Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Catherine Bach, Geoffrey Lewis, Gary Busey
Directed By: Michael Cimino
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: Feb 11, 2014

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

Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Clint Eastwood at all. I never really got the whole fandom surrounding him. I am though a huge fan of Jeff Bridges and I read that he showed Eastwood up in this film, so that was a real draw for me.  I really enjoyed this movie and it still holds up today already 40 years after it was made, which is just crazy to think. Frank Stanley did an amazing job showcasing  Montana’s Big Sky country in the film. I am a score guy, I love film scores. This film packed a great score by Eastwood regular Dee Barton. If you are a Bridges or Eastwood fan, this is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray and it is a must purchase.

Official Premise: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) marked the directing debut of screenwriter Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate), working under the meticulous guidance of star/producer Clint Eastwood. Eastwood plays a typically laconic loner, a big-time thief in hiding who hooks up with a goofy young drifter (Jeff Bridges, giving an Oscar®-nominated performance). First attempting to escape from a couple of vengeful former partners (George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis), then joining forces with them to pull off a risky robbery, Eastwood and Bridges give us an ultimately touching portrait of masculine friendship.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for a film like I said that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Jeff Bridges did not need CGI in this film, like in “TRON Legacy”, to make him look 25 again 😉 The DTS-HD MA 1.0 is solid and works with the action and the score. Speaking of the score, the special features include an Isolated Music Track for Dee Barton’s amazing music. There is an audio commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman. It is not the most exciting commentary track but it is certainly informative. Lastly there is the Original Theatrical Trailer included.

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Starring: Woody Allen, Martin Landau, Alan Alda, Caroline Aaron, Claire Bloom, Mia Farrow, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterson
Director: Woody Allen
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Feb 11, 2014

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

I am a big embarrassed to say this but I have never seen “Crimes and Misdemeanors”. I am a huge Woody Allen fan though and I am pissed that it took so long to finally catch this amazing flick. I love how clever the film and witty this is. The cinematography was also a highlight courtesy of Sven Nykvist. It also packs some amazing performances from Landau and of course Allen. The story also had me thinking the entire time trying to figure out how the stories intertwined. This film has never been released on Blu-ray prior to this release and if you are a fan of Allen, this is a must purchase.

Official Premise: Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) is a rare combination of film noir and black comedy, about an esteemed New York ophthalmologist (Martin Landau) whose affair with a flight attendant (Anjelica Huston) puts the careful construct of his life in jeopardy. As he contemplates a permanent solution to his problems, we are also treated to an interwoven story about another kind of moral crisis: a struggling documentary filmmaker (Allen) considers selling out by making a doc about a Hollywood jackass (Alan Alda), with the situation further complicated by the appearance of an entrancing TV producer (Mia Farrow).

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for a film that is now 25 years old. The DTS-HD MA 1.0 plays out ok but I noticed that I had issues with some of the dialogue and consistently adjusting the volume. In the special features section, there is not much here. I did enjoy the Isolated Music & Effects Track quite a bit and adds another level to watching the film. Lastly, there is the Original Theatrical Trailer included.

Starring: Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Nadolny, Christopher Sabat, Daisuke Gōri, Mayumi Tanaka, Kenji Utsumi
Director: Mike McFarland
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 830 minutes

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

This is a very exciting Blu-ray release, actually, if you are a “Dragonball Z” fan. This is the first time ever that uncut Dragon Ball Z episodes are available on Blu-ray! This collection includes episodes 40-74 of this classic anime series fully remastered. This is a must own for any fan and real treat that these episodes are finally being a released. Dragonball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray is already slated to street on April 1, 2014, so like I said before I expect this series to be fully available by year end. Hopefully Funimation is planning a giant box set because that would be the ultimate release.

Official Premise: Having suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Saiyans, and with Goku still recovering from his injuries, the remaining Z-Fighters must embark on a perilous journey to Planet Namek in search of the Namekian Dragon Balls. Unbeknownst to them, however, a powerful new enemy has set his sights on the same prize—the ruthless tyrant Frieza!

