Directed by: George Miller
Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Pink
Sofía Vergara,Common, Hugo Weaving, Richard Carter, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPaglia
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date: March 13, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 105 minutes

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

When “Happy Feet Two” tanked at the box office, I was not shocked at all. I thought the trailers looked terrible and had no interest in it at all. Well, let me start by saying it wasn’t that bad but not great either. The best part of the movie was the visuals. The CG was so clear and I am sure this film would look amazing in 3D, especially with the krill scenes. Speaking of krill, the adventures of Will and Bill (voiced by Brad Pitt & Matt Damon) where easily the best part of the whole film. Besides that, I love Pink’s singing in the film and enjoyed the music quite a bit as well. It wasn’t all Lady GaGa and Beyonce, those peguins rocked out to some Queen and David Bowie as well. The story on the other hand was not so great.

The story follows Erik, the son of Mumble and Gloria and his adventure to find out why he is special…I think. Then there is a lot of music and dancing in between. Then a glacier traps the colony of penguins and they need to break them free with…wait for it…dancing and music. I am not really sure how George Miller does it going from films like “Mad Max” to “Babe” to “Happy Feet” and then right back to “Mad Max: Fury Road”. The Blu-ray presentation unlike the story is absolutely amazing. The video presentation is near flawless. The audio is speaker-blasting good and really maxes out its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

Like the film, the special features are lacking in the entertainment department. You have the ability to download the “Happy Feet Two Movie App” and take advantage of “Second Screen” on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. There is interactive games and sing-alongs. There are four behind-the-scenes featurettes, running about 25 minutes and are definitely aimed for kids. They are: “Helping Penguins and Pals”, “How to Draw a Penguin”, “Running with Boadicea” and “The Amazing Voices of Happy Feet Two”. What is this film without it’s music, well there are a few sing-alongs included for “The Mighty Sven,” “Bridge of Light” and “Papa Oom Mow Mow” and a look at Pink’s new song. Lastly, there is a CG-animated Looney Tunes short starring Tweetie and Sylvester called “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat”. It also includes an original song from the voice of Mel Blanc. So it is probably the best feature easily.

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Synopsis: The sequel to “Happy Feet”, the Academy Award®-winning animated smash hit, “Happy Feet Two” returns audiences to the magnificent landscape of Antarctica in Superb 3D. Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven – a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model. But things get worse when the world is shaken by powerful forces. Erik learns of his father’s “guts and grit” as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures – from tiny Krill to giant Elephant Seals – to put things right.

Directed by: Asif Kapadia
Starring: Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis
Distributed by: Arc Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Running time: 106 minutes

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

I am not a big sports fan and have never watched any Formula One racing.  The closest I have probably gotten has been watching Pixar’s “Cars” or maybe doing a ride-a-long at The Richard Petty Driving Experience. So for me this was a bit for a learning experience also about Ayrton Senna, his career and the sport. The documentary includes some really cool racing footage, especially first person camera. I felt that it real a little long and I am not sure how there is a 3+ hour version of this film that was released internationally.

This documentary follows the career of Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna. Ayrton won not only one F1 world championship but three times in his career. He was died during one of his F1 races in 1994 at young age 34. Senna is known as one of our time’s best race drivers. It is crazy that he was taken so early. The film showcases his career and will continue to pass on his legacy through the year.

The special features are a little slim but definitely are worth a watch. There are extended interviews with Senna and his peers. I really enjoyed watching the Senna Family Home Videos. There is also a commentary track with the director Asif Kapadia, writer Manish Pandey and producer James Gay-Rees. I am never a fan of commentary tracks over a documentary but it provided some interesting additional insight into Senna’s career.

