Starring: Johnny Depp, Richard E. Grant, Terry Gilliam
Director: Charlie Paul
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Run Time: 89 minutes

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

When I first saw the film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, I feel in love with the work of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson and his collaborating artist and longtime friend Ralph Steadman. Over the last 15 years, I have been collecting everything I can from these two people. Talking about fandom, I even have Steadman’s work tattooed on my right arm. When I heard about “For No Good Reason”, I couldn’t have been more excited since after the death of HST in 2005, it gives Steadman the much deserved spotlight that he deserves. It also sort of acts a tribute to HST as well, which I really appreciate. This is no question one of my favorite films of the year and one hell of a documentary.

Official Premise: Experience 15 years in the life of seminal British artist Ralph Steadman, whose surreal, often confrontational artwork is frequently associated with Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). Through Johnny Depp’s lead in this intimate portrait, we are able to reach the heart of what make this artist tick, his friendships and fallings out, his love for art and his passion for civil liberties. The inventive, energetic, occasionally harrowing, but inspiring film includes contributions from Terry Gilliam, Richard E. Grant, Tim Robbins and others who offer insight into the man behind the legend.

One thing, that I really loved about this spotlight on one of the most bizarre artists of the 20th century was how brutally honest it was. I had the very lucky privilege to speak with Ralph Steadman about his career and the film, click here to check out our interview with the man himself. You not only get a portrait of Steadman’s work in this film but also who he is as a person and his back story. He is definitely a weird dude just like HST but what artist isn’t a little odd. If you are a die-hard fan of his work, I cannot recommend this enough…same goes if you are just discovering him this is an amazing introduction as well.

Sony is delivering “For No Good Reason” as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD copy…but no digital copy. I was really hoping that this film was going to include an Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer is good but not perfect. The art looks great though, especially the animation sequences. Same goes with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. It is definitely a solid track but also doesn’t get very challenged with this dialogue driven film.

Since this film took over a decade to complete, I was really hoping the special features would be jam-packed but not so much. There are still some decent content including an audio commentary track from Director Charlie Paul and Producer Lucy Paul, which is a nice way to revisit for sure. There is the Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Ralph Steadman and Charlie Paul included. There is a reading of “Cherrywood Cannon”, animated version of Steadman’s book. Lastly there are a few extended interviews with Bruce Robinson, Richard E. Grant and Terry Gilliam and a few deleted scenes included.

Starring: Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant, Eric Balfour
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

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

“Haven” is a TV series that was originally based on Stephen King’s novel “The Colorado Kid”. Since it premiered it has become a entity of its own and branching way beyond the novel. The fourth season of the show is really a big turning point for the show and it wastes no time sucking you in. In fact, this show seems to get better and better with each season. With the fifth season airing as we speak and the sixth already greenlit, we have hardly seen the end of this great series.

Official Series Premise: Haven follows former FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose), who became a cop in the small town of Haven, Maine, and quickly found herself involved in the return of “the Troubles,” a series of supernatural afflictions that have plagued the seaside village for generations. Partnered with local residents Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour), Audrey began to realize that Haven’s fate was linked to her own, and only she can save the town and the people she loves from the weight of their curses.

Official Season Premise: Season Four of Haven opens six months after the gripping third season finale, when Duke, who had jumped into the imploding barn to save Audrey, suddenly appears out of thin air in Boston. Assisted by Jennifer Mason (Emma Lahana), a woman with her own mysterious connection to Haven, Duke finds that Nathan has fled the town, Audrey is still missing, and the Troubles are worse than ever.

The Blu-ray comes with solid 1080p transfers along with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks. The visual effects work well with the transfers and the beautiful locations. There are over two and half hours of special features included along with an exclusive 16 page comic book thrown in as well. Kicking off the extras we get thirteen “Inside Haven” Featurettes, one for each episode, which gives a great behind-the-scenes look into the show.