These episodes are presented in 1080p high definition quality and 16:9 aspect ratio amd were restored using frame by frame, pan and scan technology. These episodes were given a lot of love from actual fans of the series and it shows in its release. There are three audio tracks included, which also have been re-mastered and have never sounded better. The English dub comes with an Dolby TrueHD 5.1 with the original Japanese music. The original English language broadcast version with the broadcast version music is presented with an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track. Lastly the original Japanese track with the Japanese music, of course is delivered with a Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

This season stepped it up a bit from season one actually including some decent special features. “Inside Dragonball Z” is a two part interview series with Christopher R. Sabet and Sean Schemmel. There is a fun featurette called “Justin Cook Shares His Headshot Collection”. Then there are also the textless opening and closing songs, as well as trailers included. Lastly also like the first season, there is the ”Marathon Feature”. This allows you to view the episodes continuously without the credits each episode. This really adds a lot and makes it very easy to enjoy a great binge viewing experience of this amazing series.

Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Mr. T
Directors: Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen
Number of discs: 6
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: February 11, 2014

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

The “Rocky” franchise is really just great. Whenever you flip through the TV and come across any of the “Rocky” movies you know that it is quite impossible to turn it off or you hear Drago threatening “I must break you”. Rocky is a character that ever loves even as it has aged. This collection includes all six Rocky films, from the original “Rocky” (1976) to the latest “Rocky Balboa” (2006). So I am sure you are wondering how does this release differ from the 2009 release “Rocky: The Undisputed Collection”? Well this release an all-new 4K transfer of the original “Rocky” and then the previously released versions of “Rocky II-V” and “Rocky Balboa”. The original “Rocky” is now the spotlight of this release (as it should be) and makes this release a must own for all fans.

Official Premise: Go the distance with this Rocky Heavyweight collection, featuring all six knockout Rocky films including the first film with a stunning new master. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action-packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky strives for greatness through sheer determination against impossible odds. This collection contains over three hours of bonus features including a new featurette “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” narrated by Director John Avildsen.

So the main reason to upgrade to this new collection would be for the 4K transfer of “Rocky” (1976). I personally think that this new restoration looks amazing. The 2006 previously released Blu-ray was quite the disappointment. In terms of “Rocky II-V”, the transfers are good but could have used a bit of a face-lift like the first film to make them perfect.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for I-V are impressive though and really no major complaints either. “Rocky Balboa” easily delivers the second best transfer since it is the latest film and packs an even better uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio track. They really went all out here and it shows in the film. The music in the film is so well presented and makes you literally get out of your chair and those fights punching along with Rocky.

Now if you are wondering what happened to the jam-packed seventh disc of extras from the “The Undisputed Collection”, which is missing from this release…well don’t worry. It has been added to the the original “Rocky” disc along with three commentaries restored from the “Rocky” DVD. There is only one new special feature included on this release. which is “8mm Home Movies of Rocky”. It is a bad-ass special features I might add and it is narrated by Director John G. Avildsen and Production Manager Lloyd Kaufman. So being a big fan of this franchise, this new purpose just makes you wonder how much the updated transfer of “Rocky” is worth to you. I wish MGM would have thrown in some HD Digital Ultraviolet copies of these films and that would have made this a no brainer!

The fest of the special features included are just as great. “In the Ring: Three-Part Making-of Documentary” is a great in-depth behind-the-scenes looks. There are a few Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes included focusing on the  Makeup, Music, Directing and Camera Work. There are also two Boxing Featurettes including Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva and The Opponents and The Ring of Truth. There are two tributes for Burgess Meredith and James Crabe. There is an interview with a Legend: Bert Sugar along with a Video Commentary with Sylvester Stallone. Lastly there is Sylvester Stallone appearance on “Dinah!” (1976) and Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots and More!

Starring: Luci Christian, David Matranga
Director: Takayuki Hamana
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 168 minutes

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

If you are a fan of the series “Appleseed XIII”, then you might want to consider checking out “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”…as long as you do not expect new content. This new release from Funimation is two-film shortened summarization of the 13-episode anime series. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant since I did like the “Appleseed XIII” quite a bit, but these two films do work very well. They are tighter and really pack a nice punch. What is nice about these, most importantly, is that I feel that you can own both of these, the movies and the series, since they are both different beasts. A no brainer purchase if you love great anime.

