Actors: Ian Ziering, Malcom Danare, Rino Romano, Charity James, Brigitte Bako
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 29, 2014
Run Time: 854 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Yes…yes, we all know how much the U.S. 1998 remake of “Godzilla” sucked. This animated series was a way to cash in on the Godzilla madness but for those who hated the film didn’t pay any attention to this show. It’s run on TV was ended short airing 38 out of 40 produced episodes. I have to admit, I never watched this during the original airing since I was among those who did quite hate the ’98 film but thanks to Netflix, I decided to give this show a go recently. Yes, it is a cheap 90’s cartoon but I am also a sucker for 90’s cartoons. If you are looking to dumb down your brain and just watch some Godzilla related goodness in animated form, this show isn’t as bad as I would have thought. Plus for the cheap price (you can get it new from Amazon Marketplace for around $5 bucks), it is totally worth it. Also did I mention the star of “Sharknado”, Ian Ziering, also voices the main characer!? Bonus cheese!

Official Premise After helping take down Godzilla, biologist Dr. Nick Tatopoulos (voice of Ian Ziering) stumbles upon his hatchling, who bonds with the scientist as a parental figure. Recruiting his own environmentally-directed research outfit HEAT (Humanitarian Environmental Analysis Team) Nick sets out to study not only this new generation, but also to investigate the increasing reports of monsters of all types and other environmental anomalies menacing the Earth. Each exciting episode is a pulse-pounding monster-hunt driven by Nick’s team accompanied by their 300-foot giant reptile as they travel the globe defending humankind against mutant threats.

Disc 1 includes the following episodes: “New Family – Part 1”; “New Family – Part 2”; “Talkin’ Trash”; “D.O.A”; “The Winter Of Our Discontent”; “Cat And Mouse”; “Leviathan”;, “What Dreams May Come”; “Hive” and “Bird Of Paradise”. Disc 2 includes the following episodes: “Freeze “; “DeadLoch”; “Competition”; “Bug Out”; “Monster War – Part 1”; “Monster War – Part 2”; “Monster War – Part 3”; “An Early Frost”; “What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been” and “Web Site”

Disc 3 includes the following episodes: “Wedding Bells Blew”; “Juggernaut”; “Shafted”; “Trust No One”; “Lizard Season”; “The Ballad Of Gens Du Marias”; “Ring Of Fire”; “Protector”; “Vision”; “Freak Show”. Last but not least disc 4 includes the following episodes: “Metamorphosis”; “Where Is Thy Sting?”; “Underground Movement”; “The Twister”; “S.C.A.L.E.”; “Future Shock”; “End Of The Line”; “Area 51”; “Tourist Trap” and “Cash Of The Titans”. So if you can count these all add up to 40 episodes, so this cheap DVD also includes for the first time ever the 2 unaired episodes and the series available as complete. Calling all hardcore “Godzilla” fans like myself that are in overdrive waiting for this months new film, this is your answer!

Actors: Krista Allen, Rick Hoffman and Tatyana Ali
Directors: Bruce Dellis, Jason Marsden, Matthew Mebane, Adam Montierth and Donovan Montierth
Rated: R
Studio: Brothers’ Ink Productions
Running Time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 0.5 out of 5 stars

I’d never heard of “Locker 13”, but after one grueling hour and a half, I still wish I hadn’t. After a doing a bit of research, I found out that “Locker 13” is the baby project of five misguided directors who took their dreams to Kickstarter, in the hopes of finding some s̶u̶c̶k̶e̶r̶s̶ contributors. It’s ironic that they raised the bare minimum ($25,000) and that’s how much of an effort I feel they put into this. I really hate to rag on an independent movie with good intentions, but “Locker 13” is simply one of the worst anthology movies I’ve ever seen.

“Locker 13” features four short stories with a wraparound story. So like most anthology movies, what’s the common running theme in all of them? It’s a haphazard ethical argument about making the correct life decisions. The wrap around story involves a newly hired janitor at an Old West themed park (a story that’s been begging to be heard *eye roll*) being told multiple stories about the random items they encounter that all gravitate towards a mysterious old locker. The enveloping tale doesn’t ever really tell us why this sagely old employee is recounting all these stories or how he even knows about them. He just does.

Our stories include: A boxer with lethal gloves, but he doesn’t seem to regret the deadly powers they give him. We have a secret society that tells bad jokes and smokes cigars and like all standard exclusive clubs, there’s an initiation process. There’s a random suicidal individual on a rooftop, whose choice to end his own life is interrupted by an arbitrary stranger. Then there’s a misogynistic story that I won’t even bother you with. One after another, they play like a string of rejected “Twilight Zone” episodes.