There are Panel Highlights from various conventions including San Diego Comic-Con, Nerd HQ and New York Comic Con. There are three interviews with the Cast talking abut this season. There are six audio commentaries tracks with the show’s writers. These are good but I would have loved to see some cast commentary as well. There is the “Darkside Seekers” Webisode Series including, as well as a deleted scene and Blooper Reel including, rounding out these very impressive extras.

“Anthrax: Chile on Hell”
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Megaforce Records
Film Run Time: 1 hr 50 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Anthrax: Chile on Hell” is the latest live DVD release from thrash heavy weights Anthrax and was shot during the bands May 10th, 2013 performance at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile. The disc is being released via Megaforce Records and is available on standard DVD and high definition Blu-Ray both of which feature ear splitting 5.1 surround sound.

Being a fan of live concert films I couldn’t wait to check out the latest release from Anthrax. Since the groups release of “Worship Music” the band has gone through somewhat of a revitalization period which long time fans like me are certainly enjoying. The newest release from the group is titled “Chile on Hell”. Filmed during the bands most recent trip to South America the track/set listing is a solid mixture of new songs such as “Fight ‘Em Til You Can’t” and “In the End” alongside classic Anthrax tracks like “Caught in a Mosh”, “Madhouse” and “Anti Social” all of which tear through your speakers and ears via crystal clear 5.1 surround sound.

Dispersed throughout the performance are a number of behind the scenes clips which for me were more of a miss than anything. The brief segues seemed to lack cohesiveness and pulled away from the bands performance killing some of the performance momentum.The film also features multiple camera angles ranging from your standard left, right and center, to the more adventurous headstock mounted camera shots and multiple drum cams showcasing drummer Charlie Benante’s fancy foot and stick work.

Overall I found the essence of the bands live show to be captured perfectly and I certainly can’t say enough good things about the sound however choppy editing, chaotic camera angles and the randomly dispersed behind the scene shots left me scratching my head on more than one occasion. Those things a side I still enjoyed the show but I do recommend to fans with a little extra cash in their pocket pick up the high definition Blu-Ray version as the standard DVD release at times gets a bit grainy causing the colors to appear washed out and flat.

Track Listing:
1.) Among the Living
2.) Caught in a Mosh
3.) I Am the Law
4.) Efilnikfuesin (NFL)
5.) A Skeleton in the Closet
6.) In the End
7.) T.N.T.
8.) I’m Alive
9.) Indians
10.) Medusa
11.) In My World
12.) Fight ‘Em Til You Can’t
13.) I’m the Man
14.) Madhouse
15.) Antisocial

Blu-ray and Digital HD include bonus content featuring interviews with Clint Eastwood and the cast!

Burbank, CA, September 2, 2014 – Based on the Tony Award-winning musical, “Jersey Boys” arrives onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on November 11 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Directed by Oscar® winner Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”), “Jersey Boys” is an inspiring drama featuring The Four Seasons’ songs that influenced a generation.

“Jersey Boys” stars John Lloyd Young, who reprises his Tony Award-winning portrayal of the legendary lead singer of The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli. Erich Bergen stars as Bob Gaudio, who wrote or co-wrote all of the group’s biggest hits. Michael Lomenda and Vincent Piazza star respectively as Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito, two original members of The Four Seasons. Oscar® winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”) stars as mobster Gyp DeCarlo.

Clint Eastwood directed “Jersey Boys” from a screenplay and musical book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, song music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. “Jersey Boys” is produced by Clint Eastwood, Graham King and Robert Lorenz, along executive producers Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tim Moore, Tim Headington, James Packer and Brett Ratner.

“Jersey Boys” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and includes the film in high definition on Blu-ray disc, DVD, and a digital version of the movie in Digital HD with UltraViolet. Fans can also own “Jersey Boys” in Digital HD via purchase from digital retailers.

SYNOPSIS

“Jersey Boys” tells the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons. The story of their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the songs that influenced a generation, including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Dawn,” “Rag Doll,” “Bye Bye Baby,” “Who Loves You,” and many more.