Official Premise: In the wake of destruction from a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city of Olympus has become the control center of the world. As humanity adopts biological enhancements in attempts to achieve perfection, a terrorist organization uprises to prevent what could be the eventual extinction of the human race. Two former LAPD SWAT members join a special mech-piloting, military force to take down the leader of the terrorist organization.

Funimation Entertainment are the best when it comes to their Blu-ray anime releases. They really give a lot of love to these and I respect that. This release comes stocked with a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfer is awesome and really works well with this sharp and snazzy CG animation. There are two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks included for both English and original Japanese audio. In terms of special features, there is nothing too impressive here. There are original previews for both “Tartaros & Ouranos”. There is a textless closing song and trailers included.

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Spike Lee
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

“Oldboy” is a remake of the Korean cult classic of the same name directed by Park Chan-wook, which was released in 2003. This version was directed by Spike Lee and stars Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. It is hard to really fall in love with a movie personally when you read about how much the director hates the movie himself. Originally, Lee’s cut of this film was nearly three hours long and it was torn apart by the producers bringing it down to 104 minutes. I was a fan of the original Korean film, so I also had high expectations. This film isn’t terrible but it also doesn’t improve or surpass the original. Worth checking out for some fun shock and wow but I would prefer the original.

Official Premise: “Oldboy” is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of an advertising executive (Brolin) who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his bizarre and torturous punishment only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.

Sony released this film on Blu-ray including also a HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. I would have loved to seen them take a chance and release the director’s cut of this film also but maybe they are holding out for a double dip to make more money to recoup how bad this film did in theaters. The 1080p transfer works well with the look and feel of the film, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. In terms of special features, there are three featurettes including “The Making of Oldboy”, “Transformation” and “Talking Heads”. There are some alternate and extended scenes. Lastly there is a Workout Video Promo, which is quite funny.

Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Directors: Alfonso Cuaron
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I cannot recall an experience that I had in theaters like “Gravity” in a very long time. I was found myself emotionally effected throughout the film. I was blown away and even exhausted after viewing it. Sandra Bullock hasn’t been a favorite of mine but she was outstanding in this film. George Clooney is as charming as ever. Alfonoso Cuaron did such a beautiful job on this film. When you read into it and find out how much work was actually done to make this project come to life it is unbelievable. The visuals are out of this world…literally. If I had to describe this film in one word would be “Breathtaking”. No question, this was the best film of 2013.

Official Premise: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they’ve lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left, and the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

For this release of “Gravity”, Warner packaged up a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. The Blu-ray being reviewed here is not the 3D Blu-ray, which is ashame but “Gravity” was literally the best 3D film that I seen since “Avatar”…and I watch A LOT of 3D films. The 2D transfer is still outstanding and flawless just missing that extra “Wow” for me. The 1080p transfer is perfect and will stand up as one of the best of the year, I am definite. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also absolutely amazing. It is not a 7.1 track, which maybe disappoint some but I was left very satisfied. This track especially complements Steve Price’s score. This score was one of the best scores that I have heard in recent years and it is represented very well. It also plays out like a third character in the film, which I loved.

The special features are absolutely amazing like the film, but I wish they wrapped it all up with a commentary track. “Gravity: Mission Control” is a very in-depth 107 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the prodcution. There are nine mini-featurettes included within this as well focusing on everything from cast to visual effects. “Shot Breakdown” is a nearly 40 minute look into five of the films most impressive FX shots. Amazing stuff here. “Aninigaag: A Short Film by Jonas Cuaron”, which is a short film tieing of the films most emotional scenes together. Lastly “Collison Point: The Race to Clean Up Space” is narrated by Ed Harris and takes about the real-life crisis happening now.

Own Gravity on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD 2/25

Actors: Elle Deets, Yuri Lowenthal
Directors: Richard Rich
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 83 minutes

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

“The Swan Princess” started back as a 1994 animated fantasy musical film based on the ballet “Swan Lake”. Fast forward to 2014 and we get “The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale”, which is the fifth film in the series and which also celebrates the 20th anniversary. The film is cute but the animation is low-grade and it couldn’t keep our attention for the short 80 minutes.

