John J. Puccio

John J. Puccio specializes in MovieMet's Blu-ray and DVD coverage, with a close eye on presentation, supplements, and collector value. His reviews help readers judge not only the film itself but also whether a particular edition is worth adding to a shelf.

ReviewsNov 08, 2013

GOLDENEYE - DVD review

"GoldenEye," from 1995, marked Pierce Brosnan's first appearance as Ian Fleming's super spy, James Bond. Disregarding the two aberrant versions of "Casino Royale," Brosnan became the fifth actor to as

ReviewsApr 30, 2013

SNAKE EYES - DVD review

So, you've heard about "Snake Eyes" and you think you've seen it all before. Well, you're not psychic and you're not crazy. You have seen it all before. Writer-director Brian DePalma has often in his

ReviewsJan 13, 2013

DRIVING MISS DAISY - Blu-ray review

Every now and then the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences goes a little haywire and makes an exception to its rule of only according Best Picture Oscars to films about epic battles, monumenta

ReviewsJan 10, 2013

GRAND HOTEL - Blu-ray review

"People coming, going; nothing ever happens. " Lewis Stone, "Grand Hotel" Not only that, the movie itself was a long time coming to Blu-ray. Over eighty years, in fact. But it was an Oscar winner for

ReviewsNov 28, 2012

PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES (25th Anniversary) - Blu-ray review

"Those aren't pillows! " After writing, directing, and producing a string of comedy hits about teenagers, John Hughes ("Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," "Ferris Bueller's Day

ReviewsNov 21, 2012

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - Blu-ray review

John J. Puccio Ranjan Pruthee William Lee *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, John J. Puccio, Ranjan Pruthee, and William David Lee all take a look at the movie, with John als

ReviewsNov 16, 2012

THE APPARITION - Blu-ray review

You have to wonder why studios lavish enormous sums of money on films written and directed by people who have never made a full-length film before. Maybe they're expecting another "Citizen Kane. " Wha

ReviewsNov 15, 2012

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, Parts 1 and 2: Two-Movie Ultimate Edition - Blu-ray review

Warner Bros. already released "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Parts 1 and 2," to high-definition Blu-ray in separate three-disc sets; now they've released both films in a single, six-disc box s

ReviewsNov 08, 2012

DARK STAR - DVD review

"This movie is a comedy. I wanted to be sure and clarify that right up front, because when the film was first released to the paying public they didn't seem to realize it was supposed to be funny. " -

ReviewsNov 08, 2012

DARK STAR - Blu-ray review

The thing about any cult classic is that if too many people like it, it's not a cult classic anymore. So, a genuine cult film has to be just eccentric enough to make it controversial, with only a smal

ReviewsNov 04, 2012

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE - Blu-ray review

As such, it's good that Warner Bros. chose to remaster on Blu-ray the original, 1946 "Postman Always Rings Twice" from MGM with John Garfield and Lana Turner simultaneously with their own 1981 remake

ReviewsOct 31, 2012

THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE - DVD review

"This film was made with the enthusiastic co-operation of the Orient Line--who gravely disapproved of the whole thing. " Having talked to any number of people over the years about British comedy, I'v

ReviewsOct 26, 2012

ROSEMARY'S BABY - Blu-ray review

The following review was written by John Puccio for the 2003 SD release of “Rosemary's Baby” by Paramount. The Video, Audio, Extras and Film Value section are written by Christopher Long in conjunctio

ReviewsOct 25, 2012

THE CAMPAIGN - Blu-ray review

"War has rules, mud wrestling has rules... Politics has no rules. " --Ross Perot, Presidential candidate 1988 It was not coincidental that Warner Bros. released their political satire "The Campaign"

ReviewsOct 22, 2012

SUNSET BOULEVARD - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and Eddie provide their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. "I didn't know you wer

ReviewsOct 13, 2012

MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED - Blu-ray review

The first "Madagascar" CGI animation was innovative and lighthearted, punctuated by likeable characters and catchy music. The second "Madagascar" film, "Escape 2 Africa," was still OK, just not quite

ReviewsOct 10, 2012

THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME - DVD review

If you think the practice of cost-cutting by filming two movies at the same time is a modern convention with things like "Back to the Future 1 & 2" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3," you wouldn't e

ReviewsOct 04, 2012

CHERNOBYL DIARIES - Blu-ray review

If you are a fan of "Paranormal Activity" reality-type horror stories, the ones pioneered by "The Blair Witch Project," you might like 2012's "Chernobyl Diaries. " Or not. It's just as corny, just as

ReviewsOct 02, 2012

ROCK OF AGES - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Tim give their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Shots. The Film According to John:

ReviewsSep 23, 2012

DARK SHADOWS - Blu-ray review

"Family is the only real wealth. " Let's say you were old enough to remember the TV series "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971), the Gothic daytime soap opera that starred Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins, a

ReviewsSep 20, 2012

PET SEMATARY - Blu-ray review

"Sometimes, dead is better. " In 1989 Stephen King's "Pet Sematary" became a hit box-office attraction. It could hardly have been otherwise, given that so many of the author's other works had already

ReviewsSep 17, 2012

DAVE - Blu-ray review

Perhaps because of the 2012 Presidential election season, Warner Bros. released two movies on Blu-ray dealing with the U.S. Presidency: "The American President," the Rob Reiner film with Michael Dougl

ReviewsSep 12, 2012

INDIANA JONES: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES - Blu-ray review

"Meet me at Omar's. Be ready for me. I'm going after that truck. " "How? " "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go! " And, lo, the skies did open and there burst forth on Blu-ray "The Lord of the R

ReviewsSep 05, 2012

TITANIC - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following Blu-ray review, John Puccio and Justin Cleveland provide their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Film Acco

ReviewsSep 02, 2012

FRINGE: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON - Blu-ray review

"I believe you call it love. " --September "Existence. Quantum entanglement. Philosopher's Stone. Psychometry. Viral therapy. Ethereal plane. Gravitons. Time paradox. Psychogenesis. Bilocation. Psych