Directed by: Simon Curtis
Starring: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Watson, Judi Dench
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 101 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Marilyn Monroe is one of Hollywood’s greatest treasures. This is a role that Michelle Williams was born to play. Boy, was she absolutely amazing. I wish this film was double the length just so that I can keep watching her in the film. Kenneth Branagh also gives a very charged performance and is very entertaining. The Blu-ray presentation is also very impressive. The video is sharp and very crisp with its 1080p transfer. The audio is also great DTS-HD MA 5.1 track works well with the dialogue and Alexandre Desplat’s amazing score.

The film follows recent graduate and aspiring filmmaker, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) who makes it his goal to get a job on Laurence Olivier’s (Kenneth Branagh) next film. Due to his persistence, he gets on the film and gets to work with the only and only Marilyn Monroe. Once Marilyn takes a liking to Colin and he becomes her latest interest.  The two embark on a week long fling that would change Colin life.

The special features are disappointing overall including only two extras. The film is an audio commentary from director Simon Curtis, with a not-so-exciting track. Then there is also a standard definition behind the scenes documentary, which runs about 20 minute called “The Untold Story of an American Icon”. It features a look into the production with the cast/crew. Lastly this release also includes a DVD copy as well as the Blu-ray. Great movie, weak extras.

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MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Episodes: 22
Running Time: 162 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

There is just something simple and timeless about watching a short from Tom and Jerry. I grew up watching them and now approaching 30 years old, I am still extremely entertained watching them battle each other . This DVD includes over twenty exciting shorts which not only feature Tom and Jerry but also their dog counterpart Spike. Since this is called “In the Doghouse” a lot of shorts feature around the three of them. I say one thing to Warner Brothers…keep these coming!! Can’t wait for “Tom and Jerry: Around the World” on May 1, 2012.

The twenty two shorts includes in this collection are: 24 Karat Kat, Destruction, Junction, Beefcake Tom, Bend it Like Thomas, Tom’s Photo Finish, Game Set Match, Cat Napping, Cat Fishin’, The Bodyguard, Quiet Please!, Solid Serenade, Slicked-up Pup, Puttin’ on the Dog, The Framed Cat, Tot Watchers, The Invisible Mouse, Pet Peeve, Feeding Time, DJ Jerry, Beach Bully Bingo, A Life Less Guarded, The Dog House.

These shorts are fun for the whole family guaranteed. I did really enjoy the focus of this set with Spike and his son Tyke. I have always enjoyed his voice, especially since our stars Tm and Jerry remain silent (of course besides when singing). In this release their are classic episodes like “Cat Fishin'” and ” and “The Framed Cat”, as well as newer shorts like “24 Karat Kat” and “The Dog House”. Either way you look at it this is a winning collection.

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Tom and Jerry are at it again! But there’s a new ingredient to their classic chase recipe — just add Spike! It’s hound heaven as everyone’s favorite bulldog, Spike (and son, Tyke) get in on the fun in this pup-packed collection. These 22 doggie-delightful shorts are guaranteed to have fans howling! Join Spike and Tyke in their many dealings with the fast and furious duo. Whether he’s on guard duty, or simply trying to catch a nap, you can bet that Tom & Jerry’s fur-fueled antics are guaranteed to rattle Spike’s cage. And an angry Spike usually spells hard times for Tom — with a little coaxing from Jerry, of course! Leash-up for some K9-filled fun for the entire family!

Developed by: Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone
Voices of: Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen, Fred Armisen, Jennifer Esposito, Maurice LaMarche, June Foray, Roz Ryan, Kristen Wiig
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Brothers
Episodes: 4
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 89 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Looney Tunes Show” continues to entertain with its first season. The characters Bugs, Daffy and their friends never seem sort on jokes and relatability. So far I have seen about half the season and it brings me back to the good ole days “Looney Tunes” days. As much as I enjoy the episodes, I do not enjoy these volume releases as much. Warner Brothers is only releasing four episodes at a time and with 13 episodes to go, we can expect an additional three volumes before we get to complete season one. Though this is a usual release strategy for kids shows, I just wish they would release the season in full. If you enjoy the show though, this is a must purchase.

