Who would shell out money and travel across town to see a movie they already own on Blu-ray? I would. Nothing you can do in your own home competes with the theatrical experience. Within the last 10 days, my wife and I bought tickets and crossed town to see two favorites on the big screen: … Continue reading Great Movies are Better on the Big Screen
Category: Home Theater
Do the Right Thing in beautiful, new Criterion Blu-ray
Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing just may be the best film about race issues in America. Thirty years after its release, it's still as relevant as anything you're likely to see. The major difference is that now when police murder a black man, the event is recorded on smartphones and goes viral. Either way, … Continue reading Do the Right Thing in beautiful, new Criterion Blu-ray
Son of Filmstruck: The Criterion Channel is up and running (sometimes)
Last November, FilmStruck, the greatest cinephilic streaming service ever, was killed by its corporate overlords. As a combination of Criterion and Turner Classic Movies, it had the greatest collection of important films ever in one website. On Monday, Criterion opened The Criterion Channel, offering about half of what FilmStruck had, which still makes it an … Continue reading Son of Filmstruck: The Criterion Channel is up and running (sometimes)
Becky Sharp on Blu-ray & Technicolor
Unlike most of the Blu-rays I review, Becky Sharp isn't a beloved classic. Nor does it deserve to be one. But if you're interested in the technical side of film history, this Kino Lorber release is a must. This 1935 adaptation of Vanity Fair is the first full-length feature shot entirely in three-strip Technicolor. Technicolor … Continue reading Becky Sharp on Blu-ray & Technicolor
The Kid Brother Blu-ray review
If people know about Harold Lloyd at all, they think of Safety Last. Or maybe The Freshman. But for my money, his penultimate silent, The Kid Brother, is his masterpiece. It has several of the funniest, brilliantly designed, extended comedy sequences ever filmed. But it's more than just a very funny movie. It makes you … Continue reading The Kid Brother Blu-ray review
Blu-ray vs 4K: Great and Greater
When I reviewed The Big Lebowski 4K/Blu-ray disc set, I promised that I would soon compare Blu-rays with 4K Ultra HD discs. I finally got to it. 4K Ultra HD discs (yes, it's a horrible name) offer better image quality than Blu-rays . The improvement is not as spectacular as that of DVD to Blu-ray, … Continue reading Blu-ray vs 4K: Great and Greater
J’Accuse! finally comes to Blu-ray
I've yet to see a dramatic feature made before 1920 that's anywhere near as good as Abel Gance's J'Accuse! The three main characters are complex and believable, and performed by actors capable of bringing subtle and realistic emotions to the screen. The camerawork and editing don't just record the performances; they highlight the emotions and … Continue reading J’Accuse! finally comes to Blu-ray
Kanopy: The free FilmStruck alternative
In last week's article about FilmStruck alternatives, I didn't go into detail about Kanopy - the free streaming service you can access through your library card. The problem was that my card is with the Alameda Public Library, which doesn't qualify. Soon after I posted that article, I discovered that I can get a library … Continue reading Kanopy: The free FilmStruck alternative
Some Like It Hot: The Criterion Blu-ray
I'm not sure if Some Like It Hot really is, as the American Film Institute declared in 2000, the best American film comedy of all time. It certainly belongs in the top 10. There are comedies with a higher laugh-to-minute ratio, and others that have more to say about the human condition. But I doubt you could find … Continue reading Some Like It Hot: The Criterion Blu-ray
What to Watch Between FilmStruck and the Criterion Channel
FilmStruck is dead. It's replacement, The Criterion Channel, won't go online until spring. And when you consider the problems of developing a complex website, that may mean October. So how will you stream classic films in the coming months? Here are some alternatives to keep you going until The Criterion Channel goes live. All of … Continue reading What to Watch Between FilmStruck and the Criterion Channel
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