ReviewsSep 01, 2012

THE LORD OF THE RINGS, EXTENDED EDITIONS - Blu-ray review

Now, wait a minute; I know what you're going to ask: Didn't New Line already release the extended versions of "The Lord of the Rings" to Blu-ray a year earlier? Yes, they did, in a beautiful, fifteen-

ReviewsAug 29, 2012

TERMINATOR ANTHOLOGY - Blu-ray review

For those folks who have Blu-ray players but somehow missed getting one or more of the four "Terminator" films in high-def, here they are in a big box set from Warner Bros. No, WB didn't produce the f

ReviewsAug 24, 2012

THE LUCKY ONE - Blu-ray review

If you've ever read a book by Nicholas Sparks or seen a movie adaptation of any of his works, you know the formula. Sparks is a romance writer who struck it big in the literary world with "The Noteboo

ReviewsAug 21, 2012

SCHOOL OF ROCK - Blu-ray review

"For those about to rock, I salute you. " *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Tim provide their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Pa

ReviewsAug 18, 2012

THE DICTATOR - Blu-ray review

"In loving memory of Kim Jong-il" I enjoyed Sacha Baron Cohen's voice characterizations in the "Madagascar" cartoons and his performance as the station inspector in Martin Scorcese's "Hugo. " I never

ReviewsAug 15, 2012

THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET - Blu-ray review

A limpet, as you probably know, is an undersea mollusk, a small, gilled snail that clings to the rocks in fresh or salt water. It's an apt name for the main character in 1963's "The Incredible Mr. Lim

ReviewsAug 09, 2012

THE ARSENAL STADIUM MYSTERY - DVD review

You like old movies? You like mysteries? You like comedy? You like British football? You get it all in this 1939 British comedy-mystery set in the milieu of British football. Sure, it's dated and not

ReviewsAug 06, 2012

FULL METAL JACKET - Blu-ray Book review

While a lot of fans consider "Full Metal Jacket" one of the best war movies of all time, if not thebest, I have never been fully able to reconcile the more routine action of its second half with the

ReviewsAug 03, 2012

FANNY BY GASLIGHT - DVD review

By the time Gainsborough Pictures released "Fanny by Gaslight" to most of the world in 1945, audiences had already seen at least two movies with "Fanny" in the title and several more with "Gaslight" i

ReviewsJul 26, 2012

THE WAY AHEAD - DVD review

Odds are, if you enjoy British movies (or movies in general, for that matter), you'll recognize the name Carol Reed. He's the director who gave us "The Third Man," "Odd Man Out," "Our Man in Havana,"

ReviewsJul 22, 2012

THE NAKED TRUTH - DVD review

Peter Sellers began his career on stage in the late Forties, moved to radio, then to small roles in motion pictures, ever bigger roles in smaller films, and finally full-fledged stardom by the early 1

ReviewsJul 19, 2012

CLUE - Blu-ray review

If you grew up anywhere in the civilized world, you probably played Clue (or Cluedo outside of North America) at some point in your life; maybe you still play it. Along with things like Monopoly, Scra

ReviewsJul 14, 2012

ALTERED STATES - Blu-ray review

"Some of these tank trips can get pretty creepy. " --Bob Balaban If you can forget for a minute all of its pretentious ideas and scientific nonsense, 1980's "Altered States" provides some dazzling vi

ReviewsJul 10, 2012

OUTLAND - Blu-ray review

For Sean Connery there was, indeed, life after Bond. For most Bond actors this has not always been the case, Daniel Craig possibly excepted. But for Connery, he went on to do any number of notable fi

ReviewsJul 07, 2012

SPAWN - Blu-ray review

Some movies seem perfectly suited for high-definition Blu-ray treatment. Take, for instance, "Spawn. " This 1997 adaptation of Todd McFarlane's popular comic-book character may have a befuddled story

ReviewsJul 05, 2012

THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS - Blu-ray review

A lot of viewers may think that the 2011 Oscar winner for Best Picture, "The Artist," was a remarkably innovative achievement because its filmmakers made it look like an old, black-and-white silent pr

ReviewsJul 02, 2012

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS - Blu-ray review

"Oh, how I've missed you, Holmes. " Any fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes who somehow missed the first of director Guy Ritchie's movies about the man will probably g

ReviewsJun 25, 2012

DELIVERANCE - Blu-ray Book review

"Sometimes you have to lose yourself before you can find anything. " --Burt Reynolds, "Deliverance" Dueling banjos? Dueling heroes? Dueling villains? Dueling themes? Dueling scenery? One can enjoy Jo

ReviewsJun 22, 2012

A THOUSAND WORDS - Blu-ray review

First, a brief history of the ups and downs of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy. After becoming a star on "Saturday Night Live" i

ReviewsJun 19, 2012

WRATH OF THE TITANS - Blu-ray review

After 2010's "Clash of the Titans," audiences waited with bated breath and peeled eyeballs for the appearance of its sequel, 2012's "Wrath of Titans. " Now that the wait is over and the film has compl

ReviewsJun 13, 2012

PROJECT X - Blu-ray review

The best thing about 2012's "Project X": It's only eighty-eight minutes long. The second best thing about "Project X": Even if you watch the extended cut, it's only ninety-four minutes. The worst th

ReviewsJun 12, 2012

THE GOLD RUSH - Blu-ray review

Criterion's Blu-ray release of Charlie Chaplin's “The Gold Rush” includes both the original 1925 silent film, and the 1942 re-release with full score (by Chaplin) and added narration (by Chaplin). Bel

ReviewsJun 11, 2012

LOVE STORY, aka A LADY SURRENDERS - DVD review

Before there was "Love Story" with Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal from 1970, there was...wait for it... "Love Story" from 1944. Well, OK, there have been almost three dozen movies titled "Love Story" fro

ReviewsJun 07, 2012

A PERFECT WORLD - Blu-ray review

"You're a f...ing crazy man! " "And that's a fact. I believe you're getting the hang of this. " Maybe the ironic title says it all: There is no such thing as "A Perfect World. " Clint Eastwood co-sta

ReviewsJun 04, 2012

U.S. MARSHALS - Blu-ray review

ommy Lee Jones is one of those well-known actors who possesses a ton of talent and charisma and has made a boatload of movies. Yet I'm betting you know him best from his co-starring roles in "The Fugi

