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Monday, February 08, 2010 - 4:00 PM
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Blu-ray Review)
 DVD Bits would like to warmly welcome our newest reviewer, Susan Mills, to the fray! We hope this is the first of many reviews she'll write for the 'Bits - DVD Bits.com
Do you have a golden ticket? I do! Find out if the Blu-ray release of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is worth your lolly money.
You can find out in my first review here.
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Monday, February 08, 2010 - 3:17 PM
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Three Blind Mice (DVD Review)
 Presented as part of Oz Movie Month.
Actor Matthew Newton assembles a very impressive local cast for his second film as writer and director, Three Blind Mice. A loosely structured, but very confidently handled character piece, this tale of three very different sailors on a night out in Sydney is funny, tense and exceptionally well-acted.
Featuring such diverse talents as Ewen Leslie, Gracie Otto (not to mention her father, Barry), Jacki Weaver and the late Charles "Bud" Tingwell, this is a very fine piece of contemporary Australian cinema.
For an unpredicatable night of Sydney shore leave, click here.
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Monday, February 08, 2010 - 9:39 AM
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The Cove (DVD Review)
 Some 23,000 dolphins are killed annually in Japan, their meat shipped to supermarkets or distributed to local children as part of their school lunches. Many more are captured for sale to seaquariums and captive dolphin shows. Activist Ric O'Barry, the former dolphin handler on the popular TV series Flipper, now dedicates his life to ending the wholesale slaughter of dolphins in Japan. Having smuggled in a team of scientists, divers, photographers and activists to the infamous fishing village of Taiji, he remains determined to exposing the truth on this billion dollar global industry.
Part spy thriller, part ecological disaster piece, this excellent documentary will continue to enlighten, anger and confront audiences for many years to come. Take a dive with these extraordinary creatures by clicking here.
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Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 12:36 PM
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Fight Science and Fight Masters (DVD Review)
 Fight Science and Fight Masters are a pair of programmes made for the National Geographic Channel which attempt to explore the effects of fighting on the human body.
Full of notable fighting figures such as Dan Inosanto, Randy Coture and Rickson Gracie, this is an interesting premise for a science programme, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
To learn how to deliver an ear-clap in the name of science, click here.
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 9:08 AM
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The September Issue (DVD Review)
 If you have read or seen The Devil Wears Prada, you will know that the world of fashion can be a bitch. Or led by one.
This documentary takes a fly-on-the-wall approach to the making of a fashion magazine. Each September, the US Vogue puts out its biggest issue of the year and September 2007 was a record-holder at 840 pages. Director R.J Cutler gives us an idea of what kind of personalities it takes to put together this annual tome.
Strap on your glad rags and take a look at my review here.
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 8:05 PM
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TNA Wrestling 50 Greatest Moments (DVD Review)
 Muscles, oil, blood and bashing: all this and more in TNA 50 Greatest Moments.
A collection of the best bits of the last 4 years of WWE's only national TV competitor. If you want to put your brain on hold and let it rest, this is what you want. If you want to catch up on a franchise you're not up to speed on, check it. There's no Randy The Ram, because these boys are genuine wrestling stars.
To get suplexed onto a bloody mat, click here.
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Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 1:05 PM
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Somers Town (DVD Review)
 Two teenage boys - one a migrant, the other a runaway - form a chance friendship in the London suburb of Somers Town. But can their friendship overcome their mutual attraction to a pretty French waitress?
From Shane Meadows, director of This is England, comes this low-key, but very likable character study. Running just a smidge over an hour, it certainly doesn't outstay its welcome.
To hop on board the Eurostar to London, click here.
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Monday, February 01, 2010 - 9:00 PM
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Dead Snow (DVD Review)
 Most of us rather naively assumed that with the suicide of Hitler and the subsequent surrender of German forces the Nazi threat was well and truly done with, consigned to the annals of history, and the History Channel. Not so!
Turns out the members of an elite SS death squad have been ensconced in the mountains of Norway these last 65 years or so, hidden away with oodles of pilfered loot. Not only that, but they’ve become zombiefied and rather cantankerous. Not to mention hungry for human flesh.
Does it make sense? No. Is it entertaining? Of course! Get a liberal smattering of Nazi bloodlust right here.
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Monday, February 01, 2010 - 1:59 PM
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Johnny Bravo - Season 2 (DVD Review)
 The cartoon world’s brawniest, most likable and most self-obsessed nitwit is back, without having learned a single thing from his past misadventures and more than willing to repeat the same mistakes. Over and over again.
Released months ahead of the R1 edition and with a runtime of over eight hours, Season Two of Johnny Bravo features the irascible and thoroughly misguided buffoon doing what he does best; failing at almost everything, getting rejected by an endless stream of women, and admiring his sizable biceps.
Join the tomfoolery, and perhaps feel a little bit smug that the Yanks don’t even have Season One on DVD yet, by clicking here.
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Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 11:12 AM
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The Bold, The Brave and The Best of Australian Animated Shorts (DVD Review)
 Presented as part of Oz Movie Month.
As we progress through Oz Movie Month, here's a look at some of the most impressive home-grown animation of the past thirty-plus years. This two disc set includes early works from Adam Elliot and Sarah Watt, along with Bruce Petty's 1977 Oscar winner Leisure, a dash of Leunig, and a couple of appearnces from Life: Be In It mascot Norm!
For any fan of Australian film, or animation in general, The Bold, The Brave and The Best of Australian Animated Shorts is essential viewing.
