DVD Talk: June 2013 Archives

Planning a trip to the local multiplex this weekend? Here are DVDTalk's reviews of the latest theatrical releases: A Band Called Death - the story of a legendary band and a fascinating look into the lives of a trio of brothers who always put family first; Byzantium [a second review]- In a world filled with boring vampire flicks, Oscar-winning director Neil Jordan's newest feature is one of the better ones; and Some Girl(s) - some smart writing and truly excellent performances make this film worthwhile. Other recent films include: Monsters University,World War Z, Much Ado About NothingMan of Steel, This Is the End, The Bling Ring, The Internship, The Purge, After Earth, and Fast & Furious 6. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Dead By Sunset - this 1995 NBC true-crime miniseries is a full-bodied true-crime melodrama that delivers the goods; Doctor Who: Inferno Special Edition - a tense, occasionally eerie and always enjoyable adventure; and The Oklahoma City Dolls - this light, amusing sports dramedy's never-fail "rooting for the underdog" framework pleases as expected, and there are some good moments in the performances department. Other shows recently reviewed include: Journey of the Universe, New Tricks - Season Nine, and Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. 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: Things to Come - H.G. Wells' super science fiction epic from the long-ago year of 1936 gets the Criterion treatment, with some of the best analysis and commentary ever from David Kalat and Christopher Frayling; Mask of Dimitrios - A much asked-for Warners favorite - Peter Lorre traces a story about a dead con man, murderer and assassin across Europe, learning about his crimes from his victims and former associates; and The Power and the Prize - Robert Taylor is the ethical company man running up against a wall of conniving mendacity from his big boss Burl Ives. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Some really good shows and movies are being released this week along with some high profile flicks... unfortunately the latter group doesn't necessarily fit into the former. Read DVD Talk's reviews of the these new discs to see which is which : The Incredible Burt Wonderstone [review, a second review in case the first one didn't convince you] - comedy superstars Steve Carell and Jim Carrey are in this movie that ranks up there with Zohan and The Love Guru; Jack Taylor: Set 1 [review] - a new spin on the classic booze-addled PI, these Irish telefilms feature unrelenting, dark stories, viewers will find incredibly satisfying; and Upside Down [review] - there's a unique, visionary work from Argentinian-French filmmaker Juan Solanas buried in here somewhere, but chasm-sized lapses in basic logic make it a bit hard to find. Other reviews of note include No [review], Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick [review], and Pusher [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.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire / Atlantis: Milo's Return: Two-Movie Collection

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: Atlantis: The Lost Empire / Atlantis: Milo's Return: Two-Movie Collection - one of Disney's most ambitious and altogether different animated movies makes its way to Blu-ray at last.. along with the forgetable sequel; Hard Times - Walter Hill's directorial debut is a nicely made and hard hitting slice of life story featuring some rock solid work from a very talented cast and crew; and Lore - Australian filmmaker Cate Shortland's fascinating and beautiful second feature takes place in the aftermath of WWII and centers around a teenage girl whose parents, formerly dedicated Nazis, are imprisoned leaving her and her siblings to fend for themselves. Other recent reviews include: The Key, The Everyday Tales of a Cat God Premiun Edition, and The Manson Family. 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: Monsters University [a second review] - a great animated picture and Pixar's best film in the past few years; Much Ado About Nothing - after Joss Whedon finished filming The Avengers he needed a vacation, so he filmed this movie in his house with some of his friends... and it's great; and World War Z - this PG-13 zombie film is short on gore but still and entertaining summer flick. Other recent films include: Man of Steel, This Is the End, The Bling Ring, The Internship, The Purge, After Earth, The East (2013), Fast & Furious 6, Epic, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

