Actors: Russi Taylor, Bret Iwan, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer
Directors: Donovan Cook
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 102 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Minnie-rella” is the latest special episode for the long running Disney Junior series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”. The episode is set to air on February 14th on Disney Junior but fans can get it early with this DVD release. Disney Junior has been already showing commercials for this special and my 20 month old daughter has been eating them up. She recently discovered “Cinderella”, also courtesy of Disney Junior and she has since fallen in love with it. This is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a very sweet classic story told with the  “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” twist. A must own for any parent who would like to invites their little princess to the ball!

Official Premise: Mouseke-magic meets storybook enchantment in a charming Clubhouse adventure inspired by your favorite fairy tale! To surprise Minnie with a special present, Mickey and the gang keep her busy with loads of chores until they pick out the perfect gift. Tired from so much work, Minnie falls asleep. and her dreamy fantasy begins. With a “Mouseke-doodle-lee-do,” Fairy Godmother Clarabelle waves her wand and sets the magic in motion. Will Minnie-Rella make it to Prince Mickey’s castle in time? What will happen at midnight? Will the slipper fit? With help from YOU – and the right Mouseketools – happily ever after is just a wish away!

Disney did a great job of also include three additional episodes from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” as a bonus feature to this release. Included are the following: “Pluto’s Tale”, “Mickey and the Enchanted Egg” and “Daisy’s Pony Tale”. These are all great episodes and fit in well with the fairy tale theme as well. Also there is still more with ten additional bonus “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” from season two of the short series. Lastly included with the DVD as an extra bonus for kids is a castle pop-up play set.

Actors: Jaleel White, Reginald Veljohnson, Jo Marie Payton, Rosetta Lenoire, Darius McCrary
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 528 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I remember every Friday night, my whole family would make such a big deal for “TGIF” on ABC, which included “Family Matters”, “Step By Step”, “Full House” and others like “Dinosaurs”. This was a time when families used to spend time together and watch them as a family. I always look back on shows like “Family Matters” with such fond memories. I am happy to see that this still still has a life on DVD and the kids that grew up with this show can now share it with their own families.

Official Premise: Family Matters: The Complete Fourth Season includes all 24 episodes filled with lots of laughter! Life lessons and laughs go hand in hand with the Winslow family and their ever-present neighbor Steve Urkel. So whether it’s hilarity on Halloween, a comical crisis on Christmas, a veritable “va-va-voom!” on Valentine’s Day or a memorable moment on a Monday, every day can be a good day with Family Matters.

Here are some pivotal moments of the fourth season: Michelle Thomas guest stars as Myra, Steve’s girlfriend. Carl and Steve compete on “American Gladiators” in hopes of settling a dispute. I actually remember where I was the first time I watched this episode. It is so funny how certain past events stick with you. Other craziness included when Urkel literally glues himself to Laura’s side. These are only a few of the great episodes included in this season. In fact season three was when this show really found its legs and this season was riding on those legs and delivered some of the best episodes.

“Family Matters: The Complete Third Season” was released in February 2013 and here we are in February 2014 with the release of “The Complete Fourth Season”. I wish that Warner Bros. would pick up the pace with this series and stop making fans wait a year before seasons. It is not like they are still airing this show. With nine seasons in total, at this pace fans will have to wait until 2019 before they can have the complete series on DVD, not to mention Blu-ray, which is the most current format. Please do not make us wait that long.

Actors: Amelia Kinkade, Cathy Podewell, Allison Barron, Alvin Alexis, Linnea Quigley
Directors: Kevin Tenney
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

When I was a kid, I used to rent from the video store called Royal Video (now long gone) in Long Island, NY. I remember they used to have a huge standee advertising this film and probably drew me into watching this film way too young. Amelia Kinkade was so great in the role of Angela. One of my favorite Screen Queens, Linnea Quigley, steals the show. This film is a perfect example of a great 1980’s splatter-fest. It has what every a guy would want in a horror movie. If you grew up with this film as I have, I highly recommend this. Hopefully Shout! is planning on releasing the two sequels on Blu-ray as well. They can keep the terrible remake though 😉

Official Premise: It’s Halloween night and Angela is throwing a party, but this is no ordinary spook bash. Everybody’s headed to Hull House, a deserted funeral home with a shocking secret in its past and something evil alive in its basement. Now the guests are becoming possessed, and this party’s treats include tongue-ripping, eyeball gouging, gratuitous nudity, bloody dismemberment and more. Welcome to the blowout where all Hell is breaking loose: You’re invited to Night Of The Demons.

