DVD Talk: September 2013 Archives

Consider yourself a horror film addict and looking for a community of like-minded genre junkies to converse with this October? Well look no further than The 9th Annual October Horror Movie Challenge! Whether youâ€™re an aficionado, a novice or simply harbor a morbid curiosity, this is the destination for watching, sharing, discovering and discussing all things horror. And don't be put off by the 100 Movies. 31 Days. slogan; it extends way beyond watching insane amounts of macabre cinema. Check out the daily pick in our 31 Film Subset list with next day discussion, take a stab at the Theme Nights list for countless sub-genre ideas, dare to complete The Checklist, join our Facebook, Google+, and Twitter pages, and possibly even win a prize courtesy of HamiltonBook.com, Celluloid Terror and TLA Cult! Everything's covered -- from highfalutin Arthouse horrors like Kwaidan to the cheesy bad IMDB Bottom 100 rated Troll 2 plus everything in-between. So Join Us and to avoid fainting keep telling yourself ...it's only a movie!

Some great DVD and Blu-ray reviews have been added to the the DVD Talk Review Database recently including: Halloween (35th Anniversary Edition) - John Carpenter created a truly remarkable film... unparalleled in suspense and terror. Anchor Bay's 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray features a new transfer as well as several excellent new bonus features; V/H/S/2 - this dramatically improved sequel seizedf hold of everything that the original did right and refining it to perfection; and Tad, The Lost Explorer - this Spanish animated flick is a real treasure that is very entertaining for kids and adults alike. Other recent reviews include: Fast & Furious 6 - Extended Cut (Import), Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and Room 237. 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 DVD Talk's reviews of the latest theatrical releases: Inequality for All - former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich the growing disparity between the wages made at the very top of American industry and the base pay given to those at the bottom; Don Jon - a solid debut for actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt who takes the writing and director roles in this funny, yet slightly sentimental film; and Prisoners - this film about a man who takes matters into his own hands after his child has been kidnapped is a heart-pounding, believable, upsetting, and well-acted success. Other recent films include: The World's End, Kick-Ass 2, Elysium, The Wolverine, I'm So Excited, The Conjuring, Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger , and Despicable Me 2. 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: Arrow: The Complete First Season - the show quickly establishes itself as a polished replica of the vigilante superhero concept and thrives on exhilarating action but there's a respectable degree of thought put into it too; The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - a funny, charming, even lovely animated film for children of all ages; and Foyle's War: Set Seven - with the seventh season, the mood of this excellent Brit period mystery takes on an ominous, increasingly solemn turn as the enemy of choice moves on from Nazis to Commies. Other shows recently reviewed include: Michiko & Hatchin: The Complete Series, Part 1, The Vampire Diaries: Season 4, and The Daily Lives of High School Boys: Complete Series. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Iron Man 3 - The most consistently entertaining of the new comic book franchises hits a bull's eye with this third adventure of the vain, cocksure and utterly charming Tony Stark; The Fly - The sci-fi classic '50s original, newly restored on film and encoded in HD. Andre Delambre invents a matter transmitter, which proceeds to re-invent him via an instantaneous, horrible transformation; and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell -For his last film Terence Fisher directs Peter Cushing in his final outing as the Baron Doctor, who is once again playing mix 'n' match with body parts in a hidden locale... and what better place to hide such nefarious doings as an insane Asylum?. 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: South Park: The Complete Sixteenth Season [review] - this season shows that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have still "got it" and the show has plenty of life left in it; Prince of Darknes [review] - a smart horror picture, one that offers up the requisite visceral thrills but which builds at a very deliberate pace and requires you to think things out for yourself along the way; and Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive [review] - a treasure chest filled with three and a half hours' worth of beautifully preserved feature films, short subjects and other obscurities that were considered lost until recently. Other reviews of note include Psycho II [review], Psycho III [review], and Redemption [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.

