Blue Ray & DVD's
A simple tale in “The Hidden Blade”
By Jenny Alvarez
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From director Yamada Yoji (The Twilight Samurai) comes The Hidden Blade (a.k.a. Kakushi Ken Oni no Tsume) is the epic tale of a samurai raised to respect tradition and a demanding moral code. After a political coup fails he is ordered to prove his innocence by finding and killing a former friend, samurai and brilliant swordsman. He secretly enlists the help of their former master who entrusted him with the secret of The Hidden Blade. Now he must choose between duty and honor.
Definitely, is a Yamada’s delicate drama with swordplay with the mythic ideal of the samurai culture so in the main characters with their personalities reflect bravery and loyalty in themes of evolution and change and how it affected the traditional Japanese lifestyle while also learning new military strategies, particularly the mastery of Western artillery, during the mid-19th Century. Munezo (Masatoshi Nagase) also has a personal complication. He is secretly in love–so secretly, he may not even admit it to himself–with his family’s maid, the sweet and beautiful country girl, Kie (Takako Matsu). His passion leads him to rescue her from a loveless marriage after she leaves his household; the samurai even shocks propriety by carrying away the low-caste young woman on his back. The cast is impressive Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu and Hidetaka Yoshioka are the most talented actors in this genre. Many takes are full of action so this movie is one of those that are worth watching so you can get it on June 19th in DVD and blu-ray with Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Cantonese: Dolby Digital 2.0 with subtitles in Mandarin (Traditional), English and Spanish.
Would you like to have a Cellmate in case of being a prisoner?
By Jenny Álvarez
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Set in 1970s Texas, Cellmates tells the story of hardened Ku Klux Klansman, Leroy Lowe (Tom Sizemore), who has risen through the ranks to be crowned ‘Grand Dragon’ of the State of Texas. Unfortunately for him, the government has started cracking down on the organization’s activities and it isn’t long before Leroy is sent to the Low Lee Tuna Prison Work Farm to serve time…harvesting potatoes. Worlds quickly collide when farm owner Warden Merville (Stacy Keach) forces Leroy to share a prison cell with eccentric Mexican field laborer Emilio Ortiz (Hector Jimenez) as part of his penitence. None too happy with the arrangement, Leroy sets out to make things very difficult for Emilio in the cramped quarters, but Emilio’s chatty disposition slowly chips away at Leroy’s gruff exterior. When an unlikely friendship develops, Leroy comes to realize how his ignorant past has distorted his view of the world, and what he must now do to make things right.
An offbeat comedy with heart, Cellmates is co-written, directed and produced by Jesse Baget. The film stars veteran actors Tom Sizemore and Stacy Keach; Mexican actors Hector Jimenez and Olga Segura; and a special appearance by comedic actor Kevin Farley. This movie is a comedy with satirical humor related to race relations in this country. But the real fun here comes from Stacy Keach as a warden who tries (and fails) to instill a mania for potato farming on his highly skeptical prisoners or when Leroy falls in love and his cellmate serves as the translator for an illicit exchange of love letters. This could easily have come off as far too silly, but in the context of the tone of the film — it all works very nicely. Definitely this movie will make you smile and fans of good movies will receive it with enthusiastic applause. This movie opens in limited release on June 1st.
A Japanese movie comes with "The Secret World of Arrietty''
Reviewed by Jenny Alvarez
Photo courtesy
A great storytelling comes with a teeny-size 14-year-old girl who lives with her family beneath the floorboards of a big house and the human-size boy who befriends her, is adapted from British author Mary Norton’s wonderful children’s fantasy novels, The Borrowers. The lyrical animation, with its meditative attention to nature, bears the unique stamp of Japan’s Studio Ghibli, cofounded by the great Spirited Away animator Hayao Miyazaki.
The entire family will enjoy a beautiful scenery along the way, full of fascinating insects, mice or a cat as well as humans may briefly frighten young children. Arrietty has to face a world full of complications so when she met Shawn, both realize there is nothing to be afraid of into a world bigger than life—literally. Their friendship shows a different perspective with awesome and intricate images. Shawn and Arrietty’s bond is unbreakable, and they are willing to sacrifice for each other. The idealism of cross-cultural, even forbidden friendship collides head-on with certain realities of the miniature world that have been long maintained, presumably for logical reasons. This movie is highly recommended and will be on DVD/Blu- Ray.
War Horse is now at home
By Jenny Alvarez
Photo Cortesy
The friendship between a boy and a horse who are separated but whose fates continue to be intertwined over the course of World War I. Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston and the Director was Steven Spielberg. This movie has the most beautiful landscapes and natural places and comes in 4 Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Digital and On Demand, April 3rd. It has a good message about friendship, loyalty among all children and animals. All the camera shootings have good rhythm and photography, especially when Joey (a smart horse) has a miracle journey but is a sad and dark when all animals are involved in wars suffer a lot. There is also abuse and pain that suffer each of these horses during their battles. It is an awesome movie full of drama with deep sense of love and friendship. “War Horse” definitely will make you shake with emotion.
The Lion of Judah is now available for your collection
By GalaTview Staff
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This film is a heart-warming account of the Easter story as seen through the eyes of a bold lamb which was launched on March 27th with a Blu-ray 3D in English and French subtitles. His name is Judah, a lovable pig (Horace), a faint-hearted horse (Monty), a pedantic rat (Slink), a rambling rooster (Drake), a motherly cow (Esmay) and a downtrodden donkey (Jack).
Cast: Michael Madsen, Ernest Borgnine, Omar Benson Miller
Directors: Roger Hawkins, Deryck Broom
Genres: Animated, Art House/Foreign, Drama
These characters are stable friends who are trying to avoid the sacrificial alter during the week preceding the crucifixion of Christ. With epic backgrounds and a great attention to detail, this is a magnificent film master piece.
Now The Bible is introduced by Charlton Heston
By GalaTView Staff
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Charlton Heston summarizes the theme of the re-released 4-disc DVD set, presenting the Bible. The DVD titles include Genesis, The Story of Moses, Jesus of Nazareth and The Passion. Heston sees the series as providing a taste of the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, which is the way many of the Bible stories were originally passed down.
He skillfully weaves in history from the locations in the Holy Land he visits during the narration, making these DVDs both entertaining and educational.
All of them are available in English language with special features, behind scenes with the important actor.
Calling all fashionistas, Jane is back again!
By Jenny Alvarez
Photo Cortesy.
We’ve got awesome news for you. You can now buy the Jane By Design DVD and you can get it on March 20, 2012. Yes, that’s right. Re-live all the high drama, high school and high heels through the eyes of Jane Quimby.
“Jane By Design” (formerly “What Would Jane Do”), a light-hearted drama, follows Jane, a teenager who lands a job at a hip retail company when they mistake her for an adult. Jane soon finds herself juggling life both as a regular high school student and as an assistant to a high powered executive in the cutthroat world of fashion… all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. “Jane By Design” stars Erica Dasher (“The Lake”) as Jane Quimby, Nicholas Roux (“Lemonade Mouth”) as Billy Nutter, Rowly Dennis (“Desperate Housewives”) as Jeremy Jones, India De Beaufort (“One Tree Hill”) as India Jordain, Meagan Tandy (“10 Things I Hate About You”) as Lulu Pope, Matthew Atkinson (“CSI”) as Nick Fadden, and featuring Andie MacDowell (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”) as Gray Chandler Murray – Jane’s steely boss whose constant demands keep her on her toes. This DVD can find it only in English language.
