Category: The Couch Potato Report

The Couch Potato Report – February 28th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels seven films that are not very good, and the greatest of alllll time!!
It is my first week back from vacation, and I thought I was going to be able to tell you about some great films this week, all with fantastic casts…but unfortunately, they were all disappointing, and as such I don’t have anything great to say about any of them…but I will try to be as nice as I can…I’ll try!
Let’s start with the Clint Eastwood directed film CHANGELING starring Angelina Jolie.
CHANGELING begins in 1928 Los Angeles and it is based on the true story of a woman who is reunited with her kidnapped son, except there is one problem…the child is not her son and after confronting the city authorities about the fact that the new boy is not her son, Jolie is vilified as an unfit mother and branded delusional.
In addition to the story of a mother looking for her son, CHANGELING also focuses on the crimes of Saskatchewan-born murderer Gordon Northcott, who was convicted in 1928 of raping and killing three young boys in California.
CHANGELING is not an awful film, I just didn’t think it was very good.
It is well directed and acted, but it actually seems much longer than it’s two-hour and twenty-minute running time…and that in itself is long enough.
The movie is so slow moving that at times you will actually want something to happen, just to keep you interested in the film.
I was always interested in how it would all turn out, but at times I just had no interest in the movie, due to it’s slow pace.
I’m glad I had the chance to see CHANGELING, and if you enjoy Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood, or films that are very slow and dramatic, then maybe you will enjoy it. Otherwise, skip it.
And unless you absolutely have to see every film that is very slow and dramatic, you should probably also skip BLINDNESS.
This films is such a waste of time and talent.
BLINDNESS takes place in a big, unnamed city.
After an unexplained outbreak of blindness affects some people, the victims are quarantined by the government in a hospital without any medical care, treatment or hygiene.
Among the first people affected is an ophthalmologist, and even though the blindness seems contagious, his wife can still see and she accepts the task of taking care of him, and the others in their hospital ward.
A ward that quickly loses control of the hospital as a battle for control begins.
The couple are played by Mark Ruffalo from ZODIAC and COLLATERAL and Julianne Moore from CHILDREN OF MEN and THE HOURS, and even they can’t rise above the material. Now I have never read the book that this film is based on, so I can’t compare them, but I hope it is better than the film.
I wanted answers to the questions and scenarios the film poses, and got none. I wanted to be entertained, and I was not, I wanted something…but BLINDNESS gave me nothing. It is just an awful movie! Even if you like the cast, skip this thing!!
Now, for the next release this week, it is the cast that actually saves FLASH OF GENIUS.
The story itself is a formulaic David Vs. Goliath tale, this time about the man who invented the intermittent windshield wiper, saw the major automobile manufacturers steal it from him, and then spent years trying to win back credit for his invention.
The cast is lead by Greg Kinnear from LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and the great Lauren Graham from BAD SANTA and they are always likeable, even if their film is not.
FLASH OF GENIUS is not a bad little film, but it isn’t great. Movie fans might not care too much for it, but I suspect that autombobile enthusiasts will as it features the creation of the intermittent windshield wipers – which operate in timed intervals rather than constantly. This keeps a windshield clean in conditions of misting or very light rain.
Now while I am confident that autombobile enthusiasts will get something out of FLASH OF GENIUS, I am just confident that people who love guitars will not get anything out of THE GUITAR…and neither will people who love all other instruments.
I wanted to like this small little movie about a woman who changes every single part of her life after she is diagnosed with a terminal disease, fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend all on the same day, I really did!!
When she is given two months to live and throws caution to the wind to pursue her dreams, I was rooting for her…but in the end, while I rooted for the woman, I couldn’t root for the film that she is in.
THE GUITAR is just a self-indulgent film that stretches even it’s own credibility and boundaries, and so you should just ignore it!
You should probably also ignore Guy Ritchie’s latest, although it is still a step up from his last couple of films.
This is a guy who debuted with the one-two punch of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, and then gave us the awful Swept Away and Revolver…so while ROCK N ROLLA isn’t quite as good as Guy’s first two flicks, it is much better than the last two!
ROCK N ROLLA features lots of double crossing, underworld backstabbing, Russians, old Brits, petty thieves, a beautiful accountant, a gay gangster, and a crackhead who all cross paths, steal millions of Euros, beat a man on a golf course, unearth an informant, or look for an expensive painting.
Confused with all those lines and stories crossing? Well, that is what Guy Ritchie does best!
Gerard Butler from 300 and Thandie Newton from CRASH are great in the film, but there is too much going on, and most of the time no reason to care.
ROCK N ROLLA is not great or even very good, but it is better than Swept Away and Revolver, and so for those of us who loved, and still love Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, there is reason to beleive in Guy Ritchie again.
So rock on, ROCK N ROLLA
If it wasn’t for the cast, the next film I have for you this morning is one that I might probably not include at all on The Couch Potato Report…but since it features some recognizable names, and it actually not bad, I have decided to include THE LODGER.
The film stars Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, Simon Baker, Shane West, Donal Logue, Philip Baker Hall, Rachael Leigh Cook and Rebecca Pidgeon and it is a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1927 film The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog.
It features two parallel storylines, one about a troubled detective who is playing a cat-and-mouse game with an unknown killer, and the second about a less-than-stable landlady and her relationship with her handsome and new “lodger”.
THE LODGER is not a great film, but if you like thrillers, and don’t overthink it, then you might enjoy it. I liked this one!
I didn’t like BODY OF LIES…even though I love the director – Ridley Scott, and the two stars – Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. This film features some interesting technology and a few good scenes, but it just isn’t a very good movie…sadly.
The plot of BODY OF LIES is pretty simple to explain…Leo is a CIA agent on the ground in the middle East. He is an believes in creating and nurturing personal relationships based on trust and professionalism.
Russell Crowe is his U.S. based supervisor, a meddler who makes up the rules as he goes along and is more than willing to trade long-term benefits for a short-term situation he considers a victory.
With it’s cast and director, I expected big things from BODY OF LIES, but unfortunately I didn’t get them. I am glad I saw it, but I just can’t recommend it.
I can however recommend THE ULTIMATE ALI COLLECTION, and not just because today is the last day of BLACK HISTORY MONTH, but because it features over two hours of the one, the only, Mr. Muhammad Ali!
Ali’s career in and out of the boxing ring is revisited through classic fight footage, interviews and more in this 3-DVD Box Set.
To this day Muhammad Ali remains much more than “The Greatest Boxer” of all time, he is an international icon who captivated the world by articulating the feelings of the oppressed underclasses.
And he was an unusual sports figure in his day, being an outspoken conscientious object willing to offer an opinion on civil rights and the Vietnam War, and while he was stripped of his heavyweight crown, no one could ever shut him up or take away his dignity.
THE ULTIMATE ALI COLLECTION is a fantastic collection of his work, his words, and him…the one and only Muhammad Ali.
THE ULTIMATE ALI COLLECTION, THE LODGER, THE GUITAR, FLASH OF GENIUS and BLINDNESS are all available now on DVD.
BODY OF LIES, ROCK N ROLLA, CHANGELING are available on DVD and Blu-ray as well.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
GROWING OP is a Canadian film about a home-schooled kid who decides to head to high school, despite protests from his pot-growing parents, in the hopes of winning the affection of a new girl.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED stars Robert DeNiro as a Hollywood producer who’s having a rough time trying to get his new picture made.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION and FRENCH CONNECTION II debut on Blu-ray, and then there is a brand-new animated WONDER WOMAN film.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – February 14th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels eleven films, that may not be about love, but many of them are films people actually love.
It is Valentine’s Day weekend, full of days to love. But it is also a day that some people are indifferent or apathetic to, because of the fact that love is seemingly forced upon them by retailers and the Greeting Card companies.
So, in order to cover both sides, I have some brand new releases for you this week, that I loved, and some that I am simply indifferent to.
Let’s start with the love, shall we? I love BEING THERE!
BEING THERE is the classic 1979 film starring the great Peter Sellers as Chance, a simple gardener, who has never been outside of his employer’s estate in Washinsgton, DC.
When the man dies, Chance does leave, and through a series of misunderstandings, he becomes one of the most sought after political minds in America.
Chance’s comments and passion towards plants, flowers and gardening are misunderstood as profound statements, and therin lies the comedy in this film.
Sellers’ career prior to BEING THERE had been full of over the top characters pieces – like THE PINK PANTHER films, DR. STRANGELOVE and THE PARTY – but in this film he played it straight and let the siuations around him provide the humour.
And it works!! BEING THERE – which features a small cameo from Saskatchewan’s own Buffy Saitne-Marie – is a classic!! And the brand new Blu-ray version is a must own!!
I love BEING THERE, and I also love THE DIRECTOR’S CUT of the Academy Award winning film AMADEUS.
