Chris Zimmerman's DVD Talk DVD Reviews https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/list/DVD Video DVD Talk DVD Review RSS Feed en-us Under the Dome: The Complete Series DVD Video https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/72285 Sun, 06 Aug 2017 21:24:38 UTC Recommended

With more than 50 novels published at the time of this writing, and more no doubt on the way, Stephen King has been widely regarded by his peers and contemporaries as one of the greatest novelists to put pen to paper. Though known primarily for his work in horror, King's works span a catalogue of award winning novels and short stories spread across numerous genres. It's no wonder many of his stories have served as the basis for small and big screen adaptations. As is the case with so many page-to-screen adaptations, studios have had varying degrees of success in translating the author's work. Despite a spotty record, Hollywood can't seem to get enough of King's works.

Under the Dome is one of King's more recent novels. A mammoth of a book at over 1,000 pages in length, the novel harkens back to themes found in many of the author's earlier works. Due to its length, the decision was made to ...Read the entire review

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The Autopsy of Jane Doe (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/72192 Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:28:24 UTC Highly Recommended

It's been a rough last couple of years for old school horror fans. Gone are the days of suspense and character drama; replaced with lackadaisical plots and gore-heavy B-cinema. The classic monsters of yesteryear that helped define the genre have been reduced to plot devices to connect the dots to a shared universe that is closer to Avengers-lite than anything resembling prototypical horror icons. Cheap scares and ham-fisted acting are the new vogue, while anything else is considered too plodding to hold modern audience's attention. Sneaking under the radar is The Autopsy of Jane Doe, a 2016 indie offering that marries a haunting premise with memorable performances by Emil Hircsh and Brian Cox.

The key to an effective horror film often relies on an outlandish premise that can be grounded enough in reality that it sparks a reaction within its audience. A successful scary movie will make you ...Read the entire review

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Digimon Adventure Tri.: Reunion (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/72155 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 19:13:17 UTC Recommended

Digimon Adventure Tri:

Nostalgia is running rampant amongst anime, with renewed interest in Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and Berserk piquing the interest of fans that may have distanced themselves from the art form. When first announced, these series were met with anticipation and enthusiasm, only to struggle to live up to the hype that is built up in everyone's minds. With the industry churning out new takes on old favorites to mixed results, it's understandable that many a fan are apprehensive about the treatment of their childhood favorites.

Despite its popularity, Digimon was never considered amongst the top tier of anime. Even at its height, the series struggled with having unfair comparisons of being a Pokémon knock off leveled against it. It didn't help that the series was seemingly held in contempt by a minority who saw it ...Read the entire review

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One-Punch Man (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/72092 Fri, 26 May 2017 01:47:17 UTC Highly Recommended

One Punch Man: Limited Edition:

Like the various heroes it parodies, One-Punch Man's origins are rooted in a meteoric rise above its humble beginnings of an amateurish web-manga drawn in a humdrum style by the anonymous artist ONE to one of the break out anime of the last decade. Initially a comedy series extrapolating the premise of a bored hero who could lay waste to any foe with a single punch, the comic's popularity swelled, and before long the series' momentum landed it in the mainstream spotlight. A new adaptation was commissioned, pairing the hyper stylistic visuals of artist Yuusuke Murata with the nonsensical plot. The series became a powerhouse, receiving nominations several awards including the prestigious Eisner Award.

Sporting a one-two punch (pun intended) of art and story, One-Punch Man gritted its way to the top of the shonen hierarchy, landing an a...Read the entire review

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Boruto - Naruto the Movie (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/72039 Thu, 04 May 2017 13:20:51 UTC Recommended

Boruto: Naruto the Movie:

Faster than you can say Kagebunshin no jutsu, Naruto has grown up and the franchise that helped rejuvenate the North American anime industry has produced a prodigal son to carry on the next iteration of Masashi Kishimoto's ninja saga.

Set more than ten years after the Fourth Great Ninja War, Boruto: Naruto the Movie audiences are treated to a now adult Naruto, having accomplished his goal of becoming Hokage and establishing a family to call his own. All in all, everyone's favorite mischief ninja seems to have done fairly well for himself.

Following the manga's epilogue, the film shifts its focus onto his son, Boruto. Apathetic toward his father's accomplishments and his commitments as Hokage, Boruto is anything but a retread of his heroic father that came before. Having been raised in a world relatively free of conflict by a loving family, Boruto i...Read the entire review

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Wolf's Rain: The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71988 Wed, 19 Apr 2017 20:05:33 UTC Highly Recommended

Wolf's Rain: the Complete Series:

Confession time; I love Wolf's Rain. From my first time viewing the series late night on Cartoon Network's Toonami Block found myself entranced by the unique character story, intricately detailed landscapes, and complex characters. It soared above most other shows of the medium and left me wanting more.

Perhaps the best way to describe Wolf's Rain. would be to compare it a dystopian fantasy romp that feels almost like a Disney cartoon for adults. With the inclusion of talking animals, wicked aristocrats, and heroic quests, it would be difficult to fault anyone for thinking the series sprung from the house of mouse.

