Director: Scott Spiegel
Starring: Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Danny Hicks, Renee Estevez, Elizabeth Cox
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Synapse Films
Run Time: 88 minutes

Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I remember purchasing this film on a bootleg VHS copy on eBay in the mid-90’s since I was a mega fan of the “Evil Dead” series”. If you are unaware this film is jam-packed with alumni from that franchise and even has Sam Raimi in an acting role. This release features an all-new 2K high-definition transfer of the original uncut, uncensored version. Along with the restored Blu-ray, this set also includes a DVD of the film. The transfer is definitely well done and features the original restored sound. This film is such a cult classic from the 80’s and even though it is not the best slasher to come out of that period it is definitely appreciated by its fans.

The plot for the film is limited but it classic for 80’s slasher horror. It focuses on a shopping mart is that is being stalked by an intruder and it’s employees are being picked off one by one. The kills and gore in the film are fantastic and should be especially since they are handled by the Academy Award®-winning KNB EFX Group. Danny Hicks definitely takes the award for best performance. He definitely nails the role of the crazy looney psycho. Besides appearances from Sam Raimi, fans of “Evil Dead” can also look out for Ted Raimi, Danny Hicks and of course a brief cameo from Bruce Campbell. Synapse Films is on roll with their amazing horror releases and have no disappointed yet. I can’t wait to what they are going to restore and release next.

The special features includes on this disc are fantastic (as always with Synapse). I really enjoyed the audio commentary with Scott Spiegel & Lawrence Bender. There is a great 30+ minute featurette called “Slashed Prices: The Making of Intruder”, which has great interviews and analysis from the cast and crew from the film…yes even Bruce Campbell. There are “Never-Before-Seen Extended ‘Murder’ Sequences”, which are also very interesting and come from the work print of the film. I really enjoyed the complied “Outtakes from NIGHT CREW Short Film” into a six minute clip with added music from director Scott Spiegel”. The “Cast Audition Tapes” are definitely a hoot and worth checking out. Lastly there is a “Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery” and the “Original Theatrical Trailer”. Fantastic extras for a fantastic release.

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Starring: The Rolling Stones
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Running time 105 minutes

Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I remember listening to the cassette of “Some Girls” with my uncle back in the late 80’s. It is definitely considered by fans to be one of The Rolling Stones’ very best. This concert was the bands 1978 tour to support the album and it was the time when the album had hit the #1 spot on the US charts. The concert was filmed at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 18th, 1978. The concert was really featured the band focusing on their music with little or no focus on its staging, though The Rolling Stones still deliver a very energetic performance.

The Blu-ray release for this concert is really clear and crisp. The footage was originally shot on 16mm film and has been restored, remixed and remastered by Bob Clearmountain from the original tapes. The sound is very clear and definitely sounds great on the Blu-ray. The movie features many classics including “Honky Tonk Woman”, “Tumbling Dice”, “Brown Sugar”, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Miss You” and “Beast of Burden”. If you are fan of the Stones, this is definitely a no-brainer and a great opportunity to see the band its prime peak.

There are tons of great bonus features included on this release as well. There is a newly filmed interview with Mick Jagger, which is very fun. There is a great sketch from Saturday Night Live, October 1978, featuring Dan Aykroyd as Tom Snyder interviewing Mick Jagger. It is very funny and a fantastic feature. Also included from Saturday Night Live and introduced by Laraine Newman is “Shattered”, “Respectable” and “Beast Of Burden”. There are excerpts from a ABC 20/20 Special, introduced by Hugh Downs with interviews by Geraldo Rivera from June 1978/ This includes interviews with Mick, Keith, Ronnie and Bill. Lastly there is another interview with Mick from Aug 2011 conducted in France. The interview runs about 15 minutes and honestly, I could listen to Mick talk for hours. Great features overall for a great release. Congrats Eagle Rock Entertainment for delivering again.