AMADEUS is the 1984 Oscar winner for Best Picture that very loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the later half of the 18th century.
This DIRECTORíS CUT adds about twenty additional minutes to the film, and while it didnít really need the extra time, it does enhance it, and thus a great film offers even more to enjoy!
Plus, this new Blu-ray edition comes with a 35-page booklet with the DVD on one side and a music CD on the other.
That glorious music!
YES, THE DIRECTORíS CUT of AMADEUS is another film I love, and to love, and for different reasons, I also love DONNIE DARKO.
DONNIE DARKO is the textbook definition of a film that is not for everyone. This is a great example of a cult classicÖand I am a happy member of that cult.
Jake Gyllenhaal from BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and ZODIAC is Donnie, a troubled teenager who has visions of an evil, large bunny rabbit that convinces him to commit a series of crimes.
And it all happens after Donnie has narrowly escaping a very bizarre accident.
DONNIE DARKO is dark and trippy and some of it is waaaaaay out there, but I also found it a challenging and enjoyable film.
Both the theatrical version and the Directorís Cut are now available, and while I thought the original was great on itís own, I did prefer the latter, actually, I loved them both!!
Challenge yourself, this weird little film may just surprise you!
We are going from LOVE to INDIFFERENT on this Valentineís Day edition of The Report, and we are in between those two opposites now with three films I merely liked.
The Academy Award nominated film FROZEN RIVER is the first of those three.
FROZEN RIVER is a very small budgeted film that takes place near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec.
Two women, both single mothers faced with desperate circumstances – are drawn into the world of border smuggling in order to provide for their kids.
Melissa Leo received an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for her work in the movie, and she and the rest of the cast are very good.
The film is engaging, and interesting, and I liked it.
I also liked ANTWONE FISHER, when it first came out in 2002, and I liked it when I watched it again this week on Blu-ray.
This is the based-on-a-true-story of Antwone Fisher, an orphaned navy man, who comes to like himself, and put the pieces of his life back together, only after he is forced to see a psychiatrist.
Denzel Washington directed the film and co-stars as the doctor.
At times ANTWONE FISHER follows all the clichÈs of the patented Hollywood doctor who makes his patient better and learns about himself in the processÖbut the acting usually allows those scenes to stand above the clichÈs, and ultimately this is a film I liked.
I may never watch it again, but I liked itÖand that is true with DRUMLINE as well.
DRUMLINE is another film from 2002 and this one possesses some clichÈs as wellÖthe sports movie clichÈsÖbut since it takes place in a different setting, it is a likeable film.
This film is about a cocky Harlem street drummer who is recruited to play at a very strict ñ and quite serious – Southern university.
For me, DRUMLINE changed the way that I watched the musicians and cheer squads who appear on the field during games as I wasnít aware how hard they worked, and for that reason, and the fact that it is a pretty good movie, I liked it.
We have covered love and liked now, lets move to the opposite end of the spectrumÖindifference. I donít hate these next two movies, but I certainly didnít like them, so I am completely indifferent to them.
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE is the first of this weekís bottom of the barrel releases, and that is a bit of a surprise as it stars two likeable actors ñ Richard Gere and Diane Lane ñ and it is based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote ìThe Notebookî, ìMessage in a Bottleî, ìA Walk to Rememberî, and several other very enjoyable books.
But this one doesnít add up to the sum of itís parts and thus NIGHTS IN RODANTHE is a movie to skip.
Gere plays a lonely doctor who is traveling to see his estranged son after a fatal operation.
He meets an unhappily married woman at a North Carolina inn.
Gere and Lane were so good together in the film UNFAITHFUL, but this movie just doesnít work. If you absolutely need something of a romantic cinematic nature today, then MAYBE you will get something out of it.
But I didnít care for it at all.
I also didnít care for Spike Leeís MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA. This movie is a mess!
After a very public battle with Clint Eastwood about the lack of African-Americans in Eastwoodís FLAGS OF OUR FATHERíS and LETTERS FROM IWO JIM films, Lee set out to tell this story about four black American soldiers who get trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII.
Spikeís intentions were great, but his film ñ based on fact and fiction – is not.
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA is ñ at 160 minutes ñ way too long, it doesnít focus on the most interesting characters, and the ending of it is ridiculous.
Now, that said, I will admit that there are some interesting scenes, and a few good moments, but ultimately this is a waste of time.
Unless you LOVE war moviesÖskip this one too.
Finally this week, I want to end with a film that I loveÖactually three films that I love, the BACK TO THE FUTURE trilogy!!
Previously only available in one 3 DVD set with all films, now the 1985 original, 1989ís PART II, and the 1990 conclusion ñ BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART III ñ are all available individually.
Plus, the original film is now a 2-DVD Set with several all-new retrospective features, including an interview with the Canadian star of the series, Mr. Michael J. Fox!
I love all three of these films, even the third one, and I had a great afternoon this week watching all of them back to back to back to the future!
The BACK TO THE FUTURE films are all available now, only on DVD, with a Blu-ray version rumoured for later this year.
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE DRUMLINE, ANTWONE FISHER, FROZEN RIVER, DONNIE DARKO, BEING THERE and THE DIRECTOR’S CUT OF AMADEUS Are available now as new releases on Blu-ray, and they are all available on DVD as well.
Coming up in TWO WEEKS on the next Couch Potato Report
Clint Eastwood’s CHANGELING focuses on the crimes of Saskatchewan-born murderer Gordon Northcott, who was convicted in 1928 of crimes in California.
Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio star in BODY OF LIES, Robert DeNiro cinematically asks WHAT JUST HAPPENED, and we will conclude BLACK HISTORY MONTH with THE ULTIMATE MUHAMMAD ALI COLLECTION.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in fourteen days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – February 7th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a Canadian movie that isn’t a good movie, but I will still recommend it, and some Black Magic.
I have seen this week’s Hot Potato seven times now…from start to finish I have watched Paul Gross’s film PASSCHENDAELE seven times…and what was true after the first time remains true after the seventh…this is not a good movie.
It can serve as a great history lesson to every Canadian…and for that reason it is very worthy of your time…but as a film…this is such a missed opportunity.
Now, in case you are asking why I have bothered to sit through PASSCHENDAELE seven times if it isn’t a good movie, well I wanted – and still want – this film about a piece of Canadian history that we should all know – to be one that is a must see.
One that each and every Canadian would not only feel compelled to see, but want to…and so before every time I saw it, I figured that maybe it was just me…maybe it isn’t a bad film, maybe it was just me.
And this week, I must admit that I came to an unfortunate conclusion…it isn’t me.
The actual Battle of Passchendaele – or Third Battle of Ypres – was one of the major battles of World War I. It was a series of operations starting in June 1917 and petering out in November 1917 in which troops under British command attacked the Imperial German Army.
The battle was fought for control of the village of Passchendaele near the town of Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium.
The film PASSCHENDAELE was written, produced, directed by and stars Paul Gross. He plays Michael Dunne, a soldier who is brutally wounded in France and returns to Calgary emotionally and physically scarred.
While in the military hospital in Calgary, he meets and falls in love with a nurse, who is played by Caroline Dhavernas, from the TV show WONDERFALLS.
And it is the romantic subplot that causes the film to go off the rails, primarily because the world is at war, and…the Nurse has a brother, who has Asthma…but only when the plot of the film needs him to have Asthma…and she lost her father at Vimy Ridge, then, as it turns out, he was a German, fighting against the Canadians, making her and her whole family outcasts.
Now, if that wasn’t enough, the nurse is also addicted to morphine, until one fateful night, after the locals trash her house and she has nowhere else to stay but with Gross’ Michael Dunne in a hotel room, and in one night of just conversation – the utterly ridiculous love scene comes later on the battlefields of France – in one night of cinematic conversation, she is able to completely kick her morpine habit and we never hear about it again…but we do hear about her brother again.
The asthmatic brother manages to get around the rules that prevent people who have the disease from joining the military, and he is shipped off to fight.
And guess who feels compelled to go back to Europe to protect him?
Yes, that is right…one Michael Dunne.
Now, I am a patriotic and proud Canadian, and love seeing our country’s stories told on screen. I also consider myself a fan of Paul Gross’ work, and I am a huge fan of Caroline Dhavernas…but PASSCHENDAELE is just not a good movie…and the blame for that is due to the fact that it was written, produced, directed by and stars Paul Gross.
Even though there were three other producers, and a studio behind this film, not one of them stepped in to suggest that maybe the Asthma plot point didn’t work, or ask why the Nurse has to have all of the afflictions that she does, when one or two would have sufficed…and no one bothered to question Gross as to why so little of his film actually takes place in Passchendaele.
Had they done that, had anyone stepped in and worked harder to make this a better film, then the result could have been something that all of us were proud of…after all, the real-life stories of what the Canadian soldiers actually accomplished at Passchendaele could provide inspiration for dozens of films!!
