Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo, Jordan Ladd, Barbara Nedeljakova, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart, Richard Burgi.
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 189 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Eli Roth hit the horror scene with the amazingly original “Cabin Fever” in 2002. “Hostel” was a perfect follow-up for him, even outdoing his first film. His decision to do “Hostel Part II” himself was a risky but overall turned out pretty well. Both films are also presented by Quentin Tarantino, so that always bodes well for a film. Mill Creek Entertainment has put both of these great films together in this impressive double feature. Both “Hostel & Hostel Part II” include their unrated director’s cut, which is quite a bonus. or a low-cost of less than $10 bucks, this is a must for all horror fans.

“Hostel” is a shocking and relentless film in the tradition of Saw about two American backpackers (Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson) in Europe who find themselves lured in as victims of a murder-for-profit business. “Hostel Part II” is the shocking and gruesome sequel about the underground torture ring where rich businessmen pay to torture and murder their victims.

Both “Hostel” and “Hostel Part II” look fantastic on this Blu-ray release. They are presented in there own respectively 1080p transfers and are presented in an 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Both films also come with an impressive DTS-MA 5.1 audio track. The film’s score by Nathan Barr sounds impressive throughout both films. Alas, this release is lacking in the special features department. None of the previously released features are included on this set. But like I said earlier for $10 bucks, this is still a sweet deal!

Directed by: Makoto Kamiya
Starring: Matthew Mercer, Dave Wittenberg, Courtenay Taylor, Val Tasso, Robin Sachs, Wendee Lee, Salli Saffioti
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 25, 2012

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Resident Evil: Damnation” is the CGI animated sequel to “Resident Evil: Degeneration”. I wasn’t a mega big fan of “Degeneration”. I thought they could have done much better with the “Resident Evil” franchises’ first trip to CGI animation. Well “Damnation” is the answer that “Resident Evil” fans have been looking for. It follows the continuing efforts of special agent Leon Kennedy as he tries to reveal Umbrella Corporation evil-doings.  My only issue with the film was that it was a perfect specimen for 3D.  I have no idea why Sony didn’t put this out as a 3D Blu-ray release, it would have been amazing.  Nonetheless, the film is action packed and packed with some amazing effects.

Sony’s official synopsis: “Kennedy sneaks into a small Eastern Europe country to verify rumors that Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) are being used in war. Right after his infiltration, the US government orders him to leave immediately. Determined to uncover the truth, Leon ignores the order and enters the battlefield to end the chain of tragedies caused by the B.O.W.s.”

Sony’s release delivers a combo pack including the Blu-ray of the film, as well as the Ultraviolet digital streaming version of the film. The 1080p transfer looks absolutely perfect and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.  I was literally blown away with the video presentation. But like I said this would have been 10x better it was delivered in 3D.  The audio track is also amazing packing a sharp Dolby TrueHD 5.1.  The film is major action packed and literally gave my surround sound a run for its money.

The special features are good but not amazing. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette called “The DNA of Damnation”, which dives into the production but is a little short. “Las Plagas: Organisms of War” looks into the creatures that were created in the film. There is a funny gag reel included on English version, I always love it when CGI films show their faux funny side. Lastly there is a conceptual art gallery, which is actually quite impressive since this showed the origin of where these designs started.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, John Rhys-Davies, Kate Capshaw, Cate Blanchett, Sean Connery
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 482 minutes

Raiders of the Lost Ark: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

“Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures” finally hits Blu-ray on September 18th. This collection marks the Blu-ray debut of the “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.  This is the first time they have been released in high-def and this release does not disappoint at all. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” has previously been released on Blu-ray is stunning as well, despite hatred by fans (not including myself). This collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford complies the one of the best adventure series to date.  You know that there was a lot of love and supervision for this release by director Steven Spielberg and renowned sound designer Ben Burtt.  Overall this really is a major upgrade in presentation from the last DVD release. If nothing else this release leaves you with one burning question, “Snakes—why did it have to be snakes?”.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the real star of this release for sure.  It has been meticulously restored in order to preserve the original look, sound and feel of this iconic film. They went back to the original negative scanned at 4K and reviewed frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired.  The sound delivered for this release was Burtt’s original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981.  When all was said and done this digital restoration was extremely impressive.  The other installments in the franchise also look stunning being presented in 1080p high definition, also presented in there 2.39:1 original aspect ratio.  Even though “Raiders” got the most attention, “Temple of Doom” and “Last Crusade” really do look very sharp on Blu-ray.  Besides the occasional film spots, I was left blown away by these presentations. When you also think about “Indiana Jones”, you immediately start humming that iconic theme song, “Da Da Dah Dahhh Dah Dah Da Da Dah Dahh Dah Dah“.  The sound is very important for this to work.  They have arrived on Blu-ray with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  It is perfectly balanced and sounds just amazing over my surround sound system.

