Blu-ray Review “Black Sails: The Complete Third Season”

Actors: Toby Stephens, Ray Stevenson, Zach McGowan, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: November 8, 2016
Run Time: 549 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Black Sails is a great show that really hasn’t been giving proper credit since it aired. The show is grand and very epic. The characters are well fleshed out and each season has been improving on the next. The scope of this show is just so huge and it feels like a massive “Game of Thrones” style world…yet the masses have not caught on. Anchor Bay has still been behind giving this show a solid Blu-ray presentation since day one. The 1080p transfer on these episodes are just gorgeous. They make all the work that this show takes to put together and shows it off very well. This release also comes stock with epic Dolby TrueHD 7.1 tracks, which will rattle your bones! Alas, the next season will be the series finale. I am very curious to how how this show cruises to its conclusion in season four.

Official Season Premise: In the wake of the burning of Charles Town, all the New World lives in fear of Captain Flint. But when his campaign of terror crosses over into madness, and new threats emerge to challenge his supremacy, it falls to John Silver to locate the man within the monster, before Flint’s war against the world consumes them all. Meanwhile, on the pirate island of Nassau, it’s a new day. With Eleanor Guthrie facing judgment in London, Jack Rackham sits atop a fortune in Spanish gold, hoping to secure his legacy as a king among thieves. To do so, he’ll have to compete with the return of one of history’s most notorious captains, who holds a different vision for their home, as well as a complicated past with Rackham’s chief ally, Captain Charles Vane. All will be tested when a new opponent arrives to claim Nassau, one the pirates could never have anticipated. It knows them. It understands them. And in the blink of an eye, it will do the one thing they never thought possible… turn them against each other.

The special feature are a little light this go around but some decent content still included. There is a good refresher from what happened last season in the “Season 2 Recap”. The best feature is an episode-by-episode in depth behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the show in “Inside the World of Black Sails”. The next feature “The Storm” shows how they created the visual marvel in the second episode of this season. “A Pirate’s Last Words” looks into the big season spoiler, which I will not reveal. “Blackbeard: An 18th Century Pirate” focuses on the debut of the legendary character to the show. Lastly “Woodes Rogers” examines one of the season’s newest character. Missing here that would be been amazing would have been some commentary tracks, if you are reading this for season four release Anchor Bay!

Blu-ray Review “Finding Dory”

Actors: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Hayden Rolence, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy
Directors: Andrew Stanton
Rated: PG
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

“Finding Nemo” is easily one of my favorite Disney/Pixar films. Pixar has been honestly rather weak though in the sequel department recently (of course outside of the “Toy Story” franchise”). “Finding Dory” was everything I wanted in a sequel and more! The original characters were back and better than ever. Everyone loves Dory but she was really able to carry this movie so well in the lead with some help from some amazing new friends. Destiny, the whale shark and Bailey, a beluga whale, nearly steal the show for me. Just a lot of love went into making this film amazing and every time I watch it it only gets better and better…and BETTER! Let’s hope that Pixar takes some notes from this film and straightens up its game for future sequels.

Official Premise: From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of Disney-Pixar’s FINDING NEMO (Best Animated Feature, 2003) comes an epic undersea adventure filled with imagination, humor and heart. When Dory, the forgetful blue tang (Ellen DeGeneres), suddenly remembers she has a family who may be looking for her, she, Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) take off on a life-changing quest to find them…with help from Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Bailey, a beluga whale who’s convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz’ and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark!

I saw this film in 3D and I wasn’t really thrilled with the way it turned out. But the film 2D alone just looks so amazing. If you watch “Nemo” and “Dory” back to back you can see so much how the latter has improved on the first film. The 1080p transfer is simple gorgeous and compliments so well by the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio track as well, which is perfect. Disney also jam packed this Blu-ray set with special features spanning over two discs. Additionally, there is a DVD copy of the film included (if anyone actually still uses these) as well as and a Disney digital copy voucher.

On disc one of “Finding Dory”, the special features start off amazing with the beautiful short film “Piper”, which better win the Oscar this year! There are some vintage (looking) Marine Life Interviews with characters from the film. “The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar” focuses on “the most complicated character” Pixar has ever created. “What Were We Talking About?” focuses on Dory as a character and how she returns in this film. “Casual Carpool” takes us on a ride with Director Andrew Stanton and some voice cast. “Animation & Acting” focuses on voice work in the film. “Deep in the Kelp” features Jenna Ortega, from Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, as she hosts on the research for the film. “Creature Features” has cast discuss their characters. Lastly there is a fun and informative audio commentary with Director Andrew Stanton, Co-Director Angus MacLane, and Producer Lindsey Collins.

