1989 marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, an era of animated films which focused on adapting well-known stories and enhancing them with state-of-the-art animation, a gorgeous soundtrack and all-star voice talent. The Little Mermaid was the first film in this era and Disney continued to follow this trend up until 1999’s Tarzan. The film went on to win numerous awards and the hearts of not only children but adults alike. The Little Mermaid is a beautiful film and it’s legacy lives on in this dazzling Blu-ray set.
Category Archives: Review
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Before Comedy Central began roasting celebrities mercilessly on stage, entertainer Dean Martin did it on a pretty regular basis. Starting in 1974 and ending in 1984, the alcoholic singer/actor hosted The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts and with each special, he along with other dais members ripped into a well-known celebrity for about an hour. The hour would be a highly amusing one and would be remembered for years to come by not only the roastee but by the audience viewing said roasting.
Perry Mason: The Ninth and Final Season, Vol. 2
In 1957, the overly dramatic legal drama Perry Mason premiered on CBS. In it, Raymond Burr played the titular role for nine seasons and he even appeared in the role for 26 made-for-TV films after the show’s run. 1966 was the final year for the Perry Mason series and fans can now rejoice as they complete their DVD collection with season 9: volume 2.
Continue reading Perry Mason: The Ninth and Final Season, Vol. 2
A Company Man
It’s very hard this day and age to find an action-thriller that has heart. South Korean import A Company Man tries very hard but sadly, falls short. It is a film with cool martial arts moves, imaginative gun battles and attractive actors. These are the highlights but unfortunately, the story and script seem all too familiar and just not worthwhile.
Scary Movie 5
So, apparently spoof films are still being made. There was a huge surge of them in the early to mid 2000s and this was sadly a case of quantity over quality. The Scary Movie franchise lampooned horror films of the late 90s and on and after five installments, they haven’t exactly gotten better, in fact they’ve gotten worse. Scary Movie 5 is the latest and hopefully, the last piece of dreck.
Reality
Foreign films are usually hit or miss. It’s hard to say where the dark Italian comedy Reality falls. It has elements that are boring and uninteresting but then again, there are moments that are pretty damn funny and full of life. There seems to be tug of war match going on with this film with one side struggling to drag it into the mediocre mud and the other trying to bring it to greatness. The fine folks at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival seem to have gone with the latter road and awarded the film the prestigious Grand Prix award. I just don’t see the “greatness” that they saw.
Closed Circuit
It would appear that the crime thriller genre has suffered something of a decline in recent years. Stories about conspiracies, international intrigue and paranoia just don’t seem to pack the punch and sustain audiences’ attentions the way they used to. A new entry into this genre Closed Circuit tries to rejuvenate the dying genre but the results are pretty lame. The film tries to be slick, cool and interesting but it just fails miserably.
The Great Gatsby
In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American literary classic The Great Gatsby was first published. It is a tale rich with conflict, colorful characters and strong themes. Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) has taken Fitzgerald’s story to new heights with his visually dazzling and strongly acting film. The Great Gatsby is a very visual ride that features an all-star cast, brilliant sets, costumes and special effects. It is essential to view this film on Blu-ray. The richness of colors and eye candy were basically made to be seen in HD.
Nitehawk Cinema: August Series
“You have the right to remain silent… FOREVER!” This is the tagline for the cult 1988 slasher flick Maniac Cop, a film which, by its title alone, needs no introduction. This is just one of the many random and hilariously bad films screened at the hipster-friendly movie theater the Nitehawk Cinema. Located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn this theater is home not only to current independent cinema but to a number of obscure films as part of its usual film series. Maniac Cop falls under its “August Midnite: I Heart New York Horror” series, a delightfully gory and over-the-top collection of horror films which take place in the Big Apple. Another series, “Live + Sound + Cinema” presents classic or cult films while live music is played simultaneously, sort of a throwback to the silent film era. The very cheesy sci-fi comedy Dark Star was also screened.
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Every once in a while a film comes along that hits all the right notes, a film that not only entertains but digs deep and explores tough topics. Lee Daniels’ The Butler is one such film and it is both a history lesson and one heck of a story. With an ensemble cast featuring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, John Cusack, Liev Schreiber, Terrence Howard, Mariah Carey and Robin Williams, The Butler has all the trappings of an Oscar contender and then some.
Unger the Radar 