Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 DVD Review

Part one of the highly anticipated DC Animated adaptation of Frank Miller's iconic The Dark Knight Returns arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray September 25th.

DC has really outdone themselves with the amazing voice talent in this film: Peter Weller (RoboCop) stars as Batman/Bruce Wayne, David Selby (The Social Network) as Commissioner Gordon, and Ariel Winter ("Modern Family") as Carrie Kelley/Robin.

It's been ten years since Bruce Wayne has donned the cape and cowl. He watches as the city he once protected falls to the ruthless gang known as The Mutants. Bruce decides to come out of retirement to take back Gotham from The Mutants and a few other familiar faces with the help of a new Robin.

This is one of the best DC Animated films to date! Directed by Jay Olivia ("Young Justice"), The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 is the most faithful adaptation I've ever seen. Incorporating Frank Miller's iconic character designs and use of TV broadcasts, the film is almost identical to the original work.

There aren't many special features on the DVD, but there is a sneak peak at Part two, due out in early 2013!

I cannot rave enough about how awesome this is! I only hope that after part two is released, Warner Brothers combines both parts into a special edition extended cut!

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 on DVD earns a 10 out of 10 Mutants!!

Look for it on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 25th! 
And look for our review of Part 2 early next year!

RAWR(for more)

Blu-ray Review: Twilight Time Titles!

You may not be familiar with them but you should be! I'm talking about the Limited Release label Twilight Time who are putting out a wildly eclectic and fascinating line of limited edition (just 3000 copies per title) blu-rays. Their recent releases, Steel Magnolias, The Sound and The Fury, Bye Bye Birdie, and High Time are prime examples of just how different each title is from the next. 

I'm reviewing these titles as a whole rather than individually because they all have the same problem, really the only problem but I'll get to that in a minute.  What they also have in common is gorgeous transfers and crisp clear sound.  Everything you expect from a blu-ray you get with these titles.

Except for special features.  I don't know if it's a rights thing or a matter of nothing available but the each of these titles is almost void of special features.  You get trailers and isolated audio on Bye Bye Birdie and High Time; Isolated Score and Audio Commentary with Herbert Ross on Steel Magnolias, and only an isolated score on The Sound and The Fury.  So basically for the kinda hefty $29.95 price tags you're getting the film (all of which are excellent films) and some cursory features plus the knowledge that only 2999 other people will ever own this blu-ray, which for some people (me i admit) is pretty cool.

Still,  in the cases of these releases, the price tag will give some people pause, but if you ask me, they are worth the investment.  All four titles here are excellent films and would make great additions to anyone's collection.  If you are a supplemental material snob, maybe not so much, but based on the films alone plus the limited number of copies available make these definite purchases for me.

Twilight Time is bringing films to blu-ray that may not have seen an HD format otherwise and this has be excited to see what they come out with next.  I'm already chomping at the bit for October's releases:  Night of the Living Dead (1990) and Enemy Mine which we hope to have reviews for next month.

So serious blu-ray collectors click your way over to Screen Archives, the official and exclusive home for Twilight Time releases, and pick up your copies of these, and the other excellent titles they have available. 

Steel Magnolias, The Sound and The Fury, Bye Bye Birdie, and High Time are all available now at ScreenArchives.com.

Remember these, and all Twilight Time, titles are limited to 3000 copies so once they are gone they are gone and you can ONLY get them from ScreenArchives.com!

RAWR(for more)

American Horror Story Season 1 Blu-Ray Review

One of the most talked about new television shows last year, FX's American Horror Story, is now on Blu-Ray and DVD. Nominated for 17 Emmys, the show created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (the guys behind "Glee" and "Nip/Tuck") successfully brought the modern horror genre to the small screen.

The Harmon family, Dylan McDermott (The Campaign), Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights"), and Tarissa Farmiga (Higher Ground), move across the country to start anew. The problem is that they have moved into the infamous "Murder House" complete with a strange, southern belle neighbor played by Jessica Lange (Blue Sky) in a Golden Globe winning performance. A slew of supporting characters including Kate Mara ("24"), Zachary Quinto ("Heroes", Star Trek), Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under"), Mena Suvari (American Beauty), and Denis O'Hare ("True Blood") round out the stellar cast.

The Blu-Ray contains all 12 episodes from Season 1 on 3 discs. The Special Features include: Audio Commentary on Pilot by Ryan Murphy, Behind the Fright: The Making of American Horror Story, The Murder House presented by Eternal Darkness Tours of Hollywood, Overture to Horror: Creating the Title Sequence, and Out of the Shadows: Meet the House Ghosts.