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: World War Z - a suspenseful, entertaining ride from start to finish... Brad Pitt is an excellent protagonist, and further adventures in the zombie war have a solid storyline to expand; The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - extremely intelligent and endlessly fascinating this is one of the best films of the 1960s; and Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th - Packed with interviews, production stories and behind-the-scenes photos, this seven-hour documentary is breezily entertaining and covers every aspect of the twelve-film series. Other recent reviews include: The Amityville Horror Trilogy, The Farmer Takes A Wife, and The Frozen Dead. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

TV on DVD remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Supernatural: Season 8 - This latest run of episodes jabs a syringe of adrenaline directly to the heart of the program... this eighth season is as good as the series has ever been; Bates Motel: Season One - a captivating, suspenseful slice of television perfectly cast with terrific performances, fine cinematography, great characters, and plenty of pitch-black humor; and Scandal: The Complete Second Season - Olivia and her "gladiators" are back for Round Two.. Other shows recently reviewed include: The League: Season Four, Doctor Who: The Ice Warriors, and Revenge: The Complete Second Season. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: The Great Santini - A superb performance from Robert Duvall spearheads this dead-on accurate look at the military mindset at its least attractive; Me and My Gal - What a treat! Raoul Walsh has a blast directing smiling Spencer Tracy and game gal Joan Bennett in a funny, charming tale of life among the cops crooks, workers and drunks on the docks; and Penny Serenade - George Stevens' bittersweet story of newlyweds weathering difficult times to establish a family strikes a note of sincerity, thanks to terrific performances from Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. 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: George A. Romero's Day of the Dead [review] - this outclasses the previous Blu-Ray on the market pretty handily, and it's pleasing to know that the film itself continues along its path toward re-evaluation among the original Dead trilogy; Slacker [review] - Richard Linklater's sprawling journey through the city of Austin, Texas is a paradox, loaded to the brim with stories but mostly free of plot; and Behind the Candelabra [review] - this film works as both an insight into Liberace's life as well as a simply unconventional love story. Other reviews of note include Autumn Sonata: The Criterion Collection [review], Disconnect [review], and The Devil Bat [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.

Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive

Some cool discs have been reviewed over the past week. Check out these recent entries: Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive - three and a half hours' worth of beautifully preserved feature films, short subjects and other obscurities that were recently found in a film archive; Going Hollywood - a winning showcase for its talented cast, led by Bing Crosby and Marion Davies, this film's elaborately dreamy musical numbers and comedy make it a delight; and The Captains Close Up - mandatory viewing for Star Trek fans and also for those who want to know what makes actors tick. Other recent reviews include: Teen-Age Crime Wave, Dont Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey, and Koch. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection

Originally shot to ride the masked-killer coattails of Halloween, Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th was a surprise hit for distributor Paramount and sparked a legacy of sequels, merchandise and Camp Crystal Lake lore that continues to grow thirty-three years later. Now, just in time for Halloween, the unstoppable killing machine Jason Voorhees finds a home on Blu-ray, as the recent Paramount/Warner Brothers/New Line Cinema distribution alliance cleared the way for Warner Brothers to release Friday the 13th. DVD Talk writer William Harrison has an in depth look at the set, that begins with the original Friday the 13th and concludes with the 2009 remake. Several of the sequels are making their Blu-ray debut, and this handsomely packaged set is a must-buy for series fans as these HD presentations offer substantial upgrades from previous DVD editions. Be sure to read all about this amazing release in DVD Talk's review of Friday the 13th.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: The Mindy Project: Season One [a 2nd review] - one of the freshest sitcoms to emerge on network television in recent memory with a consistently hilarious cast of characters that you can laugh with and become invested in; The Office: Season Nine - there are a few highlights during this ninth and final season, particularly those later episodes and the pretty decent series finale; and Girls: The Complete Second Season - this kinda-comedic glimpse at the lives of four twentysomething women in New York is polished, solidly-written in terms of relating to an audience, and acted extremely well. Other shows recently reviewed include: Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels: The Complete Series, Mike & Molly: The Complete Third Season, and Bubble Guppies: On the Job!. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: The Atomic City - Olive releases this atom age suspense tale in HD... nuclear scientist Gene Barry's son is kidnapped, and the ransom demanded is the full file on America's secret bomb program; Going Hollywood -Bing Crosby croons while star-struck French teacher Marion Davies pursues him all the way to Tinseltown; and Flat Top - Navy flight commander Sterling Hayden puts Richard Carlson's carrier-based aviators through the wringer in the campaign to retake the Philippines. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