The special features are literally flowing out of this release and are very impressive.  Thought I am very surprised that there are no commentary tracks available for any of the films.  There are two newly produced “On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark” featurettes: “From Jungle to Desert” and “From Adventure to Legend”.  Like I said this release is the “Raiders” show, so it gets the best treatment. There are a “Making the Films” featurettes for each film in the series. “Raiders” also  includes the original 1981 “The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark” documentary as well. There are a bunch more of additional behind-the-scenes featurettes as well.  The first three focus on the most important aspects of the series; “The Stunts of Indiana Jones”, “The Sound of Indiana Jones” and “The Music of Indiana Jones”. They are short but definitely sweet. “The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones” takes use through the the work of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). There is a detailed look into everyone’s favorite scene “Raiders: The Melting Face!”, one of the reasons why PG-13 were initialized.

What is Indiana Jones without its snakes and other creatures in “Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies”, it will have you lifting your feet off the floor.  “Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations” takes us through the wonderful locations where these films were shot and details about the shooting.  Like James Bond, there are such strong woman in this series and “Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute” provides a nice nod to them.  “Indy’s Friends and Enemies” dives into the other characters in the series besides Dr. Jones himself. The last three features are all on “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”…wait don’t turn it off yet, these are decent features.  The first focuses on the “Iconic Props”, which are featured in the last installment.  The next one focuses on “The Effects”, even as iconic as the original trilogy is, this film packs some great effects.  The last focuses on the last sequel road through “Post Production” and the challenges faced. Lastly there are high definition trailers and teasers for each film to close this great release.

Created by: Hanna-Barbera
Cast: Marty Ingels, Barbara Minkus, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Alan Lurie, Susan Silo, Barry Gordon, Chuck Mccann, Neilson Ross
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 312 minutes / 216 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Hanna-Barbera really knows animation.  Back in the day, I would always jump on the chance to visit any product that they delivers and that is still true to today.  Pac-Man is brilliantly voiced by Marty Ingels, known best for his role in “He’s Dickens…I’m Fenster”.  I love his voice and he just embodies the character,  who knew Pac-Man had such a cool voice.  The show follows Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Baby as they set off on their adventures. Pac-Man also meets up with those pesky ghosts: Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde and Sue, as well as the dreaded Mezmaron, who wants their power bellets.  The second season also introduces cast additions including Pac-Man’s teenage cousin PJ and the super-heroic Super-Pac! Overall, this show is just plain stupid fun and nothing more.  If you grew up watching this show, revisiting it with these season release will be a real treat guaranteed to get a high score.

The first season includes all 26-episodes from the season.  The second season includes 16-episodes. It is presented in 4X3 full frame and its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  The audio format is the typical Warner Archive mono track but works super well with the show. The second season also comes with a great special bonus feature! This release includes the fan-favorite prime-time holiday special “Christmas Comes to PacLand”.  I grew up watching this and look forward to watching it ever year on TV till today…but now I am happy to have it on DVD.  Each season looks great on DVD and is newly restored by Warner Archive.  One question left though where is the “Pac-Man Halloween Special”?

