Spice + Wolf is an anime that looks to break free from some of the different trends and topics that are commonplace in the genre. By doing this, the show moves from something simply good to a must see. While the happenings in the show are larger than life, there is a sense that what happens to Craft and Holo could have conceivably happened at some point in history. The…
Nickelodeon has been trying to release different cartoons for the first time on DVD. This means that shows that were all the rage in the nineties and two-thousands can be enjoyed in a clear and visually appealing format. Hey Arnold! is the latest show to get this treatment, and the release has been given a price point (about $20-30 depending on where one picks up the disc) that should easily…
3 Women is one of those forgotten films that stands up perfectly today. This Robert Altman-directed and Shelley Duvall / Sissy Spacek –starred title showcases a bizarre friendship between the two leads that rapidly changes into something much more sinister. The dream-like feel to the film breask free to the narrative style employed in the vast majority of films; there seems to be a much heavier focus on the moods…
I believe that the actual person that is behind the Vidal Sassoon empire has faded in the years since ey was actively changing the world of fashion. For those that do not know, Vidal Sassoon is a British hairstyler that tied architecture, art, and high fashion into specific cuts. The work that ey did 50 years ago is why Vidal Sassoon (the company) is such a large one currently –…
Martin Venville (from 44 Inch Chest) directs Henry’s Crime, which is a film with tremendous indie cred and a cast to back up this. Keanu Reeves, James Caan, and Fisher Stevens make this film into a tremendously interesting watch; Henry’s Crime is about the tension between the easy score and the honest job. Where it would be easy enough to commit one big crime – a bank heist, for example…
It seems that a number of the different reality shows begin to show their age after the first few seasons, but that Paranormal State is able to buck that trend and keep itself fresh throughout. This ghost hunter show makes sure to ratchet up the drama, especially through the use of their cutting edge tools and night vision lighting. This DVD set captures all of the episodes from the fifth…
HBO’s favorite man whore is back for a second season. Hung, starring Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker, a former high school jock now coaching at the school, is still trying to rebuild his old burned out house, while juggling clients (women only), a one-night stand with one of his two pimps (again, women only) and now his ex-wife (played by Anne Heche). While season one was all about quickly introducing…
This collection gives viewers the chance to collect films that would not normally be available, at a price that would be amenable to all (Amazon has it available for a shade under $50). This release collects the three films in the Straight Boys Gay Boys collection, allowing for viewers to spend a night under the sheets with their lovers without having to leave the room. For those that may already…
Daguerreotypes is a documentary created by Agnes Varda (Jacquot de Nantes, La Pointe Courte) in 1975. Varda has had a career stretch out over a half century, with Les plages d’Agnes comprising eir latest work. Daguerreotypes is an intimate look into the area in which ey spent some of eir best years, looking into the different efforts, shops, and owners that make the Rue Daguerre such an unique place. The…
Shows that are set in antiquity typically do pretty well; one just has to remember back to the 1960s just to see exactly how well Cleopatra did in theatres. This trend has continued into the current period as well; Rome and Gladiator both have or had huge fanbases. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a show that blends together all three of these releases, and does it in a fashion…
This 1992 version of Cap has been provided for the first time by MGM; individuals that wish to see how the comic was envisioned by early nineties filmmakers would do well to search out a copy of this release. The film will ultimately be seen by a wider segment of fans than it would have been; I believe that the over the top nature of the film will bring a…
There is no reason why this DVD set should not be picked up for anyone that loves cinema or sci-fi movies specifically. This is due to the fact that this collection contains 50 different movies that range the gamut from fairly large-budget all the way down to slightly larger than independent movies. More impressive than the levels of films that are present on this set would have to be the…
Fans of TV sci-fi series are a tough bunch: if they don’t like your show you know about quickly through online rants and snarky tweets. But if they like it, they love it and will go to great lengths to let the rest of the world know that they should embrace it as well. Sanctuary, the Canadian series currently taking up residence on the Syfy Channel, falls into the latter…
The quality of the footage on this Blu-Ray set is impressive, giving viewers the chance to watch each episode of Fringe in a way that (for me, at least) goes beyond even the original airing of the shows. This is due to the fact that viewers are provided with the HD airing of each episode without being forced to watch (or skip over) the numerous commercials that are omnipresent. Furthermore,…
Olivia: Princess for a Day contains eight episodes of the show; the double-length episode that lends its name to the DVD is where viewers will most often find themselves. Beyond that, episodes like Tip Top Tapper and Olivia Becomes A Chef are humorous, informative, and will keep the attention of any child that may be watching them. I found myself to be a fan of Olivia Goes International, which has…
The organization Doctors Without Borders does a tremendous amount of good, ensuring that those that do not have ready access to health care will be provided for. However, I do not believe that many individuals have any semblance of the sheer work that these doctors have to go through, and that is precisely why a documentary like Living In Emergency had to be created. This is a gritty, grim documentary…
Mark of Love is a movie that has came out of nowhere. The film is based around a similarly unknown British play (I love you!…And you…and you) and features a cast of unknown (but still impressive) actors to push forward the storyline. Mark is the lead character and is played by Bryan Price; Mark has a tremendously hard time staying in relationships. When ey is shot down yet again, Mark…
Ed Wood is known by many to be one of the best Z-list movie makers in history, but aside from the feature that was released about eir life, I do not know how many of these individuals have actually seen anything having to do with the director eirself. Smore Entertainment has just released a massive compendium of Wood’s films and has bundled it with other television specials. This 6-DVD set…
Jason Statham is rapidly becoming one of the best action actors currently on the market. Blitz is a film that firmly solidifies this, as it is a non-stop tour de force that will provide viewers with a tremendous amount of chills. The quality of the video on the Blu-Ray is simply stunning; with the right television, one will feel as if they are watching Blitz at the movie theatre. Blitz…
This film will be eaten up by anyone that is a fan of traditional karate films or of strong female-centered movies like Sucker Punch or Kill Bill. The hyper-realistic style of the film is matched well by the utter craziness that is present on-screen practically from beginning to end. Panna Rittikrai links together a number of the most famous current martial arts stars and gives them a chance to shine…