Author: John Spry

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

Blu-ray review: “Blake’s 7 : Series One” (1978) 

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“Blake's 7 : Series One” (1978)  Television Series Sci-Fi Thirteen Episodes Created by: Terry Nation Featuring: Gareth Thomas, Michael Keating, Sally Knyvette, Paul Darrow, David Jackson, Peter Tuddenham, Jan Chappell, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif Vila Restal: [about Jenna] “She's a big name. It's an honor to be locked up with her.” Blake's 7, created by Terry Nation, debuted in 1978 as a dystopian British sci-fi series that quickly …

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4K Blu-ray Review: “A Bridge Too Far” (1977)

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“A Bridge Too Far” (1977) War Drama Running Time: 176 minutes Written by: William Goldman based on A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan Directed by: Richard Attenborough Featuring: Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliott Gould, Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, Hardy Krüger, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neal, Robert Redford, Maximilian Schell and Liv Ullmann Lt. Colonel J.O.E. Vandeleur: “Remember what the general said; we're the cavalry. It would be bad form to arrive in …

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Film review: “A Real Pain” (2024)

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“A Real Pain” (2024) Drama Running Time: 90 minutes Written and directed by: Jesse Eisenberg Featuring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes Benji Kaplan: “Dave, we're on a fuckin Holocaust tour. If now isn't the time and place to grieve, to open up, then I don't know what to tell you, man.” "A Real …

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Blu-ray review: “Flying Disc Man from Mars” (1950)

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“Flying Disc Man from Mars” (1950) Science Fiction Running Time: 167 minutes Written by: Ronald Davidson Directed by: Fred C. Brannon Featuring: Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Gregory Gaye, James Craven, Harry Lauter and Richard Irving Trent: "You know, I've never flown one of these things before." Flying Disc Man from Mars is a fascinating relic from the 1950s, encapsulating an era when science fiction …

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DVD review: “Eureka” (2006 – 2012) 

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“Eureka” (2006 – 2012)  Television Series Seventy Seven Episodes Created by: Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia Featuring: Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Debrah Farentino, Jordan Danger, Ed Quinn, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Niall Matter, Matt Frewer, Tembi Locke and James Callis Marshall Jack Carter: [about heat signatures in the morgue] “I swear if this turns into a zombie attack, I am quitting!” Eureka is a captivating blend of science fiction, drama, and comedy that …

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Movie review: “Wicked: Part 1” (2024)

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“Wicked: Part 1” (2024) Musical Running Time: 120 minutes Written by: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox based on the musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman Directed by: Jon M. Chu Featuring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum Wizard: “The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.” "Wicked," the 2024 film adaptation of the acclaimed …

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Film review: “Conclave” (2024)

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“Conclave” (2024) Drama Running Time: 120 minutes Written by: Peter Straughan Directed by: Edward Berger Featuring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini Lawrence: “Our faith is a living thing precisely because it walks hand-in-hand with doubt. If there was only certainty and no doubt, there would be no mystery. And therefore no need for faith. Let us pray that …

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Film review: “Anora” (2024)

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“Anora” (2024) Drama Running Time: 139 minutes Written and directed by: Sean Baker Featuring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan and Aleksei Serebryakov Ani: “When you give me health insurance, workers' comp and a 401K, then you can tell me when I work.” "Anora," directed by Sean Baker, is a 2024 American comedy-drama that delves into the whirlwind life …

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DVD Review: “Judge John Deed” (2001 – 2007) 

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“Judge John Deed” (2001 – 2007)  Television Drama Twenty Nine Episodes Created by: G.F. Newman Featuring: Martin Shaw, Jenny Seagrove, Barbara Thorn, Louisa Clein and Simon Ward Judge John Deed: [sentencing the producer of a TV game show after a contestant has died] “Celebrity. The pursuit of the talentless, by the mindless. It's become a disease of the twenty-first century. It pollutes our society, …

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DVD Review: “The Two Ronnies” (1971 – 1987) 

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“The Two Ronnies” (1971 – 1987)  Television Comedy Ninety three Episodes Created by: Bill Cotton Featuring: Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett Ronnie Corbett: “And now, it's goodnight from me...” Ronnie Barker: “...and it's goodnight from him.” Few comedy duos have left as indelible a mark on British television as Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, collectively known as The Two Ronnies. Running from …

