Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong
Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Ciarán Hinds, Simon McBurney
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release date: March 20, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 127 minutes

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

I do not think I have been as confused during a movie as I was with “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”.  I even found myself rewinding back to try and figure it out.  I know the film was a spy picture with a lot of surprises but this was a little too much for me.  It was not the worst movie I saw last year though, it packed some really fantastic performances.  Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt really brought their A-game and really transformed into their characters.

This is the second film from director Tomas Alfredson, who previously directed the original Swedish horror film “Let the Right One In”.  The film is a takes place in 1973 London during the height of the Cold War.  It is also based on the best selling novel by John le Carre. It focuses on an attempt to capture a Russian mole inside Britain’s MI6 organization. It goes wrong and it is up to Smiley (Oldman) to get to the bottom of it.  But who can be trusted?

The Blu-ray itself though is very impressive posting an really clear and sharp 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also impressive especially during the films action scenes.  This release besides the Blu-ray disc, also comes packaged with a DVD of the film and an Ultraviolet digital copy.  The Blu-ray also takes advantage of the following cool features: pocketBLU app and BD Live.

The special features are worth checking out despite enjoying the film or not.  It is packed with great interviews from actors Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy, irector Tomas Alfredson and screenwriter Peter Straughan.  Each interview runs about 7-8 minutes give or take.  There are five deleted scenes, short and totally about 6 minutes.  There are also four short featurettes, including “Smiley”, “Inside the Circus”, “Shadow World” and “John Le Carre”.  Lastly there is also a photo gallery and teaser and full trailers included.

Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
Starring: Beat Takeshi, Chiaki Kuriyama
Number of discs: 4
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 368 minutes

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

It is really sad that it took this film this long to get released properly in the US. “Battle Royale” has been proclaimed by many as “One Of The Most Controversial Film Series Of All Time”. It is definitely that for sure…and then some. The reason for this release occurs due to the unbelievable hype from the upcoming movie “The Hunger Games”. There has been talks of doing a US version of “Battle Royale” for many years but those were silenced since “The Hunger Games” came along. They are relatively similar in a sense besides the fact that “Battle Royale” is a no-holds barred kick-ass movie not backed by a teeny-bopper/Twilight-esque following like with “The Hunger Games”. Nonetheless, I am happy to finally see this film and its sequel “Battle Royale II: Requiem” released in the America and in glorious high definition.  So if you enjoy “The Hunger Games”, you should enjoy this release as well, no question.

The complete collection consists of four discs within fantastic case/box. The box comes with great photos from the films through the case. The first disc is the director’s cut of “Battle Royale”. The second disc is the theatrical cut of “Battle Royale”. The third disc is the sequel “Battle Royale II: Requiem”, less superior that the first but still very enjoyable. The fourth and final disc is jam packed with bonus content. The video resolution looks great with its 1080p transfer, with its original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. The audio is also fantastic specifically with its Japanese track boasting a very impressive Dolby TrueHD 7.1. The English dubbed track only included a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

Kinji Fukasaku’s violet yet poetic “Battle Royale” follow a group of Junior High students forced by the government to hunt and kill their classmates for sport. Sounds similar to “The Hunger Games” huh? When they are flown to a remote island, the rules are laid out for the game. Each student is put in a group with another student, given a weapon and set against their fellow classmates. Only one group will be allowed to leave the island alive. Of course what separates this from “The Hunger Games” is that one your team member is killed the device around the team members neck will explode in a few seconds.

“Battle Royale II: Requiem” follows right about the events of the first film. The survivors of previous Battles Royale, led by Shuya Nanahara have formed a rebel group called the “Wild Seven”. A class of teenagers are kidnapped by the Japanese government again. Instead of being forced to kill each other, like the first film, the students are sent off to war and ordered to attack and kill terrorist group and its leader.

The special features on this release are so fantastic and include more than 3 hours of extras. The main issue with these is that they are only presented on DVD, it would have been great to see these presented on Blu-ray and in high definition. The extras includes the following: The Making of Battle Royale, TV Spot: Tarantino Version, Basketball Scene Rehearsals, Tokyo International Film Festival 2000, Special Edition TV Spot, Original Theatrical Trailer, Battle Royale Documentary, Special Effects Comparison Featurette, Filming On-Set, Behind-The-Scenes Featurette, Audition & Rehearsal Footage, Instructional Video: Birthday Version, Battle Royale Press Conference. If you previously purchased the Special Edition International versions, then this is nothing new here just with subtitles now.

