Movie Info:
Writers: Tracey Jackson, Tim Firth
Director: P.J. Hogan
Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Fred Armisen, Leslie Bibb, Robert Stanton, Julie Hagerty
Rating: PG
Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: February 13, 2009
DVD Release Date: Jun. 23, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99

“You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that’s what it’s like when I see a store. Only it’s better.” – Rebecca Bloomwood

I’m the type of guy who isn’t into romantic anything. I don’t like the romantic comedies. I’m more the rough and rugged type. Give me an action packed, thriller movie and I’m content. Occasionally, I will watch something funny for what I like to call ’shits n giggles’. Well, that’s pretty much why I decided to review Confessions of a Shopaholic. It seemed funny enough for me to watch it with the girlfriend without being bored to tears or annoyed enough to watch to the point where I want to stab my eyes out with sporks.

The trailer for Confessions of a Shopaholic captures many of the funniest scenes. Luckily, they aren’t the only funny scenes in the movie, Otherwise, I would have been terribly disappointed. I’m not going to say I loved this film, because that would be a lie. This movie has romantic cliches and plenty of cheesiness; the kinds of things that make me shy away from reviewing movies deemed romantic comedies. But, the funny moments are interspersed enough throughout the movie to engage and entertain even those guys like me who won’t stomach another Cameron Diaz movie, even if the girlfriend begged (luckily, mine detests Cameron Diaz, but that’s neither here nor there).

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

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Blu Ray Authoritay is proud to be giving away a copy of Confessions of a Shopaholic on Blu-ray. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
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Movie Info:
Writers: Clayton Frohman, Edward Zwick
Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, George MacKay, Allan Corduner, Mark Feuerstein, Tomas Arana, Jodhi May, Kate Fahy
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 16, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

In Hollywood there are a slew of directors that stand out for the controversial and thought provoking films that they make. These are directors that can be named at the drop of the hat. They are directors like Sam Mendes, Oliver Stone, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. Then there are directors you know, by body of work, but they have a name that constantly escapes you. For me, this is Edward Zwick to a tee. Zwick has directed a few well known films, such as Blood Diamond, About Last Night, and Glory. Having seen and loved all three of these movies, I feel I know the quality of Zwick’s work much better than I know him by name.

I may not have had a clue who Zwick was, but the names of a few key cast members are names not easily forgotten. Two of the main leads are played by Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber. These two men are well known for their acting ability, so that naturally helps quite a bit. In the beginning, there was only one real problem from what I could tell. Before I received Defiance for review, I don’t recall hearing one thing about it!

After watching the movie I went ahead and looked up more details about the Bielski brothers. Come to find out, some of the story that you see in the movie is true. Granted, much of it (especially the fighting) has been trumped up to make a better picture, but the brothers’ trying to save themselves and other Jews from persecution was on the money. This makes the film more interesting than originally anticipated.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Justin Haythe
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Dylan Baker, Michael Shannon, David Harbour
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 23, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $26.99

Movies like Revolutionary Road are often in a class of their own. They are dramatic, filled with meaning, and yet sometimes painful to watch. They are interesting because everyone gets a different meaning out of them. Some people love them for the strength they offer in telling a story that few movies will tell. Others shy away from them due to their controversial nature. In any case, when the climate is right, when the director is talented and the cast is deserving of such a role, the result is next to none. It becomes incredibly hard to top these films. Revolutionary Road is at the top of this list. It is a movie that will leave you in awe with nothing to say and a whole lot to think about.

There are movies that you know you will love before you even see them. It does not matter how much you know about them. You just know they are going to be something special. The combination of Kate Winslet and any good leading man is almost always a winning combination. Movies like Finding Neverland and The Reader say all one needs to know about Ms. Winslet’s acting skills. Pairing her with Leonardo DiCaprio though, well that ensures not only success, but an electric performance that will leap from the screen and into you.

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Blu Ray Authoritay is proud to be giving away one of three copies of Direct Contact on Blu-Ray. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Jim Parrack, Todd Lowe, Deborah Ann Woll, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Carrie Preston, Michael Raymond-James, William Sanderson, Adina Porter, Kristin Bauer, Robert Amjarv, Alexander Skarsgård
Rating: Uncensored
Studio: HBO

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: 2008
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $44.99

“…Giving Jason Stackhouse Vampire Blood is like giving ho-hos to a diabetic…You know he can’t control himself…” – Tara True Blood

Like Jason Stackhouse, I have a hard time controlling myself, though my compulsive nature is a rather harmless one. You see I have a hard time controlling myself when it comes to HBO’s smash hit, True Blood. I knew that I would love this show from the first moment I saw it. I was watching HBO and a preview for True Blood came on. I knew I would end up getting hooked. When it finally aired, I ended up watching one episode and then I kept missing it. I constantly told myself I was going to watch it, but something always got in the way. Finally, that fateful day came when it showed up at my door for review.

