DVD Verdict reviews: MEET THE FOCKERS, THE BIG RED ONE: THE RECONSTRUCTION, and more!

Today, DVD Verdict posted reviews of THE BIG RED ONE: THE
RECONSTRUCTION, BURDEN OF DREAMS: CRITERION COLLECTION, THE CINCINNATI
KID, LADY JANE, MEET THE FOCKERS, NEVER SO FEW, NFL GREATEST FOLLIES:
COMPLETE COLLECTION, THE SEA HAWK, TOM HORN, XXX: UNCENSORED UNRATED
DIRECTOR'S CUT, and YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW:


THE BIG RED ONE: THE RECONSTRUCTION (reviewed by Patrick Bromley,
overall score 97/100):
"Fuller himself fought in WWII, and it is those experiences that he long
sought to both write about and bring to the screen (his novelization was
released concurrently with the film), resulting in The Big Red One. This
is a movie that could have only been made by someone who was there --
not because it's so accurate about the 'true nature of war' (which I am
not fit to comment on), but because it's laced with so many small,
personal touches."

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

BURDEN OF DREAMS: CRITERION COLLECTION (reviewed by Bill Gibron, overall
score 95/100):
"Herzog has a singular vision for his story, a visual that no film since
has ever dared matched. What that idea was became the basis for Les
Blank and Maureen Gosling's brilliant documentary Burden of Dreams."

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

THE CINCINNATI KID (reviewed by Brett Cullum, overall score 90/100):
"Even though McQueen is often an understated actor, here he's in a movie
with blatant metaphors like cock fights, women chewing apples, and well-
placed New Orleans extras echoing and commenting on the action. The
formula works well to showcase McQueen as a man who always keeps his
cool even when surrounded by vibrant large events and people. This is
definitely one of Steve McQueen's signature movies, and it's a great
taste of the actor who seems to be enjoying a resurgence of interest in
his work."

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

LADY JANE (reviewed by Mike Pinsky, overall score 72/100):
"The real focus here is Helena Bonham Carter, who shows her acting
chops as the doomed queen. So if you must wade through this historical
morass of half-truths and costumed solemnity, enjoy the fire she brings
to Lady Jane."

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

MEET THE FOCKERS (reviewed by David Johnson, overall score 75/100):
"In essence, the comic leads of Meet the Parents were actually two
straight men. The humor arose from the improbable situations and bad
luck that tormented them. The result was a solid little comedy movie
that didn't do anything different but delivered consistent laughs. Meet
the Fockers takes a different approach. And it sucks."

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

NEVER SO FEW (reviewed by David Ryan, overall score 71/100):
"There are four reasons why this film holds any interest today: Sinatra,
Lollobrigida, McQueen, and director Sturges. Unfortunately, it's not the
best work by any of the four. By a long shot."

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

NFL GREATEST FOLLIES: COMPLETE COLLECTION (reviewed by David Ryan,
overall score 88/100):
"But for the slightly strong language in the last two Follies, this
would be a perfect all-ages package for football fans. As is, it's still
a good package for adult fans, and most kids should like it as well."

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

THE SEA HAWK (reviewed by Maurice Cobbs, overall score 94/100):
"Watching Captain Blood and The Sea Hawk back to back provides an
interesting portrait of the development of an actor: Though there is
still a hint of the brash enthusiasm that dominates Flynn's performance
as Peter Blood, it's as if Blood has grown up in the five-year interim,
and what a man he's become! Captain Thorpe is much more restrained, as
brave as Blood and every bit as idealistic as Robin Hood, but tempered
now with a touch of cynicism -- a man who inspires other men less with
his high spirits and more with his steely, commanding presence."

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

TOM HORN (reviewed by David Ryan, overall score 73/100):
"The only real character in this film is Horn himself. It's a good role
for McQueen; not a great one. In many ways, Horn is just an older
version of Josh Randall (his character in Wanted: Dead or Alive),
bringing McQueen's career full-circle."

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

XXX: UNCENSORED UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT (reviewed by Mitchell Hattaway,
overall score 80/100):
"It's really just a string of action set pieces tied together with the
barest minimum of plot, but at least it knows what it is and uses that
to its advantage. If I were 14, this would probably be the coolest
movie ever."

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

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (reviewed by Joel Pearce, overall
score 85/100):
"Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow was undoubtedly ahead of its time in its
frankness about sex."

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

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

 

I don't think McQueen is enjoying anything these days. He's been dead
for twenty-five years.