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DVD Review: “The Durrells” (2016 – 2019) 

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“The Durrells” (2016 – 2019)  Television Drama Twenty Six Episodes Created by: Simon Nye Featuring: Keeley Hawes, Milo Parker, Josh O'Connor, Daisy Waterstone and Callum Woodhouse Spiros Halikiopoulos: “Mrs. Durrells, I love to help, and your family gives me so many chances.” The Durrells, a charming British television series based on Gerald Durrell’s autobiographical trilogy, captures the whimsical adventures of the Durrell family …

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Blu-ray review: “The Adventures of Merlin” (2008 – 2012) 

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“The Adventures of Merlin” (2008 - 2012)  Television / Fantasy Sixty Five Episodes Created by: Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy Featuring: Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, John Hurt and Nathaniel Parker [introduction to each episode] The Dragon: [voiceover] “In a land of myth, and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on …

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Blu-ray review: “King of the Rocket Men” (1942)

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“King of the Rocket Men” (1942) Sci-Fi Running Time: 1657/ 65 minutes Written by: Royal Cole, William Lively and Sol Shor Directed by: Fred C. Brannon Featuring: Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke, Don Haggerty, House Peters, Jr., James Craven and I. Stanford Jolley Glenda Thomas: “Am I glad you caught up with me again.” Jeffrey King: “It's getting to be a habit that I'd like to break.” Glenda Thomas: “Well, I …

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New Trailer: “The Brutalist” (2024)

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Trailer: “The Brutalist” (2024) A24 has finally unveiled the first trailer for “Vox Lux” and “The Childhood of a Leader” filmmaker Brady Corbet’s new 3.5-hour epic biographical drama “The Brutalist”. Adrien Brody stars as a Hungarian Holocaust survivor struggling to revive his career as an architect in the United States. It traces his life over …

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First Trailer: “28 Years Later” (2025)

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Trailer: “28 Years Later” (2025) Following the poster and a cryptic teaser over the weekend, Sony Pictures has now released the first trailer for Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” – a long awaited follow-up to his iconic 2002 horror feature “28 Days Later” and its sequel “28 Weeks Later”. It has been almost three decades …

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Blu-ray review: “The Ninth Gate” (1999)

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“The Ninth Gate” (1999) Horror Running Time: 133 minutes Written by: John Brownjohn, Roman Polanski and Enrique Urbizu Directed by: Roman Polanski Featuring: Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella, James Russo, Jack Taylor and Emmanuelle Seigner Boris Balkan: “There's nothing more reliable than a man whose loyalty can be bought for hard cash.” Roman Polanski’s The Ninth Gate stands as a dark, atmospheric blend of mystery and …

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Blu-ray review: “Death and the Maiden” (1994)

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“Death and the Maiden” (1994) Drama / Thriller Running Time: 103 minutes Written by: Ariel Dorfman and Rafael Yglesias Directed by: Roman Polanski Featuring: Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley and Stuart Wilson Dr. Roberto Miranda: “How can I confess to something I haven't done?” Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden, based on Ariel Dorfman’s acclaimed stage play, is an intense psychological drama that delves deep …

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Blu-ray review: “Bitter Moon” (1992)

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“Bitter Moon” (1992) Drama / Thriller Running Time: 139 minutes Written by: Roman Polanski, Gérard Brach and John Brownjohn Directed by: Roman Polanski Featuring: Peter Coyote, Emmanuelle Seigner, Hugh Grant, Kristin Scott Thomas and Victor Banerjee Oscar: “Have you ever truly idolized a woman? Nothing can be obscene in such love. Everything that occurs in between it becomes a sacrament.” Roman Polanski’s Bitter Moon is a provocative …

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Blu-ray review: “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” (2000)

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“Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” (2000) Horror Running Time: 90 minutes Written by: Dick Beebe and Joe Berlinger Directed by: Joe Berlinger Featuring: Kim Director, Jeffrey Donovan, Erica Leerhsen, Tristine Skyler and Stephen Barker Turner Sheriff Cravens: “Wipe that shit off your face! You think that your makeup and black clothes give you POWER... but you're just a scared, cowardly, little …

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