Author: John Spry

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

Blu-ray review: “Ginger Snaps Trilogy” (2000 – 2004)

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“Ginger Snaps Trilogy” (2000 - 2004) “Ginger Snaps” (2000) Horror Running Time: 108 minutes Written by: Karen Walton Directed by: John Fawcett Featuring: Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, Peter Keleghan and Mimi Rogers Brigitte: “People don't leave their dogs out alone anymore.” Ginger: “Then you'll just have to distract her while I nab the pooch and make with the gore.” …

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4K Blu-ray review: “The Blues Brothers” (1970)

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“The Blues Brothers” (1970) Comedy/Musical Running Time: 133/148 minutes Written by: Dan Aykroyd and John Landis Directed by: John Landis Featuring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin and Henry Gibson Elwood: “We're on a mission from God.” Critical Commentary  “The Blues Brothers” (1970) was recently released on to 4K blu-ray with a brand new transfer as well as an upgrade on …

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DVD review: “Wellington Paranormal” (2018 – 2022) 

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“Wellington Paranormal” (2018-2022)  Television Twenty-Four Episodes Developed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Paul Yates Featuring: Mike Minogue, Karen O'Leary and Maaka Pohatu Officer Minogue: “You're always saying 'don't tase stuff'.” Released on DVD recently is the horror/comedy television series “Wellington Paranormal” (2018 - 2022) from the minds of Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Paul Yates. The series is a spin-off of the 2014 film "What We Do in …

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Blu-ray review: “The Molly Maguires” (1970)

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“The Molly Maguires” (1970) Drama Running Time: 124 minutes Written by: Walter Bernstein based on Lament for the Molly Maguires by Arthur H. Lewis Directed by: Martin Ritt Featuring: Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Samantha Eggar and Frank Finlay [Davies has given McParlan a beating, as part of his cover] Davies: “They'll respect you now. It's about the only thing they do respect round here, a blow …

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Blu-ray review: “Save the Tiger” (1973)

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“Save the Tiger” (1973) Drama Running Time: 100 minutes Written by: Steve Shagan based on his own novel Directed by: John G. Avildsen Featuring: Jack Lemmon, Jack Gilford, Laurie Heineman, Thayer David, Lara Parker and Liv Lindeland Myra: “Are you OK? Do you want something?” Harry Stoner: “Yes. I want that girl in a Cole Porter song. I wanna see Lena Horne at the Cotton Club …

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Blu-ray review: “Whale Rider” (2002)

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“Whale Rider” (2002) Drama Running Time: 101 minutes Written by: Niki Caro based on The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Directed by: Niki Caro Featuring: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rawiri Paratene, Vicky Haughton and Cliff Curtis Rawiri: “Man might carve his mark on the earth, but unless he’s vigilant, Nature will take it all back.” The 20th anniversary blu-ray of the New Zealand film "Whale …

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Blu-ray Review: “Jesse Stone – TV Movie Series” (2005-2015)

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Jesse Stone - TV Movie Series (2005-2015) Drama/Thriller Created by: Robert B. Parker Series created by: Robert Harmon & Tom Selleck Featuring: Tom Selleck, Kohl Sudduth, Kathy Baker, Viola Davis, Vito Rezza, Stephen McHattie, William Devane, Saul Rubinek and William Sadler Luther 'Suitcase' Simpson: “Is this official?” Chief Jesse Stone: “No. It's personal.” Tom Selleck …

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DVD review: “A Discovery of witches: Series 1 – 3” (2018-2022)

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DVD review: "A Discovery of witches: Series 1 - 3" ( "A Discovery of Witches – Season One" (2018) Television/Drama/Fantasy Eight Episodes Created by: Deborah Harkness Featuring:  Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Edward Bluemel, Louise Brealey, Malin Buska, Aiysha Hart, Owen Teale, Alex Kingston, Valarie Pettiford Matthew Clairmont: "Once the world was full of wonders, but it belongs to the humans now. We, creatures, …

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Blu-ray review: “The Odd Couple Collection” (1968 – 1998)

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“The Odd Couple”(1968) Comedy Running Time: 105 minutes Written by: Neil Simon based on his play Directed by: Gene Saks Featuring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, John Fiedler and Herb Edelman Oscar Madison: “I can't take it anymore, Felix, I'm cracking up. Everything you do irritates me. And when you're not here, the things I know you're gonna do when you come …

