"Strays" DVD (Steelbook) Review

January 06, 2009, 11:31:47 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Emerging from the (deep) dust of 1997’s Sundance Film Festival is Vin Diesel’s Strays, his first directorial and writing effort. The film pre-dates Diesel’s big break into Hollywood and instead takes a bit of a more home-video shot type style of film making and merges it with a whimsical plot about a drug dealer who is tired of the hustler life style and wants to settle down. That’s not me making anything up—that is truly the plot of Strays and judging this one by its cover is something I would seriously advise against.

"Frustrated by the repetitious grind of one-night stands and aimless hustling, drug dealer Rick (Vin Diesel) is looking for meaning and intimacy in his life. Like his testosterone-tweaked buddies, Rick is a ‘stray’ – lacking a traditional family structure and wrestling subconsciously with his father’s absence. Until Heather enters his life…Suddenly rick sees the possibility of a committed relationship and the life he has longed for. However, trying to assimilate into Heather’s world is not easy. Rick takes heat from his perpetually adolescent and unmotivated cohorts. Though the chemistry between n the couple is immediately charged, Rick’s street manner and volatile aggression flare, threatening to extinguish their relationship before it begins."

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"Dexter - Season 1" Blu-ray Review

January 05, 2009, 11:30:52 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

One of Showtime’s breakout hits, Dexter helped propel the network into more homes and put it on the map as a premium cable network that had plenty of great content to offer. With recent offerings like Californication and past hits like Weeds and The L Word, Showtime has long since proved its worth as something worth the attention of those seeking quality and smartly written television. So why is it I’m just now getting around to watching the network? After delving fully into Californication (both seasons), Paramount and Showtime saw fit to re-release their other breakout hit, Dexter on Blu-ray. Bully for me, it gave me the opportunity to check out more what this network had to offer.

Dexter is a crime drama about Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a man who leads a double life as an incredibly likeable forensics expert for the Miami Police Department and as an emotionless vigilante serial killer. Taught by his foster father to harness his lust for blood and killing, Dexter lives by his own strict moral code - he only kills murderers who can't otherwise be brought to justice. Dexter is a killer who grapples with fitting into society while, at the same time, he struggles with his inability to feel emotion. The irony of Dexter's life is that he works closely as a blood splatter analyst with the very people who hunt his kind - the homicide departments.

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"Pineapple Express" DVD Review

January 05, 2009, 05:56:09 AM by James Harvey in Reviews.

While movies about getting high and smoking weed can become quite tiresome very quickly, Pineapple Express manages to avoid most of the pitfalls that come with such a movie and, instead, we’re treated to a solid callback to the 1980’s buddy action-comedy. Another film produced under Judd Apatow and his crew, Pineapple Express is easily their most edgiest to date. With plenty of action, big laughs, and some of the best buddy chemistry since the best 1980’s buddy pictures, Pineapple Express is a blast from start to finish. Sure, it has a few slow moments and manages to fall into the usual action-comedy pitfalls a handful of times, but all of that is forgiven when Franco takes the screen. Now, let’s get the movie synopsis out of the way and dive right into Pineapple Express!

Lazy stoner Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver (James Franco): to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop (Rosie Perez) and the city's most dangerous drug lord (Gary Cole), he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they're not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express. Pineapple Express is directed by David Gordon Green (All the Real Girls), with a screenplay by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg from a story by Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg. Judd Apatow and Shauna Robertson produce.

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Happy New Year from WF DVD Report!

January 01, 2009, 12:29:43 PM by DVD Report Staff in News.

From the staff of WF DVD Report, we wish a safe and happy 2009! Regular reviews will resume posting on January 5th. Until then, have a great weekend!

"Hamlet" 2 DVD Review

December 31, 2008, 12:33:27 PM by James Harvey in Reviews.

