Voices of: Josh Keaton, Kevin Michael Richardson, Grey DeLisle, Jonathan Adams, Jason Spisak
Directed by: Sam Liu, Rick Morales
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: March 18, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Like the “Green Lantern” live-action movie, “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” was also not given the respect that it deserved. The series was cancelled after one season and didn’t even get a chance to pick up some steam. Cartoon Network started their “DC Nation” block and then pretty much canceled all of it including this show, “Beware the Batman (which is actually in limbo) and “Young Justice”. All great shows, just not given any love. This CGI series was slick, well-done and just looked awesome. I thought that they were really going somewhere with the story, which was well-written and had some great arcs. It is action packed and also very funny (like Green Lantern should be). All 26 episodes are included in this release. If you are a fan of DC Comics, I would recommend checking this series out…and be sure to spread the word to your friend so that Green Lantern shines bright.

Official Premise: In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night! Green Lantern shines bright in DC’s radiant, groundbreaking CGI animated series. The Green Lantern Corps patrols the galaxy, fighting evil. But in the farthest reaches of deep space where few Lanterns patrol, a new evil is rising – the Red Lanterns! Hal Jordan and fellow Lantern Kilowog defy The Guardians of the Universe and board a new experimental spacecraft, the Interceptor, and race to the Guardian Frontier to face the evil Red Lanterns head-on! But a menace lurks beyond the Red Lantern invasion and Hal, Kilowog and fellow Green Lanterns Tomar-Re and Aya discover an even greater evil that threatens to extinguish all life. It’s an interstellar race to destroy the mechanical Manhunters, aid Saint Walker and his Blue Lanterns and stop the planet-eating Anti-Monitor! Pick up this exciting double-disc complete series set to see if Green Lantern’s light can defeat these powerful new enemies! If not, the universe will fall into darkness!

Besides being a kick-ass show, “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” also packed a great voice cast including Josh Keaton (“The Spectacular Spider-Man”) as the voice of Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Kevin Michael Richardson (“Thundercats”) as Kilowog, Grey DeLisle (“The Fairly OddParents”) as Aya and Jason Spisak (“Young Justice”) as Razer. There are also an amazing collection of guest voice stars included as well. Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”), Clancy Brown (“The Shawshank Redemption”), Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”), Juliet Landau (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Kurtwood Smith (“That 70’s Show”), Phil Morris (“Smallville”), Brian George (“Seinfeld”) and many more popped in to add their talent to this series.

What I really love about a Warner Archive Collection is that a show like this would normally sit on the shelf for a while and eventually get thrown out on DVD after years of waiting…or never at all. Warner Archive is hoping giving this show a new life by releasing it not only on DVD but also Blu-ray! They have been starting getting into Blu-ray and their releases have been fantastic. The 1080p transfer is solid and the colors are just so vibrant. One thing I loved about this show was the animation style and I feel that it is so sleak and eye-catching. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track also sounds great with the explosive action-packed episodes. The thing I do not like about Warner Archive is that most of their releases are also bare-bones like this one is, but I am happy we at least have this season now and I am able to spread the word about this great series, so h hopefully Cartoon Network will regret canceling it.

Actors: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, T.J. Miller, Zack Pearlman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 242 minutes

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

If you are a fan of DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon”, they you need to check out this follow-up animated TV series “Dragons” if you haven’t already. The first season of this show was subtitled “Riders of Berk” and included 20 episodes. The second season which just finished airing this month was subtitled “Defenders of Berk” and also included 20 episodes. This DVD is Part 1 of the second season consisting of first 10 episodes. The last time Fox released both part 1 and 2 at the same time for the first season but this time only we are only getting part 1 for now. This show is getting better and better with each new season. We have plenty more of this great franchise to come with season three subtitled “Dragon Masters” and of course this summer’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” in theaters this June. Keep them coming!

Official Premise: Based on the DreamWorks Animation Academy Award nominated movie How to Train Your Dragon, “Dragons: Defenders of Berk – Part 1″ follows Hiccup and his fellow dragon trainers as they battle to protect their island home. The young Vikings must put their dragon training skills to the test to defeat dangerous and surprising new enemies! The series features original voice talent from the film including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and will include, Zack Pearlman and more.

Here are the listings of the first 10 episodes from season 2″Live and Let Fly”, “The Iron Gronckle”, “The Night and the Fury”, “Tunnel Vision”, “Race to Fireworm Island”, “Fright of Passage”, “Worst in Show”, “Appetite for Destruction”, “Zippleback Down” and “A View to a Skrill Part 1”.

Like the first season, this DVD is also jam-packed with special features that dive deeper into the exciting world of “Dragons”.  First up is “Dragon Tracker Part 3” which is a continuation from the first season DVDs giving an in-depth look at the shows dragons. This one includes the Screaming Death, Fireworm Queen, Flightmare and Skrill dragons. “Evolution of Screaming Death” is a featurette with visual effects supervisor David Jones talking about its history. Lastly there is also a “SuperFly” Dragon Mash-up music video.