Wolf's Rain tells the story of what comes after the world that has fallen into ruin. The world has already hit rock bottom and those left spend their days doing their best to find a reason to carry on some ...Read the entire review

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Attack on Titan: Complete Season One (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71898 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:45:25 UTC Highly Recommended

Attack on Titan: the Complete First Season :

Attack on Titan is something of a taboo among recent anime. Not since the mid-nineties anime phenomenon that saw the likes Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, and Pokémon catapulting the medium into American homes every Saturday morning has there been a breakout hit that has attracted both rapid otaku and casual audiences alike.

It's a secret formula few shows manage to crack. Its garnering of widespread acclaim has made it a commercial success where even popular series such as Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto fall just short of reaching the cusp of mainstream popularity.

For those following the current trends of cinema and young adult fiction, the appeal of Attack on Titan should come as no surprise. Angst-ridden teenagers fighting for their survival make up the broad str...Read the entire review

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Ghost In The Shell: Movie (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71879 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 21:16:36 UTC Recommended

Ghost in the Shell:

There is a scene in the climax of Ghost in the Shell where the film's protagonist is lying on the ground, her limbs ripped from her body after a grueling mecha battle, and she contemplates the philosophy of "self" with a body-less AI. This quiet moment of dialogue encapsulates Ghost in the Shell's heart and soul and separates it from other works in the field of science fiction. It is scenes like this that other filmmakers such as James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and the Wachowski siblings have pointed to as significant inspiration in their own works. Downplaying the themes of sex, violence, and revolution that have plagued the genre, the heart of Ghost in the Shell's story is one of identity and searching for what makes us, us.

So much has been said about Ghost in the Shell's technical merits and expansive mythology. Timed to coincide ...Read the entire review

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Project Itoh: Empire of Corpses (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71861 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 23:46:26 UTC Rent It

The Empire of Corpses:

Pick out a handful of celebrated literary characters, throw in some zombie horror, add a dash of steampunk for aesthetics, and you get The Empire of Corpses, the first in a series of animated films adapting the works of sci-fi author Project Itoh. Produced by the same studio responsible for Attack on Titan, the Empire of Corpses richly illustrated big-screen adaptation is juxtaposed by a bloated and overlong narrative that attempts to delve into the nature of the soul without offering anything substantive from either end.

A little background before we begin: Project Itoh was the pen name of Satoshi Ito, a celebrated Japanese author and essayist. Genocidal Organ was his first major achievement in the field and the work he is most fondly remembered for. Ito regrettably passed away at the tender age of...Read the entire review

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The Shannara Chronicles: Season One (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71846 Thu, 02 Mar 2017 13:02:10 UTC Rent It

The Shannara Chronicles Season One

Series that delve into the realms of fantasy can often be forgiven for relying on familiar tropes. If the story and characters are worth the audience's investment, the familiar tropes that often beleaguer the genre can be over looked as necessary to the overall plot. Unfortunately the first season of Shannara Chronicles' is marred by scattered plot points, jarring pacing, and unconvincing performances to such a degree that the series resembles more of soap opera parody splashed with elements of fantasy.

Adapted from the novels by Terry Brooks, Shannara commits the cardinal sin of dumbing down the narrative in its targeting of a teen centric audience. The Shannara novels are some of the most popular fantasy works since the Lord of the Rings, often drawing favorable comparisons to the latter; not that you would know why after watching Shannara's first sea...Read the entire review

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Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (Blu-ray) Blu-ray https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71837 Mon, 27 Feb 2017 23:54:05 UTC Rent It

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV:

Films based on video games have a tenuous history at best. Often studios find themselves on a bumpy road trying to compress some 40+ hours of story into a two-hour feature while still retaining some semblance of a story. Though not as dire as past game-to-film adaptations, the Final Fantasy franchise has been through its own struggles in making the transition into multiplexes. The often criticized The Spirits Within was upon release a spectacle of near photo-realistic computer animated artistry, but the story felt uninspired, ultimately having little to do with the series that spawned it. The franchise's next entry, Advent Children, found more success, though not without its share of criticism. Designed as a sequel to one of the property's most popular entries in the series, Advent Children took a different tact from that of its predecessor. Taking direct ins...Read the entire review

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Legend of Korra: The Complete Series DVD Video https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/71826 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 23:32:27 UTC Highly Recommended

The Legend of Korra: The Complete Series:

When Avatar the Last Airbender debuted on Nickelodeon back in 2004, it was met with near universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Thanks to its diverse cast of characters, spectacularly choregraphed battles, and exhaustive world building the series resonated with adults and children of all ages. Avatar's widespread appeal wouldn't just be limited to the small screen, having transitioned into a variety of media including comics, consul games, and even a live action movie (the less said about that the better). Though the series told a comprehensive story across three seasons, the world of Avatar was ripe for further exploration.

When the Legend of Korra premiered, it was instantly clear that while both series existed within the same universe, the tone and animation targeted a marginally mature demographic. Set 70 years after the events A...Read the entire review

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