Directed by: Ray Austin
Starring: Ann Michelle, Vicki Michelle, Keith Buckley, Patricia Haines, James Chase
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Kino Lorber/Redemption
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

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

Redemption does it again! The Blu-ray release of “Virgin Witch” is fantastic.  It was mastered in HD from the original 35MM negative.  You get such quality with the film and know that it is well taken care of when you see a release from Redemption. The 1.66:1 1920x1080p transfer is extremely sharp and clear.  The audio is also very notable working really well with Ted Dicks fantastic/haunting score.  Ann and Vicki Michelle are just so amazing together, not to mention quite a sight to look at.

The film follows Christine (Ann Michelle) and her sister Betty (Vicki Michelle) during their trip to London.  Christine get a job modelling at Sybil Waite’s talent agency.   The girls take a trip into the country to spend the weekend and for a photo shoot. Though we find out that Sybil (Patricia Haines) has more plans then she is letting up.  It turns out that the castle where they are staying is witches’ coven and they are looking for two new virgin recruits.

Like past releases from Redemption, unfortunately the special features do not match this fantastic release.  There is only a photo gallery and trailer included. In the future if they are able to produce a wonderful remastered edition of this great films and then top it off with some amazing special features, Redemption will be on their way to rule the world. Horror fans needs to pick this up, it is a must purchase.

MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 70 minutes

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

With my daughter two months away from being born, I look at the film from a different stand point then I normally would. This is an instant hit with kids, especially girls, they will easily eat it up. Lalaloopsy dolls are one hot ticket and are extremely popular with kids. What better than to make a full-length film to cash in on the success. Growing up in the 80’s this reminds me of a modern day “Strawberry Shortcake”. I wouldn’t be surprised if this franchise makes its way to the small screen in a TV series any day now. Either way if you have kids, this will be a must purchase.

When Pillow Featherbed goes missing, the Lalaloopsy girls set out on an adventure to find their friend. This is the first (of I am sure many coming) full-length features and it definitely includes many surprises and challenges for our girls.  It is also a very smart and makes the kids think while watching and figure out problems like dealing with a pending thunderstorm.  Each girl uses their individual abilities and talents and they realize that working together is the best way to find their last friend in time.

For a kids film, I am impressed that there are special features included on this film. There is five additional mini adventures with the Lalaloopsy group. There is also a sing-a-long included. All of these features will easily provides kids busy for a while they hang out with favorites like Jewel Sparkles, Bea Spells-a-Lot, Crumbs Sugar Cookie, Spot Splatter Splash and many more.

Directed by: Robert Kline
Starring: Betty White
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 89 minutes

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Alright, I know everyone thinks that Betty White is a national treasure but I don’t. Don’t get me wrong she is loveable and very entertaining, especially in her prime days. But I think recently she has been in the spotlight quite a bit, a little too much for me. To make it worse in the whole 90 minutes she is only it in maybe 10 minutes tops. It is mostly about animals and their conservation. It plays like a 90 minute infomercial.

Even though, I feel that Betty White is not my favorite, in this I think the best parts where when she shared her experiences about the animals and discusses her devotion to them. The rest of the film travels to national parks, zoos and aquariums without her just meeting different animals. It tries to teach about their conversation but just comes off as preachy and overall is barely watchable.

The release does not include any special features at all, not that I could honestly bare any more. I think that this could have actually succeeded if it was more like a travel program and we followed Betty from place to place and having her narrate the film. I believe this could have at least made this watchable. I won’t be able to get my 90 minutes back on this one. Instead I would suggest watching Discovery Channel and actually learn something.

Directed by: Howie Askins
Starring: Ryan McCoy, Brett Rosenberg and Abigail Richie
Distributed by: Showbox Home Entertainment
Classification: 15
Release Date: March 12, 2012
Running Time: 76 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Found-footage movies are exploding in the horror genre and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Following in the like of recent films “Paranormal Activity” and “[REC]”, “Evidence” is a great combination of both films. It is a rare to actually see an original idea recently in Hollywood, especially in the found footage genre but this one does it well.  It actually reminds me a little bit of the recent television series “The River”, due to its crazy twists.  Ryan McCoy not only stars but only wrote the film and it is great to see this unique twist on the genre. It packs some great gore and also some good spooks.

The film follows four friends as they set out to film a documentary during a camping trip in the wilderness. When the group decides to camp out during the first night, that is when things take a turn for the worse.  They hear screams and feel like something is lurking in the shadows.  When one of their friends goes missing, the group realizes that they are being hunted…but by what?  The group needs to find out a way to survive before it is too late.

