Posts Tagged ‘dvd’

Ezra’s Top 10 Favorite Films of 2012

Posted 15 Feb 2013 — by Ezra Stead
Category Essay, Film Reviews, Movies I Didn't Get, Movies I Got

By Ezra Stead

The Grey is nothing but desolate Alaskan wilderness and people being brutally murdered by wolves for two hours. What's not to love?I’ve been making these lists, in one form or another, for a dozen years now, and every year I’ve done my best to balance my own personal preferences with an objective and educated view of cinema in order to recommend not only my personal favorite films of any given year, but also those I believe to be the best. Well, no more! This year, and forever onward, I strive to give you only my own subjective favorites, the films that I have watched and am likely to watch over and over again throughout the years. When I look back over the last five years, for example, I have to admit that these have proven to be my actual favorite films, despite what I may have written at the time in an effort to recognize other worthy cinematic achievements to which I may or may not have returned even once in the years since: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007); The Dark Knight (2008); Inglourious Basterds (2009); Dogtooth (2010); and Drive (2011).

Of those five, only Dogtooth actually topped my list at the time. So, with this in mind, I present my favorite films of 2012, in all their highly subjective glory. Since ranking films in order of preference is often at least somewhat arbitrary, I should admit that some of these may have made it into the top 10, rather than the runner-up category, solely because they were more fun to write about. However, my top 5 is solidly made up of films I have already seen at least twice, and feel strongly that I would be more than happy to watch again at absolutely any time. Read More

Coraline – Henry Selick And The Giant Letdown

Posted 02 Jul 2011 — by contributor
Category Animation, Film Reviews, Movies I Didn't Get

By Scott Martin

Coraline, USA, 2009  Coraline is a 2009 stop-motion 3D fantasy children's film based on Neil Gaiman's 2002 novel of the same name.

Written and Directed by Henry Selick

Based on the Book Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Henry Selick, notable director of The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), is hit or miss. With James and the Giant Peach (1996) and the aforementioned Nightmare under his belt, I’m not quite sure where he went wrong. Those two organically energetic and bright films were followed by Monkeybone (2001), and the soulless concoction of Coraline. His heart might have been in the right place, and I’m sure his intention outweighs the validity of the project, but it’s been years since I’ve seen a film so bereft of heart. This is not to imply that heart means something jolly or even fun, but rather a passion for craft, mainly. The film as a whole winds up being depressing, mainly because of this lack, and ugly for a slew of other reasons, and while moments of the film remain frightening, as does the entire idea behind it, there’s something intangible that’s hard to abide. Read More

Ready for Rango Release – July 15, 2011

Posted 08 Jun 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Box Office News, Essay

By Rachel Menendez Rango has been scheduled for release on July 15 through Paramount Home Entertainment and the disc will come on Blu-ray and DVD with special features Including an extended cut of the Film with a never-before-seen alternate ending, deleted scenes, an interactive tour and more.

It seems that whatever Johnny Depp touches turns to box office gold these days and Rango is no exception. In Rango, we see Depp step seamlessly into a new format in an animated movie.

The new format is working for Depp and seen the film become a smash hit with the all-star cast and the sharp and often hilarious script making the movie at once appealing to all the family.

Rango has been scheduled for release on July 15 through Paramount Home Entertainment and the disc will come on Blu-ray and DVD with special features Including an extended cut of the Film with a never-before-seen alternate ending, deleted scenes, an interactive tour and more. Read More

25 Year Anniversary Release of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Posted 08 Jun 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Essay, Film Industry News

By Rachel Menendez Any eighties kid is going to be excited, and perhaps a little shocked, to learn that August 2nd sees the release of the 25 year anniversary Blu-Ray and DVD version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Any eighties kid is going to be excited, and perhaps a little shocked, to learn that August 2nd sees the release of the 25 year anniversary Blu-Ray and DVD version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

It is hard to believe that it is 25 years since writer/director John Hughes gave us Ferris Bueller. To celebrate the occasion Paramount is releasing an anniversary version.

