Reviews

Blood Simple Blu-ray Disc Review

By Howard ⋅ October 7, 2011 ⋅ One comment

It’s hard to believe the Coen Brothers have been making films for so many years now – Blood Simple dates back to 1984. It was their first feature and they were kicking ass right out of the gate. Their Neo-Noir classic has gotten the Blu treatment finally and is available separately and as part of The Coen Brothers Collection set. …Continued…

The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season – 3-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ October 4, 2011 ⋅ 4 comments

Much like the groaning, lurching undead creatures themselves, the zombie genre refuses to lie quietly in it’s grave. AMC‘s The Walking Dead series proves that there’s some life left in the old carcass, producing a thrilling, if flawed, six-episode season that looks and sounds great on Blu-ray, now available in a new-and-improved 3-Disc Special Edition! …Continued…

The Complete Scream Collection Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ October 4, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

More often than not, we Canadians get the shaft. Some of you folks below the 49th have taken to referring to our country as “Can’t-ada”, which is actually not that far off the mark, considering how many film releases and services we miss out on, up here. But sometimes things actually work out in our favour. Like in the case of The Complete Scream Collection Blu-ray Disc set, which includes all four feature films along with an extra disc containing two feature-length docs. With the films split between US distributors down south, this is a package that can only happen way up here in the great white north! …Continued…

The Criterion Collection: The Phantom Carriage Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ September 25, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments

The Phantom Carriage is not only one of the most influential Swedish films ever made, it’s also a genuinely chilling and moving tale of redemption. The new Blu-ray edition of the film from The Criterion Collection is not without it’s weaknesses but sports some nice special features and the best transfer available on home video. …Continued…

BKO: Bangkok Knockout Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ September 24, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

I can’t say that I was really “Knocked Out” by the newest in a long line of ultra-raw thai fight films. BKO: Bangkok Knockout is brought to us by the same folks responsible for the infinitely superior Ong Bak and Chocolate but lacks the story and star power of those flicks. Thankfully, the fights are great and the Blu-ray looks pretty slick. …Continued…

Dumbo Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ September 20, 2011 ⋅ One comment

Along with Snow White, Pinochio, Fantasia and Bambi, Dumbo stands as one of the pioneering early works of Walt Disney’s animation studio. And I doubt it has ever looked or sounded better than on this 70th Anniversary edition Blu-ray! …Continued…

The Criterion Collection: Le Beau Serge Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ September 19, 2011 ⋅ One comment

Claude Chabrol’s Le Beau Serge is most well known for being the first film of the French New Wave movement. It can also now gain renown as a remarkable Blu-ray release from The Criterion Collection. …Continued…

Thor Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ September 13, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

I’m not saying that Marvel movies can do no wrong (hell, we all remember Daredevil and Elektra) but this run of films from Marvel Studios, beginning with Iron Man and leading to next summer’s The Avengers has proven a pretty exciting series of films. Thor sits firmly in the middle of the established timeline thus far and also sits firmly in the middle of the films in terms of quality. It’s nowhere near as solid as Iron Man but nowhere near as flawed as Iron Man 2. …Continued…

A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More Blu-ray Disc Reviews

By Howard ⋅ September 13, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

Last year The Man with No Name Trilogy films were released on Blu-ray as a box set and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly a couple of years ago on its own. Now, the first two films, A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More, are available separately on Blu. These are the identical discs from the set released a year ago. …Continued…

The Criterion Collection: If…. Blu-ray Disc Review

By Brenden ⋅ August 29, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment

The package art and product description of the Blu-ray edition of Lindsay Anderson’s If… let you know you’re in for a tale with an explosive ending. They don’t, however, prepare you for the tension throughout, as school mates are wound tighter and tighter by constant mistreatment at the hands of teachers and upperclassmen. …Continued…