There are few in the way of titles that seem to pull for a slightly older-skewing audience that have broad relevance in cinema. While I totally understand that these titles have a built-in audience, I feel that this allows the filmmakers to get a little lazy. To be honest, I was expecting more of the same when I popped Mrs. Washington Goes To Smith into my DVD player. However, I…
It really is a bit of cinematic skill to make a tragedy such as the Altamont Free Concert (1969) funny, but that is precisely what happens with Altamont Now. Throughout the film’s runtime, a story is filled in that is while humorous, also points a sharp dirk at the throat of any overly preachy or otherwise heavy type of historical concert film. Altamont Now features the trials and tribulations of…
You Don’t Know Jack is an in-depth (and theatric) look into Jack Kevorkian’s life. Much like HBO’s previous epic, 2003’s Angels in America, each bit and piece of eir life is filled by an actor of tremendous talent. Key of these would have to be Al Pacino, who dons the killer’s cap and steals the show as a result. However, far from being a one-actor film, You Don’t Know Jack…
I have always viewed remixes as an unnecessary and often cynical move by record labels to milk the music –buying public one more time, buying slightly reworked – and in most cases weaker versions of songs they already own. I view it akin to George Lucas tossing out a new edition of Star Wars DVDs every couple of years.
We’ve had a number of words that decry the trend of tying in popular toys with video games, and it seems as if some game companies and designers may be listening. Case in point would have to be the new Zhu Zhu Pets title for the Nintendo DS, Wild Bunch. Released by Activision (and bundled with an adorable plush hamster toy), Zhu Zhu Pets: Wild Bunch would still be interesting…
For those Dylan fans who have never quite recovered from the musician temporarily putting down his acoustic guitar to plug into an amp at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, The Witmark Demos, the latest in Dylan’s stellar Bootleg Series, is a godsend. Forty-seven songs spread out over two CDs, featuring the artist formerly known as Robert Zimmerman accompanied only by acoustic guitar, and occasionally harmonica and piano, this collection…
Disney titles usually rest on the strength of the films that they are related to (and in some cases, the Disney Channel shows which they are related). However, Disney All Star Party showcases that Disney can create an absolutely stunning Wii title that will be purchased based on the game’s merits rather than the characters or IP associated with it. While each of the different mini-games that await players are…
There is a contemporary flair to Conditions’ effort on “Fluorescent Youth” that will ensure the widest possible listenership picks up this album. Where there have been a number of different musical movements attempting to strive for dominance in the course of the last few years, Conditions deftly tie together these different style into a cogent and unique style. From when the album begins with “The End of Progression” all the…
No matter how many different documentaries get green-lit to deal with a subject, there is always room for a title that looks to increase the dialogue that is present. That is precisely what Rock Prophecies does, but it ensures that fans of all generations will be able to understand and appreciate what is going on. That is due to the fact that the narrative does not assume any level of…
Lie to Me had a tremendous premise to it that ensured that they pulled great numbers for their first season, but I honestly feel as if the show’s second season was stronger than their initial one. The cast gelled together better, while the caliber of guest stars was better than in the first series of episodes. This season begins with “The Core of It”, which plumbs the depths of a…
This is a 6-disc, value priced collection comprising a number of previous releases. At a cost of less than $4 a DVD (at current market prices), it makes sense to pick up this collection even if you have a few of them already. For those that wish to know, the Best Tales on the Tracks collection takes the “Best of” line (Best of Percy, James, Thomas, and Gordon) and places…
There is no equal to the absolutely sizzling opening that will hit listeners with the beginning of “Where Do We Go From Here”. Any fan of guitar work will appreciate this track, which has a little down-south, Southern rock feel (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama) to it. Instead of sticking with a seventies or eighties sound, Kenny Young infuses each of the tracks on “Simple Things” with a current and contemporary feel.
Those still mourning the death of the true indie film need only look to Edward Burns’ latest effort to realize the indie spirit is still alive and kicking.
There have been very few in the way of good titles that have married MMA-style fighting with current generation consoles. Where there have been titles that have captured some aspect of the sport correctly(the unique fighting styles, the numerous different fighters, or the ground game), there has not been a title that as of yet has captured everything. EA’s MMA title, which is currently available at all major department stores…
After a few weeks on our test box, we were finally ready to give a review to the 5600 DPI version of the Razer Lachesis. The first thing to consider is that there is virtually no learning curve associated with this mouse. Just plug the mouse in, download the drivers, and the mouse is good to go. When moving from a stock mouse (or even a cheaper gaming mouse), one…
Delerium is an eclectic band, to say the least. More than just an alternative type of act, they incorporate ethereal, electronic, and even world music into something that is wholly unique. Nearing their twenty-fifth year as an act (being founded in 1987), this Front Line Assembly-side project is so much more. “Epiphany” showcases a side of the act that few have seen; far from studio recordings like “Morpheus” or Semantic…
Steve Austin’s role as “Stone Cold” never seemed to showcase much in the way of acting chops during eir tenure with the WWF/WWE, but in the last five years or so (starting out with 2005’s remake of The Longest Yard), Austin has stepped eir game up considerable. While the sort of roles that ey has played all seems to be centered around the “bad-ass” role (whether good or evil), there…
There have always been interesting documentaries shown on PBS. However, it seems that after decades of doing them, that there would be some sort of lack of topics still to broach. Michael Angus and photographer Murray Fredericks show that not to be true, in one of the most visually stunning PBS documentaries to be shown this year. Salt features Lake Eyre, the lowest point in Australia and one of the…
Where it seems as if there is a pretty solid look about war (particularly World War II) every few years, The Pacific may just be the best mini-series of its kind. The heavy-hitters are immediately evident (Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg share executive producer credit), with the storyline itself focusing in on the trials and tribulations of three Marines through different venues in the Pacific. These ten-episodes showcase a number…
The re-do of the classic sci-fi show V was something I worried about; after the first season aired, I honestly do feel as if the show has been updated for the current period without losing any of the allure that made the show so compelling in the first place. For those viewers that were not familiar with the 1983 original or this, the 2009 remake, a number of space ships…