Unlike most television series I review, I watched this entire season (12 episodes) in two days. Since then, I have vowed not to miss an episode of the new season. I plan to watch it Sunday’s when it airs because I cannot stand the thought of waiting until the next season box set comes out. However, I do look forward to reviewing it when it does and I can only hope it comes out as good as this one has. This set includes all of the episodes from Season One, a few bonuses, and it’s offered in a gorgeous quality. The box (at least for the Blu-ray) is covered with cast and episode photos, inside and out and is constructed from a heavy cardboard. It’s a better quality box than most and it’s not your typical looking clamshell case, though it is foldout, which comes in handy.

For those of you reading this that do not have cable and have little knowledge of True Blood, it is a series created by Alan Ball that was originally a series of books called the “Southern Vampire Mysteries” by Charlaine Harris. The show does a fair job at sticking to the books from what I understand, though there have been a few changes, one of which, I am very happy about for my own selfish reasons.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Christopher McQuarrie, Nathan Alexander
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I had heard quite a bit about Valkyrie while it was being made. Most of the information had to do with filming locations and Tom Cruise. Apparently, the Germans are not a big fan of Scientology, and as such, they are not a big fan of the poster boy for this pseudo-religion. While I thought that denying camp locations for filming just because of Cruise was amusing, his personal religious beliefs (and the thoughts of the Germans) had no bearing on whether or not I would see this film.

In all honesty, I had to think long and hard about seeing Valkyrie. I have problems seeing movies with actors that fail to captivate me. When I watch a Tom Cruise film, I often have to struggle to see the character. He always remains Cruise to me, and with his more erratic behavior in the past, it’s hard to watch him and not think of those moments. The actual movie gets lost because it is all about Cruise.

The one thing that convinced me to watch Valkyrie was the subject matter revolving around WWII. In my opinion, this is one of the most interesting periods in history. Even though there have been hundreds of movies filmed on the subject, when the next one is released I will probably be in line to see it. So, for me, Valkyrie was a given, even if it meant having to sit through Tom Cruise to see it.

As with most movies there are some good and bad elements to consider. The most impressive aspect is that Valkyrie is based on a true story that hasn’t been talked about much, especially in film. For people that grew up with the misconception that Germans (during this period in history) are all evil, this gives you a chance to see that some knew what the Nazis and Hitler were doing was wrong. Not all of them believed in the Final Solution, and some of those that didn’t were willing to fight for what was right.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

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Movie Info:
Writers: Various
Director: Various
Cast: JoBeth Williams, Julie Benz, Lauren Velez, Jennifer Carpenter, Keith Carradine, James Remar, Michael C Hall, David Zayas, Erik King
Rating: NR
Studio:CBS/Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release:
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $38.99

I have been watching Dexter from the beginning. Showtime has some of the best shows on television these days and I watch the majority of them. Of all the shows they have that I watch, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Dexter. He’s always been my favorite and probably always will be. There are a few things I don’t like about Dexter, but for the most part this show is one of the most innovative and entertaining shows that has hit the airwaves.

One of the things that set Dexter apart is the acting of Michael C. Hall. The character of Dexter Morgan is dynamic and spellbinding because Hall has been able to create a character that despite his flaws you want to like. Not only that, he’s a character you want to root for. Even though you know he is doing something that he shouldn’t be doing, a part of you (or at least me) wants him to succeed. If bad writing on the part of Morgan or bad acting were involved these things would not be issues. People would see him as a scumbag and they would move on. Luckily that is not the case. Instead, for many like myself, Dexter is an addiction and the audience cannot wait to see what he is going to do next.

The ensemble cast is really interesting, too. Even the characters that I don’t care for, like Deb, are multi-layered and dynamic. That being said, I will admit that my problem with Deb has nothing to do with Jennifer Carpenter, the actor behind the role. You see, Deb has this thing that is done with her mouth. I don’t know if it’s a nervous twitch or even how to describe it, but every time I watch the show and Deb is on she does the mouth thing (as I call it). It drives me crazy to the point where I can barely watch her while on screen anymore. I know, it’s neurotic and I try to ignore it, but it’s a small issue. Still, the character of Deb doesn’t annoy me as much as her mouth does.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

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Movie Info:
Writers:Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Radivoje Bukvic, Mathieu Busson, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Nicolas Giraud, Maggie Grace, Jon Gries
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 30, 2009
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I never start a movie review out this way, but…I just have to say, I loved this movie. Since watching it, I have said that to just about everyone I know. Highly recommended doesn’t cut it. Taken is a must watch film. Action buffs will enjoy it, as will thriller lovers. It has all the elements of a kickass movie and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed watching it. In fact, I might watch it again when I am done with this review.

From the first viewing of the first trailer I knew I was in this for the long haul. All it took was a small bit of dialogue courtesy of Liam Neeson and I was hooked.

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

Watching Taken gives you a cross between James Bond and Jason Bourne. While I don’t really think of Neeson as an action star, he made this performance look effortless and the movie was simply amazing. Not to sell the rest of the cast short, they also did a good job. I never felt like there was any person in this that couldn’t hold their weight. Everyone got the job done well and provided this new director with an excellent movie to put under his belt. Despite being new, if this is representative of Pierre Morel’s work, he will have a name that everyone knows soon enough.

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

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