Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Starring: Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Russ Banham, Kristine DeBell
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: Jun 12, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Bill Murray, especially in his early days.  “Meatballs” is his first film and introduced us to his zany personality.  It is one of the best summer camp films ever made in fact, along with “Wet Hot American Summer”, which I am sure it influenced. The film still holds up after all these years and is funny and entertaining.  It is not a film I would necessarily rush out to buy on Blu-ray but for the low price, it is worth the purchase.

Bill Murray stars as Tripper, the over-the-top trainer of a motley crew of camp counselors.  Though  Tripper is just barely more mature than the kids he’s is paid to look after. Even though Tripper is a bit of a screw-up he proves to still have a heart of gold and takes a special interest in camper Rudy.  It will surely be a summer that they will never forget.

The Blu-ray presentation is decent but nothing to write home about.  The 1080p transfer looks good for a comedy from 1979 and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.  The audio has a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which isn’t amazing but worth for the antics in the film.  The special features are lacking a bit with only including an audio track with Director Ivan Reitman and Co-Writer and Co-Producer Dan Goldberg.  It is fun and informative still but those looking for more will be disappointed.

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Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh
Starring: Thomas Mann, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Oliver Cooper
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

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

Maybe I am getting old but to have a film with this kind of warning…I just shake my head.”No one should attempt to recreate or re-enact any of the scenes, stunts or general activities portrayed in the film.”  I have seen all the “Jackass” movies and they do not come even close to this trash.  The film has aimed to be a comedy but is jokeless, it contains no plot and just proves that our teen society is out of control.  I can tell you one thing my kid will never see this film, its like having too much candy…it will rot your brain.

Since the film shot with handcam, it is choppy and raw, so it is not really a film that shines on Blu-ray.  It is still presented well in its 1080p transfer.  It’s audio contains a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which work with the film’s madness.  Warner’s delivered the goods like normally, including a Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy.

The special features are terrible just like the film.  “The Pasadena Three” is a featurette on the three idiot teens and how they got their roles “acting”, if you can call it that. “Declassified” is a basic behind-the-scenes look at the production or lack their of.  There is “Xpensive: Tallying Up the Damages” which looks into the aftermath of the crazy night. Lastly there is two cuts of the film, the theatrical and the extended cut.  Though the theatrical cut was enough “Project X” for me for a lifetime.

Premise: “Project X” is an out-of-control comedy that follows a group of buds who set out to throw the most epic 17th birthday party ever. The film documents a high school party that gets completely out of control, shot from the perspective of the digital cameras that the kids have with them.

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Directed by: Michael R. Roskam
Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jeroen Perceval, Jeanne Dandoy
Distributed by: Image Enterainment
Release Date: June 26, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 124 minutes

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

“Bullhead” was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in the 84th Academy Awards, last year.  The film is dark and intense though runs a little long.  Matthias Schoenaerts does give a very powerful performance though and definitely gained my notice from this film.  Drafthouse Films is getting a good rep for releasing some pretty great films.  This year alone it has released the awesome “The FP” and will be releasing the upcoming “THE ABCs of Death” later this year. The Blu-ray presentation is also notable with its 1080p transfer and DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 track. If you are looking for a slow-moving but decent crime film, give “Bullhead” a shot.

The film follows young cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille, who after being approached from a mafia meat trader with a shady deal gets lead down a dangerous road of revenge and torment. Jacky must confront his past when a federal agent is killed and and a mysterious secret from Jacky’s past come forward. Jacky needs to decide his path in order to final the meaning of manhood.

The special features included are very impressive as well.  Firstly there is a special collector’s edition booklet included, which seems to be a trend for Drafthouse Films.  There is a decent length behind-the-scenes featurette called “The Making of Bullhead”. There is an interview with star Matthias Schoenaerts and director Michaël R. Roskam, as well as a commentary track from Roskam. Lastly included is Roskam’s 2005 Short Film starring Matthias Schoenaerts, called “The One Thing You Do”. Worth checking out.  There is also a digital copy of the film included for download.

Directed by: Michel Hazanavicius
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller
Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Release Date: Jun 26, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 100 minutes

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

“The Artist” won Best Picture in the last year’s 84th Academy Awards. I love the film but it was not my favorite film of the year. It is unique, obviously, since it is a silent/B&W period film and don’t take me wrong it is really quite enjoyable. Berenice Bejo is so cute and completely lovable.  She has this amazing film presence. Jean Dujardin deserved his Best Actor award, since what he did in this film was extremely challenging and he gave an amazing performance. “The Artist” not only has comedy, it also has romance and plenty of drama. So if you can handle a  wordless film driven by an amazing score, then I would highly recommend this, just don’t expect to see 2011’s best film.