This film flies onto Blu-ray with a fantastic Blu-ray transfer. I feel that the film has never looked better. I remember viewing this on VHS and if I only could have see it this way because it looks great. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works so well with the film’s music and the scares as well. This Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes with a great new cover art and also the classic poster artwork as well on the reserve side.

In terms of special features, there are a few great brand new extras created for this release. There is a new commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney and actors Cathy Podewell, Hal Havins, Billy Gallo and FX artist Steve Johnson. This one is a blast and great way to revisit this film. There is also another audio commentary track with Director Kevin Tenney, Executive Producer Walter Josten and Producer Jeff Geoffray. There are also new interviews with cast and crews including director Kevin Tenney, riter/producer Joe Augustyn and actress Linnea Quigley. Lastly there is a Promo Reel, trailers, TV spots and still galleries included.

Actors: Robert Redford
Directors: J. C. Chandor
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

You have to give it to Robert Redford, the guy is 77 years old and he is still able to rock a role like “All is Lost”. The film was quite intense and was able to keep my full attention…for about half the film. I wasn’t able to take my eyes off the screen. I really cared for the character but this would have worked much better as a 90 minutes film. In terms of acting though, he gave what a hell of a performance and he does it basically without speaking. Very few actors are able to pull that off. So if you are looking for a film with great acting, I would recommend checking this out but personally it just didn’t do it for me.

Official Premise: Academy Award winner Robert Redford stars in “All is Lost”, an open-water thriller about one man’s battle for survival against the elements after his sailboat is destroyed at sea. Using only a sextant and nautical maps to chart his progress, he is forced to rely on ocean currents to carry him into a shipping lane in hopes of hailing a passing vessel. But with the sun unrelenting, sharks circling and his meager supplies dwindling, the ever-resourceful sailor soon finds himself staring his mortality in the face.

Lions Gate is releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray and Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer is solid and really makes you feel like you are at sea with Mr. Redford. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well to create the drama and almost succeeds in getting you sea sick. The special features are a score, no question. There is a solid audio commentary from Writer/Director/Producer J.C. Chandor and Producers Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb. There are  two featurettes “Big Film, Small Film” and “Preparing for The Storm”, which also includes focus on Storyboards, VFX Reel and Pre-Shooting. There are four vignettes looking at the The Story, The Filmmaker: JC Chandor, The Actor: Robert Redford and The Sound of All Is Lost. Lastly there is Time-lapse Footage for the film, which is pretty cool to check out.

Actors: Alan Tudyk, Michelle Monaghan, Shemar Moore, Sean Astin, Christopher Gorham
Directors: Jay Oliva
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 79 minutes

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

“Justice League: War” is based on the 2012 graphic novel, “Justice League: Origin” and focuses on the world before the Justice League was created and gives us a new animated incarnation of DC Entertainment’s “The New 52”. The DCU movies are getting better and better with each new title. This one is edgy and really uses its PG-13 to the fullest. There is some decent kills, some of which are quite bloody. I just really enjoyed this origin story all around. I will be anxiously waiting for Spring’s “Son of Batman” up next.

The film packs a solid voice cast including Jason O’Mara as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Christopher Gorham as Barry Allen/The Flash, Justin Kirk as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Alan Tudyk as Clark Kent/Superman, Michelle Monaghan as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore as Victor Stone/Cyborg, Sean Astin as Shazam, Bruce Thomas as Desaad and Steve Blum as Darkseid. I did not think that Alan Tudyk at first would make a great Superman…but he definitely nailed it.

