Actors: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline
Directors: Jon Turteltaub
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

From the moment this was announced it was referred to as the senior citizen take on “The Hangover”. It doesn’t quite pack that comedic level of that film but it does come back with an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline. The film has its moments with a few decent laughs but also misses a few as well. I still enjoyed watching this film but it is what I like to call a “one-timer”. I would recommend checking it out if not just to see this wonderful cast together and, of course, the beautiful Las Vegas. This makes me want to take the next trip to the sin city.

Official Premise: Billy (Michael Douglas), Paddy (Robert De Niro), Archie (Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his 30-something-year-old girlfriend (of course), the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it’s these four who are taking over Vegas.

This DVD includes an UltraViolet digital copy as well, which is a nice bonus. In terms of special features there is some decent content but nothing spectacular and again the Blu-ray comes stocked with more. There is an audio commentary track from Director Jon Turteltaub & Writer Dan Fogelman, worth checking out if you love the film, I wasn’t really digging it. There are also three featurettes included. The film is “It’s Going to be Legendary”, which goes behind-the-scenes with main cast. “Four Legends” look at this ensemble cast. Lastly “The Flatbush Four” focuses on the character arcs of these four main characters.

Actors: Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barkhad Abdirahman, Catherine Keener, Faysal Ahmed
Directors: Paul Greengrass
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 134 minutes

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

Tom Hanks is a such tremendous actor and I have been a big fan of his work recently, especially with “Cloud Atlas”. His performance in “Captain Phillips” was no question some of his best work to date. It is very emotional and very intense. The film was based on real events and is so well done that it literally has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I originally wasn’t planning on rush out to theaters to see this but I am really glad I did since I really enjoyed this. I just wonder what happened to Hank’s Oscar nod? Either way this comes highly recommended!

Official Premise: Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is – through director Paul Greengrass’s distinctive lens – simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama’s commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy award®-winner Tom Hanks), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips’ unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

This film works well on DVD, it is a not a film that screams Blu-ray release. The audio and video are still solid since the film relies more on the actor’s performances then flashy effects. What is good at least is that there are the same special features that is included on the DVD as there is on the Blu-ray. That has not always been the same recently either. There is a very interesting audio commentary track with director Paul Greengrass. There is also a three-part featurette “Capturing Captain Phillips” including “Embarkation”, “Full Ahead” and “Stand Fast”. Lastly there is also a UltraViolet Digital Copy, so that is a nice bonus!

Actors: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jim Caviezil
Directors: Mickael Hafstrom
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Summit Inc/Lionsgate
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Run Time: 115 minutes

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

“Escape Plan” is an action fans dream come true bringing legends Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger together in one film. I know they were in “The Expendables” films together but that felt more like a cameo. “Escape Plan” is pure escapism. It is quite intense and definitely action-packed thriller. It also features an impressive supporting cast including Jim Caviezel (TV’s “Person of Interest”), Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (“Fire with Fire”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Vinnie Jones (“X-Men: The Last Stand”) and Vincent D’Onofrio (TV’s “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”). Recommended for sure to all 80’s action fan boys. These action stars are in their 60’s but they still kick-ass.

Official Premise: One of the world’s foremost authorities on structural security agrees to take on one last job: breaking out of an ultra-secret, high-tech facility called “The Tomb.” Deceived and wrongly imprisoned, Ray Breslin (Stallone) must recruit fellow inmate Emil Rottmayer (Schwarzenegger) to help devise a daring, nearly impossible plan to escape from the most protected and fortified prison ever built.

“Escape Plan” is quite the beast of a film. It cost $70 million and it looks quite awesome.  It arrives on Blu-ray as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD and Digital HD UltraViolet. The 1080p transfer really looks great and the high-tech prison is very polished looking. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works great with the non-stop action and even work up my daughter upstairs (sorry sweetie). When it comes to these action films you cannot help it but amp it up to 11 and test to see what these audio tracks can do.

