Directors: Astron-6
Starring: Adam Brooks, Mackenzie Murdock, Matthew Kennedy, Conor Sweeney
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Troma Entertainment
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Running Time: 99 minutes

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

I think Astron-6 and Troma teaming up on this film is definitely a good match.  Do I think they made the perfect film, no.  The film is not only offensive, it is extremely offensive and almost hard to watch.  But that was the plan and what was expected for sure, so it does not come as a shock.  It doesn’t make it anymore watchable though.  I’ve been watching Troma films for over 20 years and vulgar they have always this is a new high…or low for even them.  Astron-6 definitely should get credit for trying to make a film that is so over-the-top it actually works…mostly minus the male/male rape. They even did this on a ridiculously low-budget of $10,000 and it looks like it costs at least 10x that.  So I commend the special effects, especially the green screen work that is very impressive.  This is really a true grindhouse film even including a commercial about two thirds of the way through.  Maybe this film wasn’t 100% for me personally, it definitely has an audience I assume (but not a very wide one though).

There is really no words that can describe this film. From the trailer it makes it seem that this focuses on The Father’s Day Killer, but there is so much more including genital mutilation and many scenes of male rape.  If you are not a fan of acts of sodomy and other gross behavior you might want to skip this film all together.  But if you aware of Troma’s style you might be looking for this. The general story follows Ahab, a man who is seeking a violent revenge on the man who raped and murdered his dad. He joins up with an unlikely duo of a priest named John and a street hustler, Twink.  Together the three set out to find this so-called Father’s Day Killer and get their revenge.

The video presentation on this Blu-ray does look rather decent, even though its comes with an MPEG-2 encode and its purposely scratchy print and VHS quality aspects. The film also includes an aspect ratio: 1.78:1. I understand that this film trying to really be a Grindhouse film, so the Dolby Digital 2.0 track is in-line with that. Since it is on Blu-ray though, there is a certain expectation of quality…even though it is Troma. The audio is simply rather disappointing. The Blu-ray presentation comes in a great packaging with old school video store stickers. It comes in a four-disc set with one Blu-ray disc, two DVDs and even one CD.  The release is limited edition and numbered out of 5,000. The Blu-ray contains just the film and an HD trailer, there are no special features. The first DVD comes with the film in standard definition and a trailer and a two very short deleted scenes. The rest of the special features are located on the second DVD disc. The fourth disc includes a CD Sampler of songs from the film’s soundtrack.

While though, the special features are presented on the second DVD disc and besides being all in standard definition, there is no shortage of them. Lloyd Kaufman introduces the film at Comic-Con, which also starts with the beginning of the film. There are the same deleted scenes as the first DVD, no idea why they duplicated. There are four features focusing on foreskin, ranging from the original “Father’s Day” foreskin to extended to animated to TV version, but all offensive. There is a Behind the Scenes Slideshow, which runs less than 5 minutes. There are two “Make Your Own Damn” features on Fuchman and on a Tire Iron. Similarly, there is a faux “Create Your Own Damn Award Winning Movie Poster The Dude Designs Way”. I am a big fan of The Dude Designs personally. “Roll Out the Blood Carpet” runs just over 15 minutes and covers the various different “Father’s Day” premiere nights. “Troma & Astron-6 Charm Festival of Fear” is a short 5 minutes Q&A at Toronto. It’s not Troma with nude shots and that calls for “Super Tromette Elena Recreates the Low Life”. “Father’s Day Article at Rue Morgue Magazine” is so pointless and hard to read. “Babies the Fathers Gave Birth to Before Birthing Father’s Day” are shorts from Astron-6 including “Lazer Ghosts” and “Cool Guys”. “Make Your Own Damn Green Screen! (A Lesson by Lloyd Kaufman)” is the best feature focusing on those sequences, Lastly there are to non-connected with its with director James Gunn and South Park’s Matt Stone.

