| Page 41 | Sound & Vision

Sort By: Post Date | Title | Publish Date

Power Amplifier Reviews

Monoprice Monolith 7 Amplifier Review

David Vaughn | Jun 01, 2016

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value

PRICE $1,499

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Class A/B design
Impressive sound quality
Equal power to all channels
Minus
Very heavy
Lacks balanced inputs

THE VERDICT
At $1,499, this amp is an incredible steal. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its more expensive competition, it still offers a helluva view.

My introduction to Monoprice happened about 10 years ago when I needed some interconnects for a system I had designed for someone on a tight budget. I’d read how great a value the company’s offerings were and decided to take the leap. Not only was my friend happy to save a few bucks from the store brands, he didn’t sacrifice any of the quality, either. From day one, the interconnects worked like a charm. Since then, Monoprice has been my go-to source for home theater cables.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Monsters, Inc.

David Vaughn | Nov 16, 2009

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/monstersbd.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Not only does <i>Monsters, Inc.</i> feature fantastic animation, it's one of Pixar's best stories, too. While the film was being made, California was subject to rolling blackouts due to Enron's manipulation of the energy market, so it's only fitting that the wizards at the studio came up with this wonderful story about powering Monstropolis with the screams of children. I love this movie, and its treatment on Blu-ray is exceptional in both the audio and video departments, with meticulous attention to detail and first-class sound design.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Moon (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Jan 15, 2010

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/moon.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Sometime in the future, Lunar Industries becomes the Earth's dominant supplier of clean energy that's harvested from the lunar soil and sent back to our planet. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has been stationed on the dark side of the moon for nearly three years and has only two weeks to go before he can rejoin his wife and young daughter back home, but his extended isolation is beginning to take its toll. He starts to hallucinate and question his sanity when he discovers he may not be the only human at the facility.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Morning Glory (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Mar 07, 2011

A laid-off television producer (Rachel McAdams) is desperate for work and takes a job to produce the lowest-rated morning new show called "Daybreak." She soon learns that the zany world of network broadcasting will require quick thinking and a great sense of humor in order to handle the self-absorbed co-hosts of the show (Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton).

The film boasts and impressive cast, an accomplished writer (Alan Brosh McKenna - The Devil Wears Prada) and director (Roger Michell - Notting Hill), and hit-maker J.J. Abrams as the producer. Unfortunately, the accomplished team delivers few laughs with a cast of unlikable characters and shallow scrip.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Moulin Rouge (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Oct 22, 2010

Satine (Nicole Kidman) is a seductive courtesan and star of a popular French nightclub that caters to society's decadent elite. When she unwittingly draws Christian (Ewan McGregor) into her spell, true love turns to tragedy.

Moulin Rouge is one of the most unique films of the 21st century featuring outstanding performances by the two leads, elaborate sets, and entertaining music and choreography. Kidman was rewarded with her first of two Oscar nominations (winning the following year for The Hours) and the film received seven additional nominations including Best Picture (winning two awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design). Sadly, writer/director Baz Luhrmann was snubbed for Best Director although I feel he was more than deserving.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

David Vaughn | Apr 03, 2008

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/403magorium.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium is a toy store like no other, where imagination comes to life and magic is in the air. But after 243 years, it's time for Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) to hang it up, so he bequeaths the store to its manager, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman), an insecure young lady who feels she has never lived up her youthful potential. The store recognizes her doubt and begins to undergo a change of its own. Its reluctant new owner will need the help of a loyal patron and a "mutant" accountant to save Mr. Magorium's wonderful store.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Mud

David Vaughn | Jul 16, 2014

Beware of men who don't traffic in the truth.

Picture
Sound
Extras

Two young boys, Ellis and his best friend Neckbone, meet a mysterious drifter named Mud who’s hiding out in an abandoned boat that’s beached on a deserted island in the middle of the Mississippi. Like a good Southern boy, Mud has a way with words and fascinates the boys with a series of stories about his life and why he’s hiding out on the island. He says he’s there to meet the love of his life, Juniper, who’s waiting in town for him, but he can’t go and get her because a group of bounty hunters are after him for killing a man in Texas. Neckbone is very suspicious of the stranger, but Ellis is a sucker when it comes to love and makes an executive decision to help Mud extricate himself from his predicament.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Mutiny on the Bounty (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Nov 26, 2010

The HMS Bounty sails its way to Tahiti with the tyrannical Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) leading the way with first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) and midshipman Roger Byam (Ranchot Tone) on board. After witnessing the captain's brutal treatment of the crew, Christian leads a mutiny on the homeward voyage and returns to the tropical paradise of Tahiti. Although Byam takes no part in the mutiny, he's forced to defend himself against the charges when the captain makes a surprising return.

Based upon the true story of the HMS Bounty, the film went on to win Best Picture in 1935 and solidified Clark Gable as Hollywood's #1 male star. The performances are outstanding and the Academy agreed; for the only time in movie history were three stars from the same film were nominated for Best Actor!

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

My Dog Skip (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Jan 05, 2011

Young Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) has trouble making friends in school and when his idol, Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson), is shipped over to Europe to fight the Germans in World War II, his life couldn't get any worse. Sensing his need of a good friend, his mother (Diane Lane) gets him a puppy for his ninth birthday and his life undergoes a transformation. The talented pup helps turn bullies into friends and helps Willie earn the affection of the most beautiful girl in school (Caitlyn Wachs).

Good family films are hard to find, but this is one of the best non-animated one I've seen in years. Granted, I'm a sucker for dog movies, but this has a lot of heart and the relationship between Willie and Skip is genuine and fun. It gets a little corny on occasion, especially when Willie tangles with some moonshiners, but the message of friendship and trust between a boy and his dog overcomes any of its shortcomings.

Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Mystic River (Blu-ray)

David Vaughn | Mar 01, 2010

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/mystic.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Jimmy (Sean Penn), Sean (Kevin Bacon), and Dave (Tim Robbins) were your typical neighborhood kids growing up in Boston until Dave was plucked from the streets and sexually abused for three days. Since that tragic day their lives have gone in different directions. Jimmy's an ex-con trying to straighten out his life, Sean is a police detective, and Dave is married with a son but is tormented by his past. When tragedy strikes the neighborhood the demons of the past rear their ugly head.

Search form

Pages