Disc Two jumps right into the good stuff with a huge five part behind-the-scenes feature. The first part is “Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer”, which features the Character Art Director discusses his work on the film. “Dory’s Theme” features a discussion about the music with Director Andrew Stanton, Composer Tom Newman, and Music Editor Bill Bernstein. “Rough Day on the Reef” is a sort of gag reel of computer glitches, so is the other feature “Fish Schticks” featuring funny moments. “Finding Nemo As Told by Emoji” is what the title says it is…cute. ” “Living Aquariums” is an awesome addition as sporting a collection of four themed digitally animated “fish tanks” designed for ambient enjoyment. Hours of entertainment here! Lastly there is a WHOPPING 50+ minutes of deleted scenes with intro from the director and some trailers included.

Blu-ray Review “Army Of One”

Actors: Nicolas Cage, Russell Brand, Rainn Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Paul Scheer
Directors: Larry Charles
Rated: R
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Poor Nicolas Cage. This guy was at the top of holiday and just ended up choosing one bad film after another…after another. Same goes for his co-star in this, Russell Brand, come to think of it as well. This film literally was just dumped on Blu-ray and its will be shortly forgotten. It’s not great to be honest but it’s at least watchable…but like I said not very memorable.

Official Premise: Synopsis: Gary Faulkner (Nicolas Cage) is an ex-con, unemployed handyman, and modern day Don Quixote who receives a vision from God (Russell Brand) telling him to capture Osama Bin Laden. Armed with only a single sword purchased from a home-shopping network, Gary travels to Pakistan to complete his mission. While on his quest, Gary encounters old friends back home in Colorado, the new friends he makes in Pakistan, the enemies he makes at the CIA – and even God and Osama themselves.

The Blu-ray features nothing special at all in terms of audio and video. No major complaints but nothing memorable either just like the film itself. Along with the Blu-ray, we also get a DVD and a digital copy of the film as well. To make matters worse, there is only one special feature, which is a short behind-the-scenes look into the “Making of Army of One”.

Blu-ray Review “Hell or High Water”

Actors: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Katy Mixon, Kevin Rankin
Directors: David Mackenzie
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 122 minutes

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

“Hell Or High Water” easily has some of the best performances of the year. In fact, this film easily nudged itself in my top films of 2016…YES it is that good. Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster together are GOLD! Bridges is hysterical and steals the show. Foster delivers yet another outstanding performance for the underrated actor, who was also fantastic in “Warcraft” this year. Of course, let’s not forget Chris Pine who once again shows off his acting chops. Lastly, props should go out to Gil Birmingham, who hasn’t gotten enough credit from this film because he was amazing also and put up with Jeff Bridges’ character, which was a challenge. Overall, this is a fun, action packed, slow burn drama that I highly recommend you do not miss!

Official Premise: Toby is a divorced father who’s trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who’s only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who’s not ready to ride off into the sunset.

In the Blu-ray combo pack also comes with a DVD of the film as well as a digital HD copy. The Blu-ray 1080p transfer is gorgeous showing off the beauty of Texas and the DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track nails the score and the music by Nick Cave. There are three decent featurettes included, the first is “Enemies Forever: The Characters of Hell or High Water”, which features the cast dicussing their roles. The next is “Visualizing the Heart of America”, which discusses the shooting locations for the film. Last one “Damaged Heroes: The Performances of Hell or High Water” reviews with the cast/crew about our leads and how they nailed their characters. Also included is the Red Carpet Premiere footage as well as a Filmmaker Q&A that is working checking out for sure.

Blu-ray Review “Nerve”

Actors: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Juliette Lewis, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Nerve” is a movie that makes me feel like I am getting old. It starts Emma Roberts (TV’s “Scream Queens”) and Dave Franco (“Now You See Me” franchise) both of whom I cannot stand at all. They seem to represent all that the younger Millenial generation stand for and they honestly can’t act either. Plus it is just wrapped up in this obxvious world of social media, which I try and stay away from. So obviously, this film was not made for me personally, which is fine but I did have to sit through it to complete this. If you are a Millenial that like to tweet, Instagram or whatever else you kids do, you will enjoy this but anyone over 30 should steer clear.