Track Listing:
1) Let It Rock
2) All Down The Line
3) Honky Tonk Women
4) Star Star
5) When The Whip Comes Down
6) Beast Of Burden
7) Miss You
8) Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
9) Shattered
10) Respectable
11) Far Away Eyes
12) Love In Vain
13) Tumbling Dice
14) Happy
15) Sweet Little Sixteen
16) Brown Sugar
17) Jumpin Jack Flash

Directed by: Stephen “BK” Bentley-Klein
Starring: Deep Purple
Rating: Unrated
Run Time: 115 Mins.
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love rocking out to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water”? Such a great track. This Blu-ray was recorded on the closing night of Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival on July 16, 2011. The band re-invented their classic catalog with the help of a symphony orchestra. This is common for recent bands to do like Metallica, Kansas and Queensryche. I really enjoy the new take on great classics that playing with an orchestra presents. These guys still know how to deliver an entertaining concert. Overall this is a must for fans of Deep Purple, especially if your want to catch their classics with a twist.

The Blu-Ray release looks visually great even in 1080i video presentation. The sound also delivers these tracks perfectly in it DTS-HD surround sound track. Some of the great classic included on this concert is “Highway Star”, “Strange Kind of Woman,” “Lazy,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Hush,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Black Night,” and “Smoke On The Water”. I think the orchestra really adds a new twist on these songs and the band Ian Gillan (vocals), Ian Paice (drums), Roger Glover (bass), Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards) really seemed to be getting into it along with them.

The concert runs a decent 115-minutes and includes a great theatrical presence from the band. It shows that Deep Purple can still deliver some hardcore kick ass classic rock. There is great in depth interview included on the Blu-ray which has the band chatting about their music and the tour. It is very informative and definitely worth checking out. Whether you are Deep Purple biggest fans or just finding out about them (Thanks to the video game “Rock Band”), this is definitely worth checking out.

TRACK LISTING:
1) Orchestral Intro
2) Highway Star
3) Hard Loving Man
4) Maybe I m A Leo
5) Strage Kind Of Woman
6) Rapture Of The Deep
7) Woman From Tokyo
8) Contact Lost
9) When A Blind Man Cries
10) The Well Dressed Guitar
11) Knocking At Your Back Door
12) Lazy
13) No One Came
14) Don Airey Solo
15) Perfect Strangers
16) Space Truckin
17) Smoke On The Water
18) Hush
19) Black Night

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Starring: Usher
Rating: Unrated
Run Time: 104 Mins.
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have never been a BIG fan of Usher’s music, but I am not denying that he is the reigning King Of R ‘N B. He album sales are in the multi-millions and he is known all the around the world. This concert was filmed in high definition at London s O2 Arena in the spring of 2011. The “OMG Tour” was to support Usher’s recent chart topping “Raymond V Raymond” album. One thing you gotta give to this show and to Usher himself is that the guy knows how to put on a show. The show is more like a stage production with fantastic lighting and amazing pyrotechnics. He also pulls a Madonna and Cher with multiple costume changes. The show also boosts some really intense and fascinating choreography, which gives the show the amped up production that actually tells a story.

The picture on this Blu-ray is clear and even though it is only 1080i (like most music Blu-rays), it looks really good. The audio is key for a music Blu-ray and this one packed a solid DTS HD Master Audio track. It is very impressive and the songs sound great. If you like his early hits you got “You Make Me Wanna”), he also includes his ballads like “Nice & Slow”, love songs with “There Goes My Baby” and of course the big hits with “Yeah”. Usher is not just a singer he is a performer and he does a decent job in this show to entertain his audience. If you are an fan of his music than this disc is a new-brainer. If you are not a big fan, like me, this might make you one.

There are some decent bonus features on this release as well including a very interesting behind the scenes look in “On The Shoulder Of Giants”. It focuses on Usher and his team as they put together the show. Also included is a short piece about Usher’s New Look Foundation in London called “New Look”. Overall this is a pretty impressive release and it has been very enjoyable to check out.

