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Game of Thrones – The Complete First Season

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  • Title: Game of Thrones – The Complete First Season
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Game of Thrones - The Complete First Season DVD reviewGoing back and watching a show for the first time well after it’s become popular is always going to give the view a different perspective than those who watched from the beginning. Game of Thrones has become of phenomenon over it’s six seasons (and counting), but examining the beginning of its run it’s hard not to feel somewhat mixed about the results (especially compared to the undying fervor of its fans).

Over ten-episodes we are told repeatedly that Winter is coming. As foreshadowing goes it’s not exactly subtle. By the end of the season Sean Bean has performed his perfunctory role (which fans of his know all too well), we finally get some dragons (pathetic that they might be), and things are just starting to get interesting. Winter, however, still feels far off. If Winter is coming, it’s taking the long road. The lack of a central protagonist also makes it hard at times to invest in events our their outcomes. Who should I be rooting for? The Starks? Jon Snow? The Targaryens? It seems only the Lannisters are hard-set as villains, although at least one of their member breaks that mold.

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Double Impact

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  • Title: Double Impact
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Double Impact Blu-ray reviewOur Throwback Thursday post takes us back to the action of the early 90s. Double Impact is ridiculous, even for a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. Playing twins (not the last time he would attempt this) separated for 25 years and brought back together to avenge their parents’ murder, Van Damme stars as both Kung Fu expert and Yoga instructor Chad and seedy criminal type Alex whose girlfriend (Alonna Shaw just happens to hold the keys to get their high-kicking form of justice). Along with the action and ridiculous dialogue the script also makes the most out of Chad being mistaken for Alex on multiple occasions (including by his girlfriend).

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Jerry Maguire

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  • Title: Jerry Maguire
  • IMDb: link

Jerry Maguire Blu-ray reviewWriter/director Cameron Crowe‘s quotable film is re-released on a 20th Edition Blu-ray set. Tom Cruise stars as sports agent Jerry Maguire whose late night epiphany about working better for fewer clients (and less money) costs him his job, his fiance (Kelly Preston), and all but a single client. Leaving his firm and striking out on his own, Jerry builds a new life supporting the difficult wide receiver (Cuba Gooding Jr., who took home and Oscar for his role as Rod Tidwell) and falling for the one woman (Renée Zellweger) and her son (Jonathan Lipnicki) who follow him to his new enterprise.

20 years later the film proves to still be highly entertaining. Cruise and Gooding are terrific, her role would make the fresh-faced Zellweger a star, and young Jonathan Lipnicki is ridiculously cute. Schmaltzy at times but with a big heart, the film is worth seeking out if you haven’t seen it in awhile. It may not be Cruise’s best, but it’s certainly one of his most watchable films.

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Bambi

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  • Title: Bambi
  • IMDb: link

Bambi Blu-ray reviewReleased 75 years ago, Walt Disney’s Bambi offers the coming of age story of a white-tailed deer named Bambi and friends Thumper and Flower. Because of the age of the characters varies ove the course of the story, multiple actors were brought in to do the voice work of Bambi and his friends. Although an older Bambi has a on-screen rival for the affections of his lady love, Disney goes a bit darker here with the looming threat of Man being the true villain of the film responsible for both the death of Bambi’s mother and later the fire which threatens the entire forest at the end of the film.

Even with a focus on making the animals more realistic, Disney still lost money on the feature in its initial release. However, it made it’s money back (and then some) with several additional theatrical releases over the years. Because of its darker themes the film was met with a mixed reception initially, but has earned it’s spot over the years as one of the best animated films ever made.

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5 Film Collection: Sci-Fi

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  • Title: I Am Legend, Gravity, Midnight Special, Jupiter Ascending, The Book of Eli
  • IMDb: link
  • IMDb: link
  • IMDb: link
  • IMDb: link
  • IMDb: link

5 Film Collection: Sci-Fi DVD reviewThe highlight of this three-disc set is Alfonso Cuarón‘s Gravity. While similar to Avatar in the movie experience isn’t quite complete outside of an IMAX 3D theater, the compelling look at an astronaut’s (Sandra Bullock) struggle for survival following tragedy high above Earth was compelling enough to earn the #2 spot on my best of 2013 list.

The rest of the collection certainly isn’t up to that standard. However, Midnight Special is a solid film about a father (Michael Shannon) attempting to look out for his son (Jaeden Lieberher) who a cult wants for the boy’s mysterious gifts.

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