ReviewsMay 24, 2012

LETHAL WEAPON COLLECTION - Blu-ray review

"Crazy? You want to see crazy? " "Lethal Weapon" fans will no doubt be delighted to see the whole series in one, big, high-definition, Blu-ray package, with a slew of extras besides. Let's look at al

ReviewsMay 21, 2012

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - Blu-ray review

"What was that? " "It's a scary noise in a dark cave. Keep moving. " The question you're probably wondering is, Why is there a "2" in the title? Is it a sequel? Well, not exactly. It's more of a, sor

ReviewsMay 05, 2012

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY - DVD review

"I bet you a magnum of champagne to ten cigarettes I do escape. " Here's one that's well titled: Not only does "The One That Got Away" aptly describe the film's contents, but it says something about

ReviewsApr 30, 2012

NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE - DVD review

When my wife and I first saw "Nosferatu the Vampyre" in a theater, a man behind us said to his companion, "I can't believe this movie; it's just like every other "Dracula" I've ever seen. " No, I want

ReviewsApr 28, 2012

JOYFUL NOISE - Blu-ray review

*"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound

ReviewsApr 25, 2012

NEW YEAR'S EVE - Blu-ray review

Never have so many people done so little of substance for something no better than its predecessor. You remember 2010's romantic comedy "Valentine's Day"? It was the sudsy ensemble movie from directo

ReviewsApr 23, 2012

ROAD TRIP - Blu-ray review

DreamWorks no doubt transferred director's Todd Phillips's 2000 comedy "Road Trip" to Blu-ray because of the enormous popularity of his later comedy "The Hangover. " With so many better films in the D

ReviewsApr 20, 2012

THOR AT THE BUS STOP - DVD review

"You just never know who's gonna walk through this door. " It would be redundant, I'm sure, to call 2009's "Thor at the Bus Stop" a quirky, little, low-budget independent film. I mean, "quirky," "lit

ReviewsApr 18, 2012

MIRACLE OF MARCELINO - Blu-ray review

This is an odd one, and I'm guessing that most viewers who see it fall into one of two diametrically opposed camps. On the one hand, you've got those folks who love it, cherish it, find it adorable, h

ReviewsApr 16, 2012

CLUELESS - Blu-ray review

*Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and his colleague Justin Cleveland provide their opinions of the movie, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts

ReviewsApr 12, 2012

CAMELOT - Blu-ray Book review

"Each evening from December to December Before you drift to sleep upon your cot, Think back on all the tales that you remember Of Camelot. " The knock on "Camelot" when it first came out in 1967, and

ReviewsApr 07, 2012

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE - Blu-ray Book review

"Stella! Hey, Stella! Hey, Steeelllaaaaaaa! " A lot of viewers today probably forget that the Academy nominated WB's 1951 film version of "A Streetcar Named Desire" for twelve Oscars, winning four. T

ReviewsApr 04, 2012

BORN TO BE WILD - Blu-ray review

No, it's not a music video of the old Steppenwolf song. "Born to Be Wild" is a brief (forty-one minute), 2011 nature study, primarily intended for youngsters and originally shot and released for theat

ReviewsMar 30, 2012

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and Will comment on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. The Film According to John: "Ask n

ReviewsMar 26, 2012

CASABLANCA - Blu-ray review

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. " The American Film Institute voted "Casablanca" the second-best American film ever made. "Entertainment Weekly" gave it

ReviewsMar 24, 2012

CHINATOWN - Blu-ray review

"You see, Mr. Gittes, most people never have to face the fact that at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything. " You can count the great private-eye flicks on the fingers of o

ReviewsMar 21, 2012

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE - Blu-ray review

Understand my reasons for allotting 2011's "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" the final score I did. I'd give it a 10/10 for having its heart in the right place; a 6/10 for stretching that heart almo

ReviewsMar 20, 2012

THE BODYGUARD - Blu-ray review

First, some interesting trivia. Well, at least this stuff is interesting to me, but I'm easy: "The Bodyguard" got generally dismal reviews when Warners released it in 1992 and then went on to take in

ReviewsMar 16, 2012

CARRY ON: FOLLOW THAT CAMEL - DVD review

English director Gerald Thomas made the first of the "Carry On" comedies, "Carry on Sergeant," in 1958 and continued making them through twenty-nine more motion pictures, ending with "Carry On Columbu

ReviewsMar 15, 2012

THE RING - Blu-ray review

"Seven days. " Note: In the following Blu-ray review John Puccio and Yunda Eddie Feng comment on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Movie Acc

ReviewsMar 11, 2012

YOUNG ADULT - Blu-ray review

Some people never grow up. You've heard the phrase often enough, and it's among the primary themes in 2011's dark comedy "Young Adult. " Only it isn't a comedy about delayed adolescence in the sense

ReviewsMar 08, 2012

HAPPY FEET TWO - Blu-ray review

Penguins were big in 2006 when Warners made their first "Happy Feet" movie. In fact, that earlier movie did so well, it not only earned a ton of money, it won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film o

ReviewsMar 05, 2012

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN - Blu-ray review

"Great snakes! " We're living in interesting times, indeed, when directors like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are making 3-D extravaganzas and animated features. Yet such was the case in 2011

ReviewsMar 03, 2012

STRIPTEASE - Blu-ray review

It's been fascinating to watch Demi Moore's metamorphosis over the years, from sweet, innocent little thing to full-fledged sexpot. Here, in 1996's "Striptease," she's in all-out hottie mode, aided an

ReviewsFeb 29, 2012

DISCLOSURE - Blu-ray review

"No means no. Isn't that what we tell women? Do men deserve less? " Uh-oh. It's another Michael Douglas character having trouble with women. You'd think his screen characters would have learned bette

ReviewsFeb 27, 2012

TO CATCH A THIEF - Blu-ray review

*Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, Yunda Eddie Feng and Dean Winkelspecht join John in providing their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting

ReviewsFeb 25, 2012

HUGO - Blu-ray review

"Why would my key fit into your father's machine? " Because I go to the movies almost every week, I see a lot of trailers. It seemed as though I watched the preview for 2011's "Hugo" about 800 times