I feel like a game show host…but “Wait there is still more…” Along with the purchase of the DVD you will also get a Digital HD UltraViolet code, which is a nice bonus personally to be able to watch these episodes on the go. There is also an offer for exclusive battle gear and one month’s free subscription to School of Dragons, the online game from JumpStart based on DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise. This game rules and is a must play for any fan of the franchise. Visit http://www.schoolofdragons.com for more details.

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Actors: Hulk Hogan, Joan Severance, Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister
Directors: Thomas J. Wright
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: April 1, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

When I was a kid growing up in the 80’s I was head over heels into wrestling! I couldn’t get enough. I remember when this film came out in 1989 and I saw my favorite wrestler Hulk Hogan “act” in a movie. I couldn’t have been more excited. What I enjoyed most is that I was as excited and entertained watching this today as I was when I was a kid. Hulk Hogan was and still is the man and here the guy is doing what he did best, wrestle, and he kicks some major ass. This film also kicked off a nice little wrestling career for Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister as he continued playing the role of Zeus even outside the film. If you are a fan of 80’s wrestling and films, in general, then I would definitely recommend checking this out!

Official Premise: When world wrestling champion Rip Thomas (WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan) refuses to join a competing network, an evil executive creates a new program, “The Battle of the Tough Guys,” where rules don’t exist and men engage in an all-out brawl for money. After a murdering ex-convict by the name of Zeus (Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister, The Dark Knight) comes out on top as the toughest man, an ultimate title match with Rip is the TV network’s best chance for big ratings. But when Rip refuses the challenge and his brother is roughed-up as a consequence, the world champion has no choice but to teach Zeus a lesson in a final ‘No Holds Barred’ fight to the finish.

This is the first time that “No Holds Barred” has ever been released on high-definition Blu-ray. The 1080p shows its age a bit but is still quite impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a real treat as well from every power slam to audience member cheering sounds great. There are some Blu-ray exclusive special features as well, which are a great companion to the film. There is a “No Holds Barred Tag Team Steel Cage Match” from 12/27/1989 featuring Zeus and Randy Savage with Sensational Sherri vs. Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. There is also a “Summer Slam Tag Team Match” from 8/28/1989 featuring Zeus and Randy Savage with Sensational Sherri vs. Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake with Miss Elizabeth. If you are a wrestling fan, these are a must way. Lastly there is also a Photo Gallery included.

Actors: Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe, Addison Timlin
Directors: Stephen Sommers
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 96 minutes

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

“Odd Thomas” is based on Dean Koontz’s novel of the same name. It is directed, written and co-produced by Stephen Sommers, aka the director of “The Mummy” and “Van Helsing”. It stars the fantastic Anton Yelchin (“Fright Night”, “Star Trek”) and Willem Dafoe (“Spider-Man”). Where the hell did this film come from? And I also thought to myself why didn’t this film get a bigger release? Then I saw it. It is very ambitious and quite visual but also lacking that big-budget success factor. I call this a one-timer. But if you are a hardcore fan of the book, this is very true and will let you satisfied.

Official Premise: Small-town fry cook Odd Thomas (Anton Yelchin) is an ordinary guy with a paranormal secret: he sees dead people, everywhere. When a creepy stranger shows-up with an entourage of ghostly bodachs – predators who feed on pain and portend mass destruction – Odd knows that his town is in serious trouble. Teaming up with his sweetheart Stormy (Addison Timlin) and the local sheriff (Willem Dafoe), Odd plunges into an epic battle of good vs evil to try to stop a disaster of apocalyptic proportions.

Since this is from director of “The Mummy”, you would expect that this would be very visual effects heavy and in fact it actually is. The film packs some great VFX and the 1080p transfer support it very well. The film is also quite dark yet it still is very sharp. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also works well with the jumps and the creepy/yet action packed score. There are no special features included, which just blows my mind and screams LAZY to be honest. A featurette on the visual effects alone would have been great.

Actors: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper
Directors: John Wells
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: April 8, 2014
Run Time: 120 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw the cast for “August: Osage County”. I knew it just had to be amazing. First of all anything starring Meryl Streep gets my vote right away. Top that with ace performances from (BIG BREATH) Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Margo Martindale, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney, Julianne Nicholson, Misty Upham and Sam Shepard (WHEW). Truly outstanding cast with just perfect and they are same time mentally and physically exhausting. Besides have the worst Blu-ray cover art of the year (how about the rest of the cast), this film was easily one of the best of 2013. A must see!

Official Premise: Streep and Roberts star in the darkly hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose lives converge when a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional mother who raised them. August: Osage County is based on the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama-winning play by Tracy Letts, who is also known as Andrew Lockhart on Showtime’s Homeland. Director John Wells, best known as executive producer and showrunner of hit television series ER, The West Wing and Shameless, skillfully translates from stage to screen, leading an all-star cast.

Not sure why but we received a Blu-ray only disc to review with no DVD or Ultraviolet code. Now on Amazon.com they do have two versions for sale and in fact this non-combo pack is actually $5.00 more, which makes no sense to me. So if you buy this and I recommend it…be sure to get the combo pack. The 1080p really captures some of the beauty of Oklahoma‎, since most of the film takes place in Streep’s house. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works perfect with the score and the non-dialogue stage play dialogue.

