Explore capsule reviews.
Martin Scorsese directed Shine a Light, a film version of a 2006 concert given by the Rolling Stones in New York City. Scorsese used 18 cameras to brilliantly capture the energy of the performances. The movie consists mostly of musical numbers, but there is a few minutes of archival interview footage. This is a slick, glossy entertainment that offers a rollicking good time, though not much more. But if if you like the Rolling Stones at all, this is a DVD worth buying.
I think this classic of world cinema is one of the greatest movies of all time, and it looked better than ever when I watched it at home recently on the Criterion Collection DVD.
A review of this movie on DVD.
If you love classic American films, this is a DVD set you’ll treasure.
Reds is a sweeping love story set against a historical backdrop of political turmoil.
An overview and short review of "The 39 Steps" DVD.
Truffaut's "The 400 Blows" is a lyrical and accessible movie that appears on most lists of great films. I'd say it's the best movie ever made about adolescence. Read a review of the DVD version of this movie.
"The Barbarian Invasions" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. When I watched this emotionally engaging movie on DVD, it made me both laugh and cry.
I found this movie to be well-paced with exciting action sequences and charming European locations. If you’re just looking for pure entertainment, I highly recommend this film. Read a brief review and DVD overview of "The Bourne Identity."
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is basically an entertaining, old-fashioned swashbuckler, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read my DVD review and overview of "The Count of Monte Cristo."
I like "The Crime of Padre Amaro" for its memorable imagery, fascinating characters, and noirish feel. But I’ll admit that it sometimes feels like a soap opera and is occasionally campy. Read a DVD review of "The Crime of Padre Amaro."
I can’t think of another DVD box set that provides so much entertainment that will be enjoyed by almost anyone. Two of the films—“Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Bridge on the River Kwai”—are great, and the third—“A Passage to India”—is very good indeed. Read a review of "The David Lean Collection" on DVD.
Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers" is not as deep or resonant as some of his other movies, but I nonetheless found it reasonably entertaining. I was impressed by the film's beautiful visual style. Also, "The Dreamers" occasionally manages to generate erotic tension, a quality rare in films made over the last several years.
My taste in movies usually leans towards art-house fare, but I found "The Fast and the Furious" to be highly entertaining.
Vin Diesel and Paul Walker star in this action film set in the world of urban street racing. Read my brief review and short overview of this DVD.
I can certainly see why this movie won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Read a review of "The Fog of War" on DVD.
I found "The Hours" to be emotionally and intellectually engaging, and I thought the performances of the 3 leading actresses were terrific. But the film may speak mainly to those who love novels.
I think the Italian-language version of "The Leopard" is one of the greatest and most lushly beautiful movies ever made.
I love this complex film's style and wit, its vibrant use of Technicolor, and Roger Livesey's tour-de-force performance. Read a brief overview and DVD review of "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp."
A short review of the movie "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" on DVD.
Billy Bob Thornton is memorable as a laconic, chain-smoking barber in this evocative character-driven crime drama that is reminiscent of the film noirs of the past. Read my DVD overview and brief review of "The Man Who Wasn't There."
I was dazzled by the visual sense of "The Matrix Reloaded" and by its highly stylized action sequences, but I didn't become emotionally involved because the film was more about style than substance. Read a review of "The Matrix Reloaded" on DVD.
I am thrilled to own the Criterion Collection DVD of "The Passion of Joan of Arc," which permits the film to be viewed to the accompaniment of Richard Einhorn's musical work "Voices of Light." Read my DVD overview and brief review of "The Passion of Joan of Arc."
Because of its compelling mix of the political and the personal, along with Michael Caine's superb performance, this movie drew me in completely. Read a short review of "The Quiet American" on DVD.
Here's a quick overview and brief review of the "The Red Shoes" Criterion Collection DVD.
I found "The Ring" to be sometimes creepy, but I would have been more horrified if the characters had been developed enough to draw me in fully. Read a brief review and DVD overview of "The Ring."
I was surprised how much this film about a Texas high school baseball coach moved me. Although schmaltzy at times, this was one of the best family-oriented movies I’ve seen in a many years. Read my brief review of this movie on DVD.
I really enjoyed the acerbic wit of "The Royal Tenenbaums," but what I like best about the movie is the way unlikely material is woven into a tale of reconciliation and redemption. While the film has lots of sarcastic humor, it ultimately offers hope and warmth. Read my DVD overview and brief review of "The Royal Tenenbaums."
I've enjoyed watching my VHS copy of Jean Renoir's "The Rules of the Game" over the last several years, and now I'm thrilled to own the Criterion Collection DVD version. I think Renoir's deep-focus photography, unerring sense of composition, and fluid visual style are ideally suited to the film's story. Read a review of "The Rules of the Game" on DVD.
Although it was a guilty pleasure, I found "The Scorpion King" surprisingly entertaining. Read my review and DVD overview of "The Scorpion King" Collector's Edition DVD.
I've always been a fan of "The Simpsons" and having a chance to see the third season on DVD was a special treat. Read a short DVD review of this DVD set.
