Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange and Howard Hesseman
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Rated: PG-13
Anchor Bay Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 86 mins

Film: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Extras: None

A fun romp with a great cast, “Wild Oats” tells the story of recently widowed Eva (MacLaine) and her best friend Maddie (Lange). After Eva’s husband dies she receives his life insurance payment. However, instead of the expected $50,000.00 the check is mistakenly made out for $5 million. What to do? Most people would return the check. Eva cashes it and she and Maddie embark on a vacation adventure that draws the attention of the media and, of course, the insurance company.

I always read that there aren’t any good roles written for older actresses, but Eva and Maddie are well written and well developed characters. It helps that they are played by two formidable former Oscar winners who exhibit more energy in their performances than actresses 50 years their junior. The supporting cast is equally strong, including Demi Moore as Eva’s daughter, Billy Connolly as Eva’s suitor, Rebecca Da Costa and Judd Hirsch. And Hesseman almost steals the film as the exasperated insurance company agent sent to retrieve their money. And an added bonus here for fans of the television show “Head of the Class,” a program in which Connolly replaced Hesseman.

A small film with big laughs, “Wild Oats” is one you should look for next time you’re at the video store.

Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Directors: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
Rated: R
Studio: A24
Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 97 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Tired of non-stop superhero movies? Reboots? Sequels? Prequels? Well, luckily there are films out there like “Swiss Army Man”, which is a zany, over the top original fun movie…that nobody saw. People wonder why they never make original movies and the reason is cause NOBODY SEES THEM! This movie was amazing. I loved it. It was so damn weird but at the same time I found myself mesmerized, especially by the performances from Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano. A must see movie of the year.

Original Premise: Synopsis: Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a deserted island, having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up onshore. The two become fast friends, and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

I love the way that this film was shot and the way it looks, so I enjoyed the 1080p transfer quite a bit. Same goes for the extremely impressive Dolby Atmos track (at its core, Dolby TrueHD 7.1). This worked great with the fantastic music by Manchester Orchestra members Andy Hull and Robert McDowell, which works so well in the movie.

Along with the Blu-ray, this release also comes with a digital copy of the film. The special features are decent as well to check out. There is a very fun audio commentary with Writer/Director Daniel Kwan, Writer/Director Daniel Scheinert, Production Designer Jason Kisvarnay, and Sound Mixer/Fartist Brent Kiser…and NO you did not misread that…this film has a fartist. You gotta see the movie to get it.

“Swiss Army Man: Behind the Scenes” is a really fun behind-the-scenes featurette with some candid footage and chats with cast. “Making Manny” follows the making of the dummy with designer Jason Hamer. There is a hour plus Q & A with Filmmakers with Glenn Kiser moderating at the Dolby Institute. Lastly there are nearly 10 minutes of deleted scenes included.

Director: Takeshi Nozue
Starring: Aaron Paul, Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Jon Campling, Adrian Bouchet, Will Bowden
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 115 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of “Final Fantasy” and its last film “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children”. It is a visual marvel that still blows me away each time I watch it.  With “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV”, I found myself just struggling to stay awake while watching. It is slow moving, all over the place and very hard to follow. The story feels like a tangled web and the characters are so similar that I literally had a hard time tracking who was who. I might not be the target audience of this film since I am not really anticipating the new upcoming game “Final Fantasy XV”.  When it comes to  the films technical aspects it is quite impressive. It looks great and when the action kicks in it is epic but it doesn’t kick in enough to make it worth wild.

Official Premise: The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the sacred Crystal, and the menacing empire of Niflheim is determined to steal it. King Regis of Lucis (Sean Bean) commands an elite force of soldiers called the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, Nyx (Aaron Paul) and his fellow soldiers fight to protect Lucis. As the overwhelming military might of the empire bears down, King Regis is faced with an impossible ultimatum – to marry his son, Prince Noctis to Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae (Lena Headey), captive of Niflheim, and surrender his lands to the empire’s rule. Although the king concedes, it becomes clear that the empire will stop at nothing to achieve their devious goals, with only the Kingsglaive standing between them and world domination.

