This week, headlining the titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD is perhaps the final theatrical release ever by a noted auteur, and while it’s not alone in terms of being at least somewhat of a quality offering, this is hardly a week to wild about. There’s not really anything else worth mentioning today in any notable way, though it’s not a completely barren slate. It’s simply just the nature of a week when most of the titles are early year releases…the quality of January through March dictates what hits home video as Spring begins to turn into Summer. Considering what some of the past weeks have been like, this is a much better group than that and I’m really just trying not to focus on the dearth that I know exists next week. There’s really only one film in any real contention for top honors today, but it’s one I have no problem recommending to you all. For my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go with one of the first few months of 2013′s more high anticipated titles, as you’d probably expect that I would here. You’ll see which movie I’m speaking of at the end of the column as per the usual (though I’m sure you can guess), but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another edition of Vintage selections. Here we go folks!
This week, there’s again somewhat of a shortage in terms of new releases to choose from on Blu-Ray/DVD. It’s not necessarily some sort of atrocious day for movies or anything of that nature, but it’s just not a period where a ton of things are hitting shelves, and honestly this is something that’s going to be more or less the norm during these upcoming summer months. The highest profile title is going to excite some people, but it’s not exactly the type of film that unites folks in any way. It really is in contention for top honors this week mostly due to a lack of competition. I thought about my other choices, but ultimately my PICK OF THE WEEK really wasn’t any sort of choice at all, as you’ll see. I wound up going with the aforementioned notable flick, which some on this site (and staff) love, while others are rather lukewarm on. I like it enough to be okay with this recommendation, but a little more in the way of choice would have been pleasing. Anyway, I’ll reveal that film a little later, but for now, why don’t we dive into the always enjoyable world of Vintage picks!
This week, I have one film that I feel decently good about recommending to you, and a few others that are just “meh”, along with one gloriously bad title bringing up the rear. This really isn’t an especially good slate of titles making up the release day folks, but it’s better than some of the ones we’ve dealt with earlier this year (and one coming up this month…sigh). Just consider what a few of the past weeks have been like when we were at our worse and this doesn’t look nearly as iffy as it might have otherwise. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I didn’t have too much of a choice, so I opted to go with the film that wound up with a thumbs up from me…shocking, right? You’ll see which movie I’m talking about at the very end of the column as is always the case, but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another Vintage selection, one that I hope can function as another flick for you all to enjoy at home this week. Here goes nothing!
This week, one of the big Oscar players of last year headlines the titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD, but it’s thankfully not alone in terms of quality offerings. There’s one other film worth mentioning today, along with a few others that are more mixed in their worthiness, though it’s a light week in terms of quantity. This isn’t particularly a top notch slate of releases ladies and gents, but it’s another continued step in the right direction for the column and continues an upward spike in quality. Considering what many of the past weeks have been like, this is a trend I’m really enjoying and hoping continues indefinitely, even though I know that’s rather unlikely. There were two movies contending for that top honor but only one flick could emerge victorious. For my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go with the film that cracked my 2012 Top Ten list, as you’d expect that I would. You’ll see which movie I’m speaking of at the end of the column as per the usual, but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another Vintage selection. Here we go folks!
This week, we have a pair easy to recommend titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD, but for a change they’re not coming to the party alone. There are some other films worth mentioning today, even if they’re not especially of the highest quality and I won’t be recommending many of them. In no way is this a top notch slate of releases, but it’s a real step in the right direction when held up against where we’ve been at with the column during the past few weeks. Even having a decision of what to make my top choice is a welcome return to form here. Both of the flicks contending for that honor are underrated and deserving of more attention than they received, but for my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go for the even smaller scale of the two. You’ll see what I’m talking about towards the end of the column, but right now it’s time for us to dive into a Vintage selection, so that’s where we’ll begin as usual!
Once again this week, we’re faced with the fact that it’s a very light slate of new releases ladies and gentlemen. On the plus side though, today features one terrific film hitting shelves, and it’s a real saving grace. In fact, it’s one of my Top Ten from 2012, so that certainly says something. Sadly, it’s really the only thing worthwhile this week, something I’m getting just a bit tired of saying more than once a month, but at least the top pick is high quality, which is more than I could say just seven days ago in this very column. That certainly saves this week’s grouping somewhat. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I was delighted to be able to cite one of my favorite flicks of last year (though it’s actually towards the bottom of Ten, if that works as a hint for you), and I support this choice wholeheartedly. We’ll get to that top notch film in a bit (especially with the dearth of other new releases to talk about at any length), but for now…it’s that time again folks. Yes, it’s time for my Vintage pick!