“Pac-Man: The Complete First Season”
Pac-Man! The game that gobbled up a nation’s quarters while its hero gobbled up those annoying Ghost Monsters spawned sequels, spin-offs, toys, games and more. Taking note of Pac-Man’s avid fan base, famed carton studio Hanna-Barbera hit upon the idea of adapting the game for Saturday morning animation – becoming the first video game to make the jump to TV. Kids were immediately enraptured and a score of other arcade favorites soon followed Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Baby Pac-Man from the gaming console to the cathode ray tube. In this 2-Disc, 26-Episode collection, Pac-Man does battle with Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde and Sue, the Ghost Monster minions of the dreaded Mezmaron, who lusts after Pac-land’s precious power spheres. Aided by his plucky and charming wife and son, Pac-Man saves the Pac-President, confronts the vampiric Pacula, discovers the Abominable Pac-Man and more. Pac-Venture awaits – no quarters required!

“Pac-Man: The Complete Second Season”
Pac-Man returns for a Power Pellet chomping second season of adventures, with some very special cast additions – teenage cousin PJ and the super-heroic Super-Pac! Together with the rest of the Pac pack, they continue to thwart Mezmaron and his minions while time-travelling, battling Robo-Pacs and Pac-Apes, and taking a trip to Pac-Hollywood. Save your quarters, this game’s been extended! Contains all 16 sophomore season adventures. Special Bonus! You’ve hit the high score – this collection also includes the fan-favorite primetime holiday special Christmas Comes to PacLand! Originally airing during Pac-Man’s first season (but as an evening broadcast event), Christmas Comes to PacLand sees Pac, Pepper, Baby and the Pac-Pets enjoying an unexpected snowfall when an errant ghost attack sends Santa’s reindeer WAY off course. Can Pac-Man save the most special day of all? Guest-starring Santa and some very special reindeer.

Director: Mary Lambert
Starring: Denise Crosby, Fred Gwynne, Miko Hughes, Dale Midkiff, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

As Halloween approaches, “Pet Sematary” is one of those films that are a must watch. This film was adapted from author Stephen King own novel and follows the supernatural happenings surrounding a small-town pet cemetery. This still packs some good scares and holds up despite its growing age and high-tech newer horror films.  Paramount really delivered the goods on this release and didn’t disappoint and also delivers the film in a nice lenticular case. If you are looking to revisit this film whether it has been a few months or a few years since your last viewing, this is a must purchase. Horror fans should definitely not miss this opportunity.

Paramount’s official synopsis: “[The film] tells the story of Louis and Rachel Creed (Dale Midkiff, The Crow: Salvation, and Denise Crosby, Star Trek: The Next Generation) and their two children, an average family who move into an idyllic home in the countryside to begin what promises to be a perfect new life. Unfortunately, their dream home sits next to a pet cemetery with a horrible and dark secret. When a family tragedy causes Louis to become unhinged with grief, he pays a visit to the cemetery and unleashes an unspeakable evil on the world.”

The Blu-ray looks very sharp in its 1080p transfer and its 1.85:1 original aspect ratio. Paramount did right with this film and gave it a real sharp Blu-ray restore. The audio track included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, works great with the jump and the film’s wonderful score. The special features included are a little slim but all effective. There is an good commentary track from director Mary Lambert. “Stephen King Territory” follow the author as his dives into both the film’s locations and the origins of his novel. There are two Behind-the-scenes featurettes also included. The first is called “The Characters” and the second is called “Filming the Horror”, both are great if you are a fan of the film.

Directed by: Kimble Rendall
Starring: Phoebe Tonkin, Xavier Samuel, Julian McMahon, Sharni Vinson
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Anchor Bay really scored a winner with “Bait 3D”.  The film was shot natively shot in 3D and really delivers some great entertainment.  I watch many creature films, especially on Syfy.  I was hopefully this wasn’t going to be another one of those.  Well it was way more than I expected.  This is what “Shark Night 3D”, should have been like.  “Bait 3D”, really brings the action and very well for that matter.  The special effects are very impressive for this film especially with the great white sharks.  The story is a little laughable but well-executed.  Overall it is one hell of a fun time. Besides being a kick-ass film though, “Bait 3D” also features a stellar ensemble cast including Xavier Samuel (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”), Sharni Vinson (“Step Up 3D”), Alex Russell (“Chronicle”), and Julian McMahon (TV’s “Nip/Tuck”).

