and Recreation co-star Nick Offerman in the winningly absurd Somebody Up There Likes Me; and a true story of the dangers of perceived authority, the controversial Compliance. SXSW also boasted several fascinating documentaries, including The Imposter, Uprising: Hip Hop and the L.A. Riots, and We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists. Read those and the rest of Bailey's festival reviews in our Theatrical Reviews section.

This week in theaters, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum put a comic spin on an '80s cop show in 21 Jump Street. Read reviews by Tyler Foster and Jason Bailey. A Spanish-speaking Will Ferrell stars in the full-length telenova spoof Casa de Mi Padre. And the prolific Duplass brothers return with Jason Segel as Jeff, Who Lives at Home. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: John Carter, Friends with Kids, Silent House, The Conquest, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, Project X, Last Days Here, Wanderlust, The Secret World of Arrietty, and The Forgiveness of Blood.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Downton Abbey: Season 2 - well acted, superbly designed, and looking fantastic on Blu-Ray; Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil - The Complete First Season - the show is as outlandishly funny and creative as it is crass; and Out - this crime show is much more than a standard story, the tale is deftly written, confidently directed and a pleasure to watch. Other shows recently reviewed include: Princess Jellyfish: The Complete Series, American Experience: Clinton, and Come Fly With Me: Season One. 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: To Catch a Thief - Alfred Hitchcock's laziest star vehicle lets his charming stars Cary Grant and Grace Kelly carry its tale of a cat burglar trying to clear his name in a French resort town; Geisha Boy - The wild imagination of writer-director Frank Tashlin gets a great workout in this Jerry Lewis comedy vehicle set in Japan but filmed almost entirely within a few miles of downtown Hollywood; and The Great Waltz - It's an MGM operetta / musical biography with a difference -- top talent French director Julien Duvivier turns waltzing figures into great cinematic art, and one-movie-wonder singing diva Miliza Korjus dazzles as a predatory artiste who takes no prisoners. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: The Adventures of Tintin [Blu-ray review] - for pure escapist entertainment, Spielberg's first animated film cannot be beat; The Three Musketeers [Blu-ray review] - Paul W. S. Anderson's take on the story is entertaining with impressive visual effects, a quick pace, and ample humor; and American Pie [Blu-ray review] - still a funny and entertaining flick that will please the youth of today just as much as it did for the youth 13 years ago. Other reviews of note include The Last Temptation of Christ: Criterion Collection [Blu-ray review], Young Adult [Blu-ray review], and In Their Own Words [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.

The South by Southwest Film Festival (and concurrent Interactive conference) is underway in Austin, Texas, and DVD Talk's own Jason Bailey is on the scene, checking out some of the most interesting films of the fest. Check out his reviews of Bobcat Goldthwait's razor-sharp social satire God Bless America; William Friedkin's brutal, disturbing, and darkly funny Killer Joe; and Patton Oswalt and Johnny Knoxville as warring brothers in Nature Calls. SXSW is also showing some of our favorite movies from this year's Sundance Film Festival, including Sleepwalk With Me, Safety Not Guaranteed, and The Raid. Follow Bailey's SXSW progress on Twitter, and read his festival reviews in our Theatrical Reviews section.

