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.

Actors: Liam McIntyre, Andy Whitfield, Manu Bennett, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah
Directors: Joshua Donen, Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Steven S. DeKnight
Number of discs: 13
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 2136 minutes

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

“Spartacus” is a show that I never got to watch during its original run since I was not a subscriber to Starz. I caught the show after it was completed. The entire series can be easily summed up in three words: stylish, sexy, and brutal. The series started off strong with “Blood and Sand”, then had a hard turn with the loss of it’s star Andy Whitfield due to cancer but bounced back with its prequel series “Gods of the Arena” and then got back on track with the official second season “Vengeance” and finished off strongest with “War of the Damned”. I love a show that can see its potential and then end while it is on top. This was a strong show and Anchor Bay has re-released every season of the hit Starz TV show into a very impressive collectible bundle.

Official Premise: Spartacus tells the classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel, who comes alive in the series’ first season, Blood and Sand. Then comes Gods of the Arena, a prequel that explores a deadly history before the arrival of Spartacus, and the death he now carries with him. The second season, Vengeance, continues to follow Spartacus as he is faced with a choice to either satisfy his personal need for vengeance, or make the sacrifices necessary to keep his growing army from breaking apart at the seams. Finally, in War of the Damned, Spartacus carves his name into history as he plots to avenge his wife’s death and leads Batiatus’ slaves in a bloody uprising that will not be forgotten or equaled. All four seasons are currently available on Blu-ray.

The series features an all-star cast with Andy Whitfield getting his star-making title role for first season. Liam McIntyre ended up taking over as Spartacus for Seasons two and three after his passing. Other notable cast in the series includes John Hannah (“The Mummy”, “Four Weddings and A Funeral”), Peter Mensah (“300”, “The Incredible Hulk”), Manu Bennett (“30 Days of Night”), Nick E. Tarabay (TV’s “Crash”), Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”), Dan Feuerriegel (“Home and Away”), Simon Merrells (“The Wolfman”), Todd Lasance (“Cloudstreet”), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“FlashForward”) and the scene-stealer and still smoking hot Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”, “Parks and Recreation”).

This Limited Edition release includes the 13 discs within a very detailed (and quite graphic) statue inside of its base. Anchor Bay is known for their stunning “Limited Edition” releases like the outstanding sets from “The Walking Dead” series. It is great to see a series like this get this kind of attention and respect. The set itself besides the pretty collectible comes with some new extras including three commentaries tracks from season one and an exclusive bonus disc with several featurettes as well as including all the old special features as well. Along with the Blu-ray discs, Anchor Bay really sweetened the deal including the entire series with UltraViolet Digital HD copies.

“Spartacus: The Complete Series” includes each episode with stunning 1080p transfers backed with even better Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround tracks. They look and sound outstanding throughout the entire series and get with each season. The new special features include Audio Commentaries on episode “Legends” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer Rob Tapert, and Actors Viva Bianca and Lucy Lawless. “Great and Unfortunate Things” features with Executive Producer Rob Tapert and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless. Last one is on “Mark of the Brotherhood” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Viva Bianca, and Lucy Lawless.

“Spartacus Fan Favorites with Liam McIntyre” features the actor giving out his top ten fan-favorite moments from the series. “Scoring a Hit: Composer Joseph LoDuca” has the composer discussing his work on the show, briefly. “An Eye Full: Roger Murray” is a chat with the series’ prosthetic & prop supervisor, Roger Murray, and its executive visual effects supervisor, Charlie McClellan. “Spartacus: Paul Grinder” features the series’ 2nd unit director discussing the show. Lastly, “The Last Word: John Hannah” features the actor talking about the show. So even though these aren’t outstanding new extras, Anchor Bay could have just packaged this seasons together and resold them with nothing new, so I give them an A for effort here.

No on to the rest of the special features for each of the seasons. First up is “Spartacus: Blood and Sand – The Complete First Season”, which comes with a ton of extras. There are extended versions of “The Red Serpent” and “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” and commentary tracks for “The Red Serpent” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producers Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen, “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producer Rob Tapert and “The Thing in the Pit” with Director Jesse Warn and Actor Andy Whitfield.

There is an enhanced version of Shadow Games, as well as an extended versions of “Delicate Things and Mark of the Brotherhood”. There are also Audio commentaries with Director Michael Hurst and Actors Andy Whitfield and Lucy Lawless discussing Shadow Games and Director Rick Jacobson, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Erin Cummings for the episode “Delicate Things”. “Whore” and “Party Favors” also hae tracks with Actors Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, and Viva Bianca; and Revelations with Writer Brent Fletcher, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Nick E. Taraby. There is a commentary track along with the enhanced episode” Kill Them All” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Peter Mensah and Katrina Law. There is a collection of nine featurettes going behind-the-scenes into season.