It feels as though each individual director/writer built their story without any perception of what everyone else was working on, nor did they seem to concern themselves with tying up their pieces to boost the overall wrap. This is evident by the third story where a man threatens to kill a suicidal individual to show him how much he actually values life. I actually re-watched it thinking there was some meta-commentary on this preposterous situation, but I was wrong. It’s just terrible writing.

I wasn’t going to fault the acting in a movie with a $300,000 budget, but once Jon Polito (Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink) showed up, I felt the directors could have at least gone big or just stayed at home and refunded their Kickstarter faithful. I’m sure there are other fantastic cameos in this movie, but they’re crammed in between so many disposable dime store performers, their skills are hindered.

I feel like there’s a poor salute being made to other anthology films as well as B-movie storylines. While some material is tongue in cheek, the majority of it feels like unwanted short stories or art school projects used to help hone the craft of filmmakers. Simply put, the stories never engage the audience or seem concerned about constructing a storyline that can thrill, scare, and intrigue or even amuse the audience. Instead of just going back to the

Actors: Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Madeleine Kahn, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens
Directors: Mel Brooks
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

“Blazing Saddles” is no question of the funniest and most outrageous film ever made. I even believe that it was one of the first Mel Brooks movies that I ever experience. I remember my dad telling me about the bean campfire scene growing up and the guy who punches the horse. These are classic scenes and can never be topped. Mel Brooks is a legend of comedy and this film is easily one of his best. This is also the first time that this film is being released solo on Blu-ray as it was last available as part of “The Mel Brooks Collection”. The film also co-stars Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn, who are also at their comedic best.

Official Premise: The railroad’s got to run through the town of Rock Ridge. How do you drive out the townfolk in order to steal their land? Send in the toughest gang you’ve got…and name a new sheriff who’ll last about 24 hours. But that’s not really the plot of Blazing Saddles, just the pretext. Once Mel Brooks’ lunatic film many call his best gets started, logic is lost in a blizzard of gags, jokes, quips, puns, howlers, growlers and outrageous assaults upon good taste or any taste at all.

This 40th Anniversary Bu-ray includes 10 quotable art cards with funny quotes and images from the film. That was a big draw for me but also there is a brand new featurette “Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild, Wild West”, which has the legend talking about the film and it’s effect on his career. There is also fantastic vintage extras including a must listen Mel Brooks’ commentary track, a cast reunion documentary, “Black Bart,” the 1975 television pilot inspired by the movie and lastly some deleted scenes and theatrical trailer included. If you love this film, as every comedy fan should and don’t own “The Mel Brooks Collection”, I would run out and surly pick this up!

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the funniest movie ever made! Get the Blazing Saddles: 40th Anniversary Blu-ray, available May 6

Actors: Aaron Eckhardt, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto, Yvonne Strahovski, Jai Courtney
Directors: Stuart Beattie
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: May 13, 2014
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Man, I really wanted this film to kick ass. I thought the trailers actually looked pretty freaking awesome, despite bad reviews I saw. I am not ashamed to say that I have been a sucker for the “Underworld” series and this is from the same producers with a similar look and feel. The film suffers from a weak plot and terrible 3D, in fact some of the worse that I have seen since “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”. I also had to switch to the 2D version half way through. I loved the look and feel of the film though but I wish they put slightly less effort into the visual effects and more into the story.

Official Premise: The explosive thriller takes place 200 years after Dr. Frankenstein’s shocking creation came to life. Celestial forces name the creature Adam, and arm him with weapons to defeat the demons that are constantly seeking his destruction. However, soon Adam finds himself in the middle of a war over the fate of humanity and discovers that he also holds the key that could destroy humankind.

Lionsgate is releasing this film only in option with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy combo pack. If you don’t have 3D, the same disc can also be used in 2D and in fact, I would recommend it that way. Not that the film is any better but it is at least more watchable. The 1080p transfer is solid throughout and the visual effects are very impressive as well. I just wish that they would have polished this obviously post-production 3D dub more thoroughly.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is definitely a hit though and really works with the action scenes.

In terms of special features, I am afraid to say we are again slightly let down. There is a decent audio commentary track with Co-Writer/Director Stuart Beattie and also another with filmmakers Gary Lucchesi, Richard Wright, James McQuaid, and Kevin Grevioux. Really only recommend these if you dug the film, obviously. There is two featurettes on the special effects. The first is “Creating a Monster” and “Frankenstein’s Creatures”. Lastly, there is a theatrical trailer included.

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Starring: Miles Teller, Zac Efron, Imogen Poots, Michael B. Jordan, Addison Timlin, Jessica Lucas
Director: Tom Gormican
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I think “That Awkward Moment” is definitely outside my demographic. It aims at the rauchy yet still romantic comedy teen market. What the film does have is a fantastic young and talent cast including Miles Teller, Zac Efron, Imogen Poots, Michael B. Jordan. Each of these actors are going to be huge in the business (if not already like Michael B. Jordan, who is starring in the new “Fantastic Four” reboot). Some of the jokes are solid but all together, this is really a one-timer for me. Luckily the R-rating was a saving grace besides the fantastic cast. I would recommend to the under 21 group.