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Monty Python and the Holy Grail - one of the funniest films of all time is still hilarious on Blu-ray; The Town - Ultimate Collector's Edition - With this taut crime film Ben Affleck proves that he's not a one-shot-wonder behind the camera; and Busting - an overlooked gem from the violent, cynical '70s. Other recent reviews include: Sword of Desperation; Thirteen Women, and The Epic Journey of Dwayne. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week in theaters, the venerable Edgar Rice Burroughs character finally makes his way to the big screen in the long-awaited John Carter. Parks and Recreation's Adam Scott and Kissing Jessica Stein's Jessica Westfeldt take a shot at being Friends with Kids. And Elizabeth Olsen spends a terrifying night--in real time--in the Silent House. Also out this week: The Conquest, Xavier Durringer's dramatized take on Nicolas Sarkozy's ascent to the Presidency, and David Geib's charming documentary portrait Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Project X, Last Days Here, This is Not a Film, Crazy Horse, Wanderlust, The Secret World of Arrietty, The Forgiveness of Blood, Thin Ice, Bullhead, and Undefeated.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Underdog - Complete Collector's Edition - The set itself is impressive, and the nostalgia factor is undeniable and palpable; Downton Abbey Season 1 - it lives up to its hype, and if its great, addictive, can't-watch-just-one fun is an essential part of it, it has a real classiness to it, too; and The Story of Ireland - a fast-paced, engaging look at the turbulent history of a country that is far more fascinating than the images of the color green and shamrocks often associated with it. Other shows recently reviewed include: Above Suspicion - Set 1, Tavis Smiley Reports: Too Important to Fail, and Hazel: The Complete Second Season. 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: Fort Apache - John Ford's first entry in his RKO cavalry trilogy is the expected blend of Irish humor, reverence for the military and a troubled view of American history in regards to the Indian Wars; Three Outlaw Samurai - Director Hideo Gosha injects his own brand of anti-authoritarianism into this tale of samurai that turn against the system; and Revenge! - A close-knit English clan takes the law into its own hands to avenge a murdered daughter, but the brutality and tension boomerang to wreck the family as well. An obscure but suspenseful crime-horror drama. 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: Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray review] - HBO has, without question, outdone themselves with this series... and that's saying a lot; Immortals [DVD review] - the movie delivers tons of gorgeous style and striking imagery, which is rendered in massive scale; and Grave of the Fireflies [DVD review] - one of the most moving and overwhelming war films ever made. Other reviews of note include The Skin I Live In [Blu-ray review], Transformers Prime: Season One [Blu-ray review], and Like Crazy [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.

Some cool discs have been reviewed over the past week. Check out these recent entries: Kung Fu Panda 2 - It'd be hard not to enjoy the living daylights out of this entertaining sequel; Top Gear: Complete Season 17 - some of the most amazing and entertaining television around - and not just because of the cars; and Hazel: The Complete Second Season - a gentle, fun, light sitcom with heart. Other recent reviews include: Scarlet Street; Dragon Age: Redemption, and Shooting Robert King. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This week in theaters, three teenage guys throw the ultimate house party in the comedy Project X. An underground '70s metal icon takes one more shot at a comeback in the documentary Last Days Here. And an Iranian filmmaker speaks out from house arrest in This is Not a Film. Also this week: Crazy Horse, documentarian Frederick Wiseman's look at the famed French nude cabaret, goes into wider release. Be sure to catch reviews of other recent Theatrical Films: Wanderlust, The Secret World of Arrietty, The Forgiveness of Blood, Thin Ice, Bullhead, Rampart, Michael, Chronicle, The Woman in Black, The Inkeepers, and Perfect Sense.

Sci-Fi Savant is DVD Savant's new book, a collection of 116 chronologically sorted reviews, spanning Fritz Lang's Metropolis to James Cameron's Avatar. Director Joe Dante puts it best: "When it comes to classic sci-fi movies it's rare to find much in the way of new insights. But [DVD Savant] ... has gathered together ... a treasure trove of ideas, opinions and research that'll entertain you for hours." To say nothing of its myriad enticing obscurities, including director Abel Gance's The End of the World (1930), an early French talkie; Cosmic Voyage (1936), a Soviet epic about a trip to the moon; and Bertrand Tavernier's Deathwatch (1980), about a popular reality TV show that surreptitiously films people as they die. DVD Talk's own Stuart Galbraith IV recently sat down with the Rondo Award-winning Erickson for a chat. Read what he had to say about the new book, sci-fi films generally, and the genre's trends then and now in the latest DVDTalk interveiw.

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Transformers Prime: Season One - a fun series with great visuals, familiar characters, terrific voice acting and a not-too-serious tone; Nurse Jackie - Season Three - the show keeps gets better and better while the Blu-ray release offers a spot-on presentation; and Frontline: The Interrupters - Steve James (Hoop Dreams) turns his cinematic eye to CeaseFire, a Chicago-based organization that sees violence as an infectious disease. Highly recommended. Other shows recently reviewed include: Doctor Who: The Sensorites, That Show with Joan Rivers: Vol. 1-3, and The Brief: Complete Collection. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVDTalk database.