“The Decline of Western Civilization Collection”
4 Disc Blu-Ray and DVD
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The highly-celebrated and long-awaited trilogy known as “The Decline of Western Civilization” is now for the first time available as a one complete collection. Available on both Blu-Ray and DVD the great people at Shout! Factory has compiled all three films from the series along with a 4th disc containing tons of bonus footage and interviews. And if that wasn’t enough accompanying the 4 disc collection is a 40 page booklet containing rare stills and an essay by rock historian Domenic Prioret.

Having grown up renting these films from the local video store I was instantly drawn back to the films when I heard they would be being released as a complete collection. Each of the films was just as I remembered. From the classic interviews with Black Flag which shows of their meager rehearsal/living quarters to Germs front man Darby Crash making breakfast and X’s mid tattoo trance like ramblings part 1 of the series had me again clamoring for more. Part 2 transports you back to the late 80’s L.A. metal scene, a scene that will go down in infamy as younger bands like Poison and Motley Crue mixed with long time rock staples like Kiss, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith. It’s all here just as I remembered from Ozzy Osbourne spilling his drink to W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes pouring Vodka on his head while barely floating in a swimming pool. Part 3 of the series was never released for home viewing however knowing the film existed I had seen bits and pieces over the years so to have the film available now was a personal highlight. The third film showcases performances by Final Conflict, Naked Aggression and The Resistance while shining a light on important topics such as youth homelessness, alienation and alcoholism.

Fans of both music and gritty documentaries will certainly want to check out this release. If not for the sheer nostalgia of past musical era’s but also for the importance that these films played to an internet-less generation who without these films maybe not have ever known that there were youth out there with similar trials, tribulations and ideas/goals. Though each of the films feature new 2k high-definition scans of the originals that though look sharp and crisp still retain the appeal of the originals. The only negative I found with the release was that often times the sound was quite unbalanced leaving interviews to be quite low while performances were quite loud. Even though this caused me to put some wear and tear on my remote/TV I enjoyed every minute of the 4 discs.

Actors: Adrian Holmes, Jason Momoa, Jeananne Goossen, Adam Butcher
Directors: David Hewlett
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Ketchup
DVD Release Date: June 9, 2015
Run Time: 85 minutes

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Even though  I run a media site, I am a computer geek at heart. I am also a sucker for space horror films. “Debug” looked like it had some potential, especially being from the producer of “Splice” and “Haunter” but is poorly executed. The cast is impressive starring Adam Butcher (“Wolves”), Jeananne Goossen (“The Vow”), Adrian Holmes (“Elysium”) and Jason Momoa (“Game of Thrones”). Momoa is always great but seems a bit out of place in this one. The story is also not groundbreaking and doesn’t deliver anything new to the genre, so this one falls into the file and forget category for me.

Official Premise: In this tale of deep space cyberhorror, six young computer hackers are sent to work on a derelict space freighter as a part of a work release program. They quickly fall prey to the ship’s vengeful artificial intelligence, a program that would kill to be human. They are helpless to defend themselves as it silently roots out their deepest desires to use against them in the most imaginative and horrific ways. It takes a very determined and brilliant hacker, Kaida (Goossen), to battle this malevolent entity and send it back to cyber hell.

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Actors: Danielle Panabaker, Matt O’Leary, George Finn, John Rhys-Davies, Amin Joseph, Jason Spisak, Sharon Maughan, David Figlioli and Judith Drake
Director: Bradley King
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Xlrator
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Run Time: 103 minutes

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

Since her role in The CW’s “The Flash” TV series, Danielle Panabaker has really hit the spotlight. “Time Lapse” is a really neat sci-fi horror thriller with a cool time travel angle twisted in. The film also has an impressive co-starring cast including: Matt O’Leary, George Finn, John Rhys-Davies, Amin Joseph, Jason Spisak, Sharon Maughan, David Figlioli and Judith Drake. Take a little bit of “The Twilight Zone” mixed with “Memento”. Worth checking out for you time travel junkies.

Official Premise: A science fiction thriller with a mind-bending premise, TIME LAPSE explores the possibilities of time travel via a camera that takes pictures 24 hours into the future. When three friends discover this mysterious machine, they conspire to use it for personal gain, until disturbing and dangerous images begin to develop and tear their relationship apart.

The Blu-ray comes with a both solid 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. You can tell that even though this is an indie, it has some impressive production values. XLrator is known for usually deliver bare bones special features but this release has some decent extras. There is an in-depth look behind-the-scenes into the makinng of “Time Lapse”. There are two commentary tracks from the filmmakers. There is a “Nuts and Bolts” guide to how to make an indie film. Lastly there are some deleted scenes also equipped with filmmaker commentary.