The film takes place in a 1927 Hollywood. Silent movie superstar, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is facing the biggest challenge of his career…the rise of the talkies. This rise is also leading to his fall into oblivion. Though it has a complete opposite effect for his love interest the young Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). She started off as an extra with George but hits stardom big with the talkies. Through these stories our two stars destinies are intertwined.

The Blu-ray comes in a really neat slipcase cause, that is definitely worth mentioning. This release also comes with a Blu-ray + UltraViolet streaming copy, which I absolutely love. The video resolution looks stunning and sharp with its B&W 1080p transfer, presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio included is phenomenal with its Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. It is funny when you comment on a silent film’s audio track as being great…but the score just sounds amazing.

The special features are decent but lacking any commentary tracks. There is a Q&A with the Filmmakers and Cast, which is fun. “The Artist: The Making Of A Hollywood Love Story” is a great behind-the-scenes look at the production. “Hollywood As A Character: The Locations of The Artist” takes a look at the filming locations showcasing them as members of the cast in a sense. Lastly there is a very funny Blooper Reel included. Overall decent but I expected a little more from the Best Picture of the Year’s Blu-ray release.

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Directed by: David Blair
Starring: Stephen Graham, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, David O’Hara
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Well Go USA
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 108 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

“Best Laid Plans” caught my eye due to the fact it is an urban reworking loosely inspired by John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men”..but meets MMA fighting.  The film itself is slow-paced in the beginning but is packed with really wonderful performances.  Stephen Graham, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and David O’Hara are absolutely fantastic in this film.  I mean fantastic!  David Blair is a amazing director and he really nails it with this powerful British Drama.  I would highly recommend this film, especially for MMA fans.

The film revolves around two friends, Danny (Stephen Graham) and Joseph (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who is the muscle of the two but has a mental age of seven.  Danny gets really deep in debt to a crime boss and had no choice but to use Joseph in a series of underground cage fights in order to help Danny pay his debt.

The film is very thrilling and makes you want to re-watch a second time the minute it ends.  It is also very gritty and the violence is very raw and real.  Although the film does not contain any special features at all, Well-Go USA released this film as a combo pack.  There is a Blu-ray and DVD disc included in this set.  I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film overall I am very glad I saw it and I highly recommend it.  BTW did I mention that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje gives one of his best performances of his career.

Directed by & Starring: Jackie Chan
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Running Time: 386 minutes

Operation Condor: 3 out of 5 stars
Operation Condor- Armour of God 2: 3 out of 5 stars
Jackie Chan’s Project A: 3 out of 5 stars
Jackie Chan’s Project A2: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I remember dating back to 1994 when I first saw Jackie Chan’s “Rumble in the Bronx”, still one of my favorites. It changed my life and introduced me to kung-fu films. Since then Jackie’s films have been ported to the US over the years. The films included in this set are not his best but are still entertaining. Though since they are American versions of the films, they are badly cut and edited. They also are only available with a dubbed track not the original language with subtitles. Though with the low price, fans of Jackie Chan will enjoy a chance to see this films on Blu-ray.

“Operation Condor” features Jackie Chan as the world’s greatest secret agent, code name Condor, who is sent to track down stolen Nazi gold. “Operation Condor: Armour of God 2” features Chan back as the fortune hunter whose ex-girlfriend is kidnapped and held for ransom by an evil cult. “Jackie Chan’s Project A” features Chan as Dragon, a coast guard officer on patrol in late 19th century Hong Kong, who battles with a vicious gang syndicate for control of the waters. “Jackie Chan’s Project A2” follows its predecessor where Dragon is assigned to lead the local police force but discovers and aims to remove police corruption.

The Blu-ray transfers on these films are not the greatest. They are all presented in 1080p though, which is a plus at least. The video quality on “Operation Condor 2: Armour of the Gods” is the best on the disc but it only comes with Dobly Stereo 2.0 audio track, as does “Project A”. “Project A” and “Project A2” transfers are also very grainy and rough, despite the 1080p transfer. “Operation Condor” and “Project A2” comes with Dobly Digital 5.1 surround tracks. Overall mixed results on these films, leading up to barely satisfactory. But when it comes down to it, you can find this Bluray for $10 or less and for that it is worth your money.

