Blogcritics Author: Rebecca Wright

DVD Review: Cannon - Season One, Volume One

Rebecca Wright — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:24:11 EDT

William Conrad finally got his chance at a starring role on television.
William Conrad's deep, booming sound helped him to become one of the most recognized voices in radio from the late thirties to the early sixties. By Conrad's own estimation, he played over 7,000 roles on the radio. Perhaps most significantly, Conrad originated the role of Marshal Matt Dillon on the Western program Gunsmoke from 1952-61. He...

Movie Review: Gonzo - The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Rebecca Wright — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:27:16 EDT

A one-sided look at the gonzo journalist.
Hunter S. Thompson lived life with his foot firmly planted on the gas pedal. Taking time to smell the roses was laughable, spending a day completely sober, non-existent. Thompson's comfort zone was on the edge; anything else seemed to feel strange to him. Alex Gibney attempts to chronicle the life of this American writer with his own special...

DVD Review: Californication - The First Season

Rebecca Wright — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:34:55 EDT

Californication is kind of the male version of Sex and the City.
I'm not quite sure why, but Californication is a series I had never watched before I received a copy of the first season, sometime in early June. I've never been a big fan of the series' star David Duchovny, who has always struck me as a bit snide and egocentric and X-Files just never caught on with me. However, since so many people I...

DVD Review: The Closer - The Complete Third Season

Rebecca Wright — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:44:47 EDT

One of the best dramas on television.
Created by James Duff and the Shephard/Robin Company which also produces Nip/Tuck, The Closer centers on Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick), who was brought from Atlanta to Los Angeles by Assistant Police Chief Will Pope (J.K. Simmons) to lead up a new special murder investigation task force: Priority Homicide. Pope selected Johnson...

Blu-ray Review: Batman - The Movie, Special Edition

Rebecca Wright — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 21:37:01 EDT

105 minutes of campy Batman fun!
Though I wasn't born yet when the original Batman series first captivated audiences when it premiered in January of 1966 on ABC, I watched the series in the eighties whenever it showed up in syndication. Always a fan of superheroes, Batman and Superman have always topped my list of favorites. There is something about Batman, a simple human...

DVD Review: 10,000 BC

Rebecca Wright — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 08:20:10 EDT

A bloated film with bad costumes and little plot.
In all honesty, I approached 10,000 BC with a healthy dose of skepticism. I wanted the film to be good, but I had my doubts even before I turned on my DVD player. The film was directed by Roland Emmerich, the fellow who brought us the memorable Independence Day (1996), but then proceeded to helm one of the worst film adaptations in recent memory,...

DVD Review: Dynasty - The Third Season, Volume One

Rebecca Wright — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:27:07 EDT

The Alexis/Krystle feud was one of the best in TV history.
Dynasty, like Dallas, Knots Landing, and Falcon Crest, was one of the quintessential eighties guilty pleasure shows. You didn't watch them for great acting or smart writing. It was the drama, intrigue, cat fighting, and endless bed-hopping that kept audiences coming back for more. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro, Dynasty revolved around...

DVD Review: The Odd Couple - The Fourth Season

Rebecca Wright — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:53:52 EDT

Not as funny as previous seasons, but it's still a funny show.
The Odd Couple is a kind of rarity in television. Based on the 1968 film that starred Jack Lemmon as Felix and Walter Matthau as Oscar, many feel that the series starring Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar equaled or surpassed the quality of the film. Both Tony Randall and Jack Klugman received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead...

DVD Review: ER - The Complete Ninth Season

Rebecca Wright — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:07:20 EDT

Despite the loss of some key cast members, strong storylines and impressive acting make season nine as strong as ever.
When a hit series enters its ninth season, it reasonable to start wondering if the show has begun to run its course, or as the saying goes, "jumped the shark." As the 2002-2003 season of ER began (its ninth), many wondered how the departures of Anthony Edwards (Dr. Mark Green) and Eriq LaSalle (Dr. Peter Benton) would affect the show.As...

DVD Review: Rails & Ties

Rebecca Wright — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:35:49 EDT

A clunky script ruins what could have been an emotionally affecting film.
After watching Rails & Ties, I couldn't help but feel the film could've and should've been better. Rails & Ties marks the directorial debut of Alison Eastwood (daughter of Clint), and she should be applauded for taking on such difficult material for her debut behind the camera. While I found the first 35 minutes of the film...