Category: Features

Posted on: May 3, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Dark Matter (DVD)

Very few directors of opera, I believe, take the plunge in directing a feature film, and even smaller of a number tackle a project with Meryl Streep. That is what Chen Shi-Zheng did with “Dark Matter”, and eir aptitude and skill behind the camera is enough to even take someone like Streep’s style to the next level. The film itself deals with the linkages between Streep’s character (Joanna), a rich…

Posted on: May 3, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 1

The Showdown (DVD)

The Showdown is a Western, showcasing the trials and tribulations of US Marshal Luke Canfield, played here by Bob Handegan, a powerful newcomer to film. Specifically, Luke is pitted against a gang, a group of ruffians that would like no more than to murder the love of eir life, Dixie (Ann Hagemann) and son. Whether Luke folds under the pressure and allows the gang to run roughshod over eir territory…

Posted on: May 2, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Paramount Blu-Ray Reviews: Ferris Bueller, Grease, Saturday Night Fever

These three classic films are released on Blu-Ray for the first time, and each brings something slightly different to the table. Despite the difference in release year (1977, 1978, and 1986), each of the films are brought to the current period in terms of video and audio quality. Each of the releases will provide purchasers with a tremendous amount of added features, as they represent at the base level the…

Posted on: May 2, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Enchanted April (DVD)

Enchanted April was originally a book written by Elizabeth von Arnim, and the book itself was brought to the silver screen on the seventieth anniversary of the release. The film centers around two women that wish to be free of the monotony of their daily lives. Packing up and taking a trip away from these lives, their husbands, and damp, murky England, they set out to the Italian Riviera. Adding…

Posted on: May 2, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Bob Dylan – Together Through Life (Columbia)

Though not as prolific as sometime tour mate Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan has yet to show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. On his 33rd record, Together Through Life, Dylan has clearly gone back to the old Sun and Chess Recordings for inspiration and the result is fantastic for long time Dylan devotees (another obvious influence is Dylan’s Sirius/XM radio show “Theme Time Radio Hour”).

Posted on: May 1, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

November Son (DVD)

To be honest, this is the first GLBT-related horror film that I have seen. The one thing that I can first notice is that while the stars are up and coming Judith O’Dea (Night of the Living Dead) and Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre), the skill that they put forth on the screen is equivalent to that of even seasoned actors. The film itself surrounds a cast that were…

Posted on: May 1, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Forever (DVD)

Who would honestly think that a film about a cemetery would be interesting in the slightest? Heddy Honigmann, whom individuals may know from O Amor Natural, knew that eir talent was at a level that ey could make a bunch of stones on a grassy field interesting. There are a few bonus features, with traditional materials like the original trailer along with a bio/filmography of Heddy Honigmann for individuals to…

Posted on: May 1, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

101-in-1 Explosive Megamix (Nintendo DS)

It has been a few years since the last of the (good) WarioWare games were released, so there needs to be something to fill the gap. Atlus has done just that on the Nintendo DS with their “101-in-1 Explosive Megamix”, which is available now for the Nintendo DS. Inside the cartridge is what individuals may already know is present: a large number of different games that will have players handling…

Posted on: April 30, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Into the Blue 2: The Reef (DVD)

Into the Blue 2 deals with a couple of scubaers; Dani (played here by Laura Vandervoort) and Sebeastion (Chris Carmack) and their adventures around the scenic locale of Hawaii. Where fun is fun, things take a decidedly more serious turn after they are offered a large sum of money by some shady characters. After things take a turn for the worse, it really is a testament to the skills of…

Posted on: April 30, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Bulleit Bourbon (Whiskey)

Before this, I thought that Knob Creek was the best whiskey out there. However, after getting a chance to review Bulleit Bourbon has revealed that there is a serious contender to Knob Creek’s throne. Don’t let the bottle’s retro flair fool you: despite claims to the contrary, what is present in each bottle of Bulleit Bourbon is complex, full-bodied, and will be a whiskey experience that imbibers will not soon…

Posted on: April 30, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Dragon Ball: Evolution (Sony PSP)

There have been a number of different Dragonball Z games over the course of the last fifteen years, and Dragon Ball: Evolution is the one that really tends to break free of the molds and bring something new to the line. Despite the fact that the game is on a portable console (the Sony PSP), there is a certain vibrancy and quick pace to the action that belies the slower…

Posted on: April 28, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 8

Smirnoff Cocktails: Tuscan Lemonade (Cocktail)

Most the time, whenever I have some sort of mixed drink, there seems to be mounds too much sugar and not enough in the way of alcohol for me. However, Smirnoff has done the impossible and has created what I consider to be the best cocktail I have ever had. Their “Tuscan Lemonade” seems to be a shade or two darker than most lemonades, but the inclusion of Limoncello (Italian…

Posted on: April 28, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Steve Kilbey – Painkiller (CD)

As bassist and front man for Australian rockers The Church, Steve Kilbey has had a hand in turning out some of the more influential psychedelic pop songs of the late 80’s/early 90’s alternative scene. On his latest solo offering, his sixth, however Kilbey is running out of steam. The Aussie rocker known for penning classics like “Under the Milky Way” and “Metropolis,” simply sounds conflicted with this uneven record.

Posted on: April 28, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

The Uninvited (Blu-Ray)

Where Disturbia was a solid film and The Ring really allowed horror to take that next step forward, The Uninvited is one of those films that is able to learn from the successes and failures from previous efforts by the producers, as well as from the entirety of the genre. The haunting aura of The Uninvited comes forth quite well on Blu-Ray, meaning that the atmospheric noise and sounds present…

Posted on: April 24, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! (CD)

A cappella is not supposed to sound this good. The vocals-only genre exists solely for our amusement and ridicule, right? Andy, the dork from The Office was in a college a cappella group, so it’s gotta be uncool, right? Ben Folds may have finally made the oft maligned musical form hip with the release of Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!

Posted on: April 24, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Combier (80 Proof)

We get a ton of vodka, tequila, rum, and the like at NeuFutur HQ, but we have not received too terribly much in the way of liqueurs through the time our alcohol review section has been active. Combier is a great addition to anyone’s liquor cabinet, but it is only just now that the spirit has hit American store shelves despite being available for 175 years. The orange bouquet that…

Posted on: April 24, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Sin City (Blu-Ray)

Sin City is a stellar film. It only makes sense that Dimension / Buena Vista would give it the treatment that it deserves, resulting in a Blu-Ray release that will have viewers in awe from start to finish. The picture itself is sharp as all get out, tying together crisp and clear audio with a video that seems to even improve on the original theatrical print. The feature presentation on…

Posted on: April 23, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Mean Girls (Blu-Ray)

The transfer over the Blu-Ray does provide purchasers with a significantly sharper picture and audio quality over the standard DVD release. What was originally just seen as a revamp of Heathers works on its own 5 years after the original version was released. The TrueHD version of the audio makes for a lush soundscape of voices, ambient noise, and music, at a level that would please even those individuals that…

Posted on: April 23, 2009 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Strange Wilderness (Blu-Ray)

Strange Wilderness was released last year, and Paramount has taken the plunge and has tapped it as another title to be transferred to Blu-Ray. The film itself was reviewed here at https://neufutur.com/?p=3402 , and provides a better description of the plot than will be discussed here. Essentially, Strange Wilderness focuses around a nature show that is looking to bump their ratings after a steady decline by capturing Bigfoot. The Blu-Ray…