TRACK LISTING
1) Monstar
2) She Don t Know
3) Yeah
4) U Remind Me
5) U Don t Have To Call
6) You Make Me Wanna
7) Mars vs Venus
8) Nice & Slow
9) Love In This Club
10) Lil Freak
11) Hot Tottie
12) There Goes My Baby
13) Burn
14) Bad Girl
15) Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)
16) Caught Up
17) DJ Got Us Falling Love
18) More
19) OMG

Directed by: Alfred E. Green
Starring: George Brent, Bette Davis, Ann Dvorak
Distributed by Warner Bros Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 69 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

There is just something about classic films that are still are very entertaining even all this time.  I believe this is the first film I have seen starring Bette Davis.  She was nominated over 10 times for an Academy Award.  She is such an amazing actress and just has such a presence on the screen.  It is rare today that this an actress displays this type of presence. This film was definitely controversial and pushing the edge for its time especially dealing with adultery and divorce in the early 30’s.

The story for this picture is just so simple and yet still relevant today.  It is about a man who’s marriage is strained due to his lack of ambition in his job and his love life.  When he makes a change and starts his own company, he meet an old spark from high school and they form a relationship.  The story is definitely ranks heavy on the drama definitely in the second half.  Running just over an hour this film definitely entertains.  This is the first time that this great film has been released on DVD, thanks again to Warner Bros. Archive.  The transfer is very clear for an almost 80 year old movie.

Synopsis:
The pre-code tale of adultery that squeaked past the censors! Coming at the tail end of 1934, Housewife was released shortly before the imposition of the “Hays Code” would render its subject matter ‘verboten!’ This turgid melodrama finds modern bachelor girl Patricia Berkeley (Bette Davis) dueling it out with modern housewife Nan Reynolds (Ann Dvorak) for the affections and ministrations of Nan’s husband, William (George Brent). Ambitious office manager William finally succeeds in setting up shop for himself in the advertising biz thanks to help from copywriter Pat and ideas from housewife Nan. When his late nights working at the office with Pat turn into something else, Nan must decide if William is worth fighting for. That is, if Pat will let her. Davis is at her vamping, doe-eyed best as the jaded sophisticated Pat, a copywriter who knows how to spin the right line to lure a guy.

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Created by: Adam Brooks, Matthew Kennedy, Conor Sweeney, Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski
Includes: 18 Short Films
Studio: Troma Entertainment
Run Time: 80 minutes

Overall Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

If you are fans of Grindhouse style films and Troma Entertainment, then you should be aware of Astron-6. The DVD contains Astron-6’s best known short films. So of the films range from thirty minutes to barely two minutes. Some are good but most of bad. There is a mix of comedy and horror blended through all of these shorts. Overall if you are fan of 80’s exploitation films and Grindhouse send-ups then you would love these, otherwise steer clear and go rent “Hobo With a Shotgun”.

One of the films, I enjoyed the most was “Cool Guys”, which is a real tribute to 80’s and is very funny. Some of the short but still goodies were “Fireman” and “Inferno of the Dead”. “Laser Ghosts” is also pretty decent, especially FX-wise. The films span over two DVDs and in fact I feel that the entire second disc ranks better than the second disc as a whole.  The amount of watchable shorts is outweighed by the not watchable ones unfortunately.

The extras are quite decent since each short film includes a commentary track and most of them also include a behind the scenes. I have always love the “fake” Grindhouse trailers, so the trailers on the disc are my favorite part. Easily though, the best part of this disc entirely is the extended preview for the upcoming film “Father’s Day”. It reminds me a lot of “Hobo With a Shotgun” but more intense.

Director: Matthew Reel
Starring: Jason Foster, Trent Haaga, Elske McCain
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Troma Entertainment
Run Time: 82 minutes

Overall Score: 1 out of 5 stars

Alright, so just from the tagline of this film you really can’t expect much…”They kept her in a cage! They raped her! They brutalized her! They made her into an animal! Now she escaped and she is biting off more than the hand that feeds her!” Well the tagline makes the film sound cooler than it is but it is honestly unwatchable. This film is a total waste of time. Read the tagline and skip this movie, that is about ask exciting as it gets here.

