Starring: Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Kay Robertson, Phil Robertson
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 220 minutes

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

I know the gang of “Duck Dynasty” are quickly loosing their mainstream hype and mass audience of fans but I still love this show. I can’t get enough of it. I love the cast. They just crack me up. After a hard day at work something you don’t want to watch a intense fact-filling crime drama instead you want to watch something light and fun…and “Duck Dynasty” is definitely that. This season is a hoot just like the first five. I do not think that the appeal has worn off at all (of course I only started watching at season three in the prime of its popularity). Keep them coming A&E, when is season seven coming?

Official Premise: There are goings-on with everyone, from the guys re-branding Duck Commander to the governor of Louisiana giving Willie an award to the return of the dreaded beavers! Watch as the elder Robertsons share their special brand of wisdom with the kids along the way: Phil teaches Bella more than Willie was hoping about nature, Willie and Si insist on helping John Luke with his speech introducing the governor and Jep and Jessica chaperone Lily’s first date. Jase takes Reed frog-hunting the night before his high school graduation-like he did before his own-and Jep and the ladies pull a senior prank by toilet-papering Missy and Jase’s house. Willie also sponsors a radio contest and finds himself competing against Si for a wood chipper. Somehow, it all comes together.

The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio tracks are good but nothing special since the show is quite basic. It is still a great step up from cable TV. There is a massive amount of special features here with TEN behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Reinventing Duck Commander”; “Firefighter Academy: Robertson Style”; “The Governor Visits Duck Commander”; “Jep Meets Lily’s First Boyfriend”; “Rolling’ with the Robertsons”; “Willie the Joker”; “Godwin’s Rotten Pickles”; “Mother’s Day 2014”; “Si’s New Hobby: Couponing” and “Willie’s Day at the Dojo”. There are some a bunch of deleted scenes included rounding out the extras.

PARAMOUNT CELEBRATES THE DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE BELOVED HOLIDAY CLASSIC STARRING DANNY KAYE AND BING CROSBY AND HONORS THE HUMANITARIAN WORK OF UNICEF

 Paramount Pictures and The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation Donating $100,000  to Support UNICEF’s Work for Children

Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack Debuts October 14, 2014 with a Bonus Holiday Music CD and New Special Features Including a UNICEF Documentary Hosted by Danny Kaye, Sing-Along Lyrics, a Virtual Duet Between Bing Crosby and Michael Bublé and More

  HOLLYWOOD, Calif.  –  Celebrate 60 years of the treasured musical classic Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS with the spectacular new Diamond Anniversary Edition arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack October 14, 2014 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.  Starring legendary performers Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen and featuring unforgettable music by Irving Berlin, the beloved holiday film offers timeless entertainment for all ages.

In honor of the 60^th anniversaries of WHITE CHRISTMAS and Danny Kaye’s appointment as UNICEF’s first Goodwill Ambassador, The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation and Paramount Pictures are proud to make a combined $100,000 donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF* to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world.  As UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Kaye traveled to numerous countries in 1954 to see the work of the organization firsthand and appeared in and narrated a documentary entitled Assignment Childrenabout his experience, which is included in the new Blu-ray Combo Pack along with a new introduction by Michael Bublé.  Danny Kaye received an Honorary Academy Award^® in 1955 for his work on this extraordinary documentary, as well as for his unique talents, his service to the Academy, the motion picture industry, and the American people.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Diamond Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes new special features such as five classic Christmas television show appearances by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, including a virtual duet between Crosby and Michael Bublé, an optional sing-along subtitle track that accompanies the film’s most popular songs, new photo galleries, and a Christmas CD with 12 songs featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland, including EIGHT never-before-released tracks.  Additional previously released special features include commentary by Rosemary Clooney, backstage stories, featurettes on Crosby, Kaye and Clooney, and more.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu-ray Combo Pack

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu-ray will be presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Restored Mono DTS-HD Master Audio, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English Restored Mono, French Mono and Spanish Mono, as well as English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.  The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes the following:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray):

• Feature film in high definition
• Feature film with optional Sing-Along Subtitle Track—NEW!
• Commentary by Rosemary Clooney
• Classic Holiday Moments—NEW!

o   “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby on December 1, 1976

o   “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby featuring Michael Bublé on December 10, 2012

o   “Silent Night” by Bing Crosby on December 12, 1948

o   “Jingle Bells” by Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole on December 25, 1963

o   Danny Kaye reads from A Christmas Carol on December 22, 1965

• Assignment Children—NEW!

o   With introduction by Michael Bublé

• Backstage Stories from White Christmas—The production boasted the #1 and #3 box office stars of its time and the director of Casablanca. It featured the most popular song in American history and became the highest-ranking film at the box office in 1954.  From little-known production details to behind-the-scenes trivia, this segment offers insights about the timeless holiday classic.

