Join me in part 1 of the Movies & TV blog’s Fall Preview where I’ll take a look at the must-have TV on DVD coming soon. All titles can be found here for pre-order.
July 12
Entourage Season 7: Cameos abound in the second-to-last season of Entourage.
E.R. Season 15: The final season of the beloved show is finally released on DVD. Watch for returning favourites from season 1 including the doctors played by George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wylie and Eriq La Salle.
July 19
Melrose Place Season 6: It’s a blast from the past with summer’s guiltiest pleasure. Travel all the way back to the 1997-1998 season and see what the gang gets up to.
July 26
Supernatural: The Anime Series: Take a hit TV show and animate it! Seasons 1 and 2 are re-told in the Japanese anime-style drawn by famed animation house Madhouse. Jared Padalecki voices Sam in the anime series.
August 2
Eastbound & Down Season 2: It’s time for some laughs south of the border as washed-up major league player Kenny Powers finds himself on a Mexican baseball team.
Children’s Hospital Seasons 1 & 2: It began as a web-based series created by Rob Corddry and became a bona fide hit in its mockery of medical dramas like E.R., St. Elsewhere, House, and Grey’s Anatomy, just to name a few of the hit medical dramas that are lampooned on the show. In addition to the cast—which includes Megan Mullaly, Henry Winkler & Mailn Akerman—look for Jon Hamm, Ed Helms, and Kurtwood Smith, who all don hospital scrubs and get in on the laughs.
United States of Tara Season 3: The final season of the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning TV series starring Toni Collette takes its final bow on DVD.
August 16
Dexter Season 5: Everyone’s favourite sociopath is back on DVD in season 5. Haven’t seen the show? Now’s the perfect time to discover your new obsession—all 5 seasons are available in one box set, with just enough time to catch up on what you’ve missed before season 6 premieres on TV this Fall.
August 23
The Event: It only lasted one season, but The Event was hotly debated around the water cooler. The DVD includes behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentaries, and a new look at Dempsey’s back story.
Gossip Girl Season 4: OMG, GG S4 is almost here on DVD! XOXO
NCIS Season 8: Terrorism, internal affairs, and the Port-to-Port killer. NCIS’ best season? You be the judge of that when season 8 is released August 23.
August 30
House Season 7: Thanks to House, I now know the symptoms of sarcoidosis. In this season, House and Cuddy try to make their relationship work, and of course, we get more sick people and more diagnoses from the medical team.
Sons of Anarchy Season 3: The drama series about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle gang is released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 30th. Katy Segal took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role as the family matriarch.
Vampire Diaries Season 2: Season 2 of the hit series based on the bestselling books picks up immediately where season 1 left off. Look out for more supernatural happenings in the town of Mystic Falls this season.
90210 Season 3: The kids who call the famous California zip code home are living it up during their last year of high school. More drama ensues as the gang gets ready to take on college in the upcoming season 4.
Parenthood Season 2: Funny, engaging, and engrossing dramas are hard to come by. Parenthood is a must-see and season 2 only improves on the groundwork laid in season 1.
September 6
Chuck Season 4: The average-computer-whiz-next-door is back with more action-comedy.
Parks & Recreation Season 3: The Pawnee harvest festival makes its debut, along with a few romances and political scandals thrown in the comedic mix.
Fringe Season 3: One of the best science fiction shows on TV, season 3 of Fringe is available on DVD & Blu-ray September 6. If you’re quick, you can catch up on everything you might have missed before season 4 begins on September 23rd.
September 13
Grey’s Anatomy Season 7: The hospital staff tries to cope with the attack on the hospital in the previous season. This season features a musical episode which gives the entire cast, including former Broadway star Sara Ramirez, a chance to show off their pipes.
Private Practice Season 4: So many characters, so much drama…so many things to love about season 4 of Private Practice.
Big Bang Theory Season 4: See if you can spot Kaley Cucoco’s (Penny's) body double that was used when the actress was recovering from a broken leg.
The Good Wife Season 2: The Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning series is out on DVD September 13th.