Some films have twists but this film literally has a 360 flip! It feels almost like two different movies in the second half. Make sure that you watch ALL the way through the credits, this film keeps going and going. Once you think it is over it only get more crazy and fucked up. This film has only currently been release on DVD in the UK so be sure to pick it up if possible or you can try and win it during out DVD giveaway contest.  Horror fans are going to want to see this film, it will definitely not disappoint.

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date: March 13, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 107 minutes

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

When I first saw “The Adventures of Tintin”, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The trailer looked “just-ok”. Let me tell you, once I saw it I was blown away. Steven Spielberg’s films have been hit and miss the last few years but this was a sure fire hit. I loved it so much and in fact was one of my favorites from 2011. The performance capture in the film was just so astounding. Some of the action scenes in the film were absolutely breathtaking. This film is not all action though it is also very funny as well. You can tell that a lot of time and effort when into making this film look amazing. I also originally saw it in 3D and I felt it really worked well with the film. If you have a chance to see the film in 3D, I would suggest you checking it out rather than this 2D version. The 2D version still works but the effects really get a lot of depth in 3D and just feels so much more exciting.

The film follows Tintin (Jamie Bell) a young reporter and his dog as they in pursuit for a mysterious model ship. The two travel from Europe to the Sahara and Morocco in hopes to solve the case. They meet up with drunken captain, Haddock (Andy Serkis), who aids them in their search. The team find that Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig), has plans to also find this model ship since it holds the key to finding a long lost treasure. Due to the lack of interest in the US for this film, I am not sure if there will be future additions to the series but I really hope so because this could make such a great franchise.

The film looks perfect in video and really shines. It also looks the best with its performance capture, easily the best that I have seen to date. The audio is beyond amazing DTS-HD MA 7.1 track. This is becoming a tradition for Paramount who has also included 7.1 for “Hugo” and “Puss in Boots”. Besides the Blu-ray copy of the film, this release also includes a DVD Copy, an Ultraviolet digital copy and BD-Live. These are all great features and really gives many options for this film to watch.

The special features includes in this release are great but missing any commentary tracks from Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson. There is a two part feature called “Toasting Tintin” which celebrates the beginning and the end of the film’s production. “The Journey to Tintin” is a short feature with director Steven Spielberg chatting about his road to bringing “Tintin” to the big screen. “The World of Tintin” is a look into the character of Tintin himself. “The Who’s Who of Tintin” focuses on the character and the performance capture in the film. “Tintin: Conceptual Design” focuses on how the film wanted to stay true to the original Hergé design. “Tintin: In the Volume” is a piece on shooting in 3D and focusing on the production. “Snowy: From Beginning to End” focuses on the dog from the page to the screen. “Animating Tintin” is an in depth look into the films animation. “Tintin: The Score” is a feature on composer John Williams Lastly “Collecting Tintin” is a short features on the films toys.

Directed by: Ralph Nelson
Starring: Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Fredric March
Distributed by: Warner Bros Archive
MPAA Rating: G
Running Time: 97 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Jim Brown is always known for being bad ass, this film just continues to prove it. I came into this career late experiencing “Original Gangstas” first, even then he was still awesome. This film focuses on a small town with a black sheriff that is taking over. Of course the racist town does not like the idea and set out to cause issues. Jim Brown is perfect for this role and really kick some major ass. Fans of “Naked Gun”, should enjoy this film for a truly amazing performance from George Kennedy. He is one tough son-bitch in this movie and joins up with Brown’s character to help keep the town in order.

I have no idea how this film is rated G because it deals with some real tough issues like rape and murder but it is not called “Tick…Tick…Tick…” for no reason.  Once this film gets started it is a slow burn to the amazing conclusion. WB Archive is known best for their remastering of classics and releasing them on DVD. This film is not different and looks great on DVD. It also includes a great widescreen transfer 16×9 2.40:1 of the film. The audio is also very sharp and clear. Like all releases though from Warner Archive, there are no special features. But since this film is not currently available on DVD at all this is a real treat on its own. If you are fan of Jim Brown, this is a must purchase for sure. You can only get for the WBShop, here.

