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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
HollywoodChicago.com Arts & Entertainment News
Blu-Ray Review: Criterion Releases Controversial ‘In the Realm of the Senses’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 29, 2009 - 11:30pm Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It’s interesting that Criterion has chosen to give their unmatched treatment to two films in the same week that were drastically censored upon their initial releases - “In the Realm of the Senses” and “The Wages of Fear”. The latter was edited for issues of perceived anti-Americanism and for issues of length. The former was censored for, well, everything.
Blu-Ray Review: Surprisingly Cute, Sweet ‘Hotel For Dogs’ With Emma Roberts
Submitted by BrianTT on April 29, 2009 - 11:04pm Blu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – This serious dog lover was swayed by the family-friendly charms of “Hotel For Dogs,” now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. I’ll admit that the film has some pretty serious flaws and we’ll get to those, but if you’re a kid movie aficionado with a soft spot for man’s best friend, you could do a lot worse than the Blu-Ray of “Hotel For Dogs”. It’s a shaggy one, but a lovable movie pooch.
Blu-Ray Review: Legendary Rap Icon Given Standard Biopic Treatment in ‘Notorious’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 29, 2009 - 9:43pmBlu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Biggie Smalls deserves better than ‘Notorious’. It’s not that there’s anything drastically wrong with this reasonably well-made and very well-performed biopic but it’s a by-the-numbers, predictable film about an icon who was simply one of the best that ever lived. The ‘Big Poppa’ who could ‘Hypnotize’ with his rhymes should have more than an average biopic.
Video: Trailer For ‘Paper Heart’ With Michael Cera, Charlyne Yi
Submitted by BrianTT on April 28, 2009 - 9:11pmCHICAGO – Overture Films sent over the trailer for the super-cute “Paper Heart,” a mockumentary starring Michael Cera (“Arrested Development,” “Superbad”) and Charlyne Yi (“Knocked Up”). The film was co-written by Yi with director Nicholas Jasenovec.
Blu-Ray Review: HD ‘X-Men Trilogy’ Primes Fans For First Big Summer Movie
Submitted by BrianTT on April 28, 2009 - 7:56pmBlu-Ray Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – With ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ opening this Friday, fans can catch up on where Hugh Jackman’s legendary character earned a following big enough to warrant a summer tentpole release date in the Blu-Ray release of the “X-Men Trilogy” including the two films by Bryan Singer (“X-Men” and “X2: X-Men United”) and the three-quel by Brett Ratner (“X-Men: The Last Stand”).
Interview: Talking ‘Tyson’ With Writer, Director James Toback
Submitted by BrianTT on April 28, 2009 - 6:40pmCHICAGO – If you’re merely a casual movie goer, you may not know the name James Toback, but you probably know his work. If you do know the name, you probably have an opinion.
Writer Wants Channing Tatum For ‘The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 27, 2009 - 3:40pmCHICAGO – Channing Tatum, the star of “Fighting” and “G.I. Joe,” may want to brush up on his vampire mythology because Melissa Rosenberg, the writer of “Twilight” and “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon” wants the muscular leading man to play Riley in the third film in the Stephenie Meyer franchise, “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.
Wolverine DVD Round Up, April 27, 2009: ‘Wolverine and The X-Men,’ ‘Marvel X-Men’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 27, 2009 - 11:36amCHICAGO – Welcome to a special edition of the DVD Round-Up, HollywoodChicago.com’s infamous column covering smaller titles that may have gone unnoticed by the Best Buy circular. With all the buzz surrounding Fox’s upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” with Hugh Jackman, there are several companion DVD releases, including the theatrical trilogy on Blu-Ray (which will be covered here later this week), and three animated releases for serious Marvel, Wolverine, and X-Men fans.
Blu-Ray Review: Classic ‘Wages of Fear’ Thrills in HD
Submitted by BrianTT on April 27, 2009 - 9:55am Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Criterion Collection continues their brilliant Blu-Ray release pattern this week in which they induct a new film into the collection (“In the Realm of the Senses,” which will be reviewed separately) and bring one of their most beloved titles on to the next-gen format on the same street date. The classic this week is the amazing and timeless “The Wages of Fear,” better than ever in HD.
Video: Trailer For Western Shooter ‘Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood’
Submitted by BrianTT on April 27, 2009 - 9:48amCHICAGO – One of the most highly anticipated games of the summer is Ubisoft’s “Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood” and the company sent over the brand-new, totally sweet preview for the Western shooter that we can’t wait to play. It’s for adults only, so check it out if you’re the right age and tell us what you think in the comments below.
Video Game Review: ‘Final Fantasy Chronicles: Echoes of Time’ Merges DS, Wii Experience
Submitted by BrianTT on April 24, 2009 - 3:28pmCHICAGO – The potential interactivity between handheld systems and next-gen consoles feels like an untapped resource in the gaming world but that’s starting to change in 2009. “Resistance: Retribution” on the PSP opened up an alternate mode when synced with “Resistance 2” on the PS3. Nintendo takes it a significant step further with “Final Fantasy Chronicles: Echoes of Time,” a well-made role-playing game that hints at the future of handheld and console interactivity by allowing multi-player across the platforms.
Blu-Ray Review: Fantastic, Beloved ‘The Wrestler’ With Mickey Rourke
Submitted by BrianTT on April 24, 2009 - 1:06pmBlu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Mickey Rourke’s multi-award-winning performance in “The Wrestler” anchors one of the best films of 2008, now released on Blu-Ray and DVD. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you truly must do so as soon as possible, and if you love the movie like so many people do, you’ll be satisfied, if not overly impressed, by a decent HD release.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘Sin City’ Exceeds Expectations With Flawless Release
Submitted by BrianTT on April 24, 2009 - 12:22pmBlu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Sin City - Recut, Extended, Unrated” was one of the best DVD box sets in the history of the format. Most collectors interested in the Blu-Ray upgrade of the title will probably already own the box set that came with an entire graphic novel and is currently anchoring many a respectable DVD shelf. The Blu-Ray release features two new special features and, of course, HD picture and sound. Should you upgrade?