Community Season 2: Community college never looked so fun with this cast of misfits.
September 20
Castle Season 3: Season 3 of the much-loved TV series debuts on DVD on September 20th.
The Mentalist Season 3: Patrick Jane continues to help solve crimes with his finely-honed skills.
Mike & Molly Season 1: The new comedy series follows the lives of unlikely pair Mike & Molly, who met at the Overeaters Anonymous meeting. Star Melissa McCarthy appeared in spring’s blockbuster hit Bridesmaids as a scene-stealing bridesmaid Megan.
How to Make it In America Season 1: Perhaps the best show you’ve never seen, the HBO series How to Make it In America follows a group of twenty-somethings as they live out their American dream of trying to make it in the fashion world.
Some of your favourite shows are inspired from novels: Dexter, Vampire Diaries, True Blood, just to name a few. Check out the list of TV shows based on books and discover a world of characters beyond your TV screen.
Happy Canada Day! What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday then with some of our favourite Canadian movies. The Canadian film scene is all-encompassing; There is no genre that we can’t handle, though we certainly seem to excel at classic horror stories and perhaps our most defining type of film, “the road trip,” which, thanks to our beautiful and diverse scenery, we have something to look at out the window as we drive coast-to-coast.
Sharing his thoughts on his favourite Canadian films is Indigo’s Toy Merchandiser and entertainment lover, Josh Fehrens. These might not be the “best” Canadian films out there, but they’re definitely our favourites.
One Week (2008)
For me, Pacey Witter Joshua Jackson was the draw here. I normally avoid anything that looks like it has the potential to make me sob because I have SUCH an ugly cry-face (and that’s incredibly embarrassing in a movie theatre), but I can’t resist anything starring any of my beloved Creek-alums. One Week is the story of Ben Tyler (played by Jackson), a young elementary school teacher living in Toronto who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This sets off a road trip across the country in which he searches for some meaning in his life and revaluates his relationship with his fiancé. I found this movie especially enjoyable because of all the Canadian landmarks I recognized throughout the film (a treat for Canucks since this happens so infrequently in movies!), but I warn you—if you have an ugly cry-face like me, watch this in the privacy of your own home! -JF
Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006)
English and French-speaking Canada come together in this comedy-thriller buddy cop movie that’s entertaining in both of our official languages. When a body is found straddling the Quebec-Ontario border, two police officers must unite to solve this gruesome murder. The entire movie was filmed using both an English and a French script and was later complied in editing into the multi-language final version. Winner of Best Motion Picture at the 2007 Genie Award, Bon Cop Bad Cop is one of the highest-grossing Canadian films to date. Of course, there’s plenty of references to hockey, Toronto stereotypes, and Quebec drivers, but it’s all in good fun. Bonus points for watching this with a French-speaker and an English-speaker. -RW
Black Christmas (1974)
This is one of my favourite Canadian movies. Period. I know it’s not exactly Citizen Kane (which in my opinion is overrated, just to give you some more context behind my often questionable taste), but for anyone who appreciates horror movies, this HAS to go on your list. It has that excellent balance of terror and humour that is achieved far too infrequently in my opinion (there are some great zingers in this one!), and also has what I think is one of the creepiest moments in movie history (the eyeball in the doorway… that’s all I’m sayin’). This is totally weird of me, but one of my favourite things in this movie is how strange Olivia Hussey’s voice is—it’s something you’ll need to experience to understand. Also the booze-soaked housemother to the sorority girls is a total hoot! Neat fact: this movie was inspired by real-life murders that took place in Québec around the holidays. That’s enough to creep me out! -JF
Away from Her (2006)
Sarah Polley has grown up before our eyes: she’s gone from playing the young Sara Stanley on Road to Avonlea to earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Away from Her, which she also directed. The emotionally moving love story stars the great Gordon Pinsent and Julie Christie as a couple who has their relationship tested when Alzheimer’s begins to rear its ugly head. Based on the Alice Munro short story, Away from Her appeared on several critics’ best lists including Roger Ebert, The New York Times, and The Globe and Mail. Keep the box of Kleenex handy, because even a tough movie-lover like me shed many tears during this film. -RW
Cube (1997)