As bizarre as this may sound, Hamlet 2 has a charm about it. A likability, akin to that of the underdog, that helps keeps the movie engaging throughout. Even when it gets incredibly dark, or slows down a shade, or when things get unbelievably bad for our lead character, there's something that still propels the viewer to watch until the final reel. Sure, this film may not do it for everybody, but if you can make it to the end, then I believe you'll be in for a great overall viewing experience. Hamlet 2 is one of the funniest, most demented movies of the year. Very under-appreciated, it died a quick death in theatres, but now has a chance to live again in the home video format.

One high school drama teacher is about to make a huge number 2 in this wildly irreverent and completely outrageous movie from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine. When his school's theater department is threatened to be cut, failed actor-turned-high-school-drama-teacher Dana Marschz writes a play he hopes will solve everything: a sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet. Now, staging one of the most politically incorrect musical-theater extravaganzas ever seen, Dana and his class will put it all on the line for one controversial, conflicted night of hilarity. Objections from school officials and the community are soon raised, but Dana will not be denied his freedom of artistic expression, getting unexpected support from ACLU attorney Cricket Feldstein and his favorite actress, Elisabeth Shue. He fervently believes that his opus must be staged, and nothing can break his optimistic spirit.

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"The Duchess" Blu-ray Review

December 30, 2008, 12:26:12 PM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Another period film that stars Keira Knightly, The Duchess certainly didn’t look it from the trailers, but those that took the time to view the historical film were no doubt astonished by not only the costumes but also the acting provided by Knightly, which was no doubt some of the best we’ve seen from the actress yet. Although it didn’t rake in a huge box office, the film was relatively well received by critics and viewers alike, making this film one that is likely to only grow in appreciation over the years as more pick up on the uniqueness of the film.

Academy Award nominees Keira Knightly and Ralph Fiennes star in The Duchess: the compelling true story of a lavish world filled with smoldering passion, heartbreaking deception and stifling demands. Beloved by a nation but betrayed by her husband, Georgiana Spencer – the Duchess of Devonshire and “Empress of Fashion”—faced an agonizing choice between responsibility and love. This gripping portrayal of England’s “It Girl” has won acclaim from audiences and critics alike. She was vivacious. She was heroic. She was The Duchess.

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"Ninja Collection: Volume 1 10 Feature Film Set" DVD Review

December 30, 2008, 12:25:12 PM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

Ninja films have always been a source of much enjoyment for movie goers and while the vast majority of them may be laughably bad, that is actually where the charm of the genre comes from. Hokey special effects, bad dubbing and mediocre story lines are just a few of the novelties that the genre possesses, although you’re sure to find some high quality films stuffed in there as well. In the tradition of the laughable and silly, however, First Look Pictures, paired with VideoAsia, are bringing to DVD in three disc set ten Ninja that start off black and white and eventually progress into some very, very cheesy color films.

The history of the deadly Ninja warriors is presented for the first time in this 10 volume series. From its origins in feudal Japan to the modern day rediscovery and beyond, this History of Ninja delivers action and more action. The ten films include Ninjitsu, Ninja Hunt, Purple Hood Ninja, Purple Hood Ninja 2, 17 Ninjas, Hero of Swallow, Ninja Power Force, Ninja Kids Phantom Force, Golden Ninja Invasion, and Cyber Ninja.

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"Ghost Town" Blu-ray Review

December 29, 2008, 05:52:43 AM by Zach Demeter in Reviews.

I suppose it come as no surprise that the first Ricky Gervais headlined film to hit the States fared poorly. Although critics loved the film, the modest budgeted film limped by in theaters, leaving with only $13 million in the States, and raking in only another $10 million overseas. It’s a shame more people weren’t aware of this moving and hilarious film, as it was one of the years more unique outings. No doubt that the film will find a larger audience on home video, however, but fans of Gervais who were hoping to see more of him in films that weren’t just short cameos are no doubt disappointed by this films performance.

A spirited romantic comedy, Ghost Town is the story of Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais), a cranky Manhattan dentist who develops the unwelcome ability to see dead people. Really annoying dead people. But, when a smooth-talking ghost (Greg Kinnear) traps Bertram into a romantic scheme involving his widow Gwen (Tea Leoni), they are entangled in a hilarious predicament between the now and the hereafter!

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