Easily best part of this film is its technical merits. The 1080p transfer looks outstanding. The fully digital animated feature just looks beautiful. The fight scenes when they are present are breathtaking. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also a high note delivering its action to an epic level, unfortunately it doesn’t last long. The special features are lacking like the film. There are four short featurettes included. “A Way with Words: Epic and Intimate Vocals” has the voice cast discussing the film and their character. “To Capture the Kingsglaive: The Process”  looks into the motion capture technology used here. “Fit for the Kingsglaive: Building the World” focuses on the design and environment (in Japanese with English subtitles). The last is a piece of the films score “Emotive Music: Scoring The Kingsglaive” by John R. Graham.

Actors: Martin Sheen
Directors: Thierry Ragobert
Rated: G
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: October 4, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

Originally released in France in 2003, this film was re-narrated with Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) and released in the US. I have to admit, I am sucker for all wildlife nature documentaries. This one focus on a capuchin monkey, who is a cutey and wins audiences hearts. Sheen delivers a solid narration as well.

Here is the official Premise of “Amazonia”: After a plane crash, Saï, a capuchin monkey born and raised in captivity, finds himself alone and lost in the wilderness of the Amazon jungle.

In additional the documentary, there is also a digital HD copy included with the DVD and a few bonus features that are working checking out. First, there is an “The Making of Amazonia” featurette, which gives some insight into the production and what it took to get the footage they got. There are also a few fun “Minuscule Bonus Episodes” included as well.

Actors: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Mark A. Sheppard
Number of discs: 4
Studio: Warner Home Video
Rated TV-14
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 970 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Supernatural” is quite a marvel in terms of television that is going on 12 seasons now and honestly shows no end in sight. This show has a really strong and loyal fan base. This show is not my favorite show on TV but it is hit or miss good if that makes any sense. I like it and enjoy it but some episodes feel like such filler as I have felt with other The CW shows like “The Vampire Diaries”. Season 11 still was action packed and included some pretty epic moments. If you are a fan of this series or if you have never seen it and have about 10,000+ spare minutes to bing and catch up, this show is worth checking out, especially since it is still going strong.

Official Premise: Season Eleven plunges Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) into extreme peril as they face The Darkness, a sinister new menace unleashed upon the Earth. They continue their monster-hunting missions, battling the usual werewolves, black-eyed demons and even a vengeful ghost in a stuffed bunny costume, but with a sharp new focus: destroy The Darkness. Needing all the help they can get, the brothers turn to fallen angel Castiel (Misha Collins); King of Hell Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard); and even an unassuming God (Rob Benedict) – only to come face to face with Lucifer and Crowley’s power-hungry witch-mother, Rowena (Ruth Connell). Strap yourself in for the Winchester’s darkest adventures yet as they journey between Heaven and Hell…

There is a huge amount of special features for all its hardcore fans, spread out over the four discs. The first disc includes the following extras: Audio Commentary track from Director Thomas Wright and Writer Robbie Thompson for the episode “Baby”. There is a featurette “Jensen Ackles on Directing ‘The Bad Seed'”, which features the actor talking about the season and behind the camera. There are also two deleted scenes. The second disc includes an Audio Commentary track with Writer Jenny Klein and Director Richard Speight on the episode “Just My Imagination” and one deleted scene.