Official Premise: When the powerful Darkseid and his massive, relentless forces invade Earth, a group of previously unaligned super heroes — misunderstood and, in some cases, hunted by the authorities — discover the only way to fend off the attack will be to work together as a cohesive unit. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Shazam and Cyborg combine their respective talents in an all-out battle to save the planet.

Warner Bros. yet again delivers a very impressive combo pack including Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The animation in the film is really sharp. I loved the character designs showing our superheros quite younger. The action is also represented well within the Blu-ray transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also rock solid and packs a real punch. The walls were definitely shaking in some of the epic battle scenes.

The special features are impressive like the film. There is “Deconstructing Justice League: War with Jay Oliva & Jim Lee”, which servers as a part commentary/part documentary going deep into the film. “Creating Heroes: The Life and Art of Jim Lee” is a documentary looking into the work of the great comic artist. “Justice League: War Act D” looks at the film from animatic to pencil tests. There are four episodes taken from the DC Comics Vault including Justice League Unlimited Season 3 “Destroyer”, Batman: The Brave and The Bold Season 2 “The Malicious Mr. Mind”, Young Justice Invasion: Destiny Calling Season 2 Part 1 “Happy New Year” and Season 2 Part 1 “Earthlings”. Lastly there is a sneak peek at “Son of Batman”, the next DC Animated Feature.

Directors: David Schmoeller, David W. Allen, David DeCoteau
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Full Moon Features
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Run Time: 264 minutes

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

“Puppet Master: The Blu-ray Collection – Volume 1” includes the following films “Puppet Master”, “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”. When you think of Full Moon Features, you thing of “Puppet Master”. They are the face for this company and in fact, they are the most successful independent direct-to-video horror franchise of all time! There has been a dozen films in this series and they may not all be perfect but they are certainly fun. This series has also seen some great talent come through including Paul Le Mat (“American Graffiti”, William Hickey (“The Nightmare Before Christmas), Irene Miracle (“Midnight Express” and Jimmie F. Skaggs (“Lethal Weapon”. A must own for any Full Moon fan. I just have one question since this came out in late 2012…where is Volume 2?

Series Official Premise: The secret of life has been discovered by master puppeteer Andre Toulon. But we quickly discover Toulon’s secret of death in the form of five killer puppets-each one uniquely qualified for murder and mayhem. Tunneler has a nasty habit of boring holes in people with his drill bit head. Ms. Leech regurgitates killer leeches that suck her victims dry. Pinhead strangles his enemies with his powerful vice-like hands. Blade has a gleaming hook for one hand and a razor-sharp knife for the other. And Jester, the ruthless brains of the bunch, is absolutely merciless. Together, they’re an army of skilled assassins, diabolically programmed to guard the deadly secrets of the Puppet Master throughout the decades.

The first 3 films, “Puppet Master”, “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”, have been fully remastered in HD and presented in 16:9. Each of them come stock with a 5.1 Surround Sound track as well. “Puppet Master” was surprisingly the worst of the bunch. But when you watch the comparison video below you realize how much work they actually did. Concerning “Puppet Master II” and “Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge”, they were both a vast improvement and looked pretty darn sharp in their high-def transfers. Full Moon actually went to work and deliver it’s fans some decent special features as well for these films. There are brand new introductions by Puppet Master creator Charles Band. There are also never-before-heard audio commentaries by Charles Band, writer C. Courtney Joyner (“Puppet Master III”), and director David DeCoteau (“Puppet Master III”). There are a few behind-the-scenes VideoZones episodes. There is a montage of “Puppet Master” kills. Lastly there is a rare “Puppet Master” promo and various Full Moon trailers included.