In terms of special features, the film packs some decent extras. There is an audio commentary with Director Mikael Hafstrom and Co-Writer Miles Chapman. A little technical but still informative. There are three featurettes are included. “Executing the Plan: The Making of Escape Plan” goes behind-the-scenes in the production. “Maximum Security: The Real-Life Tomb” looks into how they built this prison. “Clash of the Titans” looks into bring our two leads together. Lastly there are a few Deleted Scenes included.

Actors: Michael Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headey, Aneurin Barnard, Ioan Gruffud
Director: Jonathan Newman
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Right off the bat, I was sold on “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box” due to this amazing cast including Michael Sheen (Showtime’s “Masters of Sex”, “TRON Legacy”), Lena Headey (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” “300”), Sam Neill (“Jurassic Park”), Ioan Gruffudd (“Fantastic Four), Aneurin Barnard (Starz’s “The White Queen”, “Ironclad”). There is a lot of great talent here. This fantasy/action/adventure film is quite epic and really fun. “The Adventurer” is a visual film and also packs a decent size budget, which really adds to the scale. I hope they are planning on making this a franchise because there is great position there.

Official Premise: Ancient mysteries. Powerful evil. And a fearless hero’s quest through a fantastical realm of steam-powered wonders and sinister magic… In “The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”, seventeen-year-old Mariah Mundi’s life is turned upside down when his parents vanish and his younger brother is kidnapped. Following a trail of clues to the darkly majestic Prince Regent Hotel, Mariah discovers a hidden realm of child-stealing monsters, deadly secrets and a long-lost artifact that grants limitless wealth – but also devastating supernatural power. With the fate of his world, and his family at stake, Mariah will risk everything to unravel the Curse of the Midas Box!

Image Entertainment delivered this film with a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer is sharp and looks great with the visual aspect of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track holds steady with the action and has some great wall-shaking  moments. There is only one special feature included on this Blu-ray. It is a decent behind-the-scenes look with “The Making of The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box”.  I would have loved to see a commentary track from this amazing cast as well.

Number of discs: 5
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Running Time: 798 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Attentions all husbands, boyfriends and guys all around – Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and let me guess you do not have a gift yet? Well you can thank Warner Bros because they are releasing the Nicholas Sparks Limited Edition DVD Collection. This is the first time that these films are available in one collection, The seven films includes, which are based on the best-selling author’s novels, include “Safe Haven”, “The Lucky One”, “Dear John”, “Nights in Rodanthe”, “A Walk to Remember”, “Message in a Bottle” and “The Notebook”. Along included there is also a special postcard set with images from each film and a letter from Nicholas Sparks.  A must own for any fan of Sparks!

Nicholas Sparks is one successful author.  All of his novels have been New York Times bestsellers, published in more than 50 languages, with more than 90 million copies in print worldwide. Being with my wife for 15 years, I have seen my fair share of his film. I have never read his books though, so I have no comparison there. I enjoyed “Safe Haven” because I love Julianne Hough and what woman doesn’t love Josh Duhamel. Personally “The Lucky One” is a pass, sorry Zac Efron. “Dear John” is great and I love the chemistry between Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried.  “Nights in Rodanthe” was decent. Richard Gere is still one sexy man. “A Walk to Remember” is probably my second least favorite. Lastly both “Message in a Bottle” and “The Notebook” are classics and must watches when it comes to chick flicks.

“Safe Haven” (2013) Official Premise: When a mysterious young woman (Julianne Hough, Rock of Ages) arrives in Southport, her reluctance to join the tight-knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex (Josh Duhamel, Transformers franchise), a widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and finds she must rely on the power of love.

“”The Lucky One” (2012) Official Premise: Zac Efron (17 Again) stars with Taylor Schilling (TV’s “Orange is the New Black”) and Blythe Danner (Meet the Parents franchise) in this romantic drama directed by Academy Award®-nominated writer/director Scott Hicks (Shine, 1996). U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq with the one thing he credits for keeping him alive — a photograph he found of a woman he doesn’t even know. Learning her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm.

