Actors: Keanu Reeves, Simon Yam, Michael Chan, Karen Mok, Tiger Hu Chen
Directors: Keanu Reeves
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

When I saw that Keanu was stepping behind the camera for the first time, I was really interested. Combine that with fact that it is a kung-fu and count me in. The film is quite fast paced and very well done with impressive martial arts. I also enjoyed that Keanu was in the film but it wasn’t his show only. Tiger Chen is a great lead and carries the film well. If you like martial arts films, I would definitely recommend checking this out. It is set in modern day yet has this very classic martial arts feel and high respect for the art of Tai Chi. I hope that Keanu has more plans for directing in the future, since this guy really has a knack for this. Aside from this, you are also going to want to check out his next film “47 Ronin”, being released Christmas Day. I will be first in line!

Official Premise: Keanu Reeves makes his directorial debut in this explosive marital arts drama that reunites him with legendary Matrix Trilogy fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping and stuntman Tiger Chen. Reeves stars as the wealthy owner of a Beijing underground fight club who recruits a humble Tai Chi student (Chen) to his closed-circuit battles. But when the young man is seduced by money and power, it will trigger a war between the Hong Kong police, the world’s deadliest combatants, and a peaceful spiritual discipline turned lethal new fighting style.

“Man of Tai Chi” comes with a great 1080p high definition transfer. It is sharp and clear and works well with the action. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, which also amps up the action and compliments the music throughout as well, which is techo and bass heavy but works very well with the film. In terms of special features, there is not much here. I was impressed that we have an audio commentary with Keanu Reeves and Tiger Chen. It is a quite informative and interesting and if you enjoyed the film then you should enjoy this track. Lastly there is a short featurette with “The Making of Man of Tai Chi” with focuses on the production from every angle.

Actors: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Tom Wilkinson, William Fichtner, Helena Bonham Carter
Directors: Gore Verbinski
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Run Time: 149 minutes

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

Right from day one, I had a feeling that “The Lone Ranger” would be a mistake to make, especially for north of $200 million dollars and even