"Gary Unmarried - Season 1" DVD Review

February 08, 2010, 10:24:20 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

A new TV series being introduced and loved by many early on is nothing new. It’s when that series manages to stick around for awhile that you realize it might have some legs. Such is the case with Gary Unmarried, now into its second season on CBS. While not a wildly successful or talked about sitcom, it is one of CBS’s most promising new-ish series (although this most recent season has been rather disappointing when compared to the first). Only time will tell if it will continue to rise in popularity or if the second season will be its last (and considering two of its executive producers left the series already over “creative differences,” it doesn’t bode well for the production).

Synopsis
Everything seems unfamiliar for suddenly single dad Gary Brooks (Jay Mohr) as he tries to navigate his increasingly complex life. A painting contractor, Gary is doing the best he can to share the upbringing of his 14-year-old son Tom (Ryan Malgarini) and 11-year-old daughter Louise (Kathryn Newton) with ex-wife Allison (Paula Marshall). Just as he’s trying to figure the etiquette involved in informing his ex of his gorgeous new girlfriend Vanessa (Jaime King), Allison drops a major bombshell on him—she’s engaged to their marriage counselor! Kids, romance and his ex-wife’s controlling ways keep Gary guessing as he gets used to his strange and uproarious new world.

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"The Time Traveler's Wife" Blu-ray Review

February 05, 2010, 10:47:24 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Romantic films with dramatic “hooks” are ever present in the film genre these days and quite frankly are the leading source for a lot of bad films. Not every script that hinges on this single pivot point can sustain itself for the entire length of the film, but occasionally you’ll get a story that is not only a strong script but also just the right length for it to not feel overlong or tedious in nature. Such is the case with The Time Traveler’s Wife, which starts out as a usual puppy dog love story but also mixes in such an unbelievable amount of drama than it’s hard to profile it as just a purely romantic movie. It’s simple in its structure, but it’s also just an intriguing concept to watch unfold even if all of the marks aren’t always hit.

Synopsis
Lose yourself in timeless love with this gloriously romantic story of the journey of two hearts. Artist Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams of The Notebook) shares a deep emotional bond with Henry De Tamble (Eric Bana of The Other Boleyn Girl), a handsome librarian who travels involuntarily through time. Knowing they can be separated without warning, Clare and Henry treasure the moments they have together, imbuing them with the yearning and passion of two people imprisoned by time…and set free by love. Based on the #1 bestseller, The Time Traveler’s Wife weaves together destiny and devotion, past and future to turn an extraordinary love into an extraordinary love story.

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"Top Gear - Season 12" DVD Review

February 05, 2010, 10:41:22 AM by DVD Report Staff in Reviews.

The 11th season of Top Gear dominated the summer of ’08, but that’s not all that year had to offer. Back to finish up the fall into winter of ’08, the 12th season succeeds in not only giving the show a proper dozen seasons (series), but also in continuing the consistency of quirky, comical and informative exposure to the automotive world. Jeremy “Jezza” Clarkson, Richard “Hamster” Hammond and James “Captain Slow” May continue to take on the newest supercars, and even some old long-forgotten ones, around the track for a wit-filled yet quite meticulous review process to let us live vicariously in the wealthy automotive world.

Synopsis
The 12th season kicks off with a crash, a bang and an overwhelming smell of burning when Jeremy, Richard and James buy second-hand trucks and try their hands at truck driving. The boys travel to the U.S. to test three new generation big-engine ‘muscle’ cars with a great American road trip from San Francisco to the Bonneville Salt Flats in the heart Utah, then are challenged to drive from the heart of Switzerland to the North West coast of England on one tank of fuel while James travels to the frozen North and enlists the help of F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen. Jeremy scampers around the test track in the feisty new Fiat 500 Abarth, Porsche 911, and the Pagani Zonda F Roadster and finally after years of waiting, the Stig finally gets to set a lap time in the remarkable Bugatti Veyron. To top things off this seasons ‘Star in the Reasonably Priced Car’, features talk show legend Michael Parkinson, London Mayor Boris Johnson, musical legend Tom Jones and Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg.

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"New York, I Love You" Blu-ray Review

February 04, 2010, 11:17:34 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

How do you get a film with over a dozen big name stars accomplished without it costing millions upon millions of dollars to make and produce? You split it up into a series of short stories, each with a different director. Following the same formula that Paris, je t'aime ran with in 2006, New York, I Love You is a set of ten short stories that all revolve around the tail of love. Some are predictable, some aren’t, and others are just…there. While it’s an interesting concept, if this becomes a series of films that all have the same end result then I’m not sure it can go on much longer…even if it does feature a cast that wraps around the entire border of the DVD/Blu-ray case.

Synopsis
In the city that never sleeps, love abounds 24/7. Some of the world's most outstanding directors present a celebration of love that features an all-star cast, including Shia LaBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Christina Ricci, Ethan Hawke, Blake Lively, Robin Wright Penn, Rachel Bilson, Drea de Matteo, James Caan, Anton Yelchin, Andy Garcia, Julie Christie, Maggie Q, and many, many more!

