Latest Reviews

• Earth 3D (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray)
  Jinty12-05-2012
  

  I purchased "Earth" from e-bay seller at a total price of £16.95, Waited for the up-to-date version and have to say that I am very disappointed. Of course I looked at reviews AFTER purchasing blu ray in 3d. Not a good idea but one day I will learn. In my opinion not a lot of 3d presentation and to me sometimes seemed blurred. Not the quality of the first 3d blu ray Hugo - now that was really exceptional. I suppose we get spoiled with all David Attenborough productions and for this reason I cannot see me sitting down and watching this again. Seller in e-bay unfortunately does not accept Returns. The clue was there as there were very little details about this blu ray and I think the production was made by the Dutch. Bet it would have been fabulous if Simon King or Gordon Buchanan had been involved.

• Moulin Rouge
  Matthew Brew11-05-2012
  

  Moulin Rouge- DVD Review
  
  Moulin Rouge is one of the most comprehensive and expertly crafted pieces of film media I have seen to date. It's three main elements of stylish scripting, expert acting and simply masterful music are all done with an elegance that only a true master's hand can craft. Released in 2001 it was most definetely the most popular and successful of director Baz Luhrmann's "Red Curtain Trilogy." It utilises the Verfremsdung effect well and is coated with beautifully composed music that captured the nation, this combined with a riveting storyline was a sure recipe for success.
  
  The story is set in 1899 at the time of the French Revolution, a young writer Christian (Ewan Mcgregor) has come from England to find himself and take part in the Bohemian styled event. He defies his father in doing so and becomes a writer for a group of performers at the renowned night club: the Moulin Rouge. A hub of the dark underworld where the rich & the poor alike go to be entertained by female dancers. He becomes involved with the clubs star Courtesan: Satine (Nicole Kidman.) However she is currently being courted by a rich & powerful Duke (Richard Roxburgh) who has promised funding for the club in exchange for her "services." Thus the love affair grows ever more dangerous and strenuous for the pair as Christian struggles with seeing Satine with other men, not helped either by the club owner's (Jim Broadbent) intent to split them up to ensure the club receives the aforementioned funding. Finally it comes to the point where Satine is forced to break Christians heart to keep her job, banishing Christian from the club. However in a final performance he reappears to claim her hand, in front of the Duke himself. However after having successfully done so Satine collapses dramatically into Christian's arms and dies from a terminal condition leaving Christian heartbroken.
  
  An ultimately sad tale, however is all performed excellently. Jim Broadbent steals the screen when he appears with his booming voice and varied acting that encompasses so many emotions so well. Nicole Kidman also performs well here although not at her best it is fine acting. The real standout for me is Ewan Mcgregor in what I personally think is his best work. He so well shows his character and rather than merely a performance I feel this was an evolution for him. The use of the verfremsdung effect is also prominent in this film which influences all of the actors' styles. This is where the film is designed to remind you that it is in fact a film, to prevent the audience being too absorbed into the diegesis. It is well done and a signpost of Luhrmann's work. The quirky style that emanates from it obviously appealed due to the film's success.
  
  Finally- but most importantly- the music. This is a key point of the film, it is wonderfully composed and is one of the best official soundtracks I have ever heard for a film. Composed by Craig Armstrong it captures all of the emotion of the film using a variety on instruments culminating into an album that is a true joy to listen too. The soundtrack could have it's own review it is that good! The Album has sold thousands of copies and Moulin Rouge is still remembered today for it's music. I even have a copy on my Ipod and it has served as inspiration for my own musical endeavours. Favourites such as the low bassy "show must go on" and the "Elephant Love melody" are true stand outs for me.
  
  Overall this is a movie on a wide scope, encompassing stylistic wrting and a excellent cast but taking it's musical side to a whole other level. Resulting in the film's sound track being it's very own product. In my opinion this a must watch for all.
  

• The Smurfs
  matthew08-05-2012
  

  a really fascinating adventure with the Smurfs

• Being Human - Series 4
  matthew08-05-2012
  

  this dvd is fantastic i love being human it was a sad to see george go i recommend this dvd too any one who is a being human fan.