The special features are decent for this release. There is an audio commentary with Director John Wells and Cinematographer Adriano Goldman. I actually found this very interesting and a nice complement to the film. There are some deleted scenes as well with Commentary by Wells and Goldman. There is a nice behind-the-scenes look at “The Making of August: Osage County”. Lastly there is a Writing Featurette with Tracy Letts, looking into the stage play to the film translation.

Actors: Daniel Zovatto, Mark Margolis
Directors: Larry Fessenden
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

When it comes to indie horror, Larry Fessenden (“The Last Winter”, “Wendigo”) is the man. When you see the poster for “Beneath” you might think “Oh it just another JAWS rip-off!” Well you will be wrong (sort of). It takes some good ideas from “Jaws” and made it its own. I was really impressive with this film because it packed some great scares and most importantly a practical effect fish, which was creepy as hell. It is rare that a film can nail good practical effects but this film has balls and delivers!

Official Premise: When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. Stuck in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival.

Shout! Factory’s sub label Scream Factory has really given this a nice release. The Blu-ray comes along with a digital copy of the film (though a downer that it is not Ultraviolet, come on!) The 1080p transfer is solid and the practical effects look great in high-def (I had watched a crappy DVD screener, prior). The DTS-HD Master Audio track is also impressive with the scares and the perfectly tuned score.

This Blu-ray also comes jam-packed with great special features. There is an audio commentary with Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick. This is very interested and highly recommend to re-watch the film. There are three featurettes including a great behind-the-scenes peek with “A Look Behind The Scenes: Making the Fish Movie”, “What’s In Black Lake?”, “From the Web: What the Zeke?” and “Fessenden on Jaws”, obviously cool to see where his inspiration came from. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams, Katie Stegeman, Simon Barrett
Directors: Eric England
Rated: Unrated
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
DVD Release Date: March 18, 2014
Run Time: 84 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When you see the box art to “Contracted” you cannot help but get curious about this film, especially being a horror fan. The film starts off slow and gets more and more intense each minute, sort of like the virus that Samantha gets in the film. I wouldn’t call this a zombie film upfront actually but it does have a nice transition into one. Najarra Townsend is quite amazing in the film and really has such an impressive transition from the beginning to the end. Horror fans will also enjoy seeing horror icons (new and old) with Caroline Williams (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2”) and Simon Barrett, (co-director of “V/H/S”). After watching this film. I was a little freaked out and very shocked, which to me means that this was very successful.

Official Premise: After a lapse in her relationship with her lover (Katie Stegeman) forces twenty-something party girl Samantha (Najarra Townsend) to move back in with her overbearing mother (Caroline Williams, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), things seem to be at an all-time low. But the devil-may-care Samantha soon finds escape in a one-night stand with a mysterious man (Simon Barrett, V/H/S) who leaves her hung-over, guilt-ridden and infected. Uncertain of the disease or the man who gave it to her, Samantha attempts to hide it from her loved ones. But she soon realizes that she is not just the victim of an STD, but rather the host of something much more catastrophic, and that she and those around her are in mortal danger.

IFC Midnight is the studio behind this release and I love that they keep releasing really interesting and unique indies like “Contracted”. Last year, they delivered some awesome films and I can’t wait to see what they have planned for the rest of the year. One thing, I am a bit bummed about is that this is a DVD release only. I would have loved to seen this get a Blu-ray release. In terms of special features, there is some decent content. There is a great commentary track with director Eric England, editor Josh Ethier, cinematographer Mike Testin and composer Kevin Riepl, as well as another commentary with director Eric England and cast included. There is a behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of Contracted”. There is Najarra Townsend audition footage, as well as an Animated pitch for the film and a trailer included.

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Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Viz Media
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 530 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Ranma ½ started off as an manga series back in 1987 in Japan, which was turned into a TV series shortly after in 1989. This is way before Japanese anime hit the US. The series got big here probably around the early 90’s and this and “Dragon Ball Z” were two of my favorite anime series growing up. Ranma ½ ius definitely unique and is an interesting blend of romance, comedy, action and marital arts. Thanks Viz Media this series is getting presented in high definition for the first time ever. Set 1 includes the first 23 episodes of the show, so since there are over 140 episodes total I would expect at least an additional six releases over the next year. If you are a fan of this series, then this is a new brainer.

Official Synopsis: From the legendary oeuvre of master creator Rumiko Takahashi, the mixed-up, madcap, martial arts romantic comedy Ranma ½ returns! After taking a surprise dip in a cursed spring while on a training journey in China, martial artist Ranma Saotome and his father, Genma, aren’t quite themselves anymore. Now Ranma turns into a girl whenever he’s splashed with cold water, and Genma turns into a panda. Their new forms cause nothing but confusion at the Tendo dojo, where Soun Tendo is waiting to introduce one of his three daughters to Ranma… as his fiancée. Turns out Genma and Soun arranged the match long ago, but the girl, Akane, and the boy, Ranma, aren’t exactly crazy about the idea, or each other! Or are they? Watch the gender switching, jealous rages, and martial arts battles unfold all over again!