These classic hits are now being embraced by a new generation of fans through the stage musical, which has been running on Broadway for more than eight years and has also enjoyed successful tours around the globe.

BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS

“Jersey Boys” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features:

• From Broadway To The Big Screen
• Too Good To Be True
• “Oh, What A Night” To Remember

“Jersey Boys” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:

• “Oh, What A Night” To Remember

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

“Jersey Boys” will be available for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Target Ticket, Vudu, Xbox and others. “Jersey Boys” will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

ABOUT DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET

*Digital HD with UltraViolet allows fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital HD with UltraViolet is included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. Digital HD with UltraViolet allows consumers to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through UltraViolet retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster, Target Ticket, VUDU and more. For more information on compatible devices go to wb.com/ultravioletdevices. Consult an UltraViolet Retailer for details and requirements and for a list of HD-compatible devices.

Starring: Alexie Gilmore, Bryce Johnson
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Dark Sky Films
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Run Time: 80 minutes

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

I am getting terribly bored and tired of found footage movies. There is nothing new and original here and the pay off seems to get less and less each time. I figured I would give this film a chance because when I interviewed Bobcat Goldthwait (“Police Academy”), he was raving about it. It kept my interest for the first few minutes but then just really dived off the deep end. It is less than 80 minutes long yet it feels like 2+ hours. Firstly, I wouldn’t call it horror either since nothing happens until the last 10 minutes and even then it is isn’t scary at all. We spend about 10 minutes just starring at these people in a tent freaking out at some noises in which we never see who/what they come from. Save yourself the 80 minutes and don’t waste your time here.

Official Premise: Looking to make a splash with his research videos into the existence of Bigfoot, Jim (Bryce Johnson, Pretty Little Liars) and his girlfriend Kelly take a camping trip to the mountains surrounding Willow Creek, California, a small town where infamous footage of the supposed Sasquatch was filmed. Before long the headstrong couple are lost in the woods and discover that someone – or something – is stalking them. With each passing night bringing unknowable danger, the two must use all of their cunning to try to make it out of the forest alive.

The Blu-ray presentation is not anything amazing either. It is shot handheld and even though some of the locations are very pretty to look at there is so much grain shown. Especially when the film goes dark and we are in the tent, I looked at my screen and it looks like a ripped DVD quality. The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is also wasted since there is no score or anything in the film besides the dialogue. Special features include a commentary track with Writer/Director Bobcat Goldthwait and Stars Alexie Gilmore and Bryce Johnson, which is decent. There is “Bryce Johnson’s The Making of Willow Creek” follows only day day of shooting from the film so hardly a making of featurette. Lastly there is a deleted scene and a trailer included.

Actors: Sean Astin, Currie Graham, Ryan Donowho, Brando Eaton
Director: Kaare Andrews
Rated: Unrated
Studio: RLJ Entertainment
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

“Cabin Fever” is a great horror film and it also kick started the career of Eli Roth. The sequels/prequels to this film have been very good at all. In fact, they have been pretty bad. “Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever” was such a bad film, it was delayed for year and even had the director Ti West trying to take his name off of it. “Cabin Fever: Patient Zero” was the first of two planned prequels to reinvigorate the series, but it falls flat just like the sequel and it’s follow up film was canned already. Maybe they need to let this series die and come up with a new idea instead of just rebooting the same thing over and over. The film does have some great gore in it, kudos to that but it drags ass half way through and has no major shock factor at all. Just another unnecessary prequel. Big pass here!

Offical Premise: A group of friends planned the perfect vacation in the Caribbean, but when they head ashore to explore a remote island, their ultimate bachelor weekend devolves into their worst nightmare. After an ill-fated swim in contaminated water, they stumble upon a seemingly abandoned research facility where a deadly, flesh-eating virus has been unleashed. In the aftermath of a massacre, the only people left alive are a handful of secretive medical personnel and “Patient Zero” (Sean Astin), the lone person who’s been exposed to the disease and shows no symptoms. Can they find a way to survive and escape, or will the virus consume them all in a bloodbath of chaos and carnage?