• Thor
  Freddie O'Connell04-05-2012
  

  In my opinion Thor is an outstanding movie in many ways. First of all it has epic and dramatic fighting scenes which you expect to see in marvel super hero films but it did live up to its expectation. They picked the best man for the job to play thor, Chris Hemsworth. He combines serious acting with a touch of humour, and that brings me on to my next point. Al tough being a serious movie about earth trying to be taking other it didn't fail to make me laugh, for example when he first comes to earth they think he is crazy and on drugs and also the bit the government think he is on drugs. this movie is action packed from start to finish. It also shows that you can find love anywhere when thor and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) fall in love by the end. Great twists and turns throughout and in my opinion a must watch.

• The Ultimate Avengers 1+2
  Martin Freeman01-05-2012
  

  Based on Marvel's best-selling comic book series, The Ultimates, co-created by Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) and Bryan Hitch (JLA), these two films comprise a fantastic Blu-ray boxset that defines everything good about animated feature-length films - something I feel we don't get to see often enough.
  
  The first film, The Ultimate Avengers, features an absolutely stellar cast of characters from the Marvel Universe - many of whom we have since become familiar with in recent years from their live-action films - including Captain America as the main character, as well as Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, The Hulk (and Bruce Banner), Nick Fury, and two characters not seen in the live-action films, the brilliant Wasp and Giant-Man.
  
  Without wanting to give anything away - since The Ultimates served as partial inspiration for the recently-released The Avengers / Avengers Assemble live-action film - I will say that The Ultimate Avengers is a tour-de-force animated action film with a thrill-a-minute pace that is rarely seen in direct-to-DVD/Blu-ray features. The superhero line-up lends itself fantastically to an unbelievably creative imagination from the artists who worked on the film, which sees Captain America joining forces with all his fellow superheroes surrounding him as part of S.H.I.E.L.D.
  
  Curt Geda, Steven E. Gordon, and Bob Richardson's joint direction of the project is so impressive as to leave you wanting even more - and that is precisely what we get with The Ultimate Avengers 2. A second dose of fantastic superheroics that lives up to the original film.
  
  The sequel, The Ultimate Avengers 2 (released in 2006), introduces a handful of new characters - including Thor's father, Odin - and is every bit the animated action film that we fell in love with in The Ultimate Avengers 1. The animation brings the characters to life even further than Millar and Hitch's original comic series, and fans of the source material can rest assured in the knowledge that new co-directors, Will Meugniot and Richard Sebast, have remained very faithful to The Ultimates.
  
  Award-winning composer Guy Michelmore (the BBC's Talking with Animals) wrote a powerful score for both the first and second films, which adds to the action in the best way possible, as well as enhancing the more sombre and heart-warming moments that punctuate each of the two features. Michelmore is a true artist, with a unique blend that complements The Ultimate Avengers 1 and 2 perfectly.
  
  The two films have been released previously on DVD, but if you have the means to watch this updated edition on Blu-ray, I would naturally recommend you use your television to its full capacity with these two films. The animation is so eye-openingly, jaw-droppingly crisp that it jumps off the screen with every explosion and every punch in a way that can only be fully appreciated with the Blu-ray technology. These two films show you the Marvel superheroes as you've never seen them before, and if you're a fan of any of Marvel's work - whether it's their original comics, their animated films, or their live-action movies - this is a must-watch necessity that is absolutely required viewing. And for that reason, the two films in turn deserve every one of the five stars I've given them in this review. Enjoy them both; I know you will.

