Category: DVD

DVD REVIEW: Sunset Boulevard – The Centennial Collection

Sunset Boulevard is one weird movie. I mean that in a good way, this movie keeps you on your toes. You have no idea what is going to happen next.

The movie starts out with a dead man floating in a pool at a Sunset Boulevard Mansion. If that doesn’t immediately grab your attention than we’ve lost all hope for you. This tragic story is an inside look into Hollywood filmmaking.

Sunset Boulevard has one hell of a golden quote: “All right, Mr. Demille, I’m ready for my close-up.” Yeah it’s one of those quotes that you’ve heard before but never knew where it came from. Well now you know.

This movie defines a classic. It is surely one that most people will enjoy.

The DVD includes:
Commentary by Ed Sikov (author of On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder)
Sunset Boulevard: The Beginning
The Noir Side of Sunset Boulevard by Joseph Wambaugh
Two Sides of Ms. Swanson
Stories of Sunset Boulevard
Mad About the Boy: A Portrait of William Holden
Sunset Boulevard Becomes a Classic
Recording Sunset Boulevard
The City of Sunset Boulevard
Original Morgue Prologue
The Score of Sunset Boulevard
Behind the Gates: The Lot
Hollywood Location Map
Paramount in the ‘50s – Retrospective Featurette

DVD REVIEW: Futurama – Bender’s Game

I am a huge fan of Futurama- both in that I love the series, and I am a physically large fanboy. Bender’s Game is getting fantastic reviews, and is considered by most to be the best of the Futurama films released thus far.

However, I disagree. Continue reading “DVD REVIEW: Futurama – Bender’s Game”

All Aboard the Polar Express in 3-D!!!!

The Polar Express: Presented in 3-D
Warner Bros./ Castle Rock/ Play Tone
Starring Tom Hanks
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Rated G
Running Time = 100 minutes (Two DVDs; one with 3-D version, the other with theatrical version)

I love Christmas movies. There’s something about the really good ones like Miracle of 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life that really resonate with me. Holiday films of recent have held less interest for me, especially “holiday” movies like Deck the Halls and Christmas with the Kranks. The Polar Express, however, Continue reading “All Aboard the Polar Express in 3-D!!!!”

5 Things I Learned While Watching The New World

The New World: The Extended Cut
New Line Cinema
Starring Colin Farrell, Q’orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer, and Christian Bale
Written and Directed by Terrence Malick
Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences.
Running Time = 135 minutes

As I watched this extended version of The New World, which was my first time viewing the film, several thoughts came to mind. I wish to share five of them with you now. Continue reading “5 Things I Learned While Watching The New World”

TV on DVD Review: Primeval – Volume One

Primeval – Volume One
BBC Video
Starring Douglas Henshall, James Murray, Andrew Lee Potts, Lucy Brown, Hannah Spearitt
Not Rated
Running Time = 585 minutes (on 4 DVDs)

Dinosaurs! Interdimensional portals! English accents! Yes, all that and more add to the fun and excitement of Primeval. Seen in the U.S. on BBC America, the show’s a Continue reading “TV on DVD Review: Primeval – Volume One”

Shrek The Halls – DVD review

Shrek being an ogre… knows nothing about Christmas. Welcome to “Shrek the Halls”, a short half hour X-mas special about learning the ways of the holidays. Shrek takes quick lessons about Christmas to try and give his family the holiday they deserve. Donkey and Puss in Boots show up to add to the fun and screw things up a bit. Its exactly what you’d expect when you think of Shrek + holidays.

This is the same holiday special that ran on TV a year ago, it runs a little over 23 minutes, but this time no commercials! The original cast from the films is back to reprise their character roles which is nice, since typically this sort of thing would feature a bunch of horrible sound-a-likes. The animation is pretty solid quality as well, almost on par with the films themselves.

Surprisingly, the DVD has a variety of features considering it is just a TV holiday special. There are several sing a longs, a couple interactive games, and a video jukebox. The DVD also features widescreen and fullscreen formats which is nice and 5.1 surround.

It’s worth a watch to get into the holiday spirit. However, being a holiday movie it’s really only good for about 2 months out of the year. Overall worth picking up for the Shrek fans in your family or just renting to have some Christmas cheer to pass the time.