Actors: Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Elliott Gould, Peter Boyle, Tim Curry
Directors: Hiroyuki Morita
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Run Time: 75 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“The Cat Returns” is a 2002 spin-off of the Studio Ghibli film “Whisper of the Heart”, which is one of my favorites.The film featured a fantastic US voice cast including Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, and Elliott Gould. This film followed in the path of “Spirited Away” but didn’t catch on like the Oscar winner. This film is quite magically though and really is very entertaining. I have a feeling that my 3 year old is really going to like this film as well, so I can’t wait to introduce her to this. If you are looking for a sweet fantasy tale, this is a good one.

Official Premise: “The Cat Returns” is a spectacular animated journey to a world of magic and adventure. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. The Cat King rewards her good deed with a flurry of presents, including a very shocking proposal of marriage to his son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate she’ll need to learn to believe in herself and, in the process, she will learn to appreciate her everyday life.

Disney released this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD included. I would have lvoed to see a digital copy but Studio Ghibli films have been yet to be released digitally. The 1080p transfer is solid though and the animation looks fantastic. The colors are crisp and the line detail is well done. There are two audio options, the original Japanese and English dub, both with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks.

The special features are decent but not amazing though inline with most of the past Ghibli Blu-rays. There are the Original Japanese Storyboards and Original Japanese Trailers included, as well as TV Spots. There is also “The Making of The Cat Returns” looking into the production, a little short. Lastly, there is “Behind The Microphone”, which features the US voice cast discussing about their respective roles.

Actors: Daveigh Chase, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Mardsen
Directors: Hayao Miyazaki
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Run Time: 125 minutes

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

“Spirited Away” is one of my all-time favorite films, animated or not. Studio Ghibli in fact has delivered some of my other favorites including “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Howl’s Moving Castle”. Hayao Miyazaki is a genius and this is his BEST film. “Spirited Away” won Best Animated Feature Oscar at the 75th Academy Awards, which it very much deserved. This film was also very important for Japanese anime because it was brought to the spotlight due to the Oscar win and also brought Studio Ghibli from and center in the United States. Just because, this is a “cartoon” doesn’t mean it is for kids, it is aimed for both adults and kids. I watch this film a few times a year and I cannot recommend it any higher.

Official Premise: From Hayao Miyazaki, one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema, comes the Oscar(R)-winning triumph (2002, Best Animated Feature Film), filled with astonishing beauty and epic adventure, a dazzling masterpiece for the ages. “Spirited Away” is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. an unforgettable story, brimming with creativity, “Spirited Away” will take you on a journey beyond your imagination. It’s a fantastic tale the whole family will want to experience over and over again on Disney Blu-ray!

Disney’s US Blu-ray of “Spirited Away” is outstanding (the film was previously released in Japan only). This is literally the best Studio Ghibli US Blu-ray release to date. The 1080p transfer is perfect. The colors are gorgeous and the animation looks flawless. There are two audio options both in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The original Japanese language track and Disney’s English dub are honestly both amazing. I have watched both and they are each wonderful in their own way.

The special features are good but do not feature much new content from previous releases. The only HD feature is to watch the film consisting of the Original Japanese Storyboards presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and an Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track with optional English subs. “The Art of Spirited Away” features Jason Marsden discussing this beautiful film. “Behind the Microphone” features US voice cast discussing their roles. There is the Nippon Television Special, which focus on the studio and the film runs just over 40 minutes. Lastly there is an intro from John Lasseter and Japanese trailers and TV spots for the film.

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco, Sienna Miller, Nick Frost, James Marsden
Director: Ken Scott
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: June 16, 2015
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

Poor Vince Vaughn. Man o man, I actually love me some fun non-stop riffing Vince Vaughn but his recent films have consisted of some very bad choices. “Unfinished Business” is easily one of the worst. He also teamed up with an odd group consisting of  Tom Wilkinson and Dave Franco (who is completely not funny at all), which makes it worse for him. This should have been called “Unfunny Business” since there wasn’t a single joke in the entire film that I even cracked a smile for. A BIG pass!

