Author: John Spry

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

DVD review: “George and Mildred” (1976-1979)

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“George and Mildred” (1976-1979) Television/Comedy Thirty-eight episodes Created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer Featuring: Yootha Joyce, Brian Murphy, Norman Eshley, Sheila Fearn and Nicholas Bond-Owen George: “That's a lovely statue, Mildred.” Mildred: “Oh, thank you. It's symbolic, of course.” George: “You can see that, it hasn't got any what's-names.” Released recently on DVD is the UK comedy “George and Mildred” (1976-1979) which itself was a spin …

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DVD review: “Birds of a Feather” (2014-2020)

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“Birds of a Feather” (2014-2020) Comedy Twenty-four episodes Created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Featuring: Lesley Joseph, Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson Dorien Green: “Good afternoon, neighbours.” Sharon Theodopolopoudos: “It was, up until now.” Dorien Green: “Now, now, Sharon. Fat people are supposed to be jolly; it's a tradition.” Released this month on DVD is the first three seasons of the ITV comedy “Birds …

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Blu-ray review: “Soul” (2020)

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“Soul” (2020) Animated Running time: 100 minutes Written by: Pete Docter, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers Directed by: Pete Docter Featuring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad, Donnell Rawlings, Questlove and Angela Bassett Jerry: “So what do you think you'll do? How are you gonna spend your life?” Joe: “I'm not sure. But I do know... I'm going to live every minute …

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DVD review: “Archenemy” (2020)

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“Archenemy” (2020) Sci-Fi/Action Running time: 90 minutes Written and Directed by: Adam Egypt Mortimer Featuring: Joe Manganiello, Paul Scheer, Glenn Howerton, Zolee Griggs and Amy Seimetz Indigo: “I wanna make it rain … we should be going viral.”  Recently released on DVD is the sci-fi/action movie “Archenemy” (2020) featuring Joe Manganiello in the lead role as a somewhat powerless …

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Blu-ray review: “Five” (1951)

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“Five” (1951) Sci-Fi/Horror Running time: 91 minutes Written and Directed by: Arch Oboler Featuring: William Phipps, Susan Douglas Rubeš, James Anderson, Charles Lampkin and Earl Lee Michael: “He's dead, they're all dead! We live in a dead world! And I'm glad it's dead... cheap, honky-tonk of a world.” Released recently on Blu-ray for the very first time anywhere is …

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Blu-ray review: “The Apostle” (1997)

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“The Apostle” (1997) Drama Running time: 134 minutes Written and Directed by: Robert Duvall Featuring:  Robert Duvall, John Beasley, Farrah Fawcett, Walton Goggins, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash, Miranda Richardson and Billy Joe Shaver  Sonny: “I'm a genuine, Holy Ghost, Jesus-filled preachin' machine this mornin'!” Released recently on the Australasian blu-ray Imprint label is the Robert Duvall written and directed drama "The …

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Blu-ray review: “Breakdown” (1997)

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“Breakdown” (1997) Thriller Running time: 93 minutes Written and Directed by: Jonathan Mostow Featuring: Kurt Russell, J. T. Walsh and Kathleen Quinlan Red Barr: “Now, before you get any half-baked ideas about calling in the cavalry, just remember we're gonna be watching you every step of the way. And we'll be listening to our police scanners. And if we …

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Trailer: “Those Who Wish Me Dead”

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Trailer: “Those Who Wish Me Dead” Based on the 2014 novel by Michael Koryta, the story unfolds against a wildfire in the Montana wilderness and follows a fourteen-year-old boy (Finn Little) who witnesses a brutal murder. https://videopress.com/v/JKYlf92F?preloadContent=metadata He’s put into witness protection at a survival training program for troubled teens, meanwhile the two killers are …

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DVD review: “Bognor” (1981-1982)

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“Bognor” (1981-1982) Television/Drama Twenty-one Episodes Created by: T.R. Bowen and Carey Harrison based on the novels written by Tim Heald Featuring: David Horovitch, Joanna McCallum, Ewan Roberts and Tim Meats Bognor: (While in bed with Monica, half naked and during champagne) "I have to get back to the Monastery, I have to be on the spot." Released recently on …

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DVD review: “The Trip to Greece” (2020)

