DVD Talk: March 2016 Archives

Interested in the latest TV on DVD reviews? DVD Talk has you covered! This week's notable entries include: Freaks And Geeks: The Complete Series - a true television classic... an incredible representation of the highs and lows of adolescence featuring tremendously memorable characters that are portrayed and crafted by one of most talented teams ever assembled for one series; Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXXV - another great set of four episodes of the classic TV show; and The Ant and the Aardvark - each cartoon by itself provides a few good laughs... the added historical information is certainly fascinating and the hi-def transfers have these cartoons looking nearly perfect. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

April is here and that means it's time for DVDTalk's Seventh 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! The excitement all starts on April 1st, but it's never too late to join in the fun!

Another banner week for DVDs with the studios releasing some great films and boxed sets such as: The Hateful Eight [review] - armed with a terrific ensemble cast, plenty of razor-sharp dialogue, shocking twists and turns, and no shortage of homages to earlier films, this movie is a memorable experience from start to finish; and The Primary Instinct [review] - an excellent showcase for the raconteur side of character actor Stephen Tobolowsky; and A Poem Is a Naked Person: Criterion Collection [review] - this 1972 Leon Russell/Les Blank film is a bizarre but beautiful collage that puts formulaic rock docs to shame. 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 reviews include: The Peanuts Movie - the result of a truly thoughtful adaptation process, this film serves both new and longtime fans well by staying true to the characters and their creator and delivering a beautiful update on a classic; Invasion U.S.A. - a must own film for even the most passing action fan... the pinnacle of 80s extremism in films, no other movie distilled the insanity of 80s action cheese and rampant jingoism quite so well; and How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (And Enjoy It) - fascinating documentary portrait of Melvin Van Peebles, the films tracks Melvin from his modest beginnings as a San Francisco cable car operator to his '70s apex as both an industry-changing filmmaker and a Tony-nominated Broadway playwright. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

More TV shows have made their way on to DVD and Blu-ray, and DVD Talk has got them covered. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including: Fear the Walking Dead Season 1 SE - Anchor Bay packs this reissue of the first season of The Walking Dead spin-off with a lot of extras... if you waited to pick this up, this is the version to get; The Spoils of Babylon Season 1 - fans of incredibly dry absurdist humor who are also familiar with the clichÃ©s of melodramas will get a kick out of this show; and Hee Haw: Kornfield Klassics - Time-Life brings us another disc of Hee Haw goodness with two episodes dating from 1971, anchored by country legends Buck Owens and Roy Clark. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

There are some new titles coming out that might make it worth a trip to the video store. Check out these recent releases: Disturbing Behavior [review] - James Marsden, Katie Holmes and Nick Stahl do their best to avoid some very strange classmates in an idyllic bayside town in this 1998 thriller from director David Nutter; and The Black Sleep [review] - this mad-scientist-in-a-castle mystery still holds up astonishingly well thanks to a couple of strong central performances and a determination to approach the material with such gravity; and The Trip [review] - directed by Roger Corman and written by none other than Jack Nicholson this 1967 film is very definitely a product of its time that takes on the emerging drug culture of the late sixties in some decidedly bizarre ways. 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 Martian (4K UHD) - Matt Damon does a fantastic job as a man stranded on a planet all by himself, and director Ridley Scott makes the movie fun, interesting and very engrossing... and the film looks and sounds amazing on this Ultra HD disc; Decline of Western Civilization - director Penelope Spheeris tackles Los Angeles' burgeoning early '80s punk rock scene in this seminal documentary from 1981; and Elvis Costello: Detour Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall - Elvis Costello is at his usual thoughtful and soulful best during this concert... the setlist is eclectic and surprising, and the energetic guest appearances keep things from getting too low-key. 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: 10 Cloverfield Lane - a "blood relative" of the 2008 monster movie Cloverfield this film is a constant roller coaster with a clever up-and-down mentality that keeps audiences on their toes; My Golden Days - this French coming-of-age drama offers a strong depiction of youth, depression, and regret and comes highly recommended; and Eddie the Eagle - the real life tale of Michael "Eddie" Edwards and his dream of someday becoming an Olympian. Other recent films include: Deadpool, Zoolander 2, Hail, Caesar!, Room, The Revenant, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Anomalisa. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