An overview and short review of the packaged set of four DVD discs that contain the 13 episodes comprising the second season of the hit HBO series "The Sopranos."
Read my brief DVD review of "The Stunt Man" and find out why this movie is an exuberant celebration of filmmaking that no cinephile will want to miss.
Although this was far from being one of the show’s strongest seasons, I still enjoyed watching this TV show on DVD. Read a DVD review of "The X-Files - The Complete Eighth Season."
Interesting characters, an evocative mix of horror, sci-fi, and film noir, along with a visual sense that is as imaginative as a feature film make for a thoroughly enjoyable DVD collection. Read a review of "The X-Files - The Seventh Season" on DVD.
I found myself mesmerized by this little indie drama, and I was particularly impressed by the expressive faces and naturalistic acting styles of Evan Rachel Wood and Nikki Reed. Read a review of "Thirteen" on DVD.
I think Kieslowski’s “Three Colors” trilogy is an innovative masterpiece of world cinema that works both intellectually and humanistically. Read a brief review and DVD overview of "Three Colors."
Before George Lucas became famous, he co-wrote and directed an excellent movie titled "THX 1138" starring Robert Duvall. Now a restored director's cut of that film is being released as a superb two-disc DVD set loaded with worthwhile bonus materials.
Universal in theme, humanistic, and accessible, "Tokyo Story" is one of the greatest masterpieces of world cinema. To my mind, this movie’s incredible power comes from its seeming simplicity, which allows emotions to build slowly and subtly, much as they do in real life. Read a review of "Tokyo Story" on DVD.
Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke give splendid performances in "Training Day," a character-driven police drama. The location shooting in Los Angeles captures the feel of the city.
I rate "Trouble in Paradise" as one of the handful of greatest comedies ever made. This film has been hard to see for decades, and this DVD is a must-have for the serious cinephile. Read a brief review and DVD overview of "Trouble in Paradise."
"Upright Citizens Brigade – The Complete First Season" can be laugh-out-loud funny and even side-splitting at times. I found this two-disc DVD set to be a real treat. Read a review of "Upright Citizens Brigade – The Complete First Season" on DVD.
"Vanilla Sky" is a fast-paced and highly entertaining movie that features strong performances by Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz. The DVD has an excellent commentary track by writer/director Cameron Crowe. Read a product summary and short review of "Vanilla Sky" on DVD.
"Vanya on 42nd Street" is a richly textured, beautifully acted study of human nature and subtle, complex family dynamics. Read my review of this film on DVD.
I can’t say "War and Peace" (1956) is an example of great filmmaking, but I still enjoyed it as historical spectacle. I believe if you can watch this film in the same mindset required by silent movies or grand opera, you'll probably find it a rewarding experience. Read a brief review/overview of "War and Peace" on DVD.
Mel Gibson gives a winning performance in We Were Soldiers, an emotionally engaging military action movie that centers around a historic Vietnam War battle. The film is loaded with exciting combat footage, but what I like best about it is its portrayal of real-life career Army officer Hal Moore. Read my brief review of this movie on DVD.
This is a terrific feel-good film, but it simplifies complex issues, losing emotional depth in the process. The film’s cinematic beauty makes up for a lot, as does Keisha Castle-Hughes’ performance. Read a review of "Whale Rider" on DVD.
I found “When We Were Kings” to be highly entertaining, but I learned very little and didn’t gain much insight. Read a brief review and DVD overview of “When We Were Kings.”
I thought the story was flawed because the over-the-top melodrama destroyed its credibility. But the acting combined with the strong sense of place made for a film I think is worth seeing. Read a brief review and DVD overview of "White Oleander."
In "Wild Strawberries," Ingmar Bergman's vision and Victor Sjostrom's great performance combine to create a masterpiece. Read my DVD review/overview and find out more about this fascinating film.
Stephen Fry gives a memorable performance in the title role of the movie "Wilde" (1997), a biopic about Oscar Wilde, one of the towering figures of late 19th-century English letters. Read my brief review and DVD overview of "Wilde."
Some find this film flawed and pretentious, but I do not. I think "Wings of Desire" is an imaginative masterwork of world cinema.
Although this film did have a couple of moments that truly startled me, overall "Wrong Turn" was so predictable, campy, and over-the-top, it was a hard film to take seriously.
I found "X2" to be a lot of fun, entertaining throughout, and an especially good-looking and cinematic film. I’d never mistake "X2" for high art, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Read a DVD review of "X2: X-Men United."
Some episodes didn't draw me in completely, and the show’s tongue-in-cheek campiness often undermined dramatic momentum. However, that being said, this TV show can be entertaining, and I enjoyed watching "Xena: Warrior Princess – Season Three" on DVD even more than the season two DVDs.
I was entertained by the interesting mix of myth-inspired stories and fast-moving action adventure in "Xena: Warrior Princess - Season Two." I think that the show’s greatest asset is Lucy Lawless, whose charisma, strong-willed persona, and sex appeal gives her character more credibility than seems to be in the scripts themselves.