RLJ Entertainment released this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD included. “Cabin Fever: Patient Zero” does look quite impressive with its 1080p transfer. The practical makeup effects looks great for sure and the locations were the film was shot are also well highlighted. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also solid especially with composer’s Kevin Riepl (Silent Night) score, which is quite rocking. In more disappointing news, if the film wasn’t bad enough there are literally no special features included on this release at all. There are trailers for “Aftermath”, “All Cheerleaders Die” and “Wolf Creek 2” at start up but nothing else.

Actors: Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson, Kevin Chapman, Sarah Shahi, Michael Emerson
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Run Time: 1012 minutes

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

When “Person of Interest” started airing I never really caught onto it. It is called one of “television’s most gripping dramas” but I really just never got into it. I think you really need to love the cast of the show you are watching. Same thing to me happened with “Under the Dome”. Good show but terrible cast. The cast here is very talented don’t get me wrong, Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel rock stars but I not a huge fan nonetheless. Either way the show is a hit and it will be entering its fourth season this fall on CBS.

Official Premise: In Season Three, the team suffers a devastating loss and faces staggering challenges. Technical wizard Finch (Michael Emerson) and ex-CIA operative Reese (Jim Caviezel) join forces with rogue agent Sameen Shaw (Sarah Shahi) to save lives and seek justice, but the team now faces an uncertain future. With The Machine, now completely self-governed and hidden from all, the POI team must struggle to protect their mission and the evolving intelligence providing their numbers.

The 23 episodes included are Liberty; Nothing to Hide; Lady Killer; Reasonable Doubt; Razgovor; Mors Praematura; The Perfect Mark; Endgame; The Crossing; The Devil’s Share; Lethe; Aletheia; 4C; Provenance; Last Call; RAM; /; Allegiance; Most Likely To…; Death Benefit; Beta; A House Divided & Deus Ex Machina.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s “Person of Interest: The Complete Third Season” is being released as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet. I love the Warner Brothers always comes through with all of there television releases with UltraViolet bonus, which allows consumers to instantly stream and download all 23 episodes from The Cloud for viewing on computers and compatible iOS and Android devices.

The special features includes for this release are decent. There is a featurette “Person of Interest: The Future of A.I.” look into the real life technology with the creators. “Saying Goodbye to a Friend” features cast and creators talking about the loss of a character. “Bear on Set” looks into the episode with Boker the dog.

There is footage from the 2013 Comic Con Panel. There is only one commentary track includes with Michael Emerson on the season finale. If you are a fan of this show, one episode is not really enough to really wow you to be honest. With 23 episodes, five is a really the minimum. There is a gag reel included. Lastly there are digital comics based on each episode, this is really good bonus feature for sure.

Own it on Blu-ray™ Combo, DVD & Digital HD September 2

Starring: Laura Vandervoort, Greyston Holt, Greg Bryk, Paul Greene, Steve Lund, Michael Xavier
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

Season: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

You know when you watch a show and you know right away that you are either going to love it or hate it.  “Bitten” fell into the latter category from the very first episode. I am not sure what it was since I definitely like Laura Vandervoort. She is very easy on the eyes and quite naked right from the very first episode 😉 but I just didn’t dig it. The show’s plot never developed into what I thought it could have and it ended up being very predictable. I am sure this series has a following, so it’s fans will be at least happy to know that this release includes all 13 UNCUT featuring footage not seen on American television.

Official Premise: Desperate to escape both a world she never wanted to be part of and the man who turned her into a werewolf, Elena abandons her Pack and takes refuge in a new city, starting over with a hot new romance and a successful photography career. But when bodies turn up in the werewolf sanctuary, Elena is torn between the life she s building and the wild and dangerously unpredictable one she thought she left behind. Based on the Women of the Otherworld novels by #1 New York Times best selling author Kelley Armstrong.