This volume includes episodes 9-13 from the first season. “The Foghorn Leghorn Story” is a funny “Antiques Roadshow” send up featuring Bugs, Daffy, Foghorn and Yosemite, who all go at it. “Silent but Deadly” is a very funny spoof of kung-fu/superhero films, easily the best on this release. “Eligible Bachelors” features Bugs and Daffy on the auction table. Also included is a CGI Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner: “Winter Blunderland”. Bugs falls for Daffy “get rich quick” scheme in “Peel of Fortune;” There are two shorts in this episode: Merrie Melodies: “We Are in Love” with Bugs and Lola Bunny and also a CGI Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner: “Heavy Metal”. Daffy tries to date two ladies in one night in “Double Date.” Lastly it is followed by a Merrie Melodies short called: “Be Polite” by Mac and Tosh featuring Marvin the Martian and another CGI Wile E. Coyote and Road runner short: “Wile E. Sisyphus”.

The Looney Tunes Show: Season 1, Volume 3 is available on DVD 3/13 at  http://bit.ly/w4eV5m.
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Synopsis: A new half-hour animated comedy series starring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. No longer confined to 7-minute shorts, Bugs and Daffy are out of the woods and living in the suburbs among such colorful neighbors as Yosemite Sam, Granny, Tweety and Sylvester. In addition to each episode’s main story, The Looney Tunes Show also features “cartoons within a cartoon.” The Tasmanian Devil, Speedy Gonzales, Marvin the Martian and other classic characters sing original songs in two-minute music videos called Merrie Melodies. The legendary Looney Tunes cartoons are getting a 21st century relaunch and a CGI overhaul for a new generation.

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Directed by: Jason Reitman
Starring: Charlize Theron, Patton Oswalt, Patrick Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
Release date: March 13, 2012
Running Time: 94 minutes

Film: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Watching this film, the only thing I could keep thinking is that I feel bad really bad for the upcoming “The Evil Dead” remake since Diablo Cody is putting her spin on the film. Didn’t anybody see “Jennifer’s Body”. “Young Adult” was barely watchable and made only possible by the cast performances. I am beginning to think that the quirky success of Diablo’s writing in “Juno” was a fluke. The Blu-ray presentation is decent overall but nothing stunning. The video looks sharp and the audio track includes an DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and works well with the music. Charlize Theron definitely does a good job in her role but Patton Oswalt continues to prove that he can do drama really well. If anyone saw his film “Big Fan”, this is another great role for him. Too bad he can’t save this film.

The film follows the most depressing woman ever, Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron), who is a divorced bitter ghost writer of a popular young adult novels. While procrastinating to finish the last book of the canceled series, she gets an idea to steal back her high school boyfriend Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). One problem he is married and recently had a child. Mavis heads back to her hometown of Mercury, Minnesota to try and win him back and in the process realizes what a mess that her life truly is.

The special features are decent but nothing special. The audio commentary track includes Director Jason Reitman, Director of Photography Eric Steelberg, and First Assistant Director/Associate Producer Jason A. Blumenfeld, it provides basic plot and production information. The best feature is “Misery Loves Company: The Making of Young Adult”, it runs just shy of 20 minutes and really get into the film’s story with Diablo Cody and the production with Jason Reitman. “The Awful Truth: Deconstructing a Scene” is a character review with Diablo Cody. There is a 45 minute Q&A with Janet Maslin & Jason Reitman at the Jacob Burns Film Center, it is very in depth and worth checking out. Lastly there is six deleted scenes, running about seven minutes, which would have made this film even more unwatchable.

