There is no denying how popular Elmo is o the audiences that watch eir. However, I feel that the increasing focus of Sesame Street on this character has made the show into a substantively different beast that it was when I was watching. That is neither good nor bad; I feel that the presence of Elmo allows for the younger set to understand and properly receive different messages and morals,…
This 1993 footage (recorded in Belgium at the Peer Blues Festival) looks absolutely stunning. The amount of work that Eagle Rock has done to this source is astounding, with a crispness present that rivals even Blu-Ray releases. Fans of the Jeff Healey Band will hear all of the act’s hits, whether it be taken from Feel This, See The Light and Hell to Play. Purchasers will be happy to hear…
This film is part of the Nikkatsu collection; Nikkatsu’s films were picked up for US distribution by Impulse back in 2010. Ryoto Watanabe’s turn as Ami showcases a desire for Japanese softcore to have more of a story than comparable American releases; Ami is a woman that is not satisfied with her life. Wanting to make a change, Ami is able to find contacts in the Madame Machiko Society…
Miracle of Marcelino (Blu-Ray) / 2012 VCI Entertainment / http://www.vcientertainment.com This is the restored 1955 version of Marcelino pan y vino. The video quality of this restored title is simply fantastic, allowing for individuals to be immersed in the film’s storyline in a way previously impossible unless you had watched a theatrical screening of the title. VCI has restored all aspects of Miracle of Marcelino, ensuring that the sharp picture…
There have been a number of distinct movies and documentaries that have been made about the Titanic, but few have been able to have a current and contemporary take on the events alongside eyewitness testimony. Waking The Titanic succeeds because it is able to provide some sense of the terror that existed on the ship along with solid scientific and historical reporting of the events. I liked the way…
Madonna: Truth or Dare was one of the defining moments in Madonna’s career. Where ey was flagging after a successful 80s, this 1991 title re-sexualized the performer and sent eir off into a career path that is still paying considerable dividends. Previous releases of Madonna: Truth or Dare have been done competently, but I feel that the Blu-Ray format more accurately captures the desire of director and pop diva alike.…
Killer Nun has been transformed due to the undertaking that Blue Underground has taken for it. What was muddy and dark has been given a new life for the Blu-Ray format. This 1978 Giulio Berruti film, which was based on a series of events in central European countries, had the titular character drug and otherwise harm and torture individuals in an asylum. The title is moored by Anita Ekberg (La…
Bachelor comedies tread ground that has been beaten by a considerable amount of films. For a title in this genre to attract attention, it has to be good. Stags is one of the few comedies that have been released in the last ten years that changes up this stagnant genre, and does so through a number of distinct changes to the norm. Of the main import has to be the…
Fans of films that deal with an attack or with doomsday will love The Divide. Those that wish to see the sheer extent of what humanity would do in such a situation will appreciate the Unrated version of the film. The title has a huge ensemble cast, tying together Lauren German (Hostel: Part II), Courtney B. Vance (Law and Order), and Michael Eklund (The Day). Xavier Gens gets into the…
This movie is absolutely crazy. Where The Dead Go To Die focuses on a group of children that are hounded (literally) by a talking dog named Labby. Labby takes them on a number of adventures, many of which go beyond our dimension and time. Along the way, there is a tremendous amount of gore, nudity, and all the things that make a film great. The filmmakers tasked with making Where…
The Veteran is a taut thriller that showcases the lengths that governments will go in using those that were brave enough to serve in the military. After coming back from Afghanistan, Miller (Toby Kebbell) has to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Rather than just take a normal civilian job, ey comes into a position where ey determines whether individuals are terrorists. After one of the individuals that ey is…
This is it. This is the release of the final few episodes of the Ben 10: Ultimate Alien show. Cartoon Network / Warner Brothers have included these episodes in a value-priced format (one can purchase it from online retailers for $20). This set contains the final 10 episodes, wrapping up nicely the loose ends that were present in the previous forty episodes of the show. With enemies seemingly ready…
Frauleins in Uniform is a 1973 skin film that focuses on the titular characters, which are German women that look to further the Nazi cause by having sex with the soldiers. These romps are not enough for these sex-starved Germans, which turn to each other’s embrace. The film itself seems to be the influence for Ilsa: She Wolf of the SS, which was released a full two years after…
I love the fact that Blu-Ray discs are decreasing in price. When the format first was released, individuals were hard pressed to find a title under $30. Now, preorders for a title like Roadracers can be found for under $10. This is particularly amazing given the work that Echo Bridge has done to this title. The sharpness of the print here is equivalent to what would be presented at…
A Night To Remember has been given a tremendous coat of polish for its release into the Criterion Collection. This 1958 film is the original Titanic, albeit which much better acting and less fluffy plot. The film is a veritable who’s who of actors from this period; Laurence Naismith takes on the role of Captain Edward J. Smith, while Ronald Allen is Mr. Clarke and John Cairney is Mr.…
Marriage Chronicles is a film that focuses on three couples that look to improve their relationships with loved ones. Along the way, a crazy instructor allows each to find out something about themselves and their better halves. Where it seems that many films cast individuals into roles without seeing how they work with their film spouse, I feel that each of the couples seem realistic. While Vivica A. Fox and…
War Horse is the tale of a child and eir companion, a horse. The duo are separated, but the impact that they have on each other continues through World War I. Steven Spielberg’s direction of this film is stellar, meaning that viewers will be transported back in time. A sense of immersion is always present here, meaning that the cast (Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston, and Jeremy Irvine) are able to…
The power of a praise concert is considerable. The electric energy that is working through the audience will be enough to inspire anyone lucky enough to watch in. Hillsong United’s latest DVD bottles that energy and provides a much larger stage for the band’s message. Couple praise with an absolutely amazing set of songs, and viewers will have a DVD that does not leave their player. The track list begins…
The Indian Doctor is set in 1963, and showcases the life of Dr. Prem Sharma (Sanjeev Bhaskar) in a rough and tumble Welsh town. As eir and eir significant other settle down, they begin to learn that the idyllic life promised to them is not quite as perfect as they hoped. In the show’s five episode first series, a manager (Richard Sharpe, played by Mark Williams) becomes very interested in…
Rick Ray has just released My African Safari. This film fits in perfectly with eir other features, which saw trips to Iceland, Lebanon, Bali, and Israel. My African Safari showcases the sheer difference of the continent to our own. While the human component is something that is similar between areas, the creatures encountered and the lands traveled seem very alien to those watching this from the United States. The…