Official Premise: This intense 3D thriller tells the story of a group of survivors in a sleepy beach town who suddenly find themselves trapped inside a submerged supermarket, following a freak tsunami. As they try to escape to safety, they soon discover that there is a predator among them more deadly than the threat of drowning—vicious great white sharks lurking in the water, hungry for fresh meat. As the bloodthirsty sharks begin to pick the survivors off one by one, the group realizes that they must work together to find a way out without being eaten alive.

It is also being released a combo pack with the 3D and 2D version of the film on one Blu-ray and a seperate DVD version of the film.  I really recommend this film in 3D though. The effects are fantastic and include some great in your face moments. The 1080p transfer works well with the 3D effects as well and delivers a very sharp video.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also packs some heat and works well with the non-stop action. The special features though are very lacking there is another a gallery of original production storyboards included.  I would have love to seen more focus on the 3D, the sharks and the overall production.

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Directed by: Randall Cole
Starring: Nick Stahl, Mia Kirshner, Devon Sawa
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: New Video Group
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Prior to receiving this DVD, I had never heard of “388 Arletta Avenue”. But the front of the box was a real draw for me since it is from the makers of “Splice” and “Cube”, Vincenzo Natali, whom I am big fan of. This also packs a very impressive genre cast including Nick Stahl (“Terminator 3”), Mia Kirshner (“The Vampire Diaries”), Devon Sawa (“Finding Destination”). The film itself isn’t scary but it is super creepy and very effective. It is was also shot from the point-of-view of hidden cameras hidden throughout the house, the car etc. I really enjoyed the Randall Cole’s fresh take on found-footage horror genre.

On the surface, James Deakin (Stahl) lives a quiet, routine, comfortable life with his wife Amy (Kirshner) in their suburban home. Under the subtle manipulation of a faceless voyeur, however, cracks in their relationship begin to emerge. When Amy suddenly disappears, James is left to wonder if she’s been abducted or simply abandoned him, but their tormentor doesn’t stop there. As the manipulations become more twisted and violent, James desperately tries to identify just who’s doing this to him and why, but his adversary always seems to be one step ahead.

“388 Arletta Avenue” runs a really tight 97 minutes and literally has you sitting on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out the ending. Though, The film doesn’t deliver in terms of special features. There is only one extra, which is cast/crew behind-the-scenes interviews. It is not bad overall and like most Tribeca Film release it is presented by American Express. Randall Cole is definitely on my radar and will definitely keep an eye out for his future films. Overall though, I would definitely recommend this film highly.

Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Connie Nielson
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 144 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Vanity, definitely my favorite sin”. One of my favorite lines any film. Al Pacino gives one of his best roles to date. He is just so fucking evil in this film and yet you still are routing for him to rule. Keanu Reeves also does a great job prior to all his “The Matrix” slow-motion fighting. This film include the Unrated Director’s Cut of the film, though I never really noticed a major difference between the cuts. The film is a ripe 2 hours and 15 mins but it really owns every single minute. I remember sneaking into this film in theaters and running out of the theaters completely in love with it. Well 15 years have passed and I only love this film more. I highly recommend this Blu-ray release, completely worth the upgrade.

The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray just looks amazing. Warner did up this film right and doesn’t disappoint at all. The audio includes an DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, which works perfectly with the film’s sharp dialogue and of course the amazing score, courtesy of James Newton Howard. Th special features are ports from the 1998 DVD but are still decent. There is a commentary by director Taylor Hackford, decent overall. There are twelve deleted scenes with optional commentary from Hackford (unlike the DVD where it was not optional). Overall, I enjoyed these quite a bit. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included. I wish they would have done a little more to celebrate the film’s 15th anniversary but overall still a nice release.

Kevin Lomax (Reeves), an ambitious, talented young district attorney, joins a powerful New York law firm headed by the mysterious and charismatic John Milton (Pacino). as Lomax faces the intense seduction of success and money, he is increasingly tempted.