Entertainment One, like usual with their Syfy TV series releases, delivered us an impressive Blu-ray despite my feelings on the series itself. I would just wish that they would get on board with the digital HD copies and start bringing their Blu-ray releases to the digital age. The colors are sharp and the details are well presented. The CGI isn’t ground breaking but looks good for what it is worth. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is actually in my eyes the star of the release. It is one fine track. This show is carried well by the music and cue’s used throughout, especially through the action scenes.

In terms of special features, we are back to the disappointing end of the release. There are three audio commentaries on the pilot episode, “Summons” “Bitten”, and the finale, “Ready”. They feature Executive Producer J.B. Sugar, Executive Producer/Writer Daegan Fryklind and star Laura Vandervoort. There is a short behind-the-scenes looks into the series. My favorite is definitely “VFX – Behind the Wolf”, which goes into the CGI in depth…sort of…since it only runs about 4 minutes. Lastly there is a feature on the show’s Stunt Choreography and a bunch of Deleted/Alternate Scenes included.

“Scott Ian: Speaking/Swearing Words in Glasgow”
Number of discs: 1
Label: Megaforce Records
Rated: Unrated

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

In 2013 Heavy Metal musician, author and television personality Scott Ian made his way over to Europe to perform his first run of speaking shows detailing his 30+ years in the music business. “Scott Ian: Speaking/Swearing Words In Glasgow” is the full length visual presentation of Scott’s show in Glasgow, Scotland which was made possible by fans from around the world donating money to the project through the PledgeMusic campaign.

Even if you are not a fan of Anthrax or heavy metal music in general there is plenty of humor in this release from Scott Ian. Shot live while performing his first ever run of speaking shows Scott shares some of his most wild stories from his career as the guitarist for one of the founding bands of thrash metal, Anthrax. From the tale of drinking with legendary Motorhead front man Lemmy Kilmister to his chance meeting with director Steven Spielberg, Scott’s dialogue will have you laughing from the word go. Over the course of the DVD Scott takes the viewer on a roller coaster that is his life. Through ups and downs Scott pulls no punches and is steadfast in his approach. You don’t have to be a heavy metal music fan to enjoy these stories!

To more to Scott’s witty banter are a handful of art slides that correspond with each of the stories told. This was a great addition as just seeing a cartoon version of 80’s era Scott with long hair was enough for me. Add in similar cartoon versions of Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna, heavy metal icon Johnny Z and of course the previously mentioned Lemmy and these entertaining slides act as the icing on the cake for this release. If you were fortunate to catch this show or one of the other European/U.S. shows this DVD is a must have for your collection. If you weren’t able to make it out to the live show but wanted to then you already know what you need to do. Buy this DVD!

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Director: Brian Stillman
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated
Studio: X-Ray Films
Run Time: 70 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys” tells the behind the scenes story of how one of the most successful toy lines ever came to be. From the lackluster early planning stages of a toy line/film destined for failure to the over whelming response which prompted the creation of the “Early Bird” mail order set to meet the immense demands. Directed by Brian Stillman the film is a fresh and in-depth look at not just the toy lines creation but also how it impacted countless childhoods.

This is not just another “Star Wars” documentary retelling stories fans of the series have heard time and time again. Instead Director Brian Stillman and company have put together a fun and informative documentary about the next best thing besides the films…the toys! Packed full of interviews with the people who designed the toys along with interviews from various collectors the film is part formal information and part childhood memories. Accompanying the interviews are a slew of vintage commercials, television spots and photo stills that catapult you back to the glory days of immense toy isles chocked full of your favorite “Star Wars” items. Equally impressive is the new animation that was created to transition various sections of the film. The art is fresh and new while retaining that late 70’s early 80’s feel. Something I very much enjoyed.

Alongside the film are a variety of Special Features including one titled “Know Your Lightsaber”. A fun spoof that had me cracking up from start to finish as it recounts the various light saber models and subsequent knock offs that were produced throughout the years. Whether you are a hardcore “Star Wars” collector, a casual fan or someone just wanting to take a trip down memory lane “Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys” is a fun film from start to finish that can be watched by the whole family.

