DVD Talk: March 2014 Archives

Check out the latest DVD reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: The Wolf of Wall Street - Martin Scorsese's epic, bewildering, and bombastic tale of the excesses of self-made multi-millionaire Jordan Belfort is a film to definitely seek out; The Freshman - this Harold Lloyd film has some of the finest football comedy ever captured on film and plenty of classic, timeless gags; and Philomena - a fascinating story which includes Judi Dench turning in a performance worthy of her filmography. Other recent reviews include: Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded, Fever Pitch, and Angry Nazi Zombies. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

April is coming up, and that means it's time for DVDTalk's Fifth Annual Drive-In/Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge! In this event, fans of trash cinema, the dreck and dross of films, will try to watch 100 B-movies in a single month and (optionally) complete the movie checklist that has such diverse items as watching a 60s Beach Movie, a Mexican wrestling film, a "bad sequel to a well regarded film" and a nunsploitation flick (and much more!). Can you spend the evening chatting about the relative merits of various Bruce Lee imposters or are you someone who realizes that Russ Meyer films are an art form unto themselves? Then this is the event for you! If you think you're up to the test, or even if you just want to watch, check out the official Challenge thread. It'll be loads of fun and it all starts on Tuesday, April 1st!!

Check out DVD Talk's latest reviews of movies that are in theatrical release. This week's crop includes: The Raid 2: Berandal - writer/director Gareth Evans has once again managed to go above and beyond expectations - The story is much more expansive, the action has become much more intense and the body count is much higher; The Lunchbox - this film should find the heart of most romantics... its pleasures are subtle, yet rewarding, and Ritresh Batra offers a tantalizing glimpse into the everyday culture of modern-day India; Noah - writer/director Darren Aronofsky's biblical epic doesn't have the impace that it should... picture has a clash of uneven tones and a sense of pacing that slows everything down to a halt. Other recent films include: Muppets Most Wanted, Nymphomaniac: Volume I, Bad Words, Need for Speed, Veronica Mars, The Grand Budapest Hotel, 300: Rise of an Empire, The Wind Rises, The Monuments Men, and The Lego Movie (3D). 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: Burton and Taylor - Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West give superlative turns here in this well-made, moving story of love and addiction and ultimately, acceptance of the way things are; Dallas (2012):The Complete Second Season - The second season provides anything and everything one could hope from a series bearing such an iconic name; and Key & Peele: Seasons One & Two - a modern classic of sketch comedy, with two great seasons and some wonderful characters. Other shows recently reviewed include: Gentle Ben: Season Two, Counting Cars: Season 2 - Vol 2, and Off the Hook: Extreme Catches. 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: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - John Sturges' 1957 super-western still swings a big gun, thanks to a stunning HD transfer that brings out all the film's VistaVision power; The Hunchback of Notre Dame - The attraction to this classic is still Lon Chaney -- his extreme makeup and progressive, mime-based acting style seems way ahead of that of his fellow actors; and Roadblock - Charles McGraw's last starring feature concerns an insurance investigator who goes crooked to win a woman. Joan Dixon is the minx in furs who describes herself as an expensive luxury, and who waits on the sidelines while McGraw throws in with thieves. 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 Best of Bogart Collection [review] - this box set is a jackpot: The quality of the films, the A/V specs, and the extras are top-notch across the board; The Swimmer [review] - a tremendously entertaining exercise in psychological drama that has been matched by a tremendous presentation, both in terms of the audio/video quality and the depth and quantity of the bonus content; and Ms. 45 [review] - a gripping, entertaining mix of exploitation, art film aesthetics and tragic drama featuring an amazing performance from its female lead. Other reviews of note include The Past [review], Wonderwall [review], and Beneath [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: The Hidden Fortress (Criterion Collection) - One of Akira Kurosawa's dozen or so indisputable masterworks, this film is escapist gold, full of suspenseful action and broad comedy undated by the passage of time; What Price Hollywood? - Constance Bennett shines as the waitress-turned-star under the tutelage of a drunken movie director; and The Americanization of Emily - an incredibly sharp piece of screenwriting, directed with restraint and performed with subtlety... this wartime drama is funny, and romantic nonetheless, while also skilfully skewering the idea of war. Other recent reviews include: Mysterious Skin, The Bitter Tea of General Yen, and In Fear. 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: Muppets Most Wanted [a second review] - an overly long and flawed movie that, despite its own mediocrity, is hard not to like; Nymphomaniac: Volume I - it's such a shame that it has been split into two parts for American audiences, but Lars von Trier's movie is impressive filmmaking that accomplishes some truly daunting feats; Bad Words [a second review] - a memorable film that is well-worth seeing, and it is one of those few comedies that will actually have you laughing out loud; and Cheap Thrills - this film took home the SXSW Audience Award and it's not surprising: an absolute blast to watch with a large audiance. Other recent films include: Need for Speed, Veronica Mars, The Grand Budapest Hotel, 300: Rise of an Empire, The Wind Rises, The Monuments Men, and The Lego Movie (3D). 