Official Premise: Vince Vaughn stars as a hard-working entrepreneur who travels to Europe with his two associates (Dave Franco, Tom Wilkinson) to close the most important business deal of their lives. But the journey quickly spins out of control as the hapless trio encounters all kinds of crazy obstacles, including Oktoberfest bar brawls, hotel foul-ups, foreign GPS directions, and a global fetish festival. In the end, these guys gone wild might just land the deal…if they can survive the trip. Bottoms up!

Fox delivered this film with a Blu-ray plus digital HD copy. Nothing special on the Blu-ray specs here, the 1080p transfer was typical comedy blah, nothing special. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which didn’t deliver anything special either. The special features surprisingly were better than the entire film (but not by much). There is about 30 minutes of deleted and alternate footage, a photo gallery including the trio being funny and lastly “Show Me Your Business” has the cast discussing their experience.

Starring: Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Taron Egerton, Mark Hamill
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: June 9, 2015
Run Time: 129 minutes

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

After “Kick-Ass”, I was pretty much on board for anything from the minds of Matthew Vaughn and Mark Millar. Honestly though, I did have much interest in “Kingsman: The Secret Service” during it’s theatrical run but I did here a lot of good praise. Well, damn was I missing out. This movie is a real trip. Bond meets Kick Ass except a little more edgy. “Kingsman: The Secret Service” is a blast to watch with great performances from Colin Firth and even a nice cameo from Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. The church scene is worth watching the film alone. Easily of the best fight scenes since Kill Bill’s Crazy 88 battle. One of the best surprises I have seen so far this year, don’t miss it.

Official Premise: Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (“Kick Ass“, “X-Men First Class”), Kingsman: The Secret Service tells the story of a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into the agency’s ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius.

The Blu-ray is outstanding with an exceptional 1080p transfer. The action is captured and shot beautifully. The visual effects are sharp and the colors are crisp. The star of the film is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, which is outstanding. This track works perfectly with the film’s music and score. Also the action sequences literally were shaking my picture frames, which was super cool. The special features are decent but a little light. “Kingsman: The Secret Service Revealed” runs about 90 minutes and is split into six featurettes covering the film’s production. There is also a Gallery focusing on the sets and props. Lastly there is a Theatrical Trailer.

Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
Run Time: 60 min
Format: CD/DVD/Blu-Ray

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“A Little Bit of Me: Live In L.A.” is the latest live release from singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge. The performance was recorded on December 12th 2014 at the historic Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles during the last show of Etheridge’s “This is Me” Tour. The package is being released via Shout! Factory and is available on both DVD/CD and Blu-Ray/CD combo’s and Deluxe Digital Edition formats.
2 time Grammy Award winning singer/song writer Melissa Etheridge is back with a brand new concert performance release, Her first new live release since 2001’s “Live and Alone”.

Though “A Little Bit of Me: Live In L.A.” clocks in at just 60 minutes the 13 tracks that make up the set list are pure magic. All the hits are here including “I Want To Come Over”, “Come To My Window” and “I’m The Only One” along with several new tracks from Etheridge’s most recent studio album “This Is M.E.” including “Take My Number” and “A Little Bit of Me”. Though I found the sound and picture to be really great on the Blu-Ray edition I was a little underwhelmed that the entire concert only ran 60 minutes. With Etheridge’s last live release clocking in at over 2 hrs. and packed with bonus footage there was certainly something’s left to be desired. Don’t get me wrong the behind the scenes footage and interviews with the band are ok but nothing that hasn’t already been done.

If you are a long time Melissa fan and have to have everything she release to fulfill your collection then this release is certainly for you. I think this also would make a great piece to have if you saw one of the shows from this tours run. However if you are really looking for a more complete M.E. package then dig into her expansive back catalogue as there are several options that will probably be able to fit what you are looking for.

Track Listing:
1.) I Won’t Be Alone Tonight
2.) I Want To Come Over
3.) Chrome Plated Heart
4.) Take My Number
5.) Come To My Window
6.) Ruins
7.) A Little Bit of Me
8.) If I Wanted To
9.) Meet Me In The Back
10.) Bring Me Some Water
11.) I’m The Only One
12.) Like The Way I Do (Bonus track on Blu-Ray, DVD and Deluxe Digital Edition)
13.) Monster (Bonus track on Blu-Ray, DVD and Deluxe Digital Edition)

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham
Number of discs: 20
Studio: HBO
Rated TV-MA
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Running Time: 3360 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

“Boardwalk Empire” wasn’t a show that I originally was stopping all press to see. I know that Martin Scorsese was involved and directed the pilot but it never really excited me. Despite my interest this show had a very successful run with 56 episodes over five-seasons and was quite the award-winner during that time. “Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Series” is bringing this show to Blu-ray with all previously released extras and also an exclusive disc packed with additional never-before-seen content. In fact, this is the first time that seasons one, two or three have ever been released on Blu-ray. With today’s obsessions of bing watching, this show works well for a quick watch. Great performances, worth checking out if you haven’t checked this show out and if you have this is way to own the complete deal.

