Author: John Spry

I am a reviewer of films and television at Spryfilm.com and I upload stories to thisissouthtaranaki.com.

Blu-ray/DVD review: “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) Animated Running Time: 107 minutes Written by: Qui Nguyen and Adele Lim Directed by: Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada Featuring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh,Thalia Tran, Lucille Soong and Alan Tudyk Sisu: “I'm going to be real with you, alright? I'm not like the best dragon, you know?” Raya: “But you saved the world.” Sisu: “I did …

Continue reading Blu-ray/DVD review: “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021)

Blu-ray review: “The Gambler” (1974)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The Gambler” (1974) Drama Running Time: 111 minutes Written by: James Toback Directed by: Karel Reisz Featuring: James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky and Burt Young Axel Freed: “I'm not going to lose it. I'm going to gamble it.” Released recently for the first time on Blu-ray is the 1970s drama “The Gambler” (1974) featuring James Caan in the central role of …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “The Gambler” (1974)

DVD review: “Summerland” (2020)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Summerland” (2020) Drama Running Time: 99 minutes Written and directed by: Jessica Swale Featuring: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lucas Bond, Dixie Egerickx, Siân Phillips, Penelope Wilton and Tom Courtenay Mr. Sullivan: “Bad news is bad news no matter how you tell it. There's nothing makes it easier.” Released recently on DVD is, “Summerland” (2020), the latest film featuring Gemma Arterton in a World War …

Continue reading DVD review: “Summerland” (2020)

Blu-ray review: “High Ground” (2020)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“High Ground” (2020) Drama Running Time: 104 minutes Written by: Chris Anastassiades Directed by: Stephen Maxwell Johnson Featuring: Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey, Aaron Pedersen, Ryan Corr, Caren Pistorius, Sean Mununggurr, Witiyana Marika, Esmerelda Marimowa, Maximillian Johnson and Jack Thompson Moran: “They are calling them the wild mob, brought together by baywara.” Released recently on Blu-ray and DVD is the …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “High Ground” (2020)

DVD review: “Love thy neighbour” (1972-1976)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Love thy neighbour” (1972-1976) Television/Comedy Fifty-three episodes Created by: Vince Powell and Harry Driver Featuring: Jack Smethurst, Rudolph Walker, Nina Baden-Semper, and Kate Williams Joan Booth: “Nobody dances at work socials. It's mainly drinking to music.” Released on DVD is the early 1970s long running comedy “Love thy neighbour” (1972-1976) which sought to analyse in its own way race relations in England or …

Continue reading DVD review: “Love thy neighbour” (1972-1976)

DVD Review: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Seasons 1 – 4”

On By John SpryIn DVDReviewsLeave a comment

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Seasons 1 - 4 Television Running Time: 3000 minutes Created by: Alfred Hitchcock Featuring: James Mason, Robert Redford, Vera Miles, Peter Falk, Jayne Mansfield, Angie Dickinson, Tony Randall, John Forsythe, Peter Graves, Gene Barry, William Conrad, Bob Crane, Dean Stockwell, Diana Dors, Dabney Coleman, Gig Young, Christopher Lee, Martin Landau, Ray Milland, …

Continue reading DVD Review: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Seasons 1 – 4”

DVD review: “…And Mother Makes Three” (1971-1973)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“...And Mother Makes Three” (1971-1973) Television/Comedy Twenty-six episodes Created by: Richard Waring Featuring: Wendy Craig, Robin Davies, David Parfitt, Valerie Lush, George Selway, Richard Coleman, Julie Dawn Cole, Miriam Mann and Richard Thorp Sally: "And I'm coming to the end... of my tether! That television set is on day and night. No homework ever gets done. You come home from school, you plonk yourselves down in …

Continue reading DVD review: “…And Mother Makes Three” (1971-1973)

DVD review: “Keeping Faith – Season Three” (2021)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviewsLeave a comment

“Keeping Faith – Season Three” (2021) Thriller Six Episodes Created by: Matthew Hall Featuring: Eve Myles, Hannah Daniel, Matthew Gravelle, Bradley Freegard, Mark Lewis Jones, Mali Harries and Aneirin Hughes Megan: "People just don't go missing, even I know that." Released recently on DVD is the second season of the Welsh drama "Keeping Faith" that features Eve Myles in the lead role playing …

Continue reading DVD review: “Keeping Faith – Season Three” (2021)

Blu-ray review: “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The Mothman Prophecies” (2002) Horror/Drama Running Time: 119 minutes Written by: Richard Hatem based on The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel Directed by: Mark Pellington Featuring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton, Debra Messing, Lucinda Jenney and Alan Bates John Klein: “I think we can assume that these entities are more advanced than us. Why don't they just come right out and tell us what's on their minds?” Alexander …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “The Mothman Prophecies” (2002)

Blu-ray review: “Bong Joon-ho Blu-ray Re-release” (2019)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviewsLeave a comment

“Bong Joon-ho Blu-ray Re-release” (2019) Drama Written and Directed by: Bong Joon-ho Featuring: Lee Sung-jae, Bae Doona, Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roi-ha, Park Hae-il, Byun Hee-bong, Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun and Jang Hye-jin Detective Park Doo-Man: “Did you see his face?” [Girl Nods] Detective Park Doo-Man: “What did he look like?” Schoolgirl: “Well... kind of plain.”  Detective Park Doo-Man: “In what way?” Schoolgirl: “Just... ordinary.” …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “Bong Joon-ho Blu-ray Re-release” (2019)