The third disc includes only two deleted scenes. Lastly though the fourth disc is jam packed. There is an audio commentary with Actors Rob Benedict and Curtis Armstrong and Writer Robbie Thompson for the episode “Don’t Call Me Shurley”. “On the Set with SPN: The Real Fan Contest” features a day on the set for two fans. “The Winchester Mythology: Shedding Light on the Darkness” looks into the Amara storyline. “Digital Magic: Enhancing the Sets with VFX” looks into the digital effects of the series. There is the Supernatural from 2015 Comic-Con Panel. Lastly there is a gag reel included and two more deleted scenes.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Starring: Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Broadgreen
DVD Release Date: September 27, 2016
Run Time: 117 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Nicolas Winding Refn is a director that is not for everyone but for those that love him really love him. I was a huge fan of “Drive” and his style just speaks to me personally. So when “The Neon Demon” came around I went in completely blind and was absolutely blown away with this film. Elle Fanning is absolutely breathtaking as a person as with her performance. I hardly blinked when she was on screen. Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee are defiantly evil and even Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves pop in throughout. Reeves in particularly is one hell of a creep and nails it perfectly. Cliff Martinez delivered what is easily my favorite score of the year, which made this film work just so well! I found myself holding my breath and unable to look away at this marvel! If you enjoy something that isn’t a sequel or remake/reboot, this is a must see!

Official Premise: The Neon Demon is a sumptuous horror-thriller, set in the highly competitive and often vicious world of fashion modeling, where the term “eat their own” takes on a decidedly new meaning. When aspiring model Jesse (Fanning) moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will use any means necessary to get what she has.

“The Neon Demon” is literally one of the most beautiful films I have seen. The 1080p transfer is fantastic! I would have loved to see this film get a 4K release! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround works absolutely perfectly with my electronic soundtrack by Cliff Martinez (which is also my favorite score of the year). Martinez has scored Refn’s previous films “Drive” and “Only God Forgives”. Unfortunately, the special features are rather light. The audio commentary with Refn and Fanning is a must listen if you like the film but it is only followed by two short featurettes: “Behind the Soundtrack of The Neon Demon (05:08)” and “About The Neon Demon (01:12), way too short to fully get the behind-the-scenes feature.

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Actors: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper, Toby Kebbell
Directors: Duncan Jones
Format: 3D
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 27, 2016
Run Time: 123 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
3D: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

There is no shortage of talent behind this film. It was directed by Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code) and stars Travis Fimmel (“Vikings,” Maggie’s Plan), Paula Patton (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Deja Vu), Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger, Need for Speed) and Ben Foster (Lone Survivor, 3:10 to Yuma). The film was not a big hit domestically but worldwide it did pull in a pretty penny. I loved it and I would recommend it highly for an action packed wild ride. I hope they continue the series for sure, since it is setup so well for future installment.

Official Premise: The peaceful realm of Azeroth stands on the brink of war as its civilization faces a fearsome race of invaders: Orc warriors fleeing their dying home to colonize another. As a portal opens to connect the two worlds, one army faces destruction and the other faces extinction. From opposing sides, an unlikely group of heroes is set on a collision course that will decide the fate of their families, their people and their home.

If the games fans would have given this movie a chance they would have realized how epic and awesome it is. The visual effects on this film were simply amazing. I LOVED the 3D effects, in fact they were the best that I have seen in a movie since “Edge of Tomorrow” with Tom Cruise. It literally blew me away. The Blu-ray transfer looks outstanding on my TV and the 3D was extremely effect. The colors were also perfectly displayed and delivered a great viewing experience.

The Blu-ray 3D combo pack also comes with a standard Blu-ray and a digital HD copy. The special features are loaded up with over 90 minutes of bonus content, including deleted scenes, an exclusive stop-motion Warcraft comic, and several behind-the-scenes looks at stunts, visual effects, story origins, and more. First up here have “WARCRAFT: Bonds of Brotherhood”, which is an awesome never-before-seen motion comic. “The World of Warcraft on Film: The “World of Warcraft” focuses on the world that is created for the film and how it differs from the game and it focuses on the talent as well as the outstanding VFX.

“Outfitting a World” gives costume designer Mayes Rubeo the spotlight to discuss how the film’s weaponry and armor were created. “The World of MOCAP” discusses the creation of the Orcs. “The World of Stunts” looks deeper into the VFX and fight scenes in the film. Lastly there is a featurette on Madame Tussauds, the original teaser from San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, as well as a few deleted scenes and gag reel included.

