'Mambo Cool' DVD Review

Chris Gude is an anthropologist turned film maker who brings to the screen a story of what some would consider the underbelly or seedier side of a city. Medellin is a South American city with the usual sickness and perversion that most big cities have in common. Back alleys with the usual drug deals, prostitution, murder and rape that brings together the down and out citizens who simply are trying to live Day by Day. The people survive by their wits. Some receive money from the government. There are those who rob or steel to supply their habit or their belly. Their are those who simply leave their swank apartment to buy their drugs and hope it’s what they pay for. This documentary takes a good look at what it is to live on the streets of a cultural decayed city.

Now what makes this an interesting experience is how it is all put together. David Oquendo brings a form of street music that is melancholy at best. Jose Ignacio Pardo and Felipe Loaiza brings a form of cinematography that is addictive at best. Chris Gude lived in Medellin for several years. His work to him to these same depraved streets and brought him to the point of wanting to show the world just how sad it can be. With the flick of a match Gude brings everything together very gently and actually interesting to say the least.

IndiePix Films brings this seedy story to DVD on September 11th, 2018. The quality of the DVD is excellent and fantastic. The sights and sounds are superb and beautiful. This is definitely one to see and it should be added to your personal library. Watching this film should be considered a must as we all should be aware of what goes on around us. Enjoy.

'Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In: The Complete Sixth Season' DVD Review

Dan Rowan and Dick Martin began the sixth and final season of Laugh-In on September 11th, 1972. Their final show aired March 12th, 1973 and when I was watching the show for the last time I knew TV would never be the same. The show was nothing more than remarkable. The joke wall, The Fickle Finger of Fate, Here comes the judge, where the best parts of the show. They made you laugh and laugh and laugh. We would watch the show and then talk about it the next day at school. Lily Tomlin was great as the operator. The cast and the guests cracking jokes on the joke wall would keep us laughing all the way through the week.

The final season guest list was spectacular. Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson, Dom DeLuise, Sammy Davis Jr., Phyllis Diller, John Wayne would make us laugh and enjoy comedy at its best. The cast of Ruth Buzzi, Lilly Tomlin, Arte Johnson, Gary Owens, along with Dan Rowan and Dick Martin would bring joy to our hearts especially during such troubling times. Vietnam War as well as Watergate and college protests would be the headlines of the day. The opportunity to laugh at some of those terrible things made it a little better.

New cast members would include Patti Deutsch, Jud Strunk, Willie Tyler and Sarah Kennedy and they fit in right away with the old Timers quite well. The show was groundbreaking from the get go and would never stop all along the way.

Time Life brings this final season to us on DVD on September 4th, 2018. The re-mastered final season is excellent on DVD. I mean the quality of the six DVD set is perfect. The sights and sounds are exquisite. Purely and simply this is history of TV at its best. It will make a beautiful addition to that personal library and you will always watch the show over and over again. So get this one quick and enjoy the last season of Laugh-In.

'To Auschwitz And Back: The Joe Engel Story' DVD Review

The Holocaust has to be one of the worst periods in human history. The Nazis were attempting to cleanse civilization of the unclean. The Jews were their number one on their list of unclean. Followed by Gypsies, Poles, and Russians just to name a few others. It didn’t matter what age or sex all were considered unclean.

Joe Engel is now around 90 years of age. He was born in Zakroczym, Poland in 1927. He was captured by the Nazis at the young age of 14. He would never see most of his family or friends including his parents. He would live in the Warsaw Ghetto and eventually make his way to Birkenau concentration camp. He finally ended up at Auschwitz at the young age of 17. He would be moved onto a death train headed to Germany. The transport had no roof and he escaped and hid in the snow. He would join a resistance group and fought against the Nazis. He would make it to New Orleans and later to Charleston, South Carolina. He would talk of his life as a prisoner of the Germans and the horrors of the camps.

Filmmaker Ron Small has taken Engels stories and brought them to the film. As more and more holocaust survivors are passing away The Holocaust Education Film Foundation is telling the stories of those still alive. Engel's number tattoo is fading but his stories are still as vivid as ever. This August 14th, 2018 the Holocaust Education Film Foundation brings the DVD to us. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are wonderful. The legacy of the Holocaust should never be forgotten. The horror of the period should never again be seen on the face of the Earth. This is a must for all to see. We should never forget the Holocaust.

'The Suffering Of Ninko' DVD Review

Ninko is a young Buddhist monk during the Edo period. Ninko is a very serious religious person but with one flaw. He is a very pretty young man that women just can’t keep their hands off of. Ninko is probably the most devout monk in his temple. It’s just when he goes to the nearest village to ask for alms that the village women simply want him sexually. His religion frowns on sexual activity but Ninko is basically raped. It really doesn’t get any better at his temple since their are two gay monks in his order so it’s constantly non stop harassment.

Ninko is in the forest one day when he runs into a masked woman who wants to seduce him. He is able to get away from her but it doesn’t stop there. Ninko runs into the mountains to meditate and be alone but he runs into her again. Her name is Yama-onna and she is pure evil. Ninko finds a village but most of the men have been killed. Yama-onna seduces the men but then kills them.  Ninko comes upon a ronin named Kanzo who tells Ninko he can kill Yama-onna.