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: The Venture Bros: Season 5 - everything this season is straight-up brilliant... the show has rarely been smarter, sweeter, stranger, and more endlessly hysterical than it is here; Legit: Season 1 - There's a lot to like about Jim Jeffries' dark, funny life mostly due to the star's' overwhelming charm and the show's oddly-touching storylines; and The Cosby Show: Seasons 1 & 2 - this program remains a high-water mark in not just the sitcom format but also the television medium itself. Other shows recently reviewed include: Treme: The Complete Third Season, Veep: The Complete Second Season, and Psycho-Pass: Part One. 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 Americanization of Emily - a romantic black comedy about an Admiral's aide (James Garner) with an unconventional opinion about war -- he wants no part of it and doesn't at all mind being called a coward. It's Julie Andrews' debut feature and probably her best role; Thief - Michael Mann hit the ground running with this no-frills, intense study of a pro safecracker trying to put together a legit life and avoid being taken over by the Mob; and Dead Kids - Michael Laughlin's quirky throwback slasher film evokes a kinder & gentler America, but with some creepy medical experiments going down at the local college, thanks to wicked Fiona Lewis and her seven-inch hypodermic needle. 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: American Hustle [review] - not only a better film than the first but it's also a better adaptation of the source material... fascinating, funny, sexy and scary from one end to the other, with one of the most perceptive screenplays ever about ambitious risk-takers; Frozen [review] - it's hard to not become entranced by this spectacle of music, action, emotion and comedy, which is delivered in an absolutely gorgeous animated package; and A Brief History of Time: Criterion Collection [review] - this biopic of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking impresses at just about every turn.... he remains one of the most intriguing figures in modern history, both for his triumph over physical handicaps and his ever-expanding degree of intelligence. Other reviews of note include Frightmare [review], The Slumber Party Massacre [review], and Here Comes the Devil [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: Inside Llewyn Davis - Up there with the best films of last year and in the top pantheon of Coen Bros. efforts; Samson and Delilah - A marvelous, still very entertaining religious epic from director Cecil B. DeMille with many spectacular scenes; and Out Of The Furnace - The story does manage to take a few interesting turns and while it doesn't always fire on all cylinders, it's still an underrated production. Other recent reviews include: Bill Elliott Detective Mysteries, Dr. Kildare Movie Collection , and Haunted House on Sorority Row. 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: Need for Speed - a fun action film that will keep your attention throughout... director Scott Waugh has done an incredible job with the car chases and races, as he keeps the intensity pumped up with incredible stunts and insanely loud cars; Veronica Mars - if you liked the TV show in any way, the film gives you as much of that as you could hope for, plus a little more; Bad Words - a memorable film that is well-worth seeing, and it is one of those few comedies that will actually have you laughing out loud; and Better Living Through Chemistry - there isn't necessarily anything wrong with this film, but it doesn't do very much to be different from the rest of the romantic comedies that come out all year round. Other recent films include: The Grand Budapest Hotel, 300: Rise of an Empire, Grand Piano, The Wind Rises, Cheap Thrills, RoboCop (2014), Nurse, The Monuments Men, The Lego Movie (3D) and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. 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: Nurse Jackie - Season 5 - in its fifth season this show remains one of the best dramas (with much comedy) on television... the show is full of ballsy surprises and stronger than ever; Adventure Time: The Complete Third Season - in this third season the show really hit its stride, deftly blending its oddball comic sensibilities and boundless creativity with some surprisingly ambitious expansion of its universe and characters; and Search: The Complete Series - a very fun, if a bit dated, spy/action show with a SF twist. Even though the SF elements are pretty much everyday technology now, it's still fun seeing the way they were employed 40 years ago. Other shows recently reviewed include: Danny Phantom: The Complete Series, The Courtship of Eddie's Father: The Complete Third Season, and The Red Skelton Show : The Lost Episodes. 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 Blue Max - George Peppard has perhaps his best screen role in John Guillermin's expertly-directed tale of the death of Chivalry in the air war above the trenches of WWI; Tess - Roman Polanski's most romantic picture is a period classic (Thomas Hardy) acted and filmed with incomparable taste and precision; and 5 Fingers - Joseph Mankiewicz directs and Michael Wilson wrote the intelligent & witty script for this superb, true WW2 spy tale in which James Mason's suave embassy employee sells top British secrets to the Nazis. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

