By John Corrado *** (out of 4) It’s never an easy task to adapt a beloved story, let alone one of the most famous tales of all time, one that has been told for centuries all over the world and has become a cornerstone of multiple religions including Judaism and Christianity. But director Darren Aronofsky… Read More Review: Noah
Released Dec. 3rd, 2013 Page count: 168 pages Size: 11.29″ x 9.37″ The Art of Frozen By Charles Solomon Foreword by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee Preface by John Lasseter Published by Chronicle Books Distributed by Raincoast (Canada http://www.raincoast.com/ http://www.chroniclebooks.com/ _______________________________________________ The Art of Frozen Book Review by Erin V. Under the dustjacket of The… Read More Book Review: The Art of Frozen
Released Oct. 2nd, 2013 Page count: 64 pages Size: 10″ x 7.6″ Disney’s Frozen – The Essential Guide Published by Dorling Kindersley Written by Barbara Bazaldua http://www.dk.com/ ____________________________________________ Frozen: The Essential Guide Review by Erin V. In Frozen – The Essential Guide, we get a brief introduction to all the main characters, sets, and… Read More Book Review: Frozen – The Essential Guide
Today, Paramount is releasing The Wolf of Wall Street on Blu-ray & DVD. After Black Monday costs him his job, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes into the business of unloading penny stocks. Founded with business partner Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), their company quickly rises in the financial world as their employees become rich on generous… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Wolf of Wall Street
Touchstone Pictures is releasing Delivery Man on Blu-ray & DVD today, a likeable dramedy that is fronted by a charming performance from the perfectly cast Vince Vaughn, and deserves to find a bigger audience. We all reviewed Delivery Man when the film first opened back on November 22nd, and our overall consensus was: “A faithful… Read More Blu-ray Release: Delivery Man
Today, the acclaimed Italian film The Great Beauty is being released on Blu-ray & DVD through the Criterion Collection. After celebrating his 65th birthday, wealthy journalist Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) comes to question the meaning of the affluent life he has built for himself in Rome, having gained fame after publishing his only novel as… Read More Criterion Release: The Great Beauty
Last week, the classic 1991 documentary A Brief History of Time was released on Blu-ray & DVD as part of the Criterion Collection. Based on his bestselling 1988 book of the same name, the film focuses on the life of brilliant astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, shedding light on the debilitating motor neurone disease that has left… Read More Criterion Release: A Brief History of Time
By John Corrado “Saturday, March 24th, 1984.” These are the first words we hear in The Breakfast Club, the day exactly thirty years ago when “a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal” were forced together during weekend detention, realizing that they were more than just these stereotypes. This is an… Read More March 24th, 1984: “The Breakfast Club” Took Place Thirty Years Ago
By John Corrado ★★½ (out of 4) The first thing audiences will see when attending Muppets Most Wanted is Party Central, the latest short from Pixar. Expanding on the wonderful characters of Oozma Kappa that were first introduced in last year’s Monsters University, this is a hilarious party film that makes great use of the… Read More Review: Muppets Most Wanted
By John Corrado A celebration of homegrown independent cinema, the eighth annual Canadian Film Fest is taking place at The Royal Theatre in Toronto this weekend, starting this evening with the premiere of Patch Town and closing on Saturday night with the appropriately titled Afterparty. Between these three days, the festival will screen a total… Read More The Canadian Film Fest Showcases Homegrown Cinema
Today, Disney is releasing their blockbuster hit Frozen on Blu-ray & DVD. The optimistic Anna (Kristen Bell) and her sister Elsa (Idina Menzel) grew up separated, with Elsa fearing the powers she has to create ice. But when their kingdom is cast into eternal winter, Elsa hides away on a mountain and Anna sets off… Read More Blu-ray Release: Frozen
Today, Disney is releasing the wonderful Saving Mr. Banks on Blu-ray & DVD, one of the best movies of last year. Brilliantly depicting the struggle that Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) faced when trying to convince author P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to sign over the film rights to Mary Poppins, this is a moving and entertaining… Read More Blu-ray Release: Saving Mr. Banks
Today, Disney is releasing The Jungle Book 2 for the first time on Blu-ray, a theatrical sequel that originally came out in 2003. When Mowgli (Haley Joel Osment) gets bored living in the “man village” with Shanti (Mae Whitman) and her family, Baloo (John Goodman) brings him back to the jungle, but Shere Khan (Tony… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Jungle Book 2
Last Tuesday, VVS Films released Out of the Furnace on Blu-ray & DVD. Returning from service in Afghanistan, Rodney Baze (Casey Affleck) goes missing after entering the world of underground fighting, causing his older brother Russell (Christian Bale) to seek justice, struggling to finally settle a score with the psychopathic crime lord Harlan DeGroat (Woody… Read More Blu-ray Release: Out of the Furnace and Homefront
By John Corrado **** (out of 4) The distinctive style that Wes Anderson has developed throughout his seven previous features is fully on display in The Grand Budapest Hotel, as the iconic Texas director adds another thematically rich and beautifully produced picture to his perfect filmography. This is the work of a genuine auteur at… Read More Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel
By John Corrado ** (out of 4) The car chases in Need for Speed are often cool, and pretty much anyone who ever had fun spinning Hot Wheels cars around a plastic racetrack as a kid is sure to get some enjoyment out of watching these extended sequences. Now if only even half as much… Read More Review: Need for Speed
The Book Thief – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.thebookthief.com Blu-ray Release Date: March 11th, 2014 Rated PG for violence and mature themes Running time: 131 minutes Brian Percival (dir.) Michael Petroni (screenplay) Based on the novel by Markus Zusak John Williams (music) Sophie Nélisse as Liesel Meminger Geoffrey Rush as Hans Hubermann Emily Watson as… Read More Blu-ray Review: The Book Thief
Today, Disney is releasing Winnie the Pooh: Springtime With Roo for the first time on Blu-ray. When Rabbit (Ken Sansom) gets overwhelmed and cancels Easter for Spring Cleaning Day, much to the disappointment of little Roo (Jimmy Bennet), it’s up to Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) and his friends to set things right in the… Read More Blu-ray Release: Winnie the Pooh: Springtime With Roo
Mr. Peabody & Sherman – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.mrpeabodyandsherman.com Release Date: March 7th, 2014 Rated G for cartoon action Running time: 92 minutes Rob Minkoff (dir.) Craig Wright (screenplay) Based on the series by Jay Ward Danny Elfman (music) Ty Burrell as Mr. Peabody (voice) Max Charles as Sherman (voice) Ariel Winter as Penny… Read More Five Views: Mr. Peabody & Sherman
12 Years a Slave – A Fox Searchlight Release http://www.12yearsaslave.com Blu-ray Release Date: March 4th, 2014 Rated 14A for brutal violence, sexual violence, disturbing content Running time: 134 minutes Steve McQueen (dir.) John Ridley (screenplay) Based on the book Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Hans Zimmer (music) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup Michael Fassbender… Read More Blu-ray Review: 12 Years a Slave
The Joy of Movies 