49th Parallel
March 9, 2007
In 1940, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger proposed to make a film on a grand scale with movie stars and filming to predominantly take place in Canada. Set during the early years of World War II before the United States became involved, 49th Parallel...
The Prestige
March 6, 2007
In the cinematic duel between two films about 19th century magicians, The Prestige (2006) certainly had the advantage over The Illusionist (2006) with big name stars, a large budget and a major studio backing it. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan...
The Night Listener
January 24, 2007
Gabriel Noone (Williams) is a writer and a late night talk show host in New York City who is in the midst of a creative funk – nothing seems to work anymore. His lover, Jess (Cannavale) has just moved out and this leaves him feeling a little isolated....
Alias: Season 5
December 14, 2006
Some fans questioned J.J. Abrams’ decision to incorporate Jennifer Garner’s pregnancy into the Alias television series. It is not known for sure if there was any connection but the show struggled ratings-wise and this was not helped by the lack of...
The Fallen Idol
December 7, 2006
Based on the Graham Greene short story “The Basement Room” (he also wrote the screenplay), The Fallen Idol (1948) is a taut thriller seen through the eyes of child. Phillipe (Henrey) is the son of a foreign diplomat in London, England. His parents...
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
November 30, 2006
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse premiered on April 21, 1933 in Budapest. It was banned in Germany because of its thinly-veiled criticism of Adolph Hitler and his regime. The film was finally shown in Germany on August 24, 1951 in a shortened version. The...
Mission: Impossible III: 2-Disc Special Collector’s Edition
November 13, 2006
After the stylish, over-the-top melodramatics of John Woo’s entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise, it was time for a new direction. With five seasons of the international superspy television show Alias under his belt, it made sense that J.J. Abrams...
The Ninth Gate
October 31, 2006
Critical and commercial reaction to Roman Polanski’s films has always been mixed at best. To say that they are an acquired taste is an understatement. The Ninth Gate (1999) is no exception. Despite what the film’s misleading trailer promoted at the...
Point Break: Pure Adrenaline Edition
October 17, 2006
Generally panned by critics upon its release, Point Break (1991) has gone on to enjoy something of a minor cult following among action film fans who enjoy its breathlessly choreographed action sequences involving daring bank heists, car chases, skydiving...
Backdraft: 2-Disc Anniversary Edition
October 11, 2006
At the time of its release, Backdraft (1991) was regarded by some critics as an admirable if not flawed homage to the profession of firefighting. Of course, compared to the recent Ladder 49 (2004) it seems downright gritty and hard-hitting but still doesn’t...
