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+.
Warner Bros.
DVD Review: ‘Humphrey Bogart: The Essential Collection’ is Fantastic
Submitted by BrianTT on October 19, 2010 - 10:56amCHICAGO – Having written about DVDs for years, I’ve been lucky enough to receive and buy dozens of star-centered box sets: collections of films based around an actor or director ranging from Bette Davis to Mel Brooks. More often than not, the set is missing an essential film or two, features lackluster video/audio transfers, or includes bare-bones DVDs without bonus material. None of that is true about “Humphrey Bogart: The Essential Collection,” one of the best DVD box sets ever released.
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Maltese Falcon,’ ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 18, 2010 - 9:10amCHICAGO – Humphrey Bogart is one of the most beloved and iconic movie stars to ever grace the form. The legend of Bogart built through caricatures, impressions, and the rarified air in which some of his films exist can sometimes disguise his unbelievable talent. “Casablanca” may be his best film and we’ll be back with a discussion of more Bogie works in our review of the new box set later this week, but arguably the two best Bogart performances have recently been released on Blu-ray in 1941’s “The Maltese Falcon” and 1948’s “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”
Blu-Ray Review: Josh Brolin, Megan Fox Stumble Through ‘Jonah Hex’
Submitted by BrianTT on October 14, 2010 - 10:39amCHICAGO – Modern audiences aren’t stupid enough to fall for lackluster product like “Jonah Hex” in theaters (it barely made over $10 million on a reported $47 million budget and currently hovers around 4.5 on IMDB) but it’s the kind of film that looks appealing on the Blockbuster shelf (or Netflix page). Don’t fall for it. Warner Bros. continues to produce excellent HD video and audio but even they can’t shine this turd into something worth your time.
Blu-Ray Review: First Season of FOX’s ‘Human Target’ With Mark Valley
Submitted by BrianTT on October 1, 2010 - 3:19pmCHICAGO – After realizing that “Human Target” was not going to be their next “24,” FOX has moved the program to Friday nights, starting November 17th, where it could easily reside as a guilty pleasure for years to come. The program is a throwback to the action series escapism of the 1980s but with modern production values that make it a very-enjoyable thrill ride in HD. It’s not going to win awards or change the TV landscape, but it works on its own terms.
Blu-Ray Reviews: Sci-Fi Catalog Releases Including ‘Matrix Reloaded,’ ‘THX 1138’
Submitted by BrianTT on September 13, 2010 - 12:15pmCHICAGO – Warner Brothers recently unveiled a slate of science fiction films, many of which are making their debut on Blu-ray or are being made available on their own for the first time. Check out the HD releases of “Forbidden Planet,” “Lost in Space,” “Mars Attacks!,” “The Matrix Reloaded,” “A Scanner Darkly,” and “THX 1138: Director’s Cut.”
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 3 DVDs of ‘One Tree Hill’ Season 7
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 24, 2010 - 4:31pmCHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have three DVD sets up for grabs to the complete season seven of “One Tree Hill”!
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 3 Season-One ‘The Middle’ DVDs With Patricia Heaton
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on August 20, 2010 - 5:34pmCHICAGO – In our latest edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, we have three DVDs up for grabs to the single-camera comedy “The Middle” on ABC with Patricia Heaton
Blu-Ray Review: Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Hamlet’ Was Made For HD
Submitted by BrianTT on August 19, 2010 - 9:58amCHICAGO – Kenneth Branagh’s “Hamlet” got a raw deal. In the shadow of not just the legend of William Shakespeare’s play but the incredible film versions that had come before, “Hamlet” couldn’t even break $5 million at the box office. And yet this gorgeous, incredibly-made retelling of one of the most influential pieces of theater ever written looks simply amazing on Blu-ray. It’s a fantastic release.
Fan-Made, Fake Posters For ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ or ‘Untitled Batman Project’
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on September 12, 2009 - 3:50amCHICAGO – There was talk of a sequel even before “The Dark Knight” hit theaters and obliterated box-office records. That’s all we still have at this point, but we also have a pair of decent, fan-made posters for “The Dark Knight” sequel.