More TV shows have made their way on to DVD and Blu-ray, and DVD Talk has got them covered. Check out our reviews of the newest TV releases including: Grease Live! - beyond ambitious, this show sets a new standard for the modern renaissance of live television productions... it's a fun two-plus hours freed from the advertising and interstitials of the original broadcast; Jesus of Nazareth: The Complete Miniseries - handsomely made, well acted, and literate, this miniseries plays a lot like a distillation of the best components from all of the biblical epics of the 1940s-â€˜60s that had preceded it while generally avoiding those movies' flaws; and Blaze And The Monster Machines: Rev Up And Roar - a slightly better collection of episodes than the previous release, this series' mixture of fun and education often feels as forced as you'd expect while the catchy songs and dynamic visuals make up for some of its less impressive moments. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Several great movies and programs have come out recently, including a few that shouldn't be missed: Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season [review] - the fifth season of HBO's juggernaut equips itself with a feature that cannot be found in the previous seasons: an element of complete surprise, unavoidable even by folks who have read the books; and Sisters [review] - this entertaining Tina Fey - Amy Poehler vehicle is loaded with comedic heavyweights in supporting and cameo roles; and Rage of Honor: Special Edition [review] - Arrow's Blu-ray looks to be a welcome effort for fans of the film featuring solid A/V quality with perhaps its first widescreen presentation on home video to date. 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 reviews that have been entered into the DVD Talk Review Database including: Room - a profoundly moving and effective story about a loving, energetic, and imaginative 5-year-old boy who spent his entire life imprisoned in a ten-feet-by-ten-feet room with his mother; The Tribe - this debut feature film from Ukrainian filmmaker Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy is dark, it's violent and it's frequently unpleasant but so too is it a challenging and unique picture that comes highly recommended; and The Taviani Brothers Collection - this set contains Padre Padrone, The Night of the Shooting Stars, and Kaosthree, three powerful, inventive, sensitive films utterly worthy of rediscovery. 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 and Blu-ray remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 1 - for anyone missing their 30 Rock fix, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt offers a more than reasonable facsimile, with a great cast, a ridiculous storyline and plenty of surreal silliness; The Saint - Seasons 3 & 4 - Roger Moore returns as the titular detective... the show has great production values and is still enjoyable; and Maude: Season 3 - a good comedy that occasionally shows its age, the program was ahead of its time in terms of subject matter and should be seen by anyone with even the slightest fondness for cutting edge sitcoms. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

There are a few new releases this week that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: In the Heart of the Sea 3D [review] - director Ron Howard does a great job of bringing life aboard a 19th Century whaling ship to the big screen and fills his movie with some powerful and impressive scenes; and Coming Home [review] - a first-rate tearjerker that evokes the horrors of the Cultural Revolution and the impact it had on families across China; and The Forbidden Room [review] - a film that is filled with wild, evocative, unique imagery, some hilarious and dazzling sequences, and is undoubtedly unlike any other movie released in 2015. 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: Gog 3D - one of the last 3D movies made during the brief boom of 1953, the presentation on this Blu-Ray disc should be seen nothing sort of a miracle and the release is a must-own for fans of 3D movies; A Brilliant Young Mind - a coming-of-age tale of a genius who couldn't be normal if he tried, this movie gets you when you aren't looking and is better than you might expect; and I Knew Her Well: Criterion Collection - a young Stefania Sandrelli dazzles as a would-be actress caught up in the tragicomic machinations of both show business and romance 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 and Blu-ray remains very popular with more and more favorites being released. New TV reviews include: Drunk History: Season 3 - Three seasons in this show remains as great as it ever was, a near-perfect mix of fact and comedy that's organic in earning its laughs while being genuinely informative at the same time; Girls: The Complete Fourth Season - After a slow start, this fourth season enjoyably expands and deepens the relationships of its characters, while adding some welcome new faces to the mix; and The Bold Ones: The Protectors - The Complete Series - Leslie Nielsen stars in this TV movie that earned a second live as a short-lived series. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Some pretty cool discs have made their way to store shelves over the past couple of weeks. Check out these new titles: L'Inhumaine [review] - an unparalleled, unrelenting feast for the eyes... with a new 4K remaster, this landmark of art cinema has been reinvigorated and reborn; and Childhood's End [review] - the Syfy Channel turns Arthur C. Clarke's monumental sci-fi novel into a six-hour miniseries and while it's not perfect gets a good deal right; and Pieces [review] - Grindhouse Releasing has done another stellar job in bringing us this great exploitation flick in a 3-disk Blu-ray edition with copious extras. 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.