The British Film Institute has restored all of Alfred Hitchcock's surviving silent films and the nine (out of ten that he made) movies are touring North America. DVDTalk writer John Sinnott was able to attend the premier last weekend in San Francisco and liked what he saw. From the engaging drama to gleeful comedies and of course tense thrillers these movies illustrate that Hitchcock was a very versatile and incredibly talented director even in his earliest years. Read our complete coverage of the films and the event and then see if the traveling show is coming to a theater near you. It's a must see event.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Adventure Time: The Complete First Season and Adventure Time: The Complete Second Season - One of the most exceptional things on TV these days and totally worth picking up on Blu-ray, no matter how many times you've watched these episodes before; The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Third Season - one of those no-collection-is-complete-without titles, and on Blu-ray this season really sparkles; and Pretty Little Liars: The Complete Third Season - DVDTalk's resident hacker gives you the low down on this season's surprisingly hefty body count, stinging betrayals, and questionable fashion choices. 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: Jubal - It's Othello down on the ranch, up in the Grand Tetons. Nasty ranch hand Rod Steiger, jealous of boss Ernest Borgnine's wife, convinces Borgnine that the innocent new hire Glenn Ford has been up to no good; Dark Command - Republic Studios produces an 'A' western about the 'Bleeding Kansas' guerilla warfare of our Civil War, radically simplifying the issues and making frustrated romance provide the motivation for anarchy; and Hard Times - Charles Bronson is the hard-as-nails pickup fighter in 1933 New Orleans and James Coburn his unstable promoter in Walter Hill's debut directing assignment. 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: Safety Last! [review] - one of the best silent comedies ever made, this film is still hilarious and the presentation on Criterion's Blu-ray disc is equally impressive; Jack the Giant Slayer [review] - a group does battle with a clan of nasty, pug-ugly giants in a fairy tale land floating somewhere high in the stratosphere in this special effect-filled film; and Hell's House: Kino Classics Remastered Edition [review] - this obscure, pre-Code penal system exposes is still pretty powerful thanks to Trent Durkin's remarkably believable, naturalistic performance. Other reviews of note include Things to Come [review] , The Howling - Collector's Edition [review], and Of Human Bondage: Kino Classics Remastered Edition [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.

It's the height of the summer movie season, and that means another comic book character is brought to life on the silver screen. The week it's Superman's turn in Man of Steel [a second review] - it has a lot of explosions and big action set pieces, but it isn't enough to make up for the bland characters and weak plot development. Also opening are: This Is the End [a second review] - a wildly hysterical comedy backed with plenty of the laughs; The Bling Ring - Writer/director Sofia Coppola's lastest film places a mirror in front of our celebrity-obsessed culture; and Before Midnight - director Richard Linklater revisits the same couple from two of his previous films 10 years after the last outing, and it's not to be missed. Other recent films include: The Internship, The Purge, After Earth, The East (2013), Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III, Epic, Star Trek Into Darkness, and The Great Gatsby. 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: Breaking Bad - The Fifth Season - The series is gripping, it's intense and it's even scary... one of the most intelligently made series to come along in years, it's basically perfect TV; Doctor Who: Series Seven - Part Two - the series remains wildly creative and thoroughly enjoyable; and Bill Moyers: Beyond Hate - another integral slice of what TV journalism can be at its finest. Other shows recently reviewed include: Beetlejuice: The Complete Series, Popeye: The 1960s Animated Classics Collection, Volume One, and Fraggle Rock: Meet The Fraggles. 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: Oz The Great and Powerful - What a pleasant surprise -- nothing's perfect, but Sam Raimi's glossy prequel to The Wizard of Oz has good performances and a great story that work some clever twists into Frank Baum's fantasy world; Jack the Giant Slayer -Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor and Eleanor Tomlinson do battle with a clan of nasty, pug-ugly Giants in a fairy tale land floating somewhere high in the stratosphere; and Never Let Me Go - Clark Gable and Gene Tierney unite for a romantic suspense story with a topical theme -- he's a Yankee reporter, she's a Moscow ballerina, and rotten Uncle Joe Stalin won't give her an exit visa. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Lilo & Stitch / Lilo & Stitch: Stitch Has A Glitch Two-Movie Collection

