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'All Quiet on the Western Front' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]Lewis Milestone's Oscar-winning drama based on Erich Maria Remarque's novel is coming to Blu-ray in February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal Studios says 'All Quiet on the Western Front' will have a Blu-ray release on February 14. In 1914, a group of German teenagers volunteer for action on the Western Front. Paul Baumer is a sensitive youth, but is persuaded to join up by a war-mongering professor advocating glory for the Fatherland. Paul and his friends are trained under Himmelstoss, a kindly postmaster turned brutal corporal, and then sent to the front lines to taste battle, blood and death. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include Introduction by Turner Classic Movies host and film historian Robert Osborne; Restoring the Classics; Academy Award Winners; and The silent version of All Quiet on the Western Front. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98. You can find the latest specs for 'All Quiet on the Western Front' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's now indexed under February 14.Posted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
THX is Giving Away Blu-ray Players, Receivers and More Through the Holidays[teaser]You can even get yourself a full THX Certified system by authorizing their Facebook page. [/teaser] What's better than getting a new piece of gear for your home theater? Getting free gear for your home theater. THX is offering it up through their Facebook page and there's plenty to be had. From now until January 13th, THX will be giving away prizes to those that visit, 'like,' and authorize the page. The current prize is a $100 gift certificate to an AMC theater, but future giveaways will include Blu-ray players, receivers, and an integrated system - all THX certified of course. Swing on over to the THX Facebook page and register if you want to get in on the potential swag. Of course, authorizing THX to post to your Facebook wall is a bit of a strange request, so make sure you read up on what you're authorizing before clicking. Source: THX FacebookPosted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Nurse Jackie: Season Three' on Blu-ray[teaser]The third season of the hit Showtime series will be checking Blu-ray's pulse this February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is readying 'Nurse Jackie: Season Three' starring Edie Falco for Blu-ray on February 21. The release will be a two-disc set featuring all 12 episodes with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements haven't been detailed yet. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Nurse Jackie: Season Three' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 21.Posted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Alien Anthology' Blu-ray is $40.99 at Amazon[teaser]One of the best Blu-ray releases of 2010 can be yours for nearly sixty percent off at Amazon! [/teaser] The online retailer is now selling the must own boxed set 'Alien Anthology' for $40.99 (59% off suggested list price). The set includes 'Alien,' 'Aliens,' 'Alien 3,' and 'Alien: Resurrection' with hours upon hours of bonus materials! Click here to see Sigourney Weaver kick some alien ass and check out the incredible offer at Amazon!Posted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 09:36 AM PST by: -
Blu-ray Players a "Phenomenal Success" for Sony on Black Friday[teaser]The company did quite well over all, with increased sales despite a lack of huge discounts. [/teaser] Sony has been going through a real rough patch over the last few years, but 2011's Black Friday performance is looking very promising for the company. CEO Phil Molyneux says that despite not having any crazy discounts or doorbuster product, the company performed quite well. He calls out Blu-ray players in particular as "a phenomenal success." Molyneux, who was put into position just over a year ago, says that one of the big influences on increased sales was a new corporate philosophy. "We were an organization that made an effort to ship and forget," he says. "I had to drive a cultural change. The relationship with the retailer is important but the focus on the consumer is paramount." Numbers aren't in across the board yet, but Sony reported a significant increase in the business done through its online call center and a 21 percent increase at sales in Sony stores. Source: TwicePosted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Weeds: Season Seven' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The soccer mom hemptress is back on the streets this February. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is working on 'Weeds: Season Seven' starring Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Nealon for Blu-ray on February 21. After serving 3 years in the joint, the onetime suburban soccer mom is making a fresh start in New York City and going back to doing what she does best...selling pot. But when some old friends return, they could send everything up in flames. The release will be a two-disc set with 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Cast and crew commentaries; Uncle Andy's Tricks of the Trade mockumentary; Puff Puff Pass Q&A with series creator Jenji Kohan and stars Justin Kirk & Kevin Nealon; Born Botwin featurette with Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould; gag reel; deleted scenes; and multi screen comparisons. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $39.97. You can find the latest specs for 'Weeds: Season Seven' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 21.Posted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Lenovo is Working on a Smart TV of Its Own[teaser]The company will be launching a set in early 2012. [/teaser] When it comes to controlling an HTPC or compatible smart TV, Lenovo is a name that leaps to mind immediately. Their one handed remote is slick and constantly improving, making it high on the list for many. It seems the company isn't content to just control other people's products anymore. Lenovo is now working on a smart TV that's set to release in early 2012. The TV will be internet connected and will likely turn into the rumored Lenovo Cloud. As far as other details go, it's all fuzzy - or more accurately, nonexistent. We'll certainly hear more by the time CES rolls around. Until then it's hard to tell if this could be a real contender on the market or just a one-off that falls completely under everyone's radar. Source: EngadgetPosted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
'Abduction' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Nope, it's not an ab workout video, it's John Singleton's action-thriller starring Taylor Lautner, and it's getting the high-definition treatment in January! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is preparing 'Abduction' for Blu-ray on January 17. For as long as he can remember, Nathan has had an unsettling feeling about his life. His feeling is confirmed when he stumbles upon a photograph of him as a child on a missing persons website. Just as he begins to uncover the truth about his identity, he finds himself having to run for his life. The release will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Abduction Chronicle production journal with Taylor Lautner, Initiation of an Action Hero: Taylor's Amazing Stunts, The Fight For The Truth: Making Abduction, Pulled Punches gag reel, and the Blu-ray exclusive Abduction Application. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Abduction' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 17.Posted Thu Dec 1, 2011 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Non-traditional Must-Watch Christmas Movie Listby Luke Hickman It's that time of year again - the time where we watch more holiday programming than we might want to. Every household has its own unique Christmas traditions and list of must-watch holiday movies. Growing up, we always watched 'Home Alone,' 'A Christmas Story' and 'Christmas Vacation.' Plenty of families watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' (thanks in large part to that classic film's time as a public domain title), 'Miracle on 34th Street' and 'White Christmas' - which admittedly was one of my family's flicks too. But now, having a household of my own, with a movie-loving four-year-old and a wife who puts up with it, it's time to create my own family's annual holiday must-watch list. Obviously, with some of the titles being R-rated, I'm not going to let the kids stay up late to partake in the inappropriate holiday cheer, but there's nothing wrong with saving some of the fun for the adults. [teaser]You can make a list two miles long of standard and appropriately festive films, but this year I wanted to make a checklist of the unconventional Christmas flicks – the ones that might not have so much to do with Christmas, but are set during the holiday season. Agree with it or not, here is my list of Nontraditional Must-Watch Christmas Movies.[/teaser] 'Die Hard' Send the kids over to Grandma's house, because the only way to suitably watch 'Die Hard' is loud. If you simply put them to bed early, John McClane's foul mouth, shoot-outs and explosions are going to wake the kids, let alone the neighbors. While both of the first two 'Die Hard' movies are set during Christmas, I've omitted 'Die Hard 2' (a.k.a. 'Die Harder') because it isn't nearly as good or as much fun as the original. Bruce Willis plays Detective McClane, a New York City cop trying to mend his broken marriage with his wife over the holiday. At McClane's wife's company Christmas party, instead of drinking egg nog and celebrating like a typical company outing, the LA skyscraper is overrun by a terrorist mastermind (Alan Rickman) and all of the guests are held hostage. McClane flies in late from NYC and is off in another part of the building when the takeover happens, so he's got the element of surprise on his hands as he tries to foil the bad guy's plot. Too bad he doesn't have any shoes. Coming out during a decade full of cheesy Chuck Norris action movies, 'Die Hard' was the shining light at the end of the tunnel, proving that not all action movies have to suck. I was too young to see 'Die Hard' when it opened, but I remember both of my parents returning from a showing loving it. It also proved that good action movies will fully entertain both sexes. I'm sure I'll get hate mail for including 'Die Hard' on this list and not 'Lethal Weapon,' but I'm sticking to my guns that 'Die Hard' and the series that followed is far superior to the 'Lethal Weapon' films. From 'The Animaniacs' and 'Duke Nukem' to 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' (which coincidentally has a fantastically inappropriate Christmas special of its own) and ''Hot Fuzz',' 'Die Hard' has a much larger pop culture presence than 'Lethal Weapon.' 