Unfortunately, due to the fact that Gross’ film cost over $20 to make and market, and only made $4.5 million at the box office, it isn’t likely that many other real-lfe Canadian stories will be turned into films anytime soon…as the studios will say that Canadian films don’t make money.
However…the real truth is…good films make money…bad films usually do not.
Now, with all that negativity said, and for the moment pushed aside, I still think that you should see PASSCHENDAELE because the filmmakers did so a very good job of re-creating the actual Battle of Passchendaele, and spreading the word of our Soldier’s accomplishments there.
I just wish that they had been honoured with a better film…I really wish that.
I have five other releases to tell you about this week, starting with Kevin Smith’s ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO.
Smith is the man who gave us the films CLERKS, CHASING AMY and MALLRATS and he had the chance with this film to do something he had never done before, have a cast who can actually act get his well-written words to a mass audience.
Unfortunately, he decided not to use the talents of his cast – including Seth Rogen from SUPER BAD and PINEAPPLE EXPRESS and Elizabeth Banks from DEFINITELY MAYBE and W – and the result is a sophomoric comedy about two broke friends who have to resort to something most of us would consider the height of desperation…and the name of this film again is ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO.
Admittedly, I didn’t think that ZACK & MIRI was an awful film, I did enjoy it more the second time and I will watch it again, but it could have been so much better. Even the lazy title indicates that Smith didn’t give this one his all.
If you liked CLERKS II and JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, then this might be a good rental for you…otherwise skip it.
And you might also need to skip NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST.
NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST is really meant to be a comedy for teens, especially teens who enjoyed the book it is based on.
I know I would have loved this film about two teenagers who meet and fall in love one night primarily bacuse of their shared love of music when I was a teenager, however as a 40 year old, I only liked it a little bit.
NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST isn’t a bad movie, I did like a lot of it as it does have a great soundtrack and cast – including Canadian Michael Cera from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and Juno, but – to me – it just wasn’t as good as it could have been.
Maybe I am just too old for it. Geez, I hate admitting that.
I am definitely not too old for this next release, in fact it is one that I first discovered during my teen years! This is the 3-DVD Box Set for THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS.
THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS is the name that is used to describe the long-running series of benefit shows staged in England to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International.
The shows started out in the mid-1970s primarily as comedy galas featuring well-known musical performers such as Sting, Phil Collins and Pete Townshend and popular British comedic performers, most notably the cast of Monty Python.
These were all great shows and this is a spectacular box set, that also includes a great retrospective look back!
I wouldn’t use the word spectaculat to describe this week’s BLU-RAY BEACON – Adrian Lyne’s film UNFAITHFUL, but this is a very good film…one made for and by adults.
UNFAITHFUL is the 2002 film starring Richard Gere, Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez. Gere and Lane are a couple whose marriage starts to fall apart once the wife starts to have an affair.
What remains unique here is that it is the wife having the affair, something not usually seen in Hollywood films, and UNFAITHFUL looks and sounds great on Blu-ray.
Finally this week, in honour of BLACK HISTORY MONTH, let me tell you about a very insightful documentary called BLACK MAGIC!
BLACK MAGIC shows us some of the injustices that helped define the Civil Rights Movement in America, as told through the lives of basketball players and coaches who attended Historical Black Colleges and Universities.
Narrated by Academy Award Nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson and jazz great Wynton Marsalis, and featuring basketball greats like Chris Paul, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Julius “Dr. J” Erving this is an eye opening look at how some athletes helped pave the way towards equal rights for all.
The insightful and entertaining documentary BLACK MAGIC and the superb box set for THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS are both available now on DVD.
The films UNFAITHFUL, NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST, ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO and the disappointing PASSCHENDAELE are available now on DVD and Blu-ray.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
FROZEN RIVER is the Academy Award nominated film about the lengths that two mothers are willing to go for their kids.
And I will also discuss Spike Lee’s MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – January 31st, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a super line-up of films, unfortunately some are less than stellar, and Groundhog Day.
I actually have nine films for you this week on this super-sized edition of The Report, but unfortunately, several of them are not really worthy of your timeÖbut some of there are good rentals, so let’s get to the nine, starting with three films that were mostly filmed in Canada.
Up first is CLOSING THE RING which was filmed in and around Dundas and Port Perry, Ontario, and in the Toronto Film Studios.
CLOSING THE RING is primarily the story of love…love lost and unrequited love, and it is told in both the present day and through flashbacks.
It is also about a young man who is searching for the rightful owner of a gold ring that he found buried deep in a mountainside.
CLOSING THE RING has a great cast that includes Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, Mischa Barton, Neve Campbell and Pete Postlethwaite, but it moves at too slow a pace, and even though I did sort of like it…I never once felt emotionally involved.
However, if you loved THE NOTEBOOK, with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams…then you may really enjoy this a sthe two do share more than a few similarities.
CLOSING THE RING isn’t great, but there will be people who love it!
There will also be those who love the made-in-Toronto and Hamilton action film MAX PAYNE, based on the video game of the same name.
As of last March the Max Payne gaming franchise has sold over 7 million copies, and I suspect this film will be rented by fan boys at least that many times.
Mark Wahlberg stars in this film as a DEA agent in New York City who is trying to find out who murdered his family. He teams up with an assassin out to avenge her sister’s death and the duo are hunted by the police, the mob, and that great fallback movie cliche “a ruthless corporation.”
Mila Kunis from FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL plays the assassin and the beautiful newest Bond girl Olga Kurylenko is the murdered sister, so the cast is good…and I guess I would also use that word to describe this film too…good.
It is what it is.
Those who love action/revenge films will love it, own it, and watch it again and again…but most people will just walk past it on the shelf.
So, to surmise…if you enjoy stylistic action films based on video games, then MAY PAYNE is for you!!
If you don’t, then maybe you will enjoy a comedy that may be implausible, but still has some great moments.
That comedy is THE ROCKER!
The director of THE FULL MONTY and Rainn Wilson, who plays Dwight Schrute on the American version of THE OFFICE are the two biggest names connected to this made in Toronto film.
Wilson is Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman, a dedicated and passionate drummer who gets kicked out of an eighties heavy metal hair band, just before the group goes on to worldwide success and glory.
And he isn’t too happy about that.
Twenty years later, while he is living in his sister’s attic, his teenage nephew asks him to play drums in his band…at the prom…and the aging rocker gets a second chance at success!!
THE ROCKER has some great, almost all original music, some great young stars, and more than a few laughs…a few even huge out loud ones. I didn’t love it, but I liked it and I will watch it again some day…this one is a good rental.
Oh, and watch closely in the scene at the bus stop as it features a cameo from a man who knows what it is like to be kicked out of a band who then go on to worldwide fame and acclaim.
None other than Pete Best, who was kicked out of The Beatles, is the man on the bench reading Rolling Stone magazine…and there is also a great interview with him in the discs’ Special Features.
Let’s move now from the films made in Canada, to a man we all consider a Canadian, Keifer Sutherland stars in the wannabe suspence thriller MIRRORS.
Now I love the premise of this film – something evil gets trapped inside some mirrors and can’t be avoided once you are cursed by looking into those mirrors and you can’t escape them because mirrors are everywhere!!!
And I am, and will always be, a huge fan of Keifer Sutherland!! From DARK CITY tO STAND BY ME and THE LOST BOYS he has played many different and unique rolls over the years…but in this movie, he is just playing a variation of Jack Bauer, the character he plays on the TV show 24.
The mannerisms are all the same, the speech patters are all the same, and even the yelling and way he holds a gun are the same….so, sadly, even with a star and supporting cast I like – one that also incudes Amy Smart who was the co-star of the made-in-Saskatchewan film JUST FRIENDS – and a premise I think is great…MIRRORS isn’t worthy of your time.
There is very little suspence, if any at all, the basic story itself was done better in the movie THE RING and most of the special effects are awful!
I admit that I wanted to know how it ended, but I didn’t care. MIRRORS, the film, like mirrors, the mirrors, will be available in almost every store you go in to, but don’t stop to look.
The reflection just isn’t worth it.
Up next this week is the police drama PRIDE & GLORY, about a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers.
It stars Edward Norton and Colin Farrell, two great actors, but the film offers no suspence at all, and it is snoreing – that unique combination between a snore and utterly boring!!
Norton’s cop has to investigate a police scandal that may or may not involve his brother in law, and may also tarnish the family’s legacy and the entire NYPD….but you won’t care.
PRIDE & GLORY is 2 hours and 10 minutes long, and since I have seen it all, let me be the only one who suffers!! Skip this one!!!
And most people should also skip THE EXPRESS…even though it is a story that we should all know.
Ernest Davis was an American football running back and the first African-American athlete to win the Heisman Trophy.
