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.

Starring: Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Nadolny, Christopher Sabat, Daisuke Gōri, Mayumi Tanaka, Kenji Utsumi
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 925 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Funimation Entertaiment has been pushing “Dragon Ball Z” series for quite some time. Last year, they completed releasing “Dragon Ball Z Kai”, which is the new restructure version of this show but they never have completed released the original “Dragon Ball Z” series on Blu-ray to date. They started back in late November 2011 with “Dragon Ball Z: Level 1.1” and “Dragon Ball Z: Level 1.2”, which got us to episode 34 out of 291 but future releases were cancelled and series was never completed. So that has left fans quite up in arms about this show but it looks like this release starts us back in the right track since we are already through the first season including 39 episodes. So hopefully they complete what they started this time. Dragonball Z: Season 2 Blu-ray is already slated to street on Feb 18, 2014, so I expected them to fly through season 9 by early 2015 at the latest.

Official Premise: The Saiyans, the last survivors of a cruel, warrior race, have carved a path of destruction across the galaxy. Now they have set their sights on Earth and will stop at nothing to obtain the wish-granting powers of the seven magic Dragon Balls for their very own. With the fate of his family, friends, and the entire human race hanging in the balance, Goku, the Earths greatest hero, must rise to meet the approaching threat. As he prepares for the fight of his life, Goku embarks on n epic journey that will take him to other worlds, pit him against new and old enemies alike, and force him to confront the dark secrets of his own past. At the end of this path, the most powerful opponent he has ever faced awaits: the evil Saiyan prince, Vegeta.

Funimation has really delivered quite an impressive Blu-ray presentation with this season by working a frame-by-frame restoration process to remove any blemishes, tape marks, and foreign bodies. The series has also been reframed and presented with an 1.78:1 aspect ratio and it looks great seeing this show with its new HD widescreen presentation. Colors are extremely sharp and the line detail is crisp. There are three audio tracks included, which also have been re-mastered and have never sounded better. The English dub comes with an Dolby TrueHD 5.1 with the original Japanese music. The original English language broadcast version with the broadcast version music is presented with an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track. Lastly the original Japanese track with the Japanese music, of course is delivered with a Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

In terms of special features, there is nothing here to get excited over since there is nothing here. I would have loved to seen a featurette on focusing on the restoration process for this series or a new commentary track from the voice cast even on just a single episode. What we get instead is an Upcoming Special Feature Sneak Peek included. There are also the Textless Opening Song and Textless Closing Song included, as well as the U.S. Trailer. One feature that I did really liked, not really special feature but still very cool, is the “Marathon Feature”. This allows you to view the episodes continuously without the credits each episode. This really adds a lot and makes it very easy to enjoy a great binge viewing experience of this amazing series.

Starring: Hugo Stiglitz, Mel Ferrer, Laura Trotter, Francisco Rabal, Maria Rosaria Omaggio, Sonia Viviani
Director: Umberto Lenzi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Raro Video USA Ltd.
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I remember seeing the video tape box for “Nightmare City” at the mom and pop video store Royal Video in Long Island, NY back in the early 90’s and just knew that I had to see this film. I was obsessed with Italian horror growing up. Umberto Lenzi is the genius behind great Italian horror films including “Cannibal Ferox”. What always struck me as odd is that this film is billed as a zombie film but even Lenzi himself denies that this is about zombies. I have to admit, the film itself isn’t as impressive as it was when I was a kid but Rare Video did quite a beautiful job on this Blu-ray. So if you are a fan of this film, this Blu-ray is a must own for sure.

Official Premise: Umberto Lenzi’s zombie shocker Nightmare City stars actor Hugo Stiglitz as a reporter caught in a living, breathing zombie hell. When an airplane comes into contact with radiation from a nuclear disaster it causes the passengers to mutate into scabby-faced humanoids with a compulsion to kill and drink the blood of their victims. As the zombies move into the city and beyond, will anyone or anything be able to stop the wave of bloody death and disease that threatens to decimate mankind?