'Love Actually' Truth be told, I'm a sucker for good films that portray romance in an honest, unsweetened, light manner. Fitting that criteria, 'Love Actually' is one of my very favorites. It's a British ensemble piece that genuinely focuses on the best part of the holidays – no, not the presents – but the mass amounts of love. 'Love Actually' gives nine (maybe more) examples of love, different aspects of the one characteristic that is emphasized and magnified during the month of December. There's "new love" in the Colin Firth storyline, a love that develops between two people that don't even speak the same language; "lost love" in the Keira Knightley/Andrew Lincoln storyline where she is married to another man and he never had to opportunity to express his feelings for her; "first love" between a fragile kid whose mother just passed away and his cute American classmate that's moving back to the States; "unconditional love" in the Laura Linney storyline when she tosses aside the man of her dreams to take care of her mentally ill brother; "innocent love" as Martin Freeman falls for his new assistant lighting designer on the adult film set they work on (despite working for a dirty industry, the two are completely shy, innocent, and untarnished by their work); "forbidden romantic love" between prime minister Hugh Grant and his new intern; "undying love" as Liam Neeson tries letting go and readjusting after his wife's untimely passing; "hardcore devoted love" as Emma Thompson secretly suspects husband Alan Rickman of cheating on her with a younger woman; and typical lust ("physical love") as a twenty-something heads to the States to see how much American tail he can wrangle with his British accent. Did I miss any? 'Love Actually' runs a lengthy 135 minutes, but it flies right by. Rumors say that Richard Curtis' original and unreleased director's cut ran 210 minutes, but considering how fine a film it is, I'd love to see that cut – that is, if it exists. 'The Ice Harvest' 'The Ice Harvest' is a dark and gritty retro "film noir" heist flick set during Christmas and starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton, easily the best Harold Ramis film since 'Groundhog Day.' Cusack, a crooked lawyer, and his partner in crime Thornton, a sleazy strip club owner, just stole $2 million in cash. The only thing keeping them from freedom is the raging ice storm and their malicious suspicions of one another. Keeping 'The Ice Harvest' true to form is spider-woman Connie Nielson getting involved in their mess. Just like 'Love Actually' and 'Die Hard,' make sure the kids aren't around for this one. It's filled with debauchery, strippers, violence, loads of language, and a fantastic performance from Oliver Platt. Why not ring in the holiday with a good old fashioned vulgar heist movie? 'Batman Returns' Believe it or not, this is my favorite of the '80s/'90s 'Batman' movies. Schumacher's films were too silly and Tim Burton's first 'Batman' didn't have a solid tone. I give the Christmas theme of 'Batman Returns' all the credit for creating the unifying tone that carries through the film. The Penguin's evil plan not only threatens children across Gotham, but also Christmas itself. What an odd choice it was for Warner Bros. to release 'Batman Returns' more than six months prior to Christmas. I love the opening attack on Gotham during their celebratory lighting of the city Christmas tree. I love the soundstage sets used for creating the snow covered streets of Gotham. And as corny as it may seem, I love seeing The Penguin's soldier penguins and their run-down zoo hideout. It's quite unique seeing a comic book movie take place during the most festive holiday season. I could have done entirely without the whole Catwoman subplot because Danny DeVito's Penguin storyline is more than hearty enough to have carried the whole film. Truthfully, it's the best thing he's done since 'Taxi' and the only thing he's done since then that has been better is his role as Frank Reynolds on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.' None of the Burton / Schumacher 'Batman' films hold a candle to the route Christopher Nolan has followed, but I'd put 'Batman Returns' up against any of the other old 'Batman' films any day. 'Rare Exports' Everything you've thought about Santa Clause up until now is a lie. When a wealthy scientist orders his men to excavate a mountain in Finland rumored to be the residence of Father Christmas, all hell breaks loose – literally. A village of reindeer herders find their stock slaughtered and children start disappearing, so they take it up with the excavators. Turns out the lore of Santa Clause isn't holly and jolly. The man known as Father Christmas is a demonic eater of children who has been confined to the center of the mountain for a very important reason – to stop him from paying your children a visit in the night. Once again unleashed to bring hell on Earth, the reindeer herders must fight against the scientist's soldiers to send the bastard back to hell. Sounds uplifting, right? 