DVD Talk: November 2013 Archives

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers in America! Wondering what to do while waiting for the Turkey to cook? How about starting a family tradition of reading reviews on DVD Talk! It's a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. Here are a few TV on DVD reviews to start you out: The Mod Squad - this Aaron Spelling produced show is a lot of fun and still has a lot of style; Petticoat Junction: The Official Third Season - lots of classic episodes here in what may be the series' last truly "good" season; and Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet - an excellent story featuring the first appearance (and origin) of a major Doctor Who villain, the very first regeneration, and an impressive selection of extras... this is really a must-buy title for even the casual fan. Other shows recently reviewed include: Raising Hope: The Complete Third Season, The Pallisers: 40th Anniversary Edition, and The Carol Burnett Show - Christmas with Carol. 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: Oliver! - It's a big-scale family musical that Savant had never seen ... and it apparently didn't need my approval to be good. Ron Moody, Mark Lester, Shani Wallis, Oliver Reed and Jack Wild give memorable performances; Wallis and Oliver deliver knockouts; Hannah Arendt - From director Margarethe von Trotta comes a great new picture about a German-Jewish philosopher whose frank appraisal of the Adolf Eichmann trial in Israel made a lot of people angry; and Jane Eyre - Charlotte BrontÃ«'s classic novel gets its best cinematic version with direction from Robert Stevenson and a confirmed heavy influence by star Orson Welles. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

A Canadian doctor finds herself caught in Israeli-Palestinian crossfire in the critically acclaimed 2013 theatrical release Inchâ€™Allah (view trailer), an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and winner of the Ecumenical Jury and FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival â€“ arriving December 3 on DVD. Chloe (Evelyne Brochu) is a young doctor working in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank, where she treats pregnant women. Facing daily checkpoints and the separation barrier, Chloe is confronted with the conflict and the people it affects. There are trips that shake us and transform us. There are trips that shatter all of our certainties. For Chloe, Inchâ€™Allah is such a journey. Enter now for your chance to win one of 5 copies of Inchâ€™Allah on DVD Entertainment One.

Some pretty cool discs are being released this week. Check out these new titles: Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition [review] - for the show's milestone anniversary Shout! Factory has released a very funny 6-episode set and packaged it in a sturdy and attractive tin case; Bill Cosby: ...Far From Finished [review] - the master comedian and storyteller may be getting up there in years, but here he shows that he can still entertain; and Knightriders [review] - a sprawling, character-driven piece about creative responsibility, the collision of commerce and art, and about armored knights beating the hell out of each other on motorcycles. 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.