Rare Video really did this film a solid and gave it a very impressive new high-definition transfer which was taken from the original 35mm negative. For a film that is over 30 years old, it looks quite stunning. Some of the gore looks aged especially the “zombie” make-up but overall, this film has never looked better. The LPCM 2.0 audio track is also a thing of beauty backed with a new and improved English subtitle translation. I was transported back to my childhood with this film’s amazing Goblin-like score, which is just so great and sounds amazing here.

In terms of special features, there is not a whole lot but quality represents over quantity. There is a nearly hour long intensive interview with Umberto Lenzi discussing the film and its legacy. There is the original English trailer, as well as the original Italian trailer. I was very impressed to find a fully illustrated booklet including inside the case, which focuses on the genesis and production of the film. It is written by Chris Alexander, who writes for Fangoria Magazine. I was surprised to see a few typos included in it though but overall, it is a great additional this great release.

Starring: Leslie Bibb, Rob Corddry, Riki Lindhome, Keegan Michael Key, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Directors: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

Back in 1993, there was a show on MTV called “The State” which changed my life. This sketch comedy show was (and is still) so funny and it spawned great talent like Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, also the creators of “Reno 911!” and writers of ”Night at The Museum”. There is also no shortage of talent along with the duo including Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, even Michael Ian Black, who started with “The State” pops in for a nice cameo. “Hell Baby” is a horror/comedy spoof and has it fair share of problems but overall is quite entertaining. Overall, if you are a fan of these actors, I would recommend checking out for a few fun scares and a few decent laughs.

Official Premise: Jack (Rob Corddry) and Vanessa (Leslie Bibb) are an expectant couple that moves into the most haunted fixer-upper in New Orleans — a house with a deadly demonic curse. Things soon spiral out of control for Jack and Vanessa, as well as their-not-so-helpful neighbor F’Resnel (Keegan-Michael Key), Vanessa’s friendly psychiatrist (Michael Ian Black), Vanessa’s Wiccan sister Marjorie (Riki Lindhome) and the detectives assigned to look into the rising body count (Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer). Only the Vatican’s elite exorcism team (Garant and Lennon) san save them — or can they?

In terms of Blu-ray presentation, there is nothing extra special about the 1080p transfer but does look impressive nonetheless. Same goes for the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, which delivers the few funscare jumps very well and the dialogue clearly. In terms of special features, there is nothing special here either besides nine deleted scenes and two gag reels. With all this talent involved, I would have loved to see a commentary track which could have really given this film a reason to watch again.

Actors: Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, Ray Wise
Directors: Mike Mendez
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Epic Pictures
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

When you hear the title “Big Ass Spider!”, you would probably think that this film was just another Syfy original movie but you would be wrong. This film is definitely a low-budget creature feature but it packs some solid production values. This comes quite polished and packed with great CG creature effects, solid action and also funny as hell. If you are looking for a fun and exciting ride, I would recommend checking this film out. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Official Premise: “An exterminator (Greg Grunberg) and his Hispanic sidekick (Lombardo Boyar) are caught in an epic battle when a military assault fails to contain a giant alien spider rampaging through the city of Los Angeles”. Epic right? But seriously do you really need to read what this film is about with a title like “Big Ass Spider!”, I mean come on, the title sells itself.

“Big Ass Spider!” comes with a solid cast including Greg Grunberg (TV’s “Heroes”), Lombardo Boyar (“Happy Feet I and II”) and Ray Wise (“X-Men: First Class”, TV’s “Twin Peaks”). Greg really nails this role, he is funny and he knows this film is a stretch but really has a blast with it.  Lombardo Boyar is over=the-top and a laugh riot. Ray Wise is Ray Wise and steals the show (as always). The film is directed by Mike Mendez, who is best know for his 2006 horror feature, “The Gravedancers”. I can’t wait to see what he follows up this film with.