'Rare Exports' is daring and playful at times, a completely unprecedented take on lore of Santa Clause. You'll not only want to hide your kids from Santa, but keep them safe from viewing any of this film. Seeing full frontal nudity of old Saint Nick and his sugar plums isn't exactly the best way for your kids to get in the holiday spirit. 'Edward Scissorhands' This is one of the very first films I became obsessed with in my youth. Consider I wasn't even a teenager yet, that's quite odd. But it's always remained one of my very favorite Tim Burton movies. Even though Johnny Depp was 27 at the time, he looks very young. Perhaps it's the fact that he's an ageless creation from a brilliant somewhat-mad scientist. When his creator (Vincent Price) dies, Edward is left all alone in the empty rotted-out shell of a mansion. He's lacking one last part to make him complete – hands. With no chance of ever being complete, Edward learns to function with his make-shift supposed-to-be temporary hands, a set of scissor blades. It's never revealed how long Edward remains trapped in solitude, but it isn't until an Avon lady ventures up to the front door that Edward dares to step out into the real world. While trying to integrate himself into normal society, he experiences first love with the Avon lady's daughter (Winona Ryder). The final act of the film is set during the holiday season. Although not comprised of any classics, Danny Elfman's original score is perfect for Christmas listening. It's beautiful, iconic and memorable – as is the film. And we can't forget that it ultimately answers the question, "Where does snow come from?" 'Just Friends' I'm expecting floods of bashing and negative comments for selecting this film for my list, but I once again stand by my decision. I thought it only fair that a rom-com make the list and, honestly, I find 'Just Friends' hilarious. 'Just Friends' came out right around Ryan Reynolds' peak. Luckily, Dane Cook's quick 15 minutes of fame burned us all out really fast around this same time. Had it not, I fear Reynolds' flame would have already been extinguished by now. Reynolds plays a record executive who's sole duty is to get a Britney Spears-esque pop star (Anna Faris) back on track with her career, so he accompanies her to a Paris retreat. When their private jet breaks down mid-flight and they're forced to land in the small town Reynolds grew up in, they have no other option but to spend the holiday with his family. While in town, he's confronted with the overweight past that he ran away from – including his cute high school best friend and secret crush (Amy Smart). Although 'Just Friends' suffers from the expected cliches of the genre, it's humor is what makes it worth watching. Reynolds is great, but the supporting cast is what keeps it fresh. Reynolds' mom is played like the air-head mom in 'Better Off Dead' (don't worry, it too made the list). Played by Chris Marquette, his mouthy brother is a constant source of laughs. Chris Klein plays another now-cute nerd from high school also trying to win over Smart. But the best of them all is Faris. Her ding-bat blonde pop star portrayal is perfect. She's sassy, nutty and possibly crazy. Had 'Just Friends' featured any other cast, it wouldn't be as worthy a film as it is. 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' I'll never forget the press screening for 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' because it was also a promotional screening with only three couples in the general audience. Obviously, they had no clue what they were about to see because we press watched as they each of the three couples shuffled out over the first 45 minutes of the show. By the time the credits rolled and lights were raised, there was nothing but press members hanging around with faces sore from smiling and laughing so hard. After tripping an alarm during a failed robbery, Robert Downey Jr. sprints through downtown Los Angeles with the cops hot on his trail. In a last-ditch effort to get away, he ducks out into a movie audition and pretends to conduct a screen test. The casting agents like what they see, so he gets the role but is forced to follow around a private detective (Val Kilmer) to get a feel for his character. While following an investigation, the two get wrapped up in a deep and dangerous murder case. Hilarity and the gorgeous Michelle Monahan ensue. This is the role that began Robert Downey Jr.'s triumphant comeback. Prior to this, Val Kilmer had already fallen victim to terrible direct-to-DVD roles, which is also where he's remained since, but it fantastic to see him back at the top of his game even if it was for just one film. If you haven't see 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' and you don't mind a film set during the holidays that's chock full of foul language, then this is a must-see. It will leave you anticipating the next 'Iron Man' movie because it will reunite Downey Jr. with 'Kiss Kiss' writer/director Shane Black. 'Better Off Dead' While this movie has always been a Hickman Family classic, it has never been a Hickman Holiday Movie. 