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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Bones is one of the prime examples of shows that can stay on the air for a number of seasons and stay fresh. This time around, I feel that the show’s creators and writers have allowed for more dynamism in the storylines of each of the show’s major and minor characters. Where there was a significant focus on the individual stories in prior series, I feel that the blending of…
Where a great deal of thrillers coming from Asian countries are tied with martial arts and are draped with only the smallest amount of plot, The Stool Pigeon is a film that looks back to directors like Hitchcock for influence. What results in this film is something that is tremendously compelling, action-filled, and unique enough to require a number of viewings. Viewers will get deep into the mind of Detective…
Miss Nobody is a film that I believe strays away from different conceptions about current cinema; this unique film ties together a strong cast and crew and tells an interesting story. Specifically, Miss Nobody ties together Leslie Bibb (as Sarah Jane McKinney) with Brandon Routh (Milo Beeber) in a cat-eat-dog type of tale. Where Bibb’s character’s chance at promotion is seemingly shattered by Routh’s upstart character, something has to be…
The second season of HBO’s most underrated comedy is brought to you be the New Yorker and pot. I can’t prove it, but based on the number of mentions of the magazines and number of times someone flames up a joint, spread out over the eight episodes, there has to be some kind of product placement deal that was made. Regardless, the season is still extremely entertaining. The show follows…
Based on Peter Pan, Jake and The Never Land Pirates may just be Disney’s hottest current property. There are twenty aired shows at this point, and this DVD set contains the first seven episodes. Children in the 5-10 age group will be able to easily identify with the characters – Izzy and Jake put forth solid values and will have viewers of all age groups focused on in. There is…
By the time that a franchise makes it to their fourth film, there is a very good chance that the movie will be virtually unwatchable. I believe that the years that were taken between Scream 3 and 4 were enough to properly allow the writers to make up a great story and strong cast to make this film one of the strongest in the franchise. Scream 4 focuses in on…
Mill Creek has been on a tear as of late, releasing a number of seasons of classic shows like That 70’s Show and Roseanne. Even more than that, they do a valuable service for fans of the original show – they ensure that the DVD sets never make it out of print. Furthermore, they provide these sets at a price that individuals can actually afford. For example, both That 70’s…
Le Beau Serge is one of the earliest films that was released under the French New Wave; Chabrol’s initial title focuses on a theology student making it back to eir old haunts. During Le Beau Serge, the student is able to make inroads with one of eir old friends. The dynamic between the two is explored at length, with the crucial points of Le Beau Serge focused on the current…
Good Neighbors is a great horror movie that will have viewers wondering throughout the entirety of the title. Where a city is driven into frenzy by a string of murders, a few neighbors attempt to understand what could lead to such gruesome acts. Louise (Emily Hampshire) and Spencer (Scott Speedman) are joined in the neighborhood by (Victor) Jay Baruchel. As the film goes on, viewers will be chomping at the…
I cannot count how many times that we have had friends over at our apartment, and all that they have wanted to see has been Modern Family. The show has everything – it was created by Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), has Ed O’Neill, and even a bit of eye candy at the end of the day (Sofia Vergara). This Blu-Ray (and DVD) release contains the 24 episodes that…
While it is pretty easy to hear Rob Thomas’ music if you listen to the radio for any length of time, I feel that a great number of listeners have not had the chance to see Thomas in a live format. For those individuals that were not wono over by eir stereo recordings, picking up a copy of Live At Red Rocks in Blu-Ray is a must. The sheer amount…
There are literally tens, if not hundreds, of spy movies that were created after the James Bond series of films really began to take off. While a number of these are unashamed ripoffs of the Bond franchise, Agent 8 3/4 is a title that has its own allure. Bouncing between humor and action, this film seems to have a lot in common with the spirit possessed by the Austin Powers…
After Conan O’Brien was jerked around by the powers that be, I feel that ey really let it affect eir. This is seen especially in eir current show; I believe that there has been a certain spark that is not usually present there. However, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop is a release that showcases that speak and shows it to individuals that may not be too familiar with O’Brien’s earlier work…
Adventure Time may just be the most fresh show that Cartoon Network has aired since Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy was still in production. The sheer amount of pop-culture references present, tied to a fantasy backdrop, makes this into a show that can be enjoyed no matter whether the watcher is 8, 28, or 58. Along with Regular Show, Adventure Time is part of a major resurgence for Cartoon Network. My…
This is Amos Gitai’s magnum opus. The film is an intricate look into the filmmaker and into Israel; the two entities have many things in common. The disconnect between Israel and the United States is shown well here, with the ancient tied together with the ultra-modern. Gitai’s work in imbuing eir home country with a human vitality will foster an increased level of interest for many in Israel. However, Carmel…