Disc 1 (Blu-ray)—cont’d:

• Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner—Crosby’s family members offer personal memories of the film and discuss the crooner’s Yuletide connection.  The piece also includes film historians sharing rare stories about Crosby and White Christmas and a visit to Crosby’s hometown of Spokane, Washington.
• Danny Kaye: Joy to the World—Some people only know him as the silver screen’s ‘court jester,’ but Danny Kaye was a true humanitarian who helped children around the world as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.  This moving tribute sheds light on the multi-talented actor, who won two honorary Academy Awards®, including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and spread joy beyond the Hollywood spotlight.
• Irving Berlin’s White Christmas—Many people don’t know all of the lyrics to the most popular Christmas song of all time or that Irving Berlin wrote it while sitting poolside at an Arizona Resort.  This fascinating feature sheds light on the genesis and enduring popularity of the best-selling single in American history.
• Rosemary’s Old Kentucky Home—Take a tour of Rosemary Clooney’s home in Augusta, Kentucky, which has become a historical landmark.
• White Christmas: From Page to Stage— The legacy of White Christmas continues with a hit Broadway musical, nominated for two Tony awards.
• White Christmas: A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
• White Christmas Photo Galleries—NEW!

o   Rehearsals

o   Behind-the-Scenes

o   Filming

o   Publicity Shots

• Two Theatrical Trailers

Disc 2 (DVD):

• Feature Film in Standard Definition
• Commentary by Rosemary Clooney

Disc 3 (DVD):

• Same special features listed above in standard definition with the exception of the optional sing-along subtitle track

Bonus Music CD

1. Winter Wonderland – Rosemary Clooney
2. Deck the Halls/Away in a Manger/O, Little Town of Bethlehem/The First             Noel – Bing Crosby
3. Waltz Around the Christmas Tree – Danny Kaye
4. Marshmallow World – Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald
5. The Christmas Song – Rosemary Clooney
6. Just What I Wanted For Christmas – Bing Crosby
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Rosemary Clooney
8. Jingle Bells – Danny Kaye & Peggy Lee
9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Bing Crosby & Judy Garland
10. Home For The Holidays – Rosemary Clooney
11. Some Children See Him – Danny Kaye
12. The Night Before Christmas – Bing Crosby

The film will also be available as a Diamond Anniversary Edition two-disc DVD set with Discs 2 & 3 above.

Actors: George Takei, Brad Takei, William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 93 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

George Takei started in a little series called “Star Trek” but beyond the show, he has become very important and still very relevant in today’s pop culture. “To Be Takei” is a documentary about his life. It is currently only available on Amazon as an exclusive. But whether you follow Takei on Facebook or Twitter, this is not just a film for his fans. This will easily win over anyone who enjoys a great documentary. Star Trek fan or not also. The film is backed with great music and the animation scenes are a nice fit as well. It is a an honest documentary that gives a lot of insight into his life. It has a lot of heart yet still is very funny. The doc also featuring special appearances by William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Dan Savage, the new “Sulu” John Cho, and many more. Definitely recommend checking out!

Official Premise: From outer space to Capitol Hill, from the silver screen to YouTube, the legendary George Takei has blazed his own trail while conquering new frontiers with a beaming trademark grin. Oh, my! To Be Takei is a hilarious, entertaining, and moving look at the many roles played by eclectic 77-year-old actor/activist George Takei. His wit, humor and grace have helped him to become an internationally beloved figure and internet phenomenon with 7-million Facebook fans and counting. The film offers unprecedented access to the daily life of George and his husband/business partner Brad and chronicles George’s fascinating personal journey from Japanese American internment camp to his iconic and groundbreaking role as Sulu on Star Trek, and his rise as an pop culture icon. The film shows what it truly means to be Takei

Actors: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Mark McGrath, Vivica A. Fox
Directors: Anthony C. Ferrante
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Asylum Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

When I first heard about the film “Sharknado”, I knew it would be fun but probably terrible. Surprisingly, it was actually quite decent and it made history. The film became an instant pop culture sensation immediately spawning a second one (aptly titled as well). “Sharknado 2: The Second One” improves on the first film so much and really is a fun and exciting film. It is jam packed with over 25 celebrity cameos crammed in. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid return to their roles from the original, along with Vivica A. Fox and platinum recording artist Mark McGrath joining up. The visual effects are improved as well. The kills are fun and very creative. You can just tell that these guys had a blast making this film and I had a blast watching it. Can’t wait for next July for “Sharknado 3”.

