DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-Ray Review: Dark Water
Hideo Nakata arguably revolutionised the horror genre around the turn of the century. With the release of Ringu, Ringu 2 and Dark Water he brought Asian horror cinema to the rest of the world. He pathed the way for many other directors to get their work known and inspired a raft of American remakes (even …
Blu-Ray Review: Burnt Offerings
Haunted houses have proven to be a staple of the horror genre ever since House on Haunted Hill was released back in 1959. Classics such as The Haunting and The Innocents soon followed. The most fruitful period was around the beginning of the ‘80s with The Amityville Horror, The Shining, Hansu and The Changeling, amongst …
Blu-ray Review: Christine
The American love affair with the motor car is one which always endures. Ever since Henry Ford revolutionised the manufacturing process, owning one has been an integral part of achieving the American dream. Cars have also made an impression on our television screens, with Herbie and KITT helping make the world a safer place. However, …
DVD Review: Looking for Richard
Al Pacino is one of the most recognisable faces in film for those of us the wrong side of thirty. Whilst De Niro’s career has gone down the rabbit hole, Pacino has managed to maintain his reputation. Whilst he’s best known for his performances in Serpico, Carlito’s Way, Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon and Heat, Pacino …
Blu-ray Review: Don’t Look Back
Musical documentaries tend to fall into two camps. Normally, they’re retrospective stories of band or artists, using interviews and archive footage. There’s also the concert film, which nowadays tend to feature the most main stream ‘pop’ular bands. In Don’t Look Back D.A. Pennebaker follows a young Bob Dylan on his 1965 tour of England. It’s …
DVD Review: The Lion in Winter
Tales of kings, queens, princes, and the games of thrones have proved popular across the centuries. Whether it’s Shakespeare writing about Henry V or Richard II, of a rather popular HBO series, we seemingly can’t get enough; particularly in countries who have never had a monarchy. Adapted from a Broadway play by James Goldman, Anthony …
DVD Review: The Evil in Us
Conspiracy theories and political commentary aren’t unusual in horror films. Indeed, it’s a genre which is prime retail for analogies and metaphors. Jacob’s Ladder is the first film to spring to mind but Entity, Rosemary’s Baby and The Tenant are also notable examples. In Jason William Lee’s The Evil In Us he weaves together three …
DVD Review: The Emigrants/The New Land (Criterion)
In every country there is a book which every schoolchild knows or an author who’s embedded in the fabric of the culture. The Emigrants Suit, written by Wilhelm Moberg, comprises four books (The Emigrants, Unto a Good Land, The Settlers and The Last Letters Home). The novels are classics and considered to be amongst the …
DVD Review: Creature Designers – The Frankenstein Complex
Kids today may see CGI as the norm, but for those of us who grew up with the fantastical inventions of Ray Harryhausen, this is not the case. Visual effects which were solely based on creature design, stop motion and animatronics awed, terrified and inspired children for generations. Some of the best examples of creature …
DVD Review: Electra, My Love
Myths and legends have fascinated humankind throughout he ages. Greek, Roman and Norse mythology has stuck with us in popular literature, TV and films. Based on a play by László Gyurkó, Electra, My Love is a reinterpretation of the Greek Electra myth, made in 1974. Miklós Jancsó, Famous for his extremely long takes, outdoes himself …