For everyone craving a mystery/thriller that will do nothing but mess with your mind, this is for you! Basic premise: a bunch of strangers wake up one day inside a 14x14 foot cube with no idea where they are, how they got there, or why they’re locked up. The movie is surprisingly effective given the minimal set—it’s something I didn’t really notice. This is a movie that totally pulled me in because I LOVE/HATE not knowing or understanding what’s happening on the screen, so it was a lot of fun hurling theories back and forth between friends. I do have to say that some of the dialogue was pretty lame, but overall I think this is a solid piece of Canadian filmmaking (supported by its cult following!). -JF
Dead Ringers (1988)
This is my favourite movie about twin gynaecologists. If that doesn’t scare you off, then read on! Jeremy Irons stars in this David Cronenberg thriller. It’s weird, it’s strange, it’s disturbing, but it’s something that we Canadians do best: we make really scary movies. One of the world’s quintessential horror auteurs is Canadian David Cronenberg and as a horror fan, I am glad to lay claim to him as one of our own. With a strong filmography of movies that will keep you awake at night, it’s hard to pick the best of the bunch, but Dead Ringers gets my vote for just being the weirdest (which is also a close call). Despite international success, Cronenberg keeps his productions close to home—he’s currently in Toronto filming Cosmopolis with Robert Pattinson, which explains the gaggle of screaming girls that have been spotted around the city. -RW
Ginger Snaps (2000)
I enjoy quite a few werewolf movies, but this is my favourite – the fact that it’s Canadian is a total bonus! I love this movie because it didn’t rely on special effects to draw in an audience (in fact, the creature effects are pretty laughable). The writing for this movie is brilliant, and I think the casting was pretty perfect as well. This is a story about two sisters very close in ages that are obsessed with death and complete outcasts at school. Ginger, the older of the two, is attacked by a werewolf one night while her sister Brigitte watches in horror… the rest of the movie follows the progression of Ginger’s infection and descent into madness, while Brigitte steps out of her sister’s shadow and finally gets some backbone. If you like metaphors, you’ll like this. -JF
Last Night (1998)
“It’s not the end of the world…there’s still 6 hours left.” How would you spend your last 6 hours? I’d probably spend it watching this movie. Filmed in Toronto, Don McKellar’s apocalyptic tale stars a bevy of Canadian talent including Sandra Oh, Sarah Polley, Jackie Burroughs, Callum Keith Rennie, and even David Cronenberg. The film is stark, sometimes disturbing, but also sweetly touching as this cast of characters each decide how to spend their final hours: with friends, family, lovers, or alone. Interestingly, the film isn’t set at some far-off future date, but at an unknown time that looks an awful like the city outside your window which helps set the tone of the film and keeps it real. Winner of multiple Genie Awards, Last Night also won the Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1998, and in my movie-loving opinion, it’s an all-around great Canadian film. -RW
Score: A Hockey Musical (2010)
I wish my life were a musical on an almost daily basis, making this pick entirely predictable—but I don’t care. Hockey! Nelly Furtado! George Stroumboulopoulos! SO Canadian. Also, Olivia Newton-John is in this… cheese is never a bad thing in my opinion, so her presence is like adding some really tremendous brie to the mix—does that make sense to anyone but me?? Anyways, this movie isn’t deep by any means, but it doesn’t have to be. It is better than I expected (honestly, my expectations were quite low), and I think that most people who give it a chance will enjoy themselves. The story is a little trite—a small town guy who grew up pretty sheltered becomes an instant success in the athletic world, and then struggles with the pressures that go along with his fame—but I don’t think it matters. It was a big crowd-pleaser at TIFF last year, which I think had little to do with the storyline, and lots to do with its evident charm. -JF
This Movie is Broken (2010)
You know what else Canadians are good at? Making music. This Movie is Broken is what happens when you weave a fictional narrative about a young couple with a free Broken Social Scene concert. And I’ll admit it: I am a little biased here…If you have great eyesight and are adept at working the pause button on your remote and searching frame-by-frame you’ll be able to spot me in the crowd (I’m the blur in the green shirt. It’s totally me, I swear!). The movie works as both a concert documentary and a love letter to the city of Toronto from director Bruce McDonald. The superstars of multi-talented uber-group Broken Social Scene including Feist, Jason Collett, Kevin Drew, members of Stars, Apostle of Hustle (just to name a few) all show up on stage. The movie makes a great soundtrack to your Canada Day, and I promise that you can’t hear me singing off-key during the concert scenes. -RW
There's so many great Canadian movies, we couldn't list them all. Do you have a favourite Canadian movie? Share yours in the comment section. Whether you enjoy your Canada Day on a patio, at the cottage, or in front of a DVD player, have a safe and relaxing holiday.
