DVD Talk: March 2018 Archives

April is almost here and that means it's time for DVDTalk's Ninth 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!

There are a few new releases that you won't want to miss. Check out these hot titles: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (4K UHD) - the movie has many great conceptual ingredients, but writer/director Rian Johnson couldn't pull the recipe togetherâ€¦ it still has plenty of fun moments, and that may be enough to keep you entertained; Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero - a worthy follow-up to 1993's Mask of the Phantasm and preserves just about everything that made The Animated Series such a durable and entertaining experience; and Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon - this movie instead asks: What if all the horror film legends - about Freddy, Jason, and Michael - were true? 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.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (4K UHD)

This week the DVD Talk Review Database has some great new entries, including a few discs you may have overlooked. Recent reviews include: The Shape of Water - an incredibly immersive and atmospheric experience, there's a lot to enjoy about this visually outstanding and heartfelt production; A Fistful of Dynamite aka Duck, You Sucker - Sergio Leone's fifth western is a strong filmâ€¦ the performances are enthusiastic and fun, the script is quite clever and the direction up to the master's typically high standards; and The Red Squirrel - this film uses the concept of memory loss by way of an accident as a compelling mechanism for psychological and sensual drama, depicting a beautiful amnesiac motorcyclist and the deceptive man who convinces her that they're in a relationship. 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.

Several great movies and programs have come out recently, including a few that shouldn't be missed: The Passion of Joan of Arc - this movie has rightly stood the test of time as one of the most moving and effecting silent films ever madeâ€¦ Criterion includes an impressive array of supplements on this Blu-ray release; (Robert Altman's) Images - maverick filmmaker Robert Altmanâ€™s small-scale quasi-experimental psychological drama is challenging and not entirely successful but extremely well done on many levels; and Highway Dragnet - tense, well-acted and quite entertainingâ€¦ takes the tried and true â€˜wrongfully accused man goes on the run' motif and manages to present an engaging and gripping story out of what could have easily become a cliche. 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: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (4K UHD) - if you're the kind of person who can sit back and suspend your disbelief for a bit, you may find this film to be quite entertaining; The Mountain Between Us - a modestly entertaining romantic-drama featuring excellent performances from Kate Winslet and Idris Elba; and Hammer Films Double Feature - Never Take Candy From a Stranger / Scream of Fear - two outstanding, very different films from the modest British film company that still hold up remarkably well today. 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.

Before you head off to the cinema this week, check out DVD Talk's reviews of the latest releases including: A Wrinkle in Time - the entire film was like an episode of Wishbone, but far worse... like they gave millions of dollars to PBS and asked them to adapt a sci-fi book in four days; Annihilation - director Alex Garland has a unique vision for this film and he moved the plot along very well... the cinematography throughout was something magical to behold; and Red Sparrow - Jennifer Lawrence plays a ballerina with a ton of promise who, after being injured, enters a covert academy for spies. Check out these, and more, in DVDTalk's Theatrical Review section.

Animated movies can be a lot of fun for the whole family. Here are some recent releases that are worth checkint out: The Lego Ninjago Movie - a film that has enough laughs and emotional gravitas to be a pleasant experience for the whole family; Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (4K) - adapted from the graphic novel, director Sami Liu and writer Jim Krieg, utilize an "anything goes" approach to this branch of storytelling to tell a wild version of Batman's investigation into the murders of Jack the Ripper in a Victorian-era Gotham ;and My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea - short and relatively sweet, the film may not resonate for very long, but it is charming and dazzling in equal measure. 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: I, Tonya - the film is electric and the performances are exceptional, set against the backdrop of humor (dark or otherwise), a banging soundtrack and a story you may know but will appreciate in a whole other manner; Thor: Ragnarok - a blast of a time and a worthwhile evolution of the Norse god for a more contemporary perspective on his character; and The Strangers (Collector's Edition) - this lean, frightening movie holds up a decade later, and this new release offers excellent A/V specs and a host of newly created bonus material. 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: Husbands And Wives - part semi-autobiography, part raw drama, and part black comedy Woody Allenâ€™s film was nominated for two Academy Awards and winner of that year's BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay; Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice - a remarkably confident directorial debut by Paul Masursky, featuring a quartet of great performances in a story of changing times and what happens when people embrace honesty to its extreme outcomes; and The Sect - a startlingly strange film that moves at its own deliberate pace but which combines some good performances with fantastic art direction, effective FX work and an engagingly macabre storyline to create something genuinely unique. 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.

Looking for something a little more high-brow in your cinematic entertainment? Check out these recommended Arthouse flicks: Underground - the 1995 Palme D'Or winner and Serbian auteur Emir Kusturica's absurdist masterpiece, it's very exciting to get such an expansive and delicately put together physical media set for this impressive film; Roaring Abyss - director Quino Pinero collects numerous field recordings from throughout Ethiopia, weaving them with day-to-day footage to create a tone-poem of hypnotic and at times rapturous beauty;and I, Daniel Blake: Criterion Collection - Ken Loach's movie is a humane, depressing, infuriating drama about the welfare system in Englandâ€¦ this one will stay with you after it's over. 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: Darkest Hour - while it only covers about a month in the life of Winston Churchill, it's hard to believe a better movie will be made about the man... Gary Oldman is simply electric in the role, giving a great performance as one of the most important men in world history; Hammer Films Double Feature - Volume Three - Mill Creek Entertainment offers up another Hammer Horror double feature, pairing up two of the famous studio's shockers: Maniac and Die! Die! My Darling!; and The Drowning Pool - a cut above the usual â€˜70s detective thriller, Paul Newman revisits his Lew Harper private eye character for the second and last time. 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: Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (4K) - adapted from the graphic novel, director Sami Liu and writer Jim Krieg, utilize an "anything goes" approach to this branch of storytelling to tell a wild version of Batman's investigation into the murders of Jack the Ripper in a Victorian-era Gotham; The Hero: Criterion Collection - this movie examines the Faustian bargain that artists make to become beloved, and it is as masterful a work of film storytelling as Satyajit Ray's better known films; and Goodbye Christopher Robin - an imperfect but heart-melting melodrama, this film is a peek into the private world of an author's inspiration. 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.

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: Threads - bleak, unflinching, and incredibly powerful more than 35 years later, Mick Jackson's made-for-TV movie is one of the most memorable and courageous portraits of life before, during, and after a world-changing nuclear attack; and Ray Donovan: The Fifth Season - in season five this show takes the leap from being a good television series to an excellent oneâ€¦ it takes a huge risk by saying goodbye to one of its major characters, but it pays off - allowing the remaining actors to do some of their best work ever. Want more? Check out all of the TV on DVD reviews in the DVD Talk database.