Phantom Of The Paradise Blu-ray Short Review

5 stars for this beautifully converted rock opera.

Originally released in 1974, Phantom Of The Paradise is written and directed by Brian De Palma  (Scarface, Mission: Impossible) and is a interesting rock fusion of The Phantom Of The Opera, a 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux and The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

When unknown composer Winslow Leach (William Finley - Eaten Alive, The Black Dahlia) performs his Cantata about Faust for renowned record producer Swan (Paul Williams - Ishtar, The Muppet Movie), little does he realize that Swan wants the piece for himself to use for opening of his new rock club, The Paradise.

Winslow is secretly besotted with Phoenix (Jessica Harper - Suspiria, Minority Report), whom he met at the auditions for the chorus-line to perform his piece and wants recognition for his work.

See what we thought of this great film over at Road Rash Reviews.

One Chance DVD and Blu-ray Short Review

4 stars for this fascinating insight into the life of a reality TV star.

One Chance is directed by David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me) and written by Justin Zackham (The Bucket List, The Big Wedding).

This charming and funny British film tells the story of Paul Potts (James Corden - The History Boys, Gavin and Stacey), the winner of the first series of Britain's Got Talent in 2007.

Paul grew up in Port Talbot , the son of a steel worker and spent his formative years being relentlessly chased by bullies, both for his size and for his love of opera. This is fairly quickly dealt with, glossed over even and we fast forward to 2004.

While his mother (Julie Walters - Mama Mia!, Harry Potter series) is very supportive of his intended career, his father (Colm Meaney - Con Air, Layer Cake) is not so keen, feeling that he should find himself a proper job at the local steelworks.

Read the rest of the review over at Road Rash Reviews.

Cosplayers UK--the Movie DVD Short Review

3 Star Cosplay London Style.

Cosplay, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character. The MCM Expo Group are organizers of the London MCM Expo. It was founded by Paul Miley and Brian Cooney in 2001. It takes place over 3 days and has attendees of over 60,000 people, who are encouraged to take part in Cosplay. One of the most popular parts of the MCM Expo, to show devotion to their favorite characters, as well as take photos, meet new people, and take part in an international competition. This is the first feature documentary about the UK cos-play scene. The movie followed a small selection of talented cos-players as they took part in May 2011 MCM Expo and showcased their costumes in the Masquerade. (Ed Hartwell)
Filmed at the MCM Expo 2011 and concentrates on the Cosplay of the Masquerade where players have made there own costumes and present them on stage at the Masquerade where they can go on to win the UK part of a much bigger competition.

 For the Full Review Please Click Road Rash Review

Available to Buy on DVD Now

Magi-The Labyrinth of Magic Series1 Part1 Short Review

4 Stars for the Magi in Need of friends.

This series is set around the premise of the old tales of the Arabian Nights.
The series is charming and very well animated with beautiful backdrops and great fight sequences but this is another one of those anime series that I think the BBFC misunderstand.

This has a classification of 12 but through the whole series there are visual references to prostitution, slavery, mindless cruelty, domestic violence, nudity and breast fetish (male or female).
Do not get me wrong, this is a great series and I highly recommend it, just be aware of the cultural differences in classification.
Aladdin is a young boy, (around 13) who has lived his life locked away in seclusion, his only company is a giant blue person called Ugo, who tells Aladdin that he can grant him one wish.
Ugo grants him his wish and he is freed from his imprisonment and he takes his naivety out into the world of sun and cruelty.
Now carrying a metal flute with a strange 8 pointed star upon it, hung around his neck, he finds a cart full of lush fruit and he starts to feed his hunger.
This ruins all of Alibaba’s hard work, as he works for the local Lord Jamil to supply the house hold with goods for his parties.
Scolded for his troubles Aladdin and Alibaba are thrown together much to the annoyance of Alibaba who has dreams of becoming a Dungeon Capturer, as this would bestow him with great wealth.

For the Full Review Please Click Road Rash Reviews

Available to Buy on DVD and Blu-ray From 24th Feb.

One Piece Collection 5 DVD Short Review

4 stars for the continued adventures of the Going Merry and her crew.

One Piece Collection 5 is set during the Alabasta Saga, episodes 104 to 130 and is in fact the conclusion of this particular story arc.

It follows directly from the events of Collection 4 and sees our heroes The Straw Hat Pirates - Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, Sanji and Chopper, having finally reached their goal to bring Princess Vivi safely to her home, the Kingdom of Alabasta.

After three years without rain, the Kingdom is in uproar and on the brink of civil war. Vivi is desperate to prevent any bloodshed and will try anything to stop the war, however there are outside forces at work who would love to stop her from meeting with the rebel leader Koza and see the Kingdom destroyed.

The Straw Hat Pirates soon realize that the stakes are even higher than they thought. The leader of Baroque Works, Mr O. is in fact Crocodile, one of the seven warlords of the sea, whose plan all along has been to destroy Alabasta and turn it into his own Utopia.

Read the rest of the review over at Road Rash Reviews

Fairy Tail Part 6 Short Review

4 Stars as the team come to the crunch.

This fun anime takes off from episode #61 going through to #72 (See Fairy Tail Part 5).

The gang are hard on the the heels of the 6 who form the Oracion Seis, sworn to turn those of the light to the dark with the use of Nirvana, the giant walking city.
Nirvana is headed for the distant wizard Guild of the Cait Shelter and those who had the power to hide Nirvana for hundreds of years.
That is why the Oracion Seis are set wiping them out first.


But the Guild Alliance are hot on their heels as they fight through the ruined city. We are in the middle of the confrontation between Cobra and our Fairy Tail Hero Natsu as Happy keeps him aloft, as the motion of the city makes him sick.

Cobra dodges the Dragon Wizards moves which frustrates Natsu and Happy.
As they argue with each other he empties his mind as it is filled with rage, he lands a punch. Cobra can read minds and knows every move that he is about to face before it has been thrown. Natsu has trouble keeping his mind blank so the battle goes badly for him. Until he comes up with his own unique solution to the mind-reader.

For Full Review Please Click Road Rash Reviews

Available to Buy on DVD and Blu-ray From 24th Feb.

Sword Art Online Part 3 Short Review

5 Stars as Kirito searches for his Love.
 
It has been 2 years and 2 months since Kazuto adorned  his Nerve Gear and told it to load and join the VRMMORPG of Sword Art Online.

Please watch or read the reviews for Parts 1 and 2 before reading this, as it may spoil the story so far.

This continues the great saga of Kazuto (Kirito) and Asuna as SAO comes to the end of its arc and ALO (Alfheim Online) takes over, with new abilities for the online players.

With great story and lovely animation this story keeps you gripped and slavering for more.
After his revival Kazuto gave the authorities all the information he could about Heathcliff and they gave him the information he yearned for, the location of his love, Asuna.

Whilst visiting Asuna he is interrupted by Asuna’s father and his associate Nobuyuki Sugou. Her father is always happy to see Kazuto, and at first Sugou is impressed to meet the famous player that defeated SAO.
Kazuto is shocked when Sugou reveals his intentions to be indoctrinated into Asuna’s family, effectively marrying Asuna. The ceremony is in 0ne week at the hospital and when alone, Sugou tells Kazuto that he is not to visit Asuna again except to see the ceremony, as it is his right to have Asuna since it is his company (RETCO Progress Inc) that has been keeping Asuna alive since the bankruptcy of Argus.

For the Full Review Please Click Road Rash Reviews

Available to Buy on DVD and Blu-ray on the 24th Feb.