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” is jam-packed as well with great extras. There are Audio Commentaries track with Executive Producer Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, Production Designer Iain Aitken, and Costume Designer Barbara Darragh for “Past Transgressions, which is also an Extended Version; Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, and Maime Murray for “Missio;” Robert Tapert, Director Michael Hurst, and Actor Lucy Lawless chat about the Extended Version of “Paterfamilias;” Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Lucy Lawless, and Kaime Murray chat about the Extended Version of “Beneath the Mask”;” Steven S. DeKnight, Writer Brent Fletcher, and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless focus on the Extended Version of “Reckoning” and lastly, Steven S. DeKnight, Director Rick Jacobson, and Actor Peter Mensah commentate on the Extended Version of “The Bitter End”

“3D “Ring of Fire” Battle Sequence” is a collection of the seasons key scenes presented in 3D, which is totally rad! “Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena” features the cast/crew discussing the series. “Weapons of Mass Disruption” is a quick chat with Property Master Rob Bavin chatting about the seasons weapons. “Battle Royale: Anatomy of a Scene” looks into the boot camp the actors underwent. “On Set with Lucy Lawless” takes us around with the actress. “10 Easy Steps to Dismemberment” is a collection of the seasons best kills. “Post Production: The Final Execution” shows the work done to the show after shooting. “Enter the Arena: Production Design” looks at set design and CG work. “Dressed to Kill” is an interview with Costume Designer Barbara Darragh and cast. Lastly there is a Convention Panel highlight with Stephen S. DeKnight, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, and Vivia Bianca from a Comic-Con and a collection of Arena Bloopers.

“Spartacus: Vengeance – The Complete Second Season” includes audio commentaries on all but two of the season’s episodes. “Fugitivus” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre on the Extended Version. “A Place in This World” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Lucy Lawless, Liam McIntyre and Peter Mensah on the Extended Version. “The Greater Good” features Robert Tapert and Actors Lucy Lawless and Craig Parker. “Empty Hands” has Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, VFX Art Director Peter Baustaedter and Actor Viva Bianca talking about the Extended Version.

The Extended Version of “Libertus” features Rick Jacobson and Actor Liam McIntyre. “Chosen Path” has Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Nick Tarabay talking about the Extended Version. “Sacramentum”, also the Extended Version features Robert Tapert, Jesse Warn, and Actor Dustin Clare. The last commentary track is on the Extended Version of “Wrath of the Gods” with Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre. This collection of commentary tracks are outstanding if you are a fan of this series.

“Starz Studios – Spartacus: Vengeance” is an extended look into the season. “The Making of Spartacus: Vengeance” takes a quick look into the shows production. “Behind the Camera: Directing the Rebellion” gives a glimpse into the show behind-the-scenes from direction to digital effects. “On Set with Liam McIntyre” folllows around the actor while getting into character. “Burning Down the House: The VFX of Episode 205” is a chat with VFX Supervisor Charlie McClellan on the season’s critical scenes. “The Legend of Spartacus” talks with Historians Aaron Irvin and Jeffrey Stevens discussing the real history behind the series. “Famous Last Words” gets some final word from characters that were killed off. Lastly there are Bloopers and a teaser included.

The last season of the show “Spartacus: War of the Damned – The Complete Third Season” includes sex featurettes, ten commentary tracks, and extended versions of each episode. There audio Commentaries include Robert Tapert, Mark Beesley, and Chloe Smith for “Enemies of Rome;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Liam McIntyre, and Simon Merrells for “Wolves at the Gate;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Anna Hutchinson, and Todd Lasance for “Men of Honor;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Christian Antidormi and Simon Merrells for “Decimation;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Director TJ Scott, and Actors Manu Bennett and Dan Feuerriegel for “Blood Brothers”…

…(deep breath)…Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, and Visual Effects Art Director Peter Baustaedter for “Spoils of War;” Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, and Executive Visual Effects Supervisor Charlie McClellan for “Mors Indecepta;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Manu Bennett and Liam Mcintyre for “Separate Paths;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Anna Hutchinson and Todd Lasance for “The Dead and the Dying;” and Stephen S. DeKnight, Rober Tapert, Rick Jacobson, and Actor Liam McIntyre for “Victory.”

“Spartcus: The Legend Retold” is a overview of the series as a whole. “The Price of Being a Gladiator” goes into the workout that the actors have to endure for the show. “A Bloody Farewell” features cast and crew reflecting on the series. “The Spoils of War Revealed: Visual Effects” looks into the show’s effects and visuals. “Adorning the Damned” looks into the show’s costumes. Lastly “The Mind Behind Spartacus” is an interview with Series Creator Stephen S. DeKnight, who if you don’t recognize him is the guy on virutally ever commentary track for this series.