Directed by: Darrell Rooney, Rob LaDuca
Starring: Neve Campbell, Jason Marsden, Jennifer Lien, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Guillaume, Andy Dick,
Moira Kelly
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
MPAA Rating: G
Release date: March 6, 2012
Running time: 81 minutes

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

Let’s start with the fact that “The Lion King” is a very hard act to follow. “Simba’s Pride” came during a time when Disney was popping out a direct to video sequel on many of the films in their library. Quality-wise it is really lacking and does not pack the same magic that its predecessor had. This film focuses on Simba and Nala’s newborn daughter Kiara and follows her as she grows up. She meets the heir of Scar, Kovu and the two befriend each other. This creates a feud between Kovu’s mother Zira and Simba. Overall if you are looking for more “Lion King”, I would highly recommend “The Lion King 1 1/2”, it has great heart but also is very witty and funny.

The Blu-ray presentation is impressive with a sharp colors in the video and an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Like the recently released “The Lion King 1 1/2”, it feels like what it is a direct-to-video film but the high-def transfer looks good overall. Also like “The Lion King 1 1/2”, the special features are all presented in DVD quality. I find that very disappointing and a bit of a let down from Disney. The only high-def feature is a short called “Timon & Pumbaa’s Insectapedia”.

The standard definition features are “One By One”, which is really cool animated short, which would have looks great in HD. “Timon & Pumbaa: Find Out Why” is a Q&A featuring science trivia. “Proud of Simba’s Pride” is a brief typical behind-the-scenes featurette. There is also a music video for “Love Will Find a Way,” performed by Kenny Lattimore and Heather Headley. Lastly there is a feature with Timon & Pumbaa called “Discover Blu-ray 3D”. Overall disappointing features for a less than stellar release.

Directed by: Bradley Raymond
Starring: Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Matthew Broderick, Julie Kavner, Jerry Stiller
Distributed by: Walt Disney Pictures
MPAA Rating: G
Release date: March 6, 2012
Running time: 77 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“The Lion King 1½” is the sequel that was meant to follow “The Lion King” not “Simba’s Pride”. It is fun and really showcases the series’ best attributes…Timon & Pumbaa. The duo use a remote control to skip around the events before, during and after “The Lion King” in a MST3K-style. The Blu-ray presentation looks fantastic and the colors just look so sharp and clear. The sound is not Disney’s usual 7.1 track, instead has an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. It is decent overall still.  Of course this film stands in a place separate from the original film’s quality but if you are looking for some sharp humor and an overall good time then this film is definitely worth checking out.

This film is very unique in it’s approach, especially amongst most Disney’s direct-to-video attempts. It is not only a sequel but also a midquel and a prequel. That’s right, this film stands out and takes us through the story we did not see in “The Lion King”. It starts before the events of “The Lion King” and gives some back story for Timon (Nathan Lane). We find out how Timon met Pumbaa, his search for Hakuna Matata, his meetings with Simba and the events thereafter. Basically it is just the in-between stories told from Timon & Pumbaa perspectives and it really is enjoyable.

Unlike the great Blu-ray transfer, the special features do not fall into the same category. Besides the short “Timon & Pumbaa’s Vacation Safari”, everything else is an SD port of the last DVD release. There are seven early deleted scenes that are just story-boarded. The scenes include: “Opening Concept #1,” “Opening Concept #2,” “Old Fearless Buzz,” “Timon Talks to Dad,” “Timon, Dad & Mom,” “Intro to Scurry, Flinch, Sniff” and “Timon & Pumbaa Look for Oasis.” “Timon: Behind the Legend” features Peter Graves in this faux bio about Timon. “Before the Beginning” is a behind the scenes looks at the production with director Bradley Raymond and producer George A. Mendoza. There is also the music video for “Grazin’ in the Grass,” performed by Raven-Symone. Lastly there is a feature with Timon & Pumbaa called “Discover Blu-ray 3D”. I wish that these features were in high def and not standard, just doesn’t feel right to release SD on Blu-ray.