Well there isn’t really much to describe for the premise because there is no story at all. They basically have a girl in a cage…she is beaten and raped numerous times and then she kills everyone. Basically if you read the tagline it tells the whole story.

The bonus features include an audio commentary, which is not interesting at all. There are some behind the scenes featurettes, but they are a waste of time just like the movie. The best part of this whole disc are the trailers, which is pretty sad. I have always been a fan of Troma Entertainment but this Grindhouse film fails to entertain on any level.

Directors: David C. Valdez, Philip H.R. Gunn
Starring: Ross Kelly, Ashley Bryce, Lloyd Kaufman, Isaac Kappy, Chris Payne
Distributed by Troma Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 84 minutes

Overall Score: 3 out of 5 stars

With a name like “Klown Kamp Massacre”, you can’t expect much from the film. Then once you add to the fact that it is a Troma film it makes it even better. This actually, against my original perspective, delivered some good good and a fun campy story. We get scenes and dialogue right out of “Friday the 13th”. The film also has a real feel of “Sleepaway Camp” as well but with clowns (or klowns). Not the best horror slasher, definitely not the worst but packs one great ending.

The story follows Edwin the clown, who went to clown camp to fulfill his lifelong dream… but nobody laughed. After being humiliated, he viciously murders the entire camp but was never found. We pick up fifteen years later, where the camp is reopened and the murders start happening again. If you are fan of Troma make sure to keep an eye out for guest appearance by Lloyd Kaufman.

The special features on this release very impressive boosting over 2 hours extras. We have audio commentary from the cast and crew and just like this film is way over-the-top. There are a few deleted scenes…some good some bad. There is a fun and wild behind the scenes featurette on the making of the film…good stuff. There is a short film by David Valdez and Philip Gunn. There is no clowning around in the eight “clowny” webisodes included on this release to. Of course there is a trailer attached as well and much more. Overall amazing extras for a “bad” but fun movie.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint
Directed by: David Yates
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 10 mins
Warner Brothers

Overall Score: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Well this is the end of one of the biggest franchises in film history.  “Harry Potter” series has taken us on a journey with eight films ending with this very climactic film. I quite recommend that you watch “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” as a whole for the full effect but this film does stand very well on its own.  It is sad to see this series end but this film is a great way to do it.  The video on the Blu-ray is really amazing especially since most of the film is so dark.   The dark scenes look very crisp and sharp.  If you though that “Part 1” was dark, this film puts it to shame but it looks real good.  The sound is outstanding boasting a phenomenal DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.  The surround track is very intense and adds so much to the film.  If you get a chance to see this film in 3D though, I would highly recommend that as well since it is very subtle but adds a great dimension to the film. Overall if you are a fan of this series then you have obviously seen this film already numerous times but this release is a must own.

The extras on the disc are damn good for one main reason called “Maximum Movie Mode”. Warner Brothers’ trademark Picture-in-Picture track includes many great interviews, behind the scenes, in-depth special effects analysis, production designs, concept art and more. It is also hosted by Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), producer David Heyman and much more talent from the film.  “Focus Points” is a great collection of production featurettes including “Aberforth Dumbledore,” “Deathly Hallows Costume Changes,” “Harry Returns to Hogwarts,” “The Hogwarts Shield,” “The Room of Requirement Set,” “The Fiery Escape,” “Neville’s Stand” and “Molly and Bellatrix.”.  “Final Farewells” is short but is a sad goodbye from the franchise cast and crew.  There are seven minutes of deleted scenes including “Shell Cottage,” “Grave on the Beach,” “Hog’s Head,” “Marble Staircase: Harry & Ginny,” “Wooden Bridge,” “Hogwart’s Battlements,” “Slytherin Dungeons” and “Marble Staircase: Ron & Hermione.”  Not spectacular but definitely worth a watch. “A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe” runs about about an hour and is one of the best features easily.  The duo chat about their favorite parts of the franchise and it is really fun to watch.  “The Women of Harry Potter” is a very important look at the strong women from the books and films. “The Goblins of Gringotts” gives some props to the series’ pit-eyed goblins.  There is a cool sneak peak at the UK attraction in “Warner Bros. Studio Tour London”. Lastly J.K. Rowling introduces her new website, Pottermore.

