sandwichjohnfilms

Compliance DVD Review By: MattInRC The disturbing Compliance seeks to prove that humans really are as stupid and gullible as we think. On the surface, 2012's Compliance might seem like the perfect example of an independent film that should never have been made: no A-list Hollywood actors and an unknown director in Craig Zobel. In fact, so few people responded to Compliance that it was quietly pulled after making just $316,000 in just 21 theaters; but dig deeper and one realizes that its performance was in no way a slant as to its quality. Compliance is an underground gem, demonstrating the depths to which some people will blindly follow authority, all in the name of protecting the public good. Set at an Ohio fast-food restaurant, the manager Sandra ( Ann Dowd ) and her employee Becky ( Dreama Walker ) don't like each other and fail to get along - it's a case of mutual needs meeting at a sharp point. During an especially busy day at the restaurant, Sandra

RED DAWN Blu-Ray Review By: MattInRC RED DAWN offers a good (but not great) video and audio experience in a film that holds up fairly well...sort of. As an 80's child who grew up on television's first forays into quality spy thrillers like Airwolf and The Equalizer , I can remember the release of the original  RED DAWN  as more of a yawnfest than a gritty interpretation of a conventional World War III. At the time, I remember thinking that invasion was not only a possibility but a certainty; The Day After had been released in 1983, occupying my nightmares for a week. But, the film never connected with me for some reason - perhaps its happy ending didn't match my new perceptions of war in the nuclear age. To be honest, I've hadn't watched either film since their initial releases because of my impulsive reaction to them. But with the release of the disappointing remake, a revisiting of the original Red Dawn now on Blu-ray made it a little more timely, w

The Bourne Legacy Legacy Blu-Ray Review By: MattInRC The disappointing  Bourne Legacy  delivers excellent audio and video for a film I wish was better. As a fan of Intelli-Action (fast-paced AND smartly dialogued action cinema), I have enjoyed the Bourne series because it's essentially moved the action genre into a more intelligent direction, giving old tired franchises like James Bond new life. Watch  Casino Royale  to witness the renaissance courtesy of Jason Bourne. Thus it seemed like a strange moment when the lights came on after the satisfying  The Bourne Ultimatum  had concluded. Audiences were left to wonder as to the future of a franchise when its main character was essentially vindicated. The answer from Universal would take five years to arrive, as  The Bourne Legacy  would not reset the franchise, but rather move it in a different but no less familiar direction. So, does  Legacy  offer audiences another thrill-ride/political thriller? The answer

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial   Blu-Ray Review By: MattInRC Make sure to follow MattInRC on Twitter for all his updates and reviews. The instant classic  E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial  arrives in a stunning Blu-ray release that's a must-have catalog release. There are few films in the pantheon of great ones that supplant  E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial .  Growing up when the film was released in 1982, I honestly ignored it as I took to the theaters to watch Blade Runner, the re-run of  Empire Strikes Back,  and played with my Star Wars figures.  To me,  E.T.  seemed neither deep enough nor dark enough for my tastes.  It wasn't until its recent release onto Blu-ray that I learned what all the fuss was about; and while I take nothing away from  Blade Runner  and its remarkable achievements, I can see why so many people revere  E.T.   The reasons are hard to pin down, but I think it offers that special blend of nostalgia from those who grew up in the 80's and 90's

Moonrise Kingdom Blu-Ray Review By: MattInRC Make sure to follow MattInRC on twitter for all his reviews. Moonrise Kingdom is uniquely quirky, impressively captivating, and one of best the films of the year as it arrives for its Blu-ray release. To those outside of the indie movie clique, it might look as though the work of Wes Anderson represents no more than series of boring conversations about...well...nothing at all. Locked in a perpetual episode of Seinfeld, in which his characters essentially do nothing, Anderson's work is quintessential eye candy: extreme closeups and other unique camera angles mix with inventive storytelling that's deeply-layered and sometimes even bordering on self-parody. But it's his commitment to those quirky characters that also rules the days. His newest work, Moonrise Kingdom , is Anderson at his best, wrapping an intelligent script around a rich visual experience that plays very well on Blu-ray. The Movie - 5/5 The