Here is the crazy list of notated celebrity cameos that popped up in this film: Kelly Osbourne, Robert Hays from Airplane!, Rachel True from The Craft, Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton, Comedian and famous Twitterer Kelly Oxford, Andy Dick, The Naked Cowboy, Al Roker and Matt Lauer, Salt-N-Pepa’s Sandy “Pepa” Denton, The Weather Channel’s Stephanie Abrams, “Scream Queen” Tiffany Shepis, 30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander, Taxi’s Judd Hirsch, Subway’s Jared Fogel, The Howard Stern Show’s Benjy Bronk, Biz Markie, Downtown Julie Brown, Billy Ray Cyrus, Daymond John from Shark Tank, Perez Hilton, Richard Kind, Stand-up comedian Robert Klein, Pro wrestler Kurt Angle, Live With Kelly & Michael co-hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan and producer Michael Gelman

With a film like “Sharknado 2: The Second One”, do you really need to know the premise? Absolutely not but it is still funny to see what they come up with when they try and explain this. So here it is: “When a Category 7 hurricane pummels New York, the surging flood waters bring thousands of sharks. To make matters worse, tornadoes soon dot the horizon. As Sharknadoes tear through the city, no vehicle, building, or national monument is safe.” “Sharknado 2: The Second One” delivers a impressive Blu-ray presentation for an Asylum release. The 1080p transfer works well with the visual effects and shows off the sights of NYC quite well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is also a winner as well, especially with the action packed 10 minute opening scene.

“Sharknado 2: The Second One” comes stocked with some great special features, which comes with much more than usual Asylum releases. There is a fantastic audio commentary track with Director Anthony C. Ferrante, who is joined by Actors Tara Reid and Ian Ziering. It is entertaining and a great way to revisit the film. There is also a second commentary track with Anthony C. Ferrante, Writer Thunder Levin, Editor Ana Florit, and Visual Effects Supervisor Emile Smith. It is also fun and a bit more technical.

“The Making of Sharknado 2” dives into the behind-the-scenes for the film ranging from the franchise to the characters to shooting in NYC. “Chomp: The Evolution of Sharknado 2 Visual Effects” focuses on the digital effects shots in the film. “Shark Chum: From the Cutting Room Floor” include over eight minutes of deleted scenes, which includes some solid content. “Cameos: I Can’t Believe They Got…” looks into all the famous faces that this film got. Lastly there is a Gag Reel and additional Asylum trailers included.

Actors: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Kick Gurry
Directors: Doug Liman
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 113 minutes

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

When I watched the trailer for “Edge of Tomorrow” immediately I was hooked. I mean “Alien crossed with Groundhog Day”…sign me up! Let me tell you though, the trailer does no justice at all for the film. “Edge of Tomorrow” is in fact, my favorite film of the year so far. It is very underrated and deserves much more attention. “Transformers: Age of Extinction” is a decent movie and it made a billion dollars, so obviously quality doesn’t win in terms of success. Tom Cruise is completely badass, as is Emily Blunt who was outstanding. The visual effects are the best I have seen all year and the film is not only NON-STOP (that’s right all in caps) but also funny as all hell! This is a must see movie and I highly recommend it.

Official Premise: The epic action of Edge of Tomorrow unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop, forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again and again… and again. But with each battle, Cage is able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). As Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

Warner Bros is releasing this film under a new title to hopefully drum up some new business  “Live. Die. Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow”. They are bringing this together in a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy.  The 3D is some of the best and most relevant that I have seen in theaters in a long time. It is well placed and adds tons of depth and even a few good scares in the film. On Blu-ray, it translates just as well. The 1080p transfers is simply outstanding. The film feels like a live-action video game in many scenes. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 is also mind-blowning. I love the score to this film and it really is represented well with the crazy amount of action.

The special features are good but I would have loved to had an audio commentary track as well. “Storming the Beach” features director/producer Doug Liman taking us behind- the-scenes featurette for the film. Along with this feature is a three-minute alternate Adrenaline cut of one of the “Operation Downfall” sequences. “Weapons of the Future” features cast and crew talking about weapons. “Creatures Not of This World talks about creating the film’s aliens and their story.  “On the Edge with Doug Liman” is a fantastic nearly 45 minutes in-depth documentary on the production. Lastly there are seven deleted scenes included.