Directed by: Alex Stapleton
Starring: Roger Corman
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 27, 2012
Run Time: 89 minutes

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

Whether you know it or not, you have most likely seen a Roger Corman film. He has been making movies for the last 60 years and has worked on hundreds of films. Roger Corman is considered a rebel for Hollywood and has never followed their rules. He has made films his way since he started and shows no signs of slowing down. He has also started many careers for some of our biggest talent in Hollywood such as Robert DeNiro, Peter Fonda, Ron Howard, Martin Scorcese and William Shatner to just name a few.

Director Alex Stapleton does an amazing job of mixing new interviews with archival footage from Roger’s outstanding career. Some of the interviews include the following talent: Paul W.S. Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Martin Scorcese, William Shatner and Jack Nicholson. I feel that Jack Nicholson’s account of his work with Roger is honestly the best. It is emotionally charged and really touching. As much as I thought I knew about Roger Corman, I still found out many news facts like Roger was approached to make films like “Mean Streets” from Scorsese and “Easy Rider” from Dennis Hopper.

In the film, we go all the way back to his early days with classics like the original “Fast and Furious” and “Little Shop of Horrors”. Also covers the range of work from his Edgar Allen Poe films with Vincent Price to the Hell’s Angel film “The Wild Angels”, which actually was his 100th film and that was only in 1966. The film’s focus definitely is aimed at his earlier work from the 50’s to the 70’s. The cover art though is packed with his more recent films like “Dinoshark”, “Mega Piranha” and “Sharktopus”. I would have like to hear about the making of those but I feel that it should be in a different film. This film really focuses on his career and how he has became the legend he has and his affect on the business.

The Blu-ray presentation is decent but nothing special. The 1080p video is sharp with its 1.78:1 Blu-ray transfer. The audio track uses its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track well since it is mostly dialogue. The special features are good overall but nothing special either. There are about 15 minutes of extended interviews with Corman’s acquaintances. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoyed the film. Each of the interviewees also get a chance to deliver their own personal messages to the Corman in “Special Messages to Roger”, which also runs about 15 minutes. Lastly there is a trailer included. All-in-all I was left very satisfied with this film and its extras.

Directed by: Jay Andrews
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Brian Krause
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: March 27, 2012
Running Time: 84 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

With a tagline “They really get under your skin”, right off the bat this one sounds like a winner. To top it off it is from Executive Producer, the legendary Roger Corman. So we are off to a great start. Well the film is cheesy like expected about large killer camel spiders but it is very entertaining as well. Roger Corman has recently produced some really fun creatures like “Dinoshark”, “Shartopus” and “Mega Piranha”. This film does it job, it has fun and kicks some decent ass. What is even creepier is that camel spiders are real, unlike “Dinoshark” or “Sharktopus”.

The film starts off in the deserts of the Middle East, where a platoon of soldiers are being terrorized by giant arachnids called Camel Spiders. They accidentally transport these terrors to a small-town in the American southwest. It is up to an Army Captain (Brian Krause) and the local Sheriff (C. Thomas Howell) to help a group of locals and tourists survive and find a way to defeat these cratures. The director Jay Andrews is also known for recent creature feature “Dinocroc vs. Supergator”. He definitely has found his calling with these films and delivers two out of two.

I have learned that with these low budget creature features you just have to enjoy them for what they are. This packs some decent creature effects, obviously CG but still decent and also packs some decent kills. The video on the Blu-ray is decent boasting its sharp 1080p resolution. It also packs a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track. Unfortunately there are no special features included in this Blu-ray.

Directed by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Katie Parker, Courtney Bell, Dave Levine, Doug Jones
Distributed by: Phase 4 Films
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 91 minutes

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

Phase 4 Films definitely has a hit on their hands with this little gem. I honestly have never heard of this film, despite being a horror buff. The film has won over 20 awards at various film festival. What makes this interesting is that it has a unique story, it has some great scares and also surprising twists throughout the film. It is rare that a horror film really stands out among the many, many others but this one does it and deserve some attention. Horror fans will also be delighted to that Doug Jones (“Pan’s Layrinth” and “Hellboy” series) co-stars in the film. I am looking forward to see what Mike Flanagan does next as now he is officially on my radar.