The hit series continues to break DVD sales records. ”The Bible” is the fastest pre-selling faith based title in the history of Christian Retail. Emmy consideration? Probably so. Pick it up today. Check out the press release after the jump.
This week, there really isn’t any way around the fact that nothing of note is coming out on Blu-Ray and DVD. I’ve honestly only seen one of the releases, and while I probably liked it more than the average viewer, it’s hardly something that I’m enthusiastic about in any way and never anticipated having to give it top honors for a week. Sadly, today is one of those days, so we have a top pick this week coming strictly by way of default. That’s the way it goes folks, and next week is better, I assure you, with many of the weeks to come being high quality overall. To even things out I’ll try and give the Vintage picks a little more to them than normal, but this is just the sort of day that we have to get through in order to have better ones for the column. Basically, my PICK OF THE WEEK is a highly forgettable if entertaining would be Oscar hopeful that wins the day by virtue of having been seen by me. That title will get its moment in the sun rather shortly, but until then, lets focus in on some of those Vintage picks that just might save the day!
How there any lovers of Steven Spielberg’s Lincolnthat are still bummed it lost Best Picture at last year’s Oscars? We have a chance to make this time a bit more managable for you. We are giving away a few copies of the film that racked up 47 wins, 108 total nominations, and won two Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Daniel Day-Lewis) and Best Production Design this past award season.
There a few clips of the film down below along with bonus clips that you will find on your Blu-Ray + DVD copy if you win. How do you win, you ask? All you have to do is watch the clips and comment down below using your Facebook, Twitter, or Google sign-in and answer the following:
Tell us what your favorite scene from Lincoln is and why?
Who gave your favorite performance from the film and why?
What President do you want to see get the biopic treatment next and who do you want to play him?
We have three copies to give away. One will be chosen at random, one will be chosen by myself, and the last will be chosen by one of my writers. Pretty easy, eh? Only one entry per reader, please.
This week, there’s one real good quality title among the group coming to Blu-Ray/DVD, and that’s simply about it. It’s one of those release dates that just lacks any studio releases for one reason or another. I’ve never quite seen the logic in not trying to take advantage of light days like this one and making a real push for certain films to get a second life, but that’s me and I’m not a studio head. I do really like the movie that’s getting top honors from me this week though, so the day is hardly a wash or anything of that sort (it also ties into something else going on this week, but I won’t say what it is for fear of spoiling it for a few of you). It’s just one of those columns where it pays to make use of my Vintage pick, or at least more so than usual. I do have lots of good things to say about my PICK OF THE WEEK, so all is not lost folks, not by a long shot. It’s just a more mellow week than usual, all in all. You’ll understand what I’m getting at shortly, but first, why don’t we get to that aforementioned Vintage pick? Off we go into the land of home video!
This week, there’s two heavy hitters coming to Blu-Ray/DVD, and then…well…there’s everything else. I actually had a first here in the column in regard to my top pick, and that’s something I always enjoy having happen. Essentially, I actually changed my planned selection. As a bit of background information, let me start by saying I normally plan out the releases I want to recommend at least a few weeks in advance. The dates that these movies hit shelves are out there pretty early on, so I try to sort out what the upcoming month would look like. This time around, I had planned to talk a lot about one particular film, but I found that I was already doing so a lot in the days prior (which should be a hint about the identity of one of the two titles in contention), so I opted to give that one second place and go with what would have been my runner up. I feel almost the same about them in terms of how much I like them, though they’re as different as can be. So, for my PICK OF THE WEEK, I went with a flick I haven’t written much about instead of one that I’ve written tons about. You’ll see what I mean in a moment, but first…a Vintage pick!
This week, we have one of those interesting situations where some of my favorite 2012 titles are coming to Blu-Ray and DVD along with some of my least favorite. Neither of those films that I don’t care for made my Bottom Ten, but they were both incredibly undeserving of the acclaim that they received. As for those two top tier flicks, one received some Oscar attention and a spot on my Top Ten list, while the other is an incredibly underrated work in my eyes. This didn’t set up too hard of a fight for top honors, since one is clearly the best offering today, but I do want to mention that there’s definitely a high level second choice this week. You’ll see that soon enough though, so for now lets focus on the PICK OF THE WEEK. My choice is one of the most recent Best Picture bridesmaids, and one that perhaps deserved even more love than it got. What title am I referring to? You’ll see soon enough, but for now, it’s time for a Vintage pick folks!
