DVD Talk: October 2012 Archives

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Strangers on a Train - Alfred Hitchcock's visual masterpiece about a 'criss-cross' exchange of murders is as precise and powerful as ever; On Her Majesty's Secret Service - The most unique Bond film is also one of the most enjoyable, a fast-moving action-oriented grand adventure thriller anchored in story and character as opposed to gadgets and glitz; and Blessed Event - The motormouth powerhouse actor Lee Tracy shines in this saga of a New York columnist who dishes dirt on everyone in sight, including gangsters and helpless discarded women. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

The master of suspense is back, and in high definition! Just in time for Halloween, Universal has released Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection, an impressive 15 Blu-ray disc set that includes some of his best films. Just look at the contents: Saboteur, Shadow of a Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, and Family Plot. DVDTalk writer Christopher McQuain spent all weekend either at his television or his keyboard covering the set, and going through all the extras (and there are a lot). Read his comprehensive review of Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection then run out and pick up a copy for yourself.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Safety Not Guaranteed [Blu-ray review] - Warm and winning, this film is a genuine original; The Campaign [Blu-ray review] - just in time for the upcoming presidential election this Will Ferrell/ Zach Galifianakis flick is an enjoyable film that's sometimes very funny; and All In The Family: The Complete Series [Blu-ray review] - this set gets reviewer Paul Mavis' vote for best TV release of the year on content alone. Other reviews of note include Greed in the Sun [Blu-ray review], Americano [Blu-ray review], and Brain [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: The Amazing Spider-Man - a top-rate film that is every bit as amazing as the title would seem to indicate; The Santa Clause: The Complete 3-Movie Collection - anyone with children really should have the entire trilogy in their collection; and Three Secrets - both a smart and a heartfelt melodrama, a rare combination in a genre that could play it safe. Other recent reviews include: DreamWorks Spooky Stories; The Who: Live in Texas '75, and Sesame Street: Old School, Volume 3. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Check out DVDTalk's latest reviews of movies that are in theaters. This week's crop includes: Chasing Mavericks - the true story of Jay Moriarity who uses the sport of surfing as an escape from his life of taking care of his mother; The Revisionaries - an engrossing, well-crafted documentary that shows both sided of the battle over the content of school textbooks in Texas; Cloud Atlas - It's as amazing as cinema can be. Make an effort to see this one on the big-screen; and The Kitchen - a character-based comedy/drama with a gifted young cast that is often entertaining and occasionally engaging. Other recent films include: Paranormal Activity 4, The Sessions, Nobody Walks, Seven Psychopaths, Argo, Looper, and The Master. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

For the past week, DVD Talk reviewer Jeff Nelson attended Screamfest 2012, Los Angeles' own horror film festival. Started in 2001, the event continues to get bigger every year, and this time was no exception. Screening such diverse , as some of the most popular modern horror features originally premiered at Screamfest. Jeff finished writing his article overviewing this year's films, such as The Collection, a sequel to 2009's horror film The Collector, the Norwegian film Thale, and Jen & Sylvia Soska's American Mary, which won multiple awards, including Best Picture, at the festival. Check out all this and more in DVDTalk's exclusive coverage of Screamfest 2012!

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: All In The Family: The Complete Series - one of the single most important series in the history of TV, and one of its funniest.. it's all here in one set.; The Ice House - a grim, engrossing show that is recommended viewing for those U.K. mystery fans who like their "cozy village mysteries" not so cozy; and Wallander3 (Wallander - Season 3) - a great series, not to be missed. Other shows recently reviewed include: Gossip Girl: The Complete Fifth Season, Hart of Dixie: The Complete First Season, and The Kathy Griffin Collection: Red, White + Raw. 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 Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Seven British citizens travel to Mumbai to seek a retirement haven or as medical tourists... and find that India is a new life, not a hideaway; Eating Raoul - Paul Bartel has great fun with a twisted farce that nails the swinging '70s, a mire of excess that only could happen in Los Angeles; and Young Cassidy - The life and times of playwright Sean O'Casey, prepped by John Ford and directed mostly by Jack Cardiff in Ireland. 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: Magic Mike [Blu-ray review] - Director Steven Soderbergh's film (inspired by Channing Tatum's work as a male stripper) is a surprisingly entertaining slice of nightlife; Sunday Bloody Sunday: The Criterion Collection [Blu-ray review] - a tale of adventure and disappointment in love that takes place at a very uneasy time; and The Penalty [Blu-ray review] - This pulpy 1920 silent drama stars Lon Chaney in a remarkably diabolical role as a criminal mastermind that also happens to be a double amputee. Other reviews of note include Seeking a Friend for the End of the World [Blu-ray review], Stanley Kubrick's Fear and Desire [Blu-ray review, DVD review], and The Invisible War [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.