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Directors: Patrick Lussier, Robert Harmon
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Jason London, Jonny Lee Miller, Omar Epps, Roy Scheider
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Running Time: 364 minutes

Dracula 2000: 4 out of 5 stars
Dracula II: Ascension: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dracula III: Legacy: 3 out of 5 stars
They: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray Score: 3 out of 5 stars

The main draw for me to this release was the three “Dracula” films, all presented by Wes Craven. “Dracula 2000″ was a really clever and fun film. The two “Dracula” sequels are decent but have a direct-to-video feel, still the three together are worth the purchase alone. I was never a huge fan of “They” but it is also a decent bonus to this release. Wes Craven’s name personally to me does not bare much weight recently I feel that he has really lost his street cred…I mean have you see “Scream 4″? Nonetheless, they films are worth purchasing for horror fans, especially for the low cost.

“Dracula 2000” takes the tale of Dracula into the 21 century where a team of techno-savvy thieves break into a vault they find a crypt unopened for 100 years. Dracula is unleashed and wreaks havoc. “Dracula II: Ascension” follows a group of medical students who discover the body of the Dracula and will wish that they hadn’t. “Dracula III: Legacy” follows vampire hunters Father Uffizi and Luke as they follow Dracula back to Eastern Europe they aim to end his reign again. “They” follows a student who experienced night terrors only to find out that the monsters in their closets are real and they are coming for her.

The Blu-ray presentation of these discs are not the greatest like most Echo Bridge multi-feature releases but they are honestly worth it to have these films on Blu-ray. The first two “Dracula” films are the best two films but also the worst presented here. They both included 1080i transfers and are only equipped with Dolby Stereo 2.0 tracks. This is a bit disappointing as they have full 5.1-channel versions on the DVDs. Though “Dracula III” & “They” both are presented in 1080p and both have 5.1 surround tracks. I wish that Echo Bridge will focus on unifying their releases and include 1080p and 5.1 sound on all films in these sets. Fans of these films, will still be happy for these HD upgrades.

Directors: James D.R. Hickox, Greg Spence, Ethan Wiley, Kari Skogland
Starring: Terence Knox, Daniel Cerny, Ron Melendez, Paul Scherrer, Naomi Watts
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Entertainment
MPAA Rating R
Release Date: Nov 29, 2011
Running Time: 341 minutes

Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest: 4 out of 5 stars
Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror: 3 out of 5 stars
Children of the Corn 666: Issac’s Return: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The “Children of the Corn” series is a guilty pleasure.  The films in the franchise were never my favorite horror films but I could never say no to a new sequel.  Over the years there has been a total of eight films in this series, so this Blu-ray is just the tip of the iceberg.  Echo Bridge is behind this release, which they are very well-known for their Miramax Multi-Features.  This release is a great pick-up for horror fans, especially for its extremely low price.  It is also a great place to get all these films in one place and it is a step up from DVD for sure.

“Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest” is one of my favorites and follows a couple who adopts a pair of orphaned brothers, but the boys may not be as sweet an innocent as they seem.  “Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering” follows a young medical student who must solve the mystery that plagues the children of a small Midwestern town, starring a young Naomi Watts.  “Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror” follow six college students who take a wrong turn in a deserted rural town to discover that this place hides a murderous cult of evil children. “Children of the Corn 666: Issac’s Return” follows Hannah Martin, who while looking for parents picks up a dark stranger, who ends up assisting her in completing a sinister prophecy.

Let’s get to the Blu-ray presentation which is actually surprisingly decent.  The video transfer for “Children of the Corn 3, 4 & 6” are only presented in 1080i but honestly look pretty good. “Children of the Corn V” is presented in 1080p.  The picture has solid clarity and the colors are sharp.  It is definitely a step up from the previous DVD transfers.  The audio for all four movies include only an Dolby 2.0 Stereo track. They work though I always prefer 5.1 audio on Blu-ray, since 2.0 just screams DVD quality. Nonetheless, this is still a great purchase if you enjoy the series.

Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Scott Spiegel, P.J. Pesce
Starring: George Clooney, Marco Leonardi, Robert Patrick, Harvey Keitel, Michael Parks, Bruce Campbell
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: Nov 29, 2011
Running Time: 290 minutes

From Dusk Till Dawn: 4 out of 5 stars
Full-Tilt Boogie: 2.5 out of 5 stars
From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Blood Money: 3.5 out of 5 stars
From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“From Dusk Till Dawn” is such a great film and kick started the careers of Robert Rodriguez and George Clooney. It is such a unique and fun film. It’s two sequels, also included in this release, are good but don’t reach the same level of kick-ass. Don’t forgot the feature-length and well-respected documentary “Full-Tilt Boogie” which is also included here. These are conveniently included all on one release thanks to Echo Bridge. Now with that said, this isn’t the best presentation of the films ever but it is in high-def and for the low-price it is definitely worth the purchase. Horror fans should not miss this release!

“From Dusk Till Dawn” follows the Gecko brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) as they head south to a seedy Mexican bar to hide out in safety. Of course it isn’t just your typical strip joint and has to fight for their lives to survive from the creatures it inhabits. “Full-Tilt Boogie” is a full length documentary which goes behind the scenes of on the production of the first “From Dusk Till Dawn”. “From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Blood Money” features a gang of misfits who head to Mexico for the perfect heist. But when they cross the wrong vampire, they get involved with a lot more than they can handle. “From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter” follows Johnny Madrid, who is on the run from the hangman along with the hangman’s daughter Esmeralda by his side. They embark on an adventure that leads them straight into the fight of their lives.

All four films are presented with 1080p transfers and they looks decent at the best but are still a step up from DVD. “Full-Tilt Boogie” is easily the worst quality of the three but it doesn’t bother me because I will watching the films more often than this doc. The audio is also decent with the first and third “From Dusk Till Dawn” pack a 5.1 surround track, but the second “From Dusk Till Dawn” and “Full-Tilt Boogie” are only Stereo 2.0 tracks. Also latestly there are no special features included, if you don’t count “Full-Tilt Boogie”.

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Directed by: Shelley Lee Davies, Or Shlomi
Starring: Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: True Mind
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Running Time: 71 minutes

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

“Planeat” really cares about the planet and delivers their message well…but it plays more like I film I would be forced to watch in school. I was not completely engaged in the film overall through its 71 minutes. Though I still believe the message delivered is important and I give them some slack when it comes to quality. This film makes it case and then backs it up with a lot of evidence and research from prominent scientists.

This film asks a lot of important questions like…Why has the death rate from heart disease and cancer exploded in recent times? Why are the ice caps melting, the oceans dying and the forests being cut down as we produce the food necessary to support our burgeoning populations? These scientists have made it their life’s work to answer these questions.

If the film does nothing else it should help us inspire to make the right food choices in the future. These choices will also assist in reducing risk of heart disease and cancer…while also protecting our environment. The DVD packaging also included two recipes from Whole Foods Market’s Chef Chad Sarno.

The special features included are also interesting. There is a message from filmmakers Shelly Lee Davis and Or Shlomi. There is a 35 minutes short version of the film, which I guarantee you will be played in schools. There is a trailer and a few deleted scenes. Lastly there is an interview with philosopher Peter Singer talking about his comments on the situation.

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Universal Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Running Time: 115 minutes

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

With a cast of Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, you really can’t go wrong.  The film is action packed and really thrilling.  Whenever I see Denzel in a a role like this, it immediately sparks my interest.  I mean…the guy really knows for to succeed in playing a crazy man.  He just does it well!  The film is also shot and directed really well, thanks to Daniel Espinosa channeling his inner Oliver Stone and Michael Mann.  Normally I am not a big action movie fan but without re-creating the genre, this film is still able to delivers a fun entertaining experience.

The film follows Matt Weston (Reynolds), a rookie CIA operative, so is frustrated with his boring job of running a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. Of course everything changes for Matt when he meets  Tobin Frost (Washington), a renegade intelligence officer who had been on the run for almost a decade. When the safe house is mercenaries attack the house, Weston and Frost make a narrow escape and together must find out who they can trust.

Kudos to Universal for really delivers an ass-kicking Blu-ray.  It comes with a Blu-ray of the film, along with a DVD and a digital copy discs, as well as a Ultraviolet streaming digital copy as well.  The 1080p transfer looks awesome presented in its original aspect ratio: 2.39:1, especially with the action sequences. As does the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, which really excels with the film’s intense scenes.

The special features are very impressive overall.  To start there are a few interactive features like Universal’s first U-Control feature, which is basically a Picture-in-Picture track, features interviews with cast and crew and provides decent behind-the-scenes footage.   Secondly, Universal brings a Second Screen Experience that works with the pocket BLU app able to be downloaded to your tablet, Mac or PC,  which syncs the app with the film.