Davis wore number 44 and played college ball for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins, and then traded to the Cleveland Browns in December of 1961.
Tragically, he never played a professional game as he was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962.
His story is tragic, but it is also an incredibly inspiring one!
A story that had really only been told before in Robert C. Gallagher’s book “Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner”.
The book was the basis for the film, and the book is the real story of Ernie Davis’ legacy.
The movie version of THE EXPRESS may make for good “family viewing”, but this book explains the TRUE story of just how brave, unselfish and caring Davis was, right up until his death.
THE EXPRESS is another cliche filled Hollywood sports movie, and even though it’s intentions are good – telling the story of Ernie Davis…for me it was a huge disappointment. If you absolutely NEED to watch some football this weekend, well, luckily for you the Super Bowl is tomorrow!
But, if you would like to know more about a great human being…skip this film, and search out Robert C. Gallagher’s book “Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, the Story of a Heisman Trophy Winner”.
Up next, how about a film with an Academy Award nominee in it? PenÈlope Cruz received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in Woody Allen’s fabulous VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.
Cruz plays the less-than-stable ex-wife of Javier Bardem, the Oscar winner from last year’s NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA also stars Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall as two friends who travel to Spain on a summer holiday.
They both become enamored with Bardem’s painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.
I mentioned that VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is a Woody Allen film, but it is more like MATCH POINT than ANNIE HALL or any of the director’s earlier work.
It isn’t an exceptional movie, but the cast is great, the story interesting, and I liked it a lot! It’s a great little film!!
CITY OF EMBER, as we move along on this super-sized edition of The Couch Potato Report, is not a film I liked, and it is not a great little film…well, as far as I am concerned…I am sure there are people who enjoyed the book that it is based on who will like it…but I am not one of those people.
CITY OF EMBER is the story of the people who live in an underground city…named Ember. The original plan was for them to live there for 200 years, and with that time-frame long since past, the city and it’s power generator are starting to fail.
Two teenagers stumble upon information that may lead them, and the rest of the residents back above ground…and the film is primarily about their efforts.
Now, there are some good scenes in CITY OF EMBER, and the sets are quite impressive, but this isn’t a film for everyone. If you liked the book, or are searching for a film for the whole family, then this might be a good rental…but otherwise skip it.
Personally, I only watched it because Bill Murray was one of the co-stars, and I love Bill Murray…but luckily this wasn’t the only new release of a Murray Movie this week!!
His classic film GROUNDHOG DAY is now available on Blu-ray!!!
The BLU-RAY BEACON shines on the great GROUNDHOG DAY this week, this is the 1993 film where Murray plays a weatherman who finds himself living the same day over and over again.
In addition to the film itself, which is still laugh out loud funny, this new Blu-ray also features a Pop-Up Trivia Track that offers trivia and insight on the production and the film.
I love GROUNDHOG DAY, and I am glad that I now have it on Blu-ray as it looks and sounds terrific!!
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, THE EXPRESS, MIRRORS, THE ROCKER and MAX PAYNE are all also available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
And CITY OF EMBER, PRIDE & GLORY and CLOSING THE RING are all available now on DVD.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
The Canadian film PASSCHENDAELE debuts on DVD and I will recommend it, even though I don’t like the film.
I will also talk about ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO, NICK AND NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST, I’ll commemorate BLACK HISTORY MONTH with the documentary BLACK MAGIC, and the legendary THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS debuts in a 3 DVD Box Set featuring music and comedy legends, like the members of Monty Python.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s SUPER-SIZED COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – January 24th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels Romeo, Juliet, Annie, Appaloosa, and Austin, Baby.
I have a wealth of titles for you this week, so let me get right to them, starting with the documentary TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET, from Saskatchewan filmmaker Robin Schlaht.
TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET shows us three different groups of actors who are in preperation to play Shakespeare’s tragic lovers.
We see a youth summer camp production in Guelph, Ontario, and a very unique, and sometimes odd professional production at the Chilean National Theatre, in Santiago, and an amateur production in Reading, England.
TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET takes us through the twists, turns and obsticles that get in the way, of the actors and directors putting on the play. It also shows us the frailty of the young actors, who at times aren’t all that confident in what they are doing.
TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET is a documentary, but it isn’t your typical documentary. There is no narration, and there are no one-on-one interviews with the film’s subjects. Instead, we just get to see what is taking place on stage, and during rehearsals.
At times the lack of narration works and benefits the film, but there are other times when it could have used some. Those times don’t necessarily hurt the film, as there are a lot of very interesting things that happen in the movie, but they do prevent it from being a documentary that I can proclaim a MUST SEE because that narration could have moved the film along a bit faster.
I liked it, but I just don’t think it will appeal to everyone. Instead, TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET is really only a film for fans of theatre, Shakespeare himself, and people who enjoy the timeless tale of tragic lovers Romeo and Juliet.
Up next this week is another documentary, one about something that concerns us all – water.
FLOW – FOR LOVE OF WATER is a film that features interviews with water and community activists and it explains the big business of privatization of the world’s water infrastructure.
That is a business that prioritizes profits over the availability of clean water for people and the environment.
FLOW – FOR LOVE OF WATER is interesting and insightful, and it also features some great visuals, and it will make you think. For instance, the one question posed that got me was. “Did you ever think that water would sell for the same price as milk?”
FLOW – FOR LOVE OF WATER has a lot going for it, and I do highly recommend it, but it is completely one sided as the big businesses that are depicted never get a chance to defend their actions.
Still, it made me think, and it showed and told me about things I didn’t know and hadn’t seen. I am glad I had the chance to see it!!
I am also glad, very glad that I was able to watch the documentary ANNIE LEIBOVITZ – LIFE THROUGH A LENS. This is a great movie!!
If you have ever read, or flipped through Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair or Vogue magazines, then you have seen the work of Annie Leibovitz. She has produced some of the most iconic images of the last 30 years shooting the rich and famous, the profound and powerful, the exceptional and notorious.
Some of the most famous Leibovitz photos include the January 22nd, 1981 Rolling Stone cover of John Lennon naked, lying beside Yoko Ono, which was taken on the day of his death.
Demi Moore’s nude Vanity Fair cover featuring the actress when she was seven months pregnant.
Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, as The Blues Brothers, with their faces painted blue.
Closeup portrait of Pete Townshend framed by his bleeding hand dripping real blood down the side of his face.
Bruce Springsteen’s, Born in the U.S.A. album cover.
And even Miley Cyrus’ recent photo spread in which the young star appeared semi-nude.
Simply put, she is one of the world best, and best-known photographers and ANNIE LEIBOVITZ – LIFE THROUGH A LENS shows her taking pictures, living life and introduces us to her family and some of the people who know her best.
It also includes interviews with – among others – Mikhail Baryshnikov, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bette Midler, Demi Moore, Yoko Ono, Keith Richards, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gloria Steinem and Mick Jagger.
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ – LIFE THROUGH A LENS is a superb film about a great artist! Search this one out!
You don’t have to search out these next two releases I have for you, they can be found everywhere right now, in video stores big and small! And if they sound interesting to you, check them out. If they don’t, skip them. Both are okay films, but both films should and could have been better.
I’ll get to SWING VOTE in a moment, but first is the western APPALOOSA starring Viggo Mortenson, Jeremy Irons, Renee Zellweger, and it was co-written, directed by and stars the great Ed Harris.
In this movie, Viggo and Ed play two old friends who are hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher.
They find their job complicated by the arrival of a young widow, who is played by Zellweger.
Now I like every member of this film’s cast, but they deserved a better movie. APPALOOSA isn’t awful, but it isn’t very good. However, if you like the cast too, or just love westerns, maybe you will get something out of it.
You might also get something out of SWING VOTE, if you love Kevin Costner, or you don’t expect too much from this film. This one is not great either, but I liked it.
Costner plays an irresponsible single-father who loves his daughter and his country, but is just never able to do the right thing for either.
And then, due to an “only-in-the-movies’ sort of coincidence, the result of the entire presidential election comes down to his vote.
It is up to him, he will pick the next president, so both sides travel to his small town to court him, and try to get his vote.
SWING VOTE is a movie that is almost totally implausible, and the amount of media attention Costner’s character gets isn’t realistic, in actuality he would be hounded 24 hours a day and never get a moment’s peace….but I liked the ending, and I like this film.
Nope, it isn’t great, but if it – or APPALOOSA – sounds interesting to you, check them out. If they don’t, skip them.
Finally this week, if you have never picked up any of the fantastically fun and entertaining AUSTIN POWERS films, well now you can own all three on the inexpensive DVD set AUSTIN POWERS – THE FRANCHISE COLLECTION.
This DVD is available for less than twenty dollars and it includes all of Mike Myers’ brilliance in Austin Powers – International Man of Mystery, The Spy Who Shagged Me and Goldmember.
