Good Morning Vietnam was one of those films that were shown in a severly edited format on Comedy Central throughout my childhood. The film has received a number of releases (VHS, DVD, and now Blu-Ray), but I believe that Touchstone has done a tremendous job in establishing this releases’ value, even for those that already have a prior version of the film. This Robin Williams-led film surrounds Adrian Cronauer and…
After running a magazine for a few years, the release schedule of the major film / television releasing companies becomes known. It seems as if they all ramp up for the end of the year, and then slack off considerably during January. Funimation is the only company that I have ever seen that has put a strong foot forward during this inaugural month, and this second volume of Sekirei should…
There are a number of different releases that we receive on a daily basis, but there are few that we have viewed that look to change what it means to see an actor. Jackie Chan, at least on this side of the world, has been seen to be little more than an action hero. 1911 Revolution is the first film that we have seen in which ey attempts to provide…
While not necessarily a horror movie, given the similarity between the financial thriller that is Margin Call and the real life Wall Street melt down in 2008 that remains smoldering today, a ghost story would likely be less scary. Centered on a fictional investment firm in the early stages of the real financial collapse, Margin Call shows the unraveling of the company discovered by a recently-fired risk analyst and his…
American Nudist is one of the few films that we have viewed that have provided information about the naturalist subculture in a fair and balanced way. By ensuring that there is more to the story than simple nudism, American Nudist is able to properly keep viewers focused in for the entirety of the flick. The film perfectly blends the mundane and the absurd, moving from a somewhat humdrum existence for…
It’s a miracle that Ozzy Osbourne is still alive. And yes, I realize exactly how much of a cliché that statement is, but it deserves to be repeated. And often. This guy did cereal bowls of cocaine for decades; was so blotto that he bit the head of a live dove (and bat) and was not aware of what he was doing; heard voices telling him to strangle his wife;…
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is able to stop much of the decline of quality that was had between the first and second movies in their original iteration due to the strength of the actors here. James Franco, John Lithgow, and Andy Serkis all unite here to make a film that both stays relatively true to the original film while expanding upon the mythos and storyline of the…
Chillerama is a comedic send-off of Troma and fifties/sixties movies; there are five distinct storylines that are occurring during the space of this film. Each one of these films is a short-form flick that takes on a different side of the z-movie genre, all to varying degrees of success. A who’s who of current directors try their hand at these different styles, including Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs), Adam Rifkin (Detroit…
Christmas Angel is a film that showcases exactly how problematic an individual’s daily life can be. With everything going wrong to a degree, Ashley (Kari Hawker) gets a major dash to eir day when ey realizes that the job that ey applied for has already been filled. Nick (Bruce Davison) is Ashley’s neighbor, and has dedicated eir life to providing warmth and happiness to everyone that ey meets. The two…
It’s cliché in 2011 to reference Rocky when talking about a movie that centers around fighting. But you’d have to go all the way back to that 1976 Oscar winning film to find a movie about guys pummeling each other that had just as solid a back story, brilliant acting and as much emotional impact as Warrior. Though it got little notice, aside from some solid critical praise when it…
If you’ve been following the HBO series Big Love up to this point, you can’t help but blame most of the problems the polygamist Henrickson’s family is facing in the final season on anyone but the clan’s patriarch Bill (Bill Pullman). That doesn’t make the scenarios any less entertaining, just hair-tuggingly frustrating when he questions why God is testing them. Job was tested – Bill Henrickson was just idiotic in…
Since the Blu-Ray format started, there have been a tremendous amount of different re-issues and remastered versions of titles that had previously only been on DVD (and VHS). However, I feel that MGM has pushed the bar up higher with their release of West Side Story on its 50tyh anniversary. Thhe feature is incredibly clear, and will be a completely different experience for anyone that has already seen the film.…
Revolutionary Girl Utena’s The Black Rose Saga is where I originally cut my RGU teeth; the storyline showcases substantial evolution from the original series, while containing the same quality that one had came to expect from the show. For those unfamiliar with the Black Rose Saga, it takes place as the friendship between Anthy and Utena starts to twist and turn. As this is happening, Utena’s world become more hectic…
In perhaps the best casting in an indie film since Pulp Fiction, Hamish Linklater (as Jason) and Miranda July (as Sophie) are absolutely perfect as the quirky LA couple in The Future. The movie, also directed by July, follows a couple who pledge to quit their menial jobs and do whatever they’ve wanted to do for one month, while they wait for the convalescing injured cat they have rescued to…
There is a blending of two distinct film styles with Loups = Garous, a film adaptation of a novel by Natsuhiko Kyogoku. On the one hand, there is a certain dark aspect that pervades all sections of the movie, but there also seems to be a more time-tested children’s adventure present here. What makes Loups = Garous so good is how the story, art design, and voice work marries these…
I feel that Making The Boys is a film that must be seen by anyone that is at least tangentially interested in GLBT history and culture. Do not get me wrong, this film is an amazing capsule into theatre history, but there is much more of a focus on the GLBT side of things. This documentary looks into the creation of The Boys in the Band, and provides individuals either…
Film maker Errol Morris (Fog of War, Thin Blue Line, etc.) has a knack for making documentaries that feel more like Hollywood dramas (that’s a compliment, by the way). His latest movie Tabloid is no exception. The documentary centers around an incident in the mid 70’s where a former beauty queen falls in love with a Mormon missionary and, depending on who’s telling the story, either kidnapped him for a…
Blue Velvet is one of cinema’s classics, and it only makes sense that MGM is going to release a tremendous Blu-Ray on the film’s 25th anniversary. After picking up a copy and popping it in, the first thing that viewers will notice is exactly how much care was taken in bringing the film to a contemporary and current set of visuals. After taking in the feature, viewers should check out…
The writers for The Simpsons clearly gave up any sense of relevancy years ago; Family Guy is essentially the same laugh-free joke week after week; and Fox’s new Jonah Hill-voiced series (which is so dull I can’t even be bothered to remember the name) is dead on arrival, leaving South Park as one of a few adult cartoons that still elicits a chuckle every now and then. But HBO’s brilliant…
Mr. Bongo came out with a DVD version of Casanova ’70 (1965) for foreign audiences last year. While that version was solid enough, I feel that Lorber has really stepped their game up with this Blu-Ray release. This means that there is an absolutely lush restoration for this Mario Monicelli (Toto and the Women, Big Deal on Madonna Street) film. The flick is absolutely out there, focusing on Andrea (Mastroianni)…