We’re already one third of the way through June and you know what that means: it’s almost time for kids of all ages to get out of school for the summer. And let’s face it, the summer months usually brings more vacation time for adults, sunny days, and weekend getaways. When you find yourself relaxing on a patio this summer, think back to the joy you felt each June when school would let out for two glorious months. Whether you’re an adult reflecting on your youth or enjoying your first summer out of college, here are the top 10 movies that remind us what it’s like to be a kid on summer vacation.
Now & Then (1995)
Ahh to be young again. That’s precisely the plot of this film as four childhood friends reunite in their hometown and reminisce about that fateful summer they spent together in 1970. Seances, treehouses, swimming holes, drive-ins and games of Truth or Dare: four grown women reflect back on the summer that gave them their independence.
The Sandlot (1993)
Nothing says summer like a game of baseball. The Sandlot is another film which sees adults reminiscing about their childhoods, this time set in 1962. Centred around the new kid in town who encounters a group of kids who play pick-up games of baseball in a local field, The Sandlot is about not only making new friends, but also about belonging.
The Babysitter’s Club (1995)
Babysitting marks a rite of passage for many tweens. Hot summers are filled with watching younger siblings, family members or neighbourhood kids. Based on the bestselling series of books published between 1986 and 2000, The Babysitter’s Club movie is about the adventures you and your friends can get into when you are 13 years old and responsible for a gaggle of younger kids.
Dirty Dancing (1987)
It was the summer of 1963 when “Baby” met Johnny. One dance later, and the rest of the summer is history. The appeal of the film transcends time as audiences young and old continue to embrace the film, its sequel, and the stage production.
Dazed & Confused (1993)
It’s the last day of school in 1976 and the seniors are pranking the future freshmen and celebrating the beginning of summer. The film has reached cult status and features a number of soon-to-be-famous actors: Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey and Rory Cochrane, just to name a few.
Jaws (1975)
It’s still not safe to go back in the water. The film’s score still gives people the chills as it conjures up terrifying images of a sleek and deadly shark skimming just under the surface. Summer at the beach has never been so deadly…except for the film’s sequels. Some people never learn.
American Pie 2 (2001)
It’s that first summer break after high school when all of your friends return home for the summer after 8 months away. Of course, there’s no better way to reunite with high school friends for some fun in the sun than to rent a beach house for the summer. It’s the same old gag comedy, gross-out jokes, and relationship issues that we loved in the first film. Plus Stifler’s Mom is back too.
One Crazy Summer (1986)
The film’s plot is pretty far-fetched: it involves an illustrated post-secondary school application, a rock singer who is being chased by a motorcycle gang, and a plot to save a young woman’s house from a greedy family. The characters are definitely in for one crazy summer. John Cusack, Demi Moore, Jeremy Piven & Bobcat Goldthwait star in the summer caper.
My Girl (1991)
Growing up in a funeral parlour in the summer of 1972 isn’t an easy thing…unless you have Macaulay Culkin as your best friend. With laughs and tears, My Girl is a prime example of what an effortless friendship feels like in a summer full of adventures from first kisses and crushes to bike rides and tragedy.