Sadly, AUSTIN POWERS – THE FRANCHISE COLLECTION features only the Pan & Scan editions of the films, but if it the content of the movies you want to own – and watch repeatedly – for a cheap price, then this is the release of the week for you!!
THE FRANCHISE COLLECTION for the AUSTIN POWERS films, SWING VOTE, APPALOOSA, ANNIE LEIBOVITZ – LIFE THROUGH A LENS, FLOW – FOR LOVE OF WATER and the Saskatchewan film TO BE ROMEO AND JULIET are all available now on DVD.
APPALOOSA, SWING VOTE and the AUSTIN POWERS films are all also available on Blu-ray.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
The made-in-Canada films CLOSING THE RING and MAX PAYNE and the made-in-Spain film VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA.
Also next week, the football film THE EXPRESS, the box set for THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS, and the BLU-RAY BEACON focusses on Bill Murray’s classic film GROUNDHOG DAY, and the BLU-RAY BEACON focusses on Bill Murray’s classic film GROUNDHOG DAY.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – January 10th, 2009
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a stoner comedy, a traitor, the women and we will end with a Rush!
It is the first Report for 2009, and since I have been away for the past two weeks, I have a combination of releases that are brand new, and a couple of weeks old.
I’ll start with a Brand New one, this week’s Hot Potato, the stoner comedy PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.
From the Cheech & Chong films of the 1970s, through Dazed and Confused, Half Baked and The Big Lebowski, all the way to Harold & Kumar, and the Trailer Park Boys…there have always been stoner comedies.
The latest cinematic one comes from two Vancouver born writers, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogan from KNOCKED UP and THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN,…but, it isn’t just a stoner comedy, it is an action-stoner-comedy!
In PINEAPPLE EXPRESS Rogan plays a man who witnesses a murder, and – in a panic – runs back to his dealer, unsure of what to do next.
James Franco from the SPIDERMAN films plays the dealer, and together the two must go on the run to try and avoid the hitman’s henchmen who are after them….and wouldn’t you know it, they become friends…maybe.
These days James Franco is known for being a semi-serious actor, but he started off in the business doing comedy – along with Seth Rogan in Judd Apatow’s great television series FREAK & GEEKS.
His performance in PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is especially entertaining!
Like all Judd Apatow produced or directed films, including FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL and SUPERBAD, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is not a perfect film. It is a bit too long, and it could have used some editing, especially during one really, really long fight scene at the end…plus, due to the amount of action, profanity and drug use, I just can’t recommend this film to everyone…but I sure liked it.
Many of the action scenes are pretty cool, and at times it is laugh out loud funny!
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS is a great action-stoner-comedy…for those of us who like that sort of stuff.
Up next this week is the suspence filled spy thriller TRAITOR.
Don Cheadle from HOTEL RWANDA and the OCEAN’S 11 films stars in TRAITOR as Samir Horn, an Arabic-speaking Sudanese-American and devout Muslim, who seems to be operating as an arms dealer…but there might be more to him than originally meets the eye.
Guy Pearce from LA CONFIDENTIAL and MEMENTO plays an FBI agent who is heading up an investigation into a dangerous international conspiracy, and all clues seem to lead back to Samir, a man who is also a former U.S. Special Operations officer.
Is Samir a traitor, is he not? Well, you are certainly not going to find out from me! TRAITOR is one of those films that the less you know about it going in, the better.
I liked it…no, it isn’t a great movie, but it kept me interested right up until the end.
And I can’t say that either of those statements are true about the remake of THE WOMEN.
I didn’t like it…and I honestly cannot believe I even made it to the end!!
THE WOMEN stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith, and features Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler and Carrie Fisher.
It is about four friends and the trials and tribulations that people – in this case women – go through.
Love, infidelity, loyalty…you know, life.
It was written and directed by Diane English – who created the TV series MURPHY BROWN – and it is an updated version of the George Cukor-directed 1939 film of the same name, which was based on the 1936 play by Clare Boothe Luce.
Sadly, this remake isn’t as interesting as the original, and after a while, no matter how much I loved the actress on screen, it was just blah, blah, blaaaah!!
And I do, I love all of the folks involved with this movie, but the end result is awful!!
I never believed that any of them would still be friends, the writing is done in the style of a TV sitcom and not a movie, and even though we are supposed to care about these women…the movie they are in never really gives us a reason to.
So, I say skip THE WOMEN, there are a few touching moments between Meg Ryan and her daughter’s character, but it is just a waste of time.
In fact, in order to be fair to both genders, I also suggest that you skip THE MEN too…the men who star in the film RIGHTEOUS KILL.
And it hurts me to say that since the men are Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino!! I love these guys…but this film is horrible.
Prior to this mess, cinematic legends Pacino and DeNiro had only appeard together in two films THE GODFATHER, PART II – in which they had no scenes together – and HEAT – in which they did…but they weren’t shot side by side, they only had the camera on them individually.
In RIGHTEOUS KILL they have dozens of scenes together, and I admit that it is a superb treat to see them acting together, but their performances are restrained by a bad script.
They play two veteran New York City detectives working on a serial killer case, and they come to realize that they might have put the wrong person behind bars.
Sadly, the film is an awful, awful mess! If you can imagine Pacino and DeNiro guest starring on a bad episode of LAW & ORDER, and that is what we have here.
Due to it’s pedigree RIGHTEOUS KILL is a movie that you will probably want to see…but know this going in…it is not worthy of your time. Skip it!!
Finally this week, two titles that will appeal to a specific domographic, and if that includes you, then you are in for a treat!! The latest concert DVD from Rush is coming up, but first, the made-in-Vancouver BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – SEASON 4.0.
The great new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series continues to be a a drama about the fight to save humanity,… that just happens to take place in science-fiction setting.
This is one of the best shows that is currently on television, science fiction, or otherwise, and the superb SEASON 4.0 has come out in a great 4 disc box set!
This Box Set also includes the great movie BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR, and the release of SEASON 4.0 on DVD sets the stage for SEASON 4.5, the final part of the entire series, which just happens to begin airing on Friday.
I am really looking forward to the final ten episodes of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and even more so no wthat I have re-watched BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – SEASON 4.0.
Finally this week, the BLU-RAY BEACON shines the spotlight on the Canadian band RUSH and their fantastic release SNAKES & ARROWS LIVE.
If you were one of the thousands that attended the Rush concert in Regina last May 25th, and you wished you had a high definition souvenir of the show, well this is it!!
This is not the Regina show, instead this release was filmed over two performances in Rotterdam, Holland, but it features all of the same filmed clips and music that was played in our province.
Alex, Geddy and Neil are in fantastic form, and just as they were during our concert, they are quite playful as well!!!
RUSH – SNAKES & ARROWS LIVE is a great looking and sounding DVD release, but on Blu-ray it looks and sounds spectacular!!
If you have always loved the band…enjoy!!
The fantastic SNAKES & ARROWS LIVE disc from RUSH is now available on Blu-ray, and you can also find it on DVD as well, along with SEASON 4.0 of the great series BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, the awful RIGHTEOUS KILL, the really awful THE WOMEN, the very interesting thriller TRAITOR and the great stoner-action-comedy PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
All three of Mike Myers’ AUSTIN POWERS films are being released in one very inexpensive set called AUSTIN POWERS – THE FRANCHISE COLLECTION
CLIP – AUSTIN – Details
TIME – 15 seconds
And I will also discuss SWING VOTE, APPALOOSA, ARRANGES, MIRRORS and a film who’s title is such a ethnic slur that I won’t even say it.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report ñ Bonus Box Set Edition – Monday, December 22nd, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a wide array of DVD Box Sets that might also be good gift ideas.
Only 3 shopping days left…are you out of ideas? If that happens to be the case, I have 8 very different sets and collections to tell you about right now that cover movies, music, television series and sports for the DVD fan on your list.
And lets start with sports…sports in Edmonton to be exact…with the 10 DVD set EDMONTON OILERS – 10 GREATEST GAMES.
This amazing boxed set brings you ten original game broadcasts of Edmonton Oilers hockey and is a must have for any Oilers fan.
I remain a huge Wayne Gretzky fan, so it is also a must own for people like me, especially when we get to go back to the night of December 30th, 1981 to watch Gretzky score 5 goals in one game to become the fastest person to ever score 50.
50 Goals in 39 Games!!
The set has over 21 hours of the original broadcasts, and it comes highly recommended for that reason. Sadly, it doesn’t have hardly any post game interviews, so it loses points for that.
But, if you know an Oilers or NHL hockey fan – why not look for EDMONTON OILERS – 10 GREATEST GAMES, with your host Rod Phillips, the voice of the Oilers.
If you know someone who is a fan of the sweet science, or the one and only Mr. Muhammed Ali, then this next release is for them!