Richard Rich has been behind this series from the beginning and has directed and produced each and everyone of these sequels. He is also behind the sequels in the “Alpha and Omega” series. You have to give him props for keeping it going for five films now but I think it might be time to call it quits on this series. These stories are all stand-alone, so I am sure he can keep it going for twelve movies like “The Land Before Time” but this will probably be the last one I watch.

Official Premise: Shortly after the Royal Family adopts a young girl named Alise, she is taken away into the forest. Princess Odette, Prince Derek and their woodland friends, Jean-Bob the Frog and Speed the Turtle, must work together to find a way to bring her home to the castle.

Sony delivers this film in a two disc combo back with a Blu-ray + DVD and HD Digital Ultraviolet Copy. In terms of special features, there are two bonus Sing-A-Long videos for ““We Wanna Hear From You”” and ““Right Where I Belong””. Also included is a free, sparkly tiara for those little young princesses and a free Shutterfly Photo Book ($29.99 value) for the parents. Honestly, this is worth the purchase alone just for the photo book.

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Starring: Rob Lowe, Will Rothhaar, Ginnifer Goodwin, Michelle Trachtenberg, Jack Noseworthy, Casey Siemaszko
Director: Nelson McCormick
Rated: TV-14
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 87 / 90 minutes

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

“Killing Kennedy” is based on the 2012 non-fiction book of the same title by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. The film premiered on National Geographic Channel on November 10, 2013. It stars Rob Lowe as President John F. Kennedy, Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald, Ginnifer Goodwin as Jacqueline Kennedy, Michelle Trachtenberg as Marina Oswald and Will Rothhaar as Lee Harvey Oswald. Produced by the late Tony Scott (“Unstoppable”) and Ridley Scott (“Prometheus”). I enjoyed the film but I did feel like it had too much a TV movie quality about it. It did have great performances from everyone in the cast. I was interested to see what Lowe could do with JFK and he nailed it.

Official Premise: The film traces the chilling events leading up to the gunshot heard around the world: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas in 1963. As John F. Kennedy (Lowe) rises to become U.S. president, a former Marine grows disillusioned with America. But when their paths ultimately cross, the course of history is changed forever in a chilling aftermath.

When “Killing Kennedy” aired on National Geographic, it ran about 88 minutes without commercials. The made-for-TV thriller is presented here with an never-before-seen extended cut, which runs about three minutes extra. Fox delivered this Blu-ray with an HD Digital Ultraviolet copy as well.  The 1080p transfer is solid for a TV movie and a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well creating the thrilling drama. In terms of special features, there is “Killing Kennedy: An Interview with Author Bill O’Reilly”, which gives good insight into the story. There is also a featurette “The Kennedy Mystique”. Both of these are work checking out for history junkies, no question.

Creator: Leslie Stevens
Starring: Hugh O’Brian, Tony Franciosa, Doug McClure, Burgess Meredith
Distributed by: Warner Archive Collection
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1150 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Fans of this series have been awaiting this complete series release for a while. Back in 2011, the Warner Archive Collection put out “Probe” on DVD, which is the pilot telefilm for this 1972 NBC series. This 6-Disc set contains all 23-episodes from this short-lived, yet respected series. I am a technology nerd and this show was way ahead of its time with its gadgets and goodies. I think this is probably why this show didn’t last. “Search” had a great cast including Hugh O’Brian, Doug McClure, Tony Franciosa and the great Burgess Meredith. The show was clever and quite sharp and if you are a fan of this show, this is a no-brainer.

Official Premise: Hugh O’Brian, Doug McClure and Tony Franciosa rotate leads as elite high tech espionage operatives for Probe Division of World Securities Corporation in this spy-sensational SF-flavored actioner from Leslie Stevens (creator, The Outer Limits) and Robert Justman (Producer and one of the guiding lights of Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation). Each agent, dubbed a “Probe”, is wired for worldwide surveillance thanks to a Scanner (miniature video camera) and dental/ear implant. Tracking their telemetry and giving real-time mission advice is a team of specialists at Probe Control directed by the brilliant, irascible V.C.R. Cameron (Burgess Meredith).

