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.

Actors: Andy Powers, Peter Stormare, Laura Allen, Elizabeth Witmere
Directors: Jon Watts
Rated: R
Studio: Anchor Bay Studios
Release Date: August 23, 2016
Run Time: 100 minutes

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

Who isn’t scared of clowns?! They just strike fear into the hearts of everyone. “Clown” had a lot of potential but doesn’t achieve it fully. The idea is there for this to be really creepy and scary but it ends up being neither. The story doesn’t really flesh out and walk around a bit.   The film stars Laura Allen (“The 4400″), Andy Powers (“ER”, “Oz”), Peter Stormare (“Fargo”) and produced by Master of Horror Eli Roth (“Hostel”, “Cabin Fever”). Unfortunately, Stormare (whom I LOVE) pops in here and there and doesn’t do much. I’ve seen this twice and it doesn’t get any better to be honest, probably recommend skipping this and re-watching “Stephen King’s IT”.

Official Premise: The story of a loving father who dons a clown outfit and makeup to perform at his son’s sixth birthday, only to later discover that the costume – red nose and wig included– will not come off and his own personality changing in a horrific fashion. To break the curse of the evil outfit, the father must make grim choices with his own family facing danger.

The Blu-ray comes with a digital HD copy, which was a bit of a surprise honestly for a film like this. The 1080p transfer isn’t terrible but also doesn’t feel amazing either. The film feels really low-budget and not well shot, so I am not shocked. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is decent as well. I could have seen this film rocking much more with a sweet 80’s synth score or something like that. It would have really made the mood much better. There is only one special feature included here (besides the digital HD copy) called “Making ‘Clown’ Featuring Producer Eli Roth” and the title sums up the 6 minutes extra talking about the process of this coming from fan-made trailer to feature film.

Actors: Andrew Gray, John Mark Loudermilk, Ciara Hanna, Azim Rizk, Christina Masterson
Directors: Jonathan Tzachor, Jonathan Brough
Number of discs: 5 (per set)
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: LIONSGATE
DVD Release Date: August 16, 2016
Run Time: 460 minutes (per set)

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

Some may not know but the “Power Rangers” series has never faded or slowed down in its success over the last 20+ years. The last two seasons were “Power Rangers Megaforce” and “Power Rangers Super Megaforce”. These two DVDs are each of the complete seasons included with a digital HD copy of each and some fun extras.

Power Rangers Megaforce: The Complete Season Synopsis: When the evil Warstar aliens plot a massive invasion of our planet, Earth’s supernatural guardian, Gosei, mobilizes a team of five extraordinary teens with the talent and attitude to oppose them: the Power Rangers Megaforce!

Power Rangers Super Megaforce: The Complete Season Synopsis: In order to stop ruthless Prince Vekar and his massive alien Armada, the Rangers have only one hope: to unlock the special keys — and harness the amazing powers of Legendary Rangers of the past!

Personally, I haven’t watched “Power Rangers” in a long time but watching these parts of this season I was easy drawn back in. I really enjoyed what they delivered. They were fun, cheesy and action packed. “Power Rangers Megaforce” includes the following special features Character Gallery, Zord Gallery and Power Rangers Morph Through 20 Years’ Video. Power Rangers Super Megaforce” also includes a featurette “Power Rangers: A Legacy”.

Starring: James Franco, Josh Duhamel, Sarah Gadon, Michael Izquierdo, Kevin Dennis, Daniel Webber
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 9, 2016
Run Time: 450 minutes

Series: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“11.22.63” is a great Stephen King novel, which was ruined in it’s TV expansion by casting James Franco as the star. This show has such potential. The story is so interesting and yet it is ruined by the ridiculously overacting of Franco, who just looks confused and stoned the who series. Chris Cooper was amazing and I wished we could have seen more of him. Behind the show was some major power with executive producer J.J. Abrams and the Master of Horror himself, Stephen King. I wish this could have been done better because I had really high expectations for 11.22.63. The next King adaptation will be “The Dark Tower” and I hope that does not follow in this series’ path.

Official Premise: Viewers hurtle deep into the unpredictable darkness of the American dream. James Franco stars as Jake Epping, a high school teacher at a loss with his life, who wants to make a difference and do something meaningful. Encouraged by his ailing friend (Chris Cooper), Jake journeys back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The story transports audiences into the world of 1960s Texas as Jake explores the multiple mysteries surrounding the alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber). But Jake’s mission faces threats not only from Oswald, but from Sadie (Sarah Gadon), a beautiful librarian he falls in love with, and from the Past itself… which doesn’t want to be changed. And if the Past doesn’t want to be changed, it will push back ­– often violently. With something for everyone, this edge-of-your seat mystery offers an epic and emotional thrill ride.

