Chris Chiarella

Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Restoration Software: Universal Studios Classics Restored for Blu-ray
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 17, 2012
Going back a few years, the arrival of high definition in general and Blu-ray specifically signaled a new era of entertainment. While home theater has long promised a movie-watching experience that we could enjoy in our pajamas—without getting arrested—the reign of the 1080p optical disc promised us DVD convenience combined with superior cinematic quality. Delivering on that promise wasn’t always so easy, however. Owing to a variety of variables, such as poor film storage, tight budgets, and the simple fact that some studios are more dedicated to the preservation of their libraries than others, many of the most anticipated Blu-ray debuts have been lackluster, frequently mere ports of existing standard-def masters.
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Out Of The Blu
We're Criterion-Crazy! The Game, Children of Paradise, Eating Raoul
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 14, 2012
The Criterion Collection has been reissuing some real gems lately, from a hard-to-find recent thriller to a French classic to a delicious black comedy.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
21 Jump Street
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 10, 2012
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Adaptations of old TV shows are a mixed bag, especially when filmmakers take the risky step of amping up the comedy factor of the original. The new gold standard of this bawdy-yet-reverent approach is 21 Jump Street, with much of the credit belonging to star/executive producer/co-writer Jonah Hill. He plays a brainy high school loser who, years later, winds up enrolling in the police academy at the same time as his brawny erstwhile tormentor (Channing Tatum).
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
The Artist
Chris Chiarella  |  Oct 10, 2012
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Last year’s Best Picture, The Artist, embodies a simple enough idea: a silent movie about silent movies, told in the classic style. Set in the waning days of the era, the story introduces us to aging matinee idol George Valentin (Oscar winner Jean Dujardin) who meets the wide-eyed ingénue Peppy Miller (nominee Bérénice Bejo) outside one of his premieres. Seldom does the screen see such an intoxicatingly attractive couple, and yet their relationship is a complicated smolder of admiration and respect that has its share of ups and downs across years of drastic change.
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Out Of The Blu
Chico & Rita, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 21, 2012
The rhythms may be familiar but you've never seen anything like Chico and Rita, while a crazy nanny goes high-def, and The Caped Crusader's monumental conclusion begins.
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Out Of The Blu
Back to School, Back to Work: The Office Season Eight, Glee Season Three, and Hung Season Three
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 08, 2012
The Dunder Mifflin crew takes the recent shakeup in stride, while singing and dancing makes senior year fly by at McKinley High, and Ray Drecker proves once again that he's more than just a gigolo.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews3D Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Chris Chiarella  |  Sep 04, 2012
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An old adage (OK, I just made it up) says that if you’re going to make a movie in 3D, you’d better give the audience something interesting to look at. The Mysterious Island does just that, dazzling the eyes with nonstop wonders held together by a wholly adequate plot. Young Sean (Josh Hutcherson) is having trouble living the suburban life of a normal teen after the excitement of his journey to the center of the earth. And soon enough, a cryptic message from his missing grandfather sets him off on a new adventure halfway around the globe, this time chaperoned by his supercool stepdad (Dwayne Johnson).
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Out Of The Blu
Of Mice and Monkeys: The Rescuers/Rescuers Down Under, Looney Tunes Mouse Chronicles and Disneynature Chimpanzee
Chris Chiarella  |  Aug 24, 2012
Disney spins tales of rescues fantastical and actual, while a master named Chuck Jones puts his unique comedic spin on the little cheese-lovers.
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Out Of The Blu
Blue Like Jazz, Titanic: 100 Years in 3D, Stallone 3-Film Collection
Chris Chiarella  |  Aug 11, 2012
Take a gander at a quirky, spiritual indie, a 3D study of the legendary doomed luxury liner, and our own private film festival to put us in the mood for Expendables 2.
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Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol
Chris Chiarella  |  Aug 07, 2012
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Tom Cruise returns as IMF agent Ethan Hunt for this fourth film in his big-screen Mission: Impossible franchise, and this might just be the best one yet. Hunt is the sort of fellow I secretly hope we have on the federal payroll: fearless, cool under pressure, and a quick study in almost everything. He’s a good man to have on our side when the going gets rough because he simply will not quit as long as he has a pulse.
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