This show also has a great collection of special guests including Stefanie Powers, Bill Bixby, Mary Ann Mobley, Sebastian Cabot, Barbara Feldon, Mel Ferrer and Joanna Cameron. This series has never been before released on DVD and thanks to Warner Archive, fans of this show can finally own this complete series. The episodes do not have with a brand new restoration but they are still solid within their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The episode include a mono track, which works for the DVD. This release from Warner Archive is made to order and will be available only for a limited time. There are no additional special features included on this DVD.

Actors: Frank Welker, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Grey DeLisle Griffin, Matthew Lillard, John Rhys-Davies
Directors: Jomac Noph
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 45 minutes

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

I love “Scooby Doo”, I grew up watching it and now I have a daughter of my own that I can share it with. “Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map” is a unique take on the series since it is done with all puppets. That’s right puppets! I think it works for the most part. I still prefer classic animation but I enjoyed the change. Most importantly, my 20 month old daughter enjoyed this quite a bit. It is short, running 45 minutes, so it also kept her attention the entire time. I would recommend checking this out whether you are an old time “Scooby Doo” fan or if you have kids (for sure).

Official Premise: Get ready to experience the world-famous Scooby-Doo! and Crew like never before in this all-new, original puppet movie! What begins as a routine night for the Gang — which includes the slobbering sleuth and Shaggy eating a triple-extra-large Scooby snack pizza — becomes a mad dash to find the frightening Phantom Parrot, who has a map to pirate Gnarlybeard’s hidden treasure. Scooby sniffs out the map’s clues, which lead him right to a spooky pirate ship. Ruh-roh! What will Gnarlybeard be willing to do to protect his booty? The whole family will love casting off on this mysterious, fun-filled voyage again and again.

There are two bonus cartoons included along with this film. “The Backstage Rage” is the ninth episode of the first season of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”, which first aired back in 1969. The other is “Robopup”, which is the twelfth episode of the first season of “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” that aired back in 1988. It may be a whole lot of extras but when you have young child that asks for “More” after the film is over, it was nice to have another 45 minutes of episodes to share with her.

Actors: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, Bob Odenkirk, Missy Doty
Director: Alexander Payne
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

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

Alexander Payne’s films are usually quite unique and different than standard film. “Nebraska” looked different right from the start since it is filmed in black and white. Personally, I feel like it is a little too long running nearly two hours. I think this would have been much better running at 90 minutes. It does have some amazing performances from Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk. Everyone thinks of Will Forte as just a funnyman and he is quite funny in this but he also has a great dramatic side. This might not be for everyone but I enjoyed it’s subtle aspects.

Official Premise: From Academy Award winner Alexander Payne, the director of Sideways and The Descendants, comes the film that critics are calling “An American Masterpiece.” When a father (Bruce Dern) and his adult son (Will Forte) embark on a journey to claim a million-dollar prize, what begins as a fool’s errand becomes a search for the road to redemption. Discover why Nebraska is “one of those movies I’ll watch for the rest of my life.”

Paramount delivers this combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and works well with the black and white shot film. I thought that the choice to shoot this film this way really added a lot of character. The audio consists of an interesting choice with it’s DTS-HD Master Audio 3.0 track, this is a different choice but it works well. There is only one special feature included on this release but it does cover a decent amount of ground looking behind-the-scenes. “The Making of Nebraska” looks into the script, cast and characters, locations, shooting in black and white and more. Would have loved to see a commentary track for this film.

Starring: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernandez, Noah Emmerich, Margo Martindale
Number of discs: 3
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 572 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Last year, I received a lot of emails and press releases from FX for their new show “The Americans”. I didn’t really give it a second look. Then a buddy of mine that never recommends any TV or movies to me says that he was obsessed with this show and I thought “Wait a second, I might need to check this show out”. Well, I am glad I did because is thrilling, smart and comes packed with a fantastic cast. Now that I am hooked on this series, I will be anxiously waiting the second season premiere on February 26, 2014.