Last weekend, DVD Talk's own Jason Bailey travelled to Wichita, Kansas for the tenth annual Tallgrass Film Festival, which is quickly becoming one of the most acclaimed fests in the Midwest. Jason has filed his final report from Tallgrass, with an emphasis on the slate's many excellent documentaries: Audience Award winner Beauty is Embarrassing, the indie hit Paul Williams Still Alive, and the U.S. premieres of the cinephile treats Pablo and Year of the Living Dead. Check out Jason's notes from Tallgrass 2012 here.

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Strangers on a Train - One of Hitchcock's masterpieces, this film is thrilling, gripping, and twisted fun; Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut - The cut of the film fans have wanted to see for more than 20 years, with fine A/V, a nice new featurette, and all of the original DVD-era extras - this one is a no-brainer; and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - a feel-good experience that the entire family can enjoy. Other recent reviews include: The Sterile Cuckoo; Magical Mystery Tour, and Shut Up And Play The Hits. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Planning a trip to the local multiplex this weekend? Here are DVDTalk's reviews of the latest theatrical releases: The Sessions - a film that will captivate its viewers with its charming characters, witty dialogue, and phenomenal actors; Nobody Walks - an indie film with solid actors that give worthwhile performances, but ones that don't entirely make up for the screenplay's flaws; there comes a point in a movie franchise when the creators should say 'enough is enough' and hang it up before the movies start to suck. Reaching that point didn't stop the producers from making Paranormal Activity 4; and Jason Bailey attended the Tallgrass Film Festival where went to screenings of Pablo, Citadel, and the excellent The Right to Love: An American Family. Recent highly recommended films include: Seven Psychopaths, Argo, Looper, and The Master. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Enemy Mine - Wolfgang Petersen's space opera forces opposing fighter pilots to cooperate in order to survive after crashing on a hostile planet; Little Shop of Horrors - Frank Oz captures all the color and pizazz of the stage musical from the Roger Corman movie, about a Mean Green Mother from Outer Space; and Magical Mystery Tour - an impressive digital restoration makes the most of The Beatles' improvised mobile 'happening' movie made for Brit TV in 1967. 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: A League of Their Own [Blu-ray review] - filled with comedy, drama, and suspense, the film as a whole is heartwarming and inspirational; The Funhouse [Blu-ray review] - this great movie owes a whole lot to Universal's classic monster movies, emphasizing characterization and atmosphere over a blood-spattered body count; and Moonrise Kingdom [Blu-ray review] - delightful yet bittersweet, this is a movie captures, as few films ever have, the thrilling flush of a first love. Other reviews of note include Female Vampire [Blu-ray review], Exorcism [Blu-ray review], and Uptight [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.

The curtain has dropped on the 50th Annual New York Film Festival, and DVD Talk's Jason Bailey has filed his final report from the event, with mini-reviews of such highly anticipated films as Ang Li's adaptation of the bestseller Life of Pi, David Chase's feature directorial debut Not Fade Away, Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or winner Amour, Leos Carax's mind-blowing Holy Motors, Brian DePalma's twisty Passion, and Robert Zemeckis's long-overdue return to live action, the Denzel Washington drama Flight. Check out Bailey's Notes from the New York Film Festival here.

Some cool discs have been reviewed over the past week. Check out these recent entries: Dial M for Murder 3D - without a doubt this belongs in every 3D fan's collection; The French Connection - Gene Hackman delivers an excellent performance as a reckless New York City detective hot on the trail of international drug smugglers; and Screaming in High Heels - this adoring documentary about the three original scream queens, Brinke Stevens, Michelle Bauer and Linnea Quigley, is lots of fun. Other recent reviews include: The Woodmans; Brothers McMullen, and Three Texas Steers. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Wondering what to watch this All Hollow's Eve? Several of DVDTalk's reviews have made lists to help you find the perfect scary cinematic treasure to screen on the last day of the month. Whether your tastes run to the classics like Dracula, seminal horror films like Halloween, or the more recent like Trick 'R Treat (which ended up on but one of our lists), we have something you'll like. With some offbeat selections like The Rocky Horror Picture Show and modern classics such as Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects, these lists are definetly worth perusing. Did you're favorite Halloween night film make one of the lists? Check them all out here!

In the newest installment of Brit-Streaming Greg Bakun takes us back to England... way back to the 12th Century, 1128 to be exact. There he visits Cadfael, a Benedictine Monk who happens to solve murders. An unusual premise for a detective show the episode covered here is a a top-notch murder mystery and well worth checking out. Also this month there's a list of the newest shows to be discovered on Acorn TV, some streaming news, and a look at what's coming up next time. Check out all this and more in the latest installment of Brit-Streaming.

