Film-Forward

Sci-fi

Battle Royale

Written & Directed by Kenji Fukasaku, based on the novel by Koushun Takami Produced by Fukasaku, Kenta Fukasaku, Kimio Kataoka, Chie Kobayashi, Toshio Nabeshima & Masumi Okada Released by Anchor Bay Japan. 114 min. Not rated With Takeshi Kitano, Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Chiaki Kuriyama, Taro Yamamoto & Sosuke  Takaoka Finally on the big screen, Kenji […]

Beyond the Black Rainbow

Written & Directed by Panos Cosmatos Produced by Oliver Linsley Released by Magnet Releasing USA. 113 min. Rated R With Michael Rogers & Eva Allan I saw Beyond the Black Rainbow weeks ago, and decided perhaps against my better judgment not to take notes as I watched the film. I attended it with a friend […]

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope

Directed by Morgan Spurlock Produced by Jeremy Chilnick, Matthew Galkin, Spurlock & Thomas Tull Written by Jeremy Chilnik, Whedon & Spurlock Released by Wrekin Hill Entertainment USA. 88 min. Rated PG-13 With Joss Whedon, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Eli Roth, Robert Kirkman, Stan Lee, Harry Knowles, Seth Green and Seth Rogen For the first time […]

Notable Genre DVDs, Spring 2012

Too Weird, Too Wonderful: Home Video Releases You Won’t Want To Miss Battle Royale: The Complete Collection With all the renewed attention that Kinji Fukasaku’s 2000 cult hit has received during the run-up to, and the aftermath of, The Hunger Games release, it’s no surprise that a new home video release has appeared on the […]

Womb

Produced by Roman Paul, Gerhard Meixner & Andras Muhi Released by Olive Films Germany/France/Germany. 107 min. Not rated Eva Green, Matt Smith, Peter Wight, Ruby O. Fee, Tristan Christopher & Lesley Manville If there are two things I like in movies it’s self-assurance and shocks that are delivered coolly, almost matter-of-factly. So not only was […]

Notable Genre DVDs and Blu-Rays of 2011

We all know that countless titles are released for the home video market every year—in the genre category alone there’s too much for any individual to track, including me. Or should I say “especially me” as I tend to focus my energies on theatrical releases. So just in case you’re like me, here are some […]

Melancholia

Written & Directed by Lars von Trier Produced by Meta Louise Foldager & Louise Vesth Released by Magnolia Pictures Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany. 135 min. Not rated With Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgard, Brady Corbet, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Stellan Skarsgard, Udo Kier & Kiefer Sutherland Sometimes you can’t quite tell if what you’re feeling is agony […]