Official Premise: Throughout its five-season run, the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire stood “at the pinnacle of TV achievement” (Philadelphia Inquirer), garnering 18 Emmy Awards and critical accolades for its superb cast and its unfaltering attention to 1920s period detail. From Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Terence Winter and Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, the series chronicles the life and times of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Golden Globe winner Steve Buscemi) as he undergoes vicious power struggles and deals with opportunistic rivals — including Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone — at a time when Prohibition proved to be a major catalyst in the rise of organized crime in America.

Along with the Blu-ray discs, HBO is also including Digital HD copies of the series as well as either an iTunes or Google Play option as well. The 1080p transfer for each episode looks great presented in its 1080p transfer. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. They are near perfect and really add a lot of the charm of the show. In addition to the hour of new exclusive special features, there are all previously included extras including 28 audio commentaries, 13 episodes Picture-in-Picture tracks and over four hours of production documentaries and featurettes.

The new special features included are worth checking out. “Building The Boardwalk” features Executive Producer/Director Tim Van Patten and crew discussing bringing the show together. “Shooting The Series” features chats with Directors of Photography Jonathan Freeman and Bill Coleman. “Designing The Series” features Production Designer Bill Groom and Set Decorator Carol Silverman discuss the look for the show. “Visual Effects” discusses the show’s work with Visual Effects Supervisor Lesley Robson-Foster. “The Final Shot: A Farewell To Boardwalk Empire” features cast/crew discussing the show. “Anatomy Of A Hit” features Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Terence Winter, Executive Producer/Director Tim Van Patten and Executive Producer/Writer Howard Korder discuss the best kills in the film.

Starring: Dominic West, John Doman, Deirdre Lovejoy, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Wendell Pierce
Number of discs: 20
Rated TV-MA
Studio: HBO
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Run Time: 3645 minutes

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

In 2001, I remember seeing a Roundabout Production of Noel Coward’s “Design For Living”, which starred Alan Cumming and a then relatively unkown Dominic West on Broadway in NY. I got to see the true genius at work here. Shortly in 2002, HBO delivered us “The Wire”, which easily ranks as one of the best original drama series produced by HBO. It is definitely not a easy show to say. The pay off is a slow burn and there is no easy way to sum up the show. It is complex and really demands attention and patience but it is completely worth it.

Official Premise: From the drug-infested streets of West Baltimore to the corruption of City Hall, The Wire chronicles the tribulations of a post-industrial American city. Viewed from the perspectives of both the police and their targets, the award-winning series captures a world where easy distinctions between good and evil,and crime and punishment, are challenged at every turn.

Along with the Blu-ray discs, HBO is also including Digital HD copies of the series as well as either an iTunes or Google Play option as well. All five seasons of the show were originally broadcasted in 1.33:1 but this Blu-ray is the first time that the show was converted to 1.78:1. I am sure there are tons of haters about this since it is not “original” but having watching this show on TV and DVD, I did really enjoy the widescreen version. The series also includes solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks throughout.

The special features are definitely worth checking out. There is one newly produced feature including a reunion special that was recorded at PaleyFest back in October 2014 but Dominic West and Idris Elba aren’t there in person but are via video message.  There are also four behind-the-scenes documentaries on the fourth and fifth seasons. Additionally, there are three prequel shorts that total 6 minutes and explore the story before “The Wire”.

There are 22 audio commentaries spread out over all the seasons. The first season has three tracks for “The Target” (Episode 1), “The Detail” (Episode 2) and “Cleaning Up” (Episode 12) . The second has two tracks on “All Prologue” (Episode 6) and “Port in a Storm” (Episode 12). The third season is when the commentaries tracks really amp up with some great tracks. There are five tracks including episodes “Time After Time” (Episode 1), “All Due Respect” (Episode 2), “Dead Soldiers” (Episode 3), “Middle Ground” (Episode 11) and “Mission Accomplished” (Episode 12).

