DVD Talk: February 2013 Archives

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season - one of the best offerings from television in 2012. - the performances are stellar, the production values are of cinematic caliber, and the story is consistently shocking; Regular Show: Party Pack 3 -A fairly good cross section of episodes from the series that will amuse...and the sight of Pops singing Footloose alone may be worth the price of admission here; and The Hour: Season Two - In this sophomore go-around, the series has really hit its stride. Other shows recently reviewed include: Red Dwarf: X, Weeds: Season Eight, and Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror. 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: Schindler's List - Spielberg's big Oscar winner looks and plays even better than it did twenty years ago. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes became stars in this entirely worthy depiction of the Holocaust in Poland. A war profiteer exploits slave Jewish labor but slowly undergoes a change of heart; Nicholas and Alexandra - Franklin J. Schaffner's gigantic, literal-minded epic of the end of the Romanoffs and their fate at the hands of the Bolsheviks is given a sumptuous, somewhat dry treatment. The history is all good and the personal stories of the Tsar and Tsarina are excellent, as is the sub-plot about the mad monk Rasputin; and Ivan's Childhood - A breathtakingly cinematic Russian film about a young boy scouting for the Army during the counteroffensive versus the Germans. It's the first, acclaimed masterpiece by Andrei Tarkovsky, who begins his celebrated career with one self-assuredly brilliant scene after another. 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: The Master [review] - director Paul Thomas Anderson's film offers a subversive, layered and polarizing examination of a lonely, tortured soul and his encounters with religion; Joshua Tree [review] - for those who have a love for the B-action movies of yesteryear this film is gold - it goes at a good pace and features loads of action and stunts sans CGI; and A Simple Life [review] - Chinese director Ann Hui portrays two people carrying on with life in times that are both difficult and wonderful, making for a film that is both of those things in spades. Other reviews of note include Oasis of the Zombies [review], Garrow's Law - The Complete Collection [review], and Rocko's Modern Life: The Complete Series [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.

After watching the Oscars last Sunday night, a lot of you are probably thinking "yeah, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thinks that Argo's a pretty good flick, but what do the DVDTalk's reviewers think?" If you're in that camp, check out these reviews of the newest Oscar winning films: Best Picture - Argo; Best Director - Ang Lee - Life of Pi; Best Actor - Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln; Best Actress - Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook; Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained; and Best Supporting Actress - Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables; Best Writing - Original Screenplay - Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino; Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay - Argo - Chris Terrio; and Best Animated Feature - Brave. Visit the 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: Skyfall - a polished and intelligent installment that does quite a bit of justice to the character with fifty years of cinematic experience under his belt; Laura - director Otto Preminger's first "big" movie is a film noir classic; and The Thief of Bagdad - a delightful, gorgeous, silent-era adventure featuring the legendary Douglas Fairbanks. Other recent reviews include: How Green Was My Valley, Don Giovanni; and Irreconcilable Differences. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Rocko's Modern Life: The Complete Series - one of the many bright spots in 1990's animation this show is chock full of wacky plots, questionable physics and a semi-regular dosage of off-color sight gags; House of Cards Trilogy - this BBC show is political drama at its most gripping, and it renders bad politics both frightening and enticing; and Missions That Changed the War: Doolittle Raid - the expert pacing and condensed informational content makes this a program worth viewing for all audiences. Other shows recently reviewed include: Gossip Girl: The Complete Series, Smash: Season One, and Naked City: 20 Star-Filled Episodes. 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 Insider - Michael Mann's reputation shot upward several notches with this exemplary dramatization of an almost-suppressed 60 Minutes story that finally nailed Big Tobacco's corporate conspiracy to turn cigarette smokers into nicotine addicts; That Cold Day in the Park - What may be Robert Altman's first 'personal' film examines a disturbed (at the very least) spinster who takes in a strange mute boy she spies stranded in the rain. A highly unusual and intriguing psychodrama follows; and King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Alabama - Ely Landau's three-hour special shown once in 1970, is back & intact to provide the most comprehensive news film record ever assembled on Martin Luther King. 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: Argo [review] - a carefully paced effort with ever-mounting tension which will leave you on the edge of your seat biting your nails; Sinister [review] - heavy in atmosphere and scares the film thrills with earned spooks and nicely timed jolts, and its score, editing and direction all are impressive; and TerrorVision / The Video Dead [review] - a pair of tongue-in-cheek mid-'80s darkly comedic horror flicks with monsters that come out of TV sets and kill people. What more could you want?? Other reviews of note include Undefeated [review], The Nest [review], and The Package [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: Gentleman's Agreement - The issues addressed in this movie haven't gone away, they've just taken new forms, and for that reason this intelligent, sincere, and still-powerful film is a must-see; Ivan's Childhood: The Criterion Collection - A bold, often visionary debut from Andrei Tarkovsky, the greatest, most revolutionary Russian filmmaker since Eisenstein; and Side by Side - this documentary explores both sides of the digital vs. film arguments with an impressive selection of directors and cinematographers lending their thoughts. Other recent reviews include: White Zombie, The Best Red vs. Blue DVD. Ever. Of All Time; and Beauty is Embarrassing: The Wayne White Story. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

This coming Sunday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hold the 85th Academy Awards and DVDTalk's review panel is looking forward to the event as always. Once again this year a group of our critics have voted on which pictures and actors they think are most deserving of Hollywood's highest honor. Is anyone pulling for your favorite film? Check out our votes here and find out..