Synopsis: Ralph Nelson, director of Lilies of the Field, returns to the subject of race relations in America for a thoroughly different take in Tick…Tick…Tick…. Tensions are taken off the back-burner slow simmer and are placed on full boil in Tick…Tick…Tick…’s tale of a black Southern sheriff trapped between the rock and a hard place of two communities separated by skin color and decades of bigotry. Newly elected, Sheriff Jimmy Price (Jim Brown) offers no favors or privileges to either community, and quickly earns the ire of both. Warned by the mayor against consulting outsiders (the great Fredric March in his penultimate film performance), Price navigates the tensions until one arrest places him directly in the eye of a hurricane of hate. With only the former sheriff to support him (George Kennedy) Price must try to defuse the tensions before the town explodes.

Directed by: Jonathan Kaplan
Starring: Jim Brown
Distributed by: Warner Bros Archive
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 91 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Jim Brown is one bad motherfucker…period. Everyone knows that. They do not make movies like this anymore like they used to back in the 70’s. It is not only extremely gritty but also very rough around the edges.  I have seen plenty of prison movies and this one just takes the cake.  It is a great combination of both between a heist movie and also a prison movie.  It is also action packed and suspenseful, due to the fantastic score from Luther Henderson.  I really enjoyed this and look forward to future viewings.

Fans of genre films needs to keep an eye out for Dick Miller, one of my favorites.  WB Archive is known best for their remastering of classics and releasing them on DVD.  This film is not different and looks great on DVD.  It also includes a great widescreen transfer 16×9 1.85:1 of the film.   The audio is also very sharp and clear.  Like all releases though from Warner Archive, there are no special features.  But since this film is not currently available on DVD at all this is a real treat on its own.  If you are fan of Jim Brown, this is a must purchase for sure. You can only get for the WBShop, here.

Synopsis: $1.5 million cached in a secret stash. And only Curtis Hook (Jim Brown) knows where it’s at. The hitch? He’s tied up doing time in the stir, and his hidden kitty’s spot is scheduled for demolition. Looks like Curtis is going over the wall. Too bad for him there’s a legion of mooks and mugs anxious to know what Curtis did with the stolen mob moolah. And if he can survive his fellow cons, he still needs to get past the corrupt screws “guarding” the slam’s inmates. What good is a trunk full of bucks when your life ain’t worth a dime? The Slams was an early effort by prolific indie turned journeyman pro Jonathan Kaplan, whose many credits include the cult favorites White Line Fever and Over the Edge (featuring Kaplan’s discovery, Matt Dillon). His more mainstream accomplishments include directing Jodie Foster’s Oscar® winning performance in The Accused. The Slams also features a rare movie score from legendary Broadway arranger Luther Henderson.

Directed by: Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Sony Pictures
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 91 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. It is easily, Monty Python’s best movie, it just never gets old. I was really looking forward to the Blu-ray release of this film. Don’t forget though “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was filmed over almost 40 years ago, so the 1080p transfer isn’t perfect but it is DAMN impressive. There is a little grain in the video but it can be overlooked easily since everything else is perfect. The audio track is also very impressive including an DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and also the original 2.0 mono for those who enjoy. Overall, I really enjoyed watching this in high definition.

This Blu-ray also comes packed with many great features including an Ultraviolet digital copy and BD-Live. There is also a feature called “The Holy Book of Days Second Screen”, which uses an iPad to “experience the adventure of shooting Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. It takes you through the 28 days on location with never-before-seen outtakes, stills, original script, diaries, sketches, sounds, and more. This is a really cool feature. In fact there is a sticker on the Blu-ray case issues $5.00 rebate for purchasing the app and the movie, so it makes this a total no-brainer if you have an iPad.

There aren’t a ton of HD special features for this release but what is included is great and will satisfy fans. There are about 13 minutes of “Lost Animations” which is shared by co-director Terry Gilliam. This is exclusive for this Blu-ray release. Included are “Meanwhile, King Arthur & Sir Bedevere…”, “Elephant & Castle; Run Away!”, “The Tale of Sir Robin” and “The Tale of Sir Lancelot”. I am a big fan of Gilliam’s animation and really enjoyed this. There are also almost 20 minutes of high def outtakes & extended scenes including “Sir Robin & The Three Headed Knight”, “Constitutional Peasants”, “Get On With It!”, “Shorter Takes”, “Old Crone, Wedding Slaughter”, and “Lots of Very Silly Bits”.

A major highlight of this Blu-ray also comes from the audio commentary tracks. The first features directors Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones as they discuss the film’s production. It ranges from everything including locations to the cast and the film’s cult following. It is also funny and very entertaining. The next commentary includes the remaining Python with John Cleese, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin. It is much lighter than the first production filled commentary. The group rehash memories and just seem like they are having fun. I would have liked to heard the madness of having the whole group do a commentary track. Overall though these are both equally good and worth checking out for sure.

