Into the Blu

I guess you could say that I am not a big fan of video games which is not surprising given my “advanced” age. My teenage sons sure do so I guess it is one of those generational things. I just don’t see the point. I have been even a lesser fan of movies based on video games, not because of the fact that I haven’t played the game the film is based on but because the films tend to be action films with plenty of action but no plot. Would the subject of this review, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, turn out to be different? Continue Reading

When I see movies that look similar to The Diplomat on the shelves of the video store, I always smile and contemplate renting it for the heck of it and getting a good laugh at the over-the-top violence and lame dialogue. I find that mindless action films are nourishing to one’s soul, especially when you invite some friends over to help enjoy the film. How’d The Diplomat turn out?

Continue Reading

As a fan of animation, I’ve never been quite sure what to make of the newer stylistic animations coming from the DC Studios.  Part Totally Spies and part Akira, this style shares some familiarity with anime, yet has a more modern look, with especially strong styling for certain characters (like Batman).

Therefore, I was quite intrigued to receive a copy of Batman: Under the Red Hood, as this would give me an excellent opportunity to review a full length movie from DC.  Batman has been one of my favourites since childhood, and I was very curious to see if DC is continuing with the gritty modern-day Batman, or has reverted (at least in animation) to the somewhat lighter 70’s version. Continue Reading

With the new Predators film in theatres now trying to reboot the franchise and bring the series into a more respectable light after the AVP failure, we are given the film that started it all on Blu-ray. Does it hold up well after all these years or do we need to wait for Predators to come out in order to see our favorite Stan Winston monster in all its Blu-ray glory? Continue Reading

To say that I was not looking forward to the April 16^th theatrical release date of Kick-Ass would be like saying that I would rather watch a DVD of my favorite film over its superior Blu-ray counterpart.  It’s just not going to happen.  And now that my number four film of the year is coming out on Blu-ray August 3^rd, I have even more reason to celebrate.  My obsession with this film happened way back on the magical date of July 24, 2009.  It was on that very day, within Hall H at Comic-Con 2009 in San Diego, that I was introduced to the world of Kick-Ass. I never wore a grin so large in life as compared to when we, the captive audience within Hall H, were treated to not only the film’s Red Band trailer, but also exclusive clips highlighting the mayhem and action of the eccentric cast.  Weird thing is, the film had no distribution deal as of yet.  It was shown first at Comic-Con to gauge the public’s interest.  And if memory serves me correct, the panel even got a standing ovation by the end of its time slot.  Not long after, Lionsgate, one of my favorite movie studios sealed the deal to distribute Kick-Ass nationwide.  And that was a great day indeed.  Sadly, Nicolas Cage was absent from the 2009 Comic-Con panel, but this girl (see below), Chloe Moretz (aka Hit-Girl), won the audience over with not only her youth and innocence, but also her, for lack of a better term, “kick-ass” action sequences.  I’m a firm believer that Kick-Ass would not be half the film it is without Hit-Girl.  I think she will be an actress people will need to pay close attention to over the next few years.  Trust me on that (Let Me In). Continue Reading

I can’t say that I have ever been a big fan of action films based upon early Greek mythology. Lord knows, I find the mythology fascinating and the sites in antiquity devoted to them incredibly interesting and must sees, belonging on anyone’s bucket list. It is just that the films made on the subject have been totally lame, for want of a better word. Unfortunately, the film that is the subject matter of today’s review, Clash of the Titans, is just another in a long list of weak and mindless films based upon this otherwise interesting subject matter. Continue Reading

Harry Callahan is the forefathers of the modern action genre and in this double feature collection we’re given two sequels to the original classic that kickstarted the action/cop genre. Although the sequels can’t compare to the original Dirty Harry, how do Sudden Impact & The Enforcer stack up as a double feature.

Continue Reading

Sometimes you have to kill to do good things. That statement from General Pang in a nutshell summarizes the film The Warlords that is the subject of today’s review. The Warlords was recently featured on HDNet and HDNet Movies and I was curious to see whether the Blu-ray release of the film would be a significant upgrade in terms of picture and sound quality over the prior cable presentation. Continue Reading

Rambo, Rambo: The Extended Cut, Rambo IV,John Rambo or whatever you want to call it is Sylvester Stallone’s follow-up, some 20 years later, to the successful Rambo franchise of the 80’s.  Unlike its predecessor, this film kicks a$$ in all four of my major action/war critical requirements: realism/believability, brutality, heart pounding action sequences and satisfying necessary emotional ties.  However, this time around, Lionsgate provides us Blu-ray customers with an alternate Director’s Cut version of what many peeps may call Stallone’s best entry into the franchise since the original film. Did we really need another cut of the successful 2008 film or should the question simply be did the fans really want another version?  I can’t speak for everyone, but in the case of the last question my answer would be a loud hell yeah, bring it on!  But perhaps the real question here is whether this new Extended Cut is really better than the theatrical presentation?  That was the firs thing that was on my mind as I sat down to watch/review this Blu-ray disc.  So give me a few minutes of your time and I will give you my two cents on this important issue/debate. Continue Reading

Marked for Death was made at the peak of Steven Seagal’s popularity. The year it was released, it was one of 20^th Century Fox’s top grossing films next to Home Alone. It may not be Seagal’s best film, but looking back I remember it having its moments. However, after 20 years, does it still hold up?

Continue Reading

One evening  I came across Undisputed III in a video store and passed by it quickly for it simply didn’t look like anything that interested me, the sticker on the front cover boasts about an award the film won for best fight choreography and the fact that it’s a second direct-to-video sequel of a mediocre  2002 Wesley Snipes flick. Having to review it definitely is interesting for it allows me to figure out if I should judge a book by its cover… Was I wrong to judge?

Continue Reading

Brian G. Hutton made two very different world war ii movies in the late sixties/early seventies starring Clint Eastwood. Both of which are the subject of this review and have been recently released as a double feature Blu-ray for us to enjoy. Having enjoyed both films in the past and seeing the lack of worthwhile double feature Blu-ray’s out, Kelly’s Heroes & Where Eagles Dare have the potential to fill the void.  Continue Reading