Having watching this show on bootleg VHS tapes growing up, these 1080p transfers are stunning with high quality encodes created using the original Japanese Blu-ray masters. Fans are able to enjoy each episode with an  uncropped, 4:3 aspect ratio. Another first time for this release is that all episodes are arranged in the original Japanese episode order. There are both lossless tracks available for the original Japanese (with English subtitles) and the English dub, and a secondary subtitle track is available for signs and songs. The box presentation also for this set is amazing coming in a premium chipboard box with gold foil stamping with art illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. Inside it also includes a 64-page booklet with a full color episode guide and a manga re-master sampler.

If you were satisfied with all that, wait there is still more in this Limited Edition box set. There are some decent extras including an exclusive “We Love Ranma: Part 1” Manga Re-Mastering Interview with VIZ Media editor Hope Donovan, which talks about the processes behind the latest manga release. There is two great extras taken from 2013 New York Comic Con this past year with “Ranma ½ Panel Footage” and “VIZ Media Events Highlight Reel”. Lastly there are upcoming episode previews and trailers included here. Can’t wait for Set 2! Keep them coming Viz!

Actors: Lon Chaney
Directed by: Wallace Worsley
Format: Black & White, Silent, Subtitled
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Flicker Alley
DVD Release Date: March 18, 2014
Run Time: 112 minutes

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

When I see that a film is being released from the company Flicker Alley, I know I have to take closer look. Their most recent venture brings the Lon Cheney Classic, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)” to Blu-ray for the very first time with this beautiful new restoration. Lon Chaney really embodied the character of Quasimodo and feels like he came right off the pages of original illustrations of Victor Hugo’s novel. When you look back to over 90 years ago, this film had quite the issue during the production, which makes for a great story. The sets at the Universal back lots too up nineteen acres of space and filming took six months to complete. If you are fan of this film, this is a most own.

Official Premise: Gothic drama in which the hideously deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) lives in the bell-towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He strikes out viciously at the city folk after their constant taunting, but is saved from their wrath by a beautiful gypsy girl, Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller). When she is accused of stabbing her lover, Quasimodo spirits her away into the bell-tower, but their friendship ends in tragedy.

Now the rest why I love Flicker Alley’s releases is because they really put a lot of work into their releases. This Blu-ray is mastered from a multi-tinted 16mm print struck in 1926 from the original camera negative. In case you are wondering why that is because the original 35mm print did not survive over the years. Since this film is over 90 years old, there is some visible wear in the source material but it was cleaned up as good as it could due to digital restoration. Flicker Alley is claiming that this is the best representation of the film currently available and I definitely agree. Top it off with an amazing new symphonic score arranged by Donald Hunsberger was recorded in the Czech Republic by a full orchestra conducted by Robert Israel and we have a winner.

If you think since they spent all that time on the Blu-ray restoration that there wasn’t going to be any bonus materials you would be wrong. There is an essay and optional audio commentary by Chaney scholar Michael F. Blake. There is rare footage (show in 480i) of Chaney out of makeup on the Cathedral set. “Alas and Alack” is included, which is a 1915 short film in which Chaney plays a hunchback. There are over 100 original production and publicity stills in the Dynamic HD photo gallery. Lastly we get a very high quality digital reproduction of the original souvenir program.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rinko Kikuchi, Ko Shibasaki, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Tadanobu Asano
Director: Carl Rinsch
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Run Time: 119 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have been following “47 Ronin” and really looking forward to “47 Ronin”. I am a big fan of Keanu Reeves and I thought that him in a $170 million martial arts film would be epic. After watching it finally though, I was left a little disappointing and kind of bored like most people that saw it.  I personally have no idea how they spent that much money because I have seen films like “Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon”, which looks much better and was make for $25 million. I know the film has production problems and reshoot after reshoot but it didn’t really help make the film more interesting. I would recommend watching this once if you are a fan of the genre and its stars.

Official Premise: After a treacherous warlord (Asano) kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and reclaim their honor. Battling across a savage world of mythical beasts, shape-shifting witches and wondrous terrors, the ronin must seek help from Kai (Reeves), an enslaved half-breed they once rejected, in their ultimate fight for redemption.

Keanu Reeves is front and center among an otherwise all international cast that includes Hiroyuki Sanada (TV’s “Revenge”, “The Last Samurai”). Tadanobu Asano (“The Wolverine”, “Thor: The Dark World”) as Lord Kira. Rinko Kikuchi (“Pacific Rim”) is amazing as the Witch, Ko Shibasaki (“One Missed Call”). The acting is great but the roles are rather one dimensional. Despite the film itself, I thought that Reeves was able to hold his own amongst the rest of the cast and give a good performance as well.

