Kings Go Forth is a well intentioned but ultimately ineffective war-romance-drama though the three leads – Sinatra, Curtis and Wood – all turn in fine performances. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time offers good video and audio transfers but disappoints in the features department.
Born Free is a unique drama with some powerful imagery of the animal refuge combined with some nice performances especially Virginia McKenna. I doubt this movie has ever looked better and although I don’t think the video and audio transfer were anything incredible, they are certainly above average.
Mysterious Island is a fun, light-hearted, fantasy flick highlighted by Ray Haryhausen’s incredible effects work combined with Bernard Herrmann’s score. The Blu-ray released under the Twilight Time line offers some decent features headlined by an extensive audio commentary, and good video/audio transfers.
1984 is a prolific adaptation based on an equally prolific novel that features some fine performances highlighted by John Hurt and amazing cinematography by the legendary Roger Deakins.
Scorpio had the ingredients to be a fun espionage thriller but instead it meanders and never fully comes together in spite of solid performances by Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time offers good video and audio transfers but falls short in the features department, though the commentary isn’t bad.
Broken Lance is a well made studio Western from the 1950s that features, no surprise, top notch performances most notably Spencer Tracy. The shooting locales and production design is commendable to go along with Leigh Harline’s score, which is available as an isolated track.
Fatherland isn’t great but the performance from lead actor Gerulf Griffiths wasn’t bad and the story at least held some interest. That said, this really isn’t my cup of tea but might be worth checking out at some point. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time offers so-so video/audio transfers and sadly no bonus material to peruse.
Sense & Sensibility is a well made adaptation of the Jane Austen classic headlined by a stellar cast but especially Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Hugh Grant and is well worth watching as it has its heartfelt but funny moments. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time has good video and audio transfers and a fine selection of bonus material.
Shadows and Fog is one of the more forgotten films in Woody Allen’s repartee and for the most part, it’s not a bad little comedy though it is typical Allen in terms of his performance and writing. Clearly it’s nowhere near the quality of Manhattan or Annie Hall, or more recently Midnight in Paris, but it might be worth a watch.
Although Vampires isn’t John Carpenter’s strongest non-Halloween movie, it’s still a fun, and bloody, romp made even better by an energetic performance from James Woods playing a frickin’ vampire slayer; that combo alone makes the movie worthwhile.
Devil in a Blue Dress is a fine drama/thriller propelled by its performances more so than the plot. Denzel Washington, Jennifer Beals and even Tom Sizemore, who straddles the line of hammy acting, all are good and make this a worthwhile venture. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time is decent but not great with so-so bonus material though the video and audio transfers are nice.
Scream and Scream Again is an odd duck of a film with jolting editing style which I guess was supposed to mimic something like the old “Mission: Impossible” television series. The acting isn’t at all bad but that’s almost a given with Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in your cast. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time is so-so with some OK features but average video/audio transfers.
Black Widow is uneven but still a fun little thriller that probably was influenced by any number of Brian De Palma’s films. The performances by the two leads really make this entertaining and well worth a watch. The Blu-ray released through Screen Archives offers good video/audio transfers but is lackluster in the features department.
Strange Invaders is by no means great but co-writer/director Michael Laughlin does achieve its attempt at nostalgia alien science-fiction and the performances from the adequate cast isn’t bad either. The Blu-ray released through Screen Archives looks and sounds good though the features have much to be desired.
Emperor of the North, also known as Emperor of the North Pole, is an interesting little film no doubt. On the technical and acting front, it’s not a bad flick headlined by veterans Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time has good video/audio transfers however the bonus material is a bit limited.