Each one of the special features is great! I would have liked to see some commentary on a few of the other episodes. Also, I think the cover worked as a poster to create buzz, but the cover of the Season 1 Blu-Ray should be something different, but other than that it's great. If you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend it to any horror fan!

American Horror Story Season 1 Blu-Ray gets a ghastly 9 out of 10 Haunted Houses!

Be sure to watch the Season 2 premiere of American Horror Story: Asylum on October 17th only on FX!

RAWR(for more)

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays Review

The Dark Knight Trilogy is arguably one of the best film interpretations of a comic book character to date. Since 2005, Christopher Nolan has helmed the iconic franchise as director and writer. These brilliant screenplays have been available online, but now you can own the complete trilogy in one book!

This 592 page monster contains the complete screenplays of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Each screenplay reads just like the movie. I'm really glad they published these for the fans.

Also, this contains 60 pages of storyboards, featuring an iconic scene from each film. The storyboard for Batman Begins depicts the opening title sequence and a young Bruce chasing around Rachel. The Dark Knight's storyboards are for the awesome "Truck Chase Scene." Finally the storyboards for The Dark Knight Rises illustrate the opening plane sequence with Bane. Seeing these rare storyboards is really neat! The concept art is different from the final film, but it's really cool to see.

I guess my only complaints are that I wish the cover had an image that dealt with the trilogy as a whole, rather than just The Dark Knight Rises. Another thing, is the Batman Begins storyboards aren't from a pivotal moment in the film as the storyboards from the other two are. I would have rather had him training with Ras al Ghul or something like that. Lastly, this is such a niche item that I would have liked them to have gone all out and made it hardback, which honestly isn't that big of a complaint. That being said, this is definitely a must-have for any Batman fan!

The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays gets a 9 out of 10 Bats!

RAWR(for more)

Movie Review: Sleepwalk With Me

Based on his one-man off-Broadway show, Sleepwalk With Me was written by, directed by, and stars comedian Mike Birbiglia.  The film is part autobiographical and part fictional and follows Birbiglia as he struggles to establish himself as a professional stand-up comedian while also dealing with family and relationship issues and the ignorance of his sleepwalking disorder which becomes increasingly dangerous with the pressure.  Sleepwalk With Me premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and won the Best of NEXT Audience Award.

Birbiglia did a great job portraying how a sleepwalking disorder can go horribly wrong when ignored in a very realistic way while also making light of his problems via comedy.  The film is narrated by Birbiglia giving it the autobiographical vibe.  His narration seems very honest, almost like a confession at times, and at one point he even reminds the audience that “you’re on my side.”

Aside from the increasing concern of his family, the film also deals with Birbiglia’s struggling relationship with his girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose), who is still waiting for him to pop the question after eight years.  The two create the chemistry of a clearly flawed relationship and Birbiglia’s parents, played by Carol Kane and James Rebhorn, are great as well.

I also found the stand-up element to be very realistic.  The film goes from Birbiglia bombing at open mics to getting his first paid gig at a sparsely attended college show to booking so many shows that it begins to take a toll on his relationship and well-being.

Sleepwalk With Me is a truly unique look at the trials and tribulations of a truly unique comic with an unfortunate condition.  This movie is really funny and at times utterly heart-breaking.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it and was pleasantly surprised.  There are also appearances from names like David Wain, Marc Maron, and more.

Not only is this an Indie worth seeing, but it is the type of film that deserves the support.  A must-see for anyone interested in stand-up and/or sleep disorders.

8/10 Birbiglias

RAWR(for more)

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER: Reviewed by Marques Wayne

As a fan of Stephen Chbosky's superb coming of age epistolary I was extremely nervous about the prospect of adapting it to film.  I knew upon reading it that Chbosky was a screenwriter and was actually surprised that it took so long to come to fruition.  I was glad that he had adapted the novel himself, but what made me nervous was the fact that he was also directing.  I worried that he might be too close to the material not to make an over indulgent film that would get bogged down by vanity and lose what made the book so special in the first place.

Fortunately, I could not have been more wrong.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower uncannily captures the tone and nuance of the book in a way that is rare when converting material from one medium to another.  The experience of watching the film was almost eerily similar to what it felt like to read the book (which I have done multiple times).

Charlie (Logan Lerman) is a gentle, sensitive teen with the innocent, yet haunted, eyes of someone forced to see very adult things at a young age.  He is just starting high school, and after recently losing his best friend he's hurting for new ones, cautiously trying to connect with new people and eschew his reputation as a 'freak'.  In Shop class he meets Patrick (an engaging Ezra Miller), a senior, who is somewhat of a class clown earning the moniker "Nothing" after a cheeky interaction with the teacher.  Patrick, not afraid of letting his own freak flag fly, isn't put off by Charlie's demeanor and introduces him to his step-sister Sam (Emma Watson), who Charlie instantly falls for.  The siblings take Charlie under their wing and he quickly becomes a  part of their close-nit group of friends.