Universal Studios delivered this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy.  The film was post converted into 3D (which I haven’t heard great things about anyway) but we had a chance to review this in standard Blu-ray. The 1080p was impressive. The visual effects played out very nicely and very detailed, especially the creatures. The costumes, the locations, the sets are all very colorful and vibrant. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 was pretty powerful and packed a nice punch. Ilan Eshkeri’s score was also a highlight for me.

In terms of special features, they are not too shabby either. “Keanu & Kai” features the star talksing about his roe. “Steel Fury: The Fights of 47 Ronin” looks into the choreography and action sequences. “Myths, Magic & Monsters: The FX of 47 Ronin” dives deep into the creatures of ancient Japanese folklore used in the film. Those extras above are just available exclusively on Blu-ray for a limited time only. The rest of the extras are available on both the Blu-ray and DVD discs. “Re-Forging the Legend” tells the actual story of 47 Ronin and the road of how the filmmakers brought this film to the big screen. Lastly, there a a few deleted scenes included wrapping up the extras.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner
Director: Adam McKay
Rated: PG-13/Unrated/R
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: April 1, 2014
Run Time: 118/122/143 minutes

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

NEWS TEAM ASSEMBLE!! Ron Burgundy and his team is back. Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner reprise their already iconic roles. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” is a very ambitious sequel to the 2004 cult classic. I would say that it succeeds about 75% of the time with its jokes but does rely a lot on the shoulders of the film before it. I have a feeling that, like the first film, this is going to be one of those that gets better with age…like a good scotch as I am sure Ron Burgundy himself would enjoy.

Official Premise: After losing his job to his wife and co-anchor (Christina Applegate), Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) reassembles the news team (Steve Carell, Paul Rudd and David Koechner ) and squares off against a new rival (James Madsen). Will the world’s greatest anchorman be crushed beneath the weight of his own ego (and his salon-quality hair)? Anything goes in the outrageous comedy.

The three-disc Blu-ray Combo Pack includes not one…not two but three versions of the film including-in a Home Entertainment First, the Super-Sized R-Rated Version with 763 New Jokes. I think whether you loved or absolutely hated the film, this is such a crazy feat that everyone needs to check this out. Never before in the history of home entertainment has anyone replaced 763 jokes. It is like a new movie told within the shell of the first. Paramount also squeezed in a DVD copy of the film along with an HD Digital Ultraviolet copy.

Paramount not only delivered an astounding three version of the film, they also included over four hours of special features. The first disc including a perfect and highly recommend commentary track from the whole gang including Adam McKay, Judd Apatow, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd & David Koechner. Honestly, it is like you are watching a fourth version of the film with even more new jokes. If you are looking for replay value on this film if you get bored with the other three, this is a great way to re-enjoy the film.

There is a Behind-the-Scenes look with “Newsroom”, which takes us inside the making of the film. There is a two part Gag Reel including, because one is just not enough. “Line-O-Rama, Parts 1 & 2” is another collection of non-stop alternate lines from the film. “Welcome to the Dolphin Show” has Ron Burgundy taking on the crowd at SeaWorld. “Catfight” features more ad-lib between Christina Applegate and Meagan Good going head-to-head. “News-O-Rama” features Ron and the News Team bringing you the headlines. “Kench-O-Rama” is a mashup of Kench Allenby’s most Australian moments…Brilliant! Lastly there is a Cast Table Read, which is also a riot.

The second Blu-ray disc includes the Super-Sized R-Rated Version along with more special features. There is an Behind-the-Scenes featurette. “Anchorman 2: The Musical” is a look into how this film almost was a musical sequel. “RV” dives into the work behind the RV tumble. “Baxter & Doby” focuses on the animals of Anchorman 2. “News Fight” was one of the best parts of the film and this dives into the biggest, baddest all-star celebrity brawl ever! There are an additional 90 minutes of Deleted, Extended & Alternate Scenes. At this point I said out loud, “SERIOUSLY?” How did they have this much footage.

“Previsualizations” looks into the various FX filled scenes including the RV, Shark Attack and the News Fight sequences. “Auditions” includes pre-film scenes featuring Meagan Good, Dylan Baker and Amy Poehler. “Benefit for 826LA” is a special tribute to Anchorman 2. Lastly there are trailers. The last disc, which is the DVD, only includes the theatrical version of the film. Also be sure to check out the pamphlet inside the case which comes with a digital code to unlock all levels for “Scotchy Scotch Toss” video game.

Voices: Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Mindy Cohn, Grey DeLisle, John Cena, Triple H, Sin Cara, Brodus Clay, AJ Lee, The Miz, Santino, Kane
Directed by: Brandon Vietti
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Turner Home Ent
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014

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

What happens when Warner Bros. Animation teams up with WWE Films? We get one of the best new Scooby Doo! feature length films to date with “Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery”. If you are a wrestling fan, I cannot recommend this anymore and if you are also a “Scooby Doo!” fan, this is a perfect match. This not only stars the Mystery Inc. gang but also is backed with some of the biggest WWE Superstars including John Cena, Triple H, Sin Cara, Brodus Clay, AJ Lee, The Miz, Santino, Kane and also WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. They not only are in the film in animated form but also lend their voices as well. WB has been behind continuously pushing “Scooby Doo!” and this just shows how much crossover this series has and how strong the brand is still.

