DVD Talk: April 2013 Archives

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season Three [review] - a number of classic episodes are included in this season and one of television's most potent, intense cliffhangers caps the whole thing off; Not Fade Away [review] - Sopranos creator David Chase makes his feature film debut as both writer and director of this come-of-age story set in the 60's; and The Revisionaries [review] - this docu attempts to hide any preconceived notions under a varnish of fair, balanced coverage for a very tangible issue: the presence of fundamental Christian beliefs within the public school system. Other reviews of note include The Vampire Lovers [review], NOVA: Earth From Space [review], and The Scarlet Pimpernel [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 are a few new releases this week that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: Django Unchained - A fantastically engaging refreshed western, this film represents Quentin Tarantino's successful evolution from a pop-culture aggregator into an excellent high-energy storyteller; Jack Reacher - this movie works well as a briskly paced crime thriller, and Tom Cruise adds pleasing edge to his leading man charisma; and Tom Green: Live - the actor's stand up routine is cohesive, silly, pointed and just a touch poignant - and it' ssurprisingly good. Other recent reviews include: The Impossible, Something for the Birds, and One Day On Earth. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

If you have an interest in early cinema, you'll want to check out DVD Talk review John Sinnott's coverage of the Vitaphone shorts and features available through the Warner Archive Collection. WB has made a treasure trove of very rare and wonderful films readily accessible, and they are great fun to watch. John covers Vitaphone Varieties Volumes One and Two, the six-disc Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts, and The Vitaphone Comedy Collection Vol. 1 (featuring Roscoe ''Fatty'' Arbuckle and Shemp Howard), as well as two features: Don Juan staring John Barrymore and On with the Show. With a great assortment of vaudeville acts, big band performances, early appearances by some big name stars, and two discs devote to shorts shot in two-strip Technicolor, there is some great entertainment in these collections. Get the whole story in DVD Talk's exclusive look at Vitaphone movies.

Before you head off to the cinema this weekend, check out DVDTalk's reviews of the latest releases including: Pain & Gain [a second review] - Michael Bay directed this action/comedy film about a trio of kidnappers, played by Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Mackie, and Dwayne Johnson, and based on a true story; The Angels' Share - a sublime and genuinely heartwarming drama about a quartet of criminal misfits who make an appeal to whatever heaven they believe in to change their lives; and Graceland - a thriller that definitely commands your attention. Other recent films include: Oblivion, Graceland, 42, Simon Killer, Evil Dead (2013),G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Olympus Has Fallen, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone. 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: Ken Burns: The Central Park Five - Anyone with an interest in history or social justice ought to see this; Nova: Earth From Space - this collection of graphics, satellite imagery and interviews does a fine job of showing us the cause and effect of weather patterns, natural disasters and other secrets within "the blue marble"; and Maigret: The Complete Collection - a very solid entry in the small-screen detective genre. Other shows recently reviewed include: Duck Dynasty: Season 2 , Celebrate With Clifford, and Phi-Brain Season 1. 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: Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino pulls off miracle after non-PC miracle in this generic mashup of Spaghetti westerns and Blaxploitation epics. Incredibly gory entertainment doesn't shy away from the consequences of slavery, earning its right to be as vulgar as it pleases; Major Dundee - Sam Peckinpah's mysteriously mangled epic western comes to HD in a two-disc edition that permits the experimental 2005 revision, with its controversial replacement music score, to eclipse the original from 1965; and The Devil and Miss Jones - a millionaire curmudgeon goes undercover in his own department store, to personally root out the agitators causing trouble among his employees. He instead finds true friendship and a new set of values. Great stuff. 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: Jurassic Park 3D [review] - 20 years later, the leaps in visual magic that made this film such an eye-opening experience at the time still impress; Cold Prey II [one review, another review] - a back-to-basics slasher sequel that manages to stand on its own and breathes life into a genre... it grips the viewer early on, and never lets up on the pressure; and Gangster Squad [review] - an entertaining look at the crackdown on organized crime in 1940s Los Angeles Other reviews of note include The Impossible [review] and Grapes of Death [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.