• Old Boy
  Ross McIndoe01-05-2012
  

  As Spike Lee's re-make of Korean classic Oldboy begins set to hit the big screen some time next year amidst howls of outrage from fans of the original, now seems like a good time to re-watch Park Chan-Wook's masterpiece.
  The basic plot is very simple: Oh Dae-Su, a middle-aged man is suddenly kidnapped and held for 15 years without ever being told why. He discovers that he has been framed for the murder of his wife so that even if he were to escape, he would have no life to return to. After 15 years he is released and sets out in search of answers and revenge.
  Even taken entirely out of the context of the plot, there is a single scene that perfectly captures the brilliance of Oldboy, titled simply "One Versus Many".
  The entire scene is filmed in one gorgeous shot, a testament to Park's skill as a director, as is the bizarrely melancholic choice of music that accompanies it. The whole scene oozes style in a grimy, almost Blade Runner-esque fashion and showcases what a visually striking film Oldboy is.
  It sees Oh Dae-Su charges headlong through a corridor filled with armed thugs, tearing through right through the crowd before turning back to finish pulverising anyone left standing.
  However, Oh Dae-Su is not Bourne; he doesn't fight with any great amount of skill or precision. Though much of his 15 years in captivity was spent in training, he is clearly no martial artist. He prevails against an almost impossible number of enemies simply because he refuses to submit: the rage that drives him is too great. A modern Captain Ahab, he is a man consumed by a monomaniacal need for revenge, allowing no obstacle to stand between him and it.
  Choi Min-Sik beautifully captures the idea of a once normal man driven halfway (or perhaps entirely) insane by captivity, finally released only to be trapped once more by the compulsive need to discover and destroy his captors. He does most of his acting through his body language, never seeming quite comfortable in the outside world, almost impassive to everything around him, speaking in a stunted, emotionless fashion, often in ambiguous, quasi-philosophical musing; all of which combine to make his violent burst s of anger all the more astonishing for the almost robot-like serenity that precedes them.
  Korea has a reputation as a hotbed of both some of the world's most innovative cinema and its most violent. Oldboy certainly lives up to both of these standards, though the latter drew considerably more attention at its Western release: the aforementioned corridor scene is brutal but nothing compared to Oh Dae-Su's claw hammer based interrogation technique or his infamous sushi order. (If you don't already know, I'd rather not ruin the surprise)
  My only criticism of Oldboy would be that the film begins by posing several interesting questions- such as whether Oh Dae-Su's captivity would have been made easier if he had known how long he was to be held- but then promptly loses interest in them as to devote more time to watching Oh Dae-Su display a rather surprising aptitude for claw hammer-based dentistry.
  Since I mentioned it, I should probably explain why Lee' decision to remake it in English has caused such outrage: it's not (just) snobbery against those who refuse to read subtitles, Oldboy is simply a film that cannot be made in the West. Not only is it far too violent, everything about its tone, style and sense of humour is thoroughly Oriental and will undoubtedly be lost in translation.
  Fortunately, no matter how the remake turns out, we'll always have the original which is a slightly bizarre but entirely wonderful film, shot so gorgeously that even the most unpleasant spectacle is a joy to watch. It's not for the faint of heart but it is one of the greatest films of the last decade.
  

• Anonymous
  Kashif Ahmed23-04-2012
  

  "Was Shakespeare a fraud?" asks the film's provocative tagline; it's an interesting question and one that's vexed and intrigued readers / fans of the Bard for decades. In 'Anonymous', director Roland Emmerich attempts to answer it. The story sees talented nobleman Edward De Vere (a complex and subtly powerful performance by Rhys Ifans) pen the plays we attribute to William Shakespeare, De Vere's Puritan household shuns all forms of creativity and so he pays struggling playwright Ben Johnson (Sebastian Armesto) to put his name to the works. But Johnson, uncomfortable with the ruse and still harbouring dreams to make it on his own, escapes the deal. Enter Will Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) an illiterate, comedic actor who takes Johnson's place in the plan and becomes one of only a handful of people who know the truth.
  
  'Anonymous' tells it's story over the course of 40 years and viewers will have to keep their wits about them if they hope to keep track of the timeline. For the film addresses the all important issue of the plays but also weaves in a compelling subplot revolving around The Essex Rebellion during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, played, in a stroke of casting genius, by mother and daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Joley Richardson.
  
  Now some critics were loathe to give the director of 'Independence Day', 'Godzilla', '2012' and '10,000 B.C.' a fair go, and I'm guessing others simply dismissed it offhand as if Emmerich, given his CV, simply isn't allowed to make a good film. But what's great about 'Anonymous' is that many of the director's own anxieties appear to manifest themselves through De Vere. Especially the line where he scorns Ben Johnson's false modesty and reluctance to accept himself as an artist of importance: "All art is political, Johnson, otherwise it would just be decoration. And all artists have something to say; otherwise they'd make shoes. And you're not a cobbler, are you, Johnson?"
  