Official Premise: When Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to WrestleMania, they convince the entire Mystery Inc. gang to travel to WWE City in the Mystery Machine to enjoy the show. But the trip quickly turns into another mystery as WWE City is full of secrets! A mysterious ghostly bear appears and threatens to ruin the show and steal the championship title belt. With the help of WWE Superstars John Cena, Triple H, Sin Cara, Brodus Clay, AJ Lee, The Miz, Santino Marella and Kane, Scooby-Doo and The Mystery Inc. gang team up to solve the case before it is too late!

Warner Bros is delivering “Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery” as a Blu-ray/DVD combo with a HD Digital Ultraviolet copy included. The 1080p transfer is very impressive. The animation style is vibrant and looks great. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks works perfectly with the mystery/action aspect of the film. In the special features department there is some decent extras. There is a brand new featurette “Behind-The-Scenes with Scooby-Doo and the WWE Gang”, which goes into the voice recording sessions with the cast of WWE. There is also a bonus episode of “A Pup Named Scooby Doo”, “Wrestle Maniacs”.

This is the first and definitely not the last collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation teams up with WWE Films. They are planning to mash-up another classic series “The Flintstones” in early 2015 bringing Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas. So I am sure this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship I am sure. WWE Films has been getting some major steam behind them in the last few years and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next!

Actors: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Peter Lorre, Ingrid Bergman, Mary Astor
Directors: John Huston, Michael Curtiz
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 433 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Back in my days in colleges (years ago!), I took a film class and I learned all about the amazing work of the legendary actor Humphrey Bogart. This opened up a new world to me and I was exposed to films like “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca”. We looked deep into this films and I grew a great appreciation for them and other films as well. “The Best of Bogart Collection” is a great collection of his films including “The African Queen”, “Casablanca”, “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”. This films have been released previously on Blu-ray but this is the first time that they are all packaged together. Also as an added bonus we get reproduction art cards from each film, which is a real great collectible. A must have for any Bogart fan!

“The African Queen” is such a great film. Charlie Allnut is such a great character for him. This is one of those films that I can never turn off once I see it on. “Casablanca” is in a world of its own. It is over 70 years old and still so amazing and relevant. Such a classic and will continue to stand the test of time. “The Maltese Falcon” is a film that I studied quite a bit and really was one of the first films that I was introduced to Bogart and his career. It will always hold a special place for me. Last but not least is “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”, which in fact is a film that I have never seen (*gasp*). But thanks to this new collection, I was able to find out what I have been missing wit this AFI Top 100 classic.

“The African Queen” Offical Premise: Stars Humphrey Bogart in his Oscar-winning portrayal of Charlie Allnut, the slovenly, gin-swilling captain of a tramp steamer called the African Queen, which ships supplies to small East African villages during World War I. Katharine Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, the maiden-lady sister of a prim British missionary, Rev. Samuel Sayer (Robert Morley). When Germans invade and Samuel dies, Allnut offers to take Rose back to civilization. She can’t tolerate his drinking or bad manners; he isn’t crazy about her imperious, judgmental attitude. However it does not take long before their passionate dislike turns to love. Together the disparate duo work to ensure their survival on the treacherous waters and devise an ingenious way to destroy a German gunboat.

“Casablanca” Offical Premise: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if you’re wanted by the Nazis. Such a man is Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one – especially Victor’s wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo’s transport out of the country and bitter Rick must decide what counts more – personal happiness or countless lives hanging in the balance.

“The Maltese Falcon” Official Premise: A gallery of high-living lowlifes will stop at nothing to get their sweaty hands on a jewel-encrusted falcon. Detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) wants to find out why–and who’ll take the fall for his partner’s murder. An all-star cast (including Sydney Greenstreet, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Elisha Cook Jr.) joins Bogart in this crackling mystery masterwork written for the screen (from Dashiell Hammett’s novel) and directed by John Huston.

“The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” Official Premise: Gold in the hills, avarice in the hearts of men. Two hard-luck drifters (Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt) and a grizzled prospector (Walter Huston) discover gold. Then greed and paranoia set in. John Huston won Academy Awards for his direction and screenplay. And his dad took the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Without awards, but with enduring acclaim, is Bogart’s performance, transforming from a likable hobo to a heartless thug simmering in greed.

If these four films are not enough, these films also come jam-packed with special features. First, we have “The African Queen”, which also has the least extras. There is “Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen”, which goes behind-the-scenes into the film.
“The Maltese Falcon” delivers impressive extras as well with a commentary track by Bogart Biographer Eric Lax. There is a featurette “The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird”. “Breakdowns of 1941” is a Studio Blooper Reel. There are Makeup Tests, Short Subjects Gallery and an Audio-Only Bonus: 3 Radio Show Adaption’s. Lastly “Becoming Attractions” is a collection of trailers of Humphrey Bogart Warner Night at the Movies 1941.

“Casablanca” packs the most extras of any of the films. Ther is a commentary track from Roger Ebert and also another from Historian Rudy Behlmer. There is an Introduction by Lauren Bacall and also additional scenes & outtakes, as well as scoring session outtakes. There are a few feaurettes, “Bacall on Bogart”, “You Must Remember This: A Tribute to Casablanca” and “As Time Goes By: The Children Remember”. “Who Hold Tomorrow?” is the premiere episode from the 1955 TV Series adaptation of Casablanca. There is a Radio Production with the Movie’s 3 Key Stars. Lastly there is a Production Research Gallery,
Homage Cartoon Carrotblanca with Bugs Bunny and some Theatrical Trailers.

Lastly, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” also includes a commentary track from Bogart Biographer Eric Lax. There are a few featurettes including “Discovering Treasure: The Story of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and “Documentary Profile John Huston”. There is Warner Night at the Movies 1948 Short Subjects Gallery. Lastly there is a intro from Leonard Maltin, Newsreel footage, 2 Classic Cartoons, Comedy Short, Theatrical Trailers and an Audio-Only Bonus: Radio Show with the Movie’s Original Stars.

Get The Best of Bogart Collection for the first time, in one great Blu-ray collection, March 25th!

Actors: Tempestt Bledsoe, Lili Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Gina Gershon, Deborah Harry
Executive Produced: Richard P. Rubinstein
Number of discs: 9
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Run Time: 1560 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Any horror fan that grew up in the 80’s should remember the series “Monsters”, which used to play in syndication along with “Tales from the Darkside”. This anthology/horror series aired from 1988-91 with 72 half-hour episodes. This show is easily one of my favorites of all-time. No, it may not be the best but it certainly reminds me of my childhood and attributed to my love of horror today. I probably shouldn’t have been watching it at the age I did but I just couldn’t get enough of it. Luckily, thanks to Syfy and Chiller channels, this show was given a second life and has been showing over the last decade. The series has never been released on DVD EVER and thanks to eOne (who are my heroes this month), this series finally gets put out in a fantastic DVD box set.

This series delivered a great blend of horror along with comedy, sci-fi and fantasy. What I love about these episodes the most is that you are able to watch and re-watch them and they never get old. When they were re-airing on Syfy, I used to leave it on loop day after day and I couldn’t get enough. The practical effects in the film are fantastic and look great, of course not to today’s standards, but I remember I used to be quite scared of some of these show’s creations growing up, so I think it was quite effective. The show also was jam packed with an amazing cast of actors whether big stars then and big stars now. If you are reading this eOne, if you can get “Freddy’s Nightmare” complete series on DVD, I will be your best friend forever! This is must have for any horror fan, NO QUESTION!

Season one consists of the following episodes: 1. The Feverman; 2. Holly’s House; 3. New York Honey; 4. The Vampire Hunter; 5. My Zombie Lover; 6. Where’s The Rest Of Me?; 7. The Legacy; 8. Sleeping Dragon; 9. Pool Sharks; 10. Pillow Talk; 11. Rouse Him Not; 12. Fools Gold; 13. Glim-Glim; 14. Parents From Space; 15. The Mother Instinct; 16. Their Divided Self; 17. Taps; 18. The Match Game; 19. Rain Dance; 20. The Cocoon; 21. All In A Day s Work; 22. Satan In The Suburbs; 23. Mannikins Of Horror and 24. La Strega

Season one consists of the following notable talent including David McCallum (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”),  Marilyn Jones (“Murder, She Wrote”), ‘Little Mike’ Anderson (“Twin Peaks”), Andrea Thompson (“Babylon 5”), Robert Lansing (“Automan”), Tempestt Bledsoe (“The Cosby Show”), Meatloaf (“Fight Club”), Kin Shriner (“General Hospital”), John Diehl (“Stripes”), Mary Woronov (“Death Race 2000”), Alex Cord (“Airwolf”), Jeff Conaway (“Babylon 5”), Frank Gorshin (“Batman”), David L. Lander (“Laverne & Shirley”), Tori Spelling (“Beverly Hills, 90210”), Kent McCord (“Galactica: 1980”), Teri Copley (“We Got It Made”), Billy Drago (“The Untouchables”), Kim Johnson Ulrich (“As the World Turns”), Adrienne Barbeau (“The Fog”), James Morrison (“Space: Above & Beyond”), Eddie Velez (“The A-Team”), Christopher Noth (“Law & Order”), William Prince (“Dallas”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Rob Morrow (“Northern Exposure”)

Season two consists of the following episodes: 25. The Face; 26. Portrait Of The Artist; 27. A Bond Of Silk; 28. Rerun; 29. Love Hurts; 30. The Farmer’s Daughter; 31. Jar; 32. The Demons; 33. Reaper; 34. The Mandrake Root; 35. Half As Old As Time; 36. Museum Hearts; 37. Habitat; 38. Bed And Boar; 39. Mr. Swlabr; 40. Perchance To Dream; 41. One Wolf’s Family; 42. The Offering; 43. Far Below; 44. Micro Minds; 45. Refugee; 46. The Gift; 47. The Bargain and 48. The Family Man

Second two consists of the following notable talent including Darren McGavin (“A Christmas Story”), Lydia Cornell (“Too Close For Comfort”), Marc McClure (“Superman”), Ren Woods (“Beauty and the Beast”), Soupy Sales (“What’s My Line?”), George Hall (“The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”), Fritz Weaver (“The Martian Chronicles”), Gina Gershon (“Showgirls”), Richard Moll (“Night Court”), Barbara Billingsley, Leif Garrett, Lili Taylor (“Almost Human”), Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”), Raphael Sbarge (“Once Upon A Time”), Anne Meara (“ALF”), Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”), Amy Stiller (“Zoolander”), Orson Bean (“The Hobbit”), Barry Nelson (“The Shining”), Troy Donahue (“Surfside 6”), Judy Geeson (“Star Maidens”), Phillip Abbott (“The F.B.I.”), Abe Vigoda (“The Godfather”) and Kim Griest (“Manhunter”)

Season three consists of the following episodes: 49. Stressed Environment; 50. Murray’s Monster; 51. Bug House; 52. Cellmates; 53. Outpost; 54. The Hole; 55. Small Blessing; 56. Shave And A Haircut, Two Bites; 57. The Young And The Headless; 58. The Waiting Game; 59. Sin-Sop; 60. A New Woman; 61. Malcolm; 62. Household Gods; 63. The Space-Eaters; 64. The Waiting Room; 65. Leavings; 66. Desirable Alien; 67. A Face For Radio; 68. Werewolf Of Hollywood; 69. Talk Nice To Me; 70. The Moving Finger; 71. Hostile Takeover and 72. The Maker

Finally, season three consists of the following notable talent including Carol Lynley (“The Poseidon Adventure”), Joe Flaherty (“Freaks and Geeks”), Karen Sillas (“Under Suspicion”), Maxwell Caulfield (“Grease 2”), Juliet Mills (“Nanny and the Professor”), Julie Brown (“Earth Girls Are Easy”), Kevin Nealon (“Saturday Night Live), David Spade (“Dickie Roberts”), Wil Wheaton (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Matt LeBlanc (“Friends”), Linda Thorson (60’s “The Avengers”), Ed Lauter (“B.J. and the Bear”), Farley Granger (“Strangers on a Train”), John Saxon (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”), Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”), Deborah Harry (band member Blondie), Morton Downey, Jr. (“trash TV”), Laura Brannigan (American singer), Richard Belzer (“Homicide: Life on the Street”), David Spielberg (“One Life to Live”), Dennis Christopher (“Breaking Away”) and Pam Grier (“Jackie Brown”).

Having watched these episodes on TV as a kid, WAY before anything called high definition was around and then re-watching them on Syfy and Chiller in the last decade, they have never been delivered in great best condition. Today these episodes on DVD are not stunning but they do the trick and personally, I think the show has never looked better. There are no additional special features included in this set. I figure that they had as much talent as they did in this show, they could have gotten at least a few interviews or commentary tracks on these episodes but nonetheless, at least we have them. The set comes with three cases, each with its own season. There is great cover art for each particular season and there is great images in case the case as well. There is no boring black case here. They aimed to impress and succeed no question.

Voices: Jennifer Carpenter, Brian Bloom
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 25, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

When I saw that Sony and Marvel were teaming up for another animated feature film, I was psyched. I loved what they did with the past short series with Blade, Wolverine and X-Men. The animation style is reminiscence of a Japanese anime and the characters are given a slick make-over. As the title suggests, this film focus on two Marvel’ popular characters, Black Widow (voiced by Jennifer Carpenter, TV’’s ““Dexter””) and The Punisher (voiced by Brian Bloom, ““Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3””). Don’t let the cover art fool you either with the image of Iron Man, Thor and Hulk, since they along with a few other Avengers appear for a few minutes in the last few minutes of the film. This is a Black Widow and (some of) Punisher story solely. Parents need to note this is a very HARD PG-13 rating, very violent for sure. Overall, I thought it was worth a watch, but nothing amazing.

Official Premise: After interfering with a top secret mission, THE PUNISHER is taken into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENT and AVENGER, BLACK WIDOW. At the orders of Director Nick Fury, Punisher and Black Widow are sent on a mission to stop LEVIATHAN, a global terrorist organization that plans to sell stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. technology to the highest bidder. Now, the vigilante and spy must work together to prevent this technology from falling into the wrong hands. The fate of the world, and of the AVENGERS, hangs in the balance.

“Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher” is packaged as a Blu-ray/DVD combo with an HD Digital Ultraviolet copy included. Sony has always delivered consistently great animated titles. This film is no different it is a solid Blu-ray presentation. The animation style looks very sharp and the colors are very clear. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well with the action scenes especially the final act, which is pretty epic. In terms of special features are two making-of Featurettes & Blu-ray™ Exclusive Conceptual Art Gallery. The two featurettes are ““Espionage and Punishment””, which dives into how these characters were adapted into this anime style. “The Vigilante Vs. The Spy” takes a look at these two characters from an origin perspective.