Check out below to see how the film was restored and a nice comparison:

Starring: Tracy Scoggins, Daniel Cerny, Bentley Mitchum
Director: Peter Manoogian
MPAA Rated: R
Studio: Full Moon Features
Release Date: January 16, 2014
Run Time: 86 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

When I think of Full Moon, I think of cute yet very deadly creatures reigning terror. Whether it is puppets, gingerbread men or kids toys. “Demonic Toys” is a great entry in Full Moon’s films of the 90’s. Baby Oopsie Daisy, Jack Attack and Grizzly Teddy are a few of the character this film swamped. They have been reprised in various future films including spinoffs “Dollman vs. Demonic Toys”, “Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys” and sequel, “Demonic Toys 2”. This film is not perfect but it is a classic 90’s horror film and this is a must purchase for any Full Moon fan!

Official Premise: They’re cute and cuddly by day, lethal demons by night. Ruthless killing machines come alive for just one purpose…death. And for five adults in an abandoned warehouse, every child’s worst nightmare has become a deadly reality. While on a stakeout, Judith Gray (Tracy Scoggins), a beautiful, tough cop, is trapped inside a warehouse full of toys. But these are no ordinary playthings they have been awakened to murderous life by a strange child of darkness, “The Kid” (Daniel Cerny). Each toy feeds on blood: Jack Attack heads straight for the throat; Grizzly Teddy is not afraid to show its claws; and Baby Oopsie Daisy is truly to die for. Now it’s up to Gray and a passing delivery boy, Mark Wayne (Bentley Mitchum), to stop the deadly, DEMONIC TOYS!

I have to be honest, I wasn’t really expecting a crystal clear 1080p transfer for this title. What we got though was a bit of a let down personally. There was quite a bit noise and the transfer shows its true age. It is still a step up from DVD release but I think they could have done a little more in terms of cleaning this up. The same goes for the audio track, since there is only a Dolby Digital 2.0 track included for me that screams DVD not Blu-ray. The only special features included are an original VideoZone episode and a few rare trailers.

Actors: Tim Thomerson, Jackie Earle Haley, Kamala Lopez, Humberto Ortiz, Nicholas Guest
Director: Albert Pyun
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Full Moon Features
DVD Release Date: December 17, 2013
Run Time: 80 minutes

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

I remember the first time that I saw “Dollman”, I rented it on VHS from a mom and pop store called Royal Video in Long Island, New York. The film introduced me to Tim Thomerson and due to that I also became a huge fan of “Trancers” series. The film does have the best script or effects but that matter…but it does have done cool kill scenes and overall is fun as hell. So this film has a special place with me and I am glad to see that Full Moon Features gave it new life on Blu-ray.

Official Premise: Brick Bardo (Tim Thomerson) is a traveler from outer space who is forced to land on Earth. Though regular sized on his home planet, he is doll-sized here on Earth, as are the enemy forces who have landed as well. While Brick enlists the help of an impoverished girl and her son, the bad guys enlist the help of a local gang. When word leaks out as to his location, all hell breaks loose. Brick is besieged by an onslaught of curious kids, angry gang members, and his own doll-sized enemies, and he must protect the family who has helped him and get off the planet alive.

The 1080p transfer for this title looks good, it is not perfect but definitely good. You have to imagine that this was made in the early 90’s on video and due to that it shows its age a little but I feel that it adds to the charm. The audio options for a bit of a let down in terms of HD option but there are both Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 track available. The score is still sharp but I would have loved to see HD options.

There are some decent special features included. First, there is the original VideoZone episode included. There is a video vidcast with Tim Thomerson and Charles Band from July 2013, instead though I would have loved to see Charles and Tim and do a new commentary track. There is 1988 promo for the lost “Pulse Pounders”. Lastly there are series trailers for “Trancers” and other Full Moon titles.

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Actors: Victoria De Mare, John Patrick Jordan, Robin Sydney, Sonny Carl Davis, Amy Paffrath
Director: Charles Band
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Full Moon Features
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 80 minutes

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

If you are a fan of Full Moon Features, then you are probably just as excited as I was for this crossover horror/comedy film. “Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong” brings together two of Full Moon’s successful characters into one crazy-ass film. I have to admit, I was really expecting a little more from this crossover. The main problem I had with it was that it spent a good portion of time rehashing each of the battling characters’ prior films in a flashback sequences. So it felt like a bit of a cop out and just burning through time. I am still a fan of both franchises, so it was fun to see them come together. If you enjoy Full Moon films, then this is worth checking out though I am sure that this would work much better under the influence of the “evil” bong.