Stand by Me (1986)
One of the best coming-of-age films, Stand by Me sees a writer reflect on the events of his childhood over one eventful Labour Day weekend in 1959 when he and his friends went in search of the body of a dead boy. With classic scenes and a great cast, Stand by Me is one summer movie that is a great watch year-round.
Stay tuned for our Top 10 Summer Camp movies where we cover the good and the band of that rite of that summertime passage!
I am not a digital movie kind of girl. I can’t rent movies on iTunes, I don’t care for Netflix. This also extends to reading: I’ll curse every single book I have to pack each time I move into a new elevator-free apartment. Despite my lack of shelf space, I like to own copies of my favourite movies. 15 years ago, long before “Special Features” or “Bonus Materials” meant anything, I didn’t find it strange to pay upwards of $35 for a VHS tape. And because I spent a small fortune on VHS tapes, I have a hard time letting go and upgrading all of my classic film collection to DVD—or now upgrading those DVDs to Blu-ray (however, most classics haven’t made that leap yet). It is because of this that I am really excited for the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) sale currently taking place on the Chapters.Indigo.ca website. The Golden Age of classic Hollywood cinema traditionally includes movies made between the end of the Silent Era in the late 1920s to the early 1960s, when the major movie studios and genre-films dominated the silver screen.
Inspired by the TCM list of great classic movies, I present my personal top 10 favourite Hollywood classics...in no particular order:
1. Casablanca (1942)
The 1942 melodrama often earns a top 10 placement in many critics' and filmmakers' top ten favourite films, and my personal list is no exception. Romance, intrigue, espionage, and politics all converge effortlessly in the film. The film won 3 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
2. North by Northwest (1959)
50 years after it was released, North by Northwest can still keep a viewer on the edge of their seat. One of the quintessential films by Alfred Hitichcock, the mistaken identity caper is full of suspense and memorable imagery like the epic confrontation atop Mount Rushmore or the iconic scene in which Cary Grant is chased down by an airplane in an open field.
3. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
One of the first truly dark movies in the film noir genre, The Maltese Falcon marks John Huston’s directorial debut and stays true to Dashiell Hammett’s 1929 novel. Surprisingly, the film failed to take home any Academy Awards.
4. Citizen Kane (1941)
It’s been endlessly referenced in everything from commercials to kids’ cartoons. Arguably one of the greatest movies of all time, it has twice landed at the top of the American Film Institute’s (AFI) Top 100 films. A compelling tale with stunning visuals, Citizen Kane should be on every serious film lover’s DVD shelf.
5. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Forget Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner. The only man in tights for me is Errol Flynn. A swashbuckling tale full of exquisite costumes, sweeping romance and endearing charm, the film still elicits laughs and thrills in all the right places. A great classic for the whole family to enjoy.
6. Rebecca (1940)
I love gothic thrillers and one of the best examples of this genre is Rebecca. Brooding, moody, and thrilling, Rebecca is a haunting ghost story. The film earned Alfred Hitchcock his first and only Best Picture Academy Award nomination.
7. His Girl Friday (1940)
Fast-talking dames and racy-for-the-time dialogue are what makes His Girl Friday one of the best examples of the screwball comedy. Based on a 1928 Broadway play, the film swapped gender roles, making Rosalind Russell an equal star to Cary Grant. It is an epic battle of the sexes and a duel of wits.
8. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Is it a Nazi-farce or is it a serious commentary on a war-torn society? Well, it’s both really. There a laughs-a-plenty in this behind-the-scenes film about a theatre troupe who utilize their acting skills and costumes to fool a group of occupying Nazis. Often funny and at times so suspenseful you’ll catch yourself holding your breath, the Ernst Lubitsch-directed film was Carole Lombard’s last role.
9. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
If there’s one thing Hollywood loves, it’s itself. One of the best backstage Hollywood films, Sunset Boulveard explores what happens to its ageing stars when the spotlight stops shining on them. Often bitter and decadent, it’s certainly not an uplifting film. For first-time viewers, you’ll recognize a handful of famous lines from the film.
