Harold and Maude – Criterion Collection

This one I do have and I must say, while I’m not as gigantic a fan of Hal Ashby’s cult favorite as much as some, results are fairly spectacular. This movie has never looked or sounded better, while the collection of special features Criterion have lined up for this release should have fans frothing at the mouth. For the fanatics, this is a day one must-buy. For everyone else, definitely worthy of a look, if only to find out for one’s self just what all the fuss has been about for the best 42 years. For more, check out my recently posted Blu-ray Review.

Shallow Grave – Criterion Collection

Danny Boyle’s first film hasn’t lost an ounce of its flavor or flair, and the fact the Criterion Collection got their mitts on it has me positively ecstatic with glee. This twisty little noir black comedy with Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and Kerry Fox is a stupendous ride start to finish, its macabre attitude feeling just as fresh today as it did way back in 1994 when it first made waves theatrically. For more on this release, check out my just posted Blu-ray Review.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Here’s what I wrote about this disappointing sequel back in December of last year (read my full review here): “Unlike the 2009 hit that preceded this one there’s very little mystery to be found here, not much in the way of puzzles in need of being solved. Prof. Moriarty is nothing more than a distaff Max Zorn looking to find his view to a kill, hoping to engender animosity and hatred between nations all to benefit his own pocketbook. It’s a lazy and not altogether interesting premise and to reduce Holmes to this level is something akin to an abomination, and for fans of the character and his literary adventures I can’t imagine they’re going to be remotely pleased by what is transpiring.” For more on this release, check out Mitchell’s Blu-ray Review.

In Darkness

From my February theatrical review (read it here): “There are moments in Agnieszka Holland’s (Europa, Europa) claustrophobic WWII drama In Darkness that are as breathless and as stunning a person is ever likely to see…The terror of the situation, the way shadow, concrete and water engulfs a person into submission, all of it and more continually comes into play, and for long portions of the film I found myself inadvertently shivering right along with those up on the screen.”

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Back in 2007 I wrote the following about this first attempt at bringing Marvel’s comic book series Ghost Rider to the big screen: “This movie is about as close to a complete waste of time as anything I've [ever] seen… [It] is a borderline disaster, and while it will probably have a great opening weekend it's still going to disappear so fast from the multiplexes people will blink only to open their eyes and discover it long gone.” I bring those statements up because, somehow, someway, a sequel was actually made to that monstrosity. Even more incredibly, somehow, someway, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, is actually worse than the fairly terrible comic book adventure that preceded it. Don’t believe me? Check out Mitchell’s Blu-ray Review. A good case could be made he disliked this sequel even more than I did. Incredible, I know.

Meatballs

I’m fairly sad that Lionsgate didn’t get me the review copy of the Blu-ray I requested, mainly because I’ve always had a soft spot for this semi-classic Bill Murray comedy and would have loved to have added it to my collection. Granted, considering it’s only $7.99 currently on Amazon it seems very likely I’ll be doing that anyhow, showing once more I’m a total slave to my impulses and probably need professional help to help deal with my tendency to cinematic hoarding.

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds

Nothing to see here… move along, move along.

OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES

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