RINGSIDE ALI is a four disc set that includes fifteen of the three-time Heavyweight Champion of the World’s most legendary match-ups, including the Thrilla’ in Manila, The Fight of the Century and the Rumble in the Jungle.
RINGSIDE ALI has 10 hours of explosive fight footage, and interviews with experts and even one athlete who fought him, Canadian George Chuvalo.
RINGSIDE ALI is a great tribute to the man whose grace, jabs and jibes transformed him into a living legend.
Plus, since he was such a part of Ali’s career and mystique, there is also an abundance of Mr. Howard Cosell too!
If you need some DVD ideas for someone who is not a sports fan, the next three sets I have for you have nothing to do with sports…they are all Television show sets.
Starting with KNIGHT RIDER – THE COMPLETE SERIES.
This 24 DVD set features all four seasons and 84 episodes!
David Hasselhoff is crimefighter Michael Knight, the driver of the world’s most dynamic, high-tech talking car.
They take on criminals, crooks and way too many people who are trying to find out more about K.I.T.T.’s technology, and to try and use it for evil purposes.
PLUS, the KNIGHT RIDER – THE COMPLETE SERIES also comes with a flashing red light, like K.I.T.T’s, and it features a sample from the show’s theme song too!!
From KNIGHT RIDER, let’s move now to NIGHT GALLERY.
NIGHT GALLERY was Rod Serling’s follow-up series to The Twilight Zone. It aired from 1970 to 1973 and in each episode Serling appeared in an art gallery setting and introduced the macabre tales that made up each episode by unveiling paintings that depicted the stories we were about to see.
SEASON TWO of NIGHT GALLERY is a 5 DVD set with over 60 unique, well written, sometimes funny, but usually chilling stories. Some that have even stood the test of time and been referenced in other films, like Mike Myers’ SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER.
If you know someone who would be entertained by this type of show, I recommend this set!! This is good stuff!!
If you know someone who likes to laugh at stuff that is perceived to be scary, but really isn’t, then let me now tell you about the 12-DVD Box Set for every episode that was shot, and two movies featuring THE MUNSTERS.
THE MUNSTERS was a 1960s television comedy that showed us the home life of a family of monsters.
It was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era, such as Leave it to Beaver.
Personally, I was never a huge fan of the show when I watched it as a kid…but I did get a few laughs out of it when I was watching THE MUNSTERS – THE COMPLETE SERIES over the past few weeks.
Alright, a music DVD now…if you are looking for something for the music fan on your list, this next release is one I highly recommend!
I GOT THE FEELIN’ – JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s is a 3 disc set that includes the documentary THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON
THE NIGHT JAMES BROWN SAVED BOSTON tells the story of a 1968 concert that not only averted riots in Boston in the aftermath of Martin Luther King Junior’s assassination, but also set James Brown on a fantastic new musical path.
I GOT THE FEELIN’ – JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s also shows JB’s on-stage prowess, and in addition to the documentary, there are also two previously unreleased concerts, featuring classic songs such as “I Feel Good,” “Cold Sweat,” “Try Me,” “I Got The Feelin’,” “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” “Bewildered,” and “Please, Please, Please.”
This set is a must have for any music lover’s collection.
Finally, I have two movie sets for you…two great ones!
First up, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON spans from 1830 to 1880 covering the history of the westward expansion. This is an epic western that was shot in the panoramic three-camera Cinerama process, and it was directed by Hollywood legends Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, and John Ford.
The stellar cast includes Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, George Peppard, John Wayne, and many, many others!
This is one of those films people are talking about when they say “They don’t make ’em like they used to!”
The ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON also includes a great documentary for all film fans who want to know more about Cinerama, and combined with the film itself, this is a great box set!
I wish I could say that the final release I have for you is also a great box set…but it isn’t. It is a superb collection of films from one fo my favourite filmmakers, but instead of being an actual box, A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH – which features CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY – just comes with a small piece of paper that wraps around the movies.
I love Kevin Smith’s films, especially CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY, and I highly recommend each and every one, I just wish this release had better packaging.
Yes, I do think these films are worth seeing, and if that person on your list who likes profane, honest films about real people has yet to be crossed off, and they don’t already own these movies, well then A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH featuring CLERKS, CLERKS 2 and CHASING AMY is a pretty good gift idea.
So, if you need a gift idea for the DVD fan on your list, let me recap – A THREESOME WITH KEVIN SMITH, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of HOW THE WEST WAS WON, I GOT THE FEELIN’ – JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s, THE MUNSTERS – THE COMPLETE SERIES, SEASON TWO of NIGHT GALLERY, KNIGHT RIDER – THE COMPLETE SERIES, EDMONTON OILERS – 10 GREATEST GAMES and RINGSIDE ALI are all available now on DVD.
The Couch Potato Report returns on Saturday – January 10th, 2009, and at that time I will talk about the films PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, TRAITOR, THE WOMEN, RIGHTEOUS KILL, TOWELHEAD and BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA – SEASON 4.0.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in twenty days.
For now, and for this year, that’s THE COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – December 20th, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a border, two summer hits, a cinematic treat, and HamletÖ2!
It is the last Saturday edition of the Report for 2008, and to start off this conclusion, let’s head to the border!
THE BORDER is a television show that is set in Toronto, but features stories from all of the provinces about the people who come and go from our country.
It is a procedural drama and action show about agents of the ICS – Immigration and Customs Security Agency – as they make life and death decisions about who stays and who gets deported.
Now, I know you must be thinking that a show about the people who defend the Canadian border must be a bit slow, especially if you have ever gone into The United States through the borders in Southern Saskatchewan…those places look like nothing that si worthy of being on television ever happens there!!
BUT, this is a show that features a lot of action and some interesting stories and this 3-DVD set for THE BORDER features all 13 episodes from SEASON ONE.
Admittedly, some episodes are better than others…and a few episodes aren’t very interesting at all…but if you are looking for an action adventure show to entertain you until Jack Bauer returns to television in a few weeks, THE BORDER is an entertaining, and sometimes very good substitute!
Oh, while SEASON ONE of the show is now available on DVD, don’t miss new episodes as SEASON TWO is airing Monday Nights at 9 o’clock on CBC Television!!
THE BORDER deals with spies and espionage across all of Canada, if you are looking for something that only takes place in one city, I offer – and highly recommend the latest film from the Academy Award winning directors of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.
Yes, the latest film from Joel and Ethan Cohen takes place only in Washington, D.C. and it is called BURN AFTER READING.
In this film, which is one of my top three for 2008, a CD is found in a gym.
It contains the the memoirs of an unemployed CIA agent, and it ends up in the hands of two of the gym’s employees who decide to try and sell it.
Since this is a Coen Brothers film, nothing goes according to plan….AND since this is a comedy that is more in the vein of THE BIG LEBOWSKI and THE HUDSUCKER PROXY than NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, there are also some great secondary characters, like a womanizing George Clooney, who must get a run in after each affair, and the great John Malcovich – who plays the former CIA agent.
Not everyone will enjoy BURN AFTER READING, but I sure did!
It is funny, very profane, engaging and dramatic, and while it won’t win Joel and Ethan another Oscar, it sure did win me over! I love this movie, and highly recommend it!!
Now, while I loved BURN AFTER READING, and know that not everyone will enjoy it, I also know that the opposite will be true for some other movies…especially our next release this week!
I know there are people out there who LOVE this next film, absolutely love it!! In fact, in the U.K., it was announced this week that the film is now the Number One, highest grossing film of all time there, beating even TITANIC!!
But I just didn’t care for it…I wanted to, but I didn’t.
That movie? MAMMA MIA!
This film – for the uninitiated who have never heard of it, or the stage musical it is based on – is the story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father so he can be with her on her wedding day.
It is all told using hit songs from the group ABBA.
Now, I lived in Europe for 6 years, so I grew up with ABBA, and I love almost every member of the cast of this film – including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgaard and Amanda Seyfried – but I just didn’t get much out of this movie.
I do agree that it is fun, but it just isn’t MY type of fun….however, if you think you will enjoy it, you probably will.
And you are almost guaranteed a laugh when the former James Bond Pierce Brosnan tries to sing.
No, MAMMA MIA! isn’t for me, but I have another musical this week that completely is!
This one is stupid, and juvenile and immature and I loved it!!
I just loved HAMLET 2!!
HAMLET 2 is sort of parody of those “teachers who inspire kids” films like DEAD POETS SOCIETY, DANGEROUS MINDS, SCHOOL OF ROCK and MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS, and sort of a musical.
A failed actor turned High School Drama Teacher – played by the brilliant British comedia Steve Coogan, who most people in North America have never heard of – i trying to rally and inspire his Tucson, Arizona students as he conceives, writes and stages a very politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Co-written by Pam Brady – who also worked on SOUTH PARK and TEAM AMERICA – HAMLET 2 is full of gags, very bizarre slapstick moments, celebrity cameos, and some real singing and dancing by a group of unknowns young actors.