Check out DVDTalk's latest reviews of movies that are in theatrical release. This week's crop includes: A Good Day to Die Hard, [a second review] -Bruce Willis is back as New York cop John McClane once again... this time he travels to Russia and needs to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist; and Beautiful Creatures - a supernatural romance/coming-of-age film that will surely be well-received by teenage girls . Other recent films include: Side Effects, Identity Thief, Barbara, Stand Up Guys, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, 56 Up, The Last Stand, and Django Unchained. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

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: Animaniacs, Vol. 4 - this set belongs in any animation fan's collection, especially if they have kids; Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime: The Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries - perfect vintage British television entertainment, with James Warwick and Francesca Annis a simply ripping couple of amateur investigators; and Young Justice: Invasion - Destiny Calling - One of the best cartoons on television, and one of the best action shows as well. Other shows recently reviewed include: Jumanji: The Animated Series - The Complete First Season, and Joseph Campbell: The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers. 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: Pina - Criterion's first 3D release captures the beauty and subject-dictates-filming-style grace of director Wim Wenders' ode to modern dance great Pina Bausch; 5 Broken Cameras - Emad Burnat is courageous as a West Bank Palestinian whose land is stolen by encroaching Israeli settlers, with the sanction of the courts and the full force of the Israeli army. Prime docu gold, presently nominated for an Oscar; and Devil's Doorway - Robert Taylor is excellent as a decorated Civil War veteran whose land is stolen by encroaching whites, after the U.S. redifines Native Americans as non-citizens. An outraged, furious western from Anthony Mann. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some great discs are being released this week. Check out these new movies: Robot & Frank [review] - a film that has earnest laughs, real emotions, and a fantastic cast; The Perks of Being a Wallflower [review] - Stephen Chbosky's adaptation of his own novel is a vivid, infectiously bittersweet film; and Bully [review] - Lee Hirsch's documentary is an powerful and affecting look at the problem of bullying in America. Other reviews of note include Dangerous Liaisons (2012) [review], The Thieves [review], and Mimesis [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: Cabaret - Legendary dancer/choreographer Bob Fosse's first successful film as a director is a classic with half-mad, yet brilliantly shot and performed musical numbers; The Late Mathias Pascal - With an engaging story, a wonderful cast and a visually interesting design, this French silent film is a treasure; and The Nest - this late-'80s flick is basically Jaws with mutant cockroaches. Genre fans will want to check it out. Other recent reviews include: Undefeated, Wild River; and It's In the Bag!. 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: Side Effects -Director Steven Soderbergh returns to the theater with a mystery about a girl with depression... and the deadly results of a particular cure for her blues; and Identity Thief - the film certainly delivers some laughs and even a little bit of heart. Other recent films include: Barbara, Stand Up Guys, The ABCs of Death, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Amour, 56 Up, The Last Stand, and Django Unchained. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

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: Downton Abbey Season 3 - the series now has over 20 million fans just between U.K. and U.S. and it is one of the most creative, ambitious, and involving series on television today; The Boy In The Plastic Bubble - the legendary 1976 made-for-TV movie starring John Travolta is a sensitive, tortured, impossible (and impossibly hopeful) teen romance and this Sony release has a sharp, colorful transfer that is terrific; and Sheena: The Complete First Season - an okay jungle adventure, this syndicated show featured the necessary basics of the can't-fail genre and polenty of eye candy provided by stars and former Baywatch babes Gena Lee Nolin and John Allen Nelson. Other shows recently reviewed include: Breaking In - The Complete Series, and Twenty Twelve: The 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 and articles including: Rules For School and Troubled Teens - Kino has released two new discs in their series of Classic Educational Shorts. The downright punitive Rules for School covers attempts to get the little ankle-biters to sit still and learn something; Troubled Teens tackles the good stuff -- sex, drugs and reckless driving; Grand Hotel - 1932's Best Picture Oscar winner billboards a tall stack of MGM stars to give audiences the impression of a super-production. Dramatically, we get to witness legendary work from Greta Garbo and John Barrymore, with a fine performance by Joan Crawford; and Operation Eichmann - This Allied Artists release is an exploitation effort that dramatizes the story of escaped war criminal Adolf Eichmann on a shoestring budget, not long after the international news of his capture by Israeli agents. 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: Flight [review] - a Denzel Washington vehicle that's is the best movie Robert Zemeckis has made in a long, long while... it's exciting, it's dramatic and it's unpretentious; Peter Pan [review] - this Blu-ray presentation is the most impressive technical presentation of Peter Pan I have seen to date; and Celeste and Jesse Forever [review] - those looking for a thoughtful film about relationships should check it out. Other reviews of note include She-Wolves: England's Early Queens [review], Paul Williams Still Alive [review], and Emma: A Victorian Romance - Season 1 [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 past week the DVDTalk review database has added coverage of some great classic films including: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part Two - a fantastic direct-to-disc animated film of one of the industry's most bulletproof works of art; That Obscure Object of Desire - Luis Bunuel's final film makes a perfect coda for a career packed with provocations that always have had more staying power than the controversy; and Experimment in Terror - A terrific film made even more effective on Blu-ray. Other recent reviews include: Robot & Frank, The Imposter; and Pina: The 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.

Before you head off to the cinema this weekend, check out DVDTalk's reviews of the latest releases including: Barbara - Writer/director Christian Petzold's latest film about a female doctor who has been assigned to a provincial hospital in 1980 East Germany comes highly recommended; and Warm Bodies - Who would have thought that a PG-13 rated zombie romance flick would be so entertaining? Other recent films include: Stand Up Guys, The ABCs of Death, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Amour, 56 Up, The Last Stand, Mama, and Django Unchained. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.