Directed by: William Kaufman
Starring: Dolph Lundgren, Cuba Jr. Gooding, Louis Mandylor
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Running Time: 91 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

I have to admit with “The Expendables 2” hit theaters this month, I have been on Dolph Lundgren overload. Actually more like 80/90’s action films. I figured throw in Cuba Jr. Gooding how bad can this be…well, I should have stopped at that comment. The film starts off with a powerful opening scene and then literally fails as each minute progresses. Dolph Lundgren still is so bad-ass and totally suave. But it doesn’t save this action-less action movie.

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Ray Carver, an assassin whose latest assignment has more involved then he has expected. While in Prague trying to resolve a mob conflict, the main target manages to escape. That brings us to meet Soviet assassin, Aleksey Andreev (Dolph Lundgren), also known as The Wolf. The Wolf is sent to clean up Carvers mess, but Carver isn’t going to set another man finish his job. The two face off to see which guy will prove to be the ultimate assassin.

This film is releases as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, so you have the option to watch this bad movie on either Blu-ray or standard DVD. Unlike the film, the Blu-ray does look decent with its 1.78.1 widescreen transfer. The picture is rather sharp and clean. The Dolby True HD 5.1 track is also solid, it would have worked better with the action if there was actually any in this film. The only extra included is a very short fifteen minute featurette “One In The Chamber: Behind The Scenes”. It is very messy and roughly throw together.

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Director: Eduardo Sanchez
Starring: Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis, Alexandra Holde, Jane Fleming
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Running Time: 99 minutes

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

“Lovely Molly” is a brutal and leaves you completely uncomfortable. But since that is the film’s goal, then it is very successful. This is one of those horror films that you need to watch a view times in order to completely absorb it all. It is directed by Eduardo Sanchez (“The Blair Witch Project”), who delivers the type of horror that he would want to watch. The star of the film though, literally, is Gretchen Lodge. This is her film debut and she really delivers a chilling and terrifying performance. You should expect great things from her. There are not many scares, per se, though the whole film is a unsettling experience that leaves you starring at the screen to see what happens next. Must see for all fans of horror, will not disappoint.

The film follows newlywed, Molly Reynolds (Lodge), who moves back into her childhood home. It has been long-abandoned and has quite the history hidden within its walls. Molly begins to hearing noises and voices of things that are impossible to believe. Starting off similar to “Paranormal Activity”, “Molly” then takes a violent left turn and leads to the unexpected. We find out the dark secrets that lie in Molly’s past as she is haunted by a malevolent force that is set o wreaking havoc and terror on Molly and her family.

Image delivers an impressive Blu-ray presentation. The film is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio and 1080p transfer is sharp, even though is shot handheld. Besides Lodge’s performance, the second star of the film is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The sound effects and score really help to create the fantastic atmosphere that this film delivers. The special features are a little light but cover a lot of the mystery of the film and its story. There are various featurettes, which cover different aspects including “Path To Madness”, “Haunted Past”, “Demonic Forces” and “Is It Real”. If you enjoyed this film these are a great follow-up and highly  recommended. I would have liked to see a commentary track included as well but still decent. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Directed by: Michael Winner / J. Lee Thompson
Starring: Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia / Kirk Taylor, Martin Balsam, Ed Lauter / Kay Lenz, John P. Ryan
MPAA Ratings: R
Distributed by: MGM Entertainment
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Running Time: 89 / 92 / 99 minutes

Blu-ray Scores: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I think Charles Bronson, I always think about ass-kicking. I watched “Death Wish” at as young teen and was taken over by its violence. At that time in the 80’s, the violence was completely over-the-top. If you are wonderingwhere is “Death Wish” and “Death Wish 5” in the series. The original is owned by Paramount and the last is owned by Lionsgate, neither have plans for Blu-ray. My really only issue is that “Death Wish 2” is not the unrated edition, it would have been great to finally seeing it get a proper release. Nonetheless, if you are looking for some awesome revenge films, don’t miss out on these Blu-rays.