Vitaphone Cavalcade Of Musical Comedy Shorts

A lot of great older films have been viewed by the DVD Talk review panel lately. Check out some of these notable movies from Hollywood's golden age: Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts -A truly wonderful compilation of some very entertain and historical short subjects; The Lineup - this film is a violent, unsettling, and still-creepy noir classic; and Wyoming Outlaw - this John Wayne "Three Mesquiteers" film is an unusually grim, topical, mostly serious fact-based tale. Other recent reviews include: Three Hours to Kill, The Bamboo Prison, and Westward Ho. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

It could be argued that the summer movie season officially starts with the release of Oblivion [a second review] - a big -budget, visually appealing science fiction flick where Tom Cruise inhabits a post-apocalyptic Earth that has gone threw a war with aliens; and if you're not in the mood for that, be sure to check out Graceland - an astonishingly clever thriller from director Ron Morales. Other recent films include: 42, Simon Killer, Evil Dead (2013),G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Olympus Has Fallen, The Croods, The We and the I, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.. 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: Men of a Certain Age: Season Two - The second (and final) season features superb work by Andre Braugher and a new facet to Ray Romano's abilities; Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars Complete Series - a unique anime experience from beginning to end, this show is an especially worthwhile series that can stand out from the crowd as something worth celebrating; and Kristen Schaal: Live at the Fillmore - Schaal's odd sense of humor, on full display here in this special which offers the best of her off-beat comedy. Other shows recently reviewed include: Swamp People: Season 3 , WWE: Royal Rumble (2013), and A Matter Of Wife ... and Death. 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: Dracula (Horror of Dracula) - This long-awaited UK disc not only reflects a fancy 2007 BFI restoration of Terence Fisher's Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee masterpiece, it incorporates legendary censored shots recovered from a surviving print in a Japanese film archive. See Count Dracula's full disintegration scene!; Creepy Creature Double Feature Volumes 1 & 2 - These two (sold separately) double bills return us to the late-night insomniac TV experience, in all its glory; and The Atomic Kid - Mickey Rooney gets accidentally nuked in an atomic blast, and Goonish Robert Strauss is there to profit from the bizarre predicament, which leaves his buddy not vaporized but merely endowed with a few odd super-powers, like glowing in the dark and making slot machines pay off with jackpots. Commie spies get involved, and Mickey's hot date is spoiled when he discovers that too much amorous excitement might make him explode! 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: Repo Man [review] - an absurdist comedy and an existential indie film, this movie is a tidy, funny cult-friendly package with a great punk soundtrack... for fans of the unique and quirky, it doesn't get much better; A Monster In Paris [review] - a fun, beautifully animated film with great music; and Dragon [review] - a very solid mix of action and mystery with some excellent performances and strong action set pieces... on top of that, it's very entertaining as well. 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: Lincoln -Daniel Day-Lewis embodies the role of the sixteenth president and the film mixes poignant drama with graceful humor and emotion; The Spanish Prisoner - An intelligent plot studded with stellar performances, this David Mamet film possesses incredible replay value; and Wheeler & Woolsey - RKO Comedy Classics Collection - a terrific set... a marathon of nine features stretching the comedy team's career almost from beginning to end. Other recent reviews include: Gorgo, A Royal Affair, and Naked Lunch. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week. 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: 42 - Whether or not you're a sports fan, this successful telling of Jackie Robinson's story is worth checking out; Simon Killer - a rare film that won't easily escape from one's memory; and Antiviral - director Brandon Cronenberg has incorporated numerous aspects found in his father's features into this, his debut film. Other recent films include: Evil Dead (2013),G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Olympus Has Fallen, The Croods, The We and the I, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Oz The Great and Powerful, and Jack the Giant Slayer. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot - The Complete Series

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot - The Complete Series - Goofy fun for kids of all ages, 45 years on its goofy menagerie of giant monsters, outlandish villains, and obvious but colorful miniature effects still has the stuff to entertain viewers; Foyle's War - The Home Front Files: Sets 1-6 - a superior British mystery series with a fascinating context; and Natsume's Book of Friends: Season 3 Premium Edition - a show filled with quiet beauty and definite charm, NIS America has released another excellent collection. Other shows recently reviewed include: Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War , Route 66 - The Complete Fourth Season, and Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXVI. 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: Badlands - Terrence Malick's first feature proved that a commercial filmmaker could also make genuine cinema art -- it's a sensational 'true' crime story in an utterly original style. Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek play Kit and Holly, disaffected young people who take off on a whirlwind murder spree as pointless as it is savage; The Soul of a Monster - George Macready is a satanic zombie in this odd Val Lewton-wannabe from Columbia. The legendary Rose Hobart is the mystery woman who plucks him from death's door, but leaves him with no pulse and apparently no blood in his veins; and China Gate - Sam Fuller's mercenaries, with Angie Dickinson as 'Lucky Legs', help the French field a commando raid on a Commie ammo dump on the Viet/Chinese border. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

