Review Archive: January 2007

Caravaggio

Taking seven years to make it to the screen, Derek Jarman’s 1986 film of the hell-raising late-Renaissance artist is unconventional and provocative, but scrupulously faithful in matching the nature of his works. Noel Megahey reviews the BFI DVD release.

Phir Milenge

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is riding high on the success of her Celebrity Big Brother, erm, experience. Stephen Horne picks a good time to take a look at her most celebrated performance in the AIDS awareness drama Phir Milenge ('We'll Meet Again'), out on DVD from Tip Top Entertainment.

Ozu Collection Volume 4

The final volume in Tartan’s collection contains two of Ozu’s final films – Late Autumn and An Autumn Afternoon - two late masterpieces from one of the world’s greatest film directors.

The League of Gentlemen: Special Edition

Roger Keen takes a look at this superior Network release of the 1959 classic crime caper, starring Jack Hawkins at his rumbustious best.

The Mephisto Waltz

A forgotten horror gem or just another Rosemary's Baby rip-off? Michael Mackenzie has reviewed the R2 Spanish release of The Mephisto Waltz, which bears the distinction of being the only film 20th Century Fox produced in 1970.

New Police Story

Jackie Chan returns to the role that made him a star as Inspector Chan. This time he is chasing down some extreme sport robbers with a taste for killing cops. Hong Kong Legends give it the double disc treatment.

Jindabyne

Australia Day ends with Jindabyne, starring Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne in Ray Lawrence's follow-up to Lantana. Four men on a fishing village find and leave the body of a murdered Aboriginal woman, an act that causes considerable conflict amongst the local community. The film is not due in British cinemas until May. Gary Couzens reviews the Region 4 release from Roadshow Entertainment.

Completely Round The Twist

"Have you ever...ever felt like this? When strange things happen are you going round the twist?" So began one of the very best television shows for kids, full of filthy gags, ghosts and some very yucky moments...

Oyster Farmer

Australia Day at DVD Times continues with Oyster Farmer. A man with a secret joins a riverside community, with unexpected results in this 2004 drama from first-time writer-director Anna Reeves, nominated for Best Picture in the Australian Film Institute Awards. Review of Magna Pacific's Region 4 edition by Gary Couzens.

Home & Away - Weddings

First comes love, then comes marriage...following on from the DVD release of Home And Away's greatest romances, comes this look back at their best-loved weddings...

The FJ Holden

Australia Day continues with The FJ Holden, a comedy-drama from 1977, released by Umbrella Entertainment on their Oz Classics label. Review of the Region 0 release by Gary Couzens, who is no relation to the leading actor.

Home And Away - Romances

See love blossom in Summer Bay in this long look back at the love affairs of Home And Away, a release that also includes the feature-length pilot episode...

My Brilliant Career

DVD Times begins a series of reviews for Australia Day with My Brilliant Career, Gillian Armstrong's 1979 film with a star-making performance by Judy Davis. Gary Couzens reviews the Australian Region 0 release from Madman Entertainment.

Angel-A

Luc Besson's modern-day fairytale teams up comedian Jamel Debbouze with leggy supermodel Rie Rassmussen as the fallen angel on the streets of Paris who will do anything to help him out of his difficulties.

Belle de Jour

Noel Megahey reviews Optimum’s 40th Anniversary Edition of Luis Buñuel's classic film from 1967. Catherine Deneuve plays a frigid housewife who can only enact her deepest fantasies when she joins a high-class Parisian brothel.

Shanghai Dreams

The latest film from the director of ‘Beijing Bicycle’ is a tale of generational and ideological conflict in an 80’s brightly-coloured rural Chinese setting. It’s released on DVD this week by Artificial Eye.

A Scanner Darkly

Mike Sutton looks at the UK R2 release of Richard Linklater's recent adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel.

24: Season 5

With day six just beginning on Sky One James O'Neill looks back on 24's fifth season.

Little Miss Sunshine

"Everybody pretend to be normal!"

Dracula

Shown on BBC over Christmas, this adaptation of the Bram Stoker tale comes to DVD starring Marc Warren as the count and Sophia Myles as Lucy...

Reds

Gary Couzens has reviewed the Region 1 release of Reds. Warren Beatty's epic romance co-starring Diane Keaton and set against the Russian Revolution is released on DVD for its twenty-fifth anniversary and stands up very well.

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin: Remastered Edition

Described by the DVD producer himself as "the most vocal critic" of Media Blasters' previous substandard release of A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Michael Mackenzie has been rewarded for his moaning with a sneak peek of the remastered edition due out in March...

Le Portrait de Petite Cossette

A young art student falls in love with the spirit of a dead French girl residing in a Venetian glass in Akiyuki Shinbo’s spectacular gothic romance horror. Noel Megahey reviews MVM’s DVD release of the full three-episode Japanese animation series.

Kidnapped

Och aye Dr Finlay, you'll have had yer tea?? Sorry, wrong stereotype.

Eros

Three illustrious film directors – Wong Kar-Wai, Steven Soderbergh and Michelangelo Antonioni – present three short films on the topics of love, desire and eroticism. Noel Megahey reviews the UK release from Artificial Eye.

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