Paul Kersey takes on the role of vigilante again in “Death Wish II”. He sets out to to find and seek revenge on the the five street punks who murdered his daughter and housekeeper on the streets of Los Angeles. In “Death Wish 3”, Paul Kersey hits back on New York City and is forcibly recruited by a crooked police detective to fight crime against a large gang that is terrorizing the neighborhoods. “Death Wish 3” also packs a great score by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and also the film debut of Alex Winter (“Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”). “Death Wish 4: The Crackdown” was back in the day, the first Isaw in this series (sorry).   Even though it is not the best entry in the series, it still features vigilante Paul Kersey who kicks major ass against members of a vicious Los Angeles drug cartel.  This time he is trying to stop the flow of drugs after his girlfriend’s daughter dies from an overdose.

I really enjoyed the 1080p Blu-ray transfers for these films. They are all also presented in their original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. They are not perfect presentations but they are a real bump from past DVD’s. The audio on each release come with DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 tracks. They are not really spec for Blu-ray but still sound decent. The transfer and audio are very similar to the recent Chuck Norris films released on Blu-ray, which I also enjoyed quite a bit. It is not a Criterion release but if you are a fan you should be satisfied overall just to have the films in HD.

Directed by: Andrew Davis / Steve Carver
Starring: Chuck Norris, Ralph Davis, Henry Silva, Bert Remsen, and Mike Genovese / David Carradine, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Robert Beltran
MPAA Rating: R / PG
Distributed by: MGM Entertainment
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 101 / 108 minutes

Blu-ray Scores: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Chuck Norris, I can honestly never have enough. MGM dug into their archives and have delivered two classics from the films of Chuck Norris, “Code of Silence” and “Lone Wolf McQuade”, which is easily one of his best films. These films really represent true 80’s action and show the rise of the badassness of Chuck Norris. Plus in “Lone Wolf McQuade”, if Chuck isn’t enough we had the also fellow Kung-fu master David Carradine. Even though these releases feel like a cash in to time with “The Expendables 2”, if you are looking for a fix of Chuck Norris in high definition, I would recommend these very reasonably priced Blu-ray.  They aren’t the best releases but it’s enough to give your Blu-ray player a nice roundhouse kick.

In “Code of Silence”, Chuck stars as Eddie Cusack, a Chicago police officer whoaims to take down a drug gang.  When two rival gangs go at each out, it is up to Cusack to take let since no one at the police force is willing to help him since he who broke the code of silence by testifying against a fellow cop. His only help is a  police robot called “Prowler” that assist Cusack in taking down the gangs.

In “Lone Wolf McQuade”, Chucks plays legendary renegade Texas Ranger J.J. McQuade.  That name alone is bad-ass enough for me. He is quick with his gun but more lethal with his black belt! McQuade comes face to face with big-time kingpin and also martial arts expert, Rawley Wilkes.  McQuade must face his biggest challenge in order to save his daughter.

The video quality on both “Code of Silence & Lone Wolf McQuade” are very impressive.  I would even go as far to say that they look awesome on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfers are quite good and are presented in a sharp 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The sound on the other hand is good but nothing amazing with its DTS-HD MA Mono audio track.  If you are looking for extras, look elsewhere.  These releases are totally very lacking extras. The Blu-ray’s only come with each film’s original theatrical trailer, presented in standard definition.  Fans of Norris should not miss out on these releases, nonetheless.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’Onofrio, R. Lee Ermey, Dorian Harewood, Kevyn Major Howard
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Running Time: 116 minutes

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

As much as I absolutely love this film, the 25th Anniversary release of “Full Metal Jacket” feel a little but like a double dip…but you know you still need it if you are a die-hard fan. The main draw here is a newly added 60 minute documentary and an impressive 48-page DigiBook with photos from Matthew Modine’s personal collection. Also within there are behind-the-scenes stories on the production and the music. I think for this is honestly worth the purchase alone. If you agree then you don’t want to miss this release. I know it may be hard to believe but this is the first time I am watching this film on Blu-ray and it was definitely worth the wait.