Own “Edge of Tomorrow” on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD on October 7th

Actors: Tom Berenger Chad Michael Collins, Dominic Mafham
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 30, 2014
Running Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

How can you no to Tom Berenger, star of the original “Sniper”, returning to his role of Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Beckett? It’s is impossible. This next chapter of the hit action franchise also sees the return of “Sniper: Reloaded” star Chad Michael Collins (“Company of Heroes”) as Becket’s son, Sergeant Brandon Beckett. This is actually aka “Sniper 5” but the series still has some life left in it and seeing these two generations of Sniper heroes team up is some decent fun. Let’s hope that this gets some traction and will we see future installments as well!

Official Premise: A rogue gunman is assassinating high-ranking military officers one by one. When Gunnery Sgt. Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins, Sniper: Reloaded) is informed his father, legendary shooter Thomas Beckett (Tom Berenger) has been killed, Brandon springs into action to take out the perpetrator. But when his father rescues him from an ambush, Brandon realizes he’s a pawn being played by his superiors to draw out the killer. It’s up to the two men, bound by blood, to bring an end to the carnage.

“Sniper: Legacy” is directed by Don Michael Paul (“Company of Heroes” also with Chad Michael Collins) from a screenplay by John Fasano (Sniper: Reloaded) and Don Michael Paul. This is not outstanding but it is definitely entertaining if you enjoy the franchise. It includes a great supporting cast with Dennis Haysbert (“24”), Mercedes Masohn (“NCIS: Los Angeles”), Dominic Mafham (“Land Girls”), Doug Allen (“Band of Brothers”), Mark Lewis Jones (“Game of Thrones”), and Nestor Serrano (Act of Valor). No special features included here.

Number of discs: 4
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 720 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Having a two year old daughter, there is no shortage of “My Little Pony” in my life. Usually it is the new series “Friendship is Magic” that is currently airing on Hub TV. Thanks to Shout Kids!, my wife and I are able to introduce our daughter to the original “My Little Pony” series from the 80’s that we grew up with. It is available for the first time ever on DVD in its entirety. If you loved “My Little Pony” as a kid and looking for a little nostalgia, this is the DVD set to do it with!

Official Premise: You’re invited to return to Ponyland, the home of all your favorite classic Little Ponies, including the Earth Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasus Ponies, Flutter Ponies, Sea Ponies, Baby Sea Ponies, their human friends Megan, Danny and Molly and, of course, their dragon friend, Spike! Together, they live a life of games, songs and harmony with allies like the Bushwoolies and Furbobs. But, occasionally, there are problems in Ponyland and the Little Ponies of Paradise Estate must face evil witches, goblins, Stone Backs, Grundles and more! Now you can come join in the fun and adventure with My Little Pony: The Complete Series!

This complete series includes all 65 episodes! These episodes look plain and simple…OLD. The colors are faded and they are definitely not restored at all. So it is not perfection but at least we still get the episodes all together. Disc 1 includes the following episodes: “The End Of Flutter Valley, Part 1-10”; “The Ghost Of Paradise Estate, Part 1-4”; “The Great Rainbow Caper” & “The Glass Princess, Part 1-3”. Disc 2 includes “The Glass Princess, Part 4”; “Pony Puppy”; “Bright Lights, Part 1-4”; “Sweet Stuff And The Treasure Hunt”; “The Return Of Tambelon, Part 1-4”; “Little Piece Of Magic” & “The Magic Coins, Part 1-4”

Disc 3 includes the following episodes: “Mish Mash Melee”; “Woe Is Me, Part 1-2”; “Fugitive Flowers, Part 1-2”; “Would Be Dragonslayer”; “Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Part 1-2”; “Crunch The Rockdog, Part 1-2”; “The Revolt Of Paradise Estate, Part 1-2” & “Through The Door, Part 1-2”. Disc 4 includes “Rescue From Midnight Castle, Part 1-2”; “The Quest Of The Princess Ponies, Part 1-4”; “Spike’s Search”; “The Golden Horseshoes, Part 1-2”, “Flight To Cloud Castle, Part 1-2”; “The Ice Cream Wars”; “Somnambula, Part 1-2”; “The Prince And The Ponies” & “Escape From Catrina, Part 1-2”. There are no additional special features on this release.

Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Viz Media
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 530 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

VIZ Media is quickly becoming my go-to when it comes to classic anime series being restored and brought back to life on Blu-ray. They have been delivering above and beyond great releases for “Ranma ½”. They given this show the treatment and even correct issues like the Japanese episode order, which has been restored as well. This is a show that probably would never receive a great treatment and luckily for VIZ, they have been consecutively impressive with each of these releases under this series. Counting down the days until “Ranma ½: Set 4” on December 9th!

Official Premise: In the latest set, containing 23 remastered episodes, things just can’t stay quiet at the Tendo Dojo! After a morning ruckus, Ranma hits his head, falls into water, and turns completely into a girl. Now, even when Ranma transforms back into a boy, he still thinks he’s a girl! Things become even more complicated when Shampoo, still in love with Ranma, gets a surprise visit from Chinese Amazon twin sisters Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung, two of her protégées who have it in for Ranma. Finally, Happosai makes an appearance, and Ranma must defeat him to become strong again!

The third Limited Edition Blu-ray set for the classic Ranma ½ includes a premium presentation with a chipboard box with gold foil stamping beautifully illustrated by creator Rumiko Takahashi, a 32-page booklet, episode guide and an art card. The episodes have been restored and remastered and are presented in its original 4:3 cropped aspect ratio with lossless Japanese and English audio. The special features are a major let down. There is only one featurette called “We Love Ranma, Part 3: The Appeal of Ranma ½”, which looks into the fandom. There are also clean openings/endings and some trailers including.

Starring: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

“Neighbors” is definitely one of the best comedies to be released this year…in a sea of slim pickings. The film has some great laugh out loud moments and a great cast. Seth Rogen and Zac Efron are great rivals. Very funny stuff. Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz-Plasse also steals some great laughs as well. Rose Byrne is charming as usual. I have heard people call this the new “Animal House” and I can’t really see it. It is definitely funny but I really don’t see myself calling this a classic and watching it over and over. It was good for a good laugh and I would recommend to friends but it is the not best comedy ever.

Official Premise: By all appearances, new parents Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) are living the American Dream – complete with an adorable baby girl and a beautiful new starter home in the suburbs. Still, the early-thirtysomethings want to believe that they have a modicum of coolness left within them. So when they discover that their new next-door neighbors are none other than dozens of Delta Psi Beta fraternity brothers led by charismatic president Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), they try to play along and make the best of an awkward situation. But when the frat’s parties grow increasingly more epic, both sides of the property line begin to fend for their turf. The neighbors’ relentless sabotage escalates into outrageous one-upmanship, beginning an epic Greek war for the ages.

Universal is releasing the film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track are good enough for a comedy. No outstanding but at the same time no complaints or issues here. The special features are not the greatest this release. “An Unlikely Pair” is a meet and greet with Zac and Seth. “The Frat” goes into the characters with the cast. “Partying with the Neighbors” is a promotional EPK. Lastly there are some Deleted/Alternate Scenes and gag reel included.

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Starring: Timothy Dalton, Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Rory Kinnear, Helen McCrory, Billie Piper
Directors: Juan Antonio Bayona, Dearbhla Walsh
Number of discs: 3
Rated: TV-MA
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 435 minutes

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

When I heard about the idea of “Penny Dreadful”, I was really excited, especially since it was going to be on Showtime, which means it could be much edgier than cable TV. It was created from three-time Oscar nominee John Logan (Skyfall, Hugo, Gladiator) and Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) stars Josh Hartnett (Black Hawk Down), Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights) and Eva Green (Casino). The season took a while get to started but was overall very well done with some good effects and scares. I just wish it would have been longer than eight episodes to expand this world…luckily season two is on the way.

Official Premise: From three-time Oscar nominee John Logan (Skyfall, Hugo, Gladiator) and Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Skyfall) comes an erotically charged, profoundly unsettling new saga, “Penny Dreadful” completely reinvents literature’s most iconic and terrifying characters. Dorian Gray, Victor Frankenstein and timeless figures from Dracula join a core of original characters in a dark and brutal quest to save a soul – even as they grapple with their own monstrous temptations.

“Penny Dreadful: The Complete First Season” includes the first eight episodes of the series as a three-disc collection. The 1080p high definition transfer look great for these episodes and really show the high amount of detail that went into this show. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks also work well with the action and suspense. Disc One includes the episodes: “Night Work”; “Séance”; “Resurrection”; Disc Two includes the episodes “Demimonde”; “Closer Than Sisters”; “What Death Can Join Together”; “Possession” and Disc Three includes the episode “Grand Guignol”. I am not sure why the it goes from three episodes on the first to five on the second to one on the third but it is what it is, I guess.