No, HAMLET 2 will not appeal to the masses the way MAMMA MIA! has, but for those – like me – who don’t completely understand MAMMA’s appeal, HAMLET 2 is for us.
I loved this film, and it made me laugh out loud, so as a conclusion I say, This above all – to thine ownself be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Finally this week are two action films that I didn’t care for at all, but…if either of these movies sound interesting to you…or someone you know…you…or they…might enjoy them.
Otherwise, neither THE MUMMY – TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR or DEATH RACE are very notable at all.
Since it stars Canadian Brendan Fraser, lets start with the latest MUMMY film.
The first Fraser MUMMY film from 1999 is still a fun and entertaining movie, and THE MUMMY RETURNS from 2001 – while not as great, is also still pretty good.
Both of them are certainly better that THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR…this is an unnecessary film!
The story is an odd series of ideas that are all poorly executed, and the dialogue is poorly written and the characters, as well as almost all of their actions, render this film – and the series, for now, uttely moot.
But, if you LOVED the first two films, I mean truly loved them, them maybe there is something in this mess for you.
Personally, I didn’t care for THE MUMMY – TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR at all…it isn’t even a good rental.
And neither is the new version of DEATH RACE…why did they bother with this?!? It is just awful!!
The original DEATH RACE film – DEATH RACE 2000 – came out in 1975, and it remains a low budget horror film with some interesting action and characters.
The remake, which stars Jason Statham from THE TRANSPORTER films, Academy Award nominee Joan Allen – from the last two THE JASON BOURNE films – and Ian McShane of the great television show DEADWOOD, has great actors, but bad acting, a bad script, and is just bad!
It wants to be a cross between the orginal film and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION…it isn’t!
Now, as you might expect, I didn’t go into a film called DEATH RACE expecting high quality and a piece of art, I wanted action, dark and dirty, fun and frivolous action.
DEATH RACE did not deliver, and that is the bottom line, it is an action film that does not deliver.
But again, if you – or someone you know – loves all kinds of utterly mindless action films – I mean truly loves them, them maybe there is something in this remake for them.
Maybe!!
The not very good action films DEATH RACE and THE MUMMY – TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, the musicals HAMLET 2 and MAMMA MIA!, the superb Coen Brothers comedy BURN AFTER READING and SEASON ONE of THE BORDER are all available now on DVD.
The Blu-Ray Beacon Returns in January.
Coming up Monday on a Special Edition of The Couch Potato Report:
I will tell you about a wide array of DVD Box Sets and Special editions that might also be good gift ideas, including a 10-Disc set about the EDMONTON OILERS and a 4-Disc MUHAMMAD ALI package that will take you RINGSIDE.
Tomorrow’s Report will also spotlight KNIGHT RIDER, NIGHT GALLERY, THE MUNSTERS, JAMES BROWN IN THE 60s and more!!
For now, that’s THE COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – December 13th, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels a no hit summer, the biggest hit of the summer and a man on a wire.
By pure coincidence, three of my favourite films of 2008 were all released on DVD this week, and I am very excited to tell you about all of them!
In just a moment, I will rave about THE DARK KNIGHT and the documentary MAN ON WIRE, but this week’s HOT POTATO is a film that made me feel like a kid again, and I absolutely love it when a movies does that!
So, our HOT POTATO this week is the made in Montreal film A NO HIT, NO RUN SUMMER.
In this film it is the Summer ’69 and the city of Montreal has a new baseball team.
Twelve-year-old Martin and his friends all love the game and the spanking new Expos.
With all of his passion toward the game pushing him forward, Martin tries out for his neighbourhood team.
When he is cut, when he and all of his friends are cut, Martin’s usually distant father starts up a separate team for them,… all of those kids who need to find another route to the big league.
A route that features kids playing baseball in hockey sweaters.
And since it is 1969, A NOT HIT NO RUN SUMMER also features man walking on the moon and Woodstock, in addition to Les Expos…so it has baseball, music and space travel!!
For me, this film had everything!
No, it isn’t perfect, because at times there are too many stories being told, but I still loved it, and I highly recommend it!!
At it’s core A NOT HIT NO RUN SUMMER is about the loss of childhood innocence and the transition into adulthood, but it isn’t one that rushes that transition. This is a great little movie that looks back at a time and place where possibilities seemed endless.
A time and place where The Expos would be in Montreal forever, for as one or Martin’s friends tells him – “A baseball team is for life.”
A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER was shot in Montreal in July and August of 2007 and it was made for $4 million.
By comparison, THE DARK KNIGHT was filmed in London, Hong Kong and Chicago last year, and it’s budget was an estimated $185 million.
To date this second Batman film from Christopher Nolan has brought in over $530 million and is now the second highest grossing film of all-time, behind only TITANIC.
I loved A NO HIT NO RUN SUMMER and THE DARK KNIGHT, but if I was picking my favourite film of 2008, let me tell you that I choose THE DARK KNIGHT.
It is my belief that even people who don’t consider themselves to be fans of comics and comic books, usually still have a favourite comic book character.
Whether it is “Garfield”, “Peanuts”, “Spider-man”, “Andy Capp”,”Foxtrot”, “House Of M”, “New Avengers” or “Dennis The Menace”, I think we all have a favourite comic book character.
I love “The Far Side” and “Calvin And Hobbes”, “Underdog” and “Bugs Bunny”, but my favourite all-time cartoon character is still “Batman.”
Throughout the years I have been able to enjoy Batman in comic books, television shows, and movies, especially the movies lately, thanks to what Christopher Nolan has acheived with 2005’s BATMAN BEGINS and now this year’s THE DARK KNIGHT!!
This film, like almost all of the Batman movies over the years – except for the abysmal 1997 film BATMAN & ROBIN, directed by Joel Shumacher – sees batman as a dark character who walks a very fine tightrope between hero and vigilante.
Christian Bale is back as the caped crusader and THE DARK KNIGHT is primarily about how Batman – and his alter ego Bruce Wayne – District Attorney Harvey Dent, Assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes, and Police Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) struggle to find way to keep Gotham safe from The Joker.
The late Heath Ledger is absolutely spectacular in the film, and Nolan keep us guessing by never giving us the character’s back story.
It is a bold move that pays off, and when Ledger gets an Academy Award nomination, to follow up his Golden Globe nod, don’t be surprised!!
Yes, if you were to say you saw THE DARK KNIGHT and you found it a bit too long, or you thought that Bale’s Batman voice sounded too forced when he had the mask on, I could be convinced to agree with you on those points, but I still maintain that the film is the most entertaining and engaging cinematic thrill ride of 2008, and it has some great drama too.
I obvioulsy recommend it, unapologetically, and think that it has something to offer almost everyone and so, and you can quote me on this, “THE DARK KNIGHT is my favourite film of 2008!!”
Now, if the thought of watching a man dressed up as a bat strung up on digitally removed wires doesn’t appeal to you…how about a documentary about a man ON a wire.
A man walking on a wire from one of the World Trade Centre Towers in New York, to the other one?
Well, on the morning of Aug. 7, 1974, after months of preparation and years of dreaming, a French daredevil named Philippe Petit stepped into the sky above Lower Manhattan.
For almost 45 minutes he walked back and forth on a metal cable strung between the towers of the World Trade Center.
MAN ON WIRE uses some footage that was shot while Petit and his team were working on the stunt and combines that with some great recreations and spectacular photographs.
The combination of those elements, and new interviews with Petit and his crew, has resulted in a film that is very interesting, good-natured, very funny, and it even features a really nice love story.
But the best thing about this movie is what it does not mention. We all know what happened to those World Trade Center towers, and so MAN ON WIRE doesn’t need to mention it.
Instead, we get to relive their glory, through the act of one man with a dream.
This is a superb film!!
MAN ON WIRE is a truly fascinating documentary, and I enjoyed it!!
Truth be told, I was also able to enjoy THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of the television show LOST…and I wasn’t sure I would, since most of SEASON THREE was not very good, but luckily the show is back on track!
LOST is the once again very interesting and entertaining show about the survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific.
Each episode usually features a storyline from the island, and as a secondary storyline from another point in a character’s life. Prior to SEASON FOUR they were flashbacks, but this season we were given flash-forwards as well!
SEASON FOUR of LOST is a 5-DVD set with 14 episodes, and two discs of Bonus Features.
This season focuses on the survivors dealing with the arrival of a team of people who may or may not be there to save them.
Yes, luckily LOST is back on track, and I am personally looking forward to the premiere of SEASON FIVE on Wednesday, January 21st!!
But for now, enjoy LOST – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON…I sure did!!
