Category: Video Reviews

Posted on: November 11, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Taylor Swift: Journey to Fearless (DVD)

Taylor Swift has been in the music industry for a number of years at this point, but the style and quality of music that ey creates has not dipped in the slightest. Journey to Fearless is a documentary into the creative process that leads into the creation of songs as well as massive concerts. All of Swift’s biggest tracks are contained here – Fifteen, Teardrops on My Guitar, Love Story…

Posted on: November 11, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Tajomaru: Avenging Blade (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Tajomaru: Avenging Blade is a title about the titular Tajomaru, who occupied a role not completely dissimilar to the highwaymen that caused problems in the American west. Specifically, Tajomaru and eir band of miscreants runs amok in feudal Japan, without any sort of law or forces to put an end to eir reign. Naomitsu (played here by Shun Oguri) is an exiled elite that has been aggrieved by Tajomaru. After…

Posted on: November 10, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Juche Idea (DVD)

There have been no limits to the amount of films that look to parody or otherwise attack (either seriously or jocularly) Kim Jong-Il. A number of these titles paint the despot as a pitiable creature, and The Juche Idea adds a bit more to this style of film. For those that are not familiar, The Juche Idea is a blend of different religions and philosophies. This belief system was originally…

Posted on: November 10, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Boxer and The Bombshell (DVD)

Hugo Weaving may just be the most versatile actor currently in Hollywood today. In The Boxer and The Bombshell, Weaving is a mobster that has control of a seedy underground set of businesses during the interwar years (teens/twenties). Paired alongside Matt le Nevez and Rose Byrne, Weaving is able to lead the film to a surprising compelling tenor. However, it is not only the performances that are turned in by…

Posted on: November 10, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

House of Suh (DVD)

House of Suh is a fascinating film. This title marks the first foray into film by Iris Shim; ey captures the horrific events that took place in September of 1993, where a brother and sister combination planned out the murder of the sister’s significant other. The film starts out with a description of the generations between Andrew and Catherine While the events that are covered with the title are a…

Posted on: November 8, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Kesho MJ Taupe (Shoe)

The Kesho MJ in Taupe is the perfect autumn shoe. This is for many reasons; the color is a muted, lighter shade of brown that pops among the foliage, the unique MBT design ensures the highest amount of comfort, and the open top showcases a woman’s foot perfectly. The shoe’s versatility cannot be challenged – no matter whether the wearer is dressed up for dinner at a fancy restaurant or…

Posted on: November 7, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Radley Metzger’s Erotica Psychedelica (Blu-ray)

Radley Metzger’s Erotica Psychedelica set contains three films – 1969’s Camille 2000, 1970’s The Lickerish Quartet, and 1972’s Score – along with a beautifully-designed box to contain them. This box set also contains footage taken from Metzger’s set, along with a soundtrack CD that captures the unique and compelling scores laid down for the films. The Blu-Ray format makes each film pop. For those with bleeding-edge video systems, the 1080p…

Posted on: November 7, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Death Will Have Your Eyes (DVD)

Mya Communciation has been releasing rare and otherwise out of print titles for a decent while now, but we have not as of yet been lucky enough to review any of their titles. We received a DVD copy of 1974’s giallo classic Death Will Have Your Eyes, and are pleased to report that it utterly vanquishes all of the DVD bootlegs that have been flooding the market over the last…

Posted on: November 6, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The F Word Series Five (DVD Set)

BFS Entertainment has provided viewers with the final set of F Word episodes. These episodes comprise the 2009 run of the show, and give viewers a more worldly flavor than was present in previous seasons of the show. Focusing on the oldest (French) older (Chinese, Italian) and more contemporary (Thai) cuisines, the show is must watch based on the different tacks taken by each of the finalists. The star power…

Posted on: November 6, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Beautiful Boy (DVD)

Michael Sheen and Maria Bello star opposite each other in Beautiful Boy, a title that looks at the darkness that is present when a couple decides to separate. The sheer emotional intensity that is present in Beautiful Boy is more than enough reason to watch the film – I would even venture that it should be required reading for any couples that would be on the verge of breaking up.…