There is a decent  behind-scenes featurette called “Making Safe House”, which focuses on production and characters.  “Hand-to-Hand Action” focuses on the film’s fights with fight coordinator Olivier Schneider and his team. “Shooting the Safe House Attack” is a short look at the film’s major action scene. “Building the Rooftop Chase” takes a behind-the-scenes look at Washington and Reynolds leaping from roof to roof. “Behind the Action” is another look into the shooting film’s action sequences. “Inside the CIA” takes a look at creating Langley and at the CIA itself today.  Lastly, “Safe Harbor: Cape Town” focuses on shooting on location in Cape Town.

Directed by: Brandon Trost, Jason Trost
Starring: Jason Trost, Lee Valmassy, Art Hsu
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Running Time: 83 minutes

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

“The FP” easily has to be one of the most bizarre and unique films I have seen in many years. There is nothing out there like it. It is a crazy mix of “Step Up” with “Mad Max”. To fit my description perfectly it also features narration by James Remar (“The Warriors”), which is just perfect. The film is also from the producers of “Paranormal Activity”, which just makes it more and more interesting. Some are calling it an instant cult hit and I agree it definitely has what it takes to create that.

The film takes place in a dystopian future, focusing on a relentless turf war rages between two rival gangs for control of rural wasteland Frazier Park (aka The FP). Though this isn’t your typical gang wars since it the battles take place within a deadly arena of competitive dance-fight video game “Beat-Beat Revelation.” Right there, you might be saying to yourself “WHAAAAAA?” But it honestly works and the film is fast paced and really delivers.

The Blu-ray looks and sounds great, boasting its 1080p transfer and presented in an aspect ratio of 2:39.1. The special features included are impressive as well. “Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished: The Making of THE FP” is a decent behind-the-scenes featurette. “THE FP in The FP: A Return to Frazier Park” takes a look at the locations used for the film. There is an audio commentary from the directors, The Trost Bros., who prove this film really was a labor of love. Lastly there is a special collector’s edition booklet with Intro by Rob Zombie and Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine, it is a real treat and rare to actually have a booklet included in recent Blu-rays these days.

Directed by: Brian Robbins
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Ariel Winter, Kerry Washington
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 91 minutes

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

When it comes to Eddie Murphy, he has been hit or miss (mostly miss) recently. His decisions to constantly do kid’s films are really hurting his career. I mean if they were good kids film’s that one thing but besides “Shrek” franchise…they aren’t. This film is no different and actually has sat on the shelf since 2008. My main concern why would you have Eddie Murphy in a film where he can only speak a thousand words when he is the funniest when he goes on long-winded rants. It doesn’t seem like a smart move. Due to this the film really doesn’t deliver beyond a few chuckles.

Eddie Murphy plays Jack McCall, a literary agent who in order to sign huge client, a New Age guru, he must agree to the following the guru’s ways in order to get the contract. When a tree suddenly appears in Jack’s backyard, he finds that it loses a leaf every time Jack says speaks or writes a word. He has to choose his words carefully and aims to learn a valuable lesson on the consequences of every word we speak…Yawn.

The Blu-ray is not bad for a comedy. The 1080p transfer looks good and is presented in its original aspect ratio: 2.39:1. The audio track included is an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which sounds decent also. The special features are lacking though like the film itself. There are a whooping 11 deleted scenes included and an alternate ending. That is about it. The scenes are decent and worth a watch but nothing that could have helped the film.

Starring: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard
Number of discs: 20
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Running Time: 635 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have been watching “The Three Stooges” from since before I could walk…or probably talk (thanks to my Grandfather).  There is something about that humor that really lasts through time and never looses its laughs.  When they released this under the title of “The Ultimate Collection”, they were not joking…this is really the ultimate collection of the Three Stooges.  They cover 25 years of the Three Stooges and really captures their unique brand of humor.  Included in this set is all 190 short films, plus 11 hours of movies and other never-before-released material…like I said really the ultimate collection.  Get ready to enjoy all the eye-pokes, face slaps, hollow head knocks and knuckle cracks that you can possibly handle.

These have been properly and beautifully remastered for the best quality picture and sound. For shorts that were filmed back as far back as the 30’s, they definitely do not show it.  Great job from Sony for a great digital restoration.  You’ll experience the Stoogers  like you’ve never heard or seen them before. This collection also not only includes all of the Three Stooges Columbia shorts but also three discs of bonus material as well featuring the solo work of the Stooges!  This never-before-released bonus content features included are films “Rockin’ In The Rockies” (1945) and “Have Rocket–Will Travel” (1958) . There are also 14 Shemp Howard solo shorts, 10 Joe Besser solo shorts and 4 Curly-Joe solo shorts.  Lastly, there is also three animated shorts from Columbia as well. This is worth the purchase of the collection alone.

