March 17th, 2019
Mary Poppins Returns was widely expected to be the big hit of last December and it was almost assumed it would be a monster hit. Most people expected the film to cruise past $250 million domestically and many thought it would top $300 million with ease. It barely topped $300 million worldwide. Its reviews weren’t bad, but it isn’t considered a classic like the original. Is that the issue? Is it simply a matter of expectations being too high for this film, or any film, to match?
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April 5th, 2015
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is the third film, and likely final film, in the Night at the Museum franchise. The previous two films were very profitable, but the films have never really won over critics. This film had the weakest run at the box office, but is it also the weakest in terms of quality?
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December 19th, 2013
Part III of the Holiday Gift Guide is a little late due to reasons you probably don't want to hear the details about. (I believe I've developed a food allergy to something in Eggnog.) The third installment of our holiday gift guide includes independent films, classics, foreign films, etc. The fastest way to find gifts is to go to the Independent Spirit Awards nominations and find any film that is on that list that is already out on DVD / Blu-ray (Frances Ha, Mud, etc.). Unfortunately, most of the films competing for Awards Season glory are still in theaters and not available as gifts. But there are still many films worth picking up, starting with...
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December 9th, 2013
It's the 50th anniversary of Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks is about to hit theaters. It's the perfect time for the film to make its high definition debut. So how does it look on Blu-ray? And is the total package worth picking up? Or should you stick with the 45th Anniversary DVD, which I previously reviewed?
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November 25th, 2013
It's a pretty soft week when it comes to new releases. This is not surprising, as it is also Thanksgiving long weekend starting on Wednesday. These releases are only going to be out one day before they are overshadowed by sales. Fortunately, there are a couple of releases that stand out. The biggest of these, and the best, is Breaking Bad: The Final Season. The DVD or the Blu-ray could be a contender for Pick of the Week even during the busiest week. However, I think that honor should go to the show's Blu-ray Megaset. It is expensive, but it is worth it. An honorable mention goes to Mystery Science Theater 3000: 25th Anniversary Edition.
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December 10th, 2012
Dick Tracy came out in 1990 and the buzz surrouding the film was huge. However, well it earned good reviews and topped $100 million domestically, it was still seen as a disappointment by some. (It was released a year after Batman and some thought it would live up to that film.) This week it makes its Blu-ray debut, and while there were many complaints leveled at the film from flat characters to an unengaging story, nearly everyone agreed it was visually stunning. So does it work better more than 20 years after its release without the unfair comparison? And does it thrive on Blu-ray?
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