Official Premise: Industrious high school senior Vee Delmonico (Emma Roberts) is tired of living life on the sidelines. Pressured by her friends, Vee decides to join Nerve, a popular online game that challenges players to accept a series of dares. It’s not long before the adrenaline-fueled competition requires her to perform increasingly dangerous stunts. When Nerve begins to take a sinister turn, Vee finds herself in a high-stakes finale that will ultimately determine her entire future.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack, which comes with a Digital HD copy of the film has one pretty cool feature that I was impressed with. They give viewers the unique opportunity to experience being a WATCHER or a PLAYER. In WATCHER mode, you can go behind-the-scenes with 15 “Creating Nerve” pods which dive into the making of the film itself. “The Fat Jewish Gets Tattewish” is a collection of outtakes from internet personality Josh Ostrovsky and “The Governor’s Ball Takeover” features a game of dare played at the 2016 Governor’s Ball in New York.

If you take the interactive PLAYER mode route, you can take interactive quiz called “Are You a Watcher or a Player” or play the “Do You Have the Nerve?” Game, which would be for viewers looking for an adrenaline rush or view Player Profiles of the top Nerve players. Oddly enough, the DVD included, only features the Watcher mode special feature.

Blu-Ray Review: “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show”

“T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show”
Shout Factory
Producer: Brian Blum
2 Discs
Runtime: 205 Minutes

Our score: 4 out of 5 stars

Fans of classic rock and soul can now own the legendary concert film “T.A.M.I. Show” along with its long -lost and much requested follow up “The Big T.N.T Show” which is being released via Shout Factory on December 2nd. The two films are available together in standard DVD and High Definition Blu-Ray and will both come packaged with a special 36 page booklet containing rare photos and detailed essays written by Don Waller.

If the music of the mid 1960’s is your thing then the great folks over at Shout Factory have a stellar two disc package for you. The “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show” will be available just in time for Christmas and will a welcome gift under the tree of any music fan. Together all on two disc watchers are treated to classic performances by the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and Ray Charles to name just a few. Mastered from a new High Definition transfer the show looks and sounds amazing No-where else will you be able to see such early footage from acts that would go on to define a generation. Not only do you get to see the likes of Chuck Berry and many others but they are back by none other than “The Wrecking Crew” one of if not these best studio/backing band every assembled!

From beginning to end the “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show” collection is a hit. Not only are the performances spot on but so is the audio and video as well. After all the decorations and excitement of the holidays are gone these films will be a great thing to put on and enjoy some peace and quiet with the family as they will instantly transport you back to a generation and world that unknowingly was on the cusp of great change.

“T.A.M.I. Show” Performances
David McCallum- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (instrumental
Ray Charles- What’d I Say
Petula Clark- Downtown
The Lovin’ Spoonful- Do You Believe in Magic, You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice
Bo Diddley- Hey Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley
Joan Baez- 500 Miles, There But For Fortune
Ray Charles- Georgia On My Mind, Let the Good Times Roll
Joan Baez w. Phil Spector- You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
The Ronettes- Be My Baby, Shout
Roger Miller- Dang Me, Engine Engine #9, King of the Road, England Swings
The Byrds- Turn!Turn!Turn!(To Everything There is a Season), The Bells of Rhymney, Mr. Tambourine Man

The Big T.N.T Show” Performances
Jan and Dean- 9Here They Come) From All Over the World
Chuck Berry- Johnny B. Goode, Maybelle
Gerry and the Peacemakers, Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying, It’s Gonna Be Alright
Chuck Berry- Nadine
Gerry and the Peacemakers- Like It
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- That’s What Love is Made Of, You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me, Mickey’s Monkey
Marvin Gaye- Stubborn Kind of Fellow, Pride and Joy, Can I Get a Witness, Hitch Hike
Lesley Gore- Maybe I Know, You Don’t Own Me, You Didn’t Look Around, Hey Now, It’s My Party, Judy’s Turn to Cry
Jan and Dean- The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) Sidewalk Surfin
The Beach Boys- Surfin’ USA, I Get Around

 

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Blu-ray Review “Mr. Church”

Actors: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry
Directors: Bruce Beresford
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

Eddie Murphy hasn’t had the best of luck recently. His films haven’t been let’s say…quality. Due to those films, “Mr. Church” got shoved to the corner and not giving much love. It’s not a perfect film but it is definitely a great performance from Murphy and his co-star Britt Robertson (“Tomorrowland”). I am usually not a huge fan of the “heart-warming” films but this one I enjoyed.