Posted on: November 4, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Weird Al Yankovic Live – The Alpocalypse Tour (DVD)

Weird Al has been creating parodies of popular songs for thirty years, but is able to still cut an interesting song parody at a fairly regular basis. More interesting would have to be eir stylistic parodies, which are original compositions that are couched in the unique style of artists like Devo or Neil Young. The Alpocalypse Tour captures the live side of Weird Al, who goes through eir expansive back…

Posted on: October 31, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Lie to Me: The Complete Third Season (DVD Set)

This DVD set contains the last thirteen episodes of Lie to Me; while the shows had slightly softer ratings than did the other two seasons, I feel that the writers and actors were able to really create a special series. The backstories for each of the main cast of characters were further fleshed out this season, while there is a sense that there could be some serious story arcs should…

Posted on: October 31, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Lucky (Blu-Ray)

Lucky is a film that has an interesting premise. A childhood friend and current gold digger (Ari Graynor) marries an individual that has just won the lottery (Colin Hanks). Marrying eir for all of the wrong reasons, it gradually comes into view that the lottery winner is much more dark than previously thought. As a result, this significant other is forced to do increasingly illegal actions just to make sure…

Posted on: October 30, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Phase 7 (DVD)

There are a number of horror movies that look to take a more comical take on the genre. The amount that these films vary in terms of quality and of star caliber involved is similarly substantial; saying that, it becomes necessary to look at reviews and determine whether this is a hit or miss. Phase 7 is a title that does not benefit from an American’s familiarity with their actors…

Posted on: October 27, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Howling Reborn (Blu-Ray)

The Howling Reborn is one of those films that is a remake, but it strong enough to actually allow the story to be updated in a compelling and fresh way. This is due to the work put in by the actors, which are headed up by Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale) and Lindsey Shaw (10 Things I Hate About You); despite being something to look at, the duo make their motivations…

Posted on: October 25, 2011 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

The Trip (DVD)

Michael Winterbottom’s latest film The Trip contains quite possibly the funniest three-minutes of any movie released this year. Witnessing two comedians (played by Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon) trying to one up each other with Michael Caine impressions elicits a laugh-until-it hurts response. Not sure the same can be said about any scene from The Hangover II. The independent comedy follows Coogan (24 Hour Party People, Tropic Thunder), playing himself,…

Posted on: October 21, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

X-Men: First Class (Blu-Ray)

I was fairly sure that the X-Men franchise was gradually going to come to an end after the X-Men Origins: Wolverine title did a little worse than movie executives thought. X-Men: First Class was the way in which the X-Men franchise was able to properly gain steam, and I believe that Fox’s work with this Blu-Ray is strong enough to properly foster additional interest in the series. X-Men: First Class…

Posted on: October 20, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Frat House Massacre (DVD)

Very few horror films are scary or otherwise interesting anymore. If they are not remakes of older American or foreign horror films, the production values of a great many of these films are just too low to provide an immersive experience. I have faith in the horror genre with the release of a new title – Frat House Massacre. Where males in film are traditionally seen as those that are…

Posted on: October 19, 2011 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

In Treatment – Season Three (DVD)

On the surface, In Treatment shouldn’t work. Aside from Gabriel Byrne who plays therapist Dr. Paul Weston, there are few reoccurring characters to attach to; just about every scene takes place in either Weston’s office or the office of his own therapist; and there is very little action, putting all of the pressure on the dialogue. But somehow – and almost exclusively thanks to the brilliant Byrne, as well as…

Posted on: October 18, 2011 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Madso’s War (DVD)

Madso’s War is one dark film. The gritty reality that is presented here is something that marks all sides of the film, from the different scenery used to the motivations of each of the actors. Set in Beantown, it is not soon after the film opens that the head of the mafia disappears. This leaves all underlings searching for their way up the ladder; despite court proceedings being just around…