Ghost stories have been a strong staple of entertainment and folklore for centuries. The existence of life after death and the supernatural seem to fascinate and often times frighten people. Spirits that neither end up in heaven or hell linger around on Earth because they have unfinished business to take care of and usually that unfinished business encroaches on the daily activities of the living. Nicole Kidman seems to be stuck in this type of paranormal dilemma in 2001’s horror-thriller The Others now out on Blu-ray.
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Dressed to Kill (Unrated)
The thriller genre has a long-established history of keeping audiences on their toes and delivering some well-timed scares. Intelligent mysteries, tight writing and expert acting are just some of the many elements that make up a quality thriller. 1980’sDressed to Kill is one of these finely tuned suspense films and now the unrated version of the film is out on Blu-ray so you better think twice about hopping in that cab with that attractive stranger.
The Beaver
In recent years, Mel Gibson has been down, shall we say a rather dark and awkward path. After directing the religiously controversial film The Passion of the Christ and several drunken encounters and rants that offended pretty much everyone, the man just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. This however, has not prevented him from continuing to act which is news you may either hate or feel pretty nonchalant about. His latest film, the Jodie Foster-directed dramedy The Beaver is now out on Blu-ray and this subtle piece of cinema is actually worth checking out.
C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower: The Further Adventures
Author C.S. Forester’s fictional character Horatio Hornblower has been featured in a wide array of books, film and television programs. The popular British character is an adventurer, a hero and a naval legend. His exploits have been the subject of many forms of media and now A&E has released C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower: The Further Adventures on DVD, a set which contains two feature-length made-for-TV movies. They are The Duchess and the Devil and The Wrong War. They come in a robust 2-disc set which is filled to the brim with so-so acting, decent dialogue and exciting high sea adventure.
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Spy Kids 1-3
In 2001, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez introduced the world to Spy Kids, a family-friendly action-comedy of big proportions featuring small actors. The film was a change in direction from Rodriguez’s earlier blood-soaked works (Mariachi Trilogy, From Dusk Till Dawn, and The Faculty). Spy Kids was targeted at children, however there are scenes and bits of humor that adults could tolerate and even appreciate. Somehow, the film spawned three sequels, one of which is currently in theaters. The first three films are now out on Blu-ray and fans of Rodriguez’s lighthearted “saga” can rejoice.
Griff the Invisible
Australia isn’t exactly known for its cinematic output. They’re more known for kangaroos and putting shrimp on barbies. Griff the Invisible however, is an interesting and unique film that does the land down under rather proud. It is a movie that borders on about three distinct genres. Those genres are the superhero film, romantic-comedy and drama. Each of these genres are blended together to make one hell of a quirky cinematic experience.
Winter in Wartime
Winter in Wartime is one of those truly well-crafted motion pictures that rarely get made in today’s dismal movie climate. It is a taut human drama that focuses heavily on the plight of vulnerable and emotional people. Winner of numerous well-deserved awards such as the 2009 Netherlands Film Festival Golden Calf award, Winter in Wartimeis quite sensational and now yours to own in a special Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
Shoeshine
In 1946, Italian director Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) released his first major work Shoeshine, a neorealist film about two boys in Rome who get arrested for a crime they didn’t commit. The film is beautiful, deep and thought-provoking. It won an honorary Oscar the following year causing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create the Best Foreign Language Film category. This cinematic milestone is an absolute treasure and now yours to own on DVD.
House of the Rising Sun
For decades, professional wrestlers have not only dominated the ring but the screen as well. Because of their impressive physiques and charismatic personalities, it only seems natural that these talented athletes transfer their skills to movies. Dave Bautista is the latest wrestler to make this transition and the results are pretty unspectacular. House of the Rising Sun is a direct-to-Blu-ray actioner that features Bautista busting heads and shooting baddies for 88 minutes but really, what’s the point?
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
It is very rare these days that a film comes along that is so emotionally powerful and historically significant. Movies today just don’t seem to tackle important human issues and that is truly quite a shame. Released in theaters in 2008 and based on John Boyne’s 2006 novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is an extraordinary film that takes place during a very troubling time: the Holocaust. The story focuses on the relationship between two young boys; one the son of a Nazi commandant and the other an imprisoned Jew. Both boys befriend one another even though they are meant to be enemies.
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