Taika Waititi Is Wrong About Michael Curtiz and Casablanca

Taika Waititi is absolutely wrong about nobody remembering Casablanca filmmaker Michael Curtiz some 80 years after the film was released. The comments came during a cover story interview with The Hollywood Reporter. It’s enough to make someone’s eyes roll. If people do not know the name of Michael Curtiz, it is only because of sheer ignorance. Maybe they didn’t read Alan K. Rode’s superb biography, Michael Curtiz: A Life In Film. Pick it up and…

"Taika Waititi Is Wrong About Michael Curtiz and Casablanca"

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is Awesome Fun

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse not only manages to improve on its predecessor but it is one of the best pictures of the year. Unlike many Marvel films that came before, there is not a scene during the credits. However, there is a lot of animation to appreciate as the credits run their course. It’s the ONLY disappointment about an otherwise amazing film. What I can say with 100% certainty is that Spider-Man: Across the Universe…

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is Awesome Fun"

The Wild Bunch: A Gritty and Violent Western

The Wild Bunch is another game-changing Western and among the most violent and gritty films for the late 1960s in cinema. “We’ve got to start thinking beyond our guns. Those days are closing fast.” – Pike Bishop (William Holden) This is what I call one of those better-late-than-never viewings. Because of its AFI honors, the film had been on my to-watch list for many years. It’s not particularly a title that’s evaded me especially with…

"The Wild Bunch: A Gritty and Violent Western"

Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 1 Arrives On Warner Archive Blu-ray

Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 1 contains 20 animated Looney Tunes shorts that have never been released on Blu-ray. Talk about going into the Warner Bros. vault to find some classics ranging from 1945 through 1959! Not only are these shorts making their arrival on Blu-ray but Warner Archive has made sure that they are restored, remastered, and uncut. While there are various directors, many of the shorts feature the voice stylings of the legendary…

"Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 1 Arrives On Warner Archive Blu-ray"

Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray

Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear–Hanna-Barbera’s first animated theatrical feature–makes its arrival on Blu-ray via the Warner Archive Collection. Produced at a time when Hanna-Barbera Productions was based at Columbia Pictures, the Columbia logo has been on-and-off through the years. The Columbia card briefly appears at the start of the film on Blu-ray. Unlike an earlier DVD from Warner Home Video, the Warner Archive Blu-ray is in its 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio. Spring is here so…

"Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray"

King Solomon’s Mines Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray

The Oscar-winning adventure film, King Solomon’s Mines, makes its arrival on Blu-ray by way of the Warner Archive Collection. On one level, it’s hard to believe that King Solomon’s Mines was nominated for Best Picture at the 23rd Academy Awards. Perhaps what is even more hard to believe is that the film won for Film Editing over the likes of All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard. It’s win for Cinematography–Color is perfectly understandable. The cinematography…

"King Solomon’s Mines Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray"

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Arrives on Home Video

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is now available for fans to watch with plenty of bonus content on home video. What follows is my original review for the theatrical release: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a laugh riot through and through in the newest big screen adventure based on the game. There is a mid-credit scene. I want to preface this review by saying that I have never played the game. My…

"Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Arrives on Home Video"

Warner Bros.: 100 Years of Storytelling – A Must-Own Book

Warner Bros.: 100 Years of Storytelling, written by Mark A. Vieira, is the must-own centennial book about the studio’s history. Vieira dives into the vault to bring readers images that many of us have probably never seen before. The author brings a century of WB history to life in front of our very eyes. TCM host Ben Mankiewicz pens the forward. Every chapter consists of a few page of text before showing off a decade’s…

"Warner Bros.: 100 Years of Storytelling – A Must-Own Book"

Transformers 6-Movie SteelBook Collection Arrives On 4K Ultra HD

The Transformers 6-Movie SteelBook Collection makes its arrival on 4K Ultra HD days before the next prequel in the franchise. All six movies in the franchise are being collected together for the first time in 4K Ultra HD. Each film is in a separate SteelBook containing the feature film on the 4K Ultra HD disc and legacy bonus content on Blu-ray. Bumblebee is the only film that appears to be included on both 4K UHD…

"Transformers 6-Movie SteelBook Collection Arrives On 4K Ultra HD"

Confessions of a Nazi Spy Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray

A huge risk at the time of its release, Confessions of a Nazi Spy is now available on Blu-ray through the Warner Archive Collection. No other studio would show guts like Warner Bros. in the late 1930s. I cannot say this enough. This is certainly something that I discuss almost every time that I write about the studio for its centennial. Germany’s LA consul, George Gyssling, wrote letters in hopes of shutting the film down.…

"Confessions of a Nazi Spy Gets Warner Archive Blu-ray"