Two weeks ago on March 12th, the iconic 1958 science fiction classic The Blob was released on Blu-ray & DVD, as part of the Criterion Collection.  The film stars Steve McQueen in his first big role as a teenager who has to defend his town from a gelatinous alien substance, a villain with no motives… Read More Criterion Release: The Blob

Parental Guidance – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.parentalguidancemovie.com/ DVD Release Date: March 26th, 2013 Rated G Running time: 105 minutes Andy Fickman (dir.) Lisa Addario (writer) Joe Syracuse (writer) Marc Shaiman (music) Billy Crystal as Artie Decker Bette Midler as Diane Decker Marisa Tomei as Alice Simmons Bailee Madison as Harper Simmons Joshua Rush… Read More DVD Review: Parental Guidance

Today, eOne (title formally under Alliance Films), released Zero Dark Thirty on Blu-ray and DVD.  The film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, and won in a tie with Skyfall for Sound Editing. The film, which tells the story of the manhunt for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, features stunning performances, tension,… Read More Blu-ray Release: Zero Dark Thirty

Last week, Fox Home Entertainment released the 1988 film Willow for the first time on Blu-ray, in honour of the 25th anniversary.  When the kindhearted Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) finds an abandoned baby girl who is destined to end the reign of the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh), he teams up with a swordsman (Val… Read More Blu-ray Release: Willow

Last week, Paramount Home Entertainment released Cecil B. DeMille’s 1949 classic Samson and Delilah for the first time on DVD.  Nominated for five Oscars and winning two for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, the film brings to life the story of Samson (Victor Mature), a strongman who is seduced and then betrayed by… Read More DVD Release: Samson and Delilah

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away – A Paramount Release http://www.worldsaway3d.com/ DVD Release Date: March 12th, 2013 Rated G for some dramatic images and mild sensuality Running time: 91 minutes Andrew Adamson (dir.) Andrew Adamson (writer) Benoit Jutras (music) Erica Linz as Mia Igor Zaripov as The Aerialist Lutz Halbhubner as Ringmaster John Clarke as Sad… Read More DVD Review: Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away

The Intouchables – An Alliance Films’ Release http://weinsteinco.com/sites/the-intouchables/ DVD Release Date: March 5th, 2013 Rated 14A for coarse language and substance abuse Running time: 112 minutes Olivier Nakache (dir.) Eric Toledano (dir.) Olivier Nakache (writer) Eric Toledano (writer) Ludovico Einaudi (music) François Cluzet as Philippe Omar Sy as Driss Anne Le Ny as Yvonne Audrey… Read More DVD Review: The Intouchables

Today, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing Life of Pi on Blu-ray & DVD.  After his family sells their zoo in India and the ship they are travelling on sinks during a storm, the teenaged Pi (Suraj Sharma) finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a large Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, with only… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Life of Pi

Today, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing the excellent Rise of the Guardians on Blu-ray & DVD, just in time for Easter.  A visually enchanting adventure that becomes a touching story about how the belief in hope can overcome fear, this is a beautifully animated film that is worth seeing for the dazzling set designs and… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Rise of the Guardians

Disney Home Entertainment is releasing the animated films The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan and Brother Bear for the first time on Blu-ray today, packaged with their respective sequels.  All three are highly recommended for fans who want to add these ones to their collections. First released in 1996, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is… Read More Blu-ray Release: Disney 2 Movie Collections

Hitchcock – A Fox Searchlight Release http://www.hitchcockthemovie.com/ DVD Release Date: March 12th, 2013 Rated PG for violence Running time: 98 minutes Sacha Gervasi (dir.) John J. McLaughlin (screenplay) Based on the book by Stephen Rebello Danny Elfman (music) Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock Helen Mirren as Alma Reville Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh Danny Huston… Read More DVD Review: Hitchcock

Smashed – A Sony Pictures Classics’ Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/smashed/ DVD Release Date: March 12th, 2013 Rated 14A for coarse language, sexual content and substance abuse Running time: 81 minutes James Ponsoldt (dir.) Susan Burke (writer) James Ponsoldt (writer) Andy Cabic (music) Eric D. Johnson (music) Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Kate Hannah Aaron Paul as Charlie Hannah… Read More DVD Review: Smashed

Playing for Keeps – A VVS Films’ Release http://playingforkeepsmovie.com/ DVD Release Date: March 12th, 2013 Rated PG for language Running time: 105 minutes Gabriele Muccino (dir.) Robbie Fox (writer) Andrea Guerra (music) Gerard Butler as George Jessica Biel as Stacie Noah Lomax as Lewis Dennis Quaid as Carl Our reviews below: _____________________________________________ Playing for Keeps… Read More DVD Review: Playing for Keeps

Today, Disney Home Entertainment is releasing the Oscar-nominated Wreck-It Ralph on Blu-ray & DVD.  With an excellent voice cast led by John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch, this is an incredibly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt animated film that holds up well to multiple viewings.  We reviewed Wreck-It Ralph when it was… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Wreck-It Ralph

Chasing Mavericks – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.livelikejay.com/ DVD Release Date: February 26th, 2013 Rated PG for thematic elements Running time: 116 minutes Curtis Hanson (dir.) Michael Apted (dir.) Kario Salem (screenplay) Jim Meenaghan (story) Brandon Hooper (story) Gerard Butler as Frosty Hesson Jonny Weston as Jay Moriarity Elisabeth Shue as Kristy Moriarity Leven Rambin… Read More DVD Review: Chasing Mavericks

Last week, Alliance Films (now eOne) released Anna Karenina, starring Kiera Knightley, on Blu-ray.  The film was nominated for four Academy Awards (cinematography, costume design, music, and production design), and won for costume design. Those technical nominations (and award) are definitely deserved – the film is worth watching for the visuals and music (composed by… Read More Blu-ray Release: Anna Karenina

Elia Kazan’s definitive 1954 classic On The Waterfront is being released on Blu-ray & DVD today, as part of the Criterion Collection.  Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) is an ex-prizefighter living in a town where the docks are run by the corrupt mob boss Johnny Friendly (Lee J. Cobb).  When a man is killed and Terry… Read More Criterion Release: On The Waterfront

After a run in IMAX theatres, Paramount is releasing the 1986 classic Top Gun on Blu-ray today, presented in 3D.  Directed by the late Tony Scott, the film follows Maverick (Tom Cruise) and Goose (Anthony Edwards), two young fighter pilots in training.   As Maverick falls for his instructor (Kelly McGillis), things take a tragic… Read More Blu-ray Release: Top Gun 3D

Fun Size – A Paramount Pictures’ Release http://www.paramount.com/funsize/ DVD Release Date: February 19th, 2013 Rated PG for sexual content and language Running time: 86 minutes Josh Schwartz (dir.) Max Werner (writer) Deborah Lurie (music) Victoria Justice as Wren Jackson Nicoll as Albert Jane Levy as April Thomas Mann as Roosevelt Our reviews below: ___________________________________________ Fun… Read More DVD Review: Fun Size

Today, MGM Home Entertainment is releasing the Oscar-nominated Skyfall on Blu-ray & DVD.  Directed by Sam Mendes with thrilling action sequences, excellent performances and visually striking cinematography by Roger Deakins, this is a beautifully crafted piece of work that pays tribute to the classic James Bond films, while taking the long running franchise in exciting new… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Skyfall