The martial arts are a time honored sport which turns ferocious fighting into a thing of grace and beauty. The deadly moves which are depicted in Chinese motion pictures are especially lovely. One such motion picture is the epic The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, a wuxia film which showcases many interesting fight scenes, cool moves and fun action. The term “wuxia” means “martial hero” and it is a popular form of Chinese fiction. Popular martial artist/actor Jet Li stars in The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and the results are somewhat mixed.
Category Archives: Review
The Aristocats
Disney films have a long standing place in both American and international culture. For decades, audiences consisting of both children and adults have been entertained and taken on many delightful adventures. Walt Disney was responsible for many of these trips to fantasyland. The Aristocats is one such trip and it was actually the last film Mr. Disney approved of before his death/cryogenic hibernation in 1966. Released in 1970, the film is a charming tale that is now out in dazzling high definition Blu-ray.
Heidi’s Song
Animated feature films have been around for a very long time. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves started the genre in 1937 and more than seven decades later, the animated film business is still going strong. Heidi’s Song is one such animated feature. Released in 1982 and produced by Hanna-Barbera, it is a charming musical tale of a young orphaned girl who struggles to find a family and friendship. Warner Bros. has re-released the film on DVD through its special Archive Collection.
Virginia
What is it about Oscar-winning actors who after they win the coveted award, they decide to star in mediocre films? Someone should have asked Jennifer Connelly this very question when she made the disappointing human drama Virginia, a film with two big stars but not a lot else.
Bio: Barack Obama
On November 4, 2008, Barack Hussein Obama made history by becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the United States. It was a truly wonderful night for not only African-Americans but people all over the world. Obama’s win was proof that all individuals can achieve great things no matter what their ethnicity or social status. Biography‘s profile on Barack Obama is an informative documentary which chronicles the extraordinary life of our current President in vivid detail.
Spaceballs: The 25th Anniversary Edition
“May the Schwartz be with you.” Mel Brooks has had a successful career satirizing and spoofing popular film genres. For decades, the legendary filmmaker has tickled audiences’ funny bones and at the same time, made cinematic history. One of his popular forays in spoofing came in 1987 with Spaceballs a film which not only lampoons Star Wars but a host of other science fiction films and franchises. This hysterical comedy is now out in a special 25th anniversary Blu-ray edition and Brooks fans and comedy fans in general now have something else to add to their Blu-ray collection.
The Autism Enigma
Autism is a common neurological disorder found in many people. It affects social interaction, communication and behavior, and as early as the age of three, children can start to experience the disorder’s effects. Research into finding treatment and hopefully, a cure is an ongoing mission. In the fascinating documentary The Autism Enigma, scientists and families work together to help battle autism for the many people who are affected by it.
Queen & Country
All hail the Queen, the good people of England and the equally good people at PBS who have presented audiences with Queen & Country, a very detailed and insightful look into the history and traditions of the British monarchy. This four-hour documentary is now on DVD and if you are curious about the inner workings of England’s royal practices, then this is the perfect program for you.
Total Recall (1990)
Three-breasted women are hard to come by these days. The same can’t be said in 1990’s sci-fi action film Total Recall, a movie which is regarded by some as a true Arnold Schwarzenegger classic. With colorful characters, intense action sequences and special effects that will leave you speechless, Total Recall is a truly genius piece of action filmmaking. Having said that, a special Blu-ray edition of the film is being released to coincide with the 2012 remake.
4:44 Last Day on Earth
The end of the world is an interesting subject to tackle on film. It can be looked at one of three ways. There is the bleak, miserable outlook that sees the end as just nothingness after a global disaster. There is the upbeat, hopeful outlook that something better is waiting on the other side when the world ends and then there is the gray in between that relies on the notion that “it is what it is”. There is nothing to worry about, just remain calm, stay close to your loved ones and all will be fine. This viewpoint is what the main characters of 4:44 Last Day on Earth possess and they pull it off rather beautifully.
Unger the Radar 