Category: DVD/BLU-RAY

It's perfectly understandable why "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" would remain such an enticing title for adaptation. After all, it's not every day one gets to complete the work of Charles Dickens, who died in the middle of writing the novel, leaving the narrative and the mystery itself hanging in the air. With such a storytelling gap to fill, screenwriters and playwrights have been offered a rare opportunity to finish what Dickens started, taking this tale of murder and jealousy into multiple directions while attempting to remain true to the general lean of the source material. This BBC take on the trials and tribulations facing the good residents of Cloisterham is a mixed bag of Dickensian distractions. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

It's extremely easy to take the Sun for granted. As the growling yellow star at the center of our solar system, the Sun is a dependable source of energy and mystery, enthralling the residents of Earth for an eternity, with certain cultures of the past worshipping its powers. Recent centuries have seen the star transformed into the ultimate question mark of the galaxy by a host of inquisitive scientists, each hoping to acquire a greater understanding of the Sun's inner workings. "Secrets of the Sun" is a NOVA production that plunges into the heart of the matter, assembling satellite imagery, scientific study, and intensive research (feel the suspense of microfiche examination!) to gather a stronger appreciation for the blazing circle in the sky. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Birdsong" is a television production that prizes repetition. Unfortunately, its chief export is misery, making the viewing experience quite punishing for those not in the mood for endless bouts of suffering via physical and mental trials. There's a story of fleeting romance and wartime consciousness that's compelling, possibly profound, but its buried under a thick glaze of depression without insight, lost in a fog of sadness acceptable for a 90-minute-long movie, tolerable for two hours, but insufferable at nearly three hours of gloom. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

It's not every day that one comes into contact with a movie that opens with a philosophical quote before it showcases slashings, stabbings, demonic worship, breast fondling, spider and bat attacks, and a homage to the Michelangelo painting "Pieta." 1981's "Murder Obsession" (also known as "Murder Syndrome") is a film packed with oddity and horror ambition, and while it doesn't provide a sustained display of terror, this gory mystery has enough salacious details and viciousness to keep the average giallo fan invested in the proceedings. Of course, it could be stranger, more alert, and erotically charged, yet "Murder Obsession" carries itself confidently, weaving in and out of dreamscapes to provide the viewer with a few handfuls of evildoing and suspicion. Plus, the feature offers the rare opportunity to view a scene where a Herve Villechaize-sized spider fondles the legs of a screaming woman, which is almost worth the purchase price alone. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez collaboration "Grindhouse" wasn't a box office smash when it was first released in 2007. However, that elaborate valentine to the pleasures of scrap yard cinema triggered a wave of true believers, with the wilds of low budget cinema suddenly populated with imitators of an admitted homage, each attempting to return a bit of the old school exhibition flavor to the contemporary moviegoing experience. With push of a button and the twirl of a knob, a feature shot this afternoon could suddenly resemble forgotten product lost to the blur of distribution 40 years ago, displaying severe print damage and offering exploitative plots that investigate the limits of extreme violence. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Crows Zero" requires the utmost in viewer concentration, though it never quite earns such devotion. An adaptation of Hiroshi Takahashi's best-selling manga, the feature is blizzard of names and motivations, creating an ideal sensation of screen immersion for fans of the original work, while outsiders are left to question the half-realized subplots and wild tonal changes. It's not a terribly interesting motion picture, though the effort has been dutifully colored by the insanely prolific director Takashi Miike (in the time I took the write this sentence, he just made another movie), who brings a loaded sense of style and intermittent blasts of ultraviolence to the idiosyncratic film. The helmer flexes his visual muscles on occasion, slapping the screen with chaotic fight choreography and exaggerated character designs, but he's oddly powerless when it comes to the glacial pace of "Crows Zero," unable to bring it up to the awe-inspiring speed a few superlative scenes hint at. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Yul Kwon is a legal expert, management consultant, and, of course, the winner of "Survivor: Cook Islands," making him a most unusual choice to host "America Revealed," a four-part investigation into the systems that drive the American experience. Taking to land, sea, and air on multiple occasions to cross the country for maximum cultural immersion, Kwon grabs the reins of this enlightening but cushy documentary, an effort that carries a distinct ADD atmosphere of information overload. Perhaps fearful of exhausting scope as it dissects national manufacturing and connectivity 53 minutes at a time, "America Revealed" piles on numerous topics without any intent to investigate the true ramifications of agriculture and industrial advancements. While technically sound, the program is messy and disappointingly non-confrontational, sure to irritate those on the prowl for deeper meaning with issues of corporate responsibility and consumer protection. Still, as a surface blast of information, "America Revealed" highlights an enormous amount of issues worth investigating further, backing up ideas with fascinating visuals of life on the go. There's also Kwon, an appealing man making a smooth transition to PBS stardom, able to connect the dots with a few bad jokes, some distinct fear when accepting daredevil tasks, and an earnest sense of discovery. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