The film says to included a new remastered video though it is the same as the 2007/2011 releases. Nonetheless it still looks incredibly impressive. It easily warrants 5/5 stars for 1080 transfer alone. There are many a few audio when it comes to the film’s audio. The Dolby Digital 5.1 is the default but the uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track is sharper and more impressive. The special features are decent but feels a little light overall. “Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes” is an hour-long documentary, which follows director Jon Ronson as he is given a chance to dig through thousands of boxes on Kubrick estate following his death. There is a commentary track from author/screenwriter Jay Cocks and actors Adam Baldwin, Vincent D’onofrio and Lee Ermey. Sounds perfect right? It would have been but it was recorded individually, so the fun was gone. Matthew Modine takes the lead in “Between Good and Evil” focusing on the filming, casting, and the overall production. Lastly, there is the theatrical trailer included.

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Premise: Marine recruits endure basic training under a leather-lunged D.I., then plunge into the hell of Vietnam. Matthew Modine heads a talented ensemble in this searing look at a process that turns people into killers.

Directed by: Te-Sheng Wei
Starring: Lin Ching-Tai, Umin Boya, Masanobu Ando
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Well Go USA
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Running Time: 422 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

When I reach out that “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” was the most expensive production in Taiwanese history (budgeted at around $25 million), I knew I just had to see it. I am a big fan of epic foreign films and definitely those produced by John Woo. When I say epic, this film delivers the epic. It runs over 4 1/2 hours long and split into two parts. If that is too long for you don’t worry there are two versions of “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” available on DVD and Blu-ray. There is also a cut two and a half hour version for the US. Though if you are looking for an equal amount of story to go along with the massive scale action sequences, then you are definitely going to want to watch the international version. The film was referred to as “Braveheart” meets “The Last of the Mohicans” but the film has the fierceness of these both and more.

The film itself chronicles the true story of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes and their battle against the Japanese colonizers. That’s the short premise. The story takes us between 1895 and 1945, following the rival between a Japanese colony that inhabits the island and the aboriginal tribes who originally settled on the land. The Seediq leader, Mouna Rudo, (Lin Ching-Tai) recruits a number of other clans in order to band together to fight the Japanese. The film is beautifully different by Wei Te-Sheng (“Cape No.7”). The Taiwan landscapes are absolutely stunning, which are matched with some really top notch CGI. The action scenes are so amped up and also well paced within the story.

“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” looks absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA. The 1080p transfer looks sharp and super clear within in aspect ratio of 2.34:1. It is a film that is meant for a high definition presentation and looks spectacular. There are two audio tracks, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 tracks. Obviously, I feel that the 5.1 track works much better, especially with the action. The special features are only have extras but they are quite epic, just like the film. “The Epic Journey of the Warriors” runs well over 2 1/2 hours, just in case the film wasn’t long enough. It is very a intensive behind-the-scenes look at the production, which plays out like a graphic shooting diary. There are also additional “Interviews with Director Wei Te-Sheng and Producer John Woo” and “Make-Up and Visual Effects” included. Lastly there are the theatrical and international trailers included.

Directed by: Robert Taylor
Starring: Lorne Greene, Margery Gray, Sammy Davis, Jr.
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: G
Running Time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to classic Hanna-Barbera animated films, I immediately become interested.  “Heidi’s Song” has never been released to DVD in the past, so thanks to Warner Archive for finally releasing this film.  Released originally back in 1982, this is time perfectly for the 30th Anniversary of this film. It is based on Johanna Spyri’s children’s classic, “Heidi” and has been translated into a full-length animated musical motion picture. It includes sixteen original songs written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane. The songs are fun but very 80’s.

This DVD released features the film newly remastered.  Though as much as I say that it looks good, the film really shows its age.  The film is very colorful but some of the shades come off still as a bit dull and faded.  But since this is the first time it has ever hit DVD, it is better than nothing and obviously VHS quality as well.  The audio includes a great stereo track, which works with the film’s songs.  There are no special features either like most releases from Warner Archive.  This title might not be the most popular but if you are a fan of retro Hanna-Barbera, it will be cool just to see this film getting a little love and restored on DVD.