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Actors: Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Daniel Radcliffe, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo
Directors: Jon M. Chu
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 129 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Now You See Me” was a good film…but it was not a film that was asking for sequel in any way. The only thing that the unnecessary sequel does is enlarge its cast. This time only with Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games franchise), Dave Franco (Nerve), Michael Caine (The Dark Knight) and Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption). We get Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise), Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield) and Jay Chou (The Green Hornet) added to the magic show. Unfortunately it doesn’t have much magic up it sleeves like the first film.

Official Premise: The Four Horsemen (Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco, Caplan) return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack comes with a DVD anda also a Digital HD of the film. The 1080p transfer showcases the razzle dazzle of Las Vegas very well in its stylized feel. The Dolby Atmos track works great with the scale of the film and the presentation definitely delivers the magic unlike the film itself. In terms of special features, there is an audio commentary with the director as well as three behind-the-scenes featurettes, which dive into the making of the film and how the cast/crew learned the film’s magic tricks.

Actors: Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart, Bel Powley, Guy Pearce
Directors: Drake Doremus
Rated: PG-13
Studio: LIONSGATE
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I started watching “Equals”, I got very excited because it has this really cool futuristic feel to it that I was digging. Unfortunately by the end it wasn’t able to hang on tightly to that vibe and ended up feeling very generic and forgettable. Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult star and deliver some pretty solid performances. I also really enjoyed Stewart in a film that no one saw a while back called “Camp X-Ray” also. The stylized word that was created here was a neat idea and I would have loved to see it fleshed out a bit more.

Official Premise: A seemingly utopian world, “The Collective” has ended crime and violence by genetically eliminating all human emotions. Despite this, Nia and Silas can’t help noticing a growing attraction between them, leading them to a forbidden relationship — at first tentative, but then exploding into a passionate romance. As suspicion begins to mount among their superiors, the couple will be forced to choose between going back to the safety of the lives they have always known, or risking it all to try and pull off a daring escape.

The Blu-ray combo pack also comes with a digital HD copy of the film. The 1080p transfer looks great with the utopian future that is displayed. The score is subtle yet carries the film well. The special features are a little light. There are three featurettes focusing on the behind-the-scenes, “Switched On”, “The Collective” and “Utopia” with cast/crew discussing the film. Lastly there is also an audio commentary with Director Drake Doremus, Cinematographer John Guleserian, and Editor Jonathan Alberts. There was some solid information about the film here and a few points that I actually wasn’t happy with the film was even addressed here.

Actors: Taylor Gray, Vanessa Marshall, Tiya Sircar, Jr. Freddi Prinze, Steve Blum
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 484 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When the first season of “Star Wars Rebels” started, my daughter and I were all in. We watched religiously and enjoyed the first season. Honestly, I did enjoy the second season but I wasn’t overall blown away by it and I don’t feel that IN WHOLE it superseded the first. The best part of the season was the return of Ahsoka Tano, Darth Maul and the introduction of animated Darth Vader. For me those three things saved the season. Otherwise, I honestly don’t even remember much else from it. Hopefully season 3 kicks off with a bang and delivers a better run to keep my interest in this show.

Official Premise: As Ezra Continues his journey to become a Jedi under Kanan’s guidance, the crew of the Ghost bands together with a secret rebel cell and ex-soldiers from the Clone Wars to join a fledgeling alliance to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. But the dark side looms large as Darth Vader dispatches new Inquisitors, setting the stage for a climactic showdown in which terrible truths will be revealed and the lives of our heroes will be changed forever.

There is no shortage of great talent in this show. The series features the voices of Freddie Prinze Jr. (“I Know What You Did Last Summer”) as Kanan, Vanessa Marshall (TV’s “Young Justice”) as Hera, Steve Blum (“The Boxtrolls”) as Zeb, Tiya Sircar (“The Internship”) as Sabine, Taylor Gray (TV’s “Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures”) as Ezra, Ashley Eckstein (“Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Ahsoka Tano, Dee Bradley Baker (“Phineas and Ferb”) as Captain Rex and EVERY clones (that’s right EVERY CLONE), David Oyelowo (“The Butler”) as Agent Kallus and Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) as The Seventh Sister Inquisitor.

