Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, Melonie Diaz, Chad Michael Murray
Director by: Ryan Coogler
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

When it comes to dramas, I am usually not the first to run out. When I was young, I used to attend all the indie NYC film festivals and I got a bit flooded with all sorts of dramatic features. So “Fruitvale Station” didn’t interest me at all upon first glance. When I got this Blu-ray, I figured I would give it a chance it has a fantastic cast including Michael B. Jordan (“Chronicle”) and Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer (“The Help”). Well I am glad I did because, I was quickly sucked into this very emotional drama and these actors mesmerizing performances. Keep an eye out for Jordan cause he is going to be huge. Highly recommend this film but just remember it is not light watching and very powerful 85 minutes.

Official Premise: Filmmaker Ryan Coogler makes his feature directorial debut with this drama centered on the tragic shooting of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a vibrant 22-year-old Bay Area father who was senselessly gunned down by BART officers on New Year’s Day in 2009, and whose murder sent shockwaves through the nation after being captured on camera by his fellow passengers.

“Fruitvale Station” is a low-budget film with a low-budget feel that is not necessarily a bad thing but on Blu-ray, it doesn’t really stand out for me as a must have. The 1080p transfer is still very sharp and crystal clear. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works very well with the film’s powerful score, which I loved. Anchor Bay released this film as a Blu-ray combo pack with DVD included, as well as a Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. In terms of special features, we only get two extras here but they are decent. “Fruitvale Station: The Story of Oscar Grant” goes into the true story behind this tragic event. There is also included a Q & A with the Cast and Filmmakers talking about the film and the true story behind it as well.

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Starring: Tabitha St. Germain, Janyse Jaud, Adrienne Carter, Britt McKillip, Chantal Strand, Andrea Libman, Kathleen Barr, Venus Terzo, Kelly Sheridan, Brian Drummond, Ellen Kennedy
Directed by: Vic Dal Chele, John Grusd
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 180 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This two disc box set includes four classic “My Little Pony” movies, including: “Princess Promenade” (2006), “Runaway Rainbow” (2006), “Dancing in the Clouds” (2004) and “Friends Are Never Far Away” (2005). Shout! is a huge backer of this series and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next. I have my figures crossed for the original 1980’s series. With the success of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic”, this series is now more popular than ever. Recommended for any fan of “My Little Pony” both young and old.

Official Premise: The My Little Pony adventures you grew up with are back in this collection of four timeless classic tales of Pony-rific fun! Join your favorite Ponies, including Wysteria, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Minty, and even Spike the Dragon for four outrageous tales guaranteed to make your heart swell and teach you the true meaning and value of friendship and teamwork!

“Princess Promenade” Premise: Wysteria and Pinkie Pie cross paths with a sleeping dragon named Spike who crowns someone a new princess. “Dancing In The Clouds” Premise: Twinkle Twirl tries to come up with a great idea to help with a dance for the Friendship Ball. “Runaway Rainbow” Premise: Rarity is teleported to another land. She wonders if she will be rescued in time to make the first rainbow of the season. “Friends Are Never Far Away” Premise: Ponyville and Butterfly Island try to become friends and work together.

My daughter is 19 months old and she has been obsessed with “Monies” as she called them since we received “My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas” last October. I personally would prefer the animation style of the 1980’s “My Little Pony” or even “Friendship is Magic” but my daughter is the one who is watching this over and over and over, so she really seems to dig it quite a bit. In terms of special features there is only a sing-along included for “Princess Promenade” and that is all.

Actors: Dominic Purcell, Craig Fairbrass, Conan Stevens, Natassia Malthe
Directors: Yusry Abd Halim
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Epic Pictures
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

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

Holy shit! What a ride! Vikingdom” is by no mean “The Lord of the Rings” and it doesn’t try to be either. It is low-budget feature, sometimes a little cheesy but it is also brutal as all hell, fast paced and a really fun time. Did I mention it is gory as hell, definitely for the squeamish here. The visual effects are quite impressive for the budget and stand up very well. “Vikingdom” is one of these films that you can just kick back relax, let yourself go and enjoy! Hope Epic Pictures is planning a franchise for this since I have my fingers crossed tightly!