10. The Searchers (1956)
Named the Greatest American Western of all-time by the AFI, The Searchers will have non-Western lovers at the edge of their seats. Perhaps one of the most influential Westerns, this John Ford-directed epic touches upon themes of racism, the homefront, family, and sexism in this cinematic classic.
A deeply emotional and heart-wrenching film, Rabbit Hole slipped passed the average movie-goer when it was in theatres. The film’s low profile, despite its high-calibre cast, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. Grab a box of Kleenex because Rabbit Hole is this week’s DVD Pick of the Week.
I saw this movie back at TIFF in September and the film has stayed with me over the past 6 months and countless movies I’ve seen since then. In fact, I made it one of my top picks from TIFF way back in my very first blog post. Based on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole deals with the tragic loss of a couple’s young son and their grieving process in the aftermath of the tragedy. It’s definitely not light viewing.
The film is skilfully directed by John Cameron Mitchell who, at first glance, seems like an odd choice for this film. His previous films Hedwig and the Angry Inch (in which he also starred) and Shortbus are completely different films to Rabbit Hole. The fact that he can pull all three movies off—musical, indie dramedy, and intense drama—is a testament to his skill. Nicole Kidman is the one earning well-deserved rave reviews as Becca, the mother at the centre of the tragedy. The audience grieves with her as she adjust to the everyday mundane tasks that continue despite losing a child. Kidman earned her thrid Oscar nomination for her work in this film, which film critic Richard Corliss of TIME magazine called a "career-best performance." Kidman’s performance plays off that of Aaron Eckhart as her husband Howie as they present two sides of dealing with the same event. Their understated performances add to the intimate nature of the film—it is almost as if they were performing the original play on stage. Howie tends to vocalize his feelings more than Becca and reach out and share them in therapy where he meets Sandra Oh, who is wonderfully cast.
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Also out on DVD/Blu-ray:
It’s been just over a month since the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan. I have been steadily glued to the TV here in Toronto, watching the news as the situation seemed to get worse before it would get better. The disaster has had a special effect on me: I spent 6 months living and working in Fukushima, one of the regions hardest hit. For the past 4 years, I have had to describe exactly where I lived when I would predictably be asked if I lived in Tokyo. “It’s about 5 hours north by bus from Tokyo,” I would say, or “It’s just over two hours on the shinkansen or bullet train.” And it’s heartbreaking that I’ll never have to describe where I lived because now the conversation inevitably becomes, “Oh, Fukushima, that’s where that nuclear plant is.”
Fukushima is a prefecture or province whose capital is my former home away from home, Fukushima City, approximately 220 km from Tokyo and 65km from the seaside area where the nuclear plant is. Nearby Sendai, the largest city closest to the earthquake’s epicentre was a hangout of mine- specifically because they had a music store with import CDs and English-language entertainment magazines and a branch of my favourite delicious Japanese hamburger chain for when I was feeling homesick. The reports I have heard through friends of friends in my former hometown have been grim in the days after the quake and nuclear explosions, but friends remain positive. As stories of survival and humanity continue to pour out of Japan, I reflect back on my time there, and eagerly wait the opportunity to visit the country I love again.
In honour of a country with a strong cultural legacy, here are my favourite Japanese films:
1) Woman in the Dunes, Hiroshi Teshigahara 1964
- A widow captures a man in her sand-pit to help her in her un-ending task of digging sand and selling it to cities while at the same time, keeping her house from being buried by sand. A psychological film that will have you on edge. Currently only available in Criterion's Teshigahara box set with The Face of Another & Pitfall, two more great Japanese films.
2) Rashomon, Akira Kurosawa, 1950
- A Japanese crime mystery in which the same event—a robbery & murder—is presented three times by a priest who was present at the trial, having witnessed the telling of events by 3 parties involved. A must-see for any serious film fan or film student.
3) Tokyo Story, Yasujiro Ozu, 1953
- An aging couple visits their grown children in Tokyo who are too consumed with their own lives to spend much time with their parents. Regarded as director Ozu's masterpiece.