Buy It 9/18 on Blu-ray
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Directed by: Michael Rymer
Starring: Stuart Townsend, Aaliyah, Marguerite Moreau, Vincent Pérez, Paul McGann, Lena Olin
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 101 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Interview with the Vampire” is a very hard film to follow-up.  “Queen of the Damned” had high expectations surrounding it, especially for an Anne Rice adaption.  It’s also took a risky move of casting R&B singer,  Aaliyah, to lead the film.  Unfortunately, then she end dying in a plane crash months before the film’s release, which added to it’s issues.  The film is very ambitious and Gothic but it’s overall end product has too many issues.  What the film does have doing for it is one of the best soundtracks in a horror film.  The film’s music is also created by Korn’s Jonathan Davis and is nothing short of amazing!  Not the best film ever but definitely worth the HD upgrade.

Warner’s definitely delivers a very impressive Blu-ray.  It’s 1080p transfer comes with a lot of love.  It is presented a sharp picture and works well with the dark scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works perfectly in sync with the score and the heavy metal tunes in the film.  The special features are ported from the DVD release and do not disappoint at all.  First we have a decent commentary track with director Michael Rymer, producer Jorge Saralegui, and composer Richard Gibbs. Next up, there are 13 deleted scenes that are decent also cut for a good reason.  There are three documentaries focusing on the behind-the-scenes aspect of the film.  “Creating the Vampires” features cast/crew talking about their roles in the film. “Aaliyah Remembered” is a memorial for the late singer.  Lastly “The Music of Lestat” has interviews with composer Richard Gibbs and lyricist Jonathan Davis. To compliment that feature, there are three music videos for Lestat (“Redeemer,” “Forsaken,” “System”), a music video by Static X’s “Cold,” and also extended Lestat’s concert footage. Lastly there is a gag reel, photo galleries and a theatrical trailer for the film.

After years of slumber, the legendary vampire has awakened and found acceptance in a tattooed, pierced and black-clad world. He’s a rock star. And his awesome goth-riffed sound has echoed around the globe…and stirred to life the fearsome Mother of All Vampires. Based on “The Vampire Chronicles” by Anne Rice, whose work previously came to the screen in “Interview with the Vampire.”

Buy It 9/18 on Blu-ray
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Created by: Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik
Number of discs: 3
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Running Time: 552 minutes

Season: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Right from the start whether you have seen this show before or not, you can tell that these show is amazing. I mean do you see the cover art? It  doesn’t get cooler than that.  These guys are nerdy comedy superstars and the cover art definitely reflects that. It is really rare that a show in its fifth season gets better and better with each episode. I always thought that the first few seasons where the funniest but after re-watching this season it is clear and the show’s best is it current episodes. This season also has cameos from Stephen Hawkins and Leonard Nimoy, can you ask for anything more?

The Blu-ray presentation is comparable to the past “Big Bang” Blu-ray releases. The 1080p video is a real treat for the show.  The color pop and overall looks very sharp.  The audio track included work well especially since the show is dialogue based.  You don’t miss a word of their clever smarty-pants dialogue.  This release of the season not only but with the show on Blu-ray but also DVD discs.  Also included is the entire series on Ultraviolet digital streaming, which is SUPER cool to be able to just pop on anytime, anywhere.

You can tell that the show changed a lot this season…in a positive direction. The characters are getting new arc and not only growing but also maturing. I think that the addition of Bernadette and Amy, amazingly played by Melissa Rouch and Mayim Bialik respectively, really compliments a lot more to the original cast with added depth. Mayim Bialik literally steals every single scene she is in and deserves a freaking Emmy…HELLO??!! It is rare that when a season ends that I am literally upset and dying for more, this was the case when this season ended. I actually had to go back to previous seasons and re-watch just to get my “Big Bang” fix.

The special features on this season are also the best of the series to date. There is some really great extras included in this release. “The Big Bang Theory @ 100” showcases the cast and crew as they celebrate the show’s 100th episode. “The Big Bang Theory’s Laws of Reflection” features interviews with the cast as they reflect on their favorite moments from season 5. “Professors of Production” is a behind-the-scenes look at the various section of the show that assist to bring this wonderful show together week after week. Lastly there is a terribly funny “Gag Reel” included.

Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar
Starring: Paul Schneider, Olivia Munn and Kevin Heffernan, Jay Chandrasekhar
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I saw Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan and Olivia Munn attached to this film, I was immediately interested. I am a big fan of Broken Lizard and G4’s “Attack of the Show”. This film is laugh-out-loud funny but takes a more mature route than past work from Jay and Kevin. Although Kevin said during an interview with us that he feels that his character is similar to his past Broken Lizard roles. Jay also has an acting role besides directing, playing Ron Jon and easily steals the show. This is own of those films that grows on you with each viewing. I have seen this film three times already now and it only gets better.

“The Babymakers” follows a married couple whose main objective is to have a baby. But after 9 months of trying, Audrey (Munn) and her husband Tommy (Schneider) are unable to get pregnant. After finding out that his sperm is lacking in the baby department, Tommy recruits his pals in order to steal a deposit he made at a sperm bank years earlier. Simple plot though this is not a one-joke comedy and does manage to entertain throughout.

Fans of Broken Lizard should keep an eye out for alums like Nat Faxon, M.C. Gainey and Philippe Brenninkmeyer. Also if you were a fan of Munn’s failed TV series “Perfect Couples” (like myself), keep an eye out for her co-star Hayes MacArthur who is a laugh riot in the film as well. Though if you are looking for another Broken Lizard film, you will be disappointed. I feel it still really delivers and “The Babymakers” is a simple yet very fun comedy. If you need something to do on a Saturday night, this is definitely worth checking out.

The Blu-ray presentation is good as well though since comedies aren’t typically intensive on the format. The 1080p is sharp and looks great. The audio included a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, which works well with the dialogue. The special features included are a behind-the-scenes look into the production. There are also cast and crew interviews with are fun and worth checking out. Lastly, there is another featurette with more details on the film from the cast and crew.

Directed by: Panos Cosmatos
Starring: Michael Rogers, Eva Allan, Scott Hylands
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Running Time: 110 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Beyond the Black Rainbow” is wow, just wow.  There is really no way to describe this film this sci-fi thriller.  If “2001: A Space Odyssey” met up with “Blue Sunshine”, this would be the result.  It is a visually beyond anything I have every seen.  It is extremely unique and overall such a trip.  The whole film is set in this very cool dystopian version of 1983. I was just speechless watching this film…until the end, which doesn’t fit with the rest of the film.  I am not sure for the reasoning behind it but it was a letdown from such a visual stunning film. Michael Rogers who played Quan Chi in “Mortal Kombat Legacy” last year gives such an amazing performance, check out our interview here.  He is a crazy mix between Norman Bates in “Psycho” and Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho”.  If you are looking for the new midnight cult classic film, look no further.

Synopsis: Set in the strange and oppressive emotional landscape of the year 1983, “Beyond the Black Rainbow” is a Reagan-era fever dream inspired by hazy childhood memories of midnight movies and Saturday morning cartoons. From the producer of Machotaildrop, Rainbow is the feature film debut of writer and director Panos Cosmatos. Featuring a hypnotic analog synthesizer score by Jeremy Schmidt of “Sinoia Caves” and “Black Mountain,” Rainbow is a film experience for the senses.

The Blu-ray presentation is very impressive. The 1080p transfer works so well with the film’s use of colors and lights. You can also see like every pore on Rogers’ face, which adds to his creepy performance. The audio gets a 5/5 for being just absolutely perfect. It works perfectly with its hypnotic synthesizer score by Jeremy Schmidt of “Sinoia Caves” and “Black Mountain”. The special features are also great including an audio commentary with director Panos Cosmatos. There a few extended scenes, which are definitely worth checking out. There are also two great featurettes including “Behind-the-Scenes” look into the film and the “Making of Beyond The Black Rainbow”. Very informative and worth checking out. Lastly there is the trailer included.

Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Madeline Carroll, Emma Fuhrmann, Nicolette Pierini, Kenan Thompson
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures
Release Date: September 18th, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 109 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Magic of Belle Island” is one of those rare gems that gets quietly released each year that no one has seen but everyone should.  It is easily one of my favorite films of 2012. It is also one of the best directorial efforts from Rob Reiner, who reunited with Morgan Freeman again after “The Bucket List”. The film just has this “Rob Reiner” feel to it, which is just so recognizable.  Freeman is so amazing in this film and really nails this role. He is funny yet very deep. Besides Freeman, Emma Fuhrmann really steals the show for me personally.  She is going to be big and real fast, mark by words. We had the chance to interview her earlier this year about this role, read her interview here.  I highly recommend this film to everyone in the family.