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Actors: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Scott Wilson
Directors: Ernest R. Dickerson, Guy Ferland, Greg Nicotero
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 696 minutes

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

Just when you thought that “The Walking Dead” couldn’t get any crazier…main characters getting killed off, pushing the limits of cable TV…we get season four, which takes it up yet another notch. Season four was a very impressive season for this show and easily my favorite to date. The season is split into technically three parts. The first half is the take down of the prison, the second is the group solo and getting back together (in some sense) and the third is the arrival at Terminus. Season five is being setup to kick off what is guaranteed to be the best season yet. With the show getting more and more popular with each episode, it is becoming an unstoppable force. If you love this show, this Blu-ray should hold you off until “The Walking Dead” season 5 returns on Sunday, October 12th.

Official Premise: In the new season, we see Rick and the group of survivors fostering a thriving community in the safe haven of the prison only to have it short-lived as the group loses everything, their home, family, and friends to the threat of the walkers, outside threats and the hidden dangers brewing inside the fences. The group of survivors are broken apart and sent on divergent paths, unsure of everyone else’s fate as they are exposed to new dangers, new enemies, and heartbreaking choices. They will have their faith thoroughly tested — a faith that breaks some of them and redeems others.

This season show not great but literally outstanding performances from everyone in the cast including. Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Emily Kinney, Chad Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. and Scott Wilson. Speaking of Scott, we lost our beloved Hershel this season but his spirit will live on. He was a hard person to lose and easily one of my favorite characters on the show. Last season, I absolutely hated (and I am sure I am not alone) Carl but this season, Chandler really knocked it out the park. The VIP of the season easily has to be Melissa McBride! WOW! Looking at flowers will never be the same! Where is her damn Emmy nomination!?

Anchor Day has been amazing with giving “The Walking Dead” Blu-ray amazing Limited Edition sets. The first season was more basic but the second season was the large zombie head with the screwdriver in the eye and the third was The Governor’s tank. The fourth season’s limited edition release includes an exclusive McFarlane Toys Tree Walker Case. The Tree walker’s head and arm move when you remove the Blu-ray set. It is quite epic and a must have for any hardcore collector. You look at the quality of work that comes with this release and you will be convinced that it is worth the extra money. But get it while it is available because like the other seasons, this is sure to become an expensive collectible.

Like the past seasons, The Blu-ray presentations comes with outstanding 1080p transfers with even better Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround tracks. Literally this are GOLD! I love watching this show on TV when it airs but the Blu-ray presentations are so much better to enjoy. When the Governor storms through the prison in their tanks, my surround sound system was screaming for a break. From every gunshot to zombie roar, the sound is just outstanding. You literally forget you are watching TV series, as this show feels so theatrical.

The special features for this series have always been amazing! This season is no different. To start, we have Blu-ray exclusive extended episodes for “After” and “The Grove”. There are six cast and crew audio commentaries included on this set. The first is on “30 Days Without An Accident”  with Executive Producer and Showrunner Scott M. Gimple, Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager Tom Luse and Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor/Director Greg Nicotero. Next is “Internment” with Executive Producer and Showrunner Scott M. Gimple and Actor Scott Wilson (Hershel). “After” includes Greg Nicotero, Co-Executive Producer Denise Huth and Actor Danai Gurira (Michonne).

There are two tracks for the episode, “Still” the first with Director Julius Ramsay and Actor Emily Kinney (Beth) and the second with Writer/Producer Angela Kang and Actor Norman Reedus (Daryl). The last track is “The Grove” (Ep14) with Scott M. Gimple, Denise Huth and Actor Andrew Lincoln. I cannot say enough good things about these tracks. I loved everyone of them. The ones with Greg and the other producers are super technical and you get tons of great information about the show. If you love this show, you cannot miss these. All gems.