Alright, it is time now for this week’s Blu-ray Beacon!!
If you are wondering why the newest home entertainment viewing method is called Blu-ray, well it is because a blue laser beam is used to read data from discs, rather than the red laser that is used for standard DVDs.
A blue laser can be focused more tightly, so disc makers can pack more data on a disc the same size as a DVD. Blu-ray Discs can hold up to 50 gigabytes, compared to a DVD, which holds less than 10 GB.
That added capacity can hold video up to six times the resolution of DVD, plus more bonus features and improved surround soundtracks.
And this week, that resolution and improved soundtrack allowed me to see one of my favourite movies of all time looking better than ever…even though the film is 66 years old.
Yes, this week the BLU RAY BEACON shines the spotlight on the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of CASABLANCA.
The 1942 film CASABLANCA starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is a classic film full of unforgettable lines and on Blu-ray it looks better than it ever has before!
Bogart is a man who must choose between his love for a woman and doing the right thing, and if you have never seen this film, well, the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of CASABLANCA is a great version to start with, as it features a wealth of special features and collector’s items.
But mostly, it features one of the greatest films ever made, looking – and sounding – better than ever!!
This week’s Blu-ray Beacon is pointed straight at CASABLANCA and the BLU-RAY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION box set!
It is available now on Blu-ray and DVD, along with the DVD Box Set for THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of LOST, the superb documentary MAN ON WIRE, the blockbuster THE DARK KNIGHT, which is also my favourite film of 2008, and the made-in-Montreal film A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER, which I also highly recommend.
Coming up next Saturday AND Sunday on The Couch Potato Report
Yes, I will have two Reports for you next weeek that feature a combination of last minute gift ideas, and great DVDs to watch on a cold winters night.
On Saturday, THE BORDER, THE MUMMY – TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR, BURN AFTER READING and HAMLET 2.
And next Sunday, I will tell you about a wide array of DVD Box Sets including a 10-Disc set about the EDMONTON OILERS and a 4-Disc MUHAMMAD ALI package that will take you RINGSIDE.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven AND EIGHT days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report – December 6th, 2008
This week The Couch Potato Report peels royalty, a regal television series, and a Shawshank redemption.
I have two great new TV on DVD Box Sets to tell you about this week, and so for the first time we have TWO Hot Potatoes!
The 1978-79 season of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is coming up in a few minutes, and first up is THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of the great guilty pleasure, THE TUDORS.
THE TUDORS is the Gemini AND Emmy Award winning series that is based upon the early reign and marriages of King Henry VIII.
Based upon…this is not a documentary series, it is a series meant to entertain.
And it does entertain.
The series has a good cast, an interesting script, incredible costumes,…and it is all exceptionally entertaining.
In SEASON TWO of THE TUDORS King Henry continues to find a way to divorce himself from his Queen and banish Katherine of Aragon, so he can marry Anne Boleyn.
But it is Queen Anne’s inability to produce male heir that cause King Henry’s attention to sway toward Jane Seymour.
SEASON TWO of THE TUDORS is a little bit slower that the first one, and there seems to be a lot of waiting for things to happen, plus, if you are a historian, or study the British Monarchy as a hobby, this probably isn’t the series for you.
But, this 10 part second series is full of attractive actors and seasoned professionals and if you think it might entertain you, then it probably will.
It isn’t just a stuffy retelling of history, but it is a very entertaining series, and I am looking forward to the THIRD SEASON of THE TUDORS when it begins to air on CBC Television, and then comes out on DVD.
Personally, I am really looking forward to the TENTH SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on DVD, the 1984-1985 one with Billy Crystal, Christopher Guest, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Harry Shearer and Martin Short, but that won’t be out for a few years yet, so in the meantime I have the THIRTY-FOURTH SEASON, which is currently airing on Saturday Nights…live…and I also now have SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – 1978-1979 – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON on DVD!!
During this season, Saturday Night Live used grotesque and controversial issues as sketch ideas, such as nuclear meltdowns, and the idea of Superman as a Nazi, but there was still some funny skits, and many of the regular characters that had started to take on lives of their own.
The 7-disc set for THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE also has one episode of the show that many people, myself included may have never seen…the one hosted by Milton Berle.
No matter what instructions the director gave him, he mugged for the camera, did broad spit-takes, and ad-libbed jokes directly to the camera.
This episode only aired once, and was barred from being shown in syndication due to complaints from the show’s creator – Canadian Lorne Michaels – and the cast.
This COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON also features Canadian Dan Aykroyd and the late-great John Belushi’s final episode as cast members.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – 1978-1979 – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON is a superb set, and it is one I highly recommend!!
And as they continue to release these sets twice a year, it won’t be long until I have that TENTH SEASON that I so desire!!
Up next this week is a very good Quebec made film called THE AMERICAN TRAP.
THE AMERICAN TRAP is a very interesting film that is inspired by the life and crimes of legendary Quebecois drug-dealer Lucien Rivard.
The story moves from late 1950s Havana to early 1960s Montreal and New Orleans, and it is partially a crime film, but it also takes liberties with the truth and also offers some conspiracy theories about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
I am not 100% sure how much of THE AMERICAN TRAP is true…but I did enjoy this visually interesting movie.
I also enjoyed the summer film WANTED, which is very loosely based on the comic book miniseries of the same name by Mark Millar.
It too has some great visuals…including Angelina Jolie!
Remember when Jolie was just a movie star…and not the tabloid mother and person she has become? Well, she is the main star of WANTED, so I found I was able to just see her in a character role again…the role of a mysterious woman named Fox…she attempts to recruit a man named Wesley Gibson into a fraternity of hit men and women, lead by Morgan Freeman.
James McAvoy from THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and ATONEMENT stars alongside Jolie and Freeman in WANTED and while it isn’t the greatest action film of the year, it is a really good one.
This is a great, mindless action film that is a very worthy rental.
Up next is another good rental, this is a small Irish film called HOW ABOUT YOU.
HOW ABOUT YOU is about a young woman who is left in charge of the residential home run by her older sister over Christmas.
Most of the residents have left to spend the holidays with their families, but four residents remain.
And they are not the nicest four people in the world.
HOW ABOUT YOU is a quiet, little film that is ultimately very predictable, after all, how could four people stay mean over Christmas?!?
They can’t, they don’t, and as such this is a pretty good film. It isn’t great, but if you see it on a shelf, give it a chance. I liked it!
Finally this week, is the Blu-Ray Beacon
Blu-ray is the next step in DVDs and home viewing as a Blu-ray Disc and all blu-ray players play standard DVDs and CDs as well, so you won’t have to buy all of the films you already own again, unless you want them in this new format….one that is vastly superb, and the ultimate in home viewing.
Each week for the next little while, as the format continues to take off, and the number of films available in Blu-ray increases and the price of the players goes down, I will spotlight one new release each week, and share more information about the format, in this forum – The BLU-RAY BEACON.
This week, the spotlight shines on the fantastic film THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.
SHAWSHANK is the 1994 film that is based on the Stephen King novella, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.”
Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star as two men behind bars at Shawshank State Prison, a fictional penitentiary in Maine, and the film is about their lives, and their growing friendship.
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION was in the same Best Picture category as Forrest Gump, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pulp Fiction and Quiz Show and only grossed $28 million dollars at the box office. It was considered by many to be a flop, but it’s critical acclaim and popularity on television, home video, and DVD has allowed it to continually be ranked by film fans as one of the greatest films of all time.
In fact, it currently heads the Internet Movie Database’s poll of top 250 films, leading such pictures as The Godfather, The Dark Knight, and Pulp Fiction.
SHAWSHANK is one of my favourite films of all-time, and the Blu-ray version looks spectacular and it sounds superb!! It is now available in a new DigiBook packaging, which includes a full-color 30-page booklet with production notes, cast bios and many rare and never-before-seen publicity stills.
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION gets this week’s spotlight from the BLU-RAY BEACON and it is available in stores now, along with the DVDs of the small-Irish film HOW ABOUT YOU, the great, mindless action film WANTED, the very interesting Quebec made film THE AMERICAN TRAP, the great SEASON FOUR OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and SEASON TWO of the guilty pleasure that is THE TUDORS.
And don’t forget that, in addition to now being available on DVD, you can see THE TUDORS Tuesday night on CBC Television!
🙂
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report:
A NO-HIT NO-RUN SUMMER takes place in the Summer of 1969 as the city of Montreal has a new baseball team and a young man dreams of making the neighbourhood team.
And then there is THE DARK KNIGHT, starring the late Heath Ledger as The Joker.
I will also talk about the great movie MAN ON WIRE about the daredevil who walked from one of the World Trade Center Towers to the other back in 1974; LOST – THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON; and the BLU RAY BEACON next week shines on the ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION of CASABLANCA.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!