The anniversary version features special packaging and graphics as well as in-depth bonus material and features to take viewers behind the scenes and get a whole new perspective on this eighties classic.

The charming comedy centers around Matthew Broderick as a high school student and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck), who ditch school to enjoy one perfect day as a kid with no responsibilities. The audience strap themselves in to enjoy Ferris’ wild adventures in the Windy City during a single, glorious day off. Read More

Uplift The Race – Three Spike Lee Joints

Posted 12 May 2011 — by Ezra Stead
Category Essay, Film Reviews, Movies I Got

By Ezra Stead

Do the Right Thing, USA, 1989

Malcolm X, USA / Japan, 1992

Bamboozled, USA, 2000

Directed by Spike Lee

Spike Lee is one of the most important filmmakers of the late 20th century.

For twenty years now, ever since his debut feature She’s Gotta Have It in 1986, Spike Lee (b. 1957) has been one of the most innovative and provocative directors of his time. As expressed numerous times throughout his many films, Lee’s highest goal is to “wake up” and uplift all oppressed and deluded people, but he has an understandably primary concern for his own people, the African-Americans who have been abused and misrepresented in the United States ever since before it was even called the United States.

Many critics have accused Lee of the same bigotry his films abhor, citing in particular three of his best films – Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X and Bamboozled – as being counterproductive and causing, rather than alleviating, the tensions between various races, but particularly between blacks and whites. Yet all one has to do is view these films to see Lee’s love of all humanity; each one of these films is an eloquent cry of pain at the inhumanity bred by racism in anyone, of any race.  Read More

Sharpay Returns to the Screen

Posted 09 May 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Essay, Film Industry News

By Rachel Menendez Ashley Tisdale stars as Sharpay Evans on Disney Channel's original movie "Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure."

High School Musical fans will be happy to hear that the bad girl everyone loves to hate is returning to the screen in “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure”.

The Disney original movie will premiere Sunday, May 22 (8:00pm ET) on the Disney Channel, with simulcasts on Sprint TV and MobiTV.

“Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure” is Led by Ashley Tisdale (“High School Musical” and “Hellcats”) reprising her unforgettable role as Sharpay Evans. The movie also features Austin Butler (“Life Unexpected”), Bradley Steven Perry (“Good Luck Charlie”) and Cameron Goodman (“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody”). Read More

The Green Hornet

Posted 09 May 2011 — by Nicole P
Category Film Reviews, Movies I Didn't Get

By Scott Martin

The Green Hornet, USA, 2011The Green Hornet 2011 Movie

Directed by Michel Gondry

It takes a certain kind of film to make me question the state of a genre. Certain horror movies make question the audiences that attend them, and certain movies that go on to win Oscars make me question the voters, but not since 1990’s Captain America (a horrid movie starring Matt Salinger as the first Avenger) have I sat down and thought about the state of a genre. I remember seeing that and being thankful that even after such a gigantic misfire we’re still allowed Batman movies and Spider-Man movies and even another Captain America film (which appears to be infinitely better). The Green Hornet, you should know, is one of those certain films – I’ve seen it twice now and both times I’ve thought to myself, “Is this the state of the superhero film? This is what we’ve come to?”

Michel Gondry, by all accounts, is an astonishing director; he’s a visionary. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the best films of the last ten or so years, and far and away the best film of 2004. The Science of Sleep (2006) is gorgeous. The Green Hornet is misguided and full of itself, but I mostly blame Seth Rogen for that. Rogen co-wrote, co-produced, and stars as Britt Reid, our hero (?), who puts on a mask and a trenchcoat and fights crime by pretending to be a criminal. I have no problem with the story at all; I’m a fan of The Green Hornet series and radio show and all other incarnations thereof. However, seeing it brought to this shameless level makes me wonder why it had to be done in the first place. My guess is that it was solely designed as a vehicle for Rogen, which doesn’t even make any sense because audiences already know him. He’s famous, and can open a film on his own. I generally enjoy him, specifically in supporting roles – Knocked Up (2007) is the exception that proves the rule. Read More