This week several great movies are coming out, including a few that shouldn't be missed: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire [review] - not only a better film than the first but it's also a better adaptation of the source material; Enemies Closer [review] - Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a great villian in this movie with an intriguing opening and a satisfying wham-bang conclusion; and Thirst [review] - This vampiric flick from 1979 holds up astonishingly well all these years later and is bolstered further by a really compelling visual presentation. 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: Hairspray - The movie remains funny, touching and even charming, making great use of a fantastic cast and an infectious soundtrack; Come Back, Africa - The Films of Lionel Rogosin, Volume 2 - Milestone has finally delivered another double feature of films from this influential but under-recognized director - the collection includes another outstanding drama/documentary hybrid, an experimental documentary and gobs of supplementary programs; and Blue is the Warmest Color: The Criterion Collection - Abdellatif Kechiche's film paints a stunning portrait of modern love through a bold mix of authenticity and symbolic poeticism. Other recent reviews include: Smilin' Through, Monogram Cowboy Collection: Volume 7, and Shawn Michaels: Mr Wrestlemania. 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: The Grand Budapest Hotel - There is truly a lot to enjoy with Wes Anderson's newest motion picture... his famous quirkiness is still there but it works with the plot instead of against it; 300: Rise of an Empire - this popcorn action film is gory, well-choreographed, and entertaining; and Grand Piano - a worthwhile mystery/thriller that will hold your attention from start to finish... a thrilling display worth attending. Other recent films include: The Wind Rises, Cheap Thrills, RoboCop (2014), Nurse, The Monuments Men, The Lego Movie (3D), Gimme Shelter, Gloria, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Some great TV shows have made their way onto DVD this week including: Married With Children - The early years of this show are sitcoms at their finest... if you've never seen it, now is the perfect time to jump in; Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: The Complete Collection - a charming and amusing BBC mystery series starring Patricia Routledge as the eponymous sleuth; and Dragon Ball Z: Season 2 - one of the best anime series of all time... if you invest your time (hanging on the edge of your seat) in the end you'll be greatly rewarded. Other shows recently reviewed include: Charlie's Angels: Season 1, Bubble Guppies: Animals Everywhere!, and Max & Ruby: Everybunny Loves Spring!. 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: Foreign Correspondent - this breathlessly paced concoction of wit and serious wartime anxiety is Alfred Hitchcock's best all-time 'spy chase' picture. Joel McCrea and Laraine Day try to free a harmless Peace delegate from the clutches of Nazi villains, while discovering that people in their own camp are closeted traitors; Margin For Error - Otto Preminger directed and stars in this half-serious, half-comic tale of skullduggery in the Nazi Embassy in New York, 1939. Preminger is the nasty consul holding his own wife (Joan Bennett) prisoner and seeking to cover up his foolish gambling losses by framing staff member Carl Esmond for embezzlement and NYPD cop Milton Berle (?... !!) for murder; and Jupiter's Darling - Esther Williams' last MGM picture has one sensational underwater swimming musical number, but mostly sticks with an epic farce about a patrician beauty who uses herself as amorous bait to save glorious Rome from being overrun by the dedicated conqueror Hannibal. Read all this and more in this week's DVD Savant.

There is a lot of really good animation, both old and new, making its way to home video. Not sure where to start? Here are some of picks from DVD Talk's review staff... you can't go wrong with any of these: Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Complete First Season - this show embraces the off-the-walls insanity of DC's Silver Age and it is incredibly fun; The Puppetoon Movie - Arnold Leibovit's theatrical collection of George Pal Puppetoon short subjects is just the headliner item on this two-disc collection - twenty more Puppetoon cartoons are included as extras; and Betty Boop: The Essential Collection, Volume 1 & Volume 2 - Max Fleischer's classic cartoon character is pert, saucy and downright adult-rated, and the bop-to-the-jazz-beat "Toontown" animation style is bizarre, hypnotic, and loads of fun. Animation highlights from the other side of the Pacific Ocean include: From Up on Poppy Hill, Robotech: Complete Set, and Kimba the White Lion (The Complete Series). 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: Chicago: Diamond Edition - terrifically entertaining from start to finish, few stage-musical adaptations are as breezy and entertaining as Rob Marshall's Oscar-winning flick; Crimes and Misdemeanors - twenty-five years after its initial release, this movie still feels like it should reside comfortably within the higher rankings of director Woody Allen's output; and Narco Cultura - a completely engrossing, sometimes upsetting look at the current Mexican drug war and the bizarre culture-at-large that has been created in its wake. Other recent reviews include: Tess: Criterion Collection, The Front, and Breathless: 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.