ReviewsFeb 22, 2012

PUSS IN BOOTS - Blu-ray review

He is not an outlaw; he is...the most interesting cat in the world! If you loved him in "Shrek" 2, 3, and 4, you'll probably love him even more in this 2011 animation devoted entirely to that charmin

ReviewsFeb 21, 2012

UNFORGIVEN - Blu-ray review

"I've always been lucky when it comes to killing folks. " --William Munny *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray Book review, both John and Jim provide their opinion of the film, with John also writin

ReviewsFeb 18, 2012

J. EDGAR - Blu-ray review

"Information is power. " In the past few decades, Clint Eastwood has become one of America's finest directors, and I admit I'm a big fan of his movies. Early on he became a Hollywood icon as a movie

ReviewsFeb 15, 2012

SPELLBOUND - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, Yunda Eddie Feng joins John in commenting on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. "The fault is not in ou

ReviewsFeb 12, 2012

CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE - DVD review

"The life that I have is all that I have, The life that I have is yours. The love that I have of the life that I have, Is yours and yours and yours. " Audiences seem to love stories based on real p

ReviewsFeb 02, 2012

A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS - Blu-ray review

First, we watched the boys go to White Castle, and later we saw them escape from Guantanamo Bay. Now, we're treated to their madcap escapades around the holidays. "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" fro

ReviewsJan 29, 2012

CHARIOTS OF FIRE - Blu-ray Book review

*"Bring me my Bow of burning gold: Bring me my Arrows of desire: Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold! Bring me my Chariot of Fire. I will not cease from Mental Fight, Nor shall my Sword sleep in my han

ReviewsJan 27, 2012

MALCOLM X - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray Book review, Yunda Eddie Feng joins John in commenting on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, and Extras. The Film According to John: Cont

ReviewsJan 23, 2012

LOVE STORY - Blu-ray review

It's probably the film you most love to hate. Or the film you hate to love. It's one of the biggest box-office hits of the 70's. It's one of the biggest romances of all time. It features one of the bi

ReviewsJan 16, 2012

WINGS - Blu-ray review

Paramount Pictures, the oldest continuously operating movie studio in Hollywood, celebrates its one-hundredth birthday this year, having opened its doors for business in 1912. In honor of the celebrat

ReviewsJan 12, 2012

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 - Blu-ray review

You may or may not remember 2007's "Paranormal Activity" or 2010's "Paranormal Activity 2," depending on how interested you were in fake reality shows about ghosts and demons or how patient you were g

ReviewsDec 31, 2011

CONTAGION - Blu-ray review

When you finish watching this film, you'll find yourself thinking twice about shaking hands with anyone. Steven Soderbergh's 2011 film "Contagion" provides a dire warning of what could happen when we

ReviewsDec 28, 2011

SANTA CLAUS - Blu-ray review

Now that Christmas is over, I think it's safe to talk about director Rene Cardona's 1959 Mexican film "Santa Claus. " No, it's not a Christmas slasher film or a Christmas horror film. It is ostensibly

ReviewsDec 17, 2011

DOLPHIN TALE - Blu-ray review

"Preposterous, trying to put a tail on a fish! " --Dr. McCarthy OK, so 2011's "Dolphin Tale" throws every family-movie cliché in the book at us. Not to worry. The movie features a cute kid and a dolp

ReviewsDec 14, 2011

FINAL DESTINATION 5 - Blu-ray review

You'll recall that the premise of the "Final Destination" series, which started back in 2000, is that in each film a different group of young people escape imminent demise, only to find Mr. Death stal

ReviewsDec 04, 2011

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (FILM COLLECTIONS) - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and Dean provide their opinions of the films, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. Paramount released all

ReviewsDec 01, 2011

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS - Blu-ray review

You'd better like the music here because there's precious little plot to enjoy. Fortunately, the songs are memorable, the characters charming, and the romance sweet. Together, they're more than enoug

ReviewsNov 28, 2011

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Blu-ray review

The Film According to John: Let me begin by admitting that I've never quite understood the allure of Leonardo DiCaprio that so many other filmgoers have found. I mean, he seems always in demand by

ReviewsNov 26, 2011

LITTLE BIG MAN - Blu-ray review

"One hundred and eleven years ago, when I was ten years old, my family crossing the Great Plains was wiped out by a band of wild Indians. " --Jack Crabb, "Little Big Man" A penetrating historical epi

ReviewsNov 21, 2011

MY FAIR LADY - Blu-ray review

This time it's CBS's turn to release "My Fair Lady," turning it out in high-definition Blu-ray picture and sound. It's the least they could do for one of the world's best musicals ever, even if they m

ReviewsNov 15, 2011

CHRISTMAS CAROL, A - Blu-ray review

"Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.... Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. " It must be the Christmas season. How can we tell? It's time for yet another edition

ReviewsNov 06, 2011

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 - Blu-ray review

"He knows if we find them and destroy all the horcruxes, we'll be able to kill him. I reckon he'll stop at nothing to make sure we don't find the rest. There's more: One of them is at Hogwarts. " --Ha

ReviewsOct 13, 2011

RIDDLE OF THE SANDS, THE - DVD review

Before there was John Le Carré or Graham Greene or Ian Fleming, there was Erskine Childers, whose 1903 novel "The Riddle of the Sands" paved a prototypical pathway for all twentieth-century spy thrill

ReviewsOct 07, 2011

HORRIBLE BOSSES - Blu-ray review

Think of 2011's "Horrible Bosses" as "Nine to Five" meets "The Hangover. "

ReviewsOct 04, 2011

GREEN LANTERN - Blu-ray review

"In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight, Let those who worship evil's might Beware my power... Green Lantern's Light! " *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both

ReviewsSep 19, 2011

AIRPLANE! - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Justin provide their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Movie According

ReviewsSep 13, 2011

BEN-HUR - Blu-ray review

When you consider the term "epic" in relation to motion pictures, you may think of "Gone With the Wind," "The Ten Commandments," "Spartacus," "El Cid," "Lawrence of Arabia," or "Gladiator. " But, cert

ReviewsAug 28, 2011

CAMPBELL'S KINGDOM - Blu-ray review

After British actor Dirk Bogarde's rise to stardom in the light comedy "Doctor in the House" in 1954, he began alternating starring roles in comedies and dramas, supplementing the humorous "Doctor" se