  The script reads like Tom Stoppard meets Ezra Pound and actually makes the era rather fun and accessible without patronizing the uninitiated with Baz Luhrmann-esque post-modernism or imitating the rank absurdity of high camp, revisionist hacks like Zack Synder. Straddling the line between entertaining historical fiction and legitimate historical revisionism, 'Anonymous' is a well paced, well acted and underrated film, which didn't get much attention at the cinemas but deserves to be rediscovered at home. Historical fiction at its best.

• Wild At Heart
  Phil Gordon22-04-2012
  

  Wild At Heart: Series 1 Review
  
  Wild At Heart is a family-friendly drama set in Southern Africa with a excellent cast including Stephen Thompson and the now well renowned Amanda Holden. The story follows a family of five from England which takes a trip to Africa after a African monkey emerges in Danny (Thompson) the vet's surgery. After releasing the monkey back into the wild they receive an offer to move there from a game park owner: Anders Duplecee (Deon Stewardson.)
  
  The relatively short six episode series follows the adventures of the family in their new home. Danny(Stephen Thompson), Sarah (Amanda Holden), Rosie (Lucy Jo-Hudson), Evan (Luke Ward-Wilikinson) and Olivia (Olivia Scott-Taylor) all have important lessons to learn and unresolved issues that Africa inevitably draws out for resolution. As well as all of their personal issues the family also has to contend with often drunk business partner Duplecee and well established competitor Tate (Gary Lawson.)
  
  This is definitely a feel good programme with several generic elements of drama, romance & controversy all play along in a light & friendly programme. Each individual episode has it's own plot and it's own drama which allow us to unravel each character's true nature. The cast are all likeable with very clear "goodies" and "baddies" this is definitely the perfect programme to relax to with a large mug of tea.
  
  The interaction with animals in the programme is also spectacular. The camera work is clearly expert and it really feels like you are there with these incredible animals. The programme showcases the value of an animal's life and has a clear central moral value. This programme really is a charmer and it is hard to stop this one working it's way into your heart.
  

• Those Who Kill
  Margaret Calway21-04-2012
  

  This Scandanavian police drama is as good as they get. Storylines and acting - riveting; the main characters - charismatic. Sorry when it finished, so will just have to buy the DVD.

• Hugo
  Matthew Manuel20-04-2012
  

  For starters, the film is amazing - it is a perfect balance of whimsical fantasy and deep heart and emotion. "Hugo" is such an amazing love-letter to the conception of cinema, in a way that only Martin Scorsese could do - it's beautifully shot, wonderfully acted and superbly scripted. There's not a moment in the whole film that the story lags or stops; it continues at a deliberate pace, keeping the viewer constantly entertained. But please don't be fooled into thinking it's simply a childish film - there is something here for everyone and anyone, even though its PG rating may fool you. With that out of the way, we can talk about the actual DVD itself; in a time when most special features are reserved for the Blu-Ray release (which, in itself, is infuriating), "Hugo" is a breath of fresh air - the DVD version contains the same amount of bonus features as the Blu-Ray! These features are in depth and brilliantly focused; there is a making of documentary, an entertaining commentary and a superb featurette on George Melise, who, if you watch the film, you will know and recognise. It's a perfect film, complimented by an awesome release - and you'd be silly to miss it!

• Tower Heist
  Julian Howard13-04-2012
  

  A fairly self-explanatory title, an all-star cast.it looks like a formulaic vehicle designed from the bottom up by movie studio bean counters. But don't write it off. Although comic geniuses Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy star, this film is not overtly a comedy, though it does have funny moments. Instead, it's more of a Robin-Hood themed crime caper whose main 'actor' is in fact the luxury residential New York building most of the film's characters live and work in. Without giving away too much, investment guru and resident Arthur Shaw has been arrested for defrauding all his clients, including the employees of the building whose pensions he just happened to be managing. There follows the attempts of disgruntled building manager Josh (Stiller), employee Charlie (Casey Affleck) and bankrupt resident Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) to get the money back. Convinced that Shaw has a stash of loot somewhere in his apartment, our friends enlist the 'expertise' of small-time criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy). The rest is fairly predictable but great fun nonetheless, with some of the more absurd moments involving the insertion of a car into an elevator shaft (yes really).
  