Official Premise: It’s a War of the Colossal Freaks when serial killing cookie, Gingerdead Man, tracks down the lone survivor of his murderous rampage, Sarah Leigh (Robin Sydney), to take care of unfinished business. But his devious plans go up in smoke when Sarah meets Larnell (John Patrick Jordan), who has a pint-sized problem of his own. The Evil Bong, Eebee, has been unleashed once again. Bodies begin to pile up as Gingerdead Man carves a path for them. Their only salvation is to turn to help from the dastardly Bong. It’s one tough cookie versus one bad trip mother when the two Titans of Terror hash out a war in the Bong World. The stakes have never been higher.

The presentation of the release is much worth mentioning. It comes in a very cool “Nookie Crisp”/”Weedies” Double-Sided Cereal Box and yes, there is actually an 11.5 oz bag of cookie cereal included!  I had a bit of a hard time opening the box as it was super glue sealed shut. So I had to do a bit of surgery to open the bottom of the box, so that was a little annoying. Still it is a great display piece and is down right funny as well. There is also a a surprise collector’s item gift in every box. I got a “Evil Bong” magnet, which features the poster art from the first film. There is also some special features included as well for the film including some trailers and a VideoZone episode.

Actors: Saoirse Ronan, George MacKay
Directors: Kevin Macdonald
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 101 minutes

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

I found out about “How I Live Now” through the composer Jon Hopkins, who asked me to check out his score to the film. Let me tell you the score is outstanding but the film is definitely not. I think it is safe to say now that I am official not a fan of Saoirse Ronan. With this film, which was quite unwatchable topped with last year’s gem and official worst film of the year, “The Host”. I honestly expected more from co-writer Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and Academy Award-winning director Kevin MacDonald (The Last King of Scotland). Skip the film, buy the soundtrack.

Official Premise: Set in the near-future UK, Saoirse Ronan plays Daisy, an American teenager sent to stay with relatives in the English countryside. Initially withdrawn and alienated, she begins to warm up to her charming surroundings, and strikes up a romance with the handsome Edmund (George MacKay). But on the fringes of their idyllic summer days are tense news reports of an escalating conflict in Europe. As the UK falls into a violent, chaotic military state, Daisy finds herself hiding and fighting to survive.

The Blu-ray presentation on this Blu-ray is quite beautiful. It really captures the locations quite well. I enjoyed it very much. The real winner of the release is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which portrays the music and Jon Hopkins score so well. I love his score, it is soft and deep but also quite dark. In terms of special features, there is only a cheap EPK featurette, “AXS TV: A Look at How I Live Now” and trailer included.

Starring: Peter Cushing, Susan Denberg, Thorley Walters, Duncan Lamont, Barry Warren
Director: Terence Fisher
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Millennium/Hammer
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

Personally, when I think about Peter Cushing, I think about him as Baron Frankenstein. He became well-known for playing that role through six films spanning from late 1950’s through the 1970’s under Hammer Studios. “Frankenstein Created Woman” is the fourth film in Hammer’s Frankenstein series. The film is such a classic and thanks to Millennium Films, the film is getting Blu-ray treatment for the first time ever. They have big proprietor of Hammer Films and I hope that this trend continues because it great to see classics like this get the spotlight again. A must have for any true horror fan!

Official Premise: A tormented girl (Susan Denberg) drowns herself after her lover is framed for her father s murder and guillotined. Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing), experimenting with the transfer of souls, places her lover s soul into her body, bringing Christina back to life. With no memories of her past life, she becomes driven by a ghostly revenge and carries out a violent retribution on those responsible for both deaths.

