Into the Blu

At first glance Paranormal Activity 2 seems like an interesting blu-ray to review… I always tend to try and invest in titles that will flex the muscles of my home theatre and when we’re dealing with a film that is supposed to look like it was shot with a handheld camcorder it may seem like it’s a sure bet this will be getting a skip on the technical aspects, but if a film is valuable enough and caters to the right market it just might surprise us. Lets see how it does.

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I guess you can say that I am in the very distinct minority in the US when it comes to soccer. I love it, especially English football, which has a rick, deep and at times, crazy history. Teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forrest, Reading and Derby Country, just to name but a few. Even the names of the stadiums evoke the richness of that history, with monikers such as Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield and Craven’s Cottage immediately coming to mind! Better than the Wachovia Center don’t you think? Continue Reading

It had all the right ingredients; a script by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, The Muppet’s creator Jim Henson in the director’s chair, a soundtrack by David Bowie and produced by George Lucas as well. Released in 1986, Labyrinth failed to find an audience in theaters, but did it deserve better? Continue Reading

Steven Soderbergh’s debut, Sex, Lies & Videotape, covered some untreaded territory 20 years ago. With an award winning performance from James Spader and a cult following that continues to grow, is the newly remastered Blu-ray of Sex, Lies and Videotape the definitive must have version? Continue Reading

Comedies have always been a great escape for audiences, time away from our daily grind to have a few laughs; after all they say laughter is the best medicine. But not all comedies are created equal as you well know, first off there are different branches of comedy; some prefer more sensible laughter like in a Wes Anderson film, others enjoy action mixed with their comedy, really the variations of the genre are quite limitless. Often times some of the most hysterical movies are the stupidest ones, the slapstick randomness and crude humor of movies like Old School, Animal House, and even this summer’s blockbuster The Hangover. While I hardly think I’ll be able to compare the lesser known Fired Up to some of these classics, I have in no way written it off and hope to find a few good laughs amongst this apparently absent minded comedy. Continue Reading

It seems more and more films are showcases for the big car chase, explosions, alien invasions and large robots, often times featuring mindless action and even more forgettable dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great action film but also love to view a film that features an excellent script, steady direction and nuanced storytelling, where what isn’t said in a given scene is more important than what is said. Just such a film is A River Runs Through It which is making its high def debut on Blu-ray this week and is a real keeper. Continue Reading

The Deep is one of those films that is probably better know and more famous for the appearance of the lead actress in the film rather than a the quality of the film itself. Those of you like yours truly who were teenagers when the film arrived in theaters know exactly what I am talking about, namely the stunning visuals of Jacqueline Bisset underwater in that tight white top! The Deep has now made its high def debut on Blu-ray. How does it and more importantly, Jacqueline Bisset look? Pretty darn good! Continue Reading

Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Call me crazy, but I view Ghostbusters as an all time classic American film. It is one of the few films I have obtained on VHS, Laserdisc, DVD and now Blu-ray. I was never happy with the video presentation on any of the previous home video releases of the film and was hoping that the release of the film on Blu-ray will finally do the trick. Does it? Well for that opinion, you will have to keep on reading. Continue Reading

Having made its rounds on primetime cable television in its 12 years since release, Anaconda has acquired a small cult following and even spawned a couple of sequels. But for whatever reason every time I’ve had the opportunity to watch the film I’ve opted for something else, partially because both of the stars of Anaconda (Ice Cube and Jennifer Lopez) have gained their notoriety as musicians. I was initially skeptical of what kind of movie this was going to be, but watching on I was surprised to see Jon Voight and then lesser known Owen Wilson gracing the screen. But ultimately creature films are real finicky in terms of quality, but Anaconda seems to have a decent plot and cast. Will Anaconda prove to be well worth the wait, or will it slither out of sight and mind?

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There is no question that Stanley Kubrick was a cinematic genius. He has created many amazing films with incredibly diverse subject matters such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange which have really stood up to the test of time, retaining their relevance decades after their release. For me, the best of Mr. Kubrick’s films remains Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a controversial and thought provoking film both upon its release in 1964 as well as today. Continue Reading

In watching Air Force One again after many years, the old expression that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole came to mind. Why? Because Air Force One certainly has some great parts to work with. The first is the director, Wolfgang Petersen, who is responsible for one of the greatest war thrillers of all time IMHO, Das Boot. Then you have one of the all time great action adventure stars, Harrison Ford starring as the President of the United States. Finally, in the co-lead role is Gary Oldman, one of the world’s finest actors. When you add all three together, one would expect to see a great film. Is that the case with Air Force One? You betcha. Continue Reading

It’s no secret that I really enjoyed the original Wayne’s World, it was an instant classic some 20 years ago, and is still my favorite Saturday Night Live film. But let’s face it, with the exception of Terminator 2 it’s extremely difficult to find a sequel that can eclipse the original. While Wayne’s World was never a masterpiece the bar isn’t set extremely high to overlap, ultimately all we could hope for is some more of the same without being exactly the same. Surprisingly released just a year after the original Wayne’s World quickly wanted to capitalize on the success of the original, while it didn’t draw as much attention in the box office, how does it sit in our minds? Continue Reading