  Plot aside, one of the ways in which Tower Heist really stands out from the crowd is in the morality theme it pursues. Bernard Madoff's infamous ponzi scheme is a heavy influence here, particularly the less well-reported effect it had on ordinary savers. In Tower Heist, building doorman Lester tries to commit suicide after finding out that Shaw has robbed him of his modest pension. This is both realistic and poignant. Happily, unlike the Madoff case, poetic justice is duly served at the film's conclusion in a way that recalls the finale of 1996's classic Trainspotting. Stylistically, the film feels like Ocean's Eleven - slick, involving and well shot but it's the casting that really stands out here. First, babyface Matthew Broderick is brought in as a failed Wall Street tycoon. This might sounds like an oxymoron but all is forgiven when he is seen with Shaw's classic and much-cherished red Ferrari. Surely a reference to a certain 80s teen movie - can you guess which? Anyone? Anyone?
  
  But special honours have to be reserved for Eddie Murphy whose streetwise, filth-laden banter immediately recalls his glory days in Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop. His towering (excuse the pun) presence and unique brand of humour steal every scene he appears in. This only makes the underutilisation of his character during the film all the more difficult to understand. Thankfully none of this is fatal, thanks to Ben Stiller's reliable lead throughout. Of course, this is not Stiller's first foray into the world of playing it straight, having already started out on this route with Greenberg a couple of years earlier. Nor is he a complete fish out of water, with his everyman victimhood style very well suited to the story.
  
  Overall, an eclectic bunch of actors, a fun plot and some not-so-thinly-veiled Wall Street bashing serve to give Tower Heist a very wide appeal. Go see it.
  

• The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2 Disc Limited Edition)
  Rebecca Felton09-04-2012
  

  This is the second to last film of the twilight saga (the last book has been split into two films). This film is a little slow to start off with, I personally feel that they did not really need to split the final book into two films, I feel that there is the right amount of content for one film and they have decided to split the last book into two films in order to make more money.
  
  I am a massive twilight fan, I began reading the books a few years ago and I could not put them down, I really enjoyed reading them, if you haven't read the books I would advise you to do so before watching the films.
  
  In this film Edward & Bella get married, go on their honeymoon & there is a surprise new character in the form of "Renesmee." To really & truely understand what is happening in this film I would advise you to have preread the books. A friend and I watched this at the cinema in November and she could not follow the story as well having not read them. Jacob has a falling out with Sam & the other werewolves and breaks off on his own for a while, and right at the end of the film there is a surprise twist involving Jacob and Renesmee (which I won't ruin for you).
  
  All in all I was pleased with the film, but I do believe that the books are better (sorry!!)

• We Need To Talk About Kevin
  John Carrow07-04-2012
  

  When baby Kevin is on his way, Eva and Franklin, a young free-spirited city-dwelling couple are forced to move to the suburbs, a purportedly better place to raise a kid. From this first compromise the trouble begins to build; we are shown the gradual and painful proccess of Kevin being raised, him blinding his younger sister and pets being put down the trash waste disposal unit.
  
  Lynne Ramsay gracefully carries the audience from an erie, suspensful drama further into a horror stary, with more dread with each scene, Tilda Swinton's perfectly subtle performance makes the film - I for one totally felt her gradual disappointment and frustration with Kevin as a son and with herself and a mother. Ezra Miller as Kevin is the role which completely brings the film alive though, with his dark and gleeful sinistery one almost feels that he is a very misunderstood cynic with a misplaced sense of humour, of course until the film's finale.
  
  We Need to Talk About Kevin raises the endless and ever-pertinent debate of nature versus nurture, as well as making us all consider the nightmare sceneario all parents hold at the back of their minds. What makes the film unique is that it shows the constant and ongoing agony, guilt and shame that is passed onto Kevin's mother because of his own brutality and shows us the aftermath of his homicidal urges.
  
  While dark and disurbing it should be said that Ramsay has also made a beautifully shot and artistic film. I certainly recommended viewing for any cinemaphiles, parents or casual viewers - though definitely not family viewing!

• Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - The Complete Series
  Ross McIndoe07-04-2012
  

  Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is possibly the most critically acclaimed member of America's "I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY CANCELED..." club.
  After just a single series, Aaron Sorkin's comedy-drama went the way of Futurama, Firefly and Arrested Development; suffering unceremonious cancellation despite howls of outrage from their loyal fans.
  