“Big Ass Spider!” really does shine on Blu-ray with its solid 1.78:1 aspect ratio presentation. The production value really stands up and looks solid and the visual effects look very impressive. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track also packs a nice punch. The dialogue is sharp and action is well represented. The only thing that I would have loved to seen with this release was a combo pack release with a digital copy.

In terms of special features, I was a bit let down. I would have loved to see the focus on the visual effects. We do get a solid commentary track with stars Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, and director Mike Mendez. You can tell that these guys had a blast with this film and this is a really fun track. The only other featurette is the “‘Big Ass Spider! Premiere'”, which takes us to South by Southwest Film Festival. Lastly, there is a very short collection of “Interviews” from cast/crew as well as a theatrical trailer, international trailer and TV spot included.

Starring: Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Kay Robertson, Phil Robertson
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 241 minutes

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

The tagline on the box says its all “It’s a Duck Nation”.  Duck Dynasty is one of the biggest TV shows on right now and only continues to get more popular. This season premiere got nearly 12 million viewers, which is the highest-rated reality series broadcast in cable history. Can you believe it? Where you are a fan of this show or not, there is no way to escape this show as it is everywhere you look. “Duck Dynasty” is easily the hottest reality show since “The Osbournes”. The fourth season is also no question, the best season so far. This season will leave you “Happy Happy Happy” while you get ready for the kick-off of Season 5, which debuts on January 15th.

Official Premise: The Robertsons are back and they’ve never had so much Southern charm. It’s a family affair as everyone comes together to throw a surprise wedding party for Phil and Kay. And when the guys and their wives realize Martin is forgoing poker for a date, they all take turns coaching him in romance. Meanwhile, Phil tries to teach his granddaughters how to fish, but the girls outsmart him and have him doing all the work. Later, he and Kay teach Sadie and John Luke how to make May Haw jelly. And as always, the guys’ antics continue as they attempt to make duck jerky, and a series of “gentlemen’s bets” leads them to the ultimate challenge of helping Phil get a wheelbarrow down from a tree.

Here are the episodes from Season 4: “Till Duck Do Us Part”, “So You Think You Can Date?”, “Hot Tub Grime Machine”, “A-Jase-ent Living”, “Termite Be a Problem”, “John Luke After Dentist”, “Scoot Along Si”, “Jerky Boys”, “Going Si-ral” and the Halloween episode “Quack O’Lanterns”. What doesn’t make it on the disc is the recent Christmas episode, which aired on December 11th, “O Little Town of West Monroe”.

In terms of Blu-ray presentation, this is one of those shows that don’t really benefit too much from a Blu-ray release. It looks sharp with its 1080p transfers but nothing going to blow you away. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which has been the same for the last three seasons as well. In terms of special features there isn’t a whole lot to call the ducks over. There is about 20 minutes of Never-Before-Seen-On-TV footage, which is cool but again its only 20 minutes. They consist of six deleted scenes and five webisodes. I would have expected more from this highly successful season. Still for the price, it is worth picking up if you love the show.

Starring: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Run Time: 1025 minutes

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

The third season was a big season for this show. It saw the series change its name from “Enterprise” to “Star Trek: Enterprise” and also got a new main title theme, which is quite a big deal especially for a “Star Trek” series. The third season was also the turning point for this show as it delivered one of the best seasons. One thing that I liked and I am sure all fans did was that it was centered around one single story arc surrounding the Xindi attack on Earth. I think that this season sealed the deal for fans of the show but unfortunately it was also the season to last. A must own for any “Enterprise” fan!

Official Premise: After a surprise attack on Earth leaves over seven million people dead, Captain Jonathan Archer (Bakula) and the crew of the Enterprise swear to find those responsible – the Xindi. Taking off into the uncharted region known as the Delphic Expanse, the crew of the Enterprise must hunt down the Xindi and stop them from enacting their ultimate plan: the total destruction of humanity. Along the way they travel to the year 2004 to prevent a bioweapon attack, fend off the mysterious Sphere-Builders, and even meet their own descendants due to a wormhole mishap, all leading up to a desperate race back to Earth to prevent its destruction.