“Vikingdom” is a fantasy, action adventure loosely based on the tales of Viking mythology.  It stars Dominic Purcell as Eirick, a man who’s story begins when he dies and comes back to life. He sets out on a journey to battle for his life ranging from hell and beyond in order to retrieve the mystical artifact, Odin’s Horn. He is told that this artifact is the only way to defeat Thor, the God of Thunder, and prevent The Blood Eclipse. Only Eirick can unleash its powers and stop Thor from conquering the world.

Dominic Purcell is one busy man and had five films released just in 2013 alone. He is known for his role in the TV series “Prison Break” and also with Uwe Boll with “Suddenly” and “In the Name of the King III”. He really nails this role and and even rocks that long hair quite well. Conan Stevens, who played Thor in this film is also know for is motion capture work playing Bolg in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. Jon Foo, known for his role in “Tekken”, rocked some awesome martial arts. Why aren’t we seeing more of this guy?!

Natassia Malthe is also known like Purcell for her work with Uwe Boll in the “BloodRayne” series. She is awesome as always and quite bad-ass. She also worked with Purcell in Boll’s “Assault on Wall Street”, another great film. My main complaint is that they censored the sex and nudity scenes. If you have seen her in “Bloodrayne: The Third Reich” you will know what I mean. The film is already unrated and bloody as hell, so why cut away?

This film was initially shot for release in 3D and I am really disappointed that we are not able to get a chance to experience it in that format. I think it would have been really awesome, especially with the battle scenes with obviously catered to that dimension. The film also would have benefited from a Blu-ray release to really take advantage of the film’s very impressive visual layer. Hopefully, the DVD will catch on and give the studio a reason to consider releasing it this way.

In terms of special features, there is some decent extras included here. First we get “Making of ‘Vikingdom'”, which consists of a featurette with interviews with cast/crew. It runs a meaty 25 minutes and really shows a decent look behind-the-scenes with this film. There is also a music video included from Mojo with the song “Dark Clouds”, which also plays over the film’s end credits. It is epic like the film and screams 80’s hair metal. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included, as well as a teaser and TV spot.

Actors: Mischa Barton, Ryan Eggold, Leah Pipes
Directors: Mark Edwin Robinson
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Epic Pictures
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 111 minutes

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

When I read about “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, I immediately interested due to the supernatural nature of the film. What I didn’t know is that the film also has a well-balanced aspect of romance as well. Mischa Barton really gets a chance to show off her acting chops and she impressed me quite a bit. I enjoyed the film even though I felt like it could have been about 30 minutes shorter. I felt like it dragged in the beginning getting to the part dealing with the film’s title but when it does get the suspense portion of the film, it is quite effective for sure with some great jumps. I would still recommend checking it out for a good rainy day film.

Official Premise: A young woman (Mischa Barton) who is severely depressed after the death of her parents retreats within herself, only to be drawn out of her depression by an unexpected romance with a young man named Adam (Ryan Eggold). After Adam mysteriously disappears into the depths of a haunted apartment building, she vows to pursue him, even if it means crossing into the world of the supernatural.

“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” had a brief theatrical release last year and was also released on VOD. I personally prefer the film when it’s title was just “Into the Dark”, the current title seems like it is trying to explain itself too much. Epic Pictures is behind this film’s life on DVD and they are becoming quite the powerhouse after their fantastic release for “Big Ass Spider!”. They also have a film called “Vikingdom” in the cards for this month as well. In terms of special features, there are a few decent behind-the-scenes featurettes taking a look into the production with cast/crew. There is also a few short deleted scenes included.

Actors: William Moseley, Adrian Pasdar, Eric Roberts
Directors: Simone Bartesaghi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

“Run” to be me feels like an indie version of “Step Up” mixed with a crime thriller twist. The film is pretty action packed and includes really solid cast. William Moseley, from “The Chronicles of Naria” film series, is impressive in this film and gets a chance to take the lead. Adrian Pasdar is always brilliant and honestly who doesn’t love Eric Roberts. For a film that runs 90 minutes, it really is tight and solid and definitely worth checking out especially for Amazon’s low price under $13 dollars.

Official Premise: Set in the streets of New York City, RUN is a fast-paced, 3D crime thriller that follows the life of Daniel Lombardi – a troubled seventeen year old who nomadically moves from city to city with his father and utilizes Parkour to commit crimes in order to survive. Daniel soon uncovers his father’s dark past that ultimately led to their life on the run. As he gets pulled deeper into an unsuspecting world of crime, Daniel is forced to put everything he holds dear on the line, including the love of his life who has secrets of her own.

Millennium is behind this Blu-ray 3D combo pack release. After watching the trailer for this film, I know that this would be even cooler in 3D. I have to admit, it probably doesn’t have to be watched in 3D to be enjoyed but I did like the option for sure. They take advantage of the third dimension when using the first person camera angles and the impressive stunts in the film. The Parkour aspect of the film also works well with the 3D effects. It reminded me of the film “District 13” quite a bit (and that is a good thing).

The 1080p transfer was crisp and capture the streets of New York quite well, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which really delivers the film’s score and music very well. It is also quite fast paced like the film. In terms of special features, there is only one extras included, which is “The Making of Run” and briefly goes behind-the-scenes on this film. Nice follow-up after watching this film but I would have hoped for a little bit more.

Actors: Richard Jordan, Jason Robards, Alec Guinness
Directors: Jerry Jameson
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Raise the Titanic” was based on Clive Cussler’s fourth book in his “Dirk Pitt Adventure” book series. It was released back in 1980 or five years before the actual wreck was discovered and was never well received and or found an audience. What “Raise the Titanic” does have is a great score, impressive visuals and solid cast including Alec Guinness (“Star Wars”) popping up but personally I was never a huge fan of the film since it is borderline silly and not practical at all. But it is still worth a look on Blu-ray if you do enjoy it.

Synopsis: Join the underwater race to salvage the Titanic and its vital defense cargo. Adapted from Clive Cussler’s international best-seller, the story follows the exploits of American special agent Dirk Pitt as he sets out to recover vital material from the Titanic which could make the US impregnable to atomic attack. The ship is down too deep for divers and the only solution is to raise it. The incredible project must be managed in absolute secrecy because of deadly interference from a rival nation. The Titanic is finally, and majestically, brought to the surface — but the vital, rare mineral is missing…

Despite my opinions on the film itself, Shout! does deliver a solid Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer holds up well for a film that is over 30 years old. It is quite sharp and there is little noise interference. They also delivered a great DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Like I mentioned above, I was a fan of the score to this film and it is well represented here for sure. In terms of special features, unfortunately is nothing special here including only one behind-the-scenes extra called “Making of ‘Raise the Titanic'” and a theatrical trailer.

Actors: Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Gabriella Wilde
Directors: Kimberly Peirce
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: MGM
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 100 minutes

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

Let’s just say that when I saw that “Carrie” was being remade again, I couldn’t be any less interested. This is the fourth (and hopefully last) rendition of Stephen King’s 1974 novel. The first go around was, of course, in 1976 (and still the best). The terrible sequel “The Rage: Carrie 2” came in 1999 and the even worse TV Movie remake came in 2002. I really wanted to go into this with an open mind but just couldn’t do it.

This latest remake is absolutely unnecessary and just plain terrible. Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore are fine in the their respective roles. Moore, I think forgets this is a “horror film” and tries to go for the Oscar nomination. The film also relies way too much on CGI in the last 30 minutes, which is quite sad because it is such a cop out and to be honest doesn’t have the gore edge like the ’76 film despite being R-rated. What we have here is a sad remake of “Carrie” for today’s MTV generation.

Official Premise: “Carrie” is a re-imagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

The film came in a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. It also comes in a neat Collectible Lenticular package. The 1080p transfer is clean and showcases well all the film’s terrible CGI effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well with the prom scene action but too bad had no edge and lack of terror in it.

The special features are better than the film but not amazing. There is an equally bad alternate ending and some Deleted/Extended Scenes with commentary by Director Kimberly Peirce. There is also a feature commentary track by Director Kimberly Peirce. There is a featurette “Bringing Back Carrie”, which takes us behind the scenes. “The Power of Telekinesis” looks into Carrie’s abilities. There is the “Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise”, which was an online viral joke video. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Spike Jonze, Jackson Nicoll, Jack Polick, Catherine Keener
Director: Jeff Tremaine
Rated: R (Restricted) / Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 91 / 102 minutes

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

If you saw “Jackass 3D”, then you will remember Johnny Knoxville running around in old man makeup and it was epic. When you see this title, “Jackass Presents”, you might think this to be expect just gross ass stunts and funny antics but “Bad Grandpa” is much more. The film has quite a bit of heart…mixed in with the crazy stunts and funny antics.  Jackson Nicoll adds a different level of funny and balances out Johnny Knoxville quite well who again rocks that make-up.  Fan of “Jackass” series or not, I would highly recommend checking out.

Official Premise: Jackass ringleader Johnny Knoxville reprises his role as 86-year-old Irving Zisman in the story of a crotchety old man unexpectedly saddled with the care of his 8-year-old grandson, Billy (Jackson Nicoll). The two generations of troublemakers soon develop a bond, as they hustle their way across the heartland of America pursuing hijinks and pulling pranks on unsuspecting, real-life people—all of whom had no idea they were starring in a hidden camera film.

Paramount is releasing this film in a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital Copy. It also includes two different version of the film, the 91 minute theatrical cut and a 102 minute new unrated cut with more hilarious footage not shown in theaters! This is not your typical two minute longer unrated cut, this packs some impressive new footage. The 1080p transfer is good but you have to remember that a lot of this was shot with hidden cams. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works ok but I had some issues here some of the talking over the louder music.

In terms of special features, the fun doesn’t stop with the film. There are eight Behind-the-Scenes featurettes including, “The Funeral”, “Estate Sale”, “Window Launch”, “Shipping Billy”, “The Penguin”, “Wedding Crashers”, “The Drop Off” and “Beauty Pageant”. There six different Alternate Reactions takes from Real People with “Meet Billy”, “Meet Irving”, “The Skype Call”, “Billy Shops for Parents” and “Irving Hits on Women 1 & 2”. Lastly there are three deleted scenes included.

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Actors: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Wes Craven, Lisa Wilcox, Alice Cooper, Mark Patton, Monica Keena, Brendan Fletcher, Ronny Yu
Directors: Andrew Kasch, Daniel Farrands
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 238 minutes

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

“Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy” was originally released on DVD in 2010 but thanks to Image Entertainment, we get a new Blu-ray edition. Directing duo Daniel Farrands and Andrew Kasch has been known for their documentary work in the horror genre including the also recently released “Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th”, which runs over 7 hours itself. This film is a four-hour retrospective documentary that really dives very in-depth in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” film series. I have always loved this series, the good AND the bad and this is really the best way to give this series the respect that it deserves. A must have for any horror fan.

Official Premise: For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters, scaring up over half a billion dollars at the box office. In this thrilling retrospective, fans will enter the world of Freddy Krueger and A Nightmare On Elm Street like never before: exploring what spurred mastermind Wes Craven to craft the first groundbreaking film; delving deep behind the scenes of the original and all of its sequels; learning how the cast and crew brought their worst nightmares to life; and finally, understanding the impact the series and its myths have had on modern pop culture and the horror genre. Child murderer. Dream demon. The son of a thousand maniacs. Any way you slice it there can be only one man, one monster, who epitomizes horror like no other.

So if you haven’t seen this film already it is jam packed with clips from each of the film along with never-before-seen photos, behind-the-scenes footage, conceptual art, publicity materials and exclusive new interviews with over 100 key cast and crew from every Nightmare film. Just some of amazingly talent people include Wes Craven, Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Jack Sholder, Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Chuck Russell, Jennifer Rubin, Renny Harlin, Lisa Wilcox, Tuesday Knight, Stephen Hopkins, Kelly Jo Minter, Rachel Talalay, Lisa Zane, Alice Cooper, Patrick Lussier, Miko Hughes, Monica Keena, Brendan Fletcher, Ronny Yu and many more. These filmmakers really set out to make the definitive documentary and they achieved that with no question.

In terms of special features, the Blu-ray comes stocked with the same amazing special features that the DVD did back in 2010. If four hours wasn’t long enough there are additional “Extended Interviews” covering each of the films and it definitely consists of some great additional content. There is a (or was a) “First Look: Heather Langenkamp’s “I Am Nancy”, which was a doc that came out in 2011 told from the star’s perspective of attending conventions etc. “For the Love of the Glove” follows online sellers as they talk about their work with making custom Freddy gloves. “Fred Heads: The Ultimate Freddy Fans” gives us an inside look into the world of the collectors behind this series.

“Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: Return to Elm Street” is an episode from the great online series from Sean Clark in which he visits all the old shooting locations of the classic film. “Freddy vs. The Angry Video Game Nerd” features James Rolfe talking about the (rather terrible) NES video game. “Expanding the Video Game Universe: Freddy in Comic Books and Novels” talks with authors and artists about their expanding universe for Freddy. “The Music of the Nightmare: Conversations with Composers and Songwriter” is an amazing extra diving into the memorable music from this great series.

“Elm Street’s Poster Boy: The Art of Matthew Joseph Peak” looks into the work of this very talent artist, who also brought us the cover art for this film. “A Nightmare on Elm Street in 10 Minutes” is an extended version of the actor line readings, which is shown in the film’s credits. Lastly there is a teaser trailer included. Whew! This movie and special features all together are so entertaining and I have never seen so much packed into one release. Don’t miss this one!

Actors: Justin Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Gemma Arterton, Anthony Mackie
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

“Runner Runner” seemed to have a lot going for it. A list cast including Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck, who both are very hot right now. When I first saw a trailer for list I was just extremely disinterested. I think they had the right idea but it was just poorly executed. The script is quite poor and probably should take most of the blame here because our actors do their best to save this film with their performances. Since I am sucker for poker films, I could probably recommend this to fans of Timberlake and Affleck but just keep expectations very low.

Official Premise: Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck star in this high-stakes crime thriller where the lure of easy money is the riskiest bet of all. When Princeton grad student Richie Furst (Timberlake) believes he’s been swindled by an online poker site, he heads to Costa Rica to confront gambling tycoon Ivan Block (Affleck), the man he thinks is responsible. But Richie will soon face the ultimate power play as he finds himself caught between Block’s promises of unlimited wealth and the zealous FBI agent (Anthony Mackie) trying to bring him down.

“Runner Runner” does get a solid Blu-ray, thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The 1080p high-definition transfer is quite beautiful and really shows off Costa Rica quite well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works as well especially with Christophe Meck’s score. The special features are another let down though. “House of Cards- The Inside Story of Online Poker” take a look into the world the film is based around. Besides that there are about 10 minutes of deleted scenes and a Theatrical Trailer included.

Actors: Vin Diesel, Karl Urban, Jordi Molla, Matt Nable, Katee Sackhoff
Directors: David Twohy
Rated: R (Restricted) / Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 119 / 127 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

2000 was a big year for Vin Diesel, the sci-fi/action film “Pitch Black” was released and the franchise was born. The film was dark, gritty, intense and most importantly original. Then in 2004, we were given “The Chronicles of Riddick”, which was a bloated mess of a film. Luckily, “Riddick” is a nice return to the “Pitch Black” roots. It returns to its original R-rating and delivers some great bloody action. What “Riddick” doesn’t do is build on “Pitch Black” and take the franchise to a new place. Still for what it is, especially on a low $38 million dollar budget it is quite a ride. I would love them take this franchise further but I have a feeling that this will be the end of the road.  I definitely recommend checking  this out for sci-fi junkies and those who love the character of Riddick.

Official Premise: Vin Diesel reprises his role as the antihero Riddick in the latest chapter of the groundbreaking saga. A dangerous, escaped convict wanted by every bounty hunter in the known galaxy, Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for him to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. With time running out and a deadly storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy.

Universal is releasing this Blu-ray with an Unrated Director’s Cut combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. The  Theatrical Version is also included as well. Usually I am not thrilled with unrated director’s cut but this one really speaks to the fans. In fact I think that if they released this in theaters it would have received a warmer reception.  In terms of Blu-ray presentation, this film is a work of beauty. The 1080p transfer is stunning and looks like this is a $150 million dollar, easy! The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 will literally shake the walls during the action scenes, which there are plenty of. The year just got started but this is sure to be one of the best Blu-rays of 2014, no question!

I have to admit, I was expecting a little more love in the special features department for this film especially given how it is such a special project for Diesel and Twohy but I still dug quite a bit what we got. Don’t get me wrong a commentary track would have been great but there is some great content here. “The Twohy Touch” discusses how the film became and the legacy of the series. “Riddickian Tech” looks into the gadget and gizmos used to make this film as bad-ass as it was. “Vin’s Riddick” talks about the evolution of the character over the films. “Meet the Mercs” dives into the new group of mercenaires in the film. The World of Riddick” explores the world created for this franchise. Lastly “Riddick: Blindsided” is a neat motion comic.

Starring: Lara Jill Miller, Hynden Walch, Tom Kenny
Creator: Niamh Sharkey
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 14, 2014
TV rating: TV-Y
Run Time: 144 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Disney Junior is a wonderful thing if you have a young child. My daughter is 19 months old and she is in love with their newest hit show “Henry Hugglemonster”. In fact, she can’t get enough of it. Disney Junior has been a bit slow with taking advantage of this show with merchandise since I have been searching for a Henry plush for months now. Luckily in the meantime, we are able to enjoy Henry at home for the first time with the DVD “Meet the Hugglemonsters”. This show is super cute, fun and great for kids. Highly recommended for both boys and girls.

Official Premise: Welcome to the newest, happiest, most monster-rific spot on the map – the wondrous land of Roarsville – where five-year old Henry Hugglemonster lives, plays and learns something “roarsome” every day. Together with his loving parents and grandparents, big brother Cobby, sister Summer, baby bro Ivor, and a town full of cuddly monsters, Henry embraces all the joys and challenges of growing up. Whether he’s helping his sister put on a show, setting up a hugglejuice stand or entering his monsterdog Beckett in a pet pageant, he’s always discovering new ways to be the best brother, friend and monster he can be! Packed with over two hours of song-filled fun, teamwork and adventure, Henry Hugglemonster: Meet The Hugglemonsters will make your preschooler roar for more every time.

“Meet the Hugglemonsters” includes the following six episodes of Henry Hugglemonster: “The Huggleflower/“Monster Lullaby”, “Astrobrix”/“The Sore Roar”, “Promises Promises”/“Fireworks Night”, “The Hugglejuice Stand”/ “The Huggledance Party”, “Carried Away”/“Monster in Charge” and “Monsterpet Pageant”/“Ivor’s First Stomp”. Our family has seen this episodes many times when airing on Disney Junior but it is great to have to available on DVD now.

Fans of Disney Junior should also be very excited to find that there is a bonus episode included for the station’s newest upcoming show “Sheriff Callie’s Wild West”, which premieres on January 20th. The episode is “Horseshoe Peck”/”Callie’s Gold Nugget” and this is going to be a great show. I think my daughter has watched this more times so far since receiving this DVD than the “Hugglemonster” episodes. Also included as a bonus are great iron-on decals for Henry Hugglemonster, which I am sure my daughter will get us to make for her real quickly. Hope Disney doesn’t wait long to give us volume 2 DVD for this great show!

Starring: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Barbara Crampton, Rob Moran
Directed by Adam Wingard
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “You’re Next”, I expect a full out horror film but I was blown away but what we got. The film is a part revenge thriller, comedy and full out gore fest. Overall, this film is a real blast to watch and will have you cheering. I love Sharni Vinson and she is just so bad-ass in this film. If it does nothing for you it will still have you whistling along to 1977’s “Looking for the Magic” by the Dwight Twilley Band days after watching it. I even have two of the animal masks from the film sitting above my office desk and it drives my poor wife crazy, so I know right there that that aspect was very effective for this film. Director Adam Wingard is a fantastic up-and-coming and he is going to be doing some great things for the genre.  A must watch for any horror fan and I wish they made more films like this.

Official Premise: Aubrey and Paul Davison decide to celebrate their wedding anniversary by inviting their four children and their significant others to a family reunion at their remote weekend estate. But the family reunion goes awry when their home comes under siege by a mask-wearing team of crossbow-bearing assailants. The family has no idea who’s attacking them, why they’re under attack or if the attackers are inside or outside the cavernous, creaking house. All they know for certain is that nobody is safe.

I was surprised at first that there was no unrated or extended cut of this film. It always seems that films like this come unrated on Blu-ray, but to be honest I was also kinda happen that they didn’t need to take that route to draw more people in. Lions Gate delivered this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer holds that polished feel but also hangs on to the 80’s feel that I loved for this film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also rocked with the suspense and fantastic creepy as well score. This really works well to give this film a complete package.

“You’re Next” delivered some decent special features. The main deal here is “No Ordinary Home Invasion: The Making Of You’re Next”, which is a solid behind-the-scenes featurette on the film with cast and crew weighing in about their experiences. These only other features are two audio commentary tracks, but they really enhance the experience of the film and are highly recommended. The first audio commentary track is with Director Adam Wingard, Writer Simon Barrett and Actors Sharni Vinson and Barbara Crampton. This one is really a blast and it gives some great insight in the production. The next audio commentary track is a solo one with Director Adam Wingard and Writer Simon Barrett, it is a little more technical but still recommend if you enjoyed the film. These both make for a great repeat viewing.

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Starring: January Jones, Ed Harris, Jason Isaacs, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Root, Dylan Kenin
Director: Logan Miller
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Arc Entertainment
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I have never been a huge fan of Westerns but I watch them from time to time. “Sweetwater” caught my attention since it has a really solid cast and its revenge thriller plot. January Jones has never really been a favorite but she really kicks some ass in this film. Ed Harris is brilliant as always. Jason Issacs always plays a solid bad guy and for all your country fans we get a nice role for singer Jason Aldean. The film is quite violent and action packed at times so even though I am not a big Western fan, I enjoyed it overall.

Official Premise: In the late 1800’s, a beautiful former prostitute (January Jones) is trying to build an honest life with her husband in the rugged plains of New Mexico. When she catches the eye of a sadistic and powerful religious leader (Jason Isaacs), her life is violently turned upside down. She embarks on a bloody course of vengeance with the assistance of a renegade sheriff (Ed Harris) who has violent tendencies of his own.

Arc Entertainment delivers a fine Blu-ray for this film. The 1080p transfer really is solid and captures the essence of the 1800’s timeline. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track did the same and worked well the action sequences as well. In terms of special features, we get a little look into the production with “The Making of Sweetwater”, which goes behind-the-scenes with interviews with Jones, Harris, Isaacs, Noriega, Ramirez and the Millers. There is also a song “Cold Grey Light of Drawn” by Hudson Moore and trailer included as well.

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Actors: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins, Peter Sarsgaard
Directors: Woody Allen
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 98 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Woody Allen is one hell of an unstoppable force. Since he made “Midnight in Paris” (my favorite film of 2011), I have been on a real kick for his films.  “Blue Jasmine” can be described as simply, mesmerizing. Cate Blanchett is so bat-shit crazy that you both love at hate her. The film is hysterical yet has some great drama mixed in as well. I just kept asking myself how does this guy (Allen) come up with these amazing films. No question, this is one of the greats of 2013 and I have a feeling I will be having a repeat viewing in the very near future. Highly recommended!

Besides Cate Blanchett, who better win some awards for this role, there is a wonderful ensemble cast including Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins and Peter Sarsgaard. If I had to be runner up for best performance it would have to easily go to Bobby Cannavale who was an emotional wreck in this film and was wonderful. But very close behind him had to be Andrew Dice Clay, this guy was amazing. I kept asking myself why isn’t he in more films. Great talent here all around but that is expect from a Woody Allen picture.

Official Premise: Poignant, romantic and mesmerizing, writer/director Woody Allen’s latest masterpiece centers around Jasmine (Cate Blanchett), a former New York socialite teetering on an emotional tightrope, balancing between her troubled east coast past and a fresh start in San Francisco. Having moved into her sister’s humble apartment, Jasmine ricochets between the tumultuous acceptance of her new limitations, and the dreams of reclaiming her past life’s glamour. Join a powerful cast for an intimate portrayal of the battle between fantasy and reality which rages within us all.

Sony delivered this film as a combo pack with the Blu-ray and Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer was beautiful and really captured the essence of San Francisco. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track was solid as well but I wasn’t really blown away with the score like I was with “Midnight in Paris”. In terms of special features, it is not a surprise it is lacking since Woody’s films have never really impressed ere. “Notes From the Red Carpet” features the cast talking about the making the film and their characters. “Blue Jasmine Cast Press Conference” features interviews with Cate Blanchett, Peter Saarsgard and Andrew Dice Clay.