  It always puzzles me how theses shows seems to suddenly acquire millions of devastated fans immediately after cancellation: if even half the people angrily flooding forums to damn the networks' stupidity and demand the revival of their favourite shows had actually been watching, then how on earth did they get cancelled in the first place? Truly puzzling.
  
  Studio 60 takes place behind the scenes of a fictional weekly sketch-show reminiscent of Saturday Night Live supposedly drawing from Sorkin's own experiences in the industry.
  The god man behind hit series The West Wing and the Oscar-winning The Social Network certainly seems in his element as characters bounce one-liners of each other at the almost super-human speed only Sorkin is capable of.
  Each episode seems to contain twice as many lines as those of any other show and yet you could pluck out almost any one at random and find it to be both cleverer and funnier than the best offering s of the comedy series currently dominating American television. (Big Bang Theory, I'm looking at you)
  
  Of course, great writing is no use if it's being read by amateurs but fortunately Studio 60's cast is devoid of even a single weak link, with stand-out performances from Friends star man Matthew Perry and Sorkin's former West Wing cohort Bradley Whitford as the best friends who run the show-within-a-show as Head Writer and Executive Producer respectively.
  This gives them ample opportunity for banter as Perry plays a more grounded Chandler, floundering to try and write a new show every week whilst every conceivable thing goes wrong and Whitford tries to keep him - and everyone else - under control.
  
  The marriage of a top-notch cast and one of the greatest writers currently working in Hollywood seems like it should have made Studio 60 an instant classic and this was certainly the feeling after the show's pilot won it the adoration of critics and an audience of over 13 million. So what went wrong?
  
  Many are quick to push "too smart" as the reason for its downfall and there is something to be said for this argument.
  
  One of Studio 60's great achievements is its portrayal of the challenges of being satirical in post-9/11 America where any criticism of your country or government can be seen as unpatriotic and the media will go to great lengths to misinterpret what you've so that they can take offence to it.
  
  It takes on big issues like religion and censorship in a high-brow and intelligent manner, satirising large parts of American culture and harshly criticising American television's reliance on low-brow, unintelligent programming, citing reality television as the very lowest of the low. (I'm sure the irony of being cancelled in favour of reality TV show "The Real Wedding Crashers" will not have been lost on Mr Sorkin, though I doubt whether he found it particularly funny at the time)
  
  This no doubt made it less palatable to mainstream tastes than rival 30 Rock which was created around the same time with a similar show-within-a-show premise but with a cast of more cartoonishly over-the-top characters and less subtle approach to comedy.
  The similarity of the two shows lead to the widely held - and ultimately correct - belief that either it or Studio 60 would have to go before too long.
  
  
  Frankly, I personally find the "too clever" argument to be a little too simple and more than a little self-indulgent on the part of those who use it, many of whom seem to enjoy doing so to imply that it was too clever for the general public but not for them. Because they're geniuses.
  
  In truth, the show itself has to take some of the blame: wonderful as it is, it isn't perfect.
  By around the halfway point, the storytelling becomes more than a little sporadic as plot element are brought up, dropped for a few episodes and then suddenly re-appear only to disappear once more without being fully resolved.
  Similarly, the sudden decision to have the romantic plots take centre-stage was perhaps an ill-judged attempt to widen the show's appeal, sadly Sorkin's light-speed banter isn't a natural fit for sentimentality.
  
  There was also the small matter of the show's reported $3 million per episode production costs: filming on a set-within-a-set is an expensive business, especially when it's done as stylishly as it is in Studio 60: characters exchanging banter whilst walking rapidly down corridors was a signature of The West Wing that is replicated here with elaborate tracking shots up and down staircases, through dressing rooms and offices as characters appear and disappear through countless adjoining doorways: the effect is enthralling and kinetic but certainly doesn't come cheap.
  
  There was also the small matter of Sorkin's writing fees.
  
  It's interesting to note that during its brief time on air, Studio 60's rating were consistently higher than 30 Rock's but the latter was cost considerably less to make: no doubt a significant factor in why it's still running today and Studio 60 is not.
  
  Ultimately though, Studio 60 was simply one of the finest television shows ever to air: taking on big issues with the kind of intelligence which we don't see a lot of right now as most comedies play for easy laughs instead of challenging their audience for fear of them not sticking around at the commercial break.
  Though it does experiences minor teething problems as it works out where the story should go, it's a damn shame it never had the chance to find its feet fully as even the first series is of a higher quality than almost anything to hit the small screen since.
  