This week brings the second go around for the new version of the column. You all chimed in with your thoughts on the revamp, and I’m pleased to say that it was an overwhelming success. The one thing I noticed was that the Vintage picks were missed, so they’re back this week folks, and they won’t be going anywhere! As for the films coming out today, it’s one of the more crowded fields this year, complete with a few Oscar cited flicks in the bunch. They’re not going to be my top choice, but they certainly have their fans. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I’m actually opting to go with a rather underrated movie, one that I believe very few even saw. I was so over the moon about this piece of cinema that it very nearly made my Top Ten of 2012 list and I was even quoted in the film’s marketing. What movie is this, you ask? Well, you’ll find out a little later on in the column, but for now we’re going to start with many of you asked for…the return of the Vintage pick!
This week, I’m trying something a bit different for the column folks. Just about everything you know and (hopefully) love about my DVD Picks are still here, but the packaging is getting a bit of switch. I’m also adding a few details and contemplating dropping my Vintage picks. That one I’m pretty much leaving up to you all, so if you don’t want me to have that section of the column go, let me know. Today I’m going to not have it as a test run, but it may very well be back. As for the new things, I’m going to be giving you a little bit more information about the titles hitting Blu-Ray and DVD each week, along with highlighting a more diverse slate of flicks. Yes, I’ll even be listing the TV releases along with certain Blu-Ray debuts/re-releases (which when apt will be filed as a special “Double Dip of the Week”), so there’s truly something for everyone. As for the PICK OF THE WEEK, that’s still going to be here of course, it’s just going to be at the bottom of the article now, which allows for a little more suspense as well as space to talk more about it. It should be good stuff all around, but for now, why don’t we just dive right in and see how the 2.0 version of the column works for everyone! Read more on Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week (3/05/2013)…
10 years ago today, Steven Spielberg began production on what would become the first film in history to sweep every single major precursor including BAFTA, Golden Globes, and the Academy Award for Best Picture. Schindler’s List (1993) is having its 20th anniversary celebrated on Blu Ray this coming Tuesday.
The film won seven Oscars including Best Picture. One of the craziest misses for the film is the loss of Best Supporting Actor nominee Ralph Fiennes to Tommy Lee Jones for his performance in The Fugitive (1993). I can’t wait until the Awards Circuit Community Awards gets to 1993 to see if our smart readership can correct Oscar’s mistake. It’s also surprising considering the love for the film that Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson wasn’t able to make traction and get ahead of Tom Hanks for his Oscar-winning performance in Jonathan Demme’s Philadelphia (1993). Daniel Day-Lewis’ Oscar win this year for Lincoln (2012) was the first time an actor in a Spielberg film had won an Oscar.
The press release is below along with the trailer. The film will be released on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.
When deciding on which of this week’s releases to give the top citation to, I had one of the hardest decisions in a long time folks. A pair of movies coming to Blu-Ray/DVD today are among my favorites of 2012, and while both just missed my Top Ten list, one came in literally at #11 and the other is right there in the Top 15, so I really racked my brain on which to choose. It’s a great thing when I struggle into the night with my top choice, so I’m definitely not complaining, just stating it right there at the top of the column so you all know. Overall, it’s a really strong week, with those two flicks joining another high quality title to form one of the better trios I’ve recommended in some time. For my PICK OF THE WEEK though, I had to make a decision about what film I wanted to get the slight nod. One contender was for my money the best foreign film of the year, while the other was an endlessly fascinating acting clinic by one of the best filmmakers of his generation, and both of the movies had lead performances that were among my five favorites of the year. Which did I wind up choosing? Well, I opted to take the simplest way out in the end and go strictly by what I ranked four spots higher in my complete rankings of the 290 films I saw last year (found here). The movie that got that ever so slight nod is the following: Read more on Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week (2/26/2013)…
It’s that time of the year where we want to hear from all of you. There is a short 10 question survey for you to fill out and I beg that you take a few moments to fill out the survey in order to make the Awards Circuit a better place for all entertainment enthusiasts. Greatly appreciated!