This Hulu Original cast includes James Franco (127 Hours, Milk), Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold), Cherry Jones (Erin Brockovich), Lucy Fry (Game of Thrones, Pirates of the Caribbean), George MacKay (Defiance), Daniel Webber (K9), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Kevin J. O’Connor, with Josh Duhamel (Transformers films) and Chris Cooper (American Beauty). The Blu-ray features nothing special in terms of audio/video, typical 1080p transfers and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. DEcent, no complaints. There is only one special feature included here (besides a Digital HD copy) called “When the Future Fights Back”, which features the producers and Franco talking about turning the novel into the series.

Actors: Scoot McNairy, Kerry Bishé, Toby Huss, Lee Pace, Mackenzie Davis
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: August 9, 2016
Run Time: 434 minutes

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

“Halt and Catch Fire” is really a hidden gem that not a lot of people know about. It is also features two of my favorite actors that also are hidden gems Scoot McNairy and Lee Pace. These actors are truly amazing! They have been in a lot of high profile projects but aren’t given the true credit that they deserve. They both turn any project them are in into gold. This show is one of them. Maybe it’s because, I work in the IT film but this show is a blast to watch. I love how this show has evolved since the first season as well. It is a really deep show and not for those looking for something light and distracting. I found myself really involved with this show and it’s characters. I really hope that season 3 is around the corner!

Official Premise: Halt and Catch Fire is about the costs of daring to dream big at the dawn of the Information Age. Season Two, which takes place in early 1985, centers on the rise of Mutiny, Cameron and Donna’s start-up company, which is built upon the most disruptive idea of the modern era the Internet. In short order, Joe, Gordon, and Bosworth, too, are caught up in the online wave remaking the tech landscape all around them, even as they attempt to heal old wounds and deal with the fallout of Season One. Halt and Catch Fire Season Two explores themes that tap directly into the modern zeitgeist such as the thin line separating genius from self-delusion, the fragility of human connection, and everyone s desire, especially in today’s tech-obsessed world, to leave a meaningful mark and do something that truly matters.

Even though Anchor Bay did not give this season a Blu-ray release like season 1 it still delivers some special features worth checking out. There are Inside Episodes for each of the 10 episodes included this season. There are two featurettes focusing the show’s background “History of Now” and “Joe’s Strategic Benchmarks”. There is also a “Tour of An 80s Startup”, this is a fun one! Lastly there is a “Set Tour With Lee Pace And Scoot McNairy”. Did I already mention that these two guys can do no wrong?! Check out “Halt And Catch Fire”!

Starring: Melissa Benoist, Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, Jeremy Jordan, David Harewood, Calista Flockhart
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 9, 2016
Run Time: 880 minutes

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

The first season of “Supergirl” was a failure on a lot of level. But that doesn’t mean though that it doesn’t have potential. The show was essentially cancelled from CBS and moved to The CW, which is where it originally belonged. I actually stopped watching this show on two different occasions since I was just fed up with it going nowhere in the season. After deciding to finish it since I was wanted to see “The Flash” crossover, I do see that it might having a better chance in it second season now that it established itself a bit. Time will tell but I only see them able to improve after this lackluster season.

“Supergirl” stars Melissa Benoist (“Glee”), Chyler Leigh (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Mehcad Brooks (“About Last Night”) and Jeremy Jordan (“Smash”), with David Harewood (“Homeland”) and Calista Flockhart (“Brothers and Sisters”). Season One features some great guest stars including former Superman himself Dean Cain, Peter Facinelli, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Laura Benanti and Helen Slater from the 1984 “Supergirl” movie.

Official Premise: Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped at the same time as her cousin, Superman, but didn’t arrive on Earth until years later after being lost. Raised by her adopted family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to hide the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin. Years later, at age 24, living in National City and working as an assistant for Catco Worldwide Media mogul Cat Grant, Kara has spent so many years trying to fit in that she forgot to ever stand out. All that changes when she decides to embrace her superhuman abilities and become the hero she was always destined to be. With the help of Daily Planet photographer James Olsen, her bioengineer sister Alex, and the research of the super-secret, off-the-grid Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO), who are tasked with keeping the Earth safe from aliens, Kara takes to the skies to protect her world.