Starring: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Danielle Harris, Nancy Loomis, Nancy Stephens, Malcolm McDowell
Directors: Rob Zombie, Rick Rosenthal, John Carpenter, Steve Miner, Joe Chappelle, Tommy Lee Wallace
Number of discs: 15
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 1287 minutes

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

Halloween is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with the The Complete Collection of the “Halloween” film franchise. This collection includes all ten films from the series. I love Michael Myers, he is one of the rare horror icons that still creeps me out. I love Freddy and Jason but Myers still steals the show for me. Even though all of the films aren’t gems, as a whole they are a great franchise. This is the first time that these films have ever been released together in one massive box set. I personally would have hoped for a little more in terms of “wow factor” especially from the Limited Deluxe Edition luckily, I get my “wow” from the extras. What we get is a simple slipbox (with great cover art BTW) which holds the ten (black) cases, along with a thin 42-page booklet. There is nothing special or flashy about this release. Still though, I am fairly happy with this release and should make hardcore horror fans happy as well.

Official Premise: Halloween night – Haddonfield, IL. A young boy butchers his older sister with a kitchen knife. 15 years later, he escapes from a mental institution only to return home and terrorize the town, including babysitter Laurie Strode. Now pursued by Dr. Loomis, the doctor who tried to treat him until he realized that “what was living behind that boy’s eyes was purely and simply… evil”. His name is Michael Myers. And so began one of the most iconic horror franchises in history – what producers Moustapha Akkad and Debra Hill, writer/director John Carpenter and stars Jamie Lee Curtis & Donald Pleasence started has spawned 10 feature films and lasted over 35 years. Now, for the first time ever, experience the terror of every Halloween film available together in 1 set! This limited edition deluxe set includes 15 discs jammed with content Halloween fans will love.

Here is a breakdown of what films/cuts we get within the 15 discs: The first two discs are decided to the original classic “John Carpenter’s Halloween” (1978), the second disc being a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc three contains the theatrical cut of “Halloween II” (1981), while disc four, which is a standard DVD, contains, the infamous television cut, also a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc 5 is “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982), plain and simple, as is Discs 6 & 7 housing “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” (1988) and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989), respectively. Disc 8 includes the theatrical cut of “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995″, while disc 9 is going to be a big draw for fans with the highly sought upon Producer’s Cut, another Deluxe Edition Exclusive.

Disc 10 includes “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and Disc 11 houses “Halloween: Resurrection” (2002) closing out the original series. Then disc 12 brings us the remake/reboot “Rob Zombie’s Halloween” (2007), while disc 13 is a bonus disc from that film as well as a Deluxe Edition Exclusive. Disc 14 is “Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2” and wrapped up the release is disc 15 with Additional Bonus Features, which is again a Deluxe Edition Exclusive and includes a massive amount of extras including the 101-minute extended cut of “John Carpenter’s Halloween” (1978) in full 1080p HD! This is worth the purchase alone just for this disc. But what I should note that is very strange is that this 15th bonus disc is housed in the case for “Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2”, which honestly doesn’t make any sense most likely because of lack of space in the box. Not a huge deal, just very odd decision to be honest.

The next part is where the deal gets a little sour for this release. There is no consistency with the audio/video presentations. All of these films have been released before on Blu-ray and besides the first film and the Rob Zombie films, the presentations have been a bit rocky. Unfortunately, this box set does not include new transfer of these films they are merely exact copies of the previous rather disappointing releases. I would have loved Anchor Bay to dive in and fix the poor releases of “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” (1995), “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (1998) and “Halloween Resurrection (2002)”, thanks to Echo Bridge Entertainment. They are not horrendous but definitely disappointing for hardcore fans.

Of course, not surprisingly the winner is the original “John Carpenter’s Halloween”. It comes with a solid Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Surround track as well as the Original 1978 Audio in a Dolby TrueHD Mono track. “Halloween II” (1981) (which includes the Original “Moustapha Akkad Presents” Opening Credit) and “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982) include the same presentations as their Scream Factory releases. The second film comes with a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track, while “Season of the Witch” settles for a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Same goes for “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” and “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” are the same quality from the 2012 Anchor Bay releases. Both films have a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track but the 5th film certainly sounds better.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009) are identical to their past Blu-ray as well. Since these are the most recent, they are also some of the best. Surprisingly though, the real underdog of the release “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – Producer’s Cut” is one of the best presentations in the set with a solid video presentation and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround track. It even trumps the Theatrical Cut, which is kinda sad but expect since it is a copy from the Echo Bridge release. I feel like this is going to be a main draw for most horror fans for sure.