Official Premise: Mr. Church tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook – Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six-month arrangement instead spans fifteen years, and creates a family bond that lasts forever.

The Blu-ray for “Mr. Church” includes a Digital HD copy along in addition. There is also some decent bonus features. There is an interview with co-star Britt Robinson, as well as three featurettes. The first, “Food on Film”, features cast/crew discussing film. “Based on a True Friendship” looks at the true story the film is based on. Lastly “Eddie Murphy: Doing a Drama” is a focus on the star.

DVD Review “Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital”

Actors: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Lara Jill Miller, Robbie Rist, Loretta Devine, Jess Harnell
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2016
Run Time: 142 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital” is the latest DVD release from the popular Disney Junior series “Doc McStuffins”. Coincidentally, “”Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital” is also the new title of the show for the fourth season. The only episode though from the new season is “Welcome To McStuffinsville”, which is basically what Doc McStuffins: The Movie” could be if they made it ever. It is a full-length adventure with a great new adventure and new songs. It is a great introduction into the new season. I wish the DVD continued the “Toy Hospital” trend though and included more episodes from season four.

Official Premise: Join Doc as she expands her practice from the backyard clinic to the magical new world of McStuffinsville, where she will carry on a family tradition by becoming Chief Resident of McStuffins Toy Hospital. After Grandma McStuffins shares the news that she too has the ability to bring toys to life, she transports Doc and her friends to McStuffinsville, a magical world made up entirely of toys. There, Doc appoints Lambie in charge of the toy nursery, Stuffy on vet duty, Chilly as receptionist and Hallie as head nurse.

The additional episodes included on this DVD are “Baby McStuffins/Selfless Snowman”; “Runaway Love/Tour De McStuffins”, “Bringing Home Baby” and “Baby Names/Night, Night Lala!”. These episodes are all from the latter side of season three. Great episodes but doesn’t fit the “Toy Hospital” theme that the DVD is really pushing. So I feel like that is a bit of a miss here. As well as the episodes, there is also a cute Exclusive Toysponder Bracelet included with this DVD!

 

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DVD Review “Feed the Beast: Season 1”

Actors: David Schimmer, Jim Sturgess, Michael Gladis, Lorenza Izzo, John Doman
Directors: Daniel Attias, Jon S. Baird, Dennie Gordon, Steve Shill
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: October 11, 2016
Run Time: 377 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Feed the Beast” is yet another example of the post-“Friends” curse that has been haunting its star David Schwimmer (although he was good in “American Crime Story”). With a show coming from the minds of the people behind “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie”, I expected much more. The series also co-starred one of my favorite actor Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe, Cloud Atlas). Alas, it was nixed after just the first season. Overall, I enjoyed it. Wasn’t the best thing that I have seen on TV but I also don’t think it deserved to get canceled so quickly especially when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry still has his much harder to watch remake of “The Odd Couple” on the air. Feel like saving another show Netflix?

Official Premise: For Tommy (Schwimmer) and Dion (Sturgess), two friends on the brink of losing everything, a dusty pipe dream of opening an upscale restaurant in their hometown of the Bronx is all they have left to turn their lives around. Together, Tommy and Dion take on the insanity of the New York restaurant world, navigating its underbelly of petty criminals, corrupt officials, and violent gangsters.

This show is available on Blu-ray and DVD but I was only provided with a DVD for the source of this review. The DVD does come with a Digital HD copy of the season, which is a bonus for sure. There are three featurttes included, “Fate, Friendship and Food: Crafting Season 1”, “The Food Behind The Fancy” and “Building The Beast”, which features cast/crew reflecting on the season, their characters and how it was brought to life. Lastly there are also audio commentary track with the cast & crew on few select episodes, so at least we have a little repeat value here.

 

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DVD Review: “Wild Oats”

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.

Blu-ray Review “Swiss Army Man”

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.

Blu-ray Review “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV”

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.

DVD Review “Amazonia”

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.

Blu-ray Review “Supernatural: The Complete Eleventh Season”

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.

Blu-ray Review “The Neon Demon”

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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