The 1080p transfers looks good with the animation and colors perfectly for the TV series. My main issue with the presentation is the audio tracks. I am very disappointed that Disney only is giving us DVD-quality Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks for these episodes. This really feels like a mistake and a real missed opportunity. The special features are decent and worth checking out if you enjoyed the season and looking for some fun extras. “From Apprentice to Adversary: Vader vs. Ahsoka” is an exclusive to Blu-ray extra with Executive Producer Dave Filoni reflecting on the climactic ending of the season with Ahsoka Tano and Darth Vader. “Connecting the Galaxy: Rebels Season Two” looks into easter eggs and other Star Wars connections from the show. Lastly “Rebel Recons” features 20 episode recons with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with cast and crew, and more!

Actors: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o
Directors: Jon Favreau
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit right off that I didn’t love this film. Before you jump, the visuals were amazing and at times it was almost difficult to see the line between real and CGI with the characters but I wasn’t grabbed in. I have the fonded appreciation for director Jon Favreau and his work. He updated this 50+ year old film with some outstanding technology but overall, the film feels too dark for me and doesn’t have that cheer of the original.
The voice cast is extremely strong here including Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Scarlet Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Garry Shandling and Giancarlo Esposito. These are some A-list names here and they all do a great job especially with Murray and Walken singing there respective tunes. So once again, I didn’t love this film but I did like it. I just was hoping to leave with more of a smile.

Official Premise: Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire.

Despite my opinions on the film itself, the Blu-ray is nearly perfect. Since the visuals in the film are so outstanding it is only expected that the 1080p transfer would deliver it perfectly. From the CG characters to the landscapes there is so much detail through this film. From the water to the hair on the characters, it is all beautiful done and shows up amazing on Blu-ray. I would be curious to see how this looks on 3D Blu-ray. The same goes for the film’s DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 which delivers a wonderful experience with from the subtlest sounds to the massive battles. Kudos to John Debney’s score for delivering a very well-rounded score.

“The Jungle Book” doesn’t come jam-packed with extras but there is a solid making-of extra, two featurettes, and an audio commentary from director Favreau. Also a DVD copy of the film and a Digital HD code are included. The commentary track is very insightful. Favreau goes into depth on the production and delivers a highly recommended track, I appreciated the film a little more after listening to this track. “The Jungle Book Reimagined” runs just over 30 minutes and looks into the making-of the film from the visual effects to the voice casting etc. Lastly there are two quick featurettes included. The first is “I Am Mowgli” which focuses on casting Neel Sethi and the second is “King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer”, which break down the film’s key scene.

Starring: Robert Arkins, Michael Aherne and Angeline Ball
Directed by: Alan Parker
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R
Studio: RLJ Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 30, 2016
Run Time: 118 mins

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

Can it really be 25 years since that rowdy group of musicians from Dublin, Ireland that called themselves The Commitments first burst upon the scene? Sadly (for me anyway) yes it has.

The film tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte (Arkins), a young man who longs to be a successful music manager. Check that. Jimmy wants to be the next Brian Epstein. He’s had some hits and misses but he’s set his sights on putting together the greatest soul band ever created. He holds auditions at his home, asking each aspiring performer what their musical influences are. Rest assured, the ones that answer “Barry Manilow” or even Ireland’s own U2 do not get invited in. Eventually he puts together a band that was, to quote “Duck” Dunn in “The Blues Brothers,” “powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.”

Of course, as things begin to go well for the group they also go bad. Infighting, bruised egos and the fact they aren’t making money begins to get to everyone. Finally, they book a major gig and are told that Wilson Pickett, who is currently touring Ireland, will join them on stage. But can the group stay together for that crucial show?