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Synopsis: In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

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Directed by: Chen Jin
Starring: Sun Honglei, Jing Tian, Francis Ng, Kim Hee-sun, Kiichi Nakai, Jiang Wu
Cinematography Hyung-ku Kim
Distributed by China Lion Film Distribution
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running time: 130 minutes

Overall Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Usually when it comes to epic historical foreign films, I am all over it but this film simply failed to entertain me at all past the first 15 minutes. I found it to be very slow moving and the story jumped all over the place. When there was action scenes, they were decent but there were no where enough of them. The locations where the films were shot were definitely beautiful. Overall I would not recommended anyone waste their time on this one. There are plenty of great period foreign films. Check out “13 Assassins” for one of the best movies of the year. Sorry a Mandarin audio track with English subtitles is not considered a bonus feature, especially when it is the only audio track.

Premise from official site (since don’t ask me to explain it): Sun Bin (Sun Hong-Lei, Mongol), purported descendant of the Art of War author Sun Tzu, is a brilliant military strategist steadily advancing in the ranks of war during China’s Warring States Period (fifth to third centuries BC). He’s believed to have the knowledge to defeat any opponent in battle. Not to be outdone, Sun’s brother, Pang Juan (Francis Ng, Exiled), secures a powerful military general position for himself and, in a jealous twist, frames Sun for treason. Sun begins a long journey to prison and back, and again up the ranks of war, finally ending as a top strategist and peer with his brother. The Warring States” follows the rivalry of these two brothers to the end, where both meet again on the battlefield, leading armies against each other in a fight to the death.

Directed by: Burnie Burns, Matt Hullum
Voices: Matt Hullum, Gustavo Sorola, Geoff Ramsey, Joel Heyman, Burnie Burns, Shannon McCormick, Jason Saldana, Yomary Cruz, Kathleen Zuelch
Distributed by: New Video
MPAA Rating: Not Rating
Running Time: 120 minutes

Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Halo” has this huge universe that has been built around it over the years. I am sure that in order to truly appreciate “Red vs. Blue”, you need to be a MEGA huge fan of “Halo”. Well, I am not but I still enjoyed it…for the most part. This release contains the ninth season of the series. The season depicts two separate stories. The first one in uses the “Halo: Reach” engine in machinima style and continues after the finale of “Revelation”. The other part is presented with CGI and it’s storyline follows after the “Blood Gulch Chronicles”.

What I enjoyed about this season is that it really packed some decent action but was also very funny. The recorded dialogue is pretty sharp and witty. I have to saw though the machinima style is cool but definitely limited to its potential. The CGI scenes are freaking awesome but there really isn’t enough of them to make this rock. I would have loved to see more for sure. The one part that I had a issue with was the jumping between storylines…got a little confusing. From what I read about “Revelation”, in this season the machinima and CGI are not blended and each one actually represents a different timeline in the “Red vs. Blue” storyline.

The special features on the disc make this purchase worth wild for sure. First off we have commentary from directors Burnie Burns and Matt Hullum. It is fun and worth checking out. There are additional special videos and PSA’s from the series, which are short but definitely fun. The outtakes are also very funny and is a great addition. There are also deleted scenes and they are good but not great. The cast interviews worth a look also especially since you get to meet the people behind the voices. Lastly there are behind-the-scenes features which give some great insight into the production, probably the best feature.