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"Top Gear - Season 11" DVD Review

February 04, 2010, 11:14:47 AM by DVD Report Staff in Reviews.

When one considers how long the automobile has been around, and how it has become the pinnacle of some nations’ accomplishments whether it’s through the very invention of it, or through inventions which have refined it, one would think that car-related TV programming is easy to find. While there are various automotive centered TV shows out there, they’re often equivalent of the worst thing you’d want to hear about a car; slow, poor quality, predictable styling, and simply boring in its entirety. Well, thanks to three quirky Brits, the world has at least one car show that is as exciting as a lead-foot in a Dodge Viper.

Synopsis
Accessible to everyone and full of stunts, challenges and special segments, it’s irreverent, witty, self-deprecating, inclusive and passionate. The charisma and enthusiasm of the show’s presenters have helped make Top Gear a worldwide megabrand attracting a global audience over 500 million in more than 20 countries. This season’s highlights include a car chase in presenter-chosen old bangers for traffic cops, a race in the French Alps against extreme skiers, a race across Japan (a Nissan car versus public transport), a cross-country fox hunt (with Jeremy as the prey), and a Brits versus German Top Gear challenge. Of course, this season includes serious car journalism too, with exhaustive road tests of the latest models, man versus machine experiments, weekly power-tests featuring the world’s most exotic supercars and all the tried-and-tested Top Gear favorites also return.

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"Black Dynamite" Blu-ray Review

February 03, 2010, 10:01:14 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Parody movies seem to be making a resurgence as of late, which is fantastic because they’re often the richest source of humor and “best of” style collaborations. However they can also be a source of much displeasure and annoyance (i.e., the “(fill in word here) Movie” films, all of which have stemmed from the Scary Movie outing which was entertaining…just the subsequent 20 others weren’t), so I approach new entries into the genre with caution. So when I say that Black Dynamite may very well be the funniest and most enjoyable parody film in decades then it actually means something (to me at least) as I grew up with the Mel Brooks, National Lampoon and Naked Gun films so I’d like to think I know a good parody film when I see one.

Synopsis
An all-star cast led by Michael Jai White is featured in this 1970's-style blaxploitation action film about the legendary super crime fighter "Black Dynamite." The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House.

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"A Concert by the Lake" Blu-ray Review

February 03, 2010, 09:59:56 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Don’t be confused—this isn’t a concert of Band du Lac that you missed. No, that super group hasn’t performed for some time now. This newly minted Blu-ray release is, rather, a re-release of the 2006 “Band Du Lac: One Night Only Live” DVD. The concert is the same, with the only difference being…well, the obvious Blu-ray upgrade. Extras and content are all the same, so if you own the previous DVD release then you know what to expect. For those that don’t, however, then you’re in for an interesting experience as Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Roger Taylor, The Drifters and Katie Melua.

Synopsis
Known as Band du Lac, this stunning supergroup amassed at the historic Wintershall Estate in Surrey, England to play a benefit concert for HASTE - the Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour. With Procol Harum's Gary Brooker at the helm as musical director, guitarists Andy Fairweather Low and Mike Rutherford, keyboardist Paul Carrack, and drummer Henry Spinetti kept the crowd captivated through 23 beloved tracks, including “A Whiter Shade Of Pale" and a rousing rendition of “Tequila." This night was also chockfull of guest appearances, including Eric Clapton ("Lay Down Sally," “Willie & The Hand Jive," “Cocaine"), Ringo Starr ("Photograph," “With A Little Help From My Friends"), The Drifters ("Under The Boardwalk," “Stand By Me"), Roger Taylor ("I Want To Break Free") and Katie Melua ("The Closest Thing To Crazy"). Bonus interviews with all key performers are also included.

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"Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Volume Three" DVD Review

February 02, 2010, 07:45:02 AM by James Harvey in Reviews.

Keeping up with demand, we’re currently in the midst of the latest animated interpretation of everyone’s favorite Caped Crusader. A more light-hearted take on the character, but nonetheless enjoyable and completely addictive, Batman: The Brave and The Bold has been a big hit with both fans and Cartoon Network. So, it’s no surprise we’re quick to get episodes released on DVD, even if these releases are just the standard single-disc volume releases, collecting a handful of episodes. Here, we get five episodes, including the epic two-part which unleashes more Batmen than you can shake a stick at. There’s more after the synopsis.

Synopsis:
Often outmatched in powers but never in wits, Batman and fellow DC Comics super heroes Green Arrow, Aquaman, Bronze Tiger and The Atom take down villains of all shapes and sizes in this enthralling collection, like the larger-than-life humanoid Despero and the microscopic toxin in Batman's bloodstream that could be deadly. Just when "Bats" thinks he has this universe under control, he discovers a parallel world where Batman is the villainous Owlman! It will take all his cunning and courage to defeat this evil counterpart, especially when Owlman travels to Gotham City and convinces our world that Batman has turned criminal. So many heroes, so little time to showcase all the thrills from the hip and funny new animated series that has fans flying high!

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