This week in theaters, Ben Affleck tells the true story of a covert operation to smuggle hostages out of Iran (with the help of some pretend movie magic) in Argo. Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, and Woody Harrelson lead an ensemble cast in the meta crime comedy Seven Psychopaths. Read reviews by Jamie S. Rich and Jason Bailey. And true crime author Ethan Hawke discovers a box of chilling home movies that puts his new book (and his family) in jeopardy in the horror thriller Sinister. Read reviews by Jeff Nelson and Jamie S. Rich. Also out this week: the wife of a prison inmate re-evaluates her life in Middle of Nowhere, a sexy young artist causes havoc in a California family in Nobody Walks, a pair of estranged brothers are driven further apart by a sex tape in the comedy 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom, and a low-fi horror fave gets a sequel in Grave Encounters 2. Be sure to catch our reviews of other recent theatrical films: Taken 2, Frankenweenie, V/H/S, The Paperboy, Escape Fire, Bill W., The Revisionaries, Chicken with Plums, Looper, Pitch Perfect, Dredd 3D, Trouble with the Curve, End of Watch, The Master, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, How to Survive a Plague, Compliance, Finding Nemo 3D, Arbitrage, and 10 Years.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Family Guy, Volume Ten - Though it's getting a little worn, these shows are as good as they've been in recent memory; Revenge: The Complete First Season - a hilarious season from one of the funniest shows on TV and one of the best ensemble casts; and The Carol Burnett Show: Carol's Favorites - hilarious, and necessary viewing for fans and anyone interested in television history. Other shows recently reviewed include: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Collection Two), Crimson Petal & The White, and New Girl: 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: Quadrophenia - Franc Roddam's naturalistic take on The Who's rock opera; Iron Sky - this Finnish import has style, smarts and more political nerve than any Sci-fi satire yet; and A Cat in Paris - A marvelous new animated film from France, beautifully designed and cleverly worked out to be funny and intriguing. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Anniversary Edition

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: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray review] - this simple story loaded with heart has held up quite well during the last 30 years; Rock of Ages [Blu-ray review] - this film boasts a talented supporting cast and some of the greatest music the '80s; and Werewolf: The Beast Among Us [Blu-ray review] - smart, atmospheric, and bloody. Other reviews of note include The Sorcerers [DVD review], and The Barrens [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: Universal Classic Monsters - The films in this set are considered classics for a reason and this set is simply breathtaking; Cinderella - funny, smartly structured, and animated excellently - a classic; and The English Beat: Live at the US Festival '82 & '83 - two awesome outdoor sets from the influential and much-loved early '80s band. Other recent reviews include: Adventures in Plymptoons!; Princess Bride: 25th Anniversary Edition, and Moonrise Kingdom. 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, remake connoisseur Tim Burton comes full circle with a remake of his own short film Frankenweenie. Ten indie filmmakers team for the found-footage anthology chiller V/H/S. And the American healthcare system gets a once-over in the informative documentary Escape Fire. Also out this week: the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous is profiled in Bill W., the fight for control of school textbooks is examined in The Revisionaries, and the whimsical drama Chicken with Plums goes into wider release. Be sure to catch our reviews of other recent theatrical films: Looper, Pitch Perfect, Dredd 3D, Trouble with the Curve, End of Watch, The Master, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, How to Survive a Plague, Compliance, Finding Nemo 3D, Arbitrage, 10 Years, Liberal Arts, Bachelorette, The Words, Hello, I Must Be Going, For Ellen, and For a Good Time, Call....

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Modern Family: The Complete Third Season - A show that keeps up its pace as the funniest traditional sitcom on TV; New Girl: Season One - a hilarious season from one of the funniest shows on TV and one of the best ensemble casts; and Crimson Petal & The White - gothic drama at its macabre finest. Other shows recently reviewed include: Revenge: The Complete First Season, The Lieutenant: The Complete Series, Part 2, and Absolutely Fabulous: 20th Anniversary Specials. 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: Cyrano de Bergerac - JosÃ© Ferrer's delightfully hammy performance as the swordsman with the long nose won an acting Oscar and firmly established producer Stanley Kramer and writer Carl Foreman on the Hollywood map; Children of Paradise - A new full film restoration is the basis for a new release of this all-time French classic about lust and love in the theater; and A Double Life - Ronald Colman is the famous star who so identifies with his work that he takes on the murderous qualities of the character he plays -- Othello. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

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: Dark Shadows [Blu-ray review] - Worth checking out for fans of Tim Burton or Johnny Depp; Downton Abbey Seasons 1 & 2 Limited Edition Set [Blu-ray review] - this two-season set release makes it a perfect time to catch up on the show and see what the fuss is about; and Headshot [Blu-ray review] - one of the most unusual and surprising thrillers to hit movie screens in ages with a cool, assured tone and a thoughtful atmosphere. Other reviews of note include Pet Sematary [Blu-ray review], Thomas & Sarah [Blu-ray review], and Annie [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.

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent DVD reviews include: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part One - an engrossing and mature take on one of pop culture's most beloved icons; Johnny Guitar - this monumentally strange, strangely monumental, exhilarating film stands as a top-tier classic; and Black Sunday - one of Mario Bava's more enduring and influential pieces of work. Other recent reviews include: High Noon: 60th Anniversary Edition; The Adventures of the Wilderness Family, and Warehouse 13: Season Three. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.