It's a bit of a slow week for new home video releases, but there are still some discs you might want to take note of including: Hyde Park on Hudson [review] - Bill Murray is a charming, wily Franklin D. Roosevelt in this film which presents dueling stories of a royal visit to FDR's estate and the domestic drama caused by the president's mistresses; Into The Cold [review] - a visually stunning documentary... anyone who appreciates this type of video diary experience will enjoy the ride; and Woochi: The Demon Slayer! [review] - fantasy, humor, and an excuse to get Taoist wizards to fight shape-shifting rat demons... what more could you want? 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 Sandlot: 20th Anniversary Edition - one of the warmest, funniest, and most enduring family movies of the past quarter-century; The Devil and Miss Jones - a witty comedy, a smart romance, and a touching parable of the human condition; and Nate & Margaret - this movie about an oddball friendship between a 19-year-old film student and a 52-year-old spinster both funny and touching. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

It'd be a good weekend to go to the movies. Here are DVDTalk's recent theatrical reviews: Evil Dead (2013) - the much anticipated remake of the Sam Rami horror classic finally gets released and its a fun experience in the movie theater since it's even better when you're watching it with an audience; Trance - a solid thriller from director Danny Boyle; Jurassic Park 3D - the extra dimension is pretty convincing, and does add to the thrills;and The Place Beyond the Pines - a multi-generational tale that spans fifteen years in Schenectady, NY, showing the interweaving stories of fathers and sons and how fate can often pull a double-cross as they age and evolve. Other recent films include: G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Olympus Has Fallen, The Croods, The We and the I, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Oz The Great and Powerful, and Jack the Giant Slayer. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Ripper Street: Season One - a terrific fictional account of the months following London's Jack the Ripper killings; Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXVI -Shout! Factory continues to do justice to the series' legacy and this set comes recommended to any fan of the show; and Thorne - a deftly executed British crime drama, with complex, engaging mysteries, fine performances and well realized characters. Other shows recently reviewed include: New Tricks - Season Eight, Doctor Who: The Aztecs - Special Edition, and The Hardy Boys: Season Three. 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 Hudsucker Proxy - This Coen Brothers' film is an infectiously crazy comedy about a new toy invention that is so stupid, it's brilliant; Bewitched - Arch Oboler's first studio feature is an interesting precursor to Psycho about a woman with a dual personality; and The Red Menace - The grandaddy of all unintenionally funny Reds-In-Your-Beds exposÃ© dramas, this Republic Pictures pot-boiler has decent acting, interesting characters and a script so daft that making a satirical spoof is completely unnecessary. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

It's a bit of a slow week for new home video releases, but there are still some discs you might want to take note of including: Dirk Gently [review] - Douglas Adams' holistic detective arrives on the small screen thanks to the BBC and the results are some cracking good tales; John Dies at the End [review] - director Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho-Tep) releases his first film in a decade and it has flashes of exuberance and wit, and its manic comic momentum carries it a long way; and Knuckleball! [review] - a documentary on a pitch used in baseball may sound odd, but the history is fascinating, the protagonists are likable, and there's some genuine emotion in its concluding sections. 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: The Fury - the best that director Brian De Palma had to offer up to that point in his career... an utterly mesmerizing and affecting picture; On Approval - hailed as one of the best films of 1944, this movie is an intelligent, witty comedy featuring two British couples trying to get it together over a month on holiday; and A Man Escaped - probably director Robert Bresson's most accessible work, this disc includes a selection of supplemental materials that are extraordinarily enlightening and involving even by Criterion's normally very high standards. Other recent reviews include: The Dawn Patrol, Jackie Chan Double Feature: Police Story / Police Story 2, and Bestiaire. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.