The fourth season also has six tracks with more cast included on episodes “Boys of Summer” (Episode 1) , “Refugees” (Episode 4), “Margin of Error” (Episode 6) , “A New Day” (Episode 11) , “That’s Got His Own” (Episode 12) and “Final Grades” (Episode 13). The fifth and final season including the best tracks on this release on episodes “More with Less” (Episode 1), “Unconfirmed Reports” (Episode 2), “Transitions” (Episode 4), “The Dickensian Aspect” (Episode 6), “Took” (Episode 7) and “-30-” (Episode 10)

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Actors: Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin
Directors: Brian O’Malley
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Release Date: May 26, 2015
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

“Let Us Prey” drew me in with its very promising cast. I am a huge fan of Liam Cunningham from his role of Davos Seaworth in “Game of Thrones” and Pollyanna McIntosh from “The Woman”. The movie has a cool kinda mysterious feel to it right from the beginning but never shows its full potential.

Both of the leads do give good performances. In fact, Liam is downright creepy as hell. Pollyanna is just amazing and she deserves more mainstream roles. This film packs some serious gore and but the film’s payoff doesn’t deliver.

Official Premise: A rookie cop’s first night shift at a secluded police station becomes a terrifying fight for survival when a mysterious man is brought in and begins meting out divine justice to both cop and criminal alike.

The Blu-ray presentation is well-done. I liked the way the film was shot. Even though the whole film takes place at night, it is quite vibrant. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well with the suspense.

The special features aren’t anything special. There is a short 10 minutes featurette “Making Of”, which features cast/crew talking about the making of the film. Lastly, there is trailer included for this film as well as a few others trailers from Dark Sky Films.

Number of discs: 1
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2015
Run Time: 120 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” has always been one of my favorite shows to watch with my daughter ever since she was born. Now that she is three years old, I am able to enjoy it even more. One thing she loves about this show is Minnie Mouse, she has always been her favorite. “Minnie’s Pet Salon” is the latest DVD release for this series and features her favorite character, so this is an instant winner.

Official Premise: Minnie’s sparkling new Pet Salon is open for business… and adventure! All your Clubhouse pals are bringing their animal friends to get spruced up for Pluto’s All-Star Pet Show. With so many pets to bathe, groom and train, Minnie needs help. Luckily, Mickey and the gang are there to lend a hand. But when three adorable little kittens go missing, it will take the right Mouseketools — and help from YOU — to find them in time for the big show.

There are five episodes includes with this DVD. The first is “Minnie’s Pet Salon” (of course), which features the gang getting ready for Pluto’s All-Star Pet Show. The second is “Daisy’s Pet Project, which has Daisy finding a pet for the Pet Parade. The third is “Pluto’s Puppy-Sitting Adventure” with Mickey puppy sitting for Clarabelle’s puppy, Bella. Fourth is “Donald’s Ducks”, which has Donald helping fellow little ducks in getting to the beach. The last one is “Pluto Lends a Paw” has the gang looking for Minnie’s cat Figaro.

Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, Terry Gilliam
Number of discs: 3
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2015
Running Time: 127 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Let’s start with the fact that “Cloud Atlas” was my favorite film of 2012 (and I liked “Speed Racer a lot), so I am definitely a big fan of The Wachowski films. I heard some really rotten things about this film before seeing it but I still kept an open mind when I finally got it see it. Let’s start with the fact that it is a very busy 2-hour mess of action and visual effects…but I also really liked it. It is not perfect but I thought it was just very visually entertaining and just plain stupid fun. Maybe a little too ambitious but still a really cool looking flick and entertaining flick. The Wachowski’s honestly have a vision for their films that are never understood and this one is no different. Guys, if you are looking for a cool, stylized mindless action flick starring the beautiful Mila Kunis…look no further. Ladies, Eddie Redmayne and Channing Tatum are in this…enough said.

Official Premise: Jupiter Jones (Kunis) was born under a night sky, with signs predicting that she was destined for great things. Now grown, Jupiter dreams of the stars but wakes up to the cold reality of a job cleaning other people’s houses and an endless run of bad breaks. Only when Caine (Tatum), a genetically engineered ex-military hunter, arrives on Earth to track her down does Jupiter begin to glimpse the fate that has been waiting for her all along—her genetic signature marks her as next in line for an extraordinary inheritance that could alter the balance of the cosmos.

Other than being a great flick, this also gets props for being one of the best Blu-ray I have viewed to date this year. The 1080p transfer is absolutely brilliant. The colors are so vibrant and pop right of the screen (partly due to the excellent 3D effects, of course). You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into polished these visual effects and it paid off in my opinion.  Now for me the real winner of this release is the audio presentation. There is an outstanding Dolby Atmos track includes (with it’s core delivering a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track). This track is insane and really shakes the walls.