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Lilo & Stitch / Lilo & Stitch: Stitch Has A Glitch Two-Movie Collection [review] - Sweet animated stories about aliens, family, and Elvis; The Emperor's New Groove / Kronk's New Groove [review] - fast and witty and funny, the original movie is a great Disney flick that owes less to Walt and company and way more to Chuck Jones and Tex Avery; and Ninja III: The Domination [review] - the fusion of martial-arts action, fantasy, horror, and even a little romance ranks right up there with the very best of the worst of 1980s schlock-cinema. Other reviews of note include The Newsroom: The Complete First Season [review], Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters [review], and Wrong [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: Mad Max Trilogy - Limited Edition Tin - a terrific trilogy that fans of the post-apocalyptic genre have enjoyed for decades; The Magic Christian - a great cult classic filled with cutting satire, impressive guest stars, and a lot of deep laughst; and Happy People: A Year in the Taiga - This no-nonsense documentary captures twelve months of life on the Siberian tundra in a manner that is both informative and philosophically illuminating. Other recent reviews include: Father Goose, A Night to Remember, and Jack the Giant Slayer. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Well, they all can't be winners. Check out our latest reviews of this week's new theatrical releases before you make plans to see a flick this weekend: The Internship - while this isn't a laugh-out-loud comedy or a heartfelt drama, it delivers a few chuckles; The Purge - the characters constantly make some of the dumbest decisions you'll ever witness on the big screen and leave viewers with a disappointing home invasion flick; Rapture-Palooza - even the charming talents of Anna Kendrick and Craig Robinson aren't able to save this comedy; and V/H/S/2 - currently available on VOD and in limited release soon, the problem with this anthology film is that none of the entries are genuinely scary. Other recent films include: After Earth, The East (2013), Fast & Furious 6, The Hangover Part III, Epic, Star Trek Into Darkness, and The Great Gatsby. 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: The Newsroom: The Complete First Season - a very entertaining and thoughtful series that will deliver a look inside the world of journalism as you wish it would be; China Beach - The Complete Series - an addictive, utterly engrossing, and unexpectedly original Vietnam War drama set in an evacuation hospital; and Gunsmoke - The Eighth Season - another terrific round of great Western drama that provides hours of quality entertainment. Other shows recently reviewed include: Top Gear 19, Doctor Who: The Snowmen, and Have Gun - Will Travel: The Final 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: I Was a Communist for the FBI -Here it is, ground zero for anticommunist propaganda pictures. Matt Cvetic's tales of defeating commies by going undercover into their nefarious cells makes for an exciting drama; Forbidden Hollywood Collection Volume 7 - four more Pre-code winners: Edward G. Robinson in the fascinating The Hatchet Man, Skyscraper Souls, Employees' Entrance, and Bette Davis experiments with both shacking up and open marriage in the stylish Ex-Lady; and Philadelphia - Jonathan Demme promotes a sane reaction to the AIDS epidemic -- a 'safe' movie but a necessary one. 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: Warm Bodies [review] - Jonathan Levine's zombie-love story manages to integrate comedy, action and a lot of style to craft a fun flick with genuine universal appeal; Electra Glide in Blue [review] - tense, intelligent, well made and entertaining, this picture is one of most unconventional cop films of the seventies; and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry / Race With The Devil [review] - Two Peter Fonda flicks... throw in some Warren Oates, dirt bikes, Satanists, Susan George, a giant RV and some muscle cars and you're in for what Shout! Factory aptly describes as an Action-Packed Double Feature! 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.

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Howl's Moving Castle - another confident, entertaining Studio Ghibli film that continues to carry a torch for hand-drawn animation; Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics - this quartet of films is an impeccably excellent survey of both the gangster genre and of the Warners studio style from 1930 to 1950; and The Unbelievable Truth - maverick independent-film director Hal Hartley's debut feature is as accomplished, distinctive, and poised as the spate of films that followed it. Other recent reviews include: Neighboring Sounds, Ninja III: The Domination, and Leave Her to Heaven. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.