DVD Verdict is one of the internet's premiere resources for DVD reviews, information on upcoming dvd releases, DVD giveaways, and interviews with industry talent.

Founded in April 1999 by Chicago lawyer Sean McGinnis, the site drew instant acclaim for its legally themed format. Here, each film is tried by seated "Judge" who presents his or her arguments for or against the case. In the end, a Verdict is read the the film is sentenced to a creative death, punished for crimes against humanity, or set free with all charges dropped. However, as Sean's own legal career took off, he found the time available to devote to the site was rapidly diminshing. In late December 2000, Sean handed the reigns over to Oregon-based Mike Jackson, a software developer, who tore down and rebuilt the site from the ground up, and Los Angeles-based Patrick Naugle, who developed critical relationships with the studios. In February 2001, DVD Verdict was relaunched with an entirely new infrastructure and a whole new look. Reader reaction was overwhelmingly positive and the site continued its rapid growth over the next several years. In late 2003, when it appeared Mike was headed to the east coast for a new career, he returned Verdict to Chicago, placing it in the hands of Michael Stailey, a sales and marketing executive. Michael quickly legitimized Verdict by incorporating as a subsidiary of HipClick Designs LLC, an internet marketing firm. When Mike's job change fell through, the two men became business partners and have since grown DVD Verdict into the most prolific film and television criticism resource. Today, Verdict's 40 writers and editors have amassed over 10,000 reviews to the joy of more than 375,000 readers per month.


Where Verdict differentiates itself is in its content. While most DVD sites post brief reviews of the highest profile films and television series, Verdict's Judges put forth time and energy in researching and crafting critical essays, most in excess of 1,500 words. And once in a great while, the entire team joins forces on a Supreme Court Review, giving the full Verdict treatment to a highly anticipated release. The Judges themselves come from all walks of life -- professional writers, doctors, lawyers, college professors, film students, filmmakers, actors, corporate executives, and more. You won't find a more talented and more diverse staff of writers anywhere. Their passion for film and television extends beyond the obvious titles which occupy shelf space at Blockbuster and Best Buy. On Verdict, you can find reviews for foreign films, documentaries, cult classics, film noir, horror, animation, music concerts, sports and fitness, GLBT, and much more! Verdict prides itself on providing a forum for independent filmmakers to showcase their talents, by reviewing films from all over the world, some only available through the filmmakers themselves. The result is a wealth of information and insight for everyone from the casual movie fan to the hard core cinephiles.


Today, Verdict continues to grow beyond its perceived limitations. In June 2006, the site launched DVD Verdict Presents... a weekly podcast exploring the world of film, television, and video in even greater detail. From genre roundtable discussions and examination of current industry events, to interviews with actors, directors, producers, and more, the show embodies the same irreverant sense of humor and attention to detail found in its writing. And they aren't stopping there. With Verdict's 8th birthday celebration just around the corner, there are plans in progress for even more value to readers, listeners, and industry professionals alike. And it's all free of charge.

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DVD Verdict
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