Today, Sony Classics is releasing Amour on DVD & Blu-ray. The film opens with firefighters breaking down the door of an apartment, only to find the body of Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) lying on a bed. After this shocking flash forward, we go back to find Anne living with her husband Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant). But then… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Amour
By John Corrado Earning rave reviews from many critics after playing at Sundance back in January, Prince Avalanche is finely reaching a wider audience and the buzz surrounding the excellent performances of Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch is absolutely deserved. Already enjoying a limited run across the border, Prince Avalanche opens in Toronto at Cineplex… Read More The Quietly Affecting “Prince Avalanche” is Carried by Excellent Performances
Call Me Kuchu – A KinoSmith Release http://callmekuchu.com Release Date: August 16th, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated 14A for mature themes and disturbing content Running time: 87 minutes Katherine Fairfax Wright (dir.) Malika Zouhali-Worrall (dir.) Katherine Fairfax Wright (writer) Malika Zouhali-Worrall (writer) Jonathan Mandabach (music) David Kato as Himself Naome Ruzindana as Herself… Read More Movie Review: Call Me Kuchu
Disney is releasing a “Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition” of The Muppet Movie for the first time on Blu-ray today. Telling the cinematic story of how Kermit the Frog went from playing his banjo in the swamp to getting the old gang together and finding legendary success in Hollywood, this is a joyous film filled with… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Muppet Movie
Last week on August 6th, Disney released a 50th anniversary edition of The Sword in the Stone, for the first time on Blu-ray. The story of a young boy named Wart who is destined to become King Arthur and taken under the wing of eccentric magician Merlin (Karl Swenson), the 1963 film was directed by… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Sword in the Stone
Today, VVS Films is releasing the action film Olympus Has Fallen on Blu-ray & DVD. When vengeful North Korean terrorists led by the evil Kang (Rick Yune) take over the White House and kidnap the President (Aaron Eckhart), it’s up to former guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) to use his inside knowledge and defend the country… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: Olympus Has Fallen
By John Corrado Exactly four years ago, Neill Blomkamp literally exploded onto the filmmaking scene with the phenomenal District 9, a compelling science fiction allegory for apartheid in South Africa. The film was an instant classic, a breakout hit that went on to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. This was a stunning debut… Read More Neill Blomkamp’s “Elysium” Delivers Solidly Crafted Entertainment
Planes – A Walt Disney Studios Release http://www.disney.com/planes/ Release Date: August 9th, 2013 Rated G for mild action and rude humour Running time: 92 minutes Klay Hall (dir.) Jeffrey M. Howard (screenplay) Mark Mancina (music) Dane Cook as Dusty Crophopper (voice) Stacy Keach as Skipper (voice) Brad Garrett as Chug (voice) Teri Hatcher as Dottie… Read More Movie Review: Planes
Today, VVS Films is releasing To the Wonder on Blu-ray & DVD. After his masterpiece The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick weaves together a deeply spiritual look at the figurative tree of love with his latest work of art. The director bares his heart throughout the film, using a fractured narrative of images to show us… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: To the Wonder
Back on July 9th, Phase 4 Films released the Canadian comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure on DVD. Jordan Abrams (Jonas Chernick) is bad in bed and his shallow girlfriend Rachel (Sarah Manninen) dumps him because she usually falls asleep during their “gentle time.” So he takes a trip to Toronto and has a chance encounter… Read More DVD Release: My Awkward Sexual Adventure
Oblivion – A Universal Pictures’ Release http://www.oblivionmovie.com/splashpage/index.php DVD Release Date: August 6th, 2013 Rated PG for violence and coarse language Running time: 124 minutes Joseph Kosinski (dir.) Karl Gajdusek (screenplay) Michael deBruyn (screenplay) Based on a graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski M83 (music) Tom Cruise as Jack Morgan Freeman as Beech Olga Kurylenko as Julia Andrea… Read More DVD Review: Oblivion
Because today is a civic holiday here in Ontario and the end of a long weekend, I’m taking the day off from writing my usual Monday article. I’m also trying to save up some of my resources for when the Toronto International Film Festival opens in exactly a month from today, which Cameron Bailey already… Read More No Article Today…
Terms and Conditions May Apply – A KinoSmith Release http://tacma.net Release Date: August 2nd, 2013 @ Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Rated PG for language Running time: 79 minutes Cullen Hoback (dir.) Cullen Hoback (writer) John Askew (music) Cullen Hoback as Himself Max Schrems as Himself Leigh Bryan as Himself Joe Lipari as Himself Amy Cutler… Read More Movie Review: Terms and Conditions May Apply
Released August 1st, 2013 Page count: 139 pages Size: 6” x 9” Shakespeare for Screenwriter: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama by J. M. Evenson Published By Michael Wiese Productions http://www.mwp.com/ ________________________________________________ Shakespeare for Screenwriters: Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama Review By Erin V. Providing something different, Shakespeare for Screenwriters… Read More Book Review: Shakespeare for Screenwriters – Timeless Writing Tips from the Master of Drama
Released June 11th, 2013 Page count: 172 pages Size: 11.22” x 9.4” The Art of Monsters University By Karen Paik Preface by John Lasseter and Pete Docter Foreword by Dan Scanlon Published by Chronicle Books Distributed by Raincoast (Canada) http://www.raincoast.com/ http://www.chroniclebooks.com/ _________________________________________ The Art of Monsters University Book Review by Erin V. The Art… Read More Book Review: The Art of Monsters University
The 1997 classic The Ice Storm was released on Blu-ray last week, as part of the Criterion Collection. Set during Thanksgiving in 1973, the film follows a family on the verge of collapse, as Ben Hood (Kevin Kline) is having an affair with neighbour Janey (Sigourney Weaver), and his wife Elena (Joan Allen) is growing tired… Read More Criterion Release: The Ice Storm
Today, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing G.I. Joe: Retaliation on Blu-ray & DVD. When most of their team is killed in action, Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) and Flint (D.J. Cotrona) are left to save the world from a new threat within the government, with a little help from the retired General Joe… Read More DVD/Blu-ray Release: G.I. Joe: Retaliation
By John Corrado Exactly 25 years ago, one of the top movies at the box office was Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a groundbreaking classic from director Robert Zemeckis that still holds up both in terms of technical mastery and brilliant screenwriting. Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel even devoted an entire section of their show to… Read More After 25 Years, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is Still a Groundbreaking Classic
By John Corrado There might only be about a month left in the summer movie season, but The Wolverine delivers something entertainingly different from many of the blockbusters that we have gotten over the last little while. Although we are unable to provide our usual five reviews for the film opening today, I recently caught… Read More “The Wolverine” Delivers Stylish and Smart Superhero Entertainment
Released May 15th, 2013 Page count: 64 pages Size: 10” x 7.6” Disney•Pixar’s Monsters University – The Essential Guide Published by Dorling Kindersley Written by Glenn Dakin http://www.dk.com/ __________________________________________ Monsters University The Essential Guide Book Review By Erin V. As a fun tie-in to this year’s summer release from Pixar, the Monsters University Essential Guide… Read More Book Review: Monsters University – The Essential Guide