ReviewsAug 21, 2011

SPECIALIST, THE - Blu-ray review

When in August of 2011 Warner Bros. decided to release four Sylvester Stallone pictures on Blu-ray, I had to wonder anew at how studios make their decisions about these things. I also had to wonder wh

ReviewsJul 27, 2011

FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF - Blu-ray review

"How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this? " The question you're probably asking right now is, Why are the folks at Paramount re-releasing a Blu-ray edition of "Ferris Bue

ReviewsJun 21, 2011

LORD OF THE RINGS, THE (MOTION PICTURE TRILOGY) - Blu-ray review

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. " *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and Eddie comment on the films,

ReviewsJun 20, 2011

TOOTSIE - DVD review

I'm sure some sociologist somewhere someday will want to analyze the significance of the American Film Institute's top two choices for funniest movies of all time being about guys in drag, "Some Like

ReviewsJun 11, 2011

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX - Blu-ray review

This is maybe my least-favorite installment in the "Potter" series, the movie being very dark and depressing and never seeming to develop much forward momentum. In any case, Warner Bros. have now give

ReviewsJun 10, 2011

HALL PASS - Blu-ray review

The Farrelly brothers, Peter and Bobby, started out strong with "Dumb & Dumber" in 1995, continued on a mildly humorous track with "Kingpin" in 1996, and hit a home run with "There's Something About M

ReviewsMay 02, 2011

BEVERLY HILLS COP - Blu-ray review

One can understand Paramount's desire to get "Beverly Hills Cop" out on Blu-ray as soon as possible. The 1984 action comedy is probably Eddie Murphy's most popular film, if you discount his vocal work

ReviewsApr 24, 2011

MOGULS & MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD - DVD review

In 2010 Turner Classic Movies aired an ambitious project, "Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood," a seven-part, seven-hour documentary on the history of Hollywood movie stars and equally famou

ReviewsFeb 17, 2011

48 HRS. - Blu-ray review

From 1982, "48 Hrs. " remains one of the better action-comedy buddy pictures you'll find. Eddie Murphy is a hyperkinetic standout in his first major motion picture, and Nick Nolte matches him shot for

ReviewsFeb 08, 2011

ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN - Blu-ray review

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the King's horses, and all the King's men Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again. " The phrase "inspired by actual events" is a well

ReviewsJan 16, 2011

PROWLER, THE - DVD review

"I'll be seeing you, Susan. " You say you like film noir? You like films in the "Double Indemnity" mode or "The Postman Always Rings Twice"? Then you might enjoy this 1951 noir thriller from soon-to-

ReviewsDec 03, 2010

SHREK: THE WHOLE STORY QUADRILOGY - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, John and Tim comment on the movies, with John writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. SHREK Reviewed by John J. Puccio "Shrek" w

ReviewsNov 14, 2010

SCOOBY-DOO / SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED - Blu-ray review

The best thing about this Blu-ray double feature is getting both of the first two live-action/CGI "Scooby-Doo" movies in high definition. The worst thing about this Blu-ray double feature is having to

ReviewsOct 24, 2010

SEX AND THE CITY 2 - Blu-ray review

It seems to me if you were a fan of the TV series and you liked the first movie, you might enjoy "Sex and the City 2. " If, however, you never cared for the TV show and didn't see or didn't like the f

ReviewsSep 09, 2010

SEVEN (SE7EN) - Blu-ray review

I've mentioned before my love of mystery and detective stories, and "Se7en" is one of the best of its kind. Yet, after seeing it during its theatrical release in 1995, the ending so disturbed me I had

ReviewsSep 06, 2010

LOST IN SPACE (THE MOVIE) - Blu-ray review

The Blu-ray high-definition audio quality alone makes this Blu-ray disc of the "Lost in Space" movie a respectable investment. It's still not a good movie, but it's a good-sounding one. To be honest,

ReviewsAug 14, 2010

HAMLET - Blu-ray review

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. " As of this writing, Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" was the last full-length studio picture filmed in 65 mm, a

ReviewsAug 08, 2010

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION - Blu-ray review

There's a scene near the end of "Vacation" where the Griswold family goes on a roller-coaster ride, and it reminded me of Chevy Chase's career. When his work has been up, it's been very, very up ("Sat

ReviewsJul 28, 2010

ROAD TO PERDITION - Blu-ray review

Say it ain't so, Joe. Er, Tom. Say you're not a villain. I mean, not our Forrest Gump, not our castaway who was sleepless in Seattle, who was Big, who saved Private Ryan, who cracked the Da Vinci code

ReviewsJul 25, 2010

GLADIATOR - Blu-ray review

If at first you don't succeed. . . Responding to consumer concerns that their previous Blu-ray edition of "Gladiator" used too much edge enhancement and noise reduction in the high-def transfer, Drea

ReviewsApr 17, 2010

TIME MACHINE - DVD review

Among the opportunities film on DVD has afforded me personally has been the chance to revisit some of the favorite sci-fi fantasy films of my youth, many of which I have already reviewed for this site

ReviewsApr 09, 2010

LOVELY BONES, THE - Blu-ray review

Peter, Peter, where hast thou gone? Writer-director Peter Jackson began his filmmaking career with strange, outrageous, mostly bloody little films like "Bad Taste," "Meet the Feebles," and "Braindead

ReviewsApr 04, 2010

COLLATERAL - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, John, Justin, and Tim all comment on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. The Film According to John:

ReviewsFeb 26, 2010

CLASH OF THE TITANS - Blu-ray review

"Let loose the Kraken! " You might wonder why Warners released this 1981 MGM fantasy to Blu-ray disc, considering it is not the greatest movie in the world and doesn't have the best audiovisual quali

ReviewsFeb 08, 2010

GOODFELLAS - Blu-ray review

There is no honor among thieves. These crooks would as soon rat out or whack their best friends as not. The 1930s were the Golden Age of gangster films. Following the Roaring Twenties, Prohibition, a

ReviewsJan 18, 2010

BOOGIE NIGHTS - Blu-ray review

Is there another filmmaker working today who has risen to such heights of critical acclaim on the basis of so few films as Paul Thomas Anderson? His four most-important films to date are "Magnolia" (1

ReviewsDec 05, 2009

GREEN MILE, THE - Blu-ray review

Is there any filmmaker who's made more money and built a bigger reputation on fewer films than Frank Darabont? Quick, name any two films he made. OK, you forgot "The Majestic" and "The Mist," right?