Directed by the great Alan Parker, who surely knows his way around music having directed “Fame,” “Pink Floyd The Wall” and “Evita” among other films, “The Commitments” is full of young musicians with both talent and drive. The only familiar face in the cast is Colm Meaney, who plays Jimmy’s father, an Elvis man true and true. Music fans may also recognize Glen Hansard who, in 2008, co-wrote the Academy Award winning Best Song “Falling Slowly” from the film “ONCE.” In 2012 he co-wrote the words and music for the Broadway musical version of “ONCE,” which won the Tony Award that year for Best Musical. Ironically, Hansard was not nominated for his musical score. “The Commitments” earned an Oscar nomination for Best Editing and swept the BAFTA’s, winning four awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The extras on the disc are also pretty impressive and include a commentary by director Parker and a look back with the cast. What amazed me the most was that Andrew Strong, who plays the groups lead singer, was only 16 years old when cast.

If it’s been 25 years since you saw “The Commitments,” I urge you to see it again. If you haven’t seen it yet….what are you waiting for?

Actors: Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Luis Guzmán, Bruno Bichir
Directors: Andrés Baiz, Fernando Coimbra, Guillermo Navarro, José Padilha
Number of discs: 3
Rating: TV-MA
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 352 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have Netflix but I never checked out this Pablo Escobar drug cartel drama. I received this Blu-ray and figure out I give it a chance and I am glad I did. The show is extremely engaging and locks you in from the very first episode. Wagner Moura (“Elysium”) really nails the role of the legendary Escoba. As does the supporting cast, Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl), Pedro Pascal (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Luis Guzmán (TV’s “Code Black”), Bruno Bichir (TV’s “The Bridge”), and Ana de la Reguera (TV’s “Jane The Virgin”). I am now looking forward to the second season on Netflix.

Official Premise: Narcos: Season One, produced by Gaumont Television, stars Wagner Moura (Elysium) in a Golden Globe-nominated performance as the legendary Escobar, following him as he attempts to evade the two DEA agents that brought the famed Medellín Cartel to its knees. With electrifying performances and action sequences charged with heart-pounding suspense, this Golden Globe-nominated series follows the true-life story of the rise of international cocaine cartels — and the battle waged by law enforcement to stop them. At the center of the conflict are Pablo Escobar (Moura), the notorious Colombian drug kingpin, and the two DEA agents sent to take him down: Steve Murphy (Holbrook) and Javier Peña (Pascal).

“Narcos: Season One” packs an impressive Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 showcases the episodes extremely well. From the tropical rain forests to the cocaine processing labs, the locations are beautifully showcased and look amazing. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 also delivers a nice punch for each episode and sounds great.  Pedro Bromfman’s score wasn’t my favorite of the year but is works great with the show and sounds amazing with its surround materials.

There is one audio commentary on each of the three discs. The first is on the episode “Descenso with Actor Wagner Moura and Executive Producer/Director Jose Padilha. The second is on “Explosivos” with Executive Producer Chris Brancato. The last one is  on “Despegue” with Executive Producer Eric Newman and Director Andi Baiz. There are a few interesting featurettes included also. The first is “Establishing the Route” which focuses on the start of this series. “The Colombian Connection” dicusses shooting in Colombia. “The Language Barrier” focuses on challenges with making a bilingual show. Lastly there are some Deleted Scenes included.

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Molly Quinn, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever
Number of discs: 5
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 946 minutes

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

I have been a hardcore “Castle” fan since the very first episode. It is really hard for me to close the book on this series with “The Complete Eight and Final Season”. I feel like this show still had a lot of great life in it. I loved EVERY SINGLE episode and the chemistry between the cast was like no other show I have ever seen. I also fee like even though this season gives the show a fitting ending, I still can’t believe that it is over. I have been a huge Nathan Fillion for years before this show and I can’t wait to see what he is going to do next (other than his upcoming role on “Modern Family”). At least we have these DVD releases to revisit the show forever! (Even though I would have preferred Blu-ray).