Official Premise: Every relationship has that “so” moment. For a guy like Jason (Zac Efron), that’s where things always end. He’s firmly committed to non-commitment. When the marriage of his friend Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) falls apart, Jason takes it as proof that the single life is for the better. To get Mikey back in the game, Jason enlists him and drinking buddy Daniel (Miles Teller) to take a shared vow: together, they’ll stay single as long as humanly possible. Then along comes Ellie (Imogen Poots), the unpredictable, unforgettable one-night hook-up who changes all the rules. Despite all his instincts, Jason just can’t let her go… and his status is about to get very complicated.

Sony is releasing this film as a combo pack (even though it is not really pushing the fact) including the Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. The audio/video on this film is nothing spectacular it finds in the basic comedy section, which doesn’t disappoint but also doesn’t blow you away. The special features are decent including a Blu-ray exclusive extended gag reel and “Moment of Truth” behind-the-scenes look with cast/crew. There are another sit down with the three male stars in “Threesome: More Awkward Moments”. Lastly there are four previously released character profiles for Miles Teller, Imogen Poots, Zac Efron and Michael B. Jordan.

Starring: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Diedrich Bader, Tina Majorino
Director: Jared Hess
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2014

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

It is hard to believe that “Napoleon Dynamite” is already celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year. I was never a huge fan of the film. I liked it but I really don’t love it. This latest Blu-ray release comes in a fuzzy, collectible, liger-fur Blu-ray + DVD Comb Pack. Personally, I feel like this is a major double-dip with nothing new to offer because the combo pack. Either way like it or not, this film has quite the cult following For all the fans that are obsessed with this film.

Official Premise: Napoleon Dynamite is a new kind of hero, complete with a tight ‘fro, sweet moon boots, and skills that can’t be topped. Napoleon spends his days drawing mythical beasts, duking it out with his brother Kip and avoiding his scheming Uncle Rico. When two new friends enter Napoleon’s life — shy Deb and mustachioed Pedro, the trio launches a campaign to elect Pedro for class president and make the student body’s wildest dreams come true. But if Pedro is to beat stuck-up Summer, Napoleon will have to unleash his secret weapon

The special features on this release are lacking and missing quite a bit of extras from the previous Blu-ray release.. There is a commentary track from Director/Co-Writer Jared Hess, actor Jon Heder and Producer Jeremy Coon. There is also five deleted scenes with commentary by the same three guys. There is a featurette called “The Making of the Wedding of the Century”. Lastly there is a Still Gallery and Easter Egg – Fan Club Piece included. If you have the 2009 Blu-ray, I would stick with that one for sure!

Rated: PG / PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 6, 2014
Run Time: Approx 215 minutes per combo pack

“Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla vs. Mothra”: 4 out of 5 stars
“Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla”: 4 out of 5 stars
“Godzilla vs. Destoroyah / Godzilla vs. Megaguirus”: 3.5 out of stars
“Godzilla: Tokyo SOS / Godzilla: Final Wars: 5 out of 5 stars

With the release of Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures reboot of “Godzilla” on the horizon for a May 16th theatrical release, this brand has never been hotter right now. Luckily Sony (and other studios as well) are taking advantage of this and release a 8 of the 28 Japanese made Godzilla films in the series on Blu-ray for the first time ever. If you are a Godzilla film and are going crazy trying to get as much merch as you can, then these are no brainer purchases, especially for the low price of under $15 for each double-feature Blu-ray release. The upcoming releases will be part of The Toho Godzilla Collection. Included films are “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla vs. Mothra” in the first double feature set, “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla” in the second, “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah / Godzilla vs. Megaguirus” in the third and “Godzilla: Tokyo SOS / Godzilla: Final Wars” in last. These Godzilla films range from 1991-2004 and let’s hope that Sony has more of these double-features planned this year!

One thing that I have always loved about these films besides Godzilla himself are the monsters that he is fighting. These Blu-ray’s show each of additional monsters included in each film and I think that is mega cool. For “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah”, the creatures we get are listed right in the title. “Godzilla vs. Mothra” includes those two and also Battra.  “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II” kicks it up a notch with four additional characters along with the title ones including Baby Godzilla, Rodan, Fire Rodan and Super Mechagodzilla. With “Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla”, we get the two listed and alos Fairy Mothra, Little Godzilla and Moguera. “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah” also gives us Godzilla Junior. Along with “Godzilla vs. Megaguirus”, we also meet Meganulon. “Godzilla: Tokyo SOS” meets the King of Monsters up against Megagodzilla, Mothra and Kamoebas. “Godzilla: Final Wars” is the the last and ultimate monster feature. Including Godzilla, there are a total of 15 monster like Gigan, King Caesar, Anguirus, Kumonga, Kamacuras, Ebriah, Manda, Hedorah, Rodan, Minilla, Mothra, Monster X I & II and Zilla. Whew!

These films on each of these four releases have all been remastered in high definition. Having seen some of these earlier film as a kid like “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah” and “Godzilla vs. Mothra” on either Saturday afternoon TV or VHS, let’s just say these films looks spectacular. Each of the 1080p transfers on these films look simply fantastic. I was very impressed with each transfer. Sticking with those two films, they are presented in their original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Both come with Japanese and English audio boasting a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 on each. Now if you are a fan of Godzilla films then you know that the English dubs are easily just as much fun as the Japanese original tracks. They are almost laughable but add a lot to the film, so I  actually watched each of these two one with each track and it really felt like two different experiences.

“Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)” Official Premise: When a mysterious U.F.O. is seen flying over Tokyo, tension mounts, until the craft’s occupants reveal themselves to be friendly aliens from the 23rd century who have come to warn mankind that Godzilla will soon awaken and wreak havoc upon the earth unless he is destroyed. Meanwhile, a double threat arrives in the form of King Ghidorah, Godzilla’s flying three-headed archrival and an evil and all-powerful android. The suspense builds to terrifying levels as the alien’s sinister mission on Earth is gradually revealed and Godzilla must wage a solo battle against these evil forces who want to destroy mankind.

“Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992)” Official Premise: After a series of earthquakes unearth a gigantic orb, a trio of Japanese explorers are dispatched to the mysterious Infant Island to investigate. There they discover the island’s sole inhabitants, miniature twin women whose duty is to protect the mammoth ball, the egg of Mothra! When the explorers attempt to bring the egg back to the mainland, a furious Godzilla awakens from the depths and attacks the party, causing the egg to hatch and forcing its newborn larvae to fend off the gigantic monster. The humongous worm holds its own until help arrives in the form of Battra. When Mothra and Battra metamorphose into flying monster moths, the battle rages on land and in the sky. With two powerful foes to reckon with, has Godzilla finally met his match?

Next up is “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla” deliver slightly different specs with their release. “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II” comes in it’s original aspect ratio: 1.85:1 but with this release the Japanese track gets a boost with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and the English track gets a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Both represent the film well but I would have to do with the Japanese track here for sure. With “Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla”, we get the same original aspect ratio: 1.85:1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks on both the Japanese and English tracks.

“Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993)” Official Premise: Built with the utmost in 20th-century technology, Mechagodzilla is the ultimate in Godzilla-busting weaponry. Fueled by a nuclear reactor and sheathed in a synthetic diamond shield, the mammoth metal robot is Japan’s greatest hope for ending Godzilla’s reign of terror. Meanwhile, on a remote island polluted by nuclear waste, a team of scientists discover a giant egg in a Pteranodon nest, and bring it home for study. When BabyGodzilla hatches, both Rodan and Godzilla return to claim the cuddly infant as their own. Will their monstrous maternal instincts cause a custody battle capable of destroying Mother Earth? Or will Mechagodzilla prove an effective eradicator, leaving BabyGodzilla an orphan for life?

“Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)” Official Premise: The powers of telepathy enter the ranks of high technology in this supernatural, super-powered Godzilla adventure! The military minds behind Japan’s special Counter G Bureau enter the New Age with Project T, in which a telepathic amplifier is implanted in Godzilla’s brain in order to bring the giant monster under control. And just in time! In a faraway galaxy, the mutant SpaceGodzilla turns its evil eyes toward earth, planning to terminate Godzilla and conquer the planet for its own. With the Japanese Mafia infiltrating Counter G, the Bureau needs all the help it can get. Will Japan’s greatest enemy Godzilla become its closest ally?

Switching it up again, in terms of specs, “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah / Godzilla vs. Megaguirus” delivers another impressive A/V experience. “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah” comes in original aspect ratio: 1.85:1 like the four films. We also take a slight step back though with both the Japanese and English audio coming loaded with an DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround tracks. “Godzilla vs. Megaguirus” expands a little with the original aspect ratio coming with 2.35:1. This film also comes with both the Japanese and English audio roaring with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.

“Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995)” Official Premise: With a super-charged blast from his nuclear past, a new Godzilla emerges from his own ashes, radioactive and ready to take on Tokyo! The great monster’s nuclear energy is increasing by the minute, and a monster meltdown threatens to vaporize the planet. But when mutant micro-organisms unleash a plague of destruction, Godzilla is Japan’s only hope to destroy them. This victory creates Godzilla’s deadliest challenge yet: Destoroyah. And with Godzilla Junior pulled into the ring, only the Super XIII can put the deep freeze on this three-way monster melee.

“Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)” Official Premise: Five years after Godzilla terrorized the city of Osaka, Japanese scientists have developed a sure-fire way to finally destroy Japan’s monster nemesis. They have created the world’s first man-made black hole, which will trap Godzilla for eternity! But during a testing of this new Dimension Tide, an insect caught in the hole mutates, producing gargantuan eggs that give birth to a new menace: giant dragonfly monsters called Meganula. Meganula queen, the 50-meter Megaguirus, is also on a hunt for Godzilla, needing to steal his energy to survive. From the sky down to the depths of a city’s underground sewer tunnels, Megaguirus, Godzilla, and humankind battle for supremacy.

“Godzilla: Tokyo SOS / Godzilla: Final Wars” are the last of the set and in fact the last two Japanese produced Godzilla films to date. “Final Wars” came in 2004, so it has been 10 years since we have had a new “guy in a a suit” Godzilla feature film. “Godzilla: Tokyo SOS” comes in its original aspect ratio: 2.40:1, while “Godzilla: Final Wars” comes with its original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. Both of them come stocked with very impressive and wall shaking Japanese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks. “Final Wars” is quite the epic film and it was a blast to watch this crazy flick on Blu-ray.

“Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)” Official Premise: Mechagodzilla, the superior-armed, state-of-the-art, all-robot version of Godzilla, is undergoing repairs after his devastating battle against the world’s monsters. Twin tiny women appear and warn scientists to stop rebuilding Mechagodzilla but their warning goes unheeded. As the great robot nears completion, a series of mysterious incidents rock the world and awaken Godzilla, who unleashes a reign of terror against Tokyo. Mothra joins him and Japan’s desperate Prime Minister has no choice but to launch the unfinished Mechagodzilla against Mothra and Godzilla. But who will fight for whom? And in the end – will the survivor be monster, robot or man?

“Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)” Official Premise: Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary project and costliest adventure to date out of 28 films. Earth has been relatively peaceful since Godzilla was successfully buried deep in ice beneath the South Pole. Then — sometime a few years hence – several of his old nemeses return to wreak havoc on cities worldwide. A huge spaceship suddenly appears and neutralizes all the monsters in a blink. The visitors are “Xiliens,” who take human form and announce they would like to negotiate a peace treaty that would replace the United Nations with a “United Universe.” They are indeed too good to be true, however. It doesn’t take long before their nefarious real purpose is exposed – conquering Earth. Greatly outmatched, Earth officials decide to de-freeze Godzilla as man’s only hope to vanish the invaders.

Going through the special features on these releases are going to be very easy…that is because there is really nothing much included here. On “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla vs. Mothra”, “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla” and “Godzilla vs. Destoroyah / Godzilla vs. Megaguirus”, the only extras included are Original Trailers for each film. On “Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.”, there is an extra featurette called “The Making of Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.” and then the Original Trailer. Same goes for “Godzilla: Final Wars”, there is a featurette “Godzilla: B-Roll to Film” and then the Original Trailer. I would have loved to see more in terms of extras but wasn’t expected too much especially since these are double features. I hope that Sony is planning future double features there are still plenty more Godzilla films left to release on Blu-ray.

Starring: Mekhi Phifer and William Sadler
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: April 22, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

A mysterious black man is stopped by the local lawman. His hands dirty, he has no identification and tells the deputy that he’s out “looking at some property.” The man is taken into custody and questioned about a recent bank robbery. “Why are you asking me,” he asks. “I’m not the only black man in this town.” Oops.

A smartly written thriller full of fine performances, “The Suspect” reveals itself, though a series of flashbacks, to be much more than your standard bank robbery yarn. Pitting the accused title character (Phifer) against the judgmental town sheriff(Sadler), the two engage in a battle of wits that, if you’re not paying attention, will leave you wondering what you missed.

This is truly the time of new filmmakers planting their flags. I was amazed to learn that this is writer/director Stuart Connelly’s first feature film. His script continues to add layers to the story as the film progresses and his work behind the camera shows a keen knack for keeping the story moving without giving away too much. Truly one of the most impressive debuts I’ve seen in a long time.

On screen, both Phifer and Sadler shine. I’m a huge fan of Sadler’s and I always welcome the chance to see him on-screen. Phifer matches him line for line, the two of them “dancing” with each other, trying to see who will blink first. Supporting work by Derek Roche’ as Sadler’s deputy and Sterling K. Brown as “the other Suspect” also stand out.

Starring: Jason O’Mara, Stuart Allan, Morena Baccarin, Giancarlo Esposito, David McCallum, Xander Berkeley, John DiMaggio, Thomas Gibson
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Run Time: 74 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The DC Universe has really been kicking ass recently with their recent films include “Justice League: War”. “Son of Batman” is based on Grant Morrison’s “Batman & Son” arc and in fact has a shared continuity with “War”. So that only makes this film cooler being DC is stepping up their game as this one is one of the recent best animated films in that universe. Along with Batman and his son there are also other classic characters stocked up including Ra’s al Ghul, Nightwing and Deathstroke. So fans should be excited about this! Next up we have “Batman: Assault on Arkham”, based on the popular “Arkham Asylum” videogame series, later this year. DC Universe is getting steam here with these animated films, the live-action “Batman Vs. Superman” and the recently announced “Justice League” movie as well. Watch out Marvel!

Official Premise: Hidden atop a secret mountain stronghold lies the League of Shadows and its fearless leader, Ra’s al Ghul. Together with his equally dangerous daughter Talia, he oversees a trained army of assassins with plans for global domination. But an uprising from within the league now threatens to shift the balance of power and sends Talia and her young son, Damian, fleeing to Gotham City. With assassins on their trail, Talia seeks the protection of Batman, who, unbeknownst to him, is the boy’s father. With his son in tow, Batman wages war against the villain Deathstroke and the League of Shadows, all while teaching his headstrong boy that one can’t fight crime by becoming a criminal. With help from Gotham’s finest, including Commissioner Gordon and Nightwing, Batman will soon discover that his son and most trusted ally are one and the same!

There is no shortage of talent actors in this film either Jason O’Mara returns from his role as Batman in “Justice League: War” and his son Damian is played by Stuart Allan (TV’s “Bad Teacher”). There is a mini “Firefly” reunion with Sean Maher voicing Nightwing/Dick Grayson and Morena Baccarin voicing as Talia. Also included are Thomas Gibson (“Criminal Minds”) as Deathstroke, Xander Berkeley (“Being Human”) as Langstrom, David McCallum (“The Man from U.N.C.L.E”) as Alfred, Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”) as Ra’s Al Ghul, and Bruce Thomas (Kyle XY) as Gordon. So some great talent rounds out this film.

Warner Bros is releasing this film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy. “Son of Batman” looks solid within its 1080p presentation. The animation is crisp and even though dark in parks really stands out. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works perfectly with the film’s action and witty dialogue. There are some great special features as well including three featurettes “Strange Blood Ties”, “Damian Wayne, The Fang, and the Demon Head: The League of Assassins” and “Designing the Characters with Phil Bourassa”. These gives a nice round look at the film. There are two sneak peaks for the next DCU Original Movie “Batman: Assault on Arkham” and the upcoming documentary “Masterpiece: Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns”.

There are also four “From the DC Comics Vault” bonus cartoons including Batman Beyond: “Out of the Past”; Batman: The Brave and the Bold: “The Knights of Tomorrow!”; Batman: The Animated Series: “Showdown” and Batman: The Brave and the Bold: “Sidekicks Assemble!”. These episodes are a great addition to this release. Plus it is always a bonus to get to watch “Batman: The Animated Series” on Blu-ray! Maybe one day Warner Bros will smarten up and just release the whole series already (hint, hint!).

Starring: Kristen Bell, Krysten Ritter, Jason Dohring, Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Chris Lowell
Director: Rob Thomas
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Run Time: 107 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Veronica Mars” is a cult favorite TV series that premiered in 2004, ran for three seasons and then was canceled in 2007. The show has built up quite the following over the last few years and finally a Kickstarter campaign was started to get a feature film made. Well, the campaign was record-breaking success raising $5.7 million from 90,000+ backers. The film picks up several years after the events of the TV series and features the return of original cast members including Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Jason Dohring, Percy Daggs III, Tina Majorino, Krysten Ritter, Ryan Hansen, Francis Capra and Chris Lowell. This is a really a project for the fans of the show. If you are a fan of the show, then this is a must watch. If you have never heard of “Veronica Mars”, you are still able to pick up and watch it and then binge the seasons afterwards. Plus how adorable is Kristen Bell, right?

Official Premise: Veronica Mars (Bell) has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her on the eve of graduating law school. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan (Dohring) who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.

Warner Bros is delivering this film as a combo pack with the Blu-ray and an Ultraviolet Digital Copy for those who didn’t get it with the Kickstarter backing. This film made $3.5 million in theaters, so it wasn’t a smash hit but for a film that was release same day on VOD, I think that is pretty damn amazing. I don’t know if that means that we are going to be seeing a sequel anytime soon but I guess that will depends on the Blu-ray sales, so marshmallows be sure to pick up your copy first thing on May 6th. The 1080p transfer looks solid and is well shot. It packs the required neo-noir detective feel to it and I am sure that fans will dig that as well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1  track works well with the film’s music and score.

In terms of special features, again it is definitely all for the fans. Sticking with that theme is “By The Fans: The Making of the Veronica Mars Movie” focuses on how the film got made and a behind-the-scenes look into the making of it. There are some Deleted Scenes and a very funny Gag Reel. Lastly there is a six part featurette called “More On-Set Fun”. which dives into the shooting and all the crazy antics from the cast/crew, including “Welcome to Keith Mars Investigation”; “Game Show with Kristen Bell and Chris Lowell”; “On Set with Max Greenfield”; “Veronica Mars’ Backers”; “It’s Not All About You, Monkey” and “Young Veronica”. The real let down for me is no commentary track, I just seeing that being a no-brainer for this type of films as fans would no question love that extra look into the production but I could be wrong.

Own “VERONICA MARS” on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/6

Starring: Zach Gilford, Allison Miller, Sam Anderson, Griff Furst
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: April 29, 2014
Run Time: 89 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Devil Due” is the latest low budget handheld shot horror film taking advantage of the slow January month in theaters. I have to admit these films are starting to all blend together for me. The problem with “Devil’s Due” is that there is no pay off. The only half way decent scenes are what is shown in the trailer and the rest is just fluff, as I like to call it. There are a few decent scares lined up but not enough to rectify worth watching. I just wish that they would put a little more into a film like this to make it really worth checking out. I really can’t recommend this to anyone unless you are a 13-year old girl and would scream at this failed attempt at horror.

Official Premise: A young couple’s blessed event turns into their worst nightmare in one of the most terrifying horror films ever conceived! After a mysterious night on their honeymoon, Zach and Samantha McCall find themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything on video for posterity, Zach notices odd behavior in his wife, which they initially attribute to nerves, although it soon becomes evident that the disturbing changes to Samantha’s body and mind have a much more sinister origin. All will suffer…but who will survive?

20th Century Fox is releasing the film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. There is nothing special here in the A/V department. I would say it looks and sounds standard. It’s shot on handheld so nothing special. There is some decent special features to counter this film. Starting off there is an audio commentary with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillet, Chad Villella, and Justin Martinez. The best extra is easily the featurette “Radio Silence: A Hell of a Team” which goes behind-the-scenes. A few other featurettes include “Director’s Photo Album”, “Music Index”, “Ashes to Ashes” and “The Lost Time”. There are two prank clips for “Roommate Alien Prank Goes Bad” and “Mountain Devil Prank Fails Horribly”. Lastly there are some deleted scenes and theatrical trailer included.

Starring: Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Nick Apollo Forte, Sandy Baron, Frank Renzulli, Howard Storm
Director: Woody Allen
Director: Henry Koster
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: April 8, 2014

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

“Broadway Danny Rose” is easily one of my favorite films in Woody Allen’s filmography. Even having seen the film numerous times it is still able to deliver some great laugh out loud moments. It also has its sweet and endearing moments as well. Mia Farrow is stunning the role and very funny as well. Fun fact, the part of Lou Canova was originally offered to Sylvester Stallone. Twilight Time has been given us Woody Allen fans quite the treat with his films being released on on Blu-ray recently. This one follows the equally amazing “Crimes and Misdemeanors”. So I have to say that this is definitely a must for any fan of Allen’s work.

Official Premise: Broadway Danny Rose (1984), starring, written, and directed by Woody Allen, gives us a variation on his patented schlub character: this time, the eponymous good-hearted talent agent who represents not just the worst but the most pathetic acts in show business. Among these is Lou Canova (Nick Apollo Forte), a corny lounge singer saddled with a drinking problem and a temperamental mistress, Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow, in a terrific comic performance). When Lou asks Danny to be his beard with Tina, the wimpy agent suddenly finds himself dealing with the Mob—and with the feisty Tina, herself.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. “Broadway Danny Rose” is the third Twilight Time film I have reviewed this month and each of them has just been so impressive. This film is delivered with a very sharp 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is beautifully rendered in black-and-white by cinematographer Gordon Willis. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also works perfect with the dialogue and score. In terms of special features, besides some trailers there is only an Isolated Music and Effects Track as well. Which is worth checking out if you enjoyed the score like myself.

Starring: James Stewart, Maureen O’Hara, Fabian, John Saxon, John McGiver
Director: Henry Koster
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: April 8, 2014

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Jimmy Stewart? The 60’s were an interesting transition for the Hollywood legend. “Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation” was released in 1962 and is a fun and slightly dark family comedy. It was directed and written by a pair of Hollywood veterans, Henry Koster and Nunnally Johnson. It co-stars the always gorgeous and very talent Maureen O’Hara. Stewart fans are going to want to check this out for yet another gem from Twilight Time.

Official Premise: The apparently light-hearted comedy, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962), reveals an intriguing darker side in its tale of a family get-together gone awry. Little kids are monstrous, older kids suffer from self-esteem problems, grown-up kids have marital difficulties of distressingly diverse natures—and all are presided over by a decidedly grumpy (if great) James Stewart, waging the familial wars with a more idealistic helpmate (Maureen O’Hara) at his side.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The Blu-ray looks suprising with its 1080p transfer in 2.35:1, especially for a film that is over 50 years old. The only thing that age has really effective is the color of the film, it doesn’t feel quite that sharp as it should or was in the past. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono tracks woks well for this dialogue driven comedy, also the score by Henry Mancini is amazing.

In terms of special features, there is not a lot here to impress you. There is a very short set visit called “Movietone Movie Lot” and also the original theatrical trailer. But the main extra is really the Isolated Score Track, which is delivered in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. This score has been often overlooked and it is a shame because watching this track, I realized how much I actually love it. Henry Mancini is an amazing composer.  So score fans will enjoy, otherwise not much else here.

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini, J.E. Freeman
Director: David Lynch
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 125 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: April 8, 2014

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Here is the thing about David Lynch you either really love David Lynch or you hate him. Luckily for this reviewer, he has always been one of my favorites. 1990 was an interesting time for the director, he came off the disappointing (yet now cult classic) “Dune” and the controversial “Blue Velvet”. So this wasn’t very well received but is still such a fun and crazy movie that holds up today. Just look at the cast, which speaks for itself including Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini, Harry Dean Stanton. Cage is in rare form in the film and Ladd got nominated for an Oscar for her role. If you dig Lynch, Twilight Time delivered a very solid release here.

Official Premise: Adapted from the picaresque novel by Barry Gifford, writer-director David Lynch’s Wild at Heart (1990) is a scarifying road movie starring Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as Sailor and Lula, a pair of star-crossed lovers pursued across the American landscape by all manner of horrors. Most are unleashed by Lula’s unhinged mother (played by Diane Ladd, Dern’s real-life Mom), a woman scorned who will stop at nothing to destroy Sailor.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. “Wild at Heart” looks quite awesome with its 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Lynch is known for his vivid colors through his films and it is well represented here and quite intense. There is some noticeable grainy at some points, specifically in the dark scenes but it still looks great. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a major spotlight for this releases as well, specifically with the haunting score by Angelo Badalamenti, which was always a favorite mine. In fact, there is an isolated score and effects track as well included and is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.

In terms of special features here, there is nothing new but the extras from the past DVD releases have been ported over. “Love, Death, Elvis and Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart” is a nice in-depth look behind-the-scenes with some great interviews. There is a short but still cool vintage “Original 1990 Making Of EPK”. Dell’s Lunch Counter  includes over 20 minutes of great extended Interviews. “Specific Spontaneity: Focus on David Lynch” is a look at the director. Not sure why “David Lynch on the DVD” is included ?? since this is after all a a Blu-ray. Lastly there are some TV Spots, a motion gallery and some trailers.

Actors: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz
Directors: Werner Herzog
Format: Anamorphic, Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
Language: English, German
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 20, 2014
Run Time: 107 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Nosferatu (1922)” is no question one of the first and still one of the best horror films to date. Werner Herzog’s 1979 remake “Nosferatu the Vampyre” is a great film to side-by-side with the original. Klaus Kinski captured the character perfectly and gave me nightmares growing up. This is the first time that this film is being released on Blu-ray in the U.S., thanks to the always amazing Scream Factory and includes both the German and English language cuts of the film. Of course fans know the German is the best but it is nice to have the option for both. A must have for any horror fan.

Synopsis: It is 1850 in the beautiful, perfectly-kept town of Wismar. Jonathan Harker is about to leave on a long journey over the Carpathian Mountains to finalize real estate arrangements with a wealthy nobleman. His wife, Lucy begs him not to go and is troubled by a strong premonition of danger. Despite her warnings, Jonathan arrives four weeks later at a large, gloomy castle. Out of the mist appears a pale, wraith-like figure with a shaven head and deep-sunken eyes who identifies himself as Count Dracula. The events that transpire slowly convince Harker that he is in the presence of a vampyre. What he doesn’t know is the magnitude of danger he, his wife and his town are about to experience.

Even though this is the U.S. debut on Blu-ray,  this has been released before in Germany. It came with pretty impressive German DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track but here we only get a DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track. It still works for the most part but you can just feel the missing potential. Same goes with the 1080p transfer, which is decent but not really stunning, as I would have expected. It is framed in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Like all Scream Factory releases, there is also a reversible cover with the classic white theatrical poster design as well.

In terms of special features, I felt kind of let down again especially compared to the German Blu-ray. We are missing Erwin Keusch and Christian Weisenborn’s documentary film “I Am My Films – A Portrait of Werner Herzog (1979)” and the soundtrack featurette. What we do get left over are two audio commentary tracks with writer/producer/director Werner Herzog and also a German language with English subs track again with Werner Herzog, moderated by Laurens Straub. I did enjoy the vintage featurette, “The Making of Nosferatu”. Lastly there are also Theatrical Trailers included.

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