It is crazy to this that this film is nearly 50 years old…but it is true. Millennium delivered a solid 1080p transfer. It is clean and really sharp looking. I thought it really packed a visual punch. The same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which really captures the essence of what a Hammer film should sound like.  This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray also includes limited edition exclusive collectible cards. They are basically smaller reproduced lobby cards for the film and a must have for any collector.

In terms of special features, this release scores again. There is a fantastic audio commentary track with Derek Fowlds (“Johann”), Robert Morris (“Hans”) and Jonathan Rigby (Hammer Historian). There is also a brand new documentary called “Hammer Glamour”. This is a must watch for any Hammer fan. There are also two “World of Hammer” episodes included. The first is “The Curse of Frankenstein” and “Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing”. Great extras. Lastly, there is an Animated Stills Gallery and trailer included.

Actors: Jim Breuer
Directors: Jay Chapman
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: November 26, 2013
Run Time: 58 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

At the beginning of this special, Jim Breuer questions himself about how he should do his latest stand-up special. He does this with multiple impersonations. From Joe Pesci to Ozzy Osbourne. It seems like an odd way to begin his latest special. A moment the live audience won’t see from his dressing room. It’s even more bizarre because it’s not necessarily funny, but if you don’t listen to metal, then you’re not gonna find too much to laugh at in the first 20 minutes.

I’m someone who owns every Iron Maiden, Metallica and Slayer album. Sadly though, I’ve only seen Slayer live. So when he kicks things off by talking about becoming an aging metalhead, he has my full attention. Jim Breuer has always had hard rock and metal as a staple of his stand-up, but this time around he’s hit his 40’s. He compares his usual suburban outings, dressing up and watching musicals, to convincing his wife to see Metallica and surviving the madness of Slayer fans. Just so you’re not too out of the loop, he cleverly compares fans seeing Eddie in Iron Maiden to children watching the plush children’s music group, the Wiggles.

If that’s not your cup of tea, he manages to tell the stories of life. The pitfalls of becoming a father, a “jungle safari” and talking about those unnecessary conversations he has with other parents about why his children don’t own a cell phone. He’s very skillful at weaving his stories and comically acting out the folks in his scenarios. He makes sure to complete his stories with Michael Winslow style, microphone induced sound effects. He manages to mouth everything he can from guttural noises to horns. Instead of joke after joke, it’s more like he’s laying out real and possible scenarios and tells it like a story. He really gets into it making full use of the stage to act out.

There doesn’t appear to be an overall theme to the stand-up, but most of his stand-ups that I’ve watched didn’t seem to have one. If there is an idea to this, it’s about how aging has changed his perspective on many things. He could change his stand-up. He could become more relatable. Maybe he could swear more or not swear at all. Those are the questions he poses at the beginning, but by the end when he recounts the day he decided to stand-up, it becomes clear. He loves what he’s done and there’s no reason to change now.

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Starring: James Stewart, Ellen Geer, James Daly, Dennis Larson, Kirby Furlong, John McGiver
Distributed: Warner Archive
Running Time: 606 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

James Stewart was such an amazing actor both dramatic and comedic. “The Jimmy Stewart Show” started in 1971 and ran for 24 episodes. The show included guest stars such as M. Emmet Walsh, Cesar Romero, Kate Jackson, Alan Oppenheimer, Fran Ryan, Jack Soo, Will Geer, Nita Talbot, Regis Philbin, William Windom and Gloria DeHaven. It was a real blast from the bast to watch this show. It still has the comedic edge and delivered a few great laughs. If you are a fan of Mr. Stewart, this would come recommended.

Official Premise: James Stewart made a rare sojourn into the world of Situation Comedy on NBC at the dawn of the Seventies. His gift for comedy, on grand cinema display since the dawn of his career, made him a congenial fit for the familial world of episodic comedy. Stewart plays Professor James Howard, an anthropologist struggling to make sense of the generation gap with his college students and just plain struggling to make sense of his own family.