Now if you are on the fence for the audio/video presentations. The main draw (behind the additional cuts) are some brand new, never before seen bonus features including new interviews with cast and crew, commentaries, behind the scenes documentaries, and much more. “John Carpenter’s Halloween” stars off with a brand new Audio Commentary with Director of photography Dean Cundey, editor/production designer Tommy Lee Wallace and “The Shape,” Nick Castle. Excellent track. There is also a fantastic Audio Commentary, which is a fan boys dream with Co-writer/director John Carpenter and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. “The Night She Came Home” is an hour extras with Jamie Lee Curtis discussing her one and only convention appearance. “On Location: 25 Years Later” takes us to the shooting locations from the first film. Lastly there are TV spots, radio spots, a theatrical trailer and a collection of scenes from the film’s television cut.

The second disc for “John Carpenter’s Halloween” brings us another Audio Commentary track with Writer/director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, which is an older track but still decent. “Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest” is a nearly 90 minutes retrospective with interviews from cast/crew. Lastly there is a fact track, TV spots, Radio spots and a trailer included. The Theatrical Cut of “Halloween II” features two commentary tracks, the first with director Rick Rosenthal and actor Leo Rossi, and the second with actor/stunt coordinator Dick Warlock. Both quite decent. “The Nightmare Isn’t Over!: The Making of Halloween II” is a retrospective documentary on the sequel. “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Locations of Halloween II” takes on to the shooting locations from the film. Lastly there are Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary from Rosenthal, an Alternate Ending, some trailers and spots and a stills gallery.

“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” includes an Audio Commentary track from: Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Rob G. from “Icons of Fright,” and Horror’s Hallowed Grounds’ Sean Clark. Definitely made by fans for the fans. There is also an Audio Commentary with Actor Tom Atkins and BD/DVD Producer Michael Felsher, this is a must listen or Atkins fans. “Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch” goes behind-the-scenes with Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Actors Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin, Stunt Coordinator Dick Warlock, Cinematographer Dean Cundey, Costume Designer Jane Ruhm, and others. There is an “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds”, this one called “Revisiting the Original Shooting Locales” hitting the filming locations. Lastly there is a Still Gallery, TV Spots and a Theatrical Trailer included.

“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” includes a decent Audio Commentary from Actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris as well as a track from Director Dwight H. Little and author Justin Beahm, which is a bit more entertaining. There is also the Theatrical Trailer included. “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” includes two Audio Commentary tracks as well. The first from Actor Don Shanks and author Justin Beahm and the second from Director Dominique Othenin-Girad and actors Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Landman. Both decent and insightful tracks. “On the Set” contains some raw behind-the-scenes footage with cast interviews. Lastly there is a original promo from the film as well as a Theatrical Trailer. This is not a ton compared to other films but if you remember the 2012 Anchor Bay Blu-ray, there were bare-bones. Luckily there is more extras from 4 & 5 on disc 15.

“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – Theatrical Cut” comes only with a Still Gallery, TV Spots and
Theatrical Trailers but no fear since The Producer’s Cut saves the day again. It includes a great Audio Commentary with Writer Daniel Farrands and composer Alan Howarth. A real winner. “Acting Scared: A Look at the Film’s Cast” features Actresses Mariah O’Brien and J.C. Brandy looking back at the film. “The Shape of Things” goes into the films issues and special make-up effects creator John Carl Buechler. “Haddonfield’s Horrors” goes behind-the-scenes with director of photography Billy Dickson and production designer Bryan Ryman. “A Cursed Curse” is an interview with Trancas International president and Curse associate producer Malek Akkad and producer Paul Freeman. “Full Circle” is a chat with Composer Alan Howarth. There is a collection of extended scenes, alternate footage and extra scenes of graphic violence cut from the film. There is also Archival Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage including an interview with the late Donald Pleasance. Lastly there is another Cast & Crew Tribute to Donald Pleasance and a teaser trailer.

“Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” stars off with a great Audio Commentary moderated by Sean Clark along with director Steve Miner and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. “Blood is Thicker than Water: The Making of Halloween H20” is an hour restrospective with tons of cast/crew interviews. There are six scenes from the film presented with composer John Ottman’s original score via an isolated music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. There are Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage adding up to over 45 minutes with some great interviews. Lastly there are a Still Gallery, a TV spot and a Theatrical Trailer. Again this is another film that never had special features on Blu-ray, so this is welcomed for any fan.