The film follow two sisters Tricia (Parker) and Callie (Bell). Callie comes to stay with Tricia, who’s husband Daniel (Levine) has been missing for seven years. Tricia is planning on officially reporting her husband as dead, when she starts to have visions of him. Callie finds herself drawn to a creepy tunnel that she’s meets a homeless man (Jones) who is mysteriously shocked that she can see him. Callie finds that the man has been reported missing years ago also like Tricia’s husband. Strange things continue to occur to the sisters until Daniel, out of the blue, shows up at the house after seven years missing and no account of the time. Callie believes that strange supernatural forces might be at work here and tries to investigate the mysterious tunnel and the weird happenings. The sisters might have gotten too deep into this whole situation as the mystery draws them in.

The special features are very impressive and come stocked. First of all there are two commentary tracks. The first is a producer commentary with Morgan Peter Brown, Mike Flanagan, Joe Wicker and Justin Gordon, which focuses on the film’s production and the goal of making a horror film on a low budget. Next up is a really fun jam packed commentary track with director/producer Mike Flanagan and the film’s stars Katie Parker, Courntey Bell, Dave Levine and Doug Jones. Next up, there is a very extensive behind the scenes documentary “Absentia: A Retrospective”, which runs just over 30 minutes. There are about five minutes of deleted scenes, worth checking out but nothing special. There is a “Camera Test Teaser”, which was shot to evaluate the effectiveness of shooting in Canon 5d. Lastly there is also the film’s trailer included.

Directed by: Brett Ratner
Starring: Ben Stiller, Mathew Broderick, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Running Time: 104 minutes

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

At first view of this film, I really had no interest in seeing it at all. My wife on the other hand nudged me into seeing it. I actually happened to enjoy it quite a bit. I mean with a cast like Ben Stiller, Mathew Broderick, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda and Casey Affleck…it would have to be good. Each actors really shines and delivers a great performance. Well the film has some faults but definitely packs the comedy as well as the action. Especially the film gets started, which takes about a solid 40 minutes, that’s when it really shines. When I was watching I couldn’t help but compare this to “Ocean’s Eleven” but in a apartment complex. Although not as good as that film, it still deliver a very entertaining experience.

The follows Josh Kovacs (Stiller) who is the manager of “The Tower”, which is a high-profile apartment location in Manhattan. His job is to make sure that the tower’s residents are perfectly accommodated, including financier Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). Though Shaw gets arrested by the FBI for investing fraud. Kovacs realizes that his staff’s pensions are gone since he asked Shaw to manage them. He confronts Shaw and ends up loosing his job. Kovas devises a plan to help his staff by planning to rob Shaw’s hidden money of $20 million dollars. In order to do that he recruits a motley crew group (including Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Michael Peña, Gabourey Sidibe, and Eddie Murphy). Of course things go array on the groups plans and issues arise.

The Blu-ray presentation and package are great. The color are very sharp and really detailed. The audio is also very impressive with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track especially during the heist scenes. Includes in this release besides the Blu-ray, is a DVD copy of the film as well. There is also an Ultraviolet streaming digital copy of the film. Some more great features on this Blu-ray include the “U-Control Experience” which includes a Picture-in-Picture experience and a “Music of Tower Heist” feature. Also if you have an iPad/tablet, PC or Mac you can take advantage of the “Second Screen Interactive Experience”.

The special features are quite impressive for this release. There is a funny yet very informative audio commentary with director Brett Ratner, editor Mark Helfrich and co-writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson. “Brett Ratner’s Video Diary” is a very in-depth look inside the production with the director, pretty cool footage included also. “Plotting Tower Heist” is a six part behind-the-scenes documentary, which runs about 45 minutes. The parts are split up into the following: “The Ratner/Grazer Connection, Parts One, Two and Three,” “The Conspirators,” “Set Pieces” and “The Car.” There are a bunch of additional footage including two alternate endings, the first called “15 Months Later” and second called “Lester’s Bar,” which should have made the final cut for sure! There are nine deleted/alternate scenes, which run just over 5 minutes are a hit or miss. Lastly there is a funny gag reel included to top off the great features.