Next up we have eight outstanding Behind-the-Scenes Production Featurettes. First up are “Inside The Walking Dead and “The Making of The Walking Dead”, which are self-explanatory. These are great for fans wanted an inside look in how the show is created. “Hershel” and “The Governor Is Back” are character based featurettes on two of our favorite characters to bit it this season. “Drawing Inspiration” and “Society, Science & Survival” look into the preparation taken for this season. “Inside KNB EFX” dives into the work of Greg Nicotero and his creations. Lastly “A Journey Back to Brutality” is a look back at the season and there are some Deleted Scenes included as well.

Here is the Comic-Con trailer for what we can expect for Season Five!

Actors: Shane Johnson, Julie McNiven, Ella Anderson, Cara Pifko, Dale Dickey
Directors: David Jung
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

Found footage meets Exorcism, sounds good but has been done before, with “The Last Exorcism” coming to mind.  Surprisingly, “The Possession of Michael King” is a decent entry. Not groundbreaking or genre changing but overall decent. It comes from the producers of “White Noise” and “The Haunting in Connecticut”, so that is a plus in its corner. The film fails with its narrative and wide open ending that answers basically nothing but it definitely had some solid scares and kept my attention the whole film. Plus it run just over 80 minutes, so that works in its favor as well. Shane Johnson is a good lead and has solid co-stars including Dale Dickey (“Iron Man 3”), Tomas Arana (“Gladiator”), and Julie McNiven (“Mad Men”). Worth a rent if you got nothing else to do this week.

Official Premise: Michael King (Shane Johnson) doesn’t believe in God or The Devil. Following the sudden death of his wife, the documentary filmmaker decides to make his next film about the search for the existence of the supernatural. Michael decides to make himself the center of the experiment – allowing demonologists, necromancers, and various practitioners of the occult to try the deepest and darkest spells and rituals they can find on him – in the hopes that when they fail, he’ll once and for all have proof that religion, spiritualism, and the paranormal are nothing more than myth. But something does happen. An evil and horrifying force has taken over Michael King. And it will not let him go.

Anchor Bay is releasing this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet HD Digital copy included. Honestly, it is really rare for Anchor Bay to be releasing digital copies for it’s smaller releases, so this is a real treat. Not that I loved the film enough to watch it again but it hopefully means going they are going to do so. The 1080p transfer is what it is since we are working with found footage here. The picture is clear and the dark scenes are balanced well. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track sound solid and works well the film scares for sure. There are no special features at all included on this release, which is definitely a let down.

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Actors: Franco Nero, Kristina Klebe, Natalie Burn, Dragan Micanvic
Directors: Milan Todorovic
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Epic Pictures
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2014

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

With the overflow of creature features recently like “Sharknado” etc, I caught wind of this horror film. Here is the problem though, the film is called “Killer Mermaid” but for the first hour all the “killing” is done by some grizzy old man and there is no sight of any mermaid until about 65 minutes in.

Official Premise: Two young women go on a Mediterranean vacation and uncover the watery lair of a killer mermaid hidden beneath an abandoned military fortress. What was once a carefree adventure becomes a deadly fight for survival.

When you finally do get to see the mermaid, let me tell you she is freaking awesome looking, but the wait is too long. The film is obviously lov budget but the mermaid design is pretty cool. The shooting locations are also quite the view. From the caves, to the beaches, they cast must have had a nice trip with this film.

The film also stars Kristina Klebe, who is know for her role in “Rob Zombie’s Halloween”. Other than her, the rest of the cast is surprising decent as well for a low budget creature feature. I was just really hoping for more mermaid and less old man with a throwing anchor.

The special features on this DVD are not jam-packed. There is a behind-the-scene featurette included. There is a bonus crowdfunding promo, I guess film reach out to fans to help make some bucks. Lastly there is a featurette on the creature in “Making of The Mermaid”, which was easily my favorite extra.