Here are the episodes that are included in Season Three: “The Xindi”, “Anomaly”, “Extinction”, “Rajiin”, “Impulse”, “Exile”, “The Shipment”, “Twilight”, “North Star”, “Similitude”, “Carpenter Street”, “Chosen Realm”, “Proving Ground”, “Stratagem”, “Harbinger”, “Doctor’s Orders”, “Hatchery”, “Azati Prime”, “Damage”, “The Forgotten”, “E2”, “The Council”, “Countdown” and “Zero Hour”

CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Pictures have been giving this show better and better releases since the first season. Not only with “Enterprise” as well but also they have delivered impressive releases for the “Star Trek” franchise included the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” seasons. Season Three of “Star Trek: Enterprise” is easily this show’s best collection of 1080p high definition transfers. It is also backed with some impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks as well.

In terms of special features, Season Three delivers the goods for sure. There are tons of great commentary tracks included. There are three Text Commentary with Mike &a Denise Okuda on the following episodes; “The Xindi”, “Impulse” and “Countdown”. There are three episode commentary tracks including Manny Coto on “Similitude”, Mike Sussman and Tim Gaskill on “Twilight” and then Mike DeMeritt on “North Star”. If that isn’t enough there are five brand new commentary tracks included. The first is with David A. Goodman and Chris Black on “North Star”; Manny Coto and Connor Trinneer on “Similitude”; David A. Goodman, Chris Black and Connor Trinneer on “The Forgotten”; Chris Black and André Bormanis on Countdown and lastly David Livingston and David A. Goodman on “Impulse”.

Some other new features include a multi-part documentary, “In a Time of War”, which is a great behind-the-scenes look on the third season. There is also another new featurette called “Temporal Cold War: Declassified”, which talks about an arc which was never explored. There are deleted scenes from three episodes, “Similitude”, “Chosen Realm” and “E2”. There are Archival Mission Logs for “The Xindi Saga Begins”, “Enterprise Moments: Season Three”, “Enterprise Profile: Connor Trinneer”, “A Day in the Life of a Director: Roxanne Dawson”, “Behind the Camera: Marvin Rush” and , “Enterprise Secrets (SD)” Lastly, there are outtakes and photo gallery included.

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Barbara Hershey
Directed by: James Wan
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 24, 2013
Run Time: 106 minutes

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

Let’s start off with the fact that “Insidious” is one of my favorite horror films, period. So I was very disappointed when I saw that “Insidious: Chapter 2” took the lazy typical horror film approach and didn’t stick with what made the first film so unique…and scary. The main goal of this film is to scare and it missing that mark complete. The first one still scares me even after seen it 15 times. This might scary a young teenager but it completely missing the mark. They tried to cram way too much in this film and focused too much on the ghosts’ back story that they became no longer a treat. There was also so many missed scared opportunities that could have really beefed up the terror. I hope they learn from their mistakes with the third (inevitable) film in this series coming out 2015. Less is more!

Official Premise: James Wan directs this supernatural suspense horror sequel. Picking up from where the last film left off, the Lamberts (Wilson and Byrne) have moved into a new home with their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and initially things are going well, but as the time passes it is revealed to them that whatever force was haunting them before still isn’t finished with them. They are then tasked with uncovering what it is that ties them to the spirit world while desperately trying to hold on to their sanity.

Sony is behind this Blu-ray release and they deliver us with a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. The 1080p transfer is polished and does look impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track scores with Joseph Bishara’s score, which is easily the best thing in the film. In terms of special features, the extras are a hit. “Peripheral Vision: Behind the Scenes” is a typical making-of featurette. “Ghostly Transformation” looks into the make-up effects. “Haunted Hospital: On Location” focuses on where the film was shot. “Leigh Whannell’s Insidious Journal” is a making of featurette with the writer/actor. “Work in Progress: On Set Q&A” includes chat with Barbara Hershey, Patrick Wilson, Jason Blum, James Wan, and Leigh Whannell. Lastly “Insidious: Spectral Sightings” is a third part series of webisodes for the film.