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW!
David Lean’s masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia (1962) one of the greatest films ever made comes to Blu Ray this week in a stunning, pristine transfer so clean you can see the granules of sand in the vast ocean of desert where much of this superb film takes place. In celebrating the films’ 50th anniversary, Sony has given audiences a simply breathtaking Blu Ray edition of the film that will leave no doubt why this is considered one of the greatest films ever made. When you hear the old timers (I’m close but not there yet) say “they sure don’t make them like that anymore” they are speaking of this films and movies such as this and they are right. If they were to remake this film, which I hope they never do, much of the backgrounds would be computer generated rather than the actual desert where they went on location to film this movie. Back breaking work brought Lawrence of Arabia (1962) to the screen, and the clear-eyed vision of the great David Lean. The director manages to bring the heat to us, his imagery suggesting stifling temperatures causing the images we see in the vast desert to shimmer through the extraordinary heat. Read more on ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Available on Blu Ray!…
Check out the Emmy-winning third season of ‘Modern Family’ on Blu-ray.
Yesterday we rounded up some Blu-ray and DVD film releases for your viewing pleasure. Today we’ve decided to highlight some TV shows that might have slipped by your notice over the past few weeks.
‘Moonrise Kingdom’ is hitting Blu-Ray shelves in time for Oscar…
Since film aficionados are always looking for something to watch, we decided to round up some Blu-ray and DVD releases for you to seek out. Some of these titles are already out, some will be out soon – the one thing that can be said for sure is that this is quite the eclectic bunch. Read more on The Blu Circuit…
What makes October Baby so disappointing is not just the “cheese” that’s spread all over the film like a tray of orderves at a church cocktail party or the uninspired and forceful humor we’re suppose to laugh at; it’s the poor attempt at taking a seemingly interesting premise, a girl who finds out she’s adopted and was a failed abortion, and executing it like third grade love story that “Curious George” could have told better. Read more on The Blu Circuit – Bad “Baby” and “Exotic” Bliss…
Titanic is not the reason why I eventually pursued my dream of film criticism and writing, but if I honestly look back in time, it is one of many influential and contributing factors as to where I am today, some 15 years later. I remember being so taken by the film and the emotions it welled up within me that I had to see it a second time. On that second viewing, I liked it less. Seeing it alone, I remember dismissing it – “This is so manipulative.” “I can see right through all of this.” “Such obvious CGI…” I mean, I was 23, steps away from college and like most everyone, thought I knew most everything about everything. At the behest of my wife, we returned again – a third time for me and a second time for her, and I fell in love with Titanic all over again. The discussion we had in the car ride home became something which resembled the arguments and debates I encountered in my college film study courses and like virtually everyone who saw it, I became consumed by the movie for a long while.
To accompany Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week, I will be offering my Editor’s Recommendations in this weekly column that will highlight some feature films and television shows that may not get their proper praise otherwise. While some are straight-to-DVD releases, often times those types of films can offer cinematic insight from time to time. Read more on The Blu Circuit…
It’s of course a somber day today, especially if you’re like me and a New York City resident. September 11th is never going to be a normal day, but keeping some measure of a routine is a solid way to go, so the column is running as usual. Honor the memory of those lost in 9/11 however you see fit, but make sure you spend a moment in reflection. If movies are the way to go for you, I’ll be doing a two part Vintage section today, so besides a traditional choice in relation to a new release, I’ll also be suggesting appropriate movies to mark the occasion. Let’s focus on the new Blu-Ray and DVD slate though, so we don’t get too sad. This week is a good one in terms of volume, though the quality is a little bit so-so. It’s hardly a bad release week, but the slate could obviously be better. My top choice isn’t necessarily the most well loved film of the year, but I like it enough to cite it. Yes, for my PICK OF THE WEEK I’m going to be going with the forgotten Greta Gerwig movie of 2012. Which one is that, you might ask? Well, it’s: Read more on Joey’s DVD Picks of the Week (9/11/2012)…
This week, headlining the titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD is perhaps the final theatrical release ever by a noted auteur, and while it’s not alone in terms of being at least somewhat of a quality offering, this is hardly a week to wild about. There’s not really anything else worth mentioning today in any notable way, though it’s not a completely barren slate. It’s simply just the nature of a week when most of the titles are early year releases…the quality of January through March dictates what hits home video as Spring begins to turn into Summer. Considering what some of the past weeks have been like, this is a much better group than that and I’m really just trying not to focus on the dearth that I know exists next week. There’s really only one film in any real contention for top honors today, but it’s one I have no problem recommending to you all. For my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go with one of the first few months of 2013′s more high anticipated titles, as you’d probably expect that I would here. You’ll see which movie I’m speaking of at the end of the column as per the usual (though I’m sure you can guess), but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another edition of Vintage selections. Here we go folks!