4) Gojira, Ishiro Honda, 1954
- The very first movies featuring everyone’s favourite man-eating reptile, Godzilla. When first released, the film was a sci-fi thriller, though it's more liekly to elicit laughs from today's audiences. Still a fun watch with some great special effects considering the movie's age.
5) Onibaba, Kaneto Shindo, 1964
- A horror film featuring a woman and her daughter-in-law who attack passing samurai warriors, steal their valuables and then throw the bodies into a pit.
6) Departures, Yojiro Takita, 2008
- Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Departures is about a young man who unwittingly answers an ad for a job in preparing the dead for funerals. A touching story with a few humourous moments.
7) Dainipponjin (Big Man Japan), Hitoshi Matsumoto, 2007
- By far one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen at the Toronto International Film Festival, Dainipponjin or Big Man Japan is a mockumentary comedy about a reluctant regular guy turned 30m high superhero who protects Japan from giant monsters. Absurdly hilarious.
8) Ringu, Hideo Nakata, 1998
- If you thought the Hollywood version of The Ring with Naomi Watts was scary, check out the original Japanese version. You won’t be disappointed.
9) Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, Nagisa Oshima, 1983
- Based on a true story about the experiences of four WWI POW’s starring David Bowie as one of the four men.
10) Norwegian Wood, Tran Anh Hung, 2010
- Based on the novel Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, 1960s Tokyo comes alive on screen in this adaptation that explores one man’s relationship with life and death, past and future.
Nobody loves a picnic basket as much as Yogi Bear! To celebrate the DVD & Blu-ray release for the brand new movie, Yogi Bear on March 22 we're giving away some awesome Yogi Bear and Hanna-Barbera prizes for kids.
Yogi, Boo Boo and Ranger Smith first appeared in 1961 and he hasn't aged a bit. With a new computer-animated makeover Yogi hit the big screen with his pals for a whole new fun-filled adventure in this live-action movie. Voiced by comedian Dan Akyroyd, Yogi Bear and Booboo (the voice of Justin Timberlake) team up with Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanaugh) intrepid reporter Rachel (Anna Faris) to save their beloved Jellystone Park from becoming a new logging site.
Whether you loved Yogi as a kid or you're trying to introduce a whole new generation to the world of Hanna-Barbera, Yogi Bear is a smash hit for the whole family.
Want the chance to win some cool Hanna-Barbera prizes including kid-size Yogi Bear t-shits or hoodies and cool kids' DVDs featuring the original Yogi cartoon and his Hanna-Barbera friends? Follow @IndigoTVMovies on Twitter on Tuesday, March 22 and retweet the contest phrase and hashtag between 10am and 6pm EST to be entered into our random draw for you chance to win one (1) of our great prizes. See official rules and regulations for full contest details. Open to Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) over the age of majority only.
Check out the theatrical trailer for Yogi Bear.
Feeling overrun with vampires lately? Why not check out this week’s DVD Pick of the Week, the zombie-infested The Walking Dead.
AMC trades in the suits and glamour of their hit series Mad Men in favour of blood and the undead in The Walking Dead, the latest TV craze. Based on the popular series of graphic novels by Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead is an edge-of-your-seat thriller which packs guns, blood, terror, and even a bit of romance into its riveting first season. Just six episodes long, Golden Globe nominated series is a prime example of survival of the fittest.
Bearing some similarity to the Danny Boyle horror film 28 Days Later, The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes, sheriff of a small Georgian town who wakes up seemingly abandoned in a hospital. He seems to be the last man alive—literally. A zombie apocalypse has ravaged North America, leaving small pockets of survivors scattered around the United States…I’m still holding out hope for some Canadian survivors on the belief that even zombies wouldn’t want to brave a winter in Montreal. Society has collapsed and all rules are off as survivors battle the undead and each other, facing unspeakable terror and risk at every turn in a no guts, no glory showdown.
A riveting show with compelling writing, The Walking Dead plays out more like a collection of horror films...but unlike Friday the 13th Part 4, each hour of the show gets progressively better, building on the tension of the previous episode. Characters are fully rounded and developed, not the cartoon-like action heroes often found in horror movies.