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"The Trip to Greece" (2020) Television/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 is the television version of the fourth series of the hit comedy "The Trip" featuring at its core actors Steve Coogan …

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Trailer: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” (2021)

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Trailer: “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” (2021) Lucasfilm has released a brand-new trailer for their original animated series “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” which will launch exclusively on Disney+ on May 4th. https://videopress.com/v/glbcuf8N?preloadContent=metadata The series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in ‘The Clone Wars’) as they find their …

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Trailer: “Wrath of Man” (2021)

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Trailer: “Wrath of Man” (2021) MGM has released the first trailer for Guy Ritchie’s crime thriller “Wrath of Man” with Jason Statham returning for his fourth collaboration with the British helmer. A mysterious and wild-eyed new cash truck security guard (Jason Statham) surprises his coworkers during a heist in which he unexpectedly unleashes precision skills. …

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First Trailer: James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” (2021)

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"The Suicide Squad” (2021) The first trailer has arrived for James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” at Warner Bros. Pictures along with a bunch of character posters. https://videopress.com/v/PvCL2vRa?preloadContent=metadata The new film, a part-sequel/part-reboot and very different work to the 2016 film sees Colonel Rick Flag, Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin …

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DVD review: “Made in Italy” (2020)

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“Made in Italy” (2020) Comedy/Drama Running Time: 93 minutes Written and directed by: James D'Arcy Featuring:  Liam Neeson, Micheál Richardson, Valeria Bilello, and Lindsay Duncan Robert: “Disappointment is an absolute certainty, everyone lets everyone down at some point, how you comeback from that, this is romance.” Released recently on DVD is the comedy/drama “Made in Italy” (2020) which is a …

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DVD review: “The Doorman” (2020)

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“The Doorman” (2020) Action Running Time: 97 minutes Written by: Lior Chefetz, Joe Swanson and Harry Winer Directed by: Ryuhei Kitamura Featuring: Ruby Rose, Aksel Hennie, Rupert Evans, and Jean Reno Released this month on DVD is the action movie “The Doorman” (2020) that on the surface may seem like an attractive proposition but is in fact such a copy …

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Blu-ray review: “The War of the Worlds” (1953)

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“The War of the Worlds” (1953) Sci-fi Running Time: 85 minutes Written by: Barré Lyndon based on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells Directed by: Byron Haskin Featuring: Gene Barry and Ann Robinson Radio Reporter: [voiceover] “In the First World War, and for the first time in the history of man, nations combined to fight against nations using the crude weapons of …

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Blu-ray review: “Jiu Jitsu” (2020)

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“Jiu Jitsu” (2020) Action  Running time: 102 minutes Written by: Dimitri Logothetis and James McGrath Directed by: Dimitri Logothetis Featuring: Alain Moussi, Frank Grillo,, JuJu Chan, Tony Jaa and Nicolas Cage Released recently on DVD and Blu-ray is yet another straight to home release, “Jiu Jitsu” (2020), featuring Nicolas Cage who seems to be an actor in search of something, …

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“Dinner with Friends” (Friendsgiving) (2020)

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“Dinner with Friends” (Friendsgiving) (2020) Drama Running time: 95 minutes Written and Directed by: Nicol Paone Featuring: Malin Åkerman, Kat Dennings, Aisha Tyler, Chelsea Peretti, Christine Taylor, Jane Seymour, Deon Cole, Wanda Sykes, Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Jack Donnelly and Ryan Hansen Released recently on DVD is the movie “Dinner with Friends” (2020) which has been retitled for distribution outside of the US, its original title …

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DVD review: “Misbehaviour” (2020)

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“Misbehaviour” (2020) Drama Running Time: 106 minutes Written by: Gaby Chiappe and Rebecca Frayn Directed by: Philippa Lowthorpe Featuring: Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessie Buckley, Keeley Hawes, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Manville, Rhys Ifans and Greg Kinnear Sally Alexander: [speaking on TV about The Miss World Competition] “The only other forum in which participants are weighed, measured and publicly examined before being assigned their value is a cattle market.” Released …

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Streaming review: “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” (2021)

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"Zack Snyder's Justice League" (2021) Action Running time: 242 minutes Written by Chris Terrio Directed by Zack Snyder Featuring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen and J. K. Simmons Barry Allen: "This guy's probably fought hundreds of …

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