Regardless of their personal opinion regarding Mel Gibson, many agree with the conclusion best illustrated by his "cameo" in South Park – that he's completely insane. Whether that makes him a good actor (it works for Jim Carrey) or not is disputable, and his performance in the mediocre
Edge of Darkness - out today on Blu-ray – is not going to help anyone decide. If only we could go back to happier,
Braveheart times.
In his
Blu-ray review of Edge of Darkness, staff reviewer Kenneth Brown commented, "Simultaneously convoluted and overly simplistic, it amounts to a solid revenge thriller that doesn't hit as hard as its filmmakers intended." Regarding the Blu-ray quality, he concluded, "While the studio's impressive AV presentation delivers most everything high definition enthusiasts have come to expect from a new theatrical release, its supplemental package is an easily exhausted letdown."
Just when you thought Hollywood had finally bled the Vampire genre dry, a movie like
Daybreakers comes along to restore your faith in the studios' ability to show the same movie twice, and take charge you a hefty fee in the process. If you don't recall seeing this movie in theaters, it's likely due to its relatively short five week run and failure to pull any significant revenue.
For the
Blu-ray review of Daybreakers, staff reviewer Justin Somner commented, "In the hands of a more experienced director with a higher budget, Daybreakers could have been a must-see addition to the expanding vampire genre." He continued, "Daybreakers quickly lost credibility as the plot holes multiplied, and eventually unraveled into a mundane ride with characters we care little about."
For those who grew up in the 80's,
The Karate Kid was one of the most memorable films of the decade. The film shows how one teenage weakling and a down-and-out maintenance man bring the best out of each other by sharing a similar interest in martial arts. While the sequel
The Karate Kid, Part II didn't age quite as well, both make their Blu-ray appearance today.
Staff reviewer Martin Liebman commented in his
Blu-ray review of The Karate Kid, "Nostalgic yes but still holding up today in every facet, The Karate Kid is classic cinema and a perfect glimpse into what a large chunk of 80s filmmaking was all about." He continues, "It's a rather drastic upgrade from previous releases and is probably the closest to the original look and sound that The Karate Kid is going to enjoy for some time."
Last, but of most historical significance, Fritz Lang's first sound film
M is being released today on Blu-ray. Featuring a breakout performance by Peter Lorre, Criterion's Blu-ray presentation is fantastic, and really shows what the high definition format can do for films of any age.
In his
Blu-ray review of M, staff reviewer Svet Atanasov commented, "This is a very special release, folks. Not only is the presentation of Fritz Lang's M exceptionally strong, but Criterion's Blu-ray release also contains a variety of terrific supplemental features."