ReviewsNov 19, 2009

FOUR CHRISTMASES - DVD review

How many Academy Award winners can a studio put in one cast and still turn out a bad movie? In the case of 2008's "Four Christmases," the answer is five: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek

ReviewsNov 02, 2009

GONE WITH THE WIND - DVD review

Despite Warner Bros. having restored and restored this MGM classic just a few years earlier, for the 70th Anniversary Edition the studio went back and rescanned the entire movie at an even higher reso

ReviewsOct 30, 2009

HEAT - Blu-ray review

One of the best cops-and-robbers crime dramas ever made gets even better in this excellent Blu-ray high-definition transfer. Thank heaven (and Warner Bros.) for small favors. The centerpiece of "Heat

ReviewsOct 28, 2009

BLACK ADDER (TV SERIES) - DVD review

"I have a cunning plan, m'lord. " As I've mentioned time and again, comedy is a funny thing. What appeals to one person, what knocks him out with laughter, may leave another person cold. I have frien

ReviewsOct 20, 2009

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint review, both John and Will comment on the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Shots. The Film According to John: After the first t

ReviewsOct 14, 2009

WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Blu-ray review

As much as I admire Tim Burton's remake of the story, I prefer this original 1971 production, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" with Gene Wilder, for its sweeter nature and more amiable songs. S

ReviewsSep 10, 2009

TCM GREATEST CLASSIC FILMS: MURDER MYSTERIES (THE MALTESE FALCON, THE BIG SLEEP, DIAL M FOR MURDER, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE) - DVD review

Again, let me remind you that Warner Bros. own what is probably the most extensive back catalogue of great older films in the world, and they never tire of devising new ways to repackage them. In 2009

ReviewsSep 05, 2009

BRAVEHEART - Blu-ray review

"We all end up dead. It's just a question of how and why. " The first thing we see in "Braveheart" is the Scottish landscape, and along with the battle scenes it is probably what one remembers most a

ReviewsAug 28, 2009

OUR GANG COLLECTION, THE - DVD review

One of the great mysteries of life for me growing up in the Fifties was trying to figure out the difference between "Our Gang" and "The Little Rascals. " It was almost as big an enigma as trying to de

ReviewsAug 07, 2009

HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS - DVD review

Fans of romantic comedies may find 2003's "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" romantic enough and funny enough to qualify as a success. Non fans will find it far-fetched and tedious. Which leaves most of t

ReviewsJul 07, 2009

300 - Blu-ray review

"Spartans! Prepare for glory! " And the rest of you, get in line for the newest edition of "300. " Since Warner Bros. had already released "300" in widescreen and full-screen single-disc DVD edition

ReviewsJun 08, 2009

FATAL ATTRACTION - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Eddie provide their very different views on the movie, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Film

ReviewsJun 04, 2009

HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU - DVD review

How many big-name Hollywood filmmakers does it take to create a humdrum romantic comedy? In the case of 2009's "He's Just Not That Into You," it took a slew, including director Ken Kwapis ("The Sister

ReviewsMay 24, 2009

FALLING DOWN - Blu-ray review

At about the same time, two different studios released films on Blu-ray about urban angst, 2002's "Changing Lanes" and 1993's "Falling Down. " Of the two, "Falling Down" has the better, more plausible

ReviewsApr 30, 2009

TAKING LIVES - Blu-ray review

"Taking Lives" is not a bad crime thriller; it's just a tired one. Angelina Jolie stars as a beautiful FBI agent helping to track down a serial killer. Remind you of anything? I mean, haven't Jodie F

ReviewsApr 15, 2009

AMERICAN HISTORY X - Blu-ray review

You know how you sometimes watch a really good film that leaves a lasting positive impression, but you don't necessarily ever want to watch it again? That's the way I felt about "American History X" w

ReviewsApr 09, 2009

STRANGE WILDERNESS - Blu-ray review

I was thinking recently of all the billions of things in the world I don't know about: all the people, all the animals, all the science, all the historical events, all the little, detail events of dai

ReviewsApr 04, 2009

CALIGULA - DVD review

Having the dubious distinction of being the most elaborate and expensive porn film ever made, "Caligula" has come down to us as something of a hoot. Penthouse Productions put up the money, some $15,00

ReviewsMar 04, 2009

CLEOPATRA - DVD review

By the end of the 1940s, the newfangled invention of television was just catching on. By the early 1950s, it had become such a threat to Hollywood that movie studios tried almost anything to lure audi

ReviewsFeb 28, 2009

BATMAN: THE MOTION PICTURE ANTHOLOGY 1989-1997 - Blu-ray review

"You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? " --Jack Nicholson, "Batman" *Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, John and Josh comment on the four films in the set, with John also wri

ReviewsFeb 25, 2009

WATCHMEN: THE COMPLETE MOTION COMIC - DVD review

"Who watches the watchmen? " --Juvenal, "Satires," VI, 347 Although I confess to knowing next to nothing about comic books, comic-book heroes, or graphic novels, even I have heard of the "Watchmen. "

ReviewsFeb 18, 2009

ACE VENTURA JR.: PET DETECTIVE - DVD review

We should have expected it, I suppose. If a movie is popular enough, especially a comedy, a studio is bound to follow it up with a sequel or two. Warner Bros. followed up 1994's "Ace Ventura: Pet Dete

ReviewsFeb 14, 2009

KRAMER VS. KRAMER - Blu-ray review

Some films just don't feel like Best Pictures. I always thought that "Apocalypse Now" should have won the 1980 Academy Award rather than "Kramer vs. Kramer," but the screen adaptation of Avery Corman'

ReviewsFeb 10, 2009

AMADEUS - Blu-ray review

The first Laserdisc movie I ever saw was at a friend's house; it was Milos Forman's 1984 adaptation of "Amadeus," and it was spectacular, even on a relatively small, standard-def television. When Warn