Synopsis: Johanna Spyri’s best-loved children’s classic, Heidi, is affectionately retold in this colorful, full-length animated musical motion picture. The famed story has been supplemented with three new, unforgettable sequences: a musical review, The Nightmare Ballet, in which Heidi meets the mountain creatures of the Wunderhorn; a dream fantasy in which Clara, Heidi’s wheelchair confined friend, meets her Prince Charming at a fantastic ball; and Ode to a Rat, in which a band of evil but clownish rats, led by King Rat, are roused into attacking Heidi in a dark cellar. Voices are provided by Lorne Greene as Grandfather, Margery Gray as Heidi and Sammy Davis, Jr. as King Rat. Sixteen original songs were written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Burton Lane. Heidi’s Song has all the elements to make a thoroughly enjoyable film that children will cherish a lifetime.

Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Shirley MacLaine
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
MPAA rating: PG-13
Running Time: 104 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Bernie” is directed by Richard Linklater, who is known best for his films “Waking Life” and “Dazed and Confused”. I feel that his work has lost the ‘Linklater charm’ recently especially after his last film “Me and Orson Welles”. The film stars Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine, who both give fantastic performances. The film itself starts off great and plays well between the its narrative and documentary style. Towards the end it seems either rushed or loses focus.

The film follows a small Texas town mortician Bernie Tiede (Black), who befriends a rich widow Marjorie Nugent (MacLaine) after her husband’s death. After becomes her friend and companion, Bernie murders Nugent due to her constant putdowns and tries to get away with it.  Since no one is town like her and she has no friends,  months go by before anyone really miss her.  When local district attorney (McConaughey) begins to investigate, things get complicated for Bernie and the local small town of Carthage.

“Bernie” is based off a true story from a 1998 Texas Monthly magazine article about a 1996 murder of a millionaire by her companion. Like I said, Jack Black gives one of his best performances to date and steals this film. He is funny yet isn’t really try that hard as usual. If you are looking for something different this summer from all the superheros and action films, this could be a good alternative for you.

The Blu-ray presentation is rather sharp for the low-budget film. The 1080p video looks good but not particularly challenged. Same goes for the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, which isn’t pushed much but sounds good nonetheless. The special features are a little disappointing for a Richard Linklater film. There is a featurette called “True Story to Film” talks about the film’s adaption of true events. To take advantage of Jack Black’s singing capabilities, there is a special performance of “Amazing Grace”. Lastly, there is featurette called “The Gossips” looking into the real-life townspeople of Carthage, including interviews and their auditions for the film.

Directed by: Andrew Marton
Starring: Gene Kelly, Pier Angeli
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Gene Kelly is known best for his musicals but this film is one of his dramatic performances.  The film itself has some problems and but honestly.  I am a sucker for Kelly and this performance was great.  The film was also shot on location which is breathtaking, especially some of the scenery in Germany.  Pier Angeli is also amazing, such a beauty. Warner Archive scores again for finally releasing the remaining, unreleased Gene Kelly films from the Warner Bros. vaults. The other film recently released is “Black Hand”, read review here. Fans of Gene Kelly’s work will not want to miss this opportunity to finally own this film on DVD.

This newly restored DVD looks great for a film that has never before released and was made almost 60 years ago. “The Devil Makes Three” is presented in black and white in full frame and the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio track presented is mono and sounds great, especially with the film’s music scenes. The only special feature on this release is an original trailer, which is honestly better than nothing. Even though Warner Archive is known for just delivering such great quality on their DVDs. I have yet to be disappointed. Keep them coming guys!

Synopsis: Capt. Jeff Eliot (Gene Kelly) roams the tawdry dives of post-war Munich searching for a delicate young beauty named Wilhelmina (Pier Angeli), the only survivor of the family that hid him from the Nazis after his plane was shot down during the war. He wants to help her. She wants to use him to smuggle contraband into Austria. But what looks like a small-time black market scheme hides something far more sinister: a vicious, well-financed conspiracy to revive the Third Reich. Shot on location and boasting a skilled international cast, The Devil Makes Three features footage of motorcycles zooming along Hitler’s sleek Autobahn and competing in a thrilling race on a frozen lake, plus a climatic showdown filmed at the Führer’s mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden. Kelly is both virile action hero and shrewd detective “in a fine, restrained characterization” (Howard Thompson, The New York Times) that anchors the intrigue-laced plot.

Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Starring: Gene Kelly, J. Carroll Nash, Teresa Celli
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 92 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When you think of Gene Kelly you think of singing and dancing.  “Black Hand” was one of the first films to really showcase Kelly’s dramatic chops.  It is a real change of pace for him and pays off.  It is honestly surprising how suspenseful this film really is.  It leaves you sitting on the edge of your chair biting your nails.  Warner Archive scores again for finally releasing the remaining, unreleased Gene Kelly films from the Warner Bros. vaults.  The other film recently released is “The Devil Makes Three”, read review here. Fans of Gene Kelly’s work will not want to miss this opportunity to finally own this film on DVD.

For a film from 1950 that has been stuck in a vault and never before released.  It looks damn good. Of course there is the grain and age spots but this newly restored DVD really delivers the goods.  “Black Hand” is presented in black and white in full frame and the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  The audio track presented is mono and works perfectly with this release. Even though this film solely consists of just the film no special features.  You still feel like you are getting your money’s worth.  When I think of Warner Archive, I just feel comfort with quality.

Synopsis: Johnny Columbo was just a boy in 1900 New York when a gang of extortionists known as the Black Hand murdered his father. Now Johnny’s a grown man eager for vengeance. His switchblade and his anger are the weapons he intends to use but he ultimately realizes there’s a better way. He can use the legal system to deport the Black Hand terrorists by proving they are in the U.S. under false identities. but brining that proof to light will put Johnny and the people close to him in great peril. Movie-musical great Gene Kelly plays the change-of-pace role of Johnny in this suspenseful tale directed by the prolific Richard Thorpe (more than 180 IMDb credits). Kelly had played an Italian-American before in Pilot #5. He would portray a Greek-American in It’s a Big Country.

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 558 minutes

Season Two: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The second season of “The Big Bang Theory” really kicked this show into full gear. During the first season, we got to meet and love our science nerds Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard and their neighbor Penny.  When you are watching you don’t even realize that you just finished zipped through 23 episodes without moving from the couch once.  Now that this season has been released, the entire series is finally available on Blu-ray minus the fifth season, which is due in September 2012. Within this season, there are 23 very funny episodes. You can tell that Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady are really getting into a groove with this season and really deliver one of the best seasons.  The cast has really discovered their comfort zone in their characters as well. Fans of the series, should definitely pick this up.

Let’s get to the meat of this release.  Warner’s spared no expenses with this release rounding up a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and four DVDs. So you can watch the series in high-def at home and bring the DVDs to leave at work. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 23 episodes.  I really look forward to revisiting this series on the go whenever I want from my iPhone. The 1080p video transfer is similar to the first season and is definitely sharp looking.  The audio included is an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is on par with the first season.  The show is all dialogue but is well-balanced and very clear.

The special features on this release though are not as impressive as the season itself. They are also only presented in standard definition.  I was also hoping for some commentary tracks included but they seem to be MIA.  “The Big Bang Theory: Physicist to the Stars”,  runs about 10 minutes and takes a look into the show’s physics consultant Dr. David Saltzberg.  “Testing the Infinite Hilarity Thesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory” is a basic behind-the-scenes look into season 2. Lastly there is a very funny “Gag Reel” included as well, though not uncensored.

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 374 minutes

Season Two: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

.

“Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait…
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!”

If you are a fan of the show, you probably find yourself, like me singing along to this theme song…even when the show is not on. “The Big Bang Theory” is easily my favorite comedy on television…period.  I have to be honest though, I was not always a fan of this show.  I remember dating back to 2007-2008, when friends of mine insisted we watch it and I just kept thinking “A show about science…Yeah right!”  Boy, was I so wrong.  This show is so much more and only has gotten better with each season. Thankfully Warner Bros has finally released this show’s first and second seasons on high-definition Blu-ray. “The Big Bang Theory” started its Blu-ray releases with season 3 back in 2010.  So luckily now we are all caught up, until the upcoming release of season 5 in September 2012.  If you are a fan of the show, this release is very welcomed and does not disappoint.

Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady have really created one of the most unique and funniest shows on television.  It is packed with some great pop culture aspects merged with a very creative use of scientific jargon and rapid-fire dialogue (mostly courtesy of the amazing  Jim Parsons). The first season is the shortest of the series due to the Writers Guild strike of 2007, but it still is able to capture its audience.  Fall 2012 also begins the show’s sixth season and it currently shows no signs of slowing down.  In the first season, we meet Leonard and Sheldon, who are science nerds and also roommates.  When they meet their new neighbor Penny, an aspiring actress/currently waitressing at The Cheescake Factory, Leonard goes on the prowl to get her.  We also get introduced to Leonard and Sheldon’s hilarious duo of friends, Howard, who is a suave nerd and Raj, who cannot speak with women (unless he is drunk).  Overall, this season is a great kick-off to a great series.

This Blu-ray release is much more impressive over seasons 3 and 4. This is a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and 4 DVDs. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 17 episodes. When I originally saw the first season of “The Big Bang Theory”, it was not in high definition.  So it was great revisit this show on high-def Blu-ray.  The 1080p transfer is very sharp and colorful, definitely does not disappoint.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also is great but of course isn’t challenged much especially since the show is 99.9% dialogue. The special features though are a bit of a letdown, not some much in what is presented but by what is not included.  “Quantum Mechanics of The Big Bang Theory”, runs just short of 20 minutes and is a retrospective on the origins of the series.  Lorre and Prady and all the principal cast chat about the series. Lastly there is a “Gag Reel” includes, which had me literally crying.

Directed by: Jason Paul Collum
Starring: Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer
Distributed by: Breaking Glass Pictures
Release Date: August 28, 2012
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 63 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a total fan of B-horror movies & the Scream Queen era of 1980s thru early 90s. I grew up on these films and they are always going to be my favorites. Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer are definitely the original Scream Queen’s. Films like “Return of the Living Dead”, “The Slumber Party Massacre” and “Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers” were and still are some of my favorite 80’s horror films. They are timeless and only get better with age. This documentary gives some really great insight into birth of the VHS horror days and the original Scream Queens!

You can really tell that this is a real passion project for Jason Paul Collum. Linnea Quigley (“Return of the Living Dead”), Brinke Stevens (“The Slumber Party Massacre”) and Michelle Bauer (“Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers”) really seem to have a great time telling their stories of how they became cult icons of the late 1980s. It also gives insight into what they are doing now as well, so it is a great revisit into their careers. If were were a horror fan and a teenage boy in the late 80’s, then you will know how much these film’s have impacted your life. “High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era” is fun, informative and a real treat for any fan of the genre.

The unrated DVD also comes with some great special features for hardcore horror fans. There are bonus interview footage with Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer, which is definitely worth checking out. There is also fun footage from the Flashback Weekend of Horror convention Q&A. If you caught this film on television on Chiller and censored BTW, you need to see this unrated cut with all the boobs included that made 80’s horror great. Fans of classic 80’s films are going to NEED to pick up this release, no question!

Directed by: Soubi Yamamoto
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Section 23
Release Date: August 14, 2012
Running Time: 28 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

With a title like “This Boy Can Fight Aliens”, sounds strange but completely intrigued. After three back-to-back viewings of this film, I am still not quite sure I completely understand what I watched. I am not stranger to anime at all. Sentai Filmworks is a great contributor to the genre. I also wish the film was incredibly longer. The running time of 30 minutes only seems to be a jumping off point for this film. I also feel like it can see a series as well. For big anime fans, this is definitely something I would recommend.

The story revolves around Kakashi, a boy with no memory of his past.  He lives in a world where aliens come everyday to fight. Kakashi is the one who can take on the aliens. Though with losing his memory also forgot the knowledge of how to actually use his powers. It is up to his friends to help him regain his powers and remember who he is in order to save them from the aliens.

The special features are not the greatest but still worth checking out. There is a few early work shorts from director Soubi Yamamoto. They are three really cool mini-features but I would have liked to see more. There is also a brief interview with Soubi Yamamoto as well. Overall the film is visually super cool and very interesting. Would have loved to review this on Blu-ray since it probably looks mega-cool.

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