“Halloween Resurrection” includes an alright Audio Commentary: Director Rick Rosenthal and editor Robert A. Ferretti. There is a collection of six deleted scenes and three alternate endings with optional director’s commentary. There are over 40 minutes are Web Cam videos edited together again with optional director’s commentary. There are tons of Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage. There is also Head Cam footage, Storyboard Analysis, a Set Tour, an interview with Curtis, Still Gallery and some trailers. Most of these extras are ports from the Echo Bridge Blu-ray.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween” comes with tons of special features. There is an outstanding must liste Audio Commentary track with Director Rob Zombie. There is over 30 minutes of Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending & Bloopers. “The Many Faces of Michael Myers” is a featurette with cast/crew. “Re-Imagining Halloween” is a three-part extras looking at the filmmaking process. “Meet the Cast” is a chat with the actors. There are Casting Sessions, a Screen Test and Theatrical Trailer included. On the bonus disc there is still more with a ridiculous over four hour documentary “Michael Lives: The Making of Halloween”, which leaves no stone un-turned. Love or hate, the remake/re-imaging, this is a something special.

“Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2” wraps up the extras for the film. There is another solid Audio Commentary from Zombie that really dives into the film. There is tons of Audition Footage, Deleted and Alternate Scenes, Blooper Reel and Make-Up Tests. “Uncle Seymour Coffins’ Stand-Up Routines” is a three-part collection of full-length routines from the character. There are six music video from Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures, included “Zombie A Go Go”, “Honky Tonk Halloween”, “Redneck Vixen From Outer Space”, “Dr. Demon & The Robot Girl”, “Transylvania Terror Train” and Macon County Morgue”.

So have you had enough with the special features yet, there is still a bunch more…and I mean a bunch all assorted from the film. We start off with the mentioned above extended cut of “John Carpenter’s Halloween”. “Halloween Unmasked 2000” is more interviews coming into the films for about 30 minutes. There is a super brief interview with producer Moustapha Akkad. Lastly for the first film there is another Still Gallery. There is an interview with “Season of the Witch” make-up effects artist Tom Burman and some radio spots. “The Making of Halloween 4: Final Cut” dives into the production of the film and if that isn’t enough there also is “The Making of Halloween 4” which runs almost 50 minutes and goes much deeper into the film, produced by Scream Factory. Lastly there is a another Still Gallery for the fourth film.

“Inside Halloween 5” is a vintage behind-the-scenes DVD feature that is over shadowed again by Scream Factory’s “The Making of Halloween 5”. There is also another “Halloween 5” Still Gallery and a “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” for the four, fifth and sixth film, as well as the HHG pilot episode, which focuses on John Carpenter’s original film and the HHG Fan Edition: Bus Tour. AND finally we end this release with a collection of TV spots for “Halloween 4”, “Halloween 5”, and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009). Whew, I need a nap ladies and gentlemen. This review took a week for me to produce and is easily one of the most intensive box sets I have ever tackled. Enjoy and if you are a “Halloween” fan and got a little extras spending money, I would recommend the splurge.

Actors: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Molly C. Quinn
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ABC Studios
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 984 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

“Castle” is hands down my favorite show on television. The show recently finished its sixth season and yet it shows no signs of fatigue and has never been better. The direction of the show has only gotten better since the hooking up of Castle and Becket. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are a perfect couple in this show. They are funny as hell when they have to be and pack some serious drama when in a crisis. Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever also deserve a major shout out because these guys are the back bone to this amazing show. They are a fantastic duo and always steal the show. This season left us off with a HUGE cliffhanger on the day of the couples wedding. I am dying to see where this show goes with the new season starting this month. Keep it up guys! This show is fantastic!

Official Premise: After Castle’s stunning romantic proposal to Beckett, what happens next? TV’s magnetic crime-fighting couple faces a whole new set of challenges as they juggle wedding plans and their most intriguing cases yet in ABC’s “Castle: The Complete Sixth Season”. Beckett’s new job with the Justice Department takes her away from the wisecracking love of her life. But Castle’s devotion to his new fiancee — and her fascinating line of work — jeopardizes her career and creates a chain of events that might separate them forever. Back on the home front, Castle is none too pleased to discover his daughter has seemingly been captivated by, and now living with, her new, free-spirited boyfriend.

“Castle: The Complete Sixth Season” comes complete with all 23 episodes and a great deal of never-before-seen bonus features only available on DVD. Disc 1 through Disc 4 has audio commentary tracks for four episodes. The episode “Need To Know” has a clever Character Commentary with Detectives Javier Esposito and Kevin Ryan. “The Good, The Bad & The Baby” has a commentary track from Director John Terlesky, Consulting Producer/Writer Terri Edda Miller, Nathan Fillion and Seamus Dever. “Deep Cover” has commentary with Supervising Producer/Writer Terrence Paul Winter, Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and James Brolin (WOW). Lastly, “In The Belly of the Beast” includes a track with Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Andrew W. Marlowe, Executive Producer/Writer David Amann and Executive Producer/Director Rob Bowman. These are all great commentary tracks and a fantastic way to revisit these episodes.