This week, there’s again somewhat of a shortage in terms of new releases to choose from on Blu-Ray/DVD. It’s not necessarily some sort of atrocious day for movies or anything of that nature, but it’s just not a period where a ton of things are hitting shelves, and honestly this is something that’s going to be more or less the norm during these upcoming summer months. The highest profile title is going to excite some people, but it’s not exactly the type of film that unites folks in any way. It really is in contention for top honors this week mostly due to a lack of competition. I thought about my other choices, but ultimately my PICK OF THE WEEK really wasn’t any sort of choice at all, as you’ll see. I wound up going with the aforementioned notable flick, which some on this site (and staff) love, while others are rather lukewarm on. I like it enough to be okay with this recommendation, but a little more in the way of choice would have been pleasing. Anyway, I’ll reveal that film a little later, but for now, why don’t we dive into the always enjoyable world of Vintage picks!
This week, I have one film that I feel decently good about recommending to you, and a few others that are just “meh”, along with one gloriously bad title bringing up the rear. This really isn’t an especially good slate of titles making up the release day folks, but it’s better than some of the ones we’ve dealt with earlier this year (and one coming up this month…sigh). Just consider what a few of the past weeks have been like when we were at our worse and this doesn’t look nearly as iffy as it might have otherwise. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I didn’t have too much of a choice, so I opted to go with the film that wound up with a thumbs up from me…shocking, right? You’ll see which movie I’m talking about at the very end of the column as is always the case, but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another Vintage selection, one that I hope can function as another flick for you all to enjoy at home this week. Here goes nothing!
This week, one of the big Oscar players of last year headlines the titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD, but it’s thankfully not alone in terms of quality offerings. There’s one other film worth mentioning today, along with a few others that are more mixed in their worthiness, though it’s a light week in terms of quantity. This isn’t particularly a top notch slate of releases ladies and gents, but it’s another continued step in the right direction for the column and continues an upward spike in quality. Considering what many of the past weeks have been like, this is a trend I’m really enjoying and hoping continues indefinitely, even though I know that’s rather unlikely. There were two movies contending for that top honor but only one flick could emerge victorious. For my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go with the film that cracked my 2012 Top Ten list, as you’d expect that I would. You’ll see which movie I’m speaking of at the end of the column as per the usual, but right now it’s time for us to dive head on into another Vintage selection. Here we go folks!
This week, we have a pair easy to recommend titles coming to Blu-Ray and DVD, but for a change they’re not coming to the party alone. There are some other films worth mentioning today, even if they’re not especially of the highest quality and I won’t be recommending many of them. In no way is this a top notch slate of releases, but it’s a real step in the right direction when held up against where we’ve been at with the column during the past few weeks. Even having a decision of what to make my top choice is a welcome return to form here. Both of the flicks contending for that honor are underrated and deserving of more attention than they received, but for my PICK OF THE WEEK I opted to go for the even smaller scale of the two. You’ll see what I’m talking about towards the end of the column, but right now it’s time for us to dive into a Vintage selection, so that’s where we’ll begin as usual!
Once again this week, we’re faced with the fact that it’s a very light slate of new releases ladies and gentlemen. On the plus side though, today features one terrific film hitting shelves, and it’s a real saving grace. In fact, it’s one of my Top Ten from 2012, so that certainly says something. Sadly, it’s really the only thing worthwhile this week, something I’m getting just a bit tired of saying more than once a month, but at least the top pick is high quality, which is more than I could say just seven days ago in this very column. That certainly saves this week’s grouping somewhat. For my PICK OF THE WEEK, I was delighted to be able to cite one of my favorite flicks of last year (though it’s actually towards the bottom of Ten, if that works as a hint for you), and I support this choice wholeheartedly. We’ll get to that top notch film in a bit (especially with the dearth of other new releases to talk about at any length), but for now…it’s that time again folks. Yes, it’s time for my Vintage pick!