Published in 1861, "Great Expectations" is one of the most famous works to emerge from author Charles Dickens, sustaining for 150 years as a devastating portrait of emotional frigidity and wild swings of fate. The source material has also found itself the subject of numerous film and television adaptations, each challenged to capture the writing's grim tone while servicing the needs of short run times and star demands. Perhaps most famously, the story was transformed into a highly beloved 1946 David Lean feature (I'm also partial to an ambitious 1998 modernization starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow). Attempting to return to well-worn literary ground, the BBC brings "Great Expectations" back to the small screen, laboring to restore Dickens's narrative scope and bleak sensibilities to a visual medium. The picture is immensely successful on multiple levels of execution, conjuring a forbidding realm of shattered lives and titular promise, carefully detailing a period of decay in such a vivid manner, every Blu-ray copy should come with a tetanus shot. With an impeccable cinematographic effort and a fabulously talented cast filling out all roles great and small, the material shines once again, convincing with its passions and its madness, inching closer to a definitive version of a tale it seems every creative type would like to take a crack at. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

A master craftsman of films such as 1963's "The Leopard" and 1971's "Death in Venice," Luchino Visconti settles down for 1974's "Conversation Piece," which is perhaps his most tranquilized effort. Taking a microcosmic look at life inside an Italian apartment building, the picture is exquisitely observational and finely acted, carrying a bold sense of unspoken desires and developing fears, playing smartly as both a domestic drama with pronounced period intentions and as a study of the aging process, with its distressing atmosphere of seclusion and routine. While a motionless feature in a visual sense, Visconti encourages a rising tension to the piece that's nurtured expertly for two generous hours of pointed conversation and acts of deception. The helmer's penultimate creation, "Conversation Piece" radiates an autobiographical touch underneath the theatrics, articulating private thoughts and broken dreams in an achingly human manner, making star Burt Lancaster's nuanced performance all the more potent. Acidic, with a few flashes of uneasy sexuality, the movie commences as a mannered story concerning an invasion of privacy, only to ultimately reveal itself as an open wound of feelings and political paranoia, shaped into a compelling sit by an influential, widely beloved filmmaker. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

I'll admit that my education on the legacy of the Shaw Brothers Studio is lacking, having only picked up bits and pieces of their legendary filmography from television airings, daredevil revival house screenings, and the ultimate homage to their efforts, Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" saga (John Carpenter's "Big Trouble in Little China" also made an impact). Apparently, I need to introduce more Shaw Brothers into my moviegoing diet, with their 1981 effort, "Five Element Ninjas" (aka "Five Elements Ninjas" and "Chinese Super Ninjas"), a furious face blast of martial art choreography, blood-soaked violence, and marathon displays of poker-faced honor. A lovingly low-budget bruiser committed to the nuances of bodily harm and ancient weaponry, the feature is a total hoot, supplying superbly designed action and broad displays of anger. Considered by some to be one of the best Shaw Brothers creations in their extensive library, "Five Element Ninjas" certainly lives up to its reputation, bringing to the screen a fresh imagination for martial art battle scenarios and ultimate revenge, sold with a fist-first mentality that carries evenly throughout the production. It's raw, ridiculous, and addictive all the way. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"Space Jam" was an odd film in 1996, and it's an even stranger film in 2012. Someone, somewhere had the bright idea of merging the worlds of cartoons and basketball, throwing a ton of cash toward Michael Jordan to co-star with the Looney Tunes army in what was something of a comeback vehicle for the animated legends at the time. There's barely a story, rarely a laugh larger than an approving titter, and the visuals range from professionally polished to Full Sail freshman. It's a chaotic, ephemeral feature, and it's difficult to tell just what audience this effort is for. Animation purists have vehemently dismissed "Space Jam" as trendy junk over the years, while basketball nuts have treated the movie with a great deal of confusion. It's tempting to outright dismiss the picture as nonsense from a studio desperate to make a longstanding property relevant to the "kids" again, yet "Space Jam" isn't a total failure. It's rather amusing in a who-thought-this-was-a-good-idea? kind of way, making the whole enterprise a big-budget lark that works up a sweat to prove itself worthy for the big screen. I'm certainly not a fan of "Space Jam," but it's hard to deny its rich tapestry of questionable ideas. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

At the Minnesota Zoo, there’s an exhibit devoted to observing the behaviors of local raccoons. While other animals inside the grounds are afforded at least an approximation of their native habitat, the raccoons here have been set free inside a replica of a farmhouse, allowing the critters to forage to their heart’s content. Initially, this glimpse into raccoon life appeared almost offensive in a way, handing the creatures a stomping ground that reinforces their disruptive need to scavenge around vulnerable homes under the cover of darkness. The “Nature” program “Raccoon Nation” essentially reinforces the accuracy of the Minnesota Zoo display, embarking on a study of an animal that’s evolving into a not-so-lean, quite mean urban exploring machine. While the show takes a careful position of science to investigate the furry invasion, it’s clear the onslaught of raccoons into major metropolitan areas is a cause of great concern for the health and wellbeing of humans. They may look somewhat adorable and approachable, but the raccoon is a troubling creature gradually learning to survive anywhere it dares to roam. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

The life of the American bear is a demanding existence of hunting and evading, constantly on the lookout for predators and prey necessary to the animal experience. It's not an easy cycle of survival, often merciless when it comes to displays of aggression, but it's nature in motion, carrying on unmolested for centuries in the great wilds of the world. "Fortress of the Bears" travels to the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, where a community of Grizzly Bears and Brown Bears embark on this yearly process of endurance, awakening from their winter slumber to gorge themselves on the bounty of the river, which pipes in thousands of salmon every spring and summer to the delight of these furry rulers. However, feeding bears is only a small portion of the salmon function, and when that lifeline is disrupted for any reason, it creates a chain reaction throughout the land, robbing trees, insects, birds, and bears of the routine they rely on to make a life for themselves. Although it's cliche to remind readers of the "circle of life," the truth is no joke. Without salmon, the bears are forced to survive beyond their instincts, a development that could cause cataclysmic damage to this lush land of astonishing wildlife personality. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

To imagine the Amish is to picture a gathering of secluded souls working the land together in hand-stitched clothing, the men carrying neckbeards while the apple-cheeked women tend to the children in the background. Because the Amish refuse the intrusion of cameras and recording equipment, it's been difficult to achieve a full-blooded portrait of the community, forcing filmmakers to turn to outsiders and educators to supply an appreciation of something few are even meant to understand. "The Amish" doesn't put forward a no-hold-barred look into this remote rural existence, but it does peel away another layer of restriction, inching closer to an intimate look as these hard-working American strangers. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

There once was a time when a presidential examination took a distanced stand of blind veneration, refusing the temptation of salacious details to celebrate the life and times of an American leader who worked his way through the oily political process to take command of a nation. Some of these individuals found themselves directing a country in dire need of guidance, others barely made a dent in the four years provided, yet their media portraits were always dependably aloof and tastefully patriotic. We do not live in an era of respectful/mythological biographical distance any longer. Whether or not this is a positive development is for you to decide. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"The Interrupters" takes a look at the fingerprint of violence on the dangerous streets of Chicago's south side. There are no easy answers provided to help guide the experience and absolve sin, only a rough understanding of circular behavior and redemptive intentions, shaped into a searing, evocative documentary that does more to understand the psychological chokehold of aggression than any polished media report. Daring to enter the lives of those typically left behind by society, "The Interrupters" is a valuable educational tool and a terrific picture, spotlighting the efforts of those who are dedicating their lives to the betterment of America, using past mistakes and turbulent instincts to attack the root of violence and the fruitlessness of intimidation, working their way through fractured communities one soul at a time. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

1982's "Treasure Train" (also known as "Odyssey of the Pacific" and "The Emperor of Peru") emerges from an era when family entertainment provided a little more leeway in terms of political overtones and fantastical encounters. It's an utterly bizarre motion picture, but one made with a certain endearing permissiveness, attempting to give younger audiences exactly what they crave from matinee entertainment while carrying some impressively complex emotions for adults. "Treasure Train" is also a Mickey Rooney movie, permitting the production an opportunity to indulge a zanier side of life, with the screen legend treating his screentime like a vaudeville audition. I'm not exactly sure I understood what director Fernando Arrabal was aiming for with this merging of dreams and doom, but it's certainly an ambitious, agreeably askew cinematic offering. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

In popular culture, kangaroos are traditionally beloved for their odd shape and undeniable cuteness. Just thinking of kangaroos inspires images of bouncing bundles of fur hosting adorable joeys in their pouches, peacefully hopping along on the hunt for martinis (hey, it's my daydream). In Canberra, the capital of Australia, the kangaroo is a decidedly unstable element of daily life. Facing a surge in population numbers, residents have witnessed an onslaught of kangaroo activity in the area, with the oblivious beasts taking over parks and backyards while prowling for food. The forward behavior of the kangaroo has created a major problem in Canberra, necessitating a culling period to help reduce the population and ease the worrisome increase in roadway collisions. Once thought to be a harmonious symbol of Australia, the kangaroo has become a destructive nuisance to some, leaving local authorities, animal activists, and suburban bystanders unsure of how to attack this problem in a manner that satisfies the public and protects the innocent animals at the center of the disruption. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

"The Deadly Spawn" is one of those no-budget horror pictures crafted by filmmakers who love horror pictures that just barely classifies as a horror picture. Time and a vocal fanbase have elevated the endeavor to cult status, celebrating its schlocky appeal and ferocious monsters, but there's really nothing to "The Deadly Spawn" beyond some ingenious special effects and a few formidable visits to the gore zone. Look past the phallic fiend and here's a comatose effort that's hardly making an effort to provide characters worth cheering on, while the central otherworldly threat is a vaguely defined pest that seems entirely avoidable. I know, I know, it's all in the name of B-movie fun, yet it's difficult to get into an enterprise that appears to fall asleep on occasion, doing extraordinarily little with a promising concept collected from hundreds of merry creature features. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com

When I was assigned to review "Downton Abbey: Season 2," I was filled with dread. I find most costume dramas difficult to process, most constructed so frigidly that interpretation becomes a chore, not a rewarding challenge. Also creating terror was my moderate awareness of the program, gathered primarily from award show recaps and the occasional social media pledge of devotion. Not wanting to be left out in the cold, I crammed season one in anticipation of this release, ready to swallow whatever televised dry biscuit creator Julian Fellowes was intending to serve. Seven episodes later, I was deeply in love, completely blindsided by a program boasting refined social graces on the outside, while the inside exposed the beating heart of a sublime soap opera, offering immaculate emotional pull and full-bodied attention to a multitude of characters, creating a thickly sliced, yet overwhelmingly effective British drama — a viewing experience that was much more than droning talk of matchmaking and sips of tea. Suddenly, the prospect of viewing season two wasn't a brutal professional obligation anymore. It became an absolute necessity. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com