DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-Ray Review: The Sun Shines Bright
John Ford was undoubtedly on of the greatest American directors of his generation. Over the course of six decades, he made well over one hundred films. Starting his career in the silent era and ending it during the 1960s. Making a number of iconic westerns, such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, My Darling Clementine and The …
Blu-ray Review: Shock
While Mario Bava may not get the same recognition as his fellow countryman Dario Argento, his films have been as equally influential on generations of filmmakers who have followed in their wake. The likes of Blood and Black Lace, Black Sabbath, A Bay of Blood and The Girl Who Knew Too Much are all criminally …
Blu-Ray Review: Red Angel
War is a horrible business. Whilst today’s technological advancements mean that conflict is often now a hands-off affair, during the Second World War the biggest resource any country had was its fighting men. It made for bloody and brutal combat, especially in the Pacific Theatre. The Second Sino-Japanese War was particularly violent and barbaric, with …
Blu-Ray Review: Nightmare Alley
There’s nothing Hollywood likes more than a good remake. Or, maybe, a reboot, reimagining or rehash. Indeed, anything that basically resembles, as much as possible, a film which was previously been successful is precisely what they know will ‘sell’. When the film in question is older and relatively unknown, there is the unintentional benefit of …
Blu-Ray Review: The Gunfighter
During the 1950s and 1960s, there were few more popular actors in Hollywood than Gregory Peck. He starred in a number of films, across several genres, becoming both a heartthrob and hard man in a number of memorable roles. Winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and plaudits …
Blu-ray Review: Dillinger
America has a long and complex history with its outlaws. This fascination dates back all the way to the time of colonisation and the Old West. The likes of Jesse James, Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy wrote their own legends and captured the public’s imagination. As the wild frontier was replaced by urban sprawl …
Blu-Ray Review: Hiroshima Mon Amour
In the final year of World War II, mankind did something which, in retrospect, seems almost unthinkable. The dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945, resulting in the instant death of 80,000 people (many more were injured or subsequently died from the fallout), highlighted why we should never play god. Originally commissioned …
Blu-Ray Review: Stagefright
The thought of standing on a stage and performing is terrifying, to me at least. Indeed, as someone who has had to do precisely that on one of the biggest stages, it’s a nerve-wracking experience. I can only imagine what it’s like to appear in a production and having to perform in-front of live audiences, …
Blu-ray Review: Session 9
When people discuss their favourite or the ‘best’ horror films it’s normally the same usual suspects that come to the fore. However, as those who delve a little deeper will know, there are so many great movies which have flown under the radar over the years. For obvious reasons, they tend to emanate from outside …
Blu-Ray Review: Cartoon Saloon’s Irish Folklore Trilogy
While Disney has been popular with cinema audiences for generations, the last few decades have seen the likes of Pixar, Studio Ghibli and DreamWorks enter the market and become popular with children and adults alike. However, we’re seeing a number of smaller animation studios, such as Aardman Animations, LAIKA and Studio Ponoc, coming into the …