Developed by: Kevin Tancharoen
Starring: Michael Jai White, Jeri Ryan, Darren Shahlavi, Matt Mullins, Sam Tjhia, Jolene Tran, Ryan Robbins, Ian Anthony Dale, Kevan Ohtsji, Shane Warren Jones, Peter Shinkoda
Rating: TV-MA
Distributed: Warner Premiere
Running Time: 104 minutes

Overall Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Finally they got it right…”Mortal Kombat” has been done the way it has been meant to. This series consists of nine episodes and explores an origin to the series’ most iconic characters in the “Mortal Kombat” universe. This series is gritty, violent and totally edgy. The prior attempts at this series failed to really capture the essence of “Mortal Kombat” but this one scores a flawless victory. The video on the release is fantastic especially on Blu-ray.  Since this is a low budget web series, the picture is clear and really crisp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also fantastic.  I wish this series ran longer than only nine episodes but I guess we will have to wait till Kevin Tancharoen gets a chance to turn this into a feature. You hear that Warner Brothers?!

The series has episodes which focus on the following characters “Jax, Sonya and Kano”, “Johnny Cage”, “Kitana & Mileena”, “Raiden”. “Scorpion and Sub Zero” and “Cyrax and Sektor”. Each episode focuses on the origin story for each character.  It really expands the back stories to each character.  With “Jax, Sonya and Kano”, we get a great two part episode kick off, which explores how Kano becomes his cyber-self.  The episode is a dark and very gritty. “Johnny Cage” features a lot more comedy then the prior but definitely kicks some major ass.  “Kitana & Mileena” is a two part episode which focuses on how Kitana discovers that she is the daughter of King Jerrod and Queen Sindel and was taken by Shao Kahn and that Mileena is a clone created by Shang Tsung. “Raiden” shows how the character became stranded on earth and needs to fight in the tournament.  “Scorpion and Sub Zero” is another two part episode and easily the best in the series focuses on the real revenge story between the two.  Lastly and the most CGI episode “Cyrax and Sektor” exposes the evolution of the two deadly cyborgs.

We all know that we can watch this series online, so why are we buying these on Blu-ray?…the answer is special features. Well I want to rave about it but it is a little lacking running only around 30 minutes total. I would have loved to see some commentary for each episode in the series.  The first feature called “Fights”, which focuses on the fights and stunts throughout the web-series. “Fan Made” reveals Tancharoen’s passion and vision behind the series. “Expanding The Netherrealm” is easily the best feature and delves into the process of resurrecting this franchise. “Mysticism” focuses on the characters and their powers.  “Gear” showcases the kick ass weapons used in this series.  Overall this is definitely worth the $15 bucks for fans of this franchise!
 

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Directed by: Michael Barnett
Distributed by: New Video
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 81 minutes

Overall Score: 1 out of 5 stars

Let me start with…GIVE ME A BREAK. I know everyone wants to be a superhero when they are kids but these sickos take it to a whole new level. I get the idea behind the film is to show their good intentions by helping people and “protecting” the streets but honestly I can’t believe this. So in case you don’t get it, these people believe that they are real superheroes. I find myself laughing at them and think its time they pack up their Spidey underoos up and leave this to the professionals.

The documentary itself is a tale about these peoples courage as they merge fantasy into reality and patrol the mean streets to fight crime. They focus on a group of these costumed avengers and their real-life stories. Some of these clowns use names like Mr. Xtreme, Dark Guardian and Vigilante-Spider. They really need to get a grasp on reality and realize that these superhero characters like Batman and Spider-Man are fake and started as comic book characters.

The special features included are deleted scenes, which are additional tales of these “superheroes”. There is also the theatrical trailer. I wouldn’t suggested watching these deleted scenes unless you really enjoyed this film. Overall I think the film itself is well done by Michael Barnett but just the topic is a joke with these tools.