The special features are worth checking out if you enjoy the season. There  are a bunch of featurettes includes going behind-the-scenes into the show including “What is a Penny Dreadful?”; “Literary Roots”, “Coming Together”; “The Artisans Pt. 1 & 2” and “The Grand Guignol”. “Prostitution and Sex in Victorian Times”, “British Exploration & The Search for the Nile”, “The Science of Medicine” look into the history in the show’s period and it’s influence. Lastly there are the first two episodes of fellow Showtime series “Ray Donovan” includes from the first season. Not sure how this is related but I assume they are trying to spread the word about it also.

Starring: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Tom Kenny, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Jessica DiCicco
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 286 minutes

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

The fourth season of “Adventure Time” is easily one of the best to date. The show is just outstanding and continues to be one of the best animated series on TV. I think I would call it “The Simpsons” of our generation. The show is currently in its sixth season on Cartoon Network and already renewed for a seventh. So this show is not showing any signs of slowing down. The creator Pendleton Ward, who also voices my favorite character, Lumpy Space Princess, is an absolute genius. he has surrounded himself with great talent and creative team and that is what makes this show such a success.

Official Premise: Prepare to sink your teeth into the complete fourth season of “Adventure Time”. A total of 26 episodes featuring fearsome creatures, such as wolves who like hugging, an unstoppable horde of penguins and a vampire queen who plays bass guitar! OOOO!! The scariest though is when Jake flips out over a game of card wars. Yikes!

Here are the episodes: “Hot to the Touch” (Part 2); “Five Short Graybles”; “Web Weirdos”; “Dream of Love”; “Return to the Nightosphere” (Part 1); “Daddy’s Little Monster” (Part 2); “In Your Footsteps”; “Hug Wolf”; “Princess Monster Wife”; “Goliad”; “Beyond This Earthly Realm”; “Gotcha!”; “Princess Cookie”; “Card Wars”; “Sons of Mars”; “Burning Low”; “BMO Noire”; “King Worm”; “Lady & Peebles”; “You Made Me”; “Who Would Win”; “Ignition Point”, “The Hard Easy”; “Reign of Gunters”; “I Remember You” and “The Lich” (Part 1)”.

This season includes guest stars including Bobcat Goldthwait (“Police Academy” series), Donald Faison (“Scrubs”),  Keith David (“They Live”), Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”) and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk”).  This season comes packaged in a new collectible Marceline slipcase, which is awesome but I am still waiting for my LSP slipcase!!! Come on!! The 1080p transfer is solid but the audio track once again disappoints only including a Dolby Digital (DVD quality) 2.0 track.

Warner is delivering the fourth season as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + UltraViolet Digital Copy. The special features are great…if you love commentary tracks. There are 26 episodes in this season and there are literally a commentary track for each episode from the cast and crew. There is also a 19-minute featurette “Distant Bands: The Music of Adventure Time”, which features series creator Pendleton Ward, creative director Pat McHale, and storyboard artists Jesse Moynihan and Rebecca Sugar chatting about the series’ music.

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• DVD Review “Adventure Time: Complete First Season”
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• Blu-ray Review “Once Upon A Time: The Complete Second Season”

Actors: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Barbara Jo Allen, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy
Directors: Clyde Geronimi
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Run Time: 75 minutes

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

Timed slightly ahead of the Blu-ray release of Disney’s live-action smash hit “Maleficent”, which is set to be released on November 4th, Disney’s 16th animated classic returns to Blu-ray in an all new Diamond Edition. Personally, I would have waited until November to release this to get parents to pick up both films in one shot. Listen, this is a definitely a cash-in release, especially since this was just released on Blu-ray in 2008 but there are some new extras included as well as a digital copy. So it isn’t just a new box and nothing new. Having a two year old at home, even though some parts a little scary, I am excited to be able to share this film with her because she absolutely loves the character Aurora already.

Official Premise: Fall under the glorious spell of Disney’s Ultimate Princess Fairy Tale! The magic is real as you experience all the pageantry and power on Blu-ray — and for the first time ever on Digital HD — with incredible high-definition picture and thrilling, soaring sound! Beauty, wonder and adventure spin together in a grand legend that transcends time as Maleficent, one of animation’s most spectacular villains, sends the kingdom’s beloved Princess Aurora into an enchanted sleep. In a majestic story that awakens all your senses, Good Fairies arm brave Prince Phillip to defeat a fearsome fire-breathing dragon and rescue Aurora. But success in battle may not be enough, for the only way to awaken the Princess is with True Love’s kiss!