There are various deleted scenes spread out over discs 1, 3 and 4. “Castle Karaoke” is an extended performance of Seamus Dever singing “What I Like About You” in “The Way of the Ninja”. “Castle in a Day with Stana Katic” gives us an inside look into a day in the life of Castle with actress Stana Katic, which happens to be the big the cliffhanger scene of the season 6 finale. “A Few of Our Favorite Things” features Nathan Fillion, Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn and other cast and crew share telling us about their favorite things about Castle. Lastly there are some very funny Bloopers included. I just wish ABC would be releasing this show on Blu-ray like “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “Once Upon a Time”.

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: October 14, 2014
Run Time: 68 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Tickety Toc: Christmas Present Time” is a the latest title in the popular “Tickety Toc” series featuring a collection of five winter-themed episodes from the hit Nick Jr. preschool TV series. It also includes the “Christmas Present Time” extended special. If you are a fan of this series, this DVD will be a great way to get you ready for the winter season and into the holiday spirit. Also included with this DVD are some bonus coloring sheets as well as free Tickety Toc boo called, “Welcome to Tickety Town,” from Scholastic. This is a great bonus addition and a real bargain included with the already low-priced DVD.

Official Premise: It’s Christmas time in Tickety Town, and Tommy & Tallulah are determined to make every merry second count! In this all-new collection of adventures including the Christmas Present Time Special the twins find a new way to make snow, build a giant igloo, roll the biggest snowball ever, and even help Santa fix his sleigh in time for Christmas Eve! But when their escapades get out of hand, friends like McCoggins, Pufferty, Madame Au Lait and Tooteroo will help them make things right. It’s time to chime in these exciting winter-themed episodes from the Nick Jr. preschool hit!

Actors: Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Eric Freeman, Elizabeth Kaitan, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Charles E. Sellier, Jr.
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I can honestly say that I feel old celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the horror cult classic “Silent Night, Deadly Night”. I loved this film growing up as a kid (and nothing as changed today). I mean who doesn’t love the idea of a killer Santa Clause. This is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray but Anchor Bay sadly gives this film no love at all and it will surely just enrage any true horror fan. Recommended only for the very true avid collectors, otherwise stick with your DVDs.

Official Premise: “Silent Night, Deadly Night” is the heartwarming story of little Billy Chapman who was traumatized by his parents’ Christmas Eve rape and murder, then brutalized by sadistic orphanage nuns. But when a grown-up Billy is forced to dress as jolly St. Nick, he goes on a yuletide rampage to ‘punish then naughty’. Santa Clause is coming to town…and this time he’s got an axe!

So I am happy with the fact that this Blu-ray includes the original unrated version, but I am not thrilled that the transfer feels like nothing better than a DVD upscale. Also the uncut scenes are not cleaned up at all and stick out like a sore thumb. This could have easily been cleaned up in the restoration process. The audio included is not terrible boasting a decent Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

Then we get to the special features, which are definitely going to let down again. Firstly, they are missing the original trailer which started all the controversy and protecting about the film. There is a new commentary track from Writer Michael Hickey, Composer Perry Botkin, Editor/2nd Unit director Michael Spence and Co-Executive Producer Scott J. Schneid. It is new but is also quite a bore and almost painful to listen to. Lastly there is the unauthorized interview from director Charles E. Sellier, Jr. and Poster and Stills Gallery included.

There is plenty of effort they could have put into this release but you can tell that it is frankly just lazy. Lame special features, mixed with a poor 1080p transfer, I am left shaking my head with disappointment. When you look at what other companies like Scream Factory, Synapse Films and Grindhouse Releasing are doing with there releases, Anchor Bay is falling into the discount bargain bin category.  This is definitely not a  30th Anniversary Edition quality release.

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Starring: Akio Ôtsuka, Atsuko Tanaka, Kouichi Yamadera, Tamio Ohki, Iemasa Kayumi, Yutaka Nakano
Directors: Mamoru Oshii
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Run Time: 82 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

If you are counting on your fingers wondering if you are going nuts, don’t worry the answer is no. “Ghost in the Shell” did come out in 1995 and it has only been 19 years since its release. This Blu-ray celebrates the the 25th anniversary of the publication of Masamune Shirow’s original manga. If you are scratching your head again wondering how this compares to the 2009 “Ghost in the Shell 2.0” Blu-ray release, you are not alone again, but luckily I will explain. The 2.0 cut was a new version of the film with over 250 reworked scenes, remastered by Mamoru Oshii himself including a new voice cast recording and brand new score from Kenji Kawai. The original theatrical cut has never been released before on Blu-ray, so this is the first time. Honestly though unless you are a hardcore fan, who needs the original cut (which is pretty awesome to have don’t get me wrong), I wouldn’t rush out to pick this up.

