Bernstein passed away six years ago, leaving behind an incredible body of work spanning over fifty years. Theres a prominent guitar sound that drives this fantastic score. Bernstein described this as a collaboration between him and his mentor, Alan Copland. Bernstein would also return to compose scores for the sequels, which suffered from the law of diminishing returns. Rather fortunately, the scores didnt suffer such a fate. To Kill A Mockingbird...
The Tortured, the latest in a long, bloody line of torture-themed movies, arrives on DVD. But does it rise above the tawdry reputation of its genre? Heres Joes review… Its torture porn. Its still just torture porn. Pretty much the only reason to watch the film is to see another person get brutalised. Its also not an entirely bad film. The secret toThe Tortureds success is simply that it moves at an almost perfect pace....
Does Konami’s long-running Castlevania series of platformers finally get a 3D adaptation it deserves with Lords Of Shadow? Here’s Alan’s PS3 review… Konamis vampire hunting franchise is as restless as a blood-thirsty vampire. It just keeps bouncing back for more. This new installment is in 3D, which ought to set an alarm bell ringing. RPG elements have been reduced to simple acquisition of experience points to spend on new moves....
The Collector is directorial debut of Marcus Dunstan, the writer of several Saw movies. But is it a satisfying horror film, or just pointless? Heres Daves DVD review… You see, The Collector is a man who goes around collecting people. However, no matter where he turns, death awaits. It makes for some grim viewing, with a few moments actually being quite stomach churning. Its a film of two parts, really....
This episodes guest star is Academy Award-winning actor, Sir Peter Ustinov. Despite the slightly awkward moments, its a solid sketch that showcases Ustinovs adaptability. Although whether or not these are fake tears is debateable. The other notable musical number is in a sketch featuring Svengali and his assistant. This episode marked the first timeBein Greenwas used onThe Muppet Show.
Of course, it wouldnt beDoctor Whowithout an element of science fiction. The banter between the two drives the quality story forward rapidly, making all six episodes fly by. The text is, occasionally, self-deprecating. There is a sense that, unlike some commentaries, the cast and crew are speaking quite openly. The Last Hurrahfeatures Philip Hinchcliffe and Tom Baker as they discuss their final story together. Moving Onis a featurette that allows Hinchcliffe to explore ideas, had he stayed on board for another season....
Yes, the rumours were true. Hang on, I hear you cry. What do you mean by serious? On this evidence, the message from BBC Books is loud and clear: this is not your averageWhobook. Which is ironic, as clearly Moorcock didnt get that memo. If you dont, well, youd probably be wise to give the book a wide berth. (Ill let you guess the outcome.) Faring much worse under Moorcocks pen is Amy Pond....
The Host and Memories Of Murder director Joon-ho Bong returns with the dark and voyeuristic drama, Mother. Joon-ho Bongs Hitchcockian fatalistic Korean thriller will undoubtedly cement his reputation as the new master of voyeurism. So, if he didnt do it, who did, and why? Attending the victims funeral only ends in her leaving beaten and bruised by an angry mob. Did I mention the underlying theme ofMotherwas voyeurism? Motheris out now andavailable from the Den Of Geek Store....
Disney and DreamWorks have fresh competition, as Universal dives headfirst back into animation with Despicable Me. As it turns out, it deserves it too. And Grus problem is that theres a new, more successful villain in town by the name of Vector. So far, so blah. Yet,Despicable Mehas plenty in its corner to lift it into a genuinely rip-roaring piece of family entertainment. Reminding me just a little of the videogameOverlord, the minions here are an absolutely hoot....
Pete heads off to the opening night of the big new Doctor Who arena tour. But is Doctor Who Live worth your cash? Doctor Whohas something of a troubled past when it comes to stage productions. And the less said about Richard Franklins vanity pieceRecall UNIT: The Great T-Bag Mystery, the better. Its a neat touch, and one of several references to old stories hidden within the dialogue. Of course, it wouldnt beDoctor Who Livewithout the Doctor himself....
60 years on, can Los Olvidados retain its power? The dusty, crime ridden streets of Mexico City are no place for people to live. They constrict and beat down any attempts to express empathy or better oneself. Push too hard at the boundaries of your poverty and the leash will tighten. If you refuse to back down, you die. The filmexpresses this idea through the intertwining lives of various street children....
How does the much-maligned Lost In Space movie fare on Blu-ray? And is much of its criticism unfair? Gaye has been finding out… It was far too cartoonish and even the filmmakers are quick to share their disappointment. Thats a regret expressed by director, Stephen Hopkins, in the commentary track he shares with Akiva Goldsman. Film: Lost In Spaceis out now on Blu-ray andavailable from the Den Of Geek Store....
Stone Cold Steve Austin and Eric Roberts reunite following The Expendables for Hunt To Kill. So what’s it like? My personal opinion is that hes better suited as the antagonist, as his recent performance inThe Expendablesshows. He cuts such an intimidating and menacing figure, its like hes born to play the bad guy. Still, hes beginning to deliver zingers with aplomb and its not that hard to root for the guy....