The Blu-ray presentation is solid like most Warner TV Blu-ray releases. The 1080p transfer worked well with the shows visual effects, nothing major since it was a lower budget TV but still solid. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks showcased the shows few action scenes well. The special features include the “2015 Comic-Con Panel” as well as a gag reel and some deleted scenes. Lastly there are two documentaries, the first “The Man From Mars” which focuses on J’onn J’onzz and Supergirl. The second “A World Left Behind: Krypton” is based on Kara Zor-El’s home planet of Krypton.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20TH CENTURY FOX
DVD Release Date: July 19, 2016
Run Time: 100 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has been very consistent with his choice of roles (since Prince of Persia). They are usually very craft specific and meatier roles. One of his last film, “Southpaw” was one gritty and intense film. This film is lighter yet also heavier as well. It is bit depressing and a downer but it also has a lighter side. The performances though are key for “Demolition” both Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts knock it outta the park! Would I watch this again? Probably not might be worth checking out if you like the actors and have nothing else to watch. DVD comes with a digital HD copy.

Official Premise: Grieving investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) returns to work after losing his beloved wife in a tragic car accident. After writing a letter to complain about a vending machine, Mitchell receives a phone call from Karen (Naomi Watts), a customer service rep from the company. Karen becomes moved by his complete honesty, while Davis finds someone to lend a sympathetic ear. As his new friendship with Karen and her son grows, Mitchell finds the strength he needs to rebuild his life.

Actors: Alessandro Juliani, Ian Hanlin, Brian Drummond, Nicole Oliver, Vincent Tong
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: July 26, 2016

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I have never heard of Nexo Knights. I am an avid fan of all things LEGO but this series never crossed my path. The episodes are pretty neat. Its a quirky cross between medieval and space theme. Not just for kids either, definitely stole my 34 year old attention with no trouble. I know there is a second season out there, so I hope that WB has plans to release that next.

Official Premise: The high tech Kingdom of Knighton is in trouble. The King’s Jester has gone rogue and stolen the strange talking Book of Monsters. Using its evil magic, he summons an army of dangerous Lava Monsters and attacks. It is up to the brave but inexperienced NEXO Knights to come to the rescue. In their amazing rolling castle and with the help of holographic Wizard Merlok 2.0, they have technology and NEXO powers, an incredible new digitized magic, on their side. But the Jester and the Book of Monsters have a sinister plot that may spell doom over the once peaceful kingdom.

On this 2 disc set there are 10 episodes from season 1 included: “The Book of Monsters – Part 1”, “The Book of Monsters – Part 2”, “The Power of Merlok”, “The Knight’s Code”, “Fright Knight”, “The Golden Castle”, “The Maze of Amazement”, “The Black Knight”, “The Book of Total Badness” and “The Might and the Magic”. No other special features are included on this DVD.

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Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: August 2, 2016
Run Time: 60 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have seen literally every single episode of Pegga Pig due to my 4 year old’s love for this show. Actually let me fix that statement, I have seen every every of Peppa Pig numerous times. But honestly, I never get tired of it. “Peppa Pig: Sunny Vacation” is the latest DVD release in this series. It includes a 4-Part Special + 8 Fun-Packed Peppasodes! It is all based around the family taking trips. The episodes are fun and even though we have seen them over and over they are still great to watch.

Official Premise: It’s time for a special Family Holiday! Join Peppa Pig, her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig on their fun-filled trip abroad. Peppa is enjoying all of the sights and sounds of Italy, but she also can’t wait to go home and see her friends! Little ones will love the four-part sunny adventure and the rest of this cheery peppasode collection.

The 12 episodes included are “Flying on Holiday”, “The Holiday House”, “Holiday in the Sun”, “End of the Holiday”, “Potato City”, “The New House”, “Basketball”, “Mr. Fox’s Shop”, “Grampy Rabbit’s Dinosaur Park”, “Lost Keys”, “The Aquarium” and “The Sandpit”. Can’t wait till the next themed release for this fun and cute series! Can I request another Halloween or Christmas themed DVD?

Director: Hoon-jung Park
Starring: Choi Min-sik, Man-sik Jeong, Sang-ho Kim, Yoo-Bin Sung, Ren Ôsugi, Jung Suk Won
Language: Korean
Subtitles: English
Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Well Go USA
Release Date: August 9, 2016
Run Time: 139 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“The Tiger” is a Korean drama that probably no one will ever see yet it was easily one of my favorite films this year. It stars Choi Min-sik and a CGI tiger, which looks not good but outstanding. Why didn’t this get a bigger release is beyond me. You might know Choi Min-sik from “Oldboy” from 2003 not the terrible Spike Lee remake with Josh Broli from 2013 and also from the Scarlet Scarlett Johansson led “Lucy”.

The film is a bit long running about 2.5 hours but the payoff is totally worth it. Even though slow moving, the story keeps you going and draws you in and you develop feelings for this CGI marvel. The wolves are not as fine tuned but still impressive. IF you are done with all the summer dazzle action films, definitely give this a look!