  If nothing else, I can personally assure you, it's better than whatever you're watching right now.

• Callan - Wet Job
  Khadian06-04-2012
  

  Read lots of different reviews before I bought this film. some good some mediocre some downright awful. It comes down to expectations and what you want from the film. If you want the haunting theme tune and the swinging light...it is not there except the light makes an appearance on the DVD menu. If you want a deep and meaningful storyline then dissappointment again. Shakesperian acting not there either except in the one area that the film excels. Edward Woodwood is superb in the lead role and does not miss a beat in the character neither does Russell Hunter as his sidekick "Lonely". The depth of the relationship between these central characters is laid out for all to see and it is this that makes the film a must see even though there are a lot of flaws that need to be overlooked. Callan started as an "Armchair Theatre" production and it ends using the same style. If you enjoyed Callan at the beginning you will like Callan at the end.

• Game of Thrones - Season 1
  Jens Hallberg05-04-2012
  

  There is really no excuse not to acquire Game of Thrones on blu-ray. If you, for some unexplicable reason, missed the series when it was broadcast on television, now is the time to reedem yourself. And if you've already seen it, you still need to see it again as it's a must in any decent collection.
  
  Why? Well, even apart from the content itself, this release is packed with goodies. Each episode has a variety of ways to watch it in; you can of course play the episode in its entirety, but also with an episode guide, a choice which, among other things means that you can get information about what characters are involved in a scene, a little biography about them and other utilities. It also contains seven audio commentaries ...
  
  Very few TV series is on this level of quality. Although we have only just seen the first season of 10 episodes, but I do not think any television series ever was produced at this level. To date, recordings have cost 312 million, making the season one of Game of Thrones the most expensive so far.
  
  Continuing on this path, there is nothing to stop Game of Thrones to become best-ever TV series. A substantial budget is one thing, but few adaptations are so faithful to their sources as Game of Thrones has been so far. George RR Martin's books are loved by millions, and the TV series makes them justice.
  
  Watching the series again on Blu-ray has been a delight.The series is strong enough to withstand multiple turns in the blu-ray player and the fact is that there is much that you easily miss the first time, especially small clues to later events.
  
  The series ten episodes are divided over five discs, which directly implies that this is something special, and it is... The picture quality is superb, the detail is unsurpassed and blacks are among the best I've seen. The color palette remains a bit on the gray side, but skin tones are still perfect. This is the crème de la crème when we're talking TV series on Blu-ray.
  
  The soundtrack is also of very high class, but it's not perfect The dialogue is, while often excellent, sometimes difficult to perceive - but this is one very few occasions. Otherwise, very impressive and the base really makes the sofa shake!
  
  We talk sometimes of reference quality and in terms of picture quality, Game of Thrones reaches this level by a wide margin, and as the sound is almost there, the series is excellent to display if you want to demonstrate how good blu-ray can look.
  
  The bonus material is very rich and provides us with excellent value for money. Among others, there's a "making of" documentary, "A complete guide to Westeros," some interviews with the creators (and writers) and we learn how the language 'dothraki' was invented... And much, much more, hours of bonus material lies on the discs, all in high-def.
  
  Game of Thrones is a great TV production that sets a new standard for the fantasy genre and lifts the same to a level never before seen. The same goes for the blu-ray release, which puts Game of Thrones at the front of the stage, even if it is not flawless. This is a no-brainer. It's a must buy.

• Machete
  Mickey03-04-2012
  

  Great vintage style OTT action! Lots of weapons, explosions, women and comedy lines!
  A must for any fan of Grindhouse cinema, and obviously the likes of Death Proof, Planet Terror etc...
  Could do a lot worse than spending £6 on this gem!!