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Josh Dallas, Emilie De Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, Lana Parilla, Jared Gilmore, Robert Carlyle, Michael Raymond-James, Rebecca Mader
Director: Victor Nelli Jr.
Number of discs: 5
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Run Time: 946 minutes

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

When this show first aired, the first season was a good draw but the second season lost some focus and was just full of tons of fairy tale character cameos with no main goal for the show. The third season was a nice return to the focus of the first season and the show seems to be on the right track going forward especially with introduce the “Frozen” gang into the fourth season. This show is sure to double its viewers easily. Luckily, it is already coming off a strong season. The first half of this season focuses on the characters from Peter Pan and the second introduces the new villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. So I enjoyed this season quite a bit and I can’t wait to see where they take us next.

This show has a fantastic code including Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White, Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming, Emilie De Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Captain Hook, Lana Parilla as Evil Queen, Jared Gilmore as Peter Pan, Robert Carlyle as Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin, Michael Raymond-James as Baelfire and this season also introduces the Wicked Witch of the West played perfectly by Rebecca Mader.

Official Premise: Can five heroic characters set aside their personal grudges and private demons to rescue Henry — and themselves — from the ultimate evil? The stakes are higher than ever in a Neverland that’s the stuff of nightmares. At the dark heart of its mystery is Peter Pan, an ageless entity with a diabolical agenda and a chilling secret. For Emma, Henry, Hook, Rumple, Regina, Charming and Snow, Pan’s actions have far-reaching consequences that will change their lives forever, create new alliances and introduce both Storybrooke and the Enchanted Forest to a powerful new villain of legendary wickedness: the Wicked Witch.

“Once Upon a Time: The Complete Third Season” includes the 22 episodes from the season with beautiful 1080p transfers. As this show progresses, it is getting much more polished and pretty and these transfer are benefiting from that. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks are also top notch and deliver the charm that this show has. I would have loved Disney to hook us up with digital copies of this season like they have been with their DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com website, but I guess the key word is in the URL and they haven’t crossed over into TV yet.

In terms of special features, there are three featurettes included to start. The first is “Wicked Villains: What makes the villains of Once Upon A Time tick?”, which looks into the shows baddies. “The Tale of Ariel” looks into the character and her development. The next is a Blu-ray exclusive featurette called “Inside the Writer’s Room: The Next Big Character”, which gives us an inside look into the writer’s process. There are cast and crew audio commentaries included, which are a great way to re-visit specific episodes. There are also some deleted scenes and a gag reel included titled “The Fairest Bloopers of Them All”.

Actors: Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta, Ron Palillo
Directors: Bob LaHendro
Number of discs: 16
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 2280 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Welcome Back, Kotter” was in the new this week since the internet was buzzing with the death of Ron Palillo aka Horshack. Of course, only if everyone actually knew that Ron actually passed away in August 2012, so don’t believe everything you read online. I remember watching repeats of the 70’s classic comedy “Welcome Back, Kotter” on TV. Shout! Factory is giving this series a Complete Series on DVD on August 26th, 2014. This is the first time that this show is available complete in one box set. This 16-disc release contains all 95 episodes from the series. If you are a fan of this show, I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity.

Official Premise: Meet the Sweathogs. They’re the rowdiest, goofiest bunch of students to ever step foot inside a high school. But if they think they’re too unruly for a good teacher to handle, they’re in for a rude awakening when they meet Mr. Kotter: a former Sweathog who’s returned to his alma mater to shape the minds of these remedial students as their new teacher! With the hilarious talents of comedian Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Travolta in the role that made him a star, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes and Ron Palillo, the Emmy-Award nominated run of Welcome Back, Kotter will have you rolling with laughter and maybe even a little nostalgia from your own days as a Swea

Revisiting this show was proved this show was still hilarious and jam packed with great talented actors including Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Ron Palillo and Marcia Strassman. “Welcome Back, Kotter” was also lined-up with some amazing guest stars as well including George Carlin, James Woods, Pat Morita, Scott Brady, Richard Moll, Della Reese and Dinah Madoff. If you are looking for a little nostalgia, this is a good trip for sure. In terms of special features, we only have a featurette called “Only a Few Degrees from a Sweathog” and the Actors’ Original Screen Tests. I would have loved to see some commentary tracks or retrospectives for sure.