Stateside pleas for Blu-ray versions of Hayao Miyazaki's animation classics will only intensify with the high-def release of his latest film, the delightful "Ponyo." The fish-out-of-water fantasy ranks as one of the best-looking animated features ever rendered in high definition. The hand-drawn images are brimming with color, movement and magic. … [Read more...]
Soderbergh’s ‘Che’: Rebel without a pause
In total, "Che" runs 4.5 hours. Too much for most moviegoers, but not for director Steven Soderbergh. He regrets not extending his guerrilla warfare chronicle to 10 hours -- "the miniseries route." In fact, Soderbergh regrets the whole thing. "I can't sit here and tell you it was worth it," the director says of "Che." "It made me wonder if … [Read more...]
‘Monterey Pop’ on Criterion Blu-ray
Monterey the rock festival still stands in the shadows of the unruly and iconic Woodstock, but "Monterey Pop" the film has no rival as a time capsule of late-'60s rock. D.A. Pennebaker's documentary was smarter, hipper and more musical than other rock films of the era. Yes, that includes the endlessly celebrated "Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & … [Read more...]
‘Kagemusha’: Kurosawa’s shadow world
Akira Kurosawa's suicide attempt was almost a decade behind him. He hadn't made a film in almost five years, and Japan's major studios had rejected his latest project, an epic tale of warlords clashing in the 16th century. "I thought another script of mine would vanish into the void," the aging director recalled years later. This time, … [Read more...]
‘Sling Blade’ a work of ‘hillbilly zen’
The indie classic "Sling Blade" hasn't aged a day since 1996 -- it remains heartfelt, compelling and wise. Billy Bob Thornton's breakthrough film has just been released in the Blu-ray format by Disney/Miramax. It returns in the original theatrical version. Thornton has acted in about 70 films -- including "Friday Night Lights," "Monster's … [Read more...]