You can check out my full review here.
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 1:49 PM
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Breaker Morant (DVD Review/Essay)
 Presented as part of Oz Movie Month.
Breaker Morant is a watershed in the career of director Bruce Beresford and the revival of the Australian film industry. The recent death of one of its stars, Edward Woodward, has brought this back to the attention of many, although few films in Australian cinema have been accorded the universally high standing of Breaker Morant.
This is not strictly a DVD review, nor is it simply a tribute to Edward Woodward. It’s just Oz Movie Month to commemorate a fine Australian film. Hopefully you will find much to think about in my essay, found right here.
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - 9:54 AM
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Bangkok Dangerous (DVD Review)
 Nic Cage is wigged up and ready for action in his latest action blockbuster, Bangkok Dangerous, starring as a lone wolf assassin who lives by a rigid code of honour. All that goes out the window, however, the minute he meets a sweet Thai gal who reminds him of all the love he’s left behind.
Does the wizened killer have a heart after all? Or will he literally stick to his guns and do what it takes to complete his final assignment?
Click here to find out.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 9:06 AM
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Happy Australia Day from the DVD Bits Team...and your chance to win!
 The staff at DVDBits would like to extend a Happy Australia Day to all of our Aussie readers. It's a very special Australia Day this year, as it comes with the launch of our Oz Movie Month. Plus we are giving you the chance to win DVDs!
Make sure you do something intrinsically Aussie, like throwing some sangers (or if you are vege-inclined, some soy-based products) on the barbie; watch something with Jack Thompson or Bill Hunter in it or in the finest tradition of all Australians, just do nothing at all and collapse in front of the telly with a series of cold cans. We want to see you all back here in one piece after the break.
For your chance to win one of two copies of The Rolf de Heer Collection (courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment) just... Click here to read More....
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Monday, January 25, 2010 - 2:36 PM
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The Prime Minister is Missing (DVD Review)
 Presented as part of Oz Movie Month.
On a hot December day in 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt took a swim at the beach at Portsea. He was never seen again. In the fallout from his disappearance, Country Party leader John McEwen took over as caretaker Prime Minister, as Holt's Liberal Party attempted to name a new leader. What took place within the Coalition government both before and after his disappearance is explored in the ABC documentary The Prime Minister is Missing.
An engrossing look at the behind the scenes political machinations of the 1960s, this is a valuable history lesson and an excellent documentary in its own right.
You can check out my full review here.
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Monday, January 25, 2010 - 10:43 AM
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Balibo (Blu-ray Review)
 Presented as part of Oz Movie Month.
On 16 October 1975, five journalists stationed in Portuguese Timor were killed, reportedly by militia prior to the Indonesia invasion of the area. The Australian government turned a blind-eye to these happenings at the time.
This powerful film tells the story of Roger East, the journalist who investigated the initial disappearance of the 'Balibo Five', and his unlikely relationship with future East Timorese leader Jose Ramos-Horta.
A superior film that we are using to kick off Oz Movie Month - a time to highlight those gems of Australian cinema. Read my full review here.
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Friday, January 22, 2010 - 9:19 AM
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G-Force (DVD Review)
 Not to be confused with the Battle of Planets, or the measure of the apparent acceleration acting on a body measured in multiples of the sea level acceleration due to gravity on Earth, this G-Force is about a crack team of guinea pigs trained to be special agents.
As ridiculous as this may sound, it comes to us from the blockbuster powerhouses of Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney and features an all-star cast including Steve Buscemi, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy (but he's in everything anyway), Penelope Cruz, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Zach Galifianakis, Will Arnett and Tracy Morgan.
Find out if little is the new big here.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 8:19 PM
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Empires: Peter & Paul and the Christian Revolution (DVD Review)
 Kids, let me tell you about a so-called "wicked" guy. He had long hair and some wild ideas. He didn't always do what other people thought was right. And that man's name was... I forget. But the point is... I forget that, too.
Continuing the theme of the Empires series, which centres on the lives of people and passions that changed the world throughout history, Peter and Paul and the Christian Revolution shows how the movement referred to as The Way by its followers became the foundation of what today is the Christian movement.
Check out my review here.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 1:18 PM
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TNA Lockdown: Six Sides of Steel (DVD Review)
 Last April, the folk of Total Non-stop Action Wrestling came to Philadelphia for three hours of steel cage brawling. Alongside old pros such as Mick Foley, Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett, this event includes such refined chaps as Abyss, Consequences Creed, and Samoan Joe. The womenfolk also get a gurnsey in the ample forms of Awesome Kong, OBD, Sojo Bolt and Taylor Wilde.
If any of the above makes sense to you, then you might be interested in TNA Lockdown: Six Sides of Steel, which is practically bursting at the seams with DDTs, fake punches, heinous mullets and smashed tables.
Take a journey to Killadelphia here.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 1:09 PM
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Robot Chicken - Season 4 (DVD Review)
 If you have ever played with your toys in an unconventional manner, then Robot Chicken is the show for you!
Inspired by the Twisted Mego Theatre/Twisted ToyFare Theatre, the sketch-based show thrives on taking classic toys and real-world characters and putting them in alternatively bizarre and mundane situations. Do you ever wonder who built that giant boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark? Robot Chicken has too.
Now in its fourth season, it is possible that the show is running out of toys to play with. Find out what's left in the toy-box here.
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