• Life on Mars - Season 1
  Dorian Frost31-03-2012
  

  Life on Mars:
  
  This drama is a refreshing twist on the crime genre; the mysterious sci-fi elements thrown in that clash so well with the classic criminal elements create a new and intriguing programme. It begins set in 2006. Sam Tyler is a DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) is investigating a serial killer on the loose and has very little leads despite all of modern technology's gifts. His DI (Detective Inspector) on the case and his girlfriend Maya goes to investigate with her gut feeling rather than modern technology and in the process is kidnapped by the killer. This is all trundling along nicely & slightly predictably when suddenly our protagonist is in a car accident. The build up to the moment it happens is done well with the main focus being on Maya's kidnapping, the silence of the moment causes you to draw breath as the hairs on the back of your neck rise up, and then the actual impact is guaranteed to make you jump. Also the inclusion of the song "Life on Mars" playing by David Bowie was a nice touch. We then see Sam wake up in another world, industrial parks & signs promising to build the motorway he had just had an accident on. He is dressed in ridiculous clothes typical of the 70's consisting of boots & flared jeans. He awakes next to a car saying he has transferred from Hyde to..where? We soon find out it is in fact 1973, and Sam is only a DI working under Gene Hunt. Trying to keep 70's Manchester safe and figure out what happened and how to get back home.
  
  There is a very diverse range of character types here, all with the stereotypical view of the 70s, one of the most prominent and engaging is the DCI of the police station Gene Hunt. Brash, rude, arrogant and to the point he gives the show hilarity, honesty and steals the screen. No doubt quotes will be showered over Facebook of his many diverse insults. He portrays the stereotypical police officer in 1973: sexist and uncontrollable but determined to protect the city's streets; by any means necessary. The clear differences between cases in 1973 and 2006 are plainly laid out, the officers' ambiguity about forensics, the lack of an official interview room and how officers are perfectly willing to fit criminals up if they have no evidence. This is a completely alien world to Sam; its literally like he's landed on Mars.
  
  Sam himself is more of a reserved character, which develops throughout the series; he seems almost feeble and timid when next to Hunt but there is something to be said for his analytical and morally sound thinking which hide a stronger more determined layer; at times he even acts similarly to Hunt. He tries to guide the service to make honest convictions of criminals and to figure out what has happened to him. There are scenes where Sam can hear the world of 2006 around him as he is in a hospital and the interaction between both worlds is near ingenious. One scene has a nurse accidentally pull out his life support: all the lights go out in 1973, the doors slam shut and Sam can feel himself dying; but when it is restored so is 1973 and nobody in that world has noticed a thing. The whole plot can appear confusing at first and does require watching some episodes a few times but the subtle complexities that lie under the surface are the real meat of the series. How did Sam get here? Is this real, or a fantasy created as he lies Comatose in St James' Hospital?
  
  The Manchester police force is confronted with several different types of criminal and they have react differently to each one, classic police methods such as using moles are seen and the clash between Hunt's "gut feeling" approach and Sam's analytical "by-the-book" make excellent television. We see serial killers who will act in 2006 being caught in 1973, we see early major criminals and how Sam handles trying to stop them becoming the mobsters they are destined to be. Overall the series benefits from excellent writing and an superb cast, they provide humour, danger and excitement to any audience. Definitely worth a watch.

• The Change-Up - Triple Play (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy)
  Kashif Ahmed29-03-2012
  

  Hilarious, hi-concept, low brow body swapping tomfoolery; 'The Change Up' would have been an unremarkable, perhaps unbearable, addition to this tried and tested formula, were it not elevated beyond its premise by the comedic genius of Justin Bateman and the wry humour of Ryan Reynolds. The plot barely warrants repetition but it's your classic life-swap scenario: stressed family man Bateman wants to change over with womanising, pot smoking dosser Reynolds, it happens, hilarity ensues. 'The Change Up' will only appeal to Bateman and Reynolds fans, fortunately, I'm a big fan of both and found their performances and imitations of each other, spot on, with plenty of laugh out loud scenes and a plethora of witty one-liners. My only concern was the utter contempt the team behind this movie seem to have for their female characters; relegating the entire gender into a bizarre narrative limbo whereby every woman is either sexually grotesque, incompetent, annoying or the kind of slut (played here by Olivia Wilde) that only exists in the minds of misogynistic Hollywood hacks. Still, as long as the jokes work and its ridiculous, 120 minute running time doesn't draw attention to itself, what do I care? 'The Change Up' is good for what it is and like its sister film 'Bad Teacher', does opt for quite a few cheap laughs and wholly unnecessary, though mercifully infrequent, concessions to the stupid, gross-out humour crowd. A lot funnier than I thought it would be, but only Bateman-Reynolds fans need risk it.