Getting ready for the Holiday Shopping Season to officially begin at the end of this week? You can pass the time while you're waiting for Black Friday to arrive by catching up on some of DVD Talk's latest reviews including: We're the Millers - a really terrific film that delivers pretty much everything you could want in a comedy; Nosferatu - the best version of F.W. Murnau's classic vampire tale yet available, this is a must own release; and Oliver! - essential for anyone who loves musicals, and the presentation on this Blu-Ray makes it look and sound better than ever before. Other recent reviews include: Tokyo Story: Criterion Collection, The Way We Were, and Intolerance. 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 DVD Talk's latest reviews of movies that are in theatrical release. This week's crop includes: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - guilt-free blockbuster entertainment, providing excitement, provoking discussion, and requiring no apologies; and A Touch of Sin - Chinese director Jia Zhangke returns with an ambitious four-way drama about violent impulses and their lingering after-effects. Other recent films include: Thor: The Dark World, Dallas Buyers Club, 12 Years a Slave, The Counselor, and Blue is the Warmest Color. 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: Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season Five - this season continues the series' winning streak, serving up another 26 episodes of high quality science fiction with energy to spare; Treme: The Complete Third Season - Fans of quality television should check out this show; it's part of the reason why so many feel golden-age of television is happening right now; and MADtv: Season Four - this show really gets going in this fourth season, with some great new characters, solid performances and more consistent laughs. Other shows recently reviewed include: Dexter: The Complete Final Season, Digimon: The Official Seasons 1-4 Collection, and Nichols: 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: City Lights - Charlie Chaplin's all-round best film balances his slapstick genius with bittersweet sentiments that transcend silent-movie conventions; it's one of the most compellingly human movies ever; The Hitch-Hiker - Based on a true story, this harrowing, groundbreaking noir suspenser has Frank Lovejoy and Edmond O'Brien taken for a one-way ride by William Talman's psychotic serial killer; and Lion of the Desert -Moustapha Akkad's epic of Libyan resistance to conquest by Italian Fascists is a slow but handsome, accurate telling of the strategic battles between an ambitious general and the Libyan rebel Omar Mukhtar mounted on a lavish scale. 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 World's End [review] - a fantastically fun sci-fi take on the idea of the mid-life crisis... fans of Wright and Pegg's previous work can't own this quick enough; Here's Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection [review] - This variety series staring Ernie Kovaks' widow shows that Adams was as much a TV genius as her husband; and Assault On Precinct 13 [review] - a great example of direcotr John Carpenter in his prime doing more with a low budget than most filmmakers were ever capable of doing. Other reviews of note include Bells of St. Mary's [review], Night of the Comet [review], and Maniac Cop 2 [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: Man of Steel - this re-imagining of the Superman legend is a fun popcorn movie and should serve as good home theater demo material for many; Turbo - more visually exciting than just about any movie that has come out this year, this movie is just ridiculously, infectiously fun; and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - a largely rapturous adventure that is a wholly entertaining ride. Other recent reviews include: James Dean: Ultimate Collector's Edition, The Right Stuff , and JFK 50 Year Commemorative Ultimate Collector's Edition. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Brad Neely's odd [adult swim] series China, IL, focusing on the worst university in America, is a love or hate proposition, but it's also the only animated series that features Greta Gerwig, Hulk Hogan and Chelsea Peretti. In the midst of rising second-season ratings, Neely, executive producer Daniel Weidenfeld and actress Brooke Hogan sat down with DVDTalkâ€™s Francis Rizzo III to chat about getting longer, nepotism and lollipops. Read about all this, and more, in the latest DVD Talk Interview.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Murder, She Wrote - The Complete Series - A Sunday night staple for most of its 12-season run, the fondly remembers show is a lot of fun for its star, high production values, and top-tier marathon of familiar and famous guest stars; In the Flesh - the program dares to offer a different take on the zombie genre: It trades in gore for raw emotion. It's a gutsy move but the show pulls it off; and Missions That Changed the War: Germany's Last Ace - a rare portrait of an enemy combatant told by the man in the flesh. Other shows recently reviewed include: Magnum P.I. - The Complete Series, Happy Endings: The Complete Third Season, and Dora The Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Eagleheart, starring Chris Elliott, Maria Thayer and Brett Gelman, returns to [adult swim] for its third season November 14. But this time, there's a a new twist, as a season-long plot will wind its way through the crime "drama"'s 15-minute episodes. At New York ComicCon, Elliott and Thayer, along with the core creative crew of Michael Koman, Andrew Weinberg and Jason Woliner, sat down with DVDTalkâ€™s Francis Rizzo III to discuss how many people one can kill in about two hours and where you can get your Breaking Bad fix now. Read what else they had to say in the latest DVD Talk Interview.