Universal is working on a follow-up to one of its biggest domestic hits of 2012, Safe House . David Guggenheim , who wrote the original script while working a day job as an editor at Us Weekly, is back to pen the as-yet-untitled sequel. Scott Stuber is returning as producer via his Universal-based Bluegrass Films. The action-thriller original followed a bored young CIA agent ( Ryan Reynolds ) overseeing a South African safe house who is thrust into a life-and-death adventure when he has to keep a rogue agent ( Denzel Washington ) safe. Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Safe House made $126 million domestically and $202 million worldwide. Reynolds likely would return to star in the sequel, though a source says no deal has been made. Washington’s involvement is less clear because (spoiler alert) his character didn't survive the first movie. Sources say the studio is keen to have Washington involved, however. All parties were mum as to whether the new project would be a prequel

SAFE HOUSE Blu-Ray Review By: MattINRC SAFE HOUSE is a gritty and engrossing spy thriller that sports an excellent transfer and good supplements. A lot has been made of Ryan Reynolds since his franchise-ending performance in Green Lantern in 2011. What seemed like a bankable actor in 2010 suddenly became a Hollywood after-thought. Even a good rebound performance in Buried couldn't get audiences to come back. That's why a meaty role like Safe House was just the thing he needed, proving to everyone that good roles and production values can bring almost anyone back from such colossal disappointments as Green Lantern . Say what you want about him, but everything about  SAFE HOUSE  is top notch. The Movie - 4/5 Matt Weston ( Reynolds ) is a young CIA agent whose career is stuck managing a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. A haven for agents on the run, those planning an operation, or those interrogating a prisoner, a safe house is almost like CIA's home a

To celebrate the May 15th Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download release of intense found-footage thriller CHRONICLE , Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment & IGN are pleased to announce the launch of Film School Chronicles - a filmmaking challenge designed to give young filmmakers the chance to share their talents and celebrate the extraordinary! Launched today, the competition will run through the IGN Facebook page until May 22nd challenging users to create 30-90 second videos on the subject of the extraordinary. The best submission, as judged by Chronicle Director Josh Trank , will receive a fantastic Digital SLR camera set-up and the chance to fly to LA and meet with Josh. Go to apps .facebook.com/FilmSchoolChronicles for more details. Three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to their developing uncanny telekinetic powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities and use them to their advantage, their lives start to

Could the ultimate collector’s edition get any better? RAMA sure thinks so. They’re not kidding when they said that this is the ultimate collector’s edition, WB went above and beyond to make sure that fans of Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN get the best of the experience, not just in screen or sound quality for your home theater but the packet also comes with countless stories and entertaining files that make everything about it including the characters seem real, I’ve never seen a blu-ray packet this ambitious before… As he plans a job that could result in his gang’s biggest score ever, a longtime thief plans a way out of the life and the town while dodging the FBI agent looking to bring him and hish bank robbing crew down. In addition to heading an electrifying cast, Ben Affleck also directed and co-wrote this suspenseful, critically acclaimed crime thriller that unfolds and often explodes across gritty Boston locations. Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus

WAR HORSE Blu-Ray Review By: RAMA Here is RAMA's review of the Blu-Ray of WAR Horse . WAR HORSE was not one of my favorite films of 2011, but it was a very well-film. It had to be especially when you’re dealing with masters like director Steven Spielberg , composer John Williams, editor Michael Kahn, and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, that’s filmmaking dream team right there. They say ‘you are only as good as the people you work with’ and these are people Spielberg trusts with his works. Stunning is how I’d describe this period piece that’s also tender and genuine. It was made with the best of intentions and the 4-disc combo blu-ray pack, which I highly recommend, is a testament to that.. “ War Horse ,” the Academy Award®-nominated Best Picture, is a story of incredible friendship, loyalty, courage, hope and tenacity. Based on the Tony Award®-winning play, and set against the sweeping canvas of World War I, this deeply heartfelt tale begins with the remarkable friendship