Starring: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Niki Yang, Tom Kenny
Created by: Pendleton Ward
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cartoon Network
DVD Release Date: September 17, 2013
Run Time: 176 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Adventure Time” is no question of my best…and also most bizarre shows on TV animated or not. When I first saw it a few years ago, I literally couldn’t get enough of it. The show is currently in its fifth season and it only keeps getting better and better…and also weirder and weirder but that is part of its charm. “Jake the Dad” is fifth and latest volume DVD release after “Jake vs. Me-Mow”. I loved this episode where Jake becomes a dad with Lady Rainicorn but that is not all since there are an additional 16 episodes included as well. The real draw for this release though has to be the Jake hat that comes with this DVD. In fact, since I received this my 18-month old daughter has refused to take it off. So I would call this a must own for an fan of “Adventure Time”.

This release includes sixteen episodes from the shows fourth and fifth seasons including: “Jake the Dad”, “Burning Low”, “Gotcha!”, “Sons of Mars”, “BMO Noire”, “The Hard Easy”, “I Remember You”, “All the Little People”, “Mystery Dungeon”, “All Your Fault”, “Five More Short Graybles”, “Vault of Bones”, “Simon & Marcy”, “Puhoy”, “One Last Job” and “BMO Lost”. Currently only the first and second seasons are available complete on Blu-ray with the third coming on February 25, 2014. So this DVD is a great way to own some of the best episodes from this show now and not have to wait for the complete seasons. If the Jake hat alone was a bonus enough for you there is also a character feature called “Little Did You Know”, which is a nice bonus extra if you are a fan of the show.  Can’t wait to see what Cartoon Network has planned next for this show cause I can’t get enough.

Actors: Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Brandon T. Jackson, Nathan Fillion, Douglas Smith
Directors: Thor Freudenthal
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Run Time: 106 minutes

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

“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” arrived as the next “Harry Potter” but never really gathered much interest. When I heard that they were come with a sequel, I didn’t understand since the first film was not well-received. “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” promised to be much better than the first and it did deliver a more entertaining film for sure. The action is amped up and the visual effects are much better than the first film, plus it co-stars Nathan Fillion which is always great. Still has it problems and feel like a “Harry Potter wanna-be but overall, this film is worth checking out and a vast improvement from “The Lightning Thief”.

Official Premise: The magical, mythical adventures of teenager Percy Jackson — son of the Greek god Poseidon — continue in this heroic, action-packed thrill ride! Out to prove he’s not just a “one-quest wonder,” Percy and his demigod friends embark on an epic, cross-country journey into the treacherous Sea of Monsters, where they battle terrifying creatures, an army of zombies, and the ultimate evil. With time running out, Percy must find and bring home the fabled Golden Fleece, which has the power to save his world…and save us all

Fox delivered “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” as a combo pack release including Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD digital copy. The 1080p transfer is pretty much flawless and really takes advantage of the CGI effects and amazing visuals. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 is also perfect and really captures the action so well. If you get nothing else from this film and this Blu-ray, you will be blown away with the audio/video presentation. If possible though, this film is much more enjoyable in 3D, so if you have that option but sure to take that route since the visual effects really shines there.

In terms of special features, “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” delivers some decent extras but nothing outstanding. To start we get a motion comic for the character Tyson, who is Percy’s cyclops half-brother. There are three featurettes included, the first is called “Back to Camp Half-Blood”, which features cast taking about coming back for the sequel. “It’s All in the Eye” and “Deconstructing a Demigod” focus on the visual effects in the film. I was really hoping for more depth on these extras since the film is so visual but these are still worth checking out if you enjoyed the film.