'Better Off Dead' is already considered a cult classic, but I'm branding it a cult Christmas classic. As a kid, I remember seeing John Cusack in more movies than any other actors. My mother hosted day care for a couple kids whose parents owned a small video store, so they "rented" us VCRs and movies for free almost every weekend. 'Better Off Dead' and 'One Crazy Summer' were two frequent repeat rentals. We also had an edited copy of 'Stand By Me' that we recorded off television and watched time and time again. To this day, whenever the Hickman boys gather for joint family Christmases, it's a sure thing that at least one of us is going to squish our own cheeks together and say an elongated version of "Christmas," mimicking the crazy neighbor's mom trying to teach English to the French foreign exchange student. And just as the first brother does it, we all simultaneously begin to quote it along with him. There are far too many memorable moments in 'Better Off Dead' to mention them all, but here are a few: the way the Asian racers say the name "Lane Meyer" over their loud speaker,"Two dollars," "This mountain is pure snow! Do you have any idea what the street value of this mountain is," Lane's pervy genius little brother, the gross neighbor Ricky, and so on. I could go on forever, but I'm pretty sure you're well aware of how great 'Better Off Dead' is. Anyway, that's my Non-traditional Must-Watch Christmas Movie List. What's yours? Please share your unusual holiday picks in the forum.Posted Wed Nov 30, 2011 at 02:25 PM PST by: -
HDD Study Hall: Martin Scorseseby Luke Hickman Without question, Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. Although his achievements may not be measured through his count of Academy Awards, he is still revered as one of the finest cinematic storytellers around. His credits are interesting to read through because he does so much more than the average filmmaker. As well as writing and/or directing some of the most iconic films in history, he has produced, edited, acted in, and advised even more. Scorsese entered the Hollywood scene with peers like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola. Together, they were known as the "Film School Generation," (though Spielberg was actually a dropout) contributing highly to the "New Hollywood Movement" also known as the "American New Wave." These four stormed into Hollywood and quickly made their mark. Along with other filmmakers characterized in the New Hollywood Movement, they brought artistic integrity back into mainstream cinema and changed the way the game was played. Mind you, at the time, they were four of the first new American filmmakers in a long time to make names for themselves. Although he hit the ground directing, writing, and producing, Scorsese quickly dropped the latter two and focused his efforts in directing. During this phase, he made 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore,' 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull,' just to name a few. Along the way he began making documentaries, short films, contributing to television series, and even tryig his hand at music videos. In 1990, Scorsese began writing again, and from there he began branching out in many different directions. [teaser]Instead of going through the list and revisiting five of his past credits, this edition of the HDD Study Hall will begin by taking a look at his life and many achievements and wrap up with a list of five Scorsese documentaries that many of us probably have not seen.[/teaser] Let's kick this thing off with a little game I like to call ... Did you know ... ? Did you know that Scorsese edited the 1970 'Woodstock' documentary? That's right. Click here to read Roger Ebert's brilliant write-up from Feb. 15, 1970 about how more than 120 hours of footage from the epic concert were filmed, compiled and condensed into a single Oscar-winning documentary. From shooting, to editing, to injuries, to helicopters and hippies - it's insane what went into making the historic film. Did you know that Scorsese has directed 17 different actors to Oscar-nominated performances. Have you ever seen a bad actor give a fantastic performance? Whenever this rarity occurs, it is typically due to a strong director actually tweaking a solid performance out of his star. I'm not saying that Scorsese casts terrible actors in his films, but he knows how to mold an actor's performance to get what he wants. The number of acting nominations to come from his films speaks for itself. Of the 17 nominations, five went on to win the Oscar. Did you know that Scorsese directed the music video for Michael Jackson's "Bad?" Fan of Michael Jackson or not, if you were watching music videos in the late '80s, you certainly remember seeing the video for "Bad" quite a bit. Well, Scorsese was the man behind the camera. On Michael Jackson's music video compilation DVD, the full "Bad" video runs at 17 minutes. However, the televised version you're probably familiar with was shortened to just a few minutes. Did you know that "Marty" is an avid proponent of film preservation and restoration? In his new film 'Hugo,' he integrates his strong belief in these programs via the story's third act. In 1990, Scorsese created The Film Foundation, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to protect, preserve and restore films. For those of us who love Blu-rays with pristine