This week the DVD Savant has a number of new reviews and articles including: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - This first Installment seems a bit repetitive and lacks variety in action and characters, but Martin Freeman is marvelous as the young Bilbo, and Ian McKellen is always welcome; Intolerance - This four-storyline silent masterpiece is grandiose in conception and often bold in execution, and so far ahead of its time that nothing like it has been attempted since; and I Married a Witch -RenÃ© Clair's practically perfect witchcraft comedy sees Veronica Lake return from the dead to deliver a horrible -- but romantic -- curse. 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: Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition [review] - an essential slice of Japanese animation history... everything about it screams "ambition", from its amazing visuals and stunning sound design to its massive, apocalyptic scope; Blackfish [review] - this excellent documentary examines the events surrounding the February 2010 death of a trainer at SeaWorld by an orca; and Combat!: The Complete Series [review] - One of the most impressive WWII dramas to ever air on TV, this show has held up very well over the years. Other reviews of note include Shoot the Sun Down [review], Ocean Predators 3D [review], and Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear [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: Night of the Comet - This really unique movie remains a helluva lot of fun all these years later... it crams everything we love about '80s cult cinema into an hour and a half; Cinerama South Seas Adventure - you're going to want to get this... the last of the 1950s Cinerama films, it has never shown on television nor released to home video and it is great; and The Best Years of Our Lives - a classic in every sense of the word, as enthralling and resonant now as it was nearly seventy years ago. Other recent reviews include: Wild Style: 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition, Only The Young / Tchoupitoulas, and Cinerama Holiday. 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: Thor: The Dark World (3D) - this sequel delivers what we've come to expect from these Marvel motion pictures- it will surely entertain those who are looking for a good time at the cinema; and Dallas Buyers Club - the film about a man diagnosed with HIV and given thirty days to live is both moving and entertaining. Other recent films include: 12 Years a Slave, The Counselor, Blue is the Warmest Color, Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger , Despicable Me 2, and The Way, Way Back. 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: Under the Dome - based on a novel by Steven King, this impressive re-interpretation features an incredible cast and a large scope which actually lives up to the label of epic; Tarzan - The Complete Second Season - with this fianl season of the TV show, Warner Brothers all but exhausts their vast holdings of Tarzan-related material; and Totally Spies! Collection Seasons 1-3 - Cartoon Network's mid-2000s hit mixes Charlie's Angels-style intrigue and Clueless-style tween-isms in a riot of anime-influenced action and wild color. 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: Nosferatu - The Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Stiftung has come up with another definitive restoration of this horror classic... and forget handsome gentleman vampires, as Max Schreck's ghoulish horror is like some bug crawled out from under a rock; The Right Stuff - Philip Kaufman's epic on the Mercury program captures the spirit of space exploration better than any other film; and The Beast with Five Fingers - Robert Florey and Peter Lorre elevate a spooky idea about a severed hand into one of the fondest-remembered late-late show attractions that ever creeped out little kids. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

Brian De Palma returns to the sleek, sly, seductive territory of Dressed To Kill with an erotic thriller fueled by sex, ambition and the murderous side of Passion. Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace star as two female executives whose fierce competition to rise up the ranks is about to turn literally cut-throat. Check out this exclusive clip of Noomi Rapace and Karoline Herfurth discussing their working relationship at the firm, then head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of Passion available on DVD from Entertainment One!

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: Mad Men: Season Six [review] - in this penultimate season of the popular show set in Madison Avenue during the 60's, the 'wonder' pitch man Don Draper goes into a personal and professional tailspin; Girl Most Likely [review] - Kristen Wiig takes a shot at drama in this film about a failed playwright coming to terms with her life when she has to move back in with the family she left behind; and The Greatest Ears In Town: The Arif Mardin Story [review] - the celebrated producer and arranger for Atlantic Records may not be a certified household name but this documentary makes the case that it should be. Other reviews of note include Kenny Rogers: The Gambler [review], Parkland [review], and Computer Chess [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: Bruce Lee - The Legacy Collection - this set contains four of the five films to have starred Bruce Lee and offers a mountain of supplemental material supporting as well; The Uninvited - more than just a ghost story, this is â€˜classic Hollywood' at its best with all the romance, drama and comedy you could want to sit alongside some effective moments of horror; and Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition - an essential slice of Japanese animation history... everything about it screams "ambition", from its amazing visuals and stunning sound design to its massive, apocalyptic scope. Other recent reviews include: Voyage of the Damned, Beauty of the Devil, and Byzantium. 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: 12 Years a Slave - Steve McQueen's latest film is a powerful drama about an extraordinary individual from one of America's most shameful historical periods; and Bad Grandpa - all in all a funny film that may not be on a list of top comedies, but one that's enjoyable. Other recent films include: The Counselor, Blue is the Warmest Color, Pacific Rim, The Lone Ranger , Despicable Me 2, and The Way, Way Back. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.