Official Premise: Secrets can be deadly in this suspenseful thriller about undercover Russian spies in 1980s Washington, D.C. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) seem to be a typical suburban couple, but they’re actually lethal KGB agents plotting to bring down America. As the Cold War escalates, Philip and Elizabeth must take extreme measures to continue their mission and keep their true identities hidden. But when an FBI agent moves in across the street, they become ensnared in a pulse-pounding game of cat and mouse.

“The Americans” looks really sharp on Blu-ray. I love the cinematography in this show. It is show very well. The 1080p transfers really are awesome for these episodes which transform NYC into Washington D.C. Having worked in both of these locations, I loved trying to figure out where these episodes were shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks are also impressive as well. Nathan Barr’s score for this show is great. It is thrilling and adds great tension to the episodes.

There are great special features included for the Blu-ray release. There is an audio commentary track for the season finale, “The Colonel”, with Joseph Weisberg, Joel Fields and Noah Emmerich. I would have loved to see a few more tracks but this episode was great and we get some great info. There are three featurettes going behind-the-scenes into the show with “Executive Order 2579: Exposing the Americans”, “Perfecting the Art of Espionage” and “Ingenuity Over Technology”. There is also a Gag Reel and Deleted Scenes included for this season.

Starring: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu
Director: Rob Marshall
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 113 minutes

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

Rob Marshall’s award winner musical “Chicago” is a great musical and probably is responsible for bringing the musical back in so many words. The film has an all-star cast including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly. I do not really understand why this film is getting a new “Diamond Edition” Blu-ray right now but is definitely worth checking out. I have seen this show on Broadway and yet the film actually supersedes the play. A must own for any fan of the film.

Official Premise: At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago’s famed Murderess Row. They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town’s slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there’s only room for one legend!

Lions Gate delivered this Diamond Edition with a brand new, fully restored transfer. They are releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. I was blown away with this film when I first saw it and it looks stunning on Blu-ray. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio surround track sounds stunning. The songs have never sounded better and really benefit also from this new track. This new transfer and upgraded audio is a perfect reason to pick up this Blu-ray.

In terms of special features, there is some great content. “Chicago in the Spotlight” is a brand new retrospective documentary with cast and crew. I would have been happy with the new transfer and audio track but they even went one step further with this extra content. There is an interesting and informative audio commentary with director Rob Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon. There is a deleted musical number “Class” performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah. Lastly there is featurette focusing on “From Stage to Screen: The History of Chicago”.

Starring: Clifton Collins, Jr., Clancy Brown, Andre Royo
Director: J.T. Petty
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 87 minutes

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

I can’t apologize I am a sucker for horror films. Make it 3D horror and you really have me locked in. I have been a fan of horror director JT Petty (“The Burrowers”) since his first film “Soft for Digging”, which I remember he personally sent me on a VHS tape in the last 90’s. Top it off with a great cast including Clifton Collins Jr. (“The Boondock Saints II”) and Clancy Brown (“SpongeBob SquarePants”). This film is over-the-top and crazy as hell. Great visuals and If you love unique horror films, I would definitely recommend checking this film out for a fun time.

Official Premise: There are demons so terrible that no mortal man of God could successfully drive them back to Hell. The only option is for the exorcist himself to invite possession and then commit suicide, dragging along the demon to damnation – so the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints – or Hellbenders – was formed. A group of elite, highly-trained exorcists, they live in a constant state of debauchery so they will be ready to go to Hell at any moment. When an infernal Norse demon called Black Surtr escapes into New York City intent on cracking open the gates of Hell, the Hellbenders must use every ounce of their debauchery to battle the demon and save the planet from eternal damnation!

Lions Gate really gave this film the treatment. It delivers a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + HD Digital UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer is fantastic and really sharp. The film was shot in state of the art 3D and it really pops off the screen. I thought it was very well done and it really suits the film. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works well the action and the fantastic horror score. There is some decent special features included. There is a great audio commentary with writer/director JT Petty. There are also two behind-the-scenes featurette, “God’s Dirty Work – The Making of Hellbenders” and “Fly on the Wall”