DVD Talk: January 2017 Archives

There are a few new releases this week that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: Pinocchio - it's hard to deny that this film is one of the finest pieces of animated art ever to come out of Disney, and it maintains its entertainment value across generations; Bells Are Ringing - the bright and wonderful lead performance by Judy Holliday, coupled with Dean Martin as her suavely self-deprecating love interest, should be enticement enough to check this out; and Lair Of The White Worm - director Ken Russell has fun with his witty and creative take on the last story by author Bram Stoker. 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 Mad Magician in 3D - this Vincent Price vehicle looks magnificent and includes a wonderful assortment of extras making this a must-buy title; The Cariboo Trail - a very entertaining classical Western starring Randolph Scott, this disc has been restored to its original Cinecolor splendor ; and Poltergeist II: The Other Side - a film that isn't meant to be taken seriously, but if quirky Brit-centric horror comedy with weird anti-communist leaning sounds like your cup of tea jump on it. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.

Tired of CGI-filled action films and sequels? Check out some of these recommended arthouse films: Luna - Bernardo Bertolucciâ€™s film is an overstuffed, overthought, glorious mess that hits upon moments of emotional truth amidst its shameless tweaking of taboosâ€¦ it's fearlessly acted and ingeniously photographed; The Childhood of a Leader - with his first feature, Brady Corbett definitely shows an assured direction, full of both a stylistically unique voice, and a deft understanding of character; and Fox and His Friends: Criterion Collection - Rainer Werner Fassbinder's tragic melodrama is less likely to have viewers going for their hankies than it is to chill them to the bone... there are many finely wrought performances to savor here. 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: The Girl on the Train - a faithful and streamlined adaptation of Paula Hawkins' bestselling novel, this film features an excellent performance by Emily Blunt as a boozy divorcee caught in a missing persons scandal; Stanley & Iris - the final film by director Martin Ritt, it is an emotionally rewarding story about illiteracy and a moving romance between the two lead characters; and Wait Until Dark - an effective and entertaining close-quarters thrillerâ€¦ it's the kind of film that's easy to get sucked into if you're willing to go along for the ride, and the terrific lead performances by Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, and Richard Crenna carry most of the weight and suspense perfectly. 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: Zero Days - Alex Gibneyâ€™s documentary covers the events before and after the launch of the Stuxnet computer worm and shows how the results of the cyberattack grew far beyond anyone's anticipation; Black Christmas - an influential genre classic that'll remain as such for a long time... Shout Factory has done a great job in presenting a new 2K restoration that aims to keep it around even longer; and Revenge of the Blood Beast - a film that isn't meant to be taken seriously, but if quirky Brit-centric horror comedy with weird anti-communist leaning sounds like your cup of tea jump on it. 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: Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice - this 1994 TV-movie, James Arness's swan song as Matt Dillon not to mention the final, absolute end of Gunsmoke itself, is a modest but very worthwhile effort; and The Tubes - Live At German Television: The Musikladen Concert 1981 - a must-have for any fan of The Tubes, with its nearly archival picture quality and memorable performance of the band which hasn't had much other material on home video before. 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: Bad Day at Black Rock - featuring a standout performance by Spencer Tracy, a dependably good supporting cast, John Sturges' quiet but tense movie is a nearly flawless exercise in slow-burning suspense, revealing bits and pieces of its core mystery as the film unfolds; and The IT Crowd: The Internet is Coming - a legitimate series finale to the wonderful British comedy, this show has its moments that remind you why the show earned its fanbase, but it's often just going through the motions in revisiting the series' beloved characters. 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 Dressmaker - a thrillingly unpredictable experience, blending up a number of disparate genres into something that is both fresh and a somewhat traditional crowd-pleaser; The 3 Worlds of Gulliver - boasting two short stop-motion set pieces by special effects artist Ray Harryhausen, this film is fun for kids as well as adults willing to overlook the screenplay's shortcomings; and For the Love of Spock - featuring a well-balanced collection of personal interviews and licensed clips from Leonard's career (and no shortage of family photos), it's an extremely intimate, funny, touching, and heartfelt tribute that fans of all ages will enjoy. 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: The Night Of - this HBO's Limited Series is a wonderfully thought-provoking examination of one young man's experience in the judicial systemâ€¦ More complex than a typical police "whodunit," the show boasts excellent performances and a fascinating extended narrative; and The Red Skelton Hour - In Color: Unreleased Seasons - a modest 3-disc set of color shows from 1966 to 1969 with a great assortment of guests including John Wayne, Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Mickey Rooney, and Simon & Garfunkel. 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: Deepwater Horizon - Peter Berg's film is a dramatic recreation of the April 20, 2010 oil rig explosion that caused 11 deaths and the largest environmental disaster in U.S. historyâ€¦ technically proficient and emotionally harrowing, it's basically a condensed version of Titanic with less romance and no icebergs; and His Girl Friday (1940): Criterion Collection - chock full of razor-sharp dialogue often delivered at a breakneck pace, there's a lot to take in during this film's brisk 92-minute running time...and most of it is first-rate. 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: Jerry Maguire [20th Anniversary Edition] - this new incarnation of Jerry Maguire includes an excellent transfer and an OK lossless trackâ€¦ if you are a fan of the film who has never purchased a version on Blu-ray, this has got to be as definitive a version as you're going to get; Author: The JT LeRoy Story - a slick but empathetic reconstruction of a literary scandal that grew out of one woman's need to express her deep emotional pain; and The Undying Monster - Fox's 1942 movie is an atmospherically directed but talky and tame thriller made worthwhile because of John Braham's direction. 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: BrainDead - a Twilight Zone-ish, sci-fi satire takedown of bipartisan extremism in American politics effectively dramatized the harmful effects of ideological bubbles; The Knick: The Complete Second Season - taking place in one of the original surgical hospitals in New York of the 1900s, the show presents surgery of the day in all its horror and glory; and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth's Last Stand - an entertaining continuation of a great seriesâ€¦ there's plenty of good drama, exciting action, a handful of new and returning characters, and a few planted seeds to help ensure that this season ends with a bang. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.

Lets kick off 2017 the right way by checking out some recent releases: American Honey - a road trip movie in the purest sense, in which the journey is more important than the destination anchored by Sasha Lane's knockout debut performance; A Man Called Ove - the Swedish equivalent of The Royal Tenenbaums, exploring the good inside a bitter old man and the painting of a world around him that may not be perfect, but is full of love and companionship; and Blair Witch (2016) - more brutal than the original and offers an intense climax, but it mostly runs in circles. 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: Storks - this animated film is a daring, inventive, and downright hilarious addition by Warner Bros into a field dominated by Pixar; Phantasm (Remastered) - Don Coscarelli's classic horror film is bizarre and memorable and this Blu-ray offers excellent picture and sound; and Bullet Train - a star-studded '70s disaster thriller that offers enough entertainment value to successfully rival the American films that inspired it. Visit the DVD Talk Review Database for all the latest reviews including an entire section devoted to reviews of DVDs out this week.