Category: Video Reviews

Posted on: November 8, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Hunt To Kill (DVD)

Steve Austin’s role as “Stone Cold” never seemed to showcase much in the way of acting chops during eir tenure with the WWF/WWE, but in the last five years or so (starting out with 2005’s remake of The Longest Yard), Austin has stepped eir game up considerable. While the sort of roles that ey has played all seems to be centered around the “bad-ass” role (whether good or evil), there…

Posted on: November 8, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Salt (Blu-Ray + DVD Combo)

There have always been interesting documentaries shown on PBS. However, it seems that after decades of doing them, that there would be some sort of lack of topics still to broach. Michael Angus and photographer Murray Fredericks show that not to be true, in one of the most visually stunning PBS documentaries to be shown this year. Salt features Lake Eyre, the lowest point in Australia and one of the…

Posted on: November 8, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

The Pacific (Blu-Ray Set)

Where it seems as if there is a pretty solid look about war (particularly World War II) every few years, The Pacific may just be the best mini-series of its kind. The heavy-hitters are immediately evident (Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg share executive producer credit), with the storyline itself focusing in on the trials and tribulations of three Marines through different venues in the Pacific. These ten-episodes showcase a number…

Posted on: November 7, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

V: The Complete First Season (DVD Set)

The re-do of the classic sci-fi show V was something I worried about; after the first season aired, I honestly do feel as if the show has been updated for the current period without losing any of the allure that made the show so compelling in the first place. For those viewers that were not familiar with the 1983 original or this, the 2009 remake, a number of space ships…

Posted on: November 4, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Mad Max (Blu-Ray Disc)

I understand that the Blu-Ray format is still on its ascendancy, but I was surprised to see that Mad Max hadn’t gotten released on the format as of yet. However, MGM has done a hell of a job bringing some shine back to this 1980 title. Beyond clearing up the video and audio, there have been a number of additional features included here. When one will likely be able to…

Posted on: November 2, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Empires – DVD Megaset (DVD)

With 32 hours worth of episodes, the only thing missing from the just –released Empires DVD box set is a diploma in studies of ancient civilizations.

Posted on: October 25, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Mad Ron’s Prevues From Hell (DVD)

There are few in the way of such comprehensive collections of early horror trailers, and Mad Ron’s Prevues From Hell ensures that viewers have an amazing treasure trove of these to sink their teeth into. The film itself provides nearly fifty trailers, comprising a veritable laundry list of titles from the classic period to the then-present (1987) in horror, gore, and other related genres. Trailers include those created for Three…

Posted on: October 24, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Score (Blu-Ray)

Few individuals are lucky enough to remember this 1972 title, directed by Radley Metzger. Fresh off the releases of Camille 2000 and The Lickerish Quartet, Score is a film that attempts to be something to everyone. Based off an off-Broadway play that had a decidedly short run (23 weeks), the title begins with a couple (Jack and Elvira Jackson, played here by Gerald Grant and Claire Wilbur) attempting to determine…

Posted on: October 23, 2010 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Benny Hill – The Complete Megaset (DVD)

Anglophiles and fans of the Yakety Sax rejoice: A&E Home Video has just released the DVD megaset you have been waiting. Benny Hill, The Complete Megaset, is 58 episodes, parceled out over 18 DVDs. This hilarious, often raunchy set covers two decades of the Benny Hill show from 1969 to 1989. Every single episode, including some skits that never aired in the U.S. is crammed into this box set. Aired…

Posted on: October 23, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Kylie Minogue – Rare and Unseen (DVD)

It seems that there is very little in the way of active work being done to restore old interviews, performances, and the like from musicians. Whether it be straight releases from VHS of extremely important titles like Urgh! A Music War or music-related films like Times Square, many movie houses could stand to do what is done with Kylie Minogue – Rare and Unseen. This collection brings together an interview…

Posted on: October 22, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Inspector Lewis: Series 3 (DVD Set)

It does feel as if some of the different British releasing companies tend to slack off when it comes to releasing various seasons of shows from the BBC and ITV. For example, there seems to be something a little off with a release like the sixth series of Foyle’s War. Whether it be a slightly muddy print or a lack of additional features, it just makes sense to bring over…

Posted on: October 22, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Hell Is Sold Out (DVD)

VCI Entertainment has created a number of DVD releases for films that have been forgotten about or otherwise slept on for a great period of time. Hell is Sold Out is one of these films; a 1951 film featuring Richard Attenborough, has been released under the company’s “Best of!” line. This Special Edition has been cleaned up from source prints, ensuring that video and audio quality is absolutely stunning considering…

Posted on: October 21, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Two and a Half Men: The Complete Seventh Season (DVD Set)

Many shows start to grind gears by the time they get to as many seasons as Two and a Half Men, but this DVD set should show that there is some gas left in the show’s tank. As evidence by the ratings it still generates, many people are familiar with the general premise of the show – Charlie Sheen’s womanizing Charles and the eternally mopey Alan, played by Jon Cryer…

Posted on: October 21, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Bill Maher – But I’m Not Wrong (DVD)

Captured in February of this year in Raleigh, North Carolina, “But I’m Not Wrong” really has Maher at eir very best. While some of this 80 minute show may seem to be treading bare ground, the skill of Maher’s craft is enough to have viewers focused in through the entirety of the DVD. It is not only eir voice that is a hit; facial mannerism and body language is linked…

Posted on: October 19, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Night Court – The Complete Fourth Season (DVD Set)

Night Court has seen another season released, this time on the Warner Archive program. At a $35 price point, the 22 episodes of the season can be seen in a way that was originally intended. While the episodes here have not been remastered in any way, the transfer that Warner has given these episodes is simply stellar. For me, Night Court really began to hit its stride beginning with this…

Posted on: October 16, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Donnell Rawlings – From Ashy To Classy (DVD)

Donnell Rawlings has been known for two distinct things. Fans of comedy can easily remember eir from the stint ey had on the short-lived Chappelle show, while those into more serious types of show have likely seen eir on The Wire. On From Ashy to Classy, Rawlings looks to showcase the former. What seems to be the strongest side to Rawlings is how well ey plays to the different populations…

Posted on: October 10, 2010 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Looking for Eric (DVD)

Looking for Eric, the British indie import has been billed as everything from “The Next Full Monty” to “The Next Waking Ned Devine,” which is a bit unfortunate. Sure all three are feel good features set in Europe, but the similarities end pretty much there.

Posted on: October 7, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Family Guy: Partial Terms of Endearment (DVD)

Family Guy seems to have a problem with attempting to push the line of what can be accepted and what is not. Where shows like South Park gain the additional benefit of being on a straight cable format (rather than on network TV), Family Guy is on Fox. This additional censoring has ensured that Family Guy has to play it a little safe, save for situations such as this one.…

Posted on: October 6, 2010 Posted by: James Comments: 0

Scrubs Season 9 (DVD Set)

Despite much of the cast leaving the hospital, there are quite a few good things that viewers can see about this season of Scrubs. J.D. (Zach Braff) is still present, albeit in a reduced role as mentor to the new group of doctors at Sacred Heart, Lucy, Cole, and Drew. The dynamics that each of have in regards to each other, the more tenured members of the staff, and even…

Posted on: October 6, 2010 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Blue Mountain State – Season One (DVD)

If you’ve never heard of the Spike TV show Blue Mountain State then you’re clearly not a 14-year-old boy. The half-hour comedy centers around the players and hangers-on of the Blue Mountain State football team The Goats. The humor, though inarguably juvenile, is occasionally funny. Sophomoric sex jokes are par for the course, but when you think about it, a comedy classic like Animal House was built around sophomoric sex…