Paul Rudd (always a welcome face) plays Bill, an English teacher that picks up on Charlie's potential and starts to give him more advanced books to read and report on outside of class, cultivating a special relationship with him.  At one point in the film Bill explains to Charlie that we "accept the love we think we deserve."  This theme runs through several of the relationships depicted in the film including Sam's relationship with her boyfriend and the complicated relationship his sister Candace (Nina Dobrev) has with her boyfriend Ponytail Derek (Nicholas Braun).

Charlie's journey has its fun moments, like the group's performance at the Rocky Horror Picture Show sing-along and tripping on pot brownies, but there is also heartbreak and heartache, felt by, and caused by, Charlie himself.  Lerman couldn't have been more perfectly cast as the put-upon boy with the forlorn expression that just makes you want to hug him.  And in addition to strong turns by Miller and Watson, Mae Whitman (NBC's Parenthood) is wonderful as Mary Elizabeth, a bossy feminist that Charlie briefly dates.

The book and the film are set in the early 90's, but Chbosky purposely understated the period references instead opting to give the film a timeless quality like memories trapped in amber, which also matches the novel.  The result is a gem of a film capturing the murky journey of adolescence to adulthood in a way that will resonate with those going through it and those of us who survived it.

                                                                   9/10 Stars *********

RAWR(for more)

Music Review: Paul Simon "LIVE in New York City" CD/DVD

Paul Simon returns with his first LIVE album since 1991's "Paul Simon's Concert In The Park" and it has been worth the wait.

"LIVE In New York City" was recorded at Webster Hall in New York City and finds Simon rejuvenated on stage thanks to his recent release "So Beautiful Or So What."

The new 2 CD set features 4 songs from his most recent release, 5 songs from his groundbreaking album "Graceland" and many Simon solo hits that haven't been played LIVE in years such as "Kodachrome" & "Mother & Child Reunion."

"LIVE In New York City" also includes a DVD with the same track list. At 70 years of age Simon is still a viable recording artist and a fantastic live performer.  If you were lucky enough to see Simon on his most recent tour then you will want to have this as a souvenir to show your grandkids how a true music legend continues to captivate audiences with his impeccable playing and poetic lyrics.

The only disappointing thing about this release is that the original June 6th, 2011 concert at Webster Hall had a set list of 27 songs while this release only offers up 20 of those recorded tracks.  Here's hoping that sometime we might get to hear the whole shebang!  Until then sit back and enjoy "LIVE In New York City."

Drumroll please... 9 out of 10 Drumsticks!!!

RAWR(for more)

The Cabin in the Woods Blu-Ray Review

The Cabin in the Woods is one of the best films I've seen this year. Co-written by Joss Whedon (The Avengers, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") and Drew Goddard (Cloverfield), it is a unique, unpredictable journey that breaks down genre barriers.

A stereotypical group of college friends head out to a mysterious cabin for the weekend, when mysterious events begin to happen. Behind the bloodshed is a group of technicians operating from the safety of a control room. And that's just the beginning...

The cast is great! It stars Kristen Connolly ("As the World Turns"), Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers), Anna Hutchison ("Go Girls"), Fran Kranz ("Dollhouse"), Jesse Williams ("Grey's Anatomy"), Richard Jenkins (Step Brothers), and Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing").

My major complaint with this Blu-Ray is the outer packaging. The front of the outer slipcase has a hologram that shows the theatrical poster, but when it is turned it reveals something else, which somewhat ruins the actual events of the movie. I'm really not sure why they would do that. If you're planning on buying it, avoid looking at the cover until after you watch it.

The Blu-Ray has a bunch of great special features:

-Audio commentary with Writer/Director Drew Goddard and Writer/Producer Joss Whedon

-"We Are Not Who We Are: Making The Cabin in the Woods" Featurette

-"The Secret Secret Stash" Featurette

-Wonder-Con Q&A with Joss and Drew

-"An Army of Nightmares: Make-Up and Animatronic Effects" Featurette

-"Primal Terror: Visual Effects" Featurette

-"It's Not What You Think: The Cabin in the Woods" Bonus View Mode (Blu-Ray Exclusive)

-Obligatory Digital Copy of the film

If you're sick of the standard horror movie fare, definitely check out this amazing, genre-bending film!

The Cabin in the Woods Blu-Ray deserves a 9 out of 10 Cabins!!

RAWR(for more)