Directed by: No director credited
Starring: Jimmy Durante, Laurel and Hardy, Jack Pearl, Polly Moran, Charles Butterworth
Eddie Quillan, June Clyde, Mickey Mouse, Lupe Vélez, George Givot, Richard Carle, Robert Young, Arthur Treacher, Joe E. Brown, Frances Williams, Ben Bard, Tom Kennedy
Ted Healy and His Stooges
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Archive
Running time: 68 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This film really represents the classic MGM films from the 30’s. It is packed with such an amazing cast including all the greats Jimmy Durante, Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges and even an appearance from the animated Mickey Mouse. There is also a great animated short, “The Hot Choc-late Soldiers”, created by Walt Disney. This film is funny over the top and completely fun. Even though the talent is fantastic…the music in the film is simply fantastic and you can actually thank the great Irving Berlin for that.  Overall this is a must purchase for this classic gem.

I have to say that this is my first viewing of this film and I am very happy that I came across it. It is also the first time it is appearing on DVD, thanks again to the amazing WB Archive. The special features on the DVD are honestly amazing. There is the original trailer, which is cool to see especially since this film is from 1934. The best feature is an audio vault with 10 audio outtakes from the songs in the film. It also includes unused versions and alternate performances. It is really great to have a feature like this.

Hollywood Party now on DVD: https://bitly.com/WAC_PARTY
See Laurel & Hardy, The Three Stooges and more in this classic movie comedy. Get more on Hollywood Party at: http://www.facebook.com/warnerarchive

Synopsis
The screen’s great Schnarzan (Jimmy Durante) wants to wow the visiting Baron Munchausen (Jack Pearl, reprising his familiar vaudeville and radio character) by throwing him a big, bustling Tinseltown bash. Hollywood Party – 8 directors and 8 writers (2 credited) strong – is the wild, wildly inconsistent but ever fun musical-novelty result, packed with kicky dance montages offering pre-Code chorines and Berkeley-like kaleidoscopic shots, spiked with a color cartoon insert from Walt Disney, muscled up with Schnarzan’s lion-wrasslin,’ and thronged with notables (including Mickey Mouse, Ted Healy and his Stooges and Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy, who put an egg in Lupe Velez’s shoe and are duly repaid). Dress to impress!

Narrated by: Andy Griffith
Starring: Jackie Vernon, Shelley Winters, Dennis Day, Paul Frees
Studio: Warner Home Video
Running Time: 25 minutes

Overall Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I think that the Rankin-Bass Christmas specials are honestly the best. The only special that has come close recently is Disney’s “Prep and Landing”. This film is the sequel to the 1969 special “Frosty the Snowman”. I hold the original very high as on of my favorites and this one is fun and cute but doesn’t compare. At least we get the return of Jackie Vernon voicing Frosty the Snowman. In this sequel, Frosty gets a girlfriend and also an enemy, Jack Frost. The DVD is clear and the sound is decent especially for DVD but I wish they transferred this on to Blu-ray and included more extras.

The only special feature is called “Fun Filled Look At The History Of Snowmen And The Birth Of Frosty”. It is a decent feature but the same goes for the recently released “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, no idea why they are being pitched as “deluxe edition”. They are far from deluxe and at least “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was transferred to Blu-ray. For the last DVD release of this film in 2003, it was paired with the “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. So you might be better picking up that edition rather than this one if you are looking for best value.

Available on DVD 10/4 at http://bit.ly/pdBEWq
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Synopsis: From beloved song to animated holiday classic: Frosty meets his match in a glistening Remastered Deluxe Edition! Andy Griffith, Shelley Winters and Jackie Vernon lend their voices to this captivating cartoon about the Snowman’s winter return to the children of a small town for a winter season of fun and games. But he?s lonely at night when left by himself. So the grateful kids build him a beautiful snowlady companion. Jealous of the attention given Frosty, Jack Frost blows up a blizzard and swipes Frosty’s magical, life-giving hat. Only true love can bring Frosty back to his old fun-loving self. Two songs that have proven to be enduring seasonal favorites highlight the soundtrack: Frosty the Snowman and Winter Wonderland.