ReviewsDec 15, 2008

HEARTBREAK KID, THE - Blu-ray review

The Farrelly brothers, Peter and Bobby, make comedies. Some of them, like "Dumb & Dumber" and "There's Something About Mary," are funny. Some of them, like "Kingpin" and "Fever Pitch," are only so-so;

ReviewsDec 05, 2008

BAM MARGERA PRESENTS: WHERE THE #$&% IS SANTA? - Blu-ray review

Here's the thing: I was sitting in my living room staring up at the ceiling when the FedEx guy delivered this new video from Warner Bros. That forced a decision: Should I watch the movie or continue t

ReviewsNov 30, 2008

HIGHLANDER - DVD review

Sean Connery does for "Highlander" what he did for "The Avengers": He makes a few minutes of an otherwise monumentally mediocre movie sparkle. Without him "Highlander" has to be one of the most witles

ReviewsNov 19, 2008

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, THE - Blu-ray review

"Put your trust in the Lord. Your ass belongs to me. " --Warden Norton At the time of this writing, November 2008, "[The Shawshank Redemption](http://moviemet.com/review/shawshank-redemption-dvd-revi

ReviewsNov 07, 2008

KUNG FU PANDA - DVD review

Note: In the following joint review, John and Jason provide their opinions of the movie, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. The Film According to John: Pe

ReviewsNov 07, 2008

QUO VADIS - DVD review

Watching MGM's 1951 Biblical epic "Quo Vadis" is not so much like watching a motion picture with a plot and characters as it is looking at a series of elaborate tableaus, each depicting some massive s

ReviewsNov 01, 2008

POLAR EXPRESS, THE - Blu-ray review

The folks at Warner Bros. have been experimenting lately, offering all sorts of added incentives to tempt buyers into purchasing their products, things like digital copies and digital downloads, speci

ReviewsOct 22, 2008

WARNER BROS. GANGSTERS COLLECTION, VOLUME 4 - DVD review

By the 1930s and 40s most moviegoers came to know certain major studios for the kinds of movies in which they specialized. MGM had their musicals and costume dramas, Republic had their Westerns and se

ReviewsOct 01, 2008

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review both John and Tim wrote up their opinions of the film, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Film According to

ReviewsSep 28, 2008

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL - Blu-ray review

You want drama? You've got drama. You want action? You've got action. You want glamour? You've got glamour. You want mystery? You've got mystery. You want film noir? You've got film noir. You want sle

ReviewsSep 18, 2008

SPEED RACER - Blu-ray review

When "Speed Racer" first appeared on the scene in the mid 1960s as a Japanese anime-inspired television cartoon series, I had already graduated from college and felt I was beyond such childish things.

ReviewsSep 16, 2008

GODFATHER COLLECTION, THE - Blu-ray review

What more can anyone say? We've got at least two of the best films ever made here, and we have them restored and/or remastered in high-definition Blu-ray picture and TrueHD 5.1 sound. It's about as pe

ReviewsAug 01, 2008

SHINE A LIGHT - Blu-ray review

Director Martin Scorsese might better have titled his 2008 concert documentary of The Rolling Stones "The Band That Wouldn't Go Away. " Not that anybody would want them to go away, but the Stones have

ReviewsJul 17, 2008

LOST BOYS, THE - Blu-ray review

"You never grow old. You never die. But you must feed. " Some things just get better with age. Take yours truly, for instance. OK, bad example. Take "The Lost Boys" from 1987, for instance. The first

ReviewsJun 27, 2008

GET SMART'S BRUCE AND LLOYD OUT OF CONTROL - DVD review

We all know about TV spin-offs and even the occasional movie spin-off, where supporting players get a show of their own. In the case of "Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control," however, the film

ReviewsMay 07, 2008

INDIANA JONES (FILM COLLECTIONS) - DVD review

"You call this archeology?! " --Sean Connery, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" In the American Film Institute's 2003 poll of top movie heroes, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) placed second behind A

ReviewsApr 30, 2008

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA - DVD review

Simply put, "Lawrence of Arabia" is the best epic the screen has ever seen. In terms of sheer sweep, intelligence, and star power, nothing much comes close. It made both T.E. Lawrence and actor Peter

ReviewsApr 30, 2008

LORD OF THE FLIES: THE CRITERION COLLECTION - DVD review

William Golding's symbolic novel, "Lord of the Flies", written in 1954 has been twice been made into films, in 1963 and again in 1991. The less said about the newer version, the better, but director P

ReviewsApr 30, 2008

SHANE - DVD review

"Do not forsake me, oh, my darlin', on this our weddin' day-ee; do not forsake me, oh, my.... " Sorry. Wrong classic Western. Let me try again. "Shane. Shane, come back. " There. That's better. Can I

ReviewsApr 30, 2008

SHANGHAI NOON - DVD review

The last time we met Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan, he was teamed up with Chris Tucker in "Rush Hour" (1998) and kung-fuing his way through modern L.A. It was a moderately successful comedy. This ti

ReviewsApr 29, 2008

INSIDER - DVD review

You'd have to go back to 1976 and "All the President's Men" to find a more gripping cinematic presentation of real-life events than 1999's "The Insider. " Of course, I realize the dangers of such a co

ReviewsApr 29, 2008

PHANTOMS - DVD review

There aren't many authors whose names are big enough to go before the title of a film. John Grisham, Tom Clancey, and Stephen King are among the few. So is Dean Koontz, whose horror books sell in the

ReviewsApr 29, 2008

MEN IN BLACK - DVD review

There was never any doubt that Will Smith would be funny; I mean, he's a very funny guy. What comes as a pleasant surprise is how funny Tommy Lee Jones is. The teaming of Smith and Jones for comedy sc

ReviewsApr 23, 2008

GOLDEN COMPASS, THE - Blu-ray review

Note: In the following joint Blu-ray review, both John and Jason provide their reactions to the movie, with John also writing up the Video, Audio, Extras, and Parting Thoughts. **The Movie Accordin