A carefree holiday turns into a menacing mystery in Wish You Were Here available on DVD this week from Entertainment One. This ambitious non-linear drama and feature directorial debut of screen veteran Kieran Darcy-Smith (Animal Kingdom) centers on a group of four friends, Alice (Felicity Price), Dave (Joel Edgerton), Steph (Teresa Palmer), and Jeremy (Antony Starr) who decide to indulge in a carefree Cambodian holiday. Their sun-soaked retreat quickly takes a horrific turn when one of them vanishes without a trace. Does one of the remaining friends hold the answer to the fate of their lost companion? Check out this exclusive clip of Kieran Darcy-Smith discussing how he landed Joel Edgerton for the role of Dave (and more) then head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of Wish You Were Here available on DVD from Entertainment One.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Star Trek Into Darkness [review] - an exciting, action-packed thrill ride that sees Kirk and Spock butting heads and a nefarious new antagonist to challenge the Enterprise; La Cage aux Folles [review] - this 70's French farce is a well-made gem of a comedy revolving around the owner of a gay night club who must pass for straight when meeting his son's fiancee's archly conservative family; and Scanners II: The New Order / Scanners III: The Takeover [review] - these movies both follow up on the story told in the original film in some interesting ways; they're both quite well paced and reasonably slick in the effects department which offers up some memorable scenes of head blasting carnage. 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: The Damned - RenÃ© ClÃ©ment's 1947 film, one of the most authentic submarine movies ever shot, follows a German U-boat loaded with VIPs fleeing from Oslo hoping to reach South America in the last days of WWII; To Be or Not to Be: The Criterion Collection - As funny and provocative today as it was seventy years ago, Ernst Lubitsch's wartime comedy is an exceptional example of social satire and cinema's power to entertain; and Reality - Italian director Matteo Garrone creates a satire that is quite funny while also being convincingly sweet and humane. Other recent reviews include: Charulata, Only the Valiant, and The Devil Bat. 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: Person of Interest: Season Two - the show returns in style with a second season that serves up plenty more action, suspense and intrigue; Rooster Teeth: Best of RT Shorts and Animated Adventures - the team behind the brilliant Red Vs. Blue releases some of their live action shorts which are mostly delightful and highlight the group's success at finding the absurd in office life and pop culture; and Smash: Season Two - series picks back up where it left off and manages a good run of episodes in this final season. Other shows recently reviewed include: The Walking Dead: The Complete Third Season, Gunsmoke - The Ninth Season, and Sapphire and Steele: The Complete Series. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: Q: The Winged Serpent - a crazy tale of an Aztec God-lizard on the loose for a madcap Manhattan weekend who leaves decapitated bodies scattered on rooftops and sidewalks; The Devil Bat - Bela Lugosi works out his personal pet peeves by sending a monstrous, aftershave-guided bat to kill members of two rich families; and Lifeguard - a time capsule back to the So-Cal beach scene of 1975, this sleeper hit captures the laid-back vibe of the times. 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: Now You See Me [review] - a slick, fun new take on the heist genre with a technically impressive presentation and an all-star cast; The Fugitive: 20th Anniversary Edition [review] - hands down, one of the best thrillers of the 1990s featuring terrific performances, a breakneck pace and plenty of classic moments... it's aged quite well during the last 20 years too; and From Up on Poppy Hill [review] - the latest Studio Ghibli release is a lovely, sweet, and very sincere film, one that's made stronger by its simplicity and straightforward nature. Other reviews of note include Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie - Collector's Edition [review], A Bay of Blood [review], and Cockneys vs. Zombies [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: The Disappearance - One of the real finds on Blu-ray this year... a heretofore almost impossible to see film starring Donald Sutherland as an assassin-for-hire whose effectiveness is compromised when his wife inexplicably disappears; Body Double - Brian De Palma's 1984 movie undeniably unforgettable and worth revisiting every few years; and The Big City - Indian director Satyajit Ray creates a low-key stunner that depicts the triumphs and heartbreak of an average Bengali family after the wife decides to work outside the home. Other recent reviews include: Night Across the Street, The Fruit Hunters, and Post Tenebras Lux. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.