Blu-ray review: “Last Tango in Paris” (1972)

“Last Tango in Paris” (1972) Drama Running Time: 93 minutes Written by: Bernardo Bertolucci, Franco Arcalli French dialogue: Agnès Varda Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci Featuring: Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Maria Michi, Giovanna Galletti, Jean-Pierre Léaud and Massimo Girotti Paul: “No, you're alone. You're all alone. And you won't be able to be free of that feeling of being alone until you look death right in the …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “Last Tango in Paris” (1972)

4K Blu-ray review: “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994)

“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994) Comedy Running Time: 103 minutes Written and directed by: Stephan Elliott Featuring: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Bill Hunter Bernadette: [to Shirley] “Now listen here, you mullet. Why don't you just light your tampon, and blow your box apart? Because it's the only bang you're ever gonna get, sweetheart!” Few films …

Continue reading 4K Blu-ray review: “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994)

Movie review: “Wicked: Part 1” (2024)

“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 …

Continue reading Movie review: “Wicked: Part 1” (2024)

Film review: “Conclave” (2024)

“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 …

Continue reading Film review: “Conclave” (2024)

Film review: “Anora” (2024)

“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 …

Continue reading Film review: “Anora” (2024)

Film review: “Seven Samurai” (1954)

“Seven Samurai” (1954) Drama / Action Running Time: 207 minutes Written by: Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni Directed by: Akira Kurosawa Featuring: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Isao Kimura, Daisuke Katō, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba, Minoru Chiaki, Kamatari Fujiwara, Kokuten Kōdō, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Eijiro Tono, Jun Tatara, Atsushi Watanabe, Yoshio Kosugi, Bokuzen Hidari and Yukiko Shimazaki Kambei Shimada: “This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think …

Continue reading Film review: “Seven Samurai” (1954)

Movie review: “Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024)

“Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024) Drama Running Time: 138 minutes Written by: Scott Silver and Todd Phillips Directed by: Todd Phillips Featuring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz Harleen Quinzel: [singing] “Sing Hallelujah, come on, be happy.” Harleen Quinzel, Arthur Fleck: [both singing] “Get ready for the judgement day.” Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux attempts to recreate the magic of its predecessor, but falls …

Continue reading Movie review: “Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024)

DVD review: “The Cedar Tree” (1976-1979) 

“The Cedar Tree” (1976-1979)  Television Drama One hundred and nineteen Episodes Created by: Alfred Shaughnessy Featuring: Joyce Carey , Philip Latham and Jack Watling  The Cedar Tree is a British television soap opera that originally aired on ITV from 1976 to 1979. Set in the interwar years of the 1930s, the series centers on the aristocratic Bourne family and their servants, providing …

Continue reading DVD review: “The Cedar Tree” (1976-1979) 

Film review: “The Substance” (2024)

“The Substance” (2024) Horror Running Time: 141 minutes Written and directed by: Coralie Fargeat Featuring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid The Substance: “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect. One single injection unlocks your DNA, starting a new cellular division, that will release another version of yourself. This is the …

Continue reading Film review: “The Substance” (2024)

Blu-ray review: “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 5” (2018-2024)

“Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 5” (2018-2024) Television Drama Ninety-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 …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “Magnum P.I.: Season 1 – 5” (2018-2024)

Movie review: “Despicable Me 4” (2024)

“Despicable Me 4” (2024) Animated Running time: 119 minutes Written by: Mike White and Ken Daurio Directed by: Chris Renaud Featuring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman and Will Ferrell Gru: “You seriously want to kidnap a honey badger? Do you have any idea how dangerous they are? They literally eat bees and cobras for breakfast, …

Continue reading Movie review: “Despicable Me 4” (2024)

Blu-ray review: “The Prisoner” (1967 – 1968)

“The Prisoner” (1967 - 1968) Television 17 Episodes Created by: Patrick McGoohan and George Markstein Written by: Patrick McGoohan, David Tomblin, Anthony Skene, Terence Feely, Vincent Tilsley, George Markstein Directed by: Patrick McGoohan, Pat Jackson, Don Chaffey, David Tomblin Featuring: Patrick McGoohan Number 6: "I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “The Prisoner” (1967 – 1968)

Movie review: “Longlegs” (2024)

“Longlegs” (2024) Horror Running time: 101 minutes Written and directed by: Osgood Perkins Featuring: Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt and Nicolas Cage Longlegs: “Oh! There she is! The almost-birthday girl!” "Longlegs," directed by Osgood Perkins, is a chilling horror-thriller that delves into the depths of fear, suspense, and the human psyche. Known for his work on "The Blackcoat's Daughter" …

Continue reading Movie review: “Longlegs” (2024)

Blu-ray review: “White Sands” (1992)

“White Sands” (1992) Drama Running time: 101 minutes Written by: Daniel Pyne  Directed by: Roger Donaldson Featuring: Willem Dafoe, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Samuel L. Jackson and Mickey Rourke Lane Bodine: “I've never met anyone like you... you're honest, even when you lie.” "White Sands," directed by Roger Donaldson and released in 1992, is a neo-noir thriller that entices viewers with its intriguing premise …

Continue reading Blu-ray review: “White Sands” (1992)

DVD review: “One Night in the Tropics” (1940)

“One Night in the Tropics” (1940) Comedy Running time: 82 minutes Written by: Gertrude Purcell and Charles Grayson Directed by: A. Edward Sutherland Featuring: Allan Jones, Robert Cummings, Nancy Kelly, Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, William Frawley and Peggy Moran Abbott: “Put that out. There's no smoking in here.” Costello: “What makes you think I'm smokin'?” Abbott: “You've got a cigar in your mouth!” Costello: “I've got shoes on... don't mean I'm …

Continue reading DVD review: “One Night in the Tropics” (1940)

Movie review: “MaXXXine” (2024)

“MaXXXine” (2024) Horror Running Time: 104 minutes Written and directed by: Ti West Featuring: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins,Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon Maxine Minx: “You're a fucking movie star.” "MaXXXine" is the concluding chapter of Ti West's audacious and atmospheric trilogy, following "X" and "Pearl." This trilogy has pushed the boundaries of horror, blending retro …

Continue reading Movie review: “MaXXXine” (2024)

Movie review: “A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024)

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) Horror Running Time: 99 minutes Written and directed by: Michael Sarnoski Featuring: Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou Samira: [final line] It's good to have been back. "A Quiet Place: Day One," directed by Michael Sarnoski, is a gripping prequel to John Krasinski's highly acclaimed "A Quiet Place" series. This film …

Continue reading Movie review: “A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024)

Television review: “We Are Lady Parts” (2021)

“We Are Lady Parts” (2021) Television Series Six Episodes Created by: Nida Manzoor Featuring: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey , Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole , Lucie Shorthouse and Aiysha Hart “Bashir with the good beardYou’re so pretty, you’re so pretty, you’re so prettyBashir with the good beardYou say you think I’m weirdBashir with the good beardWon’t you love me? Won’t you love me? …

Continue reading Television review: “We Are Lady Parts” (2021)

Movie review: “Inside Out 2” (2024)

“Inside Out 2” (2024) Animated Running Time: 102 monutes Written by: Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein Directed by: Kelsey Mann Featuring: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri, Lilimar, Grace Lu, Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan and Paul Walter Hauser Joy: “I don't know how to stop Anxiety. Maybe we can't. Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. …

Continue reading Movie review: “Inside Out 2” (2024)