My Neighbor Totoro, 1988. Written and Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring the voice talents of Tim Daly, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, and Lea Salonga. SYNOPSIS: The classic Hayao Miyazaki movie My Neighbor Totoro is on Blu-ray (again) in a new Blu-ray plus DVD edition released by GKids, which has taken over home video distribution of […]
Blu-ray Review – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, 1984. Written and Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring the voice talents of Alison Lohman, Uma Thurman, Patrick Stewart, Edward James Olmos,and Shia LaBeouf. SYNOPSIS: GKids has secured the new home video distributor contract for Studio Ghibli films, and they’ve released a big batch of them on Blu-ray, with […]
Blu-ray Review – Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Howl’s Moving Castle, 2004. Written and Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, Emily Mortimer, Josh Hutcherson, and Billy Crystal. SYNOPSIS: Disney was the source of Hayao Miyazaki movies on home video for a while, but GKids has taken on that effort now, and they’ve […]
Blu-ray Review – L.A. Confidential: 20th Anniversary Edition
L.A. Confidential, 1997. Directed by Curtis Hanson. Starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, and Danny DeVito. SYNOPSIS: L.A. Confidential has been reissued on DVD and Blu-ray for its 20th anniversary. Unfortunately, nothing new was created for this release, so owners of the 2008 Blu-ray can skip this one, […]
Blu-ray Review – E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore. SYNOPSIS: Anniversaries divisible by five remain popular with the Hollywood studios’ home theater divisions, so of course E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial needed (not really) that treatment for its 35th anniversary. If you have the Blu-ray issued […]
Blu-ray Review – Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
Prizzi’s Honor, 1985. Directed by John Huston. Starring Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Anjelica Huston, Robert Loggia, John Randolph, William Hickey, and Lee Richardson. SYNOPSIS: John Huston’s penultimate movie, Prizzi’s Honor, arrives on Blu-ray, but the bonus features leave a bit to be desired. You get trailers for five other movies and a commentary track featuring […]
Blu-ray Review – Barton Fink: Special Edition (1991)
Barton Fink, 1991. Directed by Joel Coen. Starring John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy Davis, Michael Lerner, John Mahoney, and Jon Polito. SYNOPSIS: Barton Fink has been reissued by Kino Lorber in a new Blu-ray edition that doesn’t say “Special Edition” anywhere on the packaging but basically is one (hence the use of “(Special Edition)” on […]
Blu-ray Review – Whale Rider: 15th Anniversary Special Edition (2002)
Whale Rider: 15th Anniversary Special Edition, 2002. Written and Directed by Niki Caro. Starring Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton, Cliff Curtis, Frant Roa, Mana Taumaunu, Rachel House, Taungaroa Emile, and Tammy Davis. SYNOPSIS: Whale Rider was a minor success upon its release in 2002, propelling Keisha Castle-Hughes to bigger roles and winning some critical […]
Blu-ray Review – Fargo (1996)
Fargo, 1996. Written and Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, and Peter Stormare. SYNOPSIS: If you’re into collectible steelbooks, this 20th anniversary release of Fargo from Shout! Factory is a worthwhile pick-up. However, be aware that there’s nothing new in this edition when compared to […]
Second Opinion – Rampage (2018)
Rampage, 2018. Directed by Brad Peyton. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Åkerman, Jake Lacy and Joe Manganiello. SYNOPSIS: When an experiment in genetic editing goes disastrously wrong, an albino gorilla is artificially enlarged to extraordinary size and develops dangerous levels of aggression, as his primatologist friend tries to bring him back […]