Not for the faint-of-heart, The Walking Dead will thrill and surprise even the most jaded of horror film buffs . Available now on DVD & Blu-ray, season 1 of The Walking Dead is must-see TV. I can’t wait to see what season 2 has in store!
Check out The Walking Dead Shop for DVDs & graphic novels.
But I stand by my love of Nicolas Cage—he continues to make the most varied films of any actor currently working; he fully embraces his off-the-wall persona, and let’s not forget that he has an Oscar. I often see Nic Cage movies on opening weekend in theatres, I am proud to include a whopping 18 DVDs starring the man himself in my personal movie collection, and when I’ve had a bad day, I often find myself reaching for Raising Arizona. He apparently has a collection of shrunken heads and a dinosaur skull, which makes him pretty cool in my books.
I love Nicolas Cage because he just doesn’t seem to care. Drama, action, comedy—he’s got them all covered and seemingly has no preference for genre, or even quality of film. In an interview, he once claimed to pick his roles based on the type of wig he could wear. His latest film, currently in theatres, is Drive Angry, one of the few films actually shot in 3D as opposed to making it look 3D in post-production like Clash of the Titans. Nicolas Cage as a man who literally drove out of Hell in order to save his infant granddaughter? I’m sold. Drive Angry is a throwback to grindhouse B-movies, and because it embraces its kitschy quality, it fully succeeds in being a non-stop action thriller, full of laughs and amazing one-liners courtesy of Cage and co-star William Fichtner. Don’t get me wrong, Drive Angry isn’t a going down in the history books as one of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, but it’s certainly the best thing currently in theatres.
And don’t get me wrong—they’re not all good movies. A lot are bad, like Ghost Rider. Some are downright awful…I’m looking at you, WIndtalkers. But depending on the mood you’re in, there’s a Nicolas Cage movie for you.
Want a good laugh? Check out Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Perhaps some of the best one-liners ever delivered on screen.
In the mood for retro fun? Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Peggy Sue Got Married are time capsules of off-beat performances.
Need to see stuff get blown up? Look no further than Face/Off, Con Air, Knowing, or The Rock.
Family movie night? Cage has got that covered too, with The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, G-Force , The Ant Bully and Astro Boy.
Quality cinema time? Go for award winners Moonstruck, Adaptation, or Leaving Las Vegas.
Had a bad day? Chances are it’s not as bad as Edward’s in the 2006 remake of The Wicker Man:
Want to start your own Nicolas Cage collection? Check out the list of Nic Cage movies on DVD & Blu-ray.
What’s blue, has a big head, and is surprisingly laugh-out-loud funny? Megamind! The newest animated feature from Dreamworks is this week’s DVD Pick of the Week.
Arriving on DVD, Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and in a double-pack with bonus feature The Button of Doom on February 25th, Megamind packs a punch with a killer soundtrack (seriously) and an all-star cast of voices. Megamind is not your average superhero cartoon: instead of rooting for the good guy, you’ll be rooting for the kinda-bad-but-is-he-really-good guy. Megamind, voiced by Will Ferrell, is a super-intelligent alien who is sent to Earth as an infant along with fellow superhero-in-training Metro Man (Brad Pitt) as their home planet is destroyed. The two youngsters quickly become adversaries in school, setting up a lifelong rivalry filled with battles, gadgets, and a fight for the love of Metro City reporter Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey).When Megamind inadvertently creates a new mega villain Tighten (Jonah Hill), he has to finally choose between being good and being evil.
Fun for the whole family, Megamind effortlessly blends sight gags with verbal jokes…a villain with a big blue head shaped like a brain is always good for a few laughs. The top-notch cast is also a reason to watch the film. In addition to the main characters, several notable stars provide the voices for the citizens of Metro City: Ben Stiller, Justin Long, J.K. Simmons, David Cross, Bill Hader, and Amy Poehler.
Megamind is sure to be a mega-hit in your family!