The rest of the special features are presented in standard definition aka DVD quality. “Quest for the Holy Grail Locations” runs just over 45 minutes and shows Michael Palin and Terry Jones touring the shooting locations today. “Lego Knights” is a recreation of the scene “Camelot’s a silly place” in Lego format. “Japanese Version” includes two classic scenes dubbed in Japanese “The French Castle” and “The Knights of Ni”. “Coconuts” is a laugh riot teaching the equine style. “BBC Film Night” is a archive report from December 19, 1974 including an inside look at the making of the movie, interviews and footage from the set. There is also three sing-a-longs includes to add during the film for “Knights of the Round Table”, “Sir Robin”, and “Monks Chant”. Highly recommended…at least for the first two. Lastly thre is a photo gallery, the US 2001 Re-Release Trailer and the Holy Grail Blu-ray Credits included.

Directed by: Fred M. Andrews
Starring: Sid Haig, Mehcad Brooks, Serinda Swan, Amanda Fuller
Distributed by: Arc Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Release date: March 6, 2012
Running time: 93 minutes

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

This is one of those movies, that get better with each viewing. When I originally saw the film “Hatchet”, I wasn’t proclaiming it to be my new favorite horror film but now I absolutely love it after many viewings. This film reminds me of that. It has fun performances by Mehcad Brooks (Eggs from “True Blood”), Serinda Swan (TRON: Legacy). Fun fact, they are real life husband and wife. Of course, horror legend Sig Haig has a fun role as well, almost channeling his Capt. Spaulding from “House of 1000 Corpses”. Overall the film has problem but I still enjoyed it second time around. I am just shocked that Arc Entertainment did not release this on HD Blu-ray.

The story follows six friends who take a road trip and end up stopping at a hillbilly gas station, owned by Chopper (Sid Haig). They read about the legend of Grimley, who went mad after his sister/wife was killed by an alligator. During his madness he is said to have transformed and lurked the swamps. The group decided (without their best judgement, obviously) to visit Grimley old house. Of course that’s where things go terrible wrong.

This film was given a semi-wide theatrical release but did not catch on with audiences. I really thought that the film had a terrible poster to start with. The DVD cover of this release is much better and definitely makes you want to watch it just from that alone. It also channels the cult classic “Feast”, which I also really enjoyed. The special effects are cheesy but I believe that adds to the charm of the film. You shouldn’t be expecting much and if you feel that way you will enjoy this. The special features are lacking with three featurettes about the film’s production. The first is called “Making the Monster”, which is self-explanatory. The second is “On the Bayou”, focusing shooting on location.  The last is about “The Filmmakers”.  They are worth checking out if you enjoyed the film but run a little short overall.

Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Starring: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto, Stephen Dorff, Kellan Lutz
Distributed: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 110 minutes

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

When I originally saw trailers to this film, I was the least interested. The film looked cool but really nothing special. Well I was really pleasantly surprised as I really enjoyed it. It was shot beautifully with fantastic CG backdrops. The film was converted into 3D and really shines on its Blu-ray presentation. The image is absolutely crystal clear and really looks great in 3D. The audio packs an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, in fact I had to turn down my speakers due to how impressive the sound was. To round up this fantastic release besides the 3D Blu-ray, this also includes a 2D Blu-ray and a digital copy.

This film follows Theseus (Henry Cavill), who is a villager that has been chosen by the gods to save mankind. After receiving a vision, the oracle Phaedra (Freida Pinto), finds out that Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is on a mission to find the legendary Epirus Bow in order to defeat the gods. With the help of Phaedra, Theseus joins up with a group of warriors in order to find the bow, defeat Hyperion and save mankind.

The special features are impressive but nothing is found on the 3D disc. The first is called “It’s No Myth”, it is a short featurette on Greek myth. “Caravaggio Meets Fight Club – Tarsem’s Vision” is a 20 minute four-part behind the scenes look at the production. There is an alternate opening and two alternate endings for the film as well. The opening is called “Young Theseus” and runs about 12 minutes and focues on a young Theseus before he meets John Hurt’s character. The ending is called “This is Our Last Embrace” runs about 9 minutes. I actually prefer it, it includes an extended death of Hyperion and more battle from the film’s final scene. The other ending is alternate death for Hyperion. There are about eight each running about a minute. Lastly there is a comic feature called “Immortals: Gods and Heroes”, worth checking out.

