DVD/Blu-Ray Review
Blu-Ray Review: Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
Given the rather troubling rise of the far right and a resurgence in support for views espoused by Benito Mussolini, in modern Italy, the country is once again facing a turbulent socio-political period. Of which there have been many. Towards the end of the 1960, and throughout the next decade, there were a spate of …
Blu-Ray Review: JSA – Joint Security Area
Since the end of the Korean War, there has been an (very) uneasy peace between the North and South. Located within the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the Joint Security Area was the only place where soldiers from both armed forces directly faced each other. This area was traditionally used for diplomatic events and peace negotiations, …
Blu-Ray Review: The Tin Drum
During the period on either side of the 19th Century, Eastern Europe was a region in constant flux. No country personifies this more than the territory which is classed as modern-day Poland. Whether under partition or occupation by Prussia, Russia, Germany or Austria, a desire for independence and nationalistic movements were repeatedly thwarted. Often by …
Blu-ray Review: [REC]
The release of The Blair Witch Project in 1999 sparked a wave of ‘found footage’ films which has continued to sweep across genre cinema. As you’d probably expect given the relative low cost of this approach, there have been a number of duds. However, it’s a format which can produce impressive result. Lake Mungo, Cloverfield, …
Blu-Ray Review: Devil in a Blue Dress
Since the late 1980s, Denzel Washington has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best American actors working in cinema today. In 1987, he received his first Academy Award nomination for Cry Freedom, following it up a couple of years later with a win for Glory. He has subsequently gone on to …
Blu-ray Review: Columbia Noir #1
Film noir played a large part of Hollywood filmmaking during the 1940s and 1950s. Whilst these stylish, cynical and melodramatic crime dramas were popular at the time, it was only decades later that many were critically reappraised. This is especially the case with the many ‘B’ movies released over the era. For every big Bogart …
Blu-Ray Review: Spring
Whilst there are load and loads of really talented people working within independent horror cinema at the moment, two of the best are undoubtedly Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. The American filmmaking duo have established themselves at the top of the industry. Since making their feature debut with Resolution back in 2012, they’ve made some …
Blu-Ray Review: Goodbye, Dragon Inn
Like many people reading this review, I’ve had a love affair with cinema for most of my life. It’s never been just about the films, it’s the whole experience. From arriving in the foyer, to entering the screen. The ads (sadly). The trailers. The whole kit and kaboodle. There’s nothing quite like it. It’s a …
Blu-ray Review: La Haine
Paris, the City of Lights. The most romantic place in the world. When you visit the French capital you mostly see the dream. Travel out of the city into some of the more dubious suburbs and you’re in for a shock. The poorest Banlieues are sometimes little better than ghettos, their residents often face segregation, …
Blu-Ray Review: Mothra
Ever since we abandoned our caves, humans have apparently been fascinated by stories of exotic monsters and fantastic beasts. Whilst today, mass global travel and the internet means that these myths and legends have been roundly debunked, that doesn’t mean that enthusiasm for the unknown has waned. Stories of the Yeti, Nessie or Bigfoot still …