The 3D presentation on the Blu-ray is also fantastic. First of all who doesn’t love the idea of a 3D space/sci-fi flick. I would easily just at the idea. Luckily this one actually works out and uses the effects to enhance the crazy non-stop action. There is nothing cheesy here with the effects, it just really adds some great depth and the extra dimension works well with the space scenes. I really enjoyed it and it is definitely my preferred choice for this film, but on a good note, that 2D presentation is equally as impressive to watch and that gets bonus points from me.

The special features are decent as well for this release but nothing outstanding. They consist of seven features that run between 5-10 minutes tops. The first is “Jupiter Jones: Destiny Is Within Us”, which is a chat with Kunis and Lana and Andy Wachowski talking about the female lead. “Caine Wise: Interplanetary Warrior” focuses on Channing Tatum’s character. “The Wachowskis: Minds Over Matter” talks about the filmmakers and their work on the film. “Worlds Within Worlds Within Worlds” digs a little deeper into the film’s background and details. “Genetically Spliced” looks into the alien creatures created for the film. “Bullet Time Evolved” looks into the visual effects and the action sequences from the production. Lastly “From Earth to Jupiter (And Everywhere in Between)” goes more into the film’s storylines and subplots.

Own “Jupiter Ascending” on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on June 2nd

Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Adrian Martinez, Gerald McRaney, Rodrigo Santoro, BD Wong
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

Will Smith really hasn’t delivered box office gold recently after “Men in Black 3” and “After Earth”, unfortunately “Focus” isn’t the winner that we were all hoping for either. It is not a terrible film, it was well-shot and has great performances from upcoming “Suicide Squad” stars Will Smith and Margot Robbie but the story really didn’t interest me and it felt very bland and forgettable. Maybe worth a rental if you are all caught up on your TV but otherwise, nothing special here. I would wait for the stars next team-up with “Suicide Squad”.

Official Premise: Will Smith stars as Nicky, a seasoned master of misdirection who becomes romantically involved with novice con artist Jess (Margot Robbie). As he’s teaching her the tricks of the trade, she gets too close for comfort and he abruptly breaks it off. Three years later, the former flame—now an accomplished femme fatale—shows up in Buenos Aires in the middle of the high stakes racecar circuit. In the midst of Nicky’s latest, very dangerous scheme, she throws his plans for a loop…and the consummate con man off his game.

The Blu-ray presentation on the other hand is actually very impressive. The 1080p transfer is well shot and really looks sharp. The star of the show though is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, which kills for this film. I was really impressed. The special features are decent as well. There is a featurette on the film’s characters in “Masters of Misdirection: The Players in a Con”. There are also individuals chats with the leads in “Will Smith: Gentleman Thief” and “Margot Robbie: Stealing Hearts”. LAstly there are Deleted Scenes and a Blu-ray exclusive Alternate Opening included.

Own “Focus” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on June 2nd

Number of discs: 1
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2015
Run Time: 67 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I was a kid, I remember growing up with the 80’s version of “Strawberry Shortcake”. This new version is really colorful and cute for kids today. My daughter is in love with this show and rocks out totally to this series’ opening song. Fox has been slowly releasing this episodes on DVD and this is the latest. “Berry Best in Show”” contains three episodes from the “Strawberry Shortcake” series: “Partners in Crime”, “A Boy and His Dogs” and “The Mystery of the Disappearing Dog Show”. If you are a fan of this show this is another great release.

Official Premise: Join Strawberry Shortcake and some new furry friends in these delightful “tails” about being yourself and encouraging others to do the same. During his road trip to find homes for his orphan puppies, Huckleberry Pie and his four-legged crew get stranded in Berry Bitty City. Luckily, Strawberry and her berry best pals decide to help out with the strays in “A Boy and His Dogs.” Blueberry Muffin and Huck become “Partners in Crime” when they try to write a mystery story together…with surprising results. And the fur is sure to fly when the girls try to help Huck start a dog shelter in “The Mystery of the Disappearing Dog Show.” It’s a howling good time with sweet doggy delights for everyone!

Accompanying the DVD, there are some decent bonus features including Printable Coloring Pages and also a digital copy of the episodes. I think this is a very important and welcomed feature having the digital copy for this series. I hope they continue it in the future. Also included for a limited time is a copy of the app “Perfect Puppy Digital Story Book” by Cupcake Digital, Inc. My daughter is in love with this app and has been playing it non-stop on my phone. Looking forward to the next release in the series.