Starring: Talking Heads
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Run Time: 109 minutes

Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“We want to make our mark on music history.”
~ Tina Weymouth, Talking Heads bassist, 1979

For Tina to have expressed this wish within the context of an interview is not really all that surprising given the success that Talking Heads had already achieved in the four short years following their inception in 1975. But what IS surprising is where the interview took place – not in the basement bowels of NYC’s legendary CBGB’s or a “new wave” club, but on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

“Talking Heads: Chronology” allows the viewer to see this clip of bizarrely juxtaposed elements as well as 17 others, most of which are previously unreleased. These excepts range from their early beginnings as a CBGB’s-based trio all the way up to a 1983 clip from Saturday Night Live as well as a spot-on performance of “Life During Wartime” from the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Overall, “Chronology” is an amazing compilation of archival footage that allows us to see the development of a band that was clearly making its mark on music history from square one.

What’s even better about the disc is the optional commentary track that features all four Heads – David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. It’s a joy to hear each of them reacting to their younger selves, reflecting on the group’s musical journey and sharing amusing behind-the-scenes stories and bits of trivia. The only minor issue with the track is that each band member’s comments were recorded separately, so it lacks what undoubtedly would have been great banter between the long-estranged band mates had they been in the same room. Regardless, this secondary track adds a level of depth to the collection of clips and helps to make “Chronology” markedly more substantial than most music video DVD compilations.

The disc also includes a 35-minute segment from 1979 that is culled from the London-based “South Bank Show”. This – almost more than the 18 music clips – is essential viewing. The interviews with the band members provide tremendous insight into what made Talking Heads a truly great band and the rehearsal footage shows the unique dynamic of a group that could instantly lock into their own groovy vibe and let the strange and wonderful wizardry happen. It’s also full of truly endearing moments such as Jerry Harrison’s creative solution to forgetting a rhythm guitar line: pulling out a copy of the studio album that the track appeared on, dropping the needle into the vinyl and playing along with it. The entire South Bank segment is quite riveting and really should have been integrated into and prefaced the main content of the DVD. Unfortunately, it’s been relegated to merely being a bonus feature that most viewers are likely to skip over and never see. The other bonus feature, a David Byrne interview from 1978, doesn’t really offer up anything that isn’t covered in the South Bank segment – save for proving that Byrne can handle the noxious haze generated by a chain-smoking interviewer without coughing or decking him.

As one could reasonably expect, the DVD’s overall image quality is variable as a result of the source material and is presented in 4:3 aspect ratio.  The archival clips, however, sound amazingly good: the disc’s Dolby Digital 2.0 audio is quite dynamic and punchy (only the two CBGB’s clips from 1975 are a bit distorted and thin).  The DVD is available in two editions: a standard-issue disc and a deluxe edition that adds a 48-page hardcover book featuring an essay by Lester Bangs.

“Chronology” is a wonderfully-crafted gem that shines not only as a vital supplement to any established Heads fan’s collection but as a great introduction for generations that may have completely missed out on the band’s musical magic. It’s clear that the creators of this DVD very much love the group that the project chronicles and aren’t just out to make a quick buck from nostalgia seekers. But, more so, they know and truly appreciate the fact that truly amazing artists like Talking Heads only come around once in a lifetime.

Directed by: Mark Pellington
Starring: Thomas Jane, Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Christian McKay, Carla Gugino, Arielle Kebbel
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 129 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“I Melt for You” is a complete rip-off of “The Hangover” but a lot darker and more grim. The film starts off real well but then after 45 minutes nothing really happens until the end where it feels really rushed. I feel there was little direction for the story and it caused the film to drag in the second act. The film literally can be trimmed at least 30 minutes, 129 minutes is just too long..  The film does get some great performances from the cast but it is not enough to save this indie.