“Dear John” (2010) Official Premise: Directed by Lasse Halström, Dear John tells the story of John Tyree (Channing Tatum, Magic Mike), a young soldier home on leave, and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried, Les Miserables), the idealistic college student he falls in love with during her spring vacation. Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John’s increasingly dangerous deployments. While meeting only sporadically, they stay in touch by sending a stream of love letters which eventually triggers fateful consequences.

“Nights in Rodanthe” (2008) Official Premise:  This rich tale of hearts awakening stars Richard Gere (Arbitrage) and Diane Lane (Secretariat). Gere is Paul, a surgeon who long ago unwittingly traded family for career. Lane is Adrienne, a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband’s infidelity and struggling with his desire to return to their marriage. At a remote inn on the Outer Banks, both separately expect to do some serious soul-searching. But an approaching storm forces each to turn to the other for strength, setting the stage for a life-resonating romance.

“The Notebook” (2004) Official Premise: The Notebook is a story of lost chances, growing up, and the power of enduring love. Spanning six decades, the romantic story focuses on two teenagers from opposite sides of the tracks (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) who fall in love during one summer but are tragically forced apart. When they reunite seven years later, their passionate romance is rekindled, forcing one of them to choose between true love and class order.

“A Walk to Remember” (2002) Official Premise: The inspiring coming-of-age story about first love, A Walk to Remember is about two very different North Carolina teenagers: Landon Carter (Shane West, TV’s “ER”), a troubled, unmotivated but very popular student, and Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore, Tangled), the serious and conservative daughter of a preacher. As love pulls them closer, peer pressure and lifestyles seek to break them apart. Directed by Adam Shankman (Rock of Ages), A Walk to Remember co-stars Peter Coyote (Erin Brockovich) and Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill Vols. 1 + 2).

“Message in a Bottle” (1999) Official Premise: In this tale of love lost and found, grieving widower Garret Blake (Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves) may know how to build boats, but cannot rebuild his life. Theresa (Robin Wright, TV’s “House of Cards”), a lonely divorcee and researcher for the Chicago Tribune, comes to his North Carolina village to find him, knowing that Garret is the author of the message she found inside a bottle on a Cape Cod beach. And she knows the message spoke to her in a way that profoundly touched her heart. Directed by Luis Mandoki (When a Man Loves a Woman), the film co-stars Paul Newman as Garret’s father.

I was really impressed that each of these films also come stocked with their own special features. Usually collection releases come bare bones. “Safe Haven” has the following special features included: Deleted scenes and an Alternate ending. “The Lucky Ones” comes with the following Special Features: Zac Efron Becomes a Marine, Watch the Sparks Fly — The Romantic World of ‘The Lucky One’, Zac and Taylor’s Amazing Chemistry and Zac and Zeus. “Dear John” comes with the following Special Features: Deleted & alternate scenes, Alternate ending, Outtakes, A Conversation with Channing, Amanda and Lasse Hallstrom, Transforming Charleston featurette, Military in Movies: ‘Dear John’s’ Military Advisors featurette, Mr. Tyree, The Mule and Benny Dietz featurette” and “The Story of Braeden Reed.

“Nights in Rodanthe” comes with the following Special Feature: Alternate scenes with director commentary, The Nature of Love: Richard Gere; Diane Lane and director George C. Wolfe Recall, A Time for Love: Keeping Up with Nicholas Sparks, An Intimate Look at ‘Nights In Rodanthe’ with singer/songwriter Emmylou Harris and Love Remains the Same — Gavin Rossdale’s music video. “The Notebook” comes with packed with the most extras Special Features of all including: Audio commentary by director Nick Cassavetes, Audio commentary by The Notebook novelist Nicholas Sparks, All in the Family: Nick Cassavetes featurette, Nicholas Sparks: A Simple Story, Well Told featurette, Southern Exposure: Locating ‘The Notebook’ featurette, Casting Ryan and Rachel featurette, Rachel McAdams Screen Test featurette and Deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by editor Alan Heim

“A Walk to Remember” comes with the following Special Feature: Audio commentary by director Adam Shankman, Mandy Moore and Shane West, Audio commentary by author Nicholas Sparks and screenwriter Karen Janszen and Cry — Mandy Moore music video. Lastly “Message in a Bottle” comes with the following Special Features: Audio commentary by director Luis Mandoki and producer Denise Di Novi, Deleted scenes with optional commentary and Five hidden special effects scenes. Like I said again and I will repeat this…this is a must have for any fan of Nicholas Sparks! I just wish it was a Blu-ray collection personally.

Starring: Danny Trejo, Alexa Vega, Mel Gibson, Amber Heard, Sofía Vergara, Charlie Sheen
Directors: Robert Rodriguez
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Running Time: 109 minutes

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

When I saw the faux trailer for Robert Rodriguez’s Machete in “Grindhouse”, I thought that would make an awesome and fun as hell movie. Well that came true with “Machete” was released in 2010. It was  good but not perfect. “Machete Kills” is a sharp follow up. It is a little more out-there, so to say, but I actually enjoyed it more than the first. The gore is amped up and the comedy is more slapstick. If you are looking for a good laugh and a wild ride then I would definitely recommend checking out “Machete Kills”. I really hope that Rodriguez some how gets to make “Machete Kills Again … IN SPACE!“, because I will be first in line.

Danny Trejo is not only bad-ass, he is beyond bad-ass. The guy is nearly 70 years old and yet he rocks this character like a pro! “Machete Kills” also packs a ridicoulosy insane support cast including Michelle Rodriguez, Mel Gibson, Sofía Vergara, Amber Heard, Charlie Sheen (using his real name of “Carlos Estévez”), Cuba Gooding, Jr., Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexa Vega and Tom Savini. Some of them play out like cameos but still really fun.

Official Premise: Danny Trejo returns as legendary ex-Federale Machete Cortez in this action- packed thrill ride from innovative director Robert Rodriguez. In his latest mission, Machete is recruited by the U.S. President (Charlie Sheen/Carlos Estevez) to stop a crazed global terrorist (Mel Gibson) from starting a nuclear war. With a bounty on his head, Machete breaks all the rules as he faces death at every turn from an all-star cast of deadly assassins.

Universal’s combo pack release is quite amazing containing a Blu-ray and DVD discs along with a Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The 1080p is quite awesome. The film started as a faux Grindhouse trailer. This film is much more polished but still keeps that Grindhouse feeling. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is equally awesome and really impresses ranging from the non-stop action, gunfire and explosions. In terms of special features though, there is not much here. “Making Machete Kills” is a decent 20 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the production. The only other extras are an additional 20 minutes of Deleted and Extended Scenes but they are nothing special. I would have loved for a crazy commentary track for sure on this crazy film.

Actors: Mark Chao, William Feng, Angelababy, Carina Lau, Lin Gengxin
Directors: Tsui Hark
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Well Go USA
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 134 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When I see a film from Tsui Hark, I don’t care what it is I just immediately add it to my list. I did that with his 2011 film, “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” and was so glad that I did since it was amazing. “Young Detective Dee: Rise of The Sea Dragon” is a prequel to that film and really amps up the ante. In fact, the prequel improves not only the story but also the visual effects. I felt like huge-budget epic summer film. Epic is the word that comes to my mind. What I also liked most is that this film is well-balanced and is exciting in the beginning, the middle and ridiculously awesome in the third act. Highly recommend to watch this film (but if possible in 3D, see below)

Official Premise: From legendary action director Tsui Hark and the creators of international smash hit “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame” comes the captivating tale of Dee Renjie s beginnings in the Imperial police force. His very first case, investigating reports of a sea monster terrorizing the town, reveals a sinister conspiracy of treachery and betrayal, leading to the highest reaches of the Imperial family.

I am really upset with not being able view this film in its intended 3D format. The film really sets up a lot of its visual effects with the added dimension and I felt like I missing a lot here. This is not the first time that Well-Go has done this either. They released terrible films like “Dino King 3D”, “Sadako 3D” and “Tormented 3D” all with 3D Blu-ray releases, so I have no idea why they have cheaped out on titles like this one, which would have been AMAZING in 3D. Bad move! To top it off there are no special features either. Great movie, terrible Blu-ray. I would try and import this release and get the 7.1 Dolby HD track with 3D Blu-ray.

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Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Alan Cumming, Colm Frere, Laura Fraser, Harry Lennix, Jonathan Rhys
Directed By: Julie Taymor
Distributed by: Twilight Time
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 162 minutes
Release Date: January 21, 2014

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

I remember seeing “Titus” back in 1999 in some little “trendy” theater in NYC since it never received a wide release. It really opened me up to the world of William Shakespeare and his tragedy books. It also introduced me to the wonderful Julie Taymor, who is such a visual director that should be making every film being released, period. She has such a unique way of bringing a film to life, also see for example “Across the Universe”. I haven’t seen this film in years and it still managed to blow to away with its visual experience. A must have for an Shakespeare fan!

Official Premise: Julie Taymor’s stunningly cinematic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s first tragedy, Titus (1999), stars Anthony Hopkins as a noble but misguided Roman general who finds himself ensnared in an unwinnable war of vengeance with an implacable barbarian queen (Jessica Lange). With its time-bending mix of elements from Ancient Rome, Fascist Italy, Fifties America, and Punk Britain, this radical reimagining of a theatrical classic offers a dark vision of violence, murder, rape, and revenge.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. Since I mentioned that this film is so visual, I was really hoping that the 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 rocked…and boy did it. I can’t believe this film has not received a Blu-ray release prior since this is a must watch on this format. Same goes with the amazing, heart-pounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is just fantastic. Elliot Goldenthal’s haunting score also shines quite well here.

Twilight Time released this Blu-ray with jam-packed with great special features. First we get an amazing Isolated Score Track. There are three fantastic audio commentary tracks included. The first is with Director Julie Taymor, which focuses on the production. Next is with composer Elliot Goldenthal and since the score is so important for this film it is a great listen. Lastly, the next track is with Actors Anthony Hopkins and Harry Lennix, which is a little dryer but still a great listen for hardcore films of this film.

If all those commentary track aren’t good enough for you we still have more. There is a really solid 50-minute behind-the-scenes documentary looking into the making of “Titus”. There is an interesting 30-minute excerpt Q&A with Julie Taymor following a screening at Columbia University. There is another short behind-the-scenes look at the visual sequences with “Penny Arcade Nightmares”. Lastly there are Trailers and TV Spots rounding out the extras. After you enjoy the the film, be sure to check out the extensive Julie Kirgo liner notes and film art included as well.

Starring: Edmond O’Brien, Audrey Totter, Ted de Corsia, Dan Riss
Director: Lew Landers
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Running Time: 68 minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: Jan 21, 2014

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Prior to receiving this Blu-ray in the mail, I had not heard of “Man in the Dark”, which was released in 1953. What I did find out that it was in fact the first 3D ever released by a major studio. I always though that it was Vincent Price’s “House of Wax” but it turns out that “Man in the Dark” actually beat that to theaters by a 48 hours. So there you go, you learn something new every day. This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. In terms of the film, I understand now why it is little know since I enjoy it very little but it does come with a great Blu-ray presentation.

Official Premise: The first 3-D motion picture produced by a major studio, Man in the Dark (1953) is a classic film noir, complete with tough-guy protagonist (Edmond O’Brien), heart-of-gold moll (Audrey Totter), and plenty of underworld action—but with handsome stereoscopic imagery directed by the prolific Lew Landers (The Raven). Focusing on a thug who undergoes brain surgery to eliminate his criminal tendencies, the film utilizes spectacular 3-D effects to simulate the newly decent hero’s disorientation as he tries to remember his life of crime, even as he is pursued by former cohorts who want in on the spoils of his latest robbery.

Twilight Time delivers this film on Blu-ray for the first time with Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray on one disc. I have to admit, the 3D experience for this film is no question one of the best that I have ever experience. Right from the minute it starts, the depth is mind-blowing. The 1080p transfers with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 really shines and looks stunning. There are some great in-your-face stunts but I just really dug the 3D overall, I wish I did the same for the film itself. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track is also very impressive. There is something about those classic 50’s scores that gets me.

In terms of special features, there is nothing here to enjoy besides a high-def theatrical trailer. There is also an Isolated Score, which is presented in an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. I was quite impressive to find a booklet included with this release. The extensive Julie Kirgo liner notes and film art is a nice read and companion to this release. Overall, I would recommend checking out if you are a 3D buff since I was blown away, otherwise this could have stayed in obscurity and I do know this anyone would have realized.

Actors: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith
Creator: Julian Fellowes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Running Time: 525 minutes

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

“Downton Abbey: Season 4” is with not question one of the most anticipated show this year. The show already completed its airing in the UK but in the US it just started airing on January 5th. This season picks up around six months after the tragic end to the Series 3 Christmas Special. This Blu-ray includes the original U.K. unedited edition of the show and contain all of Season 4, including the finale. This show returns with the acclaimed ensemble cast led by Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, and Maggie Smith, as well as guest stars Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti. This season is the most epic yet for sure. A must own for any fan!

Official Premise: Six months after Matthew’s tragic death, his loss is still felt throughout Downton Abbey. Mary struggles to face a new future with her fatherless child, and is encouraged by the family to pick up the pieces. With the twenties in full swing and the tides of change sweeping through Downton, Rose’s continued attraction to the bright lights of London spells trouble for the Crawleys, and Edith’s budding relationship with Michael Gregson is threatened by events beyond her control. Meanwhile, below stairs, passions run high and young hearts look set to be broken.

“Downton Abbey: Season 4” Blu-ray release looks amazing. Watching this show on PBS (in “high def”) doesn’t even come close to this. The locations where this show is shot look so amazing. I love the estate’s grounds look sharp and majestic as they should be. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for each episode also sounds amazing. It works well with the show’s intense and (English) dialogue and the show’s beautiful score. In terms of special features, there is not a lot but what is included is a must watch. You get to go behind the scenes and witness the making of Season 4 with more than 30 minutes of bonus footage! “Downton Abbey” already is scheduled to return for a fifth series in September 2014 (in the UK). So stay tuned!

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Actors: Guy Madison, Robert Shayne
Directors: Edward Nassour, Ewald André Dupont
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 159 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When you see the cover art for Scream Factory’s latest double feature it no question just screams cheese! The 1950’s delivered some really great creature features and it also produced films like “The Beast of Hollow Mountain and The Neanderthal Man”. These films are not the worst for sure but they not the best either. I call these fun, kick back, drive-in films. These are maybe not in the cinematic term of classics but these remind me of films they show trailers for at Disney’s Sci-Fi Diner at Hollywood Studios.  So for what it is worth these still are able to draw me in.

Official Premise: “The Beast of Hollow Mountain” (1956): An American cowboy living in Mexico discovers his cattle is being eaten by a giant prehistoric dinosaur. “The Neanderthal Man” (1953): A mad scientist transforms himself into a prehistoric caveman*his cat into a saber-toothed tiger and his housekeeper into an ape person*which does not enhance his popularity.

Willis O’Brien may not be as well known as Harryhausen but he was still a big name when it comes to stop motion animation and it is well represented here on the Blu-ray for “The Beast of Hollow Mountain”. Scream Factory did a good job with this film’s 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 2.33:1. This CinemaScope production, which blended live-action and stop motion, is not perfect and shows its age but still acceptable for this type of film.  The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also works for this film with the dialogue and roars from our dinosaur. There are no special features included for this film.

“The Neanderthal Man” has a few more problems than “The Beast of Hollow Mountain”. The 1080p transfer comes with an aspect ratio of 1.35:1, which is altered from previous releases. The special effects do not hold up as well within this high-def release but it almost adds a cheesy yet fun factor to it. This film also gets a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track which works quite well and is strong with the film’s score. There are no special features included for this film either.

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Actors: Boris Karloff, Nick Adams, Susan Farmer
Directors: Daniel Haller
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 80 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker for classic 50/60’s horror films. I love these films. They are definitely not perfect but they have that certain charm and special feel. “Die Monster Die” did not have that feel for me though. The film is 80 minutes long and nothing actually interesting happened in the movie until the last 10 minutes, which caused me to fall asleep which is quite rare for me to do. Boris Karloff is always great to see though since he is the king of horror. I would recommend this specifically to long-time fans of the film and that is all.

Official Premise: “Die Monster Die” is based on “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft. A young man visits his fiance’s estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in his greenhouse to giants. When his own wife falls victim to this mysterious power the old man takes it upon himself to destroy the glowing object with disastrous results.

Shout! still delivered this film with an impressive Blu-ray presentation for the nearly 50 year old film. The 1080p transfer was cleaned up quite well with little noise showing. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track works well the 60’s horror score and the classic sound effects. There are no special features listed on the Blu-ray case but when you get to the main menu it lists that there is a trailer included.

Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl
Directors: Bill Condon
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 128 minutes

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

When I read the initial reviews and buzz about “The Fifth Estate”, I couldn’t be less interested in it. But this the year of Benedict Cumberbatch with “Sherlock”, “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and even “August: Osage County”, so I decided to give it a chance. I know a little bit of background on Assange and WikiLeaks but not a lot. I thought that the film was ok and overall entertaining but I wouldn’t see myself watching it ever again. “The Fifth Estate” though has some great performances from both Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brüh, so it is worth watch just for that. What I can say that the film did do is create an appetite for knowledge. After watching, I did quite a bit of research including watching the very well done documentary “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks”, which I recommend (and can be viewed here).

Official Premise: Through the eyes of Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl), an early supporter and eventual colleague of Julian Assange (Cumberbatch), the film follows the heady, early days of Wikileaks to its abrupt end after a series of controversial and history changing info leaks. The website’s overnight success brought instant fame to its principal architects, but as their power expanded across the globe, Daniel grew increasingly disillusioned with Julian’s questionable tactics and ethics. The rift between the two friends became irreparable and their ideological differences tore them apart, but not before they revolutionized, for better and worse, the flow of information to news media and the world at large.

Walt Disney Home Entertainment delivered this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD and HD Digital Ultraviolet copy included. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works for what it is worth in the film. There is nothing too epic going on here but the score, thanks to Carter Burwell, does benefit from the thrilling aspects of the film. In terms of special features, we  include three decent featurettes. The first is “The Submission Platform – Visual Effects” which looks into the film from conception and pre-viz through post. “In Camera: Graphics” looks focuses on capturing the on screen graphics in camera and on the real interactions from the actors. “Scoring Secrets” is a look into composer Carter Burwell’s score. Lastly there are Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots included.

Actors: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Will Forte, Neil Patrick Harris, James Caan
Directors: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 189 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

In the world of movies, it is good to stay in the mind of the consumer. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” was released in 2009 and it took till 2013 to release a sequel. When my wife say that this was coming out she asked is anyone still care about this movie. I thought that was a sign for what was to come. The film did not perform very well in the domestic box office, which I was not shocked. But after watching the film, and like the first one, I enjoyed it still quite a bit. If you’ve seen the first one then you remember how colorful and fun it was. The second film feels like a bit of the same copying the success of the film, which takes away points for originality, but is still quite funny and definitely a visual ride. A fun time for the whole family!

Official Premise: Inventor Flint Lockwood (Hader) thought he had saved the world when he destroyed his most infamous invention, a machine that turned water into food, resulting in cheeseburger rain and spaghetti tornadoes. But Flint soon learns that his invention survived and is now combining food and animals to create “foodimals!” Flint and his friends embark on an adventurously mouth-watering mission to battle hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees, hippotatomuses, cheesepiders and other foodimals to save the world… again.

Sony delivered this film in a beautiful combo pack including a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. When I get a Sony 3D Blu-ray, I know that it is going to be amazing no matter what! They have always impressed me the most, even for a film like “The Smurfs 2”. Sony knows what they are doing with that technology and they always deliver. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2” was visually amazing with a very strong 3D presentation. In fact, the first film was one of the film 3D Blu-ray’s that I owned and literally sealed the deal for me to get a 3D TV. The effects are great and there are a lot of fun and excited in-your-face moments, which the kids are going to love for sure. So to me I know we have a winner right there!

The 1080p transfer is easily going to be one of the best of the year. The animation is very well represented and just jumps off the screen whether you are watching the 3D version or not to be honest. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers a great viewing experience. The score is quite epic and really capture the action well and the musical numbers presented perfectly balanced. I have a 19 month old daughter, so right now she is obviously not going to be wearing 3D glasses, so the 2D version was the choice we went with and she was having a blast with this film. I have to give it to the fact that it is so visual. When you watch the film, you literally just say “Wow” out loud. In fact, that is exactly what my daughter did say when she first watched this.

The special features are a blast just like the film. There is plenty of great extras for the kids and also adults. First we get an audio commentary track with the directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, which is a very informative and also entertaining track to enjoy for repeat viewings. There are four brand-new mini-movies including “Steve’s First Bath”, “Super Manny”, “Attack of the 50 Foot Gummi Bear” and “Earl Scouts”. There are two featurettes on the production design. The first is “Production Design: Back in the Kitchen” with the crew talking about the film from a visual aspect. “Delicious Production Design” features additional insight on the same topic from Production Designer Justin Thompson.

Next up there are some interesting featurettes on the visual effects in the film. “The Mysterious Sasquash” features VFX Supervisor Peter Travers talks a look into the hidden secrets of the film. “Anatomy of a Foodimal” features cast/crew as they discuss these digital characters. “Building the Foodimals” does the same but on more of a technical aspect with Senior Animation Supervisor Peter Nash. “Cloudy Cafe: Who’s on the Menu?” features cast/crew again talking about the film’s characters both returning and new. “Awesome End Credits” talk about the film’s well…awesome end credits with the people that created them. There is a music video of “La Da Dee” by Cody Simpson and a short behind-the-scenes into the making. Lastly there are four very short deleted scenes as well.

Actors: Jake T. Austin, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Liam Neeson, AnnaSophia Robb
Directors: Anthony Silverston
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have never heard of “Khumba” at all until recently. What drew me to the film is the very impressive cast. Jake T. Austin (“Wizards of Waverly Place”), Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”), Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”), Liam Neeson (“Taken”), AnnaSophia Robb (“The Carrie Diaries”) all lend their voices to this 3D South African computer-animated adventure comedy. The 3D effects work very well for the production and provide some fun in your face action. The story is pretty well done, it is dramatic yet still funny. Most importantly it managed to keep my 19 month old daughter attention the whole time and that to me means that it is a real success. Recommended for the whole family to enjoy!

Official Premise: Life is not all black and white for Khumba. A young zebra, born with only half his stripes, is rejected by his superstitious herd and blamed for a sudden drought affecting the land. Teaming up with a sassy wildebeest and a flamboyant ostrich, Khumba sets out on a daring mission across the Karoo desert to find the legendary waterhole where the first zebras got their stripes. Along the way he meets a host of colorful characters, but before he can reunite with his herd, Khumba will have to come face to face with a menacing leopard to take part in an epic battle… Khumba’s got to earn his stripes!

Millennium is behind this combo pack release including the following Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD. The 1080p transfer is very impressive. The colors are stunning and the animation is very impressive an indie production. The Dolby TrueHD track also works well with the action and the film’s music. The special features included on this release are not too bad either. There are three behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is called “Acting Out”, which looks into each of the characters evolution. The next is “The Karoo”, which looks into a world of difference and how these animals are brought together. Lastly, “Nora” focuses on a great “partnersheep” and how they work together in the film.