ReviewsApr 10, 2008

SEVEN DAYS IN MAY - DVD review

Director John Frankenheimer is no stranger to movies about espionage and conspiracies. He had just finished the successful "Manchurian Candidate" when in 1964 he decided to film Fletcher Knebel and Ch

ReviewsFeb 02, 2008

MEN IN BLACK 2 - DVD review

The first teaming of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith as the "Men In Black" was a joyous experience that sent me to the theaters three times. It

ReviewsDec 03, 2007

DR. NO - DVD review

Sometimes, the first of anything turns out to be the best. Now, I'm not suggesting that "Dr. No," the initial entry in the Bond series, is the best of all--in fact, I believe the next two installments

ReviewsNov 28, 2007

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGUNDY - HD DVD review

After his success in "Old School" the year before, Will Ferrell continued his series of goofy characters in 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," which he not only starred in but co-wrote. T

ReviewsOct 06, 2007

REAPING, THE - DVD review

Studios usually know what they're doing, and even when they make mistakes, they're usually quick to catch on to them. Certainly, that's the case with Warner Bros. Take, for instance, "The Reaping. " T

ReviewsOct 01, 2007

FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: OUTBREAK ON A PLANE - DVD review

What do you get if you combine "Night of the Living Dead" with "Snakes on a Plane"? OK, too easy, I know. George Romero's 1968, super-low-budget "Night of the Living Dead" was a landmark motion pictu

ReviewsAug 25, 2007

HAMLET - DVD review

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. " Any film version of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" has formidable competition from Laurence Olivier's acclaimed 1

ReviewsAug 03, 2007

VIVA LAS VEGAS - DVD review

From 1956 to 1969, in the second phase of his phenomenal career, Elvis Presley made a whopping thirty-one films! I had no idea until I looked it up. It's probably because he made so many films in so s

ReviewsJul 21, 2007

PURPLE RAIN - HD DVD review

First off, you have to understand that Prince is a much better singer than he is an actor. Second, it helps to remember that "Purple Rain," in which Prince made his screen debut in 1984, is a much be

ReviewsJul 19, 2007

RENAISSANCE - DVD review

In the DVD's accompanying featurette, the filmmakers explain that they were trying to create the noir feel of "Blade Runner" and James Ellroy crime novels in their 2006, black-and-white, animated sci-

ReviewsJul 05, 2007

WARRIORS, THE - HD DVD review

Note: In the following HD DVD joint review, John and Dean wrote up their comments about the film, and John wrote up the rest of the disc details. The Movie According to Dean: Walter Hill's 1979

ReviewsJul 04, 2007

CAMELOT - DVD review

The knock on "Camelot" when it first came out in 1967 was that it was overblown. It was too long, too busy, too opulent, too fussy, too gaudy, too sprawling, too unfocused, and too slow. Well, it is t

ReviewsJun 30, 2007

HIGH NOON - DVD review

"Do not forsake me, Oh my darlin', On this our weddin' day-ee, .... " Tex Ritter, 1952. The song became as popular as the movie. "High Noon" is one of those landmark films that stand out in memory fo

ReviewsJun 14, 2007

MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH, THE - DVD review

The first thing you're probably going to ask is, Didn't Disney just release this movie on DVD? Yes, there was a 25th Anniversary Edition just a few years back. But a whole new generation of kids has s

ReviewsJun 03, 2007

FAIL SAFE - DVD review

I'd guess that when most people think of the movie "Fail-Safe," they think of the 1964 Sidney Lumet film starring Henry Fonda; you know, the one with the hyphen in the middle, and the one that became

ReviewsMay 18, 2007

JOHN WAYNE FILM COLLECTION, THE - DVD review

Big John made over 170 films in his career, many of them in the late 1920s and 1930s featuring the actor in bit parts or starring in low-budget B-movie Westerns until his breakthrough in John Ford's "

ReviewsFeb 28, 2007

BULLITT - HD DVD review

"Mr. Cool. " "The King of Cool. " "The Coolest Man in Hollywood. " It surprised me a little that Warner Bros. issued "Bullitt" on a high definition HD-DVD. I kept thinking back to the studio's first

ReviewsDec 09, 2006

WICKER MAN, THE - DVD review

I hear Peter Jackson is remaking "The Lord of the Rings," casting Keith Richards as Gandalf, Johnny Depp as Aragorn, and Tom Cruise as Frodo. He's thinking about going back to the actual locations in

ReviewsDec 05, 2006

BEING JOHN MALKOVICH - DVD review

When the title says "Being John Malkovich," it doesn't mean being LIKE John Malkovich or even learning to understand him better. It means really BEING the actor. The film takes the old saying about "g

ReviewsNov 22, 2006

SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE - HD DVD review

"Superman: The Movie" opens with a history of the super guy's lineage, but everybody knows his real story. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joel Schuster, he first appeared in "Action Comics"

ReviewsNov 20, 2006

SUPERMAN II - DVD review

ote: John and Erik did the film review portions of the article, and Erik did the Audio, Video, with John providing commentary on the Extras, and Closing Remarks. The Movie According to John: Fi

ReviewsNov 16, 2006

ROBIN HOOD - DVD review

The reader may recall that the Disney animation department experienced some down time between their Golden Age in the late 1930s, 40s, and 50s and their Renaissance in the late 1980s and beyond. In ot

ReviewsOct 28, 2006

FUNNY GIRL - DVD review

This may be the only film biography in which the fledgling lead, Barbra Streisand, eclipses the star she's portraying. Based on the life of singer and comedienne Fanny Brice, "Funny Girl" is the quint

ReviewsOct 20, 2006

BODY HEAT - DVD review

Critics over the years have called Lawrence Kasdan's sexy, 1981 crime flick "Body Heat" a "sultry noir. " Fair enough. Certainly, the setting is humid and the love story is torrid enough; more importa

ReviewsOct 05, 2006

HOLLYWOOD'S LEGENDS OF HORROR COLLECTION: DOCTOR X / RETURN OF DOCTOR X / MAD LOVE / THE DEVIL DOLL / MARK OF THE VAMPIRE / ... - DVD review

Afficienados of old 1930s' horror movies and fans of famous old stars and filmmakers may enjoy this collection of minor horror-movie classics starring major horror-movie actors. The six films offered

ReviewsSep 24, 2006