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DVD Review: Drive

Sam Bathe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:58:25 +0000

Directing the film in a neo-noir, arthouse style, Drive’s aesthetic is utterly appealing, an intoxicating mix of colour tone, wide-angle shots and naturalistic ideals. The film treats the audience with intelligence; it doesn’t lay everything out and instead leaves you to do a little legwork too. Fine work by director Nicolas Winding Refn and lead Ryan Gosling who plays a talented driver who moonlights as a getaway wheelman by night. One of 2011’s must-watch movies.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

DVD Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Sam Bathe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:14:31 +0000

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’s film noir sensibilities work a treat, and Alfredson helms his expansive cast with great adeptness. Many thought the 1979 BBC production of the novel precluded the need for a feature film, but Le Carré himself has commended the efforts of all involved in this adaptation, and he was right to do so. Technically the film is excellent. Alfredson’s direction is unhurried, moody and subtle, and that is backed up by Alberto Iglesias’ gently brooding score.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

Exclusive Clip & Competition: The Cleveland Show: Season 2

Sam Bathe — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:48:40 +0000

Check out this exclusive clip for from The Cleveland Show: Season 2 extras, and win the boxset on DVD after the jump!

To celebrate the release of The Cleveland Show: Season 2, out on DVD this coming Monday, we’re giving you the chance to win one of three copies for yourself. To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question:

The Cleveland Show is a spin-off of which popular animated series?

A. Family Guy
B. Sharky And George
C. Bob’s Burgers

To enter, simply follow us on Twitter here and @reply us the correct answer. Deadline 05/02/12.

Exclusive Clip: Greg Antonacci Explores Prohibition Chicago

Sam Bathe — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:03:20 +0000

In this exclusive clip from Boardwalk Empire: Season One’s DVD extras. Greg Antonacci takes to the streets of Chicago to delve into the hidden world of Prohibition speakeasies, introduces John Torrio, owner of the Four Deuces. Boardwalk Empire: Season One is out on DVD and Blu-ray January 9th and comes highly recommended.

Competition: Win Amelie And Eternal Sunshine On Blu-ray

Sam Bathe — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:41:55 +0000

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of Amelie, plus Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind’s debut on Blu-ray, we’re giving you the chance take the pair home.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy of both Amelie and Eternal Sunshine on Blu-ray, simply answer the following question:

In Amelie star Audrey Tautou’s The Da Vinci Code, she teams up with Tom Hanks to expose secrets that rock what to its very foundations?

A. College basketball
B. The Christian faith
C. Photoshop drop shadow settings

To enter, simply follow us on Twitter here and @reply us the correct answer. Deadline 23/12/11.

Blu-ray Review: Horrible Bosses

Sam Bathe — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:48:32 +0000

Three best friends put their drunken ramblings into action and hatch a scheme to knock off their bosses. If this wasn’t a year that also saw the release of Bridesmaids, Horrible Bosses might have been pushing for the comedy top spot, and though it falls some way short of real excellence (emotional clout this does not have), it’s still an accomplished effort, and a popcorn comedy you shouldn’t be ashamed of wanting to see.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

DVD Review: Bridesmaids

Sam Bathe — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:48:25 +0000

Kristen Wiig’s film career has taken a while to get started – many will still know her from Saturday Night Live – but thank goodness she’s finally made the transition. She’s provided support in Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up (he produces here, too) and Greg Mottola’s brilliant Adventureland, but Bridesmaids is the flick which deserves to catapult her into the mainstream. There are more than enough laughs here to justify what is a lengthy runtime by comedy standards.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

Blu-Ray Review: Mimic

Sam Bathe — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:45:45 +0000

Guillermo del Toro’s first US studio release, hitting Blu-ray with a new Director’s Cut some 14 years since first hitting cinemas. The movie spawned two straight-to-DVD sequels, but this original is by far the best as a scientist created a genetically-modified bug to kill off disease-laden cockroaches that are plaguing Manhattan with sickness. Only the new insect prove too effective and soon hold a danger to entimologist Susan Tyler and mankind as well.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

DVD Review: The Dead List

Sam Bathe — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:32:53 +0000

Schlocky, and much delayed, crime thriller starring Jean Reno, either he needs to get a new agent, or new advisers, but the talented actor really should be doing much better stuff than this. There’s double-crossing, French gangs, uninspiring action sequences, you know the drill, only it’s not even produced by Luc Besson. The Dead List could be worse, and there are certainly moments of intensity, but we rightly expect much more from our French action hero.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★

Blu-Ray Review: Everything Must Go

Sam Bathe — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:25:52 +0000

For a film that preaches giving it all away, Everything Must Go could have done with being a little more bold. But Dan Rush’s debut feature is also a testament to Ferrell’s ability to be convincingly human on-screen, even when his film’s gentle trajectory fails to stretch him too much; the film’s central character resolves to live among his possessions on his front lawn, pretending to hold a yard sale that, in one of the film’s many convenient plot points, legally allows him to live in plain view.

Film: ★★★★★ Extras: ★★★★★