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Blu-ray review: “Jerry Lewis at Columbia” (1967 – 1969)

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“Jerry Lewis at Columbia” (1967 - 1969) “The Big Mouth” (1967) Comedy Running Time: 107 minutes Written by: Jerry Lewis and Bill Richmond Directed by: Jerry Lewis Featuring: Jerry Lewis, Harold J. Stone, Susan Bay, Buddy Lester, Del Moore, Paul Lambert, Jeannine Riley, Leonard Stone, Charlie Callas and Frank De Vol Released recently on Bluray from the Imprint label are two Jerry Lewis movies from the time …

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Blu-ray review: “The Osterman Weekend” (1983)

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“The Osterman Weekend” (1983) Action Running Time: 103 /116 minutes Written by: Ian Masters based on The Osterman Weekend by Robert Ludlum Directed by: Sam Peckinpah Featuring: Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, Craig T. Nelson, Dennis Hopper and Burt Lancaster Lawrence Fassett: “I know Maxwell Danforth very well; he killed my wife. Not with his bare hands, of course. The Danforths of the world don't murder that …

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DVD Review: “Good Witch” (2015-2021) 

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“Good Witch” (2015-2021)  Television Series Sixty Episodes Developed by: Craig Pryce and Sue Tenney Featuring: Catherine Bell, Bailee Madison, James Denton, Rhys Matthew Bond, Catherine Disher, Anthony Lemke, Kylee Evans, Peter MacNeill, Sarah Power, Dan Jeannotte, Marc Bendavid, Scott Cavalheiro and Katherine Barrell Cassie Nightingale: “A mistake is like a bump in the road, one bump is not so bad, but if we keep making mistakes …

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Movie review: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)

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“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) Action Running Time: 161 minutes Written by: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole Directed by: Ryan Coogler Featuring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Angela Bassett [the Sub-Mariner appears] Ramonda: “Stop right there! Who are you? And how did you get in here?” Namor: [looks around] “This place is amazing. …

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DVD review: “Agatha Raisin: Season Four” (2021)

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“Agatha Raisin: Season Four” (2021) Thriller/Comedy Four Episodes Produced by: Barry Ryan, Michele Buck and David Walton based on Agatha Raisin by M. C. Beaton Featuring: Ashley Jensen, Katy Wix, Matthew Horne and Jamie Glover Agatha Raisin: “When confronted with someone who appears to be in a perpetual state of outrage, it is tempting for other people to wind them up. Besides, I have always found the …

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Blu-ray review: Essential Film Noir Collection 3 (1946 – 1955)

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Essential Film Noir Collection 3 (1946 – 1955) Film Noir Contains the following: The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)  Written by: Robert Rossen Directed by: Lewis Milestone Featuring: Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott and Kirk Douglas Toni Marachek: “You know what probation is?” Sam Masterson: “Oh sure, a knife stickin' in your back.” In 1928, young heiress Martha Ivers fails …

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DVD Review: “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 3”

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“Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 3” Television Fifty-Six Episodes Developed by: Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim Featuring: Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill and Tim Kang Detective Gordon Katsumoto: “Still don't get why you guys are doing this.” Thomas Magnum: “Mike and Terry wanted to free these people, and it cost them their lives. We didn't know them but they're still …

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DVD review: “Nurse Jackie” (2009-2015)

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“Nurse Jackie” (2009-2015) Television Eighty Episodes Created by: Liz Brixius, Linda Wallem and Evan Dunsky Featuring: Edie Falco, Eve Best, Merritt Wever, Haaz Sleiman, Paul Schulze, Peter Facinelli, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith, Ruby Jerins, Mackenzie Aladjem, Stephen Wallem, Betty Gilpin and Adam Ferrara Nurse Jackie: “This job is wading through a storm of people, who come into this place on the worst days of their lives.” Released recently on …

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Blu-ray review: “On the Beach” (1959)

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“On the Beach” (1959) Drama Running Time: 134 minutes Written by: John Paxton based on the novel by Nevil Shute Directed by: Stanley Kramer Featuring: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, Fred Astaire and Donna Anderson Peter: "Now, this is a special kind of; - sleeping pill. I had a devil of a time getting 'em. But, I wanted …

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

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“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 …

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Blu-ray review: “The Gambler” (1974)

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“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 …

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