I thought the acting and cinematography were superb in this film, but the screenplay gave the movie a genre feel, and the characters were not fully developed. Read a brief review and DVD overview of “Road to Perdition.”
“Solaris” is sci-fi without action sequences, razzle-dazzle special effects, or gee-whiz high-tech gadgetry, but I found the movie to be very intellectually engaging. Read a brief review of “Solaris” (2002) on DVD.
Entertaining pop music, an affectionate portrait of 13 interesting men, and insight into the 1960s American scene make this one of the very best documentaries I have ever seen. Read a DVD review of “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.”
I loved this high-spirited, unusual, and fun art-house movie, which I found to be artistic, cinematic, and thought-provoking. Read a brief review and overview of "Y tu mamá también" on DVD.
A review of this Italian-language masterpiece on DVD.
The talents of the musical theater team of Rodgers and Hammerstein add to the delight of the cinematic magic in this collection of classic movie musicals.
A review of this romantic movie on DVD.
I'd never mistake this movie for a work of art, but it is a work of high craft.
Schindler's List won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Also, it ranks ninth on the American Film Institute's list of 100 greatest movies.
Jack Black stars in this rock 'n' roll comedy which I predict will appeal to viewers over a wide age range.
I was pleasantly surprised at how emotionally involving
Seabiscuit was. The movie has a rip-roaring story well-told in an old-fashioned way, and to my mind what makes it really come alive is compelling acting and well-developed characters, along with a strong sense of time and place.
A review of the movie on DVD.
Ben Kingsley and Ray Winstone give splendid performances in
Sexy Beast, an unconventional, character-driven gangster drama.
Read a quick overview and brief review of the "Shrek" DVD, an unusually hilarious, smart, and thought-provoking film that’s lots of fun for kids and adults alike.
Watching the film at home on DVD, I found it just as entertaining as I had on the big screen.
I think that Shyamalan's genius lies in his ability to evoke an atmosphere of ominous dread. Even watching the movie at home, I almost jumped out of my seat a couple of times.
I think that this movie is visually interesting, raises intriguing questions, and features a strong performance by actor Bruce Dern. However, to my mind, some parts of this film seem dated.
To my mind, few movie musicals can even come close to the feeling of enchantment that this film delivers.
Even though there's little action or impressive special effects, to my mind this movie is cerebral science fiction at its very best because of the humanistic and moral issues it explores.
Son of the Beach has something to offend almost everyone, but it is also laugh-out-loud funny throughout.
Read a brief review of this fascinating four-disc DVD set.
I found The Complete Third Season DVD to be both a delight and a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Although this film received rave reviews, spelling bees didn’t sound like a very interesting subject for a documentary to me. However, what made the movie come alive for me was not the spelling bees, but the candid portraits of individual kids, along with their families and teachers, and what this revealed about American society as a whole.
I liked the first hour and the ending, although I was sometimes bored in between. This is an entertaining movie, and while I think it has minor flaws, I found it well worth watching.
I think that both kids and their parents will enjoy watching this movie.
Redford and Pitt are engaging in this entertaining spy thriller, but the film doesn't have much emotional impact because the characters are insufficiently developed.
Although I found this film to be flawed, I thoroughly enjoyed it as a guilty pleasure.
This is a funny, deliciously dark, and often politically incorrect spoof of "after school" TV specials. I was entertained by the show’s mix of humor and tongue-in-cheek melodrama.
Baz Luhrmann takes an entertaining look at eccentric Aussies who eat, drink, and sleep ballroom dancing, but he still manages to make some provocative statements.
I liked the look of this film, and I enjoyed its use of Rat Pack-style music.
This is a great and unusual movie, and it ranks high on my own personal list of the greatest films ever made.
I loved this inventive Spanish-language film, which is written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. I’ll admit it’s strange and unsettling, but I found it quite moving.
A review of this movie on DVD.
A cheerful, upbeat film,
The Devil Wears Prada is a movie that mostly provides pleasant diversion. Find out more in this review of
The Devil Wears Prada on DVD.
A capsule review of
The New World.
A capsule review of this movie.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley is a powerful drama set during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War. Find out more about this Palme d'Or winning film in the The Wind That Shakes the Barley DVD review.
The powerful docudrama
United 93 is one of the most riveting you-are-there films ever made. The movie is heartbreaking, yet in some ways inspirational.
Unleashed has an unusual mix of action and drama that to my mind could have easily gone awry, but didn't.
A capsule review of
Walk the Line.
Wordplay is good-natured valentine to the world of crossword puzzles.
Based on fact,
World Trade Center is a moving drama, albeit it a surprisingly conventional one, especially given that it was directed by Oliver Stone. The DVD is worth renting on the strength of the feature film alone, but the 2-disc Commemorative Edition provides bonus materials that are exceptional and greatly enhanced my appreciation of the movie.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. give fine performances in Zodiac, an engrossing procedural dramatizing the investigation into a series of murders in northern California. The director's cut of the movie is five minutes longer than the version shown in theaters, and the two-disc DVD set provides an impressive array of extras.