Jim and wife Martha are busy raising an eight-year-old, as is their twenty-nine-year-old first born, Peter (James Daly) and his wife, Wendy (Ellen Geer). And “Uncle Teddy” (Dennis Larson) is sure to demand “the proper respect” from his five-day-older nephew, Jake (Kirby Furlong). It’s a good thing Jim has a Nobel Prize-winning best friend, chemistry professor Dr. Luther Quince (John McGiver) to help make sense of the chaos, especially after a house fire forces Peter’s family to move in with Jim’s!

This series is brought back to life thanks to Warner Archive, who delivered it onto DVD for the first time. The release is MOD or Made-To-Order, so if you do want to get a copy of this show I would recommend doing so quickly because we do not know for how long they will be producing it. The show looks aged a bit and I do not think there was a full restore here but it looks still decent for DVD.  The show is presented in with its original aspect ratio of  1.37:1. There are no additional special features included.

Starring: Agnes Bruckner, Martin Landau, Adam Goldberg, Cary Elwes, and Virginia Madsen
Director: Mary Harron
Distributed by: Sony Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 89 minutes

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

When I saw the cover for “Anna Nicole”, I would have sworn that it was a documentary about the late supermodel. Agnes Bruckner (TV’’s ““Private Practice”) is really spot on with the looks and the nails this role. The film is based on the New York Magazine article “”Paw Paw & Lady Love”” by Dan Paul Lee. It also packs a solid supporting cast including Martin Landau, Adam Goldberg, Cary Elwes, and Virginia Madsen. Growing up “adoring” Anna Nicole in her prime as a kid, I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look into her troubled life.

Official Premise: Anna Nicole Smith (Agnes Bruckner) was a single mother from Texas, who became one of the biggest supermodels in the world, but her sudden catapult to fame came with a price, as drugs, alcohol and reckless behavior led her down a tragic path. Now you get to see the whole story in this compelling original film, as Anna Nicole’s sexual desires, crippling addictions and her overwhelming need to be famous lead her from incredible fame and fortune to her unfortunate descent.

This film also grabbed by attention since it comes from the Director of “American Psycho”, Mary Harron. I think she had a good vision and it shows both the rise and the fall of this supermodel quite well balanced. It is well-written thanks to John Rice & Joe Batteer (“Blown Away”, “Windtalkers”). If there are any fans out there still of Anna Nicole Smith, I would recommend giving this a watch for sure. Just remember this was made for Lifetime, so don’t expect any skin. The one thing that I was a little upset about that there are no special features included along with this DVD. I would have been curious to see about Agnes transformation into Anna Nicole.

Actors: George A. Romero, Larry Fessenden, Mark Harris, Gale Anne Hurd, Elvis Mitchell
Directors: Rob Kuhns
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: First Run Features
DVD Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 76 minutes

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

“The Walking Dead” is one of the hottest shows on TV right now. It is a world wide phenomenon. But this zombie madness all started back in 1968 with George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”. Originally when I heard about “Birth of the Living Dead”, I thought “another documentary?” but I was really pleasantly surprised. The documentary is smart, sharp and very informative. There are a very small list of interviews included, which I feel works for this film because it keeps Romero front and center, as he should be. Highly recommended for any horror fan!

Official Premise: In 1968 a young college drop-out named George A. Romero directed Night of the Living Dead, a low budget horror film that shocked the world, became an icon of the counterculture, and spawned a zombie industry worth billions of dollars that continues to this day. Birth of the Living Dead shows how Romero gathered an unlikely team of Pittsburghers policemen, iron workers, teachers, ad-men, housewives and a roller-rink owner to shoot a revolutionary guerrilla style film that went on to become a cinematic landmark, offering a profound insight into how our society worked in a singular time in American history.

This film delivers some impressive special features. There is an extended interview with George A. Romero, which runs just over 30 minutes. I liked listening to his stories and they interview is quite interesting. There is an audio only extra called “George A. Romero at the Museum of Modern Art, June 16, 1970”, which runs about 10 minutes. Lastly there is also a feature “Bill Hinzman and the World Record-Breaking Monroeville Zombie Walk”, which is worth the price of the DVD only.

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