Synopsis: Freeman plays Monte Wildhorn, a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer inpicturesque Belle Isle, and befriends the family next door – an attractive single mom (Madsen) and her young daughters – who help him find inspiration again.

The Blu-ray presentation is very respectable and impressive.  The 1080p transfer looks clean and sharp but overall not really given much of a challenge since the film is a very simple straight forward dramedy.  Same goes for the audio track, it works perfectly with the notable “Reiner” music and score and delivers clean dialogue.  The special features are great as well as the film.  There is an amazing audio commentary track with both Rob Reiner and Morgan Freeman.  I highly recommend this fun track.  There are a few deleted scenes, nothing that would have made the film better but worth visiting.  There is a the typical EPK-style behind-the-scenes  feature “HDNet: A Look at”.  Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

Directed by: Kerry Prior
Starring: David Anders, Senyo Amoaku, Chris Wylde
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 117 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

What maker me curious about this film is where the hell has it been?  The horror-comedy was the Winner of the Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actor and Audience Choice at the 2009 New York City Horror Film Festival.  Did you catch that? 2009.  I am not sure what took so long to reach DVD but this was a pretty damn decent flick.  It is a sharp blend of horror and comedy. The main issue though I have is the nearly two hour running time. Horror films NEVER need to be over 90 minutes, no matter how good they think they are.  If this film was 30 mins shorter, it would have been a lot tighter and better executed.  Nonetheless, horror fans should definitely consider this release for a good laughs and some good gore.

SYNOPSIS: The breakout film centers on a fallen soldier who somehow finds he has joined the ranks of the living dead. Bart Gregory (Anders) has just recently been laid to rest – so why is he still up and walking around? The only way he can keep himself from diminishing to dust is to supply himself with a constant supply of fresh blood. He quickly decides to do law enforcement a favor by cleaning up the streets.

The DVD special features are actually quite decent for this little film. There are two audio commentary tracks included. The first is with the director Kerry Prior and the second is with the actors David Anders and Chris Wylde. Both decent and very listenable. There is a brief but also decent behind-the-scenes featurette caled “Revealing The Revenant”, as well as a few deleted scenes. The scenes aren’t anything special but if you enjoyed the film it is worth checking out. Lastly there is a photo gallery included.

Directed by: Jonathan Glendening
Starring: Robert Englund, Steven Berkoff, Martin Compston, Adele Silva, Ali Bastian, Barbara Nedeljakova
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by : Well Go USA
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Stripping have never neen so hairy!”, can you say no to a tagline like that? I think not. “Strippers vs. Werewolves” is exactely what you would expect and nothing more. It a great mix of comddy and horror. The film does have an impressive cast with Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), Steven Berkoff (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), Sarah Douglas (“Superman II”), and Barbara Nedeljakova (“Hostel”). I heard about this tongue-in-cheek horror-thriller when I interviewed Barbara last year, check it out here, I was immediately interested. If you liked films like “Zombie Strippers” and “From Dusk Till Dawn”, then this is definitely worth checking out.

From Well Go USA’s official synopsis: “A war between strippers and werewolves ensues when a member of a bloodthirsty pack of werewolves is murdered in a famous strip club. The girls who work there have until the next full moon before the werewolves’ vicious leader sends his wolf pack to hunt down the killers and seek retribution. Problems arise for both parties when the wolf pack realizes the club owner is experienced in dealing with hostile lycanthropes and that one of their own is dating a dancer from the club.”

Well Go USA’s Blu-ray Blu-ray both looks and sounds great for a low budget film. It is nothing out-of-this-world but decent overall. The special features are lacking a bit though. They could have come up with some fun and entertaining extras for a film like this. There is a commentary with producers Jonathan Sothcott and Simon Phillips, decent but really a must listen. Would have loved to see the main three girls do a track. Lastly there is a Behind-the-scenes featurette. It is worth watching if you enjoy the film but runs way to short.

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