transfers and clean prints, this is an organization to donate to. With Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, George Lucas, Robert Redford, Steven Spilberg, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Curtis Hanson, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee, and Alexander Payne all working on the Board of Directors, this is one amazing organization that Scorsese has put together. Hopefully, they'll begin putting their restored movies on Blu-ray some time soon. Did you know that it wasn't until his fourth Best Picture and Best Director nominations that he finally earned those two coveted Oscars? In 1980, 'Raging Bull' lost to Robert Redford's 'Ordinary People.' In 1990, 'Goodfellas' lost to Kevin Costner's 'Dances with Wolves.' And in 2004, 'The Aviator' lost to Clint Eastwood's 'Million Dollar Baby.' It wasn't until 2006 that he finally won both awards for 'The Departed,' beating out 'Babel,' 'Little Miss Sunshine,' 'Letters from Iwo Jima' and 'The Queen' for Best Picture, and Clint Eastwood ('Letters from Iwo Jima'), Stephen Frears ('The Queen'), Paul Greengrass ('United 93') and Alejandro González Iñárritu ('Babel') for Best Director. Did you know that Scorsese serves as the executive producer of 'Boardwalk Empire?' He even directed and won an Emmy Award for the self-titled pilot episode. I haven't seen a second of this series, but now that I know this, I'm going to have to play catch-up. 5 Presumably Promising Scorsese Documentaries 'George Harrison: Living in the Material World' Directed and produced by Scorsese, this new film premiered at the this year's Telluride Film Festival where it received fantastic reviews. The positive reviews boast about the film's intimate study of The Beatle's personal life. To achieve this deeply personal level, the film is full of new interviews and archival footage with the folks that Harrison surrounded himself with - Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Yoko Ono and Tom Petty. The only thing that the positive and negative reviews hold in common is the complaint that 'Living in a Material World' runs a too long. With a three and a half hour runtime, it's no wonder. Still not available on video, unless you caught it at a festival or saw it on BBC, you - like me - might have to wait a while to see this. 'My Voyage to Italy' This 1999 film premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Much like 'George Harrison,' 'My Voyage to Italy' also features an extremely long runtime - 246 minutes. In it, Scorsese takes you on a journey through the Italian films that inspired and molded him the most. He introduces us to his family, takes us to his home, shows long clips from his very favorite Italian films that he grew up watching and explains the personal and social context to their importance. Many reviews cite specific moments within the film where Scorsese's voice-over reveals the tears that these clips bring to his eyes. These are films that literally move him and he openly dissects them and shares him intimate experiences about them. We all have films that we're passionate about, it sounds pretty amazing to have Scorsese share four hours of them with us. 'A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies' Yet another four-hour film, 'A Personal Journey' is much like 'My Voyage to Italy,' only with American films. The interesting thing about this film is Scorsese begins at the dawn of cinematic history and ends in 1969, the year that Scorsese began making films. Apparently, he says, "I wouldn't feel right commenting on myself or my contemporaries." These are the American films that inspired him to become a filmmaker. Unlike 'My Voyage to Italy,' 'A Personal Journey' features clips of front profile "confessional" style interviews with Scorsese explaining his connection to the films and their social relevance. As the clips roll, Scorsese also lends a voice-over narration. There's nothing cooler than watching someone knowledgeable explaining their deep passion. That's the reason this documentary made the list. 'No Direction Home: Bob Dylan' The majority of Scorsese's documentaries revolve around music. 'No Direction Home' focuses on Bob Dylan's odd transformation over five years of his career. Through archival footage and modern interviews, 'No Direction Home' shows you how he went from struggling young folk artist to a lyrically vocal protester. Once again, this is another near 4-hour documentary that features one genius artist (Scorsese) fleshing out another (Dylan) through the creative medium that he's mastered. 'Public Speaking' Of the five Scorsese documentaries that peaked my interest, this is the only one with a standard runtime - 84 minutes. HBO debuted this documentary last November. It dives into the personal and professional life of Fran Lebowitz, a well known satirical writer. She worked as a columnist under Andy Warhol and soon thereafter began publishing compilations of her works. In the early days of the 'Late Night with David Letterman,' she was a recurring guest. She's also popped up as a returning judge on 'Law & Order.' The purpose of 'Public Speaking' is to show her unique opinions on modern day living the New York city culture and lifestyle of which she has become a major figure.Posted Wed Nov 30, 2011 at 01:25 PM PST by:
