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Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of BACK TO THE BEACH, BLAST FROM THE
PAST, THE COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF DENIS LEARY, CONNQUEST: THE OFFICIAL
2004 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP DVD, EVELYN: SPECIAL EDITION, HI-5, MORVERN
CALLAR, THE NEW AVENGERS '77, THE PROVIDENCE COLLECTION, and THE
RECKONING:


BACK TO THE BEACH (reviewed by Patrick Naugle, overall score 86/100):
"Is Back to the Beach any good? You know, I gotta admit that I liked
it when I was a kid and I still like it as an adult. I laughed in a
few spots, the music is upbeat and fun, and by God there isn't a mean
bone in its celluloid body. How many movies can you honestly say that
about in 2004?"

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/backtobeach.php

BLAST FROM THE PAST (reviewed by David Ryan, overall score 80/100):
"It's not the Citizen Kane of light romantic comedies, but it's
definitely the Citizen Kane of naive-bomb-shelter-residents-who-fall-for-Alicia-
Silverstone movies. And really, isn't that enough?"

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/blastfrompast.php

THE COMEDY CENTRAL ROAST OF DENIS LEARY (reviewed by David Johnson,
overall score 88/100):
"When it came time for Leary to hammer back, he was his typical profane
self, but he was definitely radiating a smarmy kind of affection towards
his pals. Taken as a whole, I'd definitely recommend sneaking a peek at
his profanity-strewn offering by Comedy Central. Any slow parts are
overwhelmed by the gut-busting hilarity of some of the better jokes, and
the whole atmosphere of the event just seemed damn fun."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/denislearyroast.php

CONNQUEST: THE OFFICIAL 2004 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP DVD (reviewed by David
Ryan, overall score 90/100):
"ConnQuest is the official 2004 NCAA championship DVD. Any other DVDs
that may claim to be the official 2004 NCAA championship DVD are mere
pretenders; usurpers of the rightful Official 2004 NCAA Championship DVD
throne properly held by ConnQuest. Be warned!"

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/connquest.php

EVELYN: SPECIAL EDITION (reviewed by Diane Wild, overall score 75/100):
"Director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) tells a linear story
unadorned with irony or stylistic flourishes. We know going in what the
outcome of the case will be, and yet Desmond's efforts to have his day
in court, and the road to the final judgment, are peppered with enough
suspense to keep the momentum going."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/evelynse.php

HI-5 (reviewed by Lacey Worrell, overall score 85/100):
"Perhaps Hi-5's strongest asset is its ability to take very simple sets,
costumes, and story lines and turn them into something that keeps
children glued to the television. Nothing explodes, and no one hits or
threatens each other, and -- wonder of all wonders -- kids will still
enjoy themselves."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/hi5.php

MORVERN CALLAR (reviewed by Mitchell Hattaway, overall score 85/100):
"The film unfolds, not surprisingly, in a novelistic manner, relying
more on character and incident than the machinations of plot. It
wouldn't work half as well with a cast half as strong, but that's not a
problem here. Morton and McDermott are both nothing short of astonishing
in this film."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/morverncallar.php

THE NEW AVENGERS '77 (reviewed by Paul Corupe, overall score 79/100):
"If the show had a different title and starred just Gambit and Purdey,
it certainly would have found a more of an enthusiastic audience. As it
stands, one can't help but compare this show to one of the most popular
British TV series of all time, which invariably puts The New Avengers in
a bad light."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/newavengers77.php

THE PROVIDENCE COLLECTION (reviewed by Lacey Worrell, overall
score 80/100):
"The series is at once quirky and...dare I say it...heartwarming."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/pr...collection.php

THE RECKONING (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 83/100):
"This film is just ludicrously beautiful. Whether director Paul McGuigan
turns his vision to expansive European landscapes, dirty village hovels,
or tomb-like cathedrals, the movie never once betrays its setting. The
Reckoning is shot in the Middle Ages. The atmosphere is dark and dreary
and people are dirty, and all of this adds to the realism."

FULL REVIEW: http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/reckoning.php

Mike Jackson
Editor & Webmaster, DVD Verdict
www.dvdverdict.com