Official Premise: Their fiery love affair has kept your pulse pounding week after week for the past eight seasons. Now, the heartfelt final chapter of Rick Castle and Kate Beckett comes to an end as one of the most beloved couples in television history match wits with their ultimate rival in a fight that will define their future. The season begins with a bang as a call from a mysterious stranger puts Beckett on the run and sets off an explosive chain of events. The action heats up when Castle’s daughter, Alexis, joins her father to solve the case of a lifetime. Fresh faces and unforgettable characters from the past join the precinct in a year full of devastating twists and turns. It all leads to the stunning series finale that will keep you on the edge of your seat and close the book on the incredible story of Castle and Beckett.

The DVD includes a collection of special features. There are audio commentaries included on a few of this seasons episodes as well as bloopers and deleted scenes included. “The Great Escape” is a really fun feature that puts the whole cast of the show locked in a room and sets a ticking clock. They have to hone their skills that they have learned from working on the eight seasons of the show to solve mystery and escape! So fun and a great way to see the cast work together on a case on last time! Let’s hope that ABC will eventually release these on Blu-ray or at least a really cool box set collector’s edition.

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Actors: Bruce Campbell, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago, Lucy Lawless, Jill Marie Jones
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: August 23, 2016

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I am one of the biggest “Evil Dead” franchise” fans. I have met Bruce Campbell and the cast of the three films in the franchise numerous times. I think I did a double back flip when I saw that we were getting a continuation in the franchise with this new series for Starz. The season is jam packed with enough amazing fanboy head explosion moments to satisfy any hardcore fan. A few of the episodes wonder a bit but overall I see an insane amount of future opportunities in this series and I have a feeling it will stick around for a long time! I am just happy that Ashley J. Williams is back and kicking Deadite ass! Can’t wait for season 2 this October!

The first season of “Ash vs Evil Dead” consists of 10 half-hour episodes and consists as a follow-up to the classic horror film franchise “The Evil Dead” The series is executive produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell, the original filmmakers of the franchise, and Craig DiGregorio (“Chuck”), who serves as executive producer and showrunner. Other than Bruce, who is literally gold with every word he speaks, the supporting cast is great as well with Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, plays a very important role. Also up-and-comers Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago show that they can kick some ass as well and work well with Bruce.

Official Series Premise: The series follows Ash, the stock boy, aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons –personal and literal. Destiny, it turns out, has no plans to release the unlikely hero from its “Evil” grip. The cast is led by Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, Lucy Lawless as Ruby a mysterious figure who believes Ash is the cause of the Evil outbreaks, Ray Santiago as Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick, Dana DeLorenzo as Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past and Jill Marie Jones as Amanda Fisher, a disgraced Michigan State Trooper set to find our anti-hero Ash and prove his responsibility in the grisly murder of her partner.

Starz is a great place for this show because they are able to show the gritty shit that other network stations would be afraid to. The Blu-ray includes impressive 1080p transfers. The show is shot digitally and even though it doesn’t have that gritty feel we all love from the franchise films, it looks amazing. Topped only by the outstanding Dolby TrueHD 7.1 presentation for each episodes, which kicks ass with the intense soundtrack and awesome surround chainsaw-welding effects. I should also mention that the slipcover for this release is a sweet lenticular cover!

The first Blu-ray includes audio commentaries on all episodes from cast and creators with some additional extras included on disc two. Sadly, there are no DVD or digital versions of the show are included. I would have expected at least digital since Anchor Bay does include for their releases like “The Walking Dead”. The commentaries are fun and you can tell that the cast really enjoyed working together for this series. Other than the commentaries there are only three other features. The first is “Ash Inside the World” which gives skim details on each episode with behind the scenes details. “How to Kill a Deadite” features Bruce Campbell talking about the title feature. Lastly there is a compilation of Bruce Campbell’s best moments from this season in “Best of Ash”. Honestly expect a little more from these extras.