Official Premise: Set in the year 2029 and following World Wars III and IV, a Japanese-led Asian block dominates world affairs. The alliance maintains its international supremacy through its elite security force whose cybernetically enhanced operatives tackle an array of hi-tech terrorists and other threats to international security. These augmented agents can “ghost hack” (i.e., download their consciousness) via the now omnipresent internet into other machines and human/machine cross breeds. Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cybernetically augmented female agent, has been tracking a virtual entity known as the Puppet Master with her crack squad of security agents. The shape-shifting Puppet Master, a rogue creation of a rival agency of the security apparatus, has concluded that it is a life form in its own right, “born in sea of information,” and requested political asylum and true physical existence in defiance of its creators.

This 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release includes a HD remaster of the original, unaltered theatrical cut of the film. This version has never been released on Blu-ray before, which is a cool thing but I expected so much more from the “25th Anniversary release” The audio tracks includes are a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for the English track and only a LPCM 2.0 for the Japanese track. If you recall the 2009 Blu-ray we got DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 for both Japanese and English tracks along with LPCM 2.0 as well for each. This Blu-ray just doesn’t cut it for me in comparison. Plus there are ZERO special features included on this release besides a booklet with an interview from Mamoru Oshii and an article on the “The World of Ghost in the Shell” and “The Impact of Ghost in the Shell”, which makes for a nice read but hardly enough to warrant a re-buy.

Actors: Olan Rogers, Travis Tritt, Mark Stuart, Walt Disney
Directors: Logan Sekulow
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Vision Films
DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

If you are a Disney fan, than you probably have heard of “As Dreamers Do: Amazing Life of Walt Disney”, which looks into the early years of the man behind the mouse. The film features country singer Travis Tritt as the narrator of the story and Olan Rogers plays Walt Disney, who doesn’t a decent job in the role. The film never really takes off for me (limited by its budget) but it is still rather entertaining for the whole family…especially Disney fans. Worth a rent.

Official Premise: Behind every great mouse there is a man. Armed with an ever-growing imagination and eternal optimism, Walt begins to develop skills as an animator early in life. He overcomes a variety of hardships to become one of the biggest icons in the world: Walt Disney.

In case you didn’t know, this film is not the only film based on the early years of Walt Disney. There is also the upcoming “Walt Before Mickey” coming out, which stars Thomas Ian Nicholas and Jon Heder. I am anxiously awaiting that film since I have heard it is a close adaption to the Timothy S. Susanin’s book of the same title. “As Dreamers Do: Amazing Life of Walt Disney” is available now on VOD, online at Amazon.com and Walmart in stores on September 23rd.

Starring: Cinda Adams, Edward Asner, George Babbit, Murray Blue, Kathleen Browers, Joey Camen
Directors: Ben Stassen, Jeremie Degruson
Distributed: Shout! Factory
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Running Time: 85 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Thunder and The House of Magic” is the latest family movie from the directors Ben Stassen and Jeremie Degruson, who are behind other international films like “A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure” and “Fly Me to the Moon”. This film has a fantastic original music by composer Ramin Djawadi (“Game of Thrones”) and also from pop-star Selena Gomez. The film is clever and the visuals are definitely easy on the eyes, though the story does deliver much magic. Kids would definitely dig it and parents should be able to stomach it.

Official Premise: Thunder, an abandoned young cat seeking shelter from a storm, stumbles into the strangest house imaginable, owned by an old magician and inhabited by a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos. Thunder must learn how to get along with the other animals living there. When the magician gets into a car accident, however, the pets must join forces against an evil nephew who tries to sell his house.

Shout! Factory delivered this film with a two-disc Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack (including a Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and digital copy). The digital copy though is outdated since it is not through Ultraviolet. The 3D in the film is great and executed very well with otherwise impressive depth. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the film’s music.

This release is currently only available exclusively at Walmart stores everywhere. There are some special features included but nothing special. “Origins” is a look into the how the film was born. “Character Animation” looks into the style used to create these fluffy stars. “The Making of the Soundtrack” dives into the tunes for the film. Lastly there is a teaser and trailer included.

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Voices of: Diedrich Bader, John DiMaggio, James Arnold Taylor, Will Friedle, Tom Kenny, Corey Burton
Developed by: James Tucker, Michael Jelenic
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Running Time: 590 minutes

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

Season two of “Batman: Brave and the Bold” really stepped up the ante delivering the series with classics voice talent from the “Batman” franchise returning as guest stars including Julie Newmar (66’s Batman), Adam West (66’s Batman), Mark Hamill (Star Wars, Batman: The Animated Series) along with other greats including. Paul Reubens (Pee-wee’s Playhouse) and Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris). There is also a crossover featuring Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang, who assist the Dynamic Duo in rescuing “Weird Al” Yankovic. Even genre favorite voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, makes an appearance.