Besides the three discs of rare and unreleased content, the rest of the collection is split up into eight individual volumes.  The first volume covers from 1934-1936, includes the first 10 Columbia shorts, including “Punch Drunks” which made them big. Vol. 2 focuses on 1937-1939 in chronological order including 24 shorts and such classics “Dizzy Doctors”, “Saved By The Belle”, and “Calling All Curs. Vol. 3 covers what some thought to be the Golden Age from 1940-1942. Included are 23 shorts among was also a historical first featuring Moe Howard as the first American to portray Hitler on film, in 1940’s “You Nazty Spy”, which was also Moe’s personal favorite. Vol. 4 covers 1943-1945 and include 21 shorts with some of their best work, including “Micro-Phonies” (1943). Also featured are “They Stooge to Conga” (1943) and “The Yoke’s On Me” (1944), both were very controversial shorts.

Next up we have Vol. 5 which covers 1946-1948 and features 25 shorts. This period also marks the end of Curly’s career with the Stooges and the return of Shemp. Vol. 6 covers from 1949-1951, which continues with Shemp as the third Stooge. These collection of 24 shorts contain classics like “Merry Mavericks” (1951) and a reworking of “Phony Express” (1943) featuring Red Morgan. Vol. 7 features 22 shorts from 1952-1954. It was a hard time for the Stooges with the passing of Curly in 1951. Though it did still includes such classics as the first 3-D short, “Spooks!” (1953) and “Shot In The Frontier” (1954), a parody of the film “High Noon”. Lastly Vol. 8 covers the last 32 short for Columbia from 1955-1959 and marks the end of comedy era. 1955 also came with the sudden death of Shemp Howard, which caused Moe and Larry to use a stand-in on some of the shorts. This concludes 24 years and 190 shorts with Columbia.

The Three Stooges are really a comedy team that to this day remains unparalleled in both their success and popularity. I have a feeling that it will stay that way as well. They are true Hollywood legends. Their slapstick humor and physical comedy have influenced numerous icons in today’s times like Robin Williams and Jim Carrey and will continue as time goes on. Luckily for studios like Sony, we get to enjoy this complete and ultimate collection of The Three Stooges work and if you are fan of theirs this release is extremely recommended and also very affordable. Do not miss out of this wonderful release!

Starring: Breckin Meyer, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Malcolm McDowell
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Episodes: 10
Running Time: 422 minutes

Season Score: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to law shows for me it is hit and miss. The show really needs to be able to provide engaging court scenes and also provide light humor to the situations. “Franklin & Bash” does that and more. TNT really scored a hit with this show bringing it into its Summer line-up last year. The show recently started it second season and is already off to a great start. Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar really work perfectly together in this series and deliver one hell of an entertaining show. If you missed season one, be sure to pick up this season to catch up before watching season two.

The show follows Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), who are two of the most unique lawyers that practicing law. They bring the funny to the courtroom ranging from making out with a plaintiff, to fist fighting on the courtroom steps, to chugging beers as evidence. Though their unorthodox methods always seem to get results and win client’s cases. The independent duo catches the interest of attorney Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell)who asks them to join his high-powered law firm Infeld Daniels. Of course, when the duo come on board they find themselves taking the big-leagues for a ride and turning the courtroom upside down. The complete first season features guest stars Jason Alexander, Beau Bridges, Harry Hamlin and Tom Arnold.

The special features are very impressive and jam-packed. Firstly there is a never-before-released blooper reel, which is a laugh riot. There are seven behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is “Creating the Cases” focusing on the cases taken in the first season. Next “Franklin & Bash & Friendship” takes a look into the duo’s relationship. Franklin & Bash Behind-The-Scenes” takes a look into the making-of the show. “Behind the Behind” features Mark-Paul discussing the scene where he exposes his bottom. “Working for Franklin & Bash” focuses on Kumail Nanjiani and Dana Davis’ roles. “Malcolm McDowell Office Tour” is a tour of the head of Infeld Daniels law firm’s office. Lastly in the featurettes is “Man Cave Tour” is a look into the duo’s bachelor pad. To top off the amazing extras, there are three faux “Frankin & Bash” law commercials.