The film follows four former college buddies (Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane, Christian McKay) who reunite for a weekend of drugs and partying. After coming down from their high, the group start to realize that they are not the same people that they were in college. It turns out that each man has dark secrets that once revealed will change the mood of the weekend and the rest of their lives.

The only thing this film has going for it is it fantastic cast. Jeremy Piven, Rob Lowe, Thomas Jane and Christian McKay, who all give really intense dramatic performances. The Blu-ray presentation is a not super impressive. Even though it is an indie film, the video is not really up to Blu-ray standard, not terrible but just not impressive. The sound packs a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which works well with the film’s music soundtrack.

Until the film itself, the special features are actually quite impressive. There are two commentary tracks included on this Blu-ray. The first features Mark Pellington, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven and is quite entertaining. The second commentary track features Mark Pellington (again), screenwriter Glenn Porter, and cinematographer Eric Schmidt. It takes a more technical turn into the film’s production. There almost 20 minutes of deleted scenes included, some worth watching. There is a decent length behind-the-scenes featurette, which runs just short of a half and hour. Like all Magnolia releases there an HDNet feature “A Look at I Melt with You”, nothing special just an extended promo.

Even though those features above are good my favorites are the following extras. There are one-on-one interviews with Mark Pellington and Jeremy Piven. Pellington’s interview runs almost 40 minutes and is very extensive. “Jeremy Piven Mood Piece” is an interesting collection of clips narrated by Piven. “Thomas Jane Teaser” is an elaborate monologue, which just secures what a character Jane really is. I can honestly watch/listen to Thomas Jane all day long. Lastly there is a whole punch of photo galleries and trailers from the film, rounding up great extras.

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Directed by: Jeff Kanew
Starring: Will Sasso, Ian Ziering, Kristanna Loken, Sophie Monk, Rip torn, Tony Cox
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

Recently when I see that a film that is presented by National Lampoon, I would steer clear. It definitely doesn’t have the same reputation it did back in the “Animal House” and “Vacation” series days. This film is different though and delivers some really funny laughs.  Don’t get it wrong it is stupid as shit but for some reason I found it entertaining, probably few will agree.  It also packs a reallygreat cast including Will Sasso, Ian Ziering, Kristanna Loken, Sophie Monk, Rip Torn and Tony Cox. Will Sasso is just so over-the-top, it is great and makes me count down the days till “The Three Stooges”. Ian Ziering known best for his role in “Beverly Hills, 90210”, really branches out playing the mighty warrior Testiclees…yes that’s this name.

In case you are wondering about the director, Jeff Kanew, he is known best for directing the classic comedy film “Revenge of the Nerds”. In case the cover art doesn’t describe it enough this film is a spoof of films like “Gladiator”, “Troy”, “Alexander” and of course “300”. The film is very raunchy and most of the jokes really land on their feet. If you are a fan of Will Sasso, then there is no way you won’t like this film as he gets a chance to shine in the starring role.

The film follows Awesomest Maximus (Will Sasso) who is a general of Troy but is not the sharpest tool in the shed. Awesomest gets put on duty to accompany King Looney’s (Rip Torn) only son Orlando (Gary Lundy) on a mission to Greece. Orlando ends up stealing the wife of King Erotic (Khary Payton), Princess Ellen (Sophie Monk) to be his wife.  Get it Ellen of Troy? This of course does not go well and provokes a war between Troy and Greece.

The Blu-ray presentation is decent but nothing special. The video looks clear and sharp. Though the audio track is lacking and is basically the equivalent for DVD standards. The special features are non-existent with only the theatrical trailer included. There is also a the bonus trailer for the another spoof film “Division III: Football’s Finest”.  Disappointing since this is a really funny film.  Would have loved to see a gag reel or at least some behind the scenes featurettes.