Official Premise: n ex-sharpshooter for the Kingdom of Korea (Choi Min-sik, Oldboy) is hunting the country’s last tiger. But Japanese forces and vicious local poachers also seek “The Four-Legged Mountain Lord,” and will stop at nothing to claim their prey.

The Blu-ray’s 1080p transfer compliments the VFX and beautiful locations perfectly. I also well in love with the film’ major cue from the score. I absolutely loved it and it just sounded amazing. The only special feature is a theatrical trailer included, which is a major shame because I would have loved to seen a featurette on the tiger’s VFX.

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Actors: Jason Alexander, Frances Conroy, Grey Griffin, James Monroe Igelhart, Stephen Root
Directors: Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone
Studio: Warner Bros Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: June 21, 2016
Running Time: 81 minutes

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

The fact that there are still new Tom and Jerry films made blows me away. Not to mention actually good films! “Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz” is the sequel to the 2011 animated film, “Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz”, which was a great film in itself. The songs are great and I love that they incorporated the lost Jitterbug song into the film as well. In terms of voice cast, there is no shortage of talent here. Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) voices both Mr. Bibb / The Nome King, Rob Paulsen (“Animaniacs”) voiced The Tin Man / Hickory, Frances Conroy (“American Horror Story”) voiced Aunt Em / Glinda and Stephen Root (“Office Space”) voiced Uncle Henry. If you love “Wizard of Oz” and Tom and Jerry, this is a must see!

Official Premise: With the Wicked Witch of the West now vanquished from Oz, Tom and Jerry along with Dorothy are back in Kansas! But not for long as an all-new villain has surfaced from beneath the magical land, the Gnome King! Having captured the Good Witch, the Gnome King and his army are wreaking havoc throughout Oz and need but one item to take control of The Emerald City, Dorothy’s ruby slippers! It’s up to our favorite cat and mouse duo to team up, go Back to Oz and save the land they love. Take to the skies, courtesy of the Wizard himself, with Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion as they make their magical journey. The laughs and adventure will roar as they encounter all-new frights and mischievous creatures down the Yellow Brick Road, ’cause “we’re not in Kansas anymore!”

Warner Bros Home Entertainment only released this sequel on DVD…but they did include a Digital HD copy, which is a huge bonus for me! In terms of special features, there is not a whole lot included but worth checking out if you enjoyed the film. There are four sing-along music videos from the films songs. There is also a neat alternate opening for the film with the feature “Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz: Classic Style”, which gives the film a fun sepia tone opening. Having watched this film 2 or 3 times already at the time of writing, this film gets better with each viewing as well. Just simple plain Tom and Jerry fun!

Directors: Chris Carter, James Wong, Darin Morgan, Glen Morgan
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis
Number of discs: 2
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: June 14, 2016
Run Time: 264 minutes

Event Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

It has been 14 years since “The X-Files” left television. Hardcore fans have always wanted more and we never left satified from the sub par feature films. This year marked the much anticipated return to TV with a limited 6 episode “event series” run. Some fans were ecstatic and some felt still unsatisfied. Personally, I was just happy to see the major cast return to the series and get back in the game, even if it was just for 6 episodes. Obviously, this was a test from Fox to see how it was received and due to the dazzling rating, I would say it went quite well. I hope that they continue this series with more episodes, but I have a feeling that if it does happen it will not be right away. Hardcore fans will have to keep hope and stick with this series cause the truth is still out there!

Official Premise: Almost 14 years after the original series run, the next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES is a thrilling, six-episode event series from creator/executive producer Chris Carter, with stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson re-inhabiting their roles as iconic FBI agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY. Mitch Pileggi also returns as FBI Assistant Director WALTER SKINNER, Mulder and Scully s boss, who walks a fine line between loyalty to these investigators and accountability to his superiors. This marks the momentous return of the Emmy®- and Golden Globe® Award-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history.

The BLu-ray presentation is a nice improvement over the earlier series, of course, due to the age of the older episodes. This new series packed some great visuals and really showed up its 1080p transfer. Same goes for the DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track, just hearing the theme song once again gave me chills. The special features are pretty solid as well. There are three commentary tracks on episodes, “Founder’s Mutation” with Chris Carter and James Wong, “Mulder & Scully Meet the Were-Monster” with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson and “My Struggle II” with Chris Carter, Gabe Rotter.

The rest of the bonus features include some featurettes and a gag reel and some deleted scenes. The first featurette is “Season X”, which runs just over 20 minutes and gives a series overview. “Monster of the Week: A Recap of the Wildest and Scariest from the Original Series” is a flashback to the original series with host Kumail Nunjiani. “The X-Files: Green Production” looks into this series’ efforts to be ecologically aware. Lastly there is a short film called “Grace” by Karen Nielsen, the series’ script coordinator.