This Diamond Edition of “Sleeping Beauty” includes a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Digital Copy. This is the first time that film has been released digitally, so that is a nice bonus. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track are literally perfect for an animated film that is 55 years old. The colors are just so vibrant and literally jump off the screen. I am not sure if the transfer has been upgraded since the 2008 release but it is still outstanding. The songs are perfectly balanced as well and sound amazing in their 7.1 surround track. If you love the original track, also included is the original Dolby Digital 4.0 stereophonic track for those Disney purists.

There are tons of great special features included. The new extras include “Once Upon A Parade, Starring Sarah Hyland ” which takes us behind-the-scenes with Sarah Hyland from ABC’s Modern Family at Magic Kingdom. “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains” focuses on Disney’s favorite villain animator, Marc Davis and his influences. “DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion, Extended Edition” features Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee as she develops a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper. “Beauty-Oke: Once Upon A Dream” is a Sing-along tfor Aurora’s signature song. There are three brand new, never before seen deleted scenes.

Other Classic DVD Bonus Features include “The Sound Of Beauty: Restoring A Classic”, which looks into restoring the film and focuses on its 7.1 mix. “Picture Perfect: The Making Of Sleeping Beauty” shows us the behind-the-scenes magic that took place to place this film with Legendary Animators, actors and film historians. “Eyvind Earle: A Man And His Art ” focuses on the career of background painter and renowned American Artist. There is also an audio commentary track with John Lasseter, Andreas Deja and Leonard Maltin and believe it or not there is still much more included.

Actors: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia De Havilland, Hattie McDaniel
Directors: Victor Fleming
Number of discs: 4
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 238 minutes

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

“Gone with the Wind” is one of the most influential films of our time. It is a classic of classics. Who hasn’t seen this film? It is a must see for everyone! Released in 1939, it won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Based on Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel continues to have an affect on people after all these years. In fact, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing this 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray to celebrate its latest anniversary. It is limited/numbered and comes with new collectible packaging, memorabilia and special features. If you already own the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition, this release is slightly different in terms of collectibles and some new extras. If you have never owned this film, this is a great re-release (at least until the 80th Anniversary).

Synopsis: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard and Hattie McDaniel star in the quintessential Hollywood epic that still stands as history’s all-time domestic box-office champion ($1.6 billion adjusted for inflation), with more tickets sold than any other movie ever made. Gone with the Wind opens on the eve of the Civil War. Rich, beautiful and self-centered Scarlett O’Hara (Leigh) has everything she could want. Except, that is, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard). As the war devastates the South, Scarlett discovers the strength within herself to protect her family and rebuild her life. Through everything, she longs for Ashley, unaware that she is already married to the man she really loves (Gable) — and who truly loves her — until she finally drives him away. Only then does Scarlett realize what she has lost and tries to win him back.

If you love “Gone with the Wind”, then you will love that this The Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes with a replica of Rhett Butler’s handkerchief as well as a music box paperweight that plays Tara’s theme dressed with the image of the Rhett-Scarlett famous kiss. Also included is a 36-page companion booklet, which focuses on the style of Gone with the Wind and is written by New York fashion designer and Project Runway finalist Austin Scarlett. The new special features include footage of Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh attending the original movie premiere in Atlanta called “Gone With the Win: Hollywood Comes to Atlanta” and “Old South/New South”, which takes you on a journey through today’s South revisiting the real-life locations depicted in the film and how they have been influenced over the year.

Warner is releasing this film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + UltraViolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer is unbelievable goregous for a 75 year old film. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is also outstanding as well highlighting the dialogue and Max Steiner’s amazing score. There is also a standard Dolby Digital Mono track included. Other rolled over extras from previous releases include, a commentary track from Historian Rudy Behlmer on the first disc. The second Blu-ray includes literally over 8 hours of special features taken from the 70th Anniversary release…eight hours! Lastly there is a bonus DVD including “MGM: When the Lion Roars”, which is alone a three part, six hour documentary looking at the history of M-G-M, hosted by Patrick Stewart.