Official Premise: Braver. Bolder. Season two of “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” delivers more of the action you want, as the caped crusader continues to team up with heroes from across the DC Universe in this latest interpretation of the classic Batman franchise from Warner Bros. Animation. Featuring nonstop adventure with a touch of comic relief, Blue Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others uphold justice alongside Batman. Though still based in Gotham, Batman frequently finds himself outside city limits, facing situations that are both unfamiliar and exhilarating. With formidable foes at every turn, Batman must still rely on his stealth, resourcefulness and limitless supply of cool gadgets to bring justice home. With more action-packed antics and characters like Firestorm and Metal Men.

This season consists of 26 episodes including: “Long Arm of the Law!”; “Revenge of the Reach!”; “Death Race to Oblivion!”; “Aquaman’s Outrageous Adventure!”; “The Golden Age of Justice!”; “Clash of the Metal Men!”; “A Bat Divided!”; “Sidekicks Assemble!”; “The Super-Batman of Planet X!”; “The Power of Shazam!”; “Chill of the Night!”; “Gorillas in Our Midst!”; “The Siege of Starro! Part One & Two”;”Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!”; “The Last Patrol!”; “The Mask of Matches Malone!”; “Menace of the Madniks!”; “Emperor Joker!”; “The Criss Cross Conspiracy!”; “The Plague of the Prototypes!”; “Cry Freedom Fighters!”; “The Knights of Tomorrow!”; “Darkseid Descending!”; “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases!” and “The Malicious Mr. Mind!”

If it wasn’t for Warner Bros Archive, this series wouldn’t ever see the light of day on Blu-ray. They are making these are ordered. So they are going to be available for a limited time. If you love this show, I wouldn’t make haste with getting this. The 1080p transfers are solid and really look great. The colors are sharp and the animation is well represented. Each episode also comes with a solid DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 surround track. There are no special features included here. More still to come with “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” since there is still one more season to go! So keep an eye out mid next year since we had to wait about 10 months between the first and second seasons…but hey at least they are coming!

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland
Director: Scott Abramovitch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2014
Running Time: 108 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“The Calling” is another recent film to get very limited release and yet back a stunning cast including  Academy Award winners Susan Sarandon and Ellen Burstyn, along with Topher Grace and Donald Sutherland. The film is based on the popular novel by Inger Ash Wolfe. The acting is great and there are a few decent jumps weaved within this spine-tingling tale of a small town detective on the hunt for a terrifying serial killer with a higher calling. Worth a rent for sure.

Official Premise: Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) leads a quiet life with her mother (Ellen Burstyn), her painkillers, and an occasional drink. But when she checks on an ill neighbor, she stumbles upon a gruesome murder that shatters her peaceful existence. With the help of a fellow detective (Gil Bellows) and a transfer cop (Topher Grace), she unearths a series of similar killings across the country. When a local priest (Donald Sutherland) suggests a link to an ancient ritual, Hazel focuses her search on a religious madman with a deadly higher calling. Based on the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe, it’s a journey to the shadowy landscape between faith and fear.

It is kind of a bummer that Sony didn’t give this a Blu-ray release. All we get is DVD here and no digital copy either. There is only one special feature included on this DVD, which till allow thriller fans can go deeper inside the dark mystery of the film with ““Divine Intention: Making The Calling”. It gives a unique look into the making of this highly original new serial killer murder mystery.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, Kim Basinger, Olivia Wilde, James Franco, Michele Melega
Director: Paul Haggis
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 137 minutes

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

A film from the director of “Crash” and starring Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody, Maria Bello, Kim Basinger, Olivia Wilde and James Franco”? How did I not hear about this film and why is it basically going straight to Blu-ray. I knew I had to see this since it had to be terrible. Surprising after watching, I was definitely interested in the film the entire time. It follows Haggis’ multiple storylines that are all intertwined but you don’t find out till the end. Worth checking out for great performances but a little too long for me and expect a little head scratching with the film’s big reveal.

Official Premise: “Third Person” tells three stories of love, passion, trust and betrayal, in a multi-strand story line reminiscent of Paul Haggis’s earlier Oscar-winning film Crash. The tales play out in New York, Paris and Rome: three couples who appear to have nothing related but share deep commonalities: lovers and estranged spouses, children lost and found.

“Third Person” is being released as a Blu-ray only, no DVD or Digital Copy, which is uncommon for Sony. The film still looks great on Blu-ray with it’s 1080p presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also impressive even though the film is very dialogue based.  In terms of special features, we have a decent audio commentary track Writer/Director Paul Haggis, Production Designer Laurence Bennett, Editor Jo Francis, Producer Michael Nozik, and Actor Moran Atias. There is a Q&A again with Paul Haggis, which runs just over 30 minutes. There is a quick behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of Third Person”. Lastly there is a trailer included.