Directed by: Wes Craven
Starring: Michael Berryman, Penny Johnson, Tamara Stafford, Kevin Spirtas, John Bloom
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Kino Lorber/Redemption
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 86 minutes

Remastered Edition: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Let’s start with the fact that everyone including Wes Craven himself stated that this film is terrible and doesn’t live up to the original. It has been a few years since I last watched this and I still enjoyed it for the most part, if not just for its campy horror. I am really hit or miss with Craven’s earlier work and I absolutely hate all of his recent work. Craven’s first “Hills Have Eyes is great and definitely a cult classic but I actually prefer the recent remake “The Hills Have Eyes”. This films main fault is the lack of direction and use of multiple flashbacks to the first film, even the dog has a flashback (no, that is not a typo, he really does). This one is not perfect but it is not terrible either, overall campy fun.

This follows a group of bikers who head into the desert to attempt to travel to a a biker race which happens to be close to the events of the first film. Of course they go off the path and try and take a shortcut and they met up with with our cannibalistic desert friends from the first film. It turns out that one of the girls in the group was actually a member of the cannibal family that escaped after the first film. So it turns into a family reunion of sorts. Though things aren’t happy as they bikers start getting hunted by the desert crazies.

Redemption really went to town with the Blu-ray remastered edition. It looks great in HD and includes a newly transferred master restored from original 35mm negative. It is very impressive and even includes its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The special features though are MIA and lacking besides a photo gallery and a trailer. I would have loved to seen much more in this area to round up a great release otherwise.

Directed by: Malcolm Mowbray
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Jesse Plemons, Melinda McGraw, Mark Harelik
Distributed by: Kino Lorber Films
MPAA Rating: R
DVD Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When I saw that this film was starring Jeffrey Tambor, I jumped at the chance to see him take the deserving starring role. I have always been a fan of his work. Well, this film is fun but definitely not his best work. The film plays like a stage play and is not able to break out of its shell. It would make a great play but doesn’t work as a movie. It runs long at only 88 minutes and ends up going nowhere. I did enjoy the performances though from Jesse Plemons and Melinda McGraw very much as well though. The film overall though just never nails any jokes well and caused me to lose interest very quickly.

We met famed director Harris Chappell (Jeffrey Tambor), who returns to New York to have a comeback on Broadway after his career in Hollywood flopped. He is having dinner with his ex, Didi (Melinda McGraw) and unknown starting actor Spencer (Jesse Plemons) with hopes to plan his triumphant comeback. Of course the night does not go well when they are plagued by one issue after another at the restaurant. Hilarity is suppose to ensue but never really gets there.

The Blu-ray presentation wasn’t anything special. It was presented in 1080p transfer and looks good but not spectacular. Since the film is all dialogue, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track doesn’t really get to shine but it does work well with the score. The special features are baron like this film including only a photo gallery and the theatrical trailer.

Directed by: Alex Zamm
Starring: Larry The Cable Guy, David MacKey, Lucius Baston
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 6, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 90 minutes

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

Did the world really need a sequel to “The Tooth Fairy”?  I honestly have no idea why this film was made. More importantly, I just felt really bad for Larry the Cable Guy for having to star in this extremely low budget crappy sequel. The Rock’s “The Tooth Fairy” carried a $48 million dollar budget, I would honestly be surprises if this cost anywhere above $5 million. I wanted to think that this was a least “cute” but it was very painful to watch overall. I think even kids will easily lose attention watching this.

The film follows a child in adult’s clothes, Larry Guthrie, who chooses a bowling tournament over this girlfriend Brooke. He tries to win her back by helping out with her after school program, though he ends up telling a child that the tooth fairy doesn’t exist. That night Larry get’s taken to fairy world and is told that he has to collect ten teeth or he will loose his most precious memory. He continues to try to win back his ex-girlfriend while playing tooth fairy at night.  Overall this was really hard to watch fully through.

The Blu-ray presentation was nothing special at all.  Decent video and audio at best. The special features are useless also just like this movie is. The first is called “Why Do I Lose My Baby Teeth?” and is taught by Larry. “Return to Fairyland – Making Tooth Fairy 2” is a sad behind the scenes featurette. “Larry the Hairy Fairy” features Larry messing around in his tutu. “Introducing Crusher the Pig” focuses on the cute pig from the film. Lastly there are a few deleted scenes and alternate takes, which run about 10 minutes but are only in standard definition.