Commemorate the 75th anniversary of Gone with the Wind with the new Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ set – Available 9/30/14. Buy it now from WB Shop: http://bit.ly/GWTW75

Starring: Jon Favreau, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale
Director: Jon Favreau
Number of discs: 2
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 110 minutes

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

“Swingers”. “Made”. These are great indie films. They are funny, edgy and relevant. They were also both written and directed by Jon Favreau, who had since went on to direct films like “Iron Man” and “Elf”. This film is an amazing return for him to his indie roots. This is a really heartwarming comedy that has a little bit for everyone, sort of like an appetizer platter since we are on the topic of food. This film is easily one of my favorite films of the year. It is a change from the today flew of sequels / remakes / prequels etc. Jon Favreau is back and I recommend this film to everyone!

Official Premise: An online feud with an influential food critic (Platt) and a creative disagreement with his investor (Hoffman) convince Carl Casper (Favreau) to hang up his apron at a posh Los Angeles bistro and get his mojo back in Miami’s Cuban-inspired cuisine. When his ex-wife (Vergara) helps him get a fresh start with a rundown food truck, Carl and his best friend and sous chef Martin (Leguizamo) head across the country with Carl’s young son Percy on a culinary adventure that helps Carl rediscover what matters in life.

Besides Favreau himself, the film has an all-star cast including John Leguizamo (“Ice Age”), Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”), Bobby Cannavale (“Blue Jasmine”), Oliver Platt (“Fargo”), Amy Sedaris (“Strangers with Candy”, Dustin Hoffman (“Rain Man”), Scarlett Johansson (“The Avengers”)  and a fantastic appearance from Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”). Newcomer Emjay Anthony also steals the show as Favreau’s son.

Universal is releasing the film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD copy with UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer is outstanding and definitely makes that grilled cheese sandwich that much more mouth-watering. The DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track works perfectly with the film’s perfectly themed music throughout Chef’s journey. The special features are a bit of a let down though. There is a great audio commentary track with Favreau and chef and co-producer Roy Choi. Besides that there is only some deleted scenes.

Starring: Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, William Vail, Teri McMinn, Edwin Neal
Director: Tobe Hooper
Number of discs: 4
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

Love it (myself) or hate it (my wife), “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is an absolutely classic in the horror genre. It is iconic and has stood the test of time. Speaking of time, the film is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year. MPI Media Group is re-releasing the film on Blu-ray presenting the original restored film in an all-new 4k scan authorized by Tobe Hooper and a ridiculous all-new 7.1 channel soundtrack. If you think you have seen “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” before, think again because watching this Blu-ray is like an entirely new experience.

Official Premise: It has been called grisly, sick, and perverse, as well as raw, unshakeable, and the movie that redefined horror. It was attacked by churches, banned by governments, and acclaimed by only the bravest of critics. It stunned audiences worldwide and set a new standard in movie terror forever. Today writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper s dark, visionary tale remains unparalleled in its impact as perhaps the most frightening motion picture ever made.

“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” is released as a kick ass DigiPack  combo pack with two Blu-Rays and two DVDs. If this only had a digital Ultraviolet copy, it would be absolutely perfect. The film itself is gritty and was shot on 16mm film, so this film never looked really amazing. I remember watching it on VHS tape and if you could compare that to this new Blu-ray, it would be like two different films. For this release, the film was mastered in 4K and presented on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition. It just looks terrific. Horror fans get ready to do a back flip.

I never thought I would be seeing a film like “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” with DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track on Blu-ray but that is what we get here. You would expect this track from a big-budget summer action but never a 40 year old horror film. This track is fantastic and works so well with all aspects from the revving of the chainsaw to the  famous flash photography sounds. Along with this epic track, there are three other tracks including a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0 and LPCM Mono. So there are tracks for everyone whatever you are craving

The special features are split over two discs. The first disc is purely audio commentary tracks. Anything you ever wanted to know about this film is included in these tracks. The first track is with Producer-Director Tobe Hooper, Actor Gunnar Hansen, and Cinematrographer Daniel Pearl. The second is with Production Designer Robert Burns and Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain. The third is Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper. The last is withCinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll, and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou. One is better than the next.

The second disc includes “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”, which runs over 70 minutes. “Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw” is another 70 minute featurette. Between these two extras, you will be exhausted with knowledge. “A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen” is a chat with Leatherface himself. “Off the Hook with Teri McMinn” and “The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman” are interviews with the respective actors.

“Grandpa’s Tales: An Interview with John Dugan” features the actor reflecting on his iconic role. “Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview with Editor J. Larry Carroll” talks about his work on the film. There are 15 minutes of BRAND NEW Deleted Scenes and Outtakes along with the previous released 25 minutes of additional Deleted Scenes and Outtakes. There is also a Blooper Reel, Horror’s Hallowed Grounds, Still Gallery, Trailers, TV and Radio spots included.