Masato Tsujioka is Ninko. Miho Wakabayashi plays Yama-onna. Hideta Iwahashi is Kanzo. The three give excellent performances in this very entertaining and interesting film. It is erotica at its best and the animation is beautiful. Our story adds an intense blend of Japanese folklore and seduction to say the least. Indiepix Films brings this beautiful DVD to us August 14th, 2018. The quality of the DVD is fantastic and the sights and sounds are exquisite. This is one of those films that you will watch again and again. Norihiro Niwatsukino is making his directorial debut with this film. A festival favorite and winner of awards will be an excellent addition to your personal library and will be a joy to watch.

'Show Yourself' DVD Review

Writer/ Director Billy Ray Brewton brings us a wonderful drama/ horror film that will make us wanting more. Ben Bethcoat plays Travis, a grieving friend of a man named Paul (Clancy McCartney). Paul had committed suicide and this hit Travis very hard. Travis heads into the woods that, let’s say, he travels into the very deep woods to try and come to terms with Paul’s death. The two men use to go camping in these same woods. Travis realizes he has to come to terms with this tragic   Paul’s death has affected his relationships with people that are close to him and he understands that he must say goodbye to his old friend. What makes this s great movie is that Travis may not be alone in the woods. Travis has brought Paul’s ashes to scatter them to the wind but he knows it won’t be easy.

Let’s face it, Ben Hethcoat makes this movie work. He is in almost every scene. He is able to pull it off without a hitch. The supporting cast are pretty good themselves with Corsica Wilson, Barak Hardley, David McElwee, Stephen Cone, and Robert Longstreet. It’s a good story and it’s just not your ordinary horror story. Everyone can enjoy this film because it has what it takes to appeal to everyone’s likes.

Summer Hill Entertainment brings this film to DVD on August 14th, 2018. The quality of the DVD is superb and the sights and sounds are perfectly done. This look at grief and how it effects each and everyone of us is superb. Travis is in the middle of nowhere and is feeling terrible about the loss of his friend. It’s when he realizes that he is not alone and that what he sees he can’t explain but he also knows it’s somewhat familiar. Take the time and pick this one, because you will not regret it. You will sit back and watch it over and  over. Enjoy.

'No Offence Series 1' DVD Review

'No Offence' is a comedy/drama that leaves you wanting more. It stars Joanna Scanlan as DI Vivienne Deering a charismatic ace Detective who leads a squad of unorthodox men and women who take on the worst of Manchester’s crimes. The crimes are gruesome and unethical in nature that deal with neo-Nazis, drug dealers, and black market organ sellers just to name a few. When DCI Dinah Kowalska (Elaine Cassidy), a very strong willed individual, is able to place a body found in the morgue to a group of murdered young women who suffered from Down’s syndrome the team begin to search for a serial killer. What makes this even worse is that what they uncover will make the most seasoned police officers sick to their stomachs.

The humor is of a very dark nature. The plots of our stories are shocking to say the least. It’s just that this unorthodox approach to law enforcement makes this one great show to watch. Writer Paul Abbott comes up with another award winning drama to add to his collection. The award winning series also stars Will Mellor, Paul Ritter, Colin Salmon, and Alexandra Roach.

You really can’t get more entertaining than this and you will want more. Acorn TV brings this fabulous show to DVD on August 7th, 2018. The sights and sounds add a special touch and the quality of the DVD is fantastic. Manchester has never been seen in such a brilliant light. This is definitely one of the best to come to us in a very long time. It will make you sit back and watch the 8 episodes over and over. You also receive some featurettes that simply add to your purchase. So don’t waste any time and pick this one up and sit back and enjoy.

'Murdoch Mysteries Season 11' DVD Review

Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson)  is a new style law enforcement officer. Our stories are in the late 1890’s early 20th century and he uses the newest of forensic technology to solve his crimes. He is a dashing sort of chap who is very methodical in his approach to a crime. The series has a huge following and the mysteries are very entertaining and enjoyable.

'Murdoch Mysteries Season 11' opens with Detective Murdoch sitting in jail for murder. Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) and Detective Watts (Daniel Maslany) along with Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris) are wasting no time in trying to get him free from jail and have the charges against him dropped. Dr. Julia Ogden (Helene Joy) is of little help as she is hiding from the people who have taken over Station House No. 4.

Murdoch and his team have to solve cases that feature a wide variety of causes. For instance, poisoned wine, transportation at high speeds, anti-Semitic riots, organ transplants that go wrong, just to name a few. Along the way Murdoch will run across such celebrities like Helen Keller, Teddy Roosevelt, and Alexander Graham Bell. Along with a list of guest stars like David Hewlett, Peter Keleghan, Colin Mochrie and Tamzin Outhwaite, the cast makes this one special show to watch.
If you simply put everything together you end up with a very interesting and wonderful show to watch.

Acorn TV brings Season 11 of Murdoch Mysteries to us on DVD on July 31st, 2018. The quality of the DVD is excellent and the sights and sounds are superb. The period dress along with the new forensic technology, like finger printing, ultraviolet lighting, and trace evidence makes this one high quality piece to watch whenever you want. So don’t waste any time and pick this one up and enjoy quality TV with your favorite person or persons.