4K Blu-ray review: “Akira – 4K” (1988)

On By John SpryIn 4k bluray, DVDReviewsLeave a comment

“Akira – 4K” (1988) Manga Running time: 125 minutes Written by: Katsuhiro Otomo and Izo Hashimoto based on Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo Directed by: Katsuhiro Otomo Featuring: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Taro Ishida, Mizuho Suzuki and Tetsusho Genda Kiyoko: “The future is not a straight line. It is filled with many crossroads. There must be a future that we can choose for …

Continue reading 4K Blu-ray review: “Akira – 4K” (1988)

Blu-ray/DVD review: “The Marksman” (2021)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The Marksman” (2021) Action Running time: 108 minutes Written by: Robert Lorenz, Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz Directed by: Robert Lorenz Featuring: Liam Neeson, Katheryn Winnick, Juan Pablo Raba and Teresa Ruiz Jim: “I don't scare easy.” Released on Blu-ray and DVD is the latest in a long line of Liam Neeson starring action movies in the form of …

Continue reading Blu-ray/DVD review: “The Marksman” (2021)

DVD review: “A Discovery of Witches – Season Two” (2021)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviewsLeave a comment

“A Discovery of Witches – Season Two” (2021) Television/Drama/Fantasy Ten Episodes Written by various based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness Featuring: Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Edward Bluemel, Louise Brealey, Malin Buska, Aiysha Hart, Owen Teale,Alex Kingston, Valarie Pettiford, Trevor Eve and Lindsay Duncan Matthew Clairmont: “Once the world was full of wonders, but it belongs to the humans now. We, creatures, have all but …

Continue reading DVD review: “A Discovery of Witches – Season Two” (2021)

Blu-ray/DVD review: “Minari” (2020)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, ReviewsLeave a comment

“Minari” (2020) Drama Running time: 115 minutes Written and directed by: Lee Isaac Chung Featuring: Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, Youn Yuh-jung and Will Patton Soonja: “Minari is truly the best. It grows anywhere, like weeds. So anyone can pick and eat it. Rich or poor, anyone can enjoy it and be healthy. Minari can be put in …

Continue reading Blu-ray/DVD review: “Minari” (2020)

DVD review: “It’s a Sin” (2021)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“It’s a Sin” (2021) Television/Drama Five Episodes Written and created by: Russell T Davies Featuring: Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West and Nathaniel Curtis “It’s a, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a sinIt’s a sinEverything I’ve ever doneEverything I ever doEvery place I’ve ever beenEverywhere I’m going to IIt’s a sin” – Pet Shop Boys – It’s a Sin …

Continue reading DVD review: “It’s a Sin” (2021)

DVD review: “Intelligence – Season One” (2020)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Intelligence - Season One” (2020) Television/Comedy Six Episodes Written and created by: Nick Mohammed Featuring: David Schwimmer, Nick Mohammed, Jane Stanness, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Gana Bayarsaikhan, Eliot Salt and Oliver Birch Joseph: “I have written a program that should be able to narrow down whether the person responsible for this cyber attach is male or female.” Recently released on DVD is the British …

Continue reading DVD review: “Intelligence – Season One” (2020)

DVD review: “The Man from Snowy River – Series 1 – 4” (1994-1996)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“The Man from Snowy River – Series 1 - 4” (1994-1996) Television/Drama Sixty-five Episodes Based on Banjo Paterson's poem "The Man from Snowy River" Featuring: Andrew Clarke, Wendy Hughes, Brett Climo, Hugh Jackman, Guy Pearce, Joelene Crnogorac, Sheryl Munks, Kristie Raymond, Josh Lucas, Amanda Douge and James Sherry Jessica Harrison: “If I'd wanted your help, mate, I would've asked for it.” Released this month on DVD is the …

Continue reading DVD review: “The Man from Snowy River – Series 1 – 4” (1994-1996)

DVD review: “The Trip – Complete Movie Box Set”

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

"The Trip - Complete Movie Box Set" Drama/Comedy Created by: Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon Directed by: Michael Winterbottom Featuring: Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon Steve Coogan: "Originality is overrated." Released on DVD recently are the movie versions of all four series of the hit comedy "The Trip" featuring at its core actors …

Continue reading DVD review: “The Trip – Complete Movie Box Set”

DVD review: “Deadliest Catch: Season 1 – 10” (2005-2013)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviewsLeave a comment

“Deadliest Catch: Season 1 – 10” (2005-2013) Television/Reality One hundred and forty-six episodes Created by: Thom Beers Narrated by: Mike Rowe Captain Phil Harries: “Now you know why lions eat their young!” Released recently on DVD are the first ten seasons of the reality television series “Deadliest Catch: Season 1 – 10” (2005-2013), which follows the lives of crab …

Continue reading DVD review: “Deadliest Catch: Season 1 – 10” (2005-2013)

Blu-ray/DVD review: “Nomadland” (2020)

On By John SpryIn DVDReviews, UncategorizedLeave a comment

“Nomadland” (2020) Drama Running Time: 104 minutes Written by: Chloé Zhao based on Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder Directed by: Chloé Zhao Featuring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May and Swankie Bob: “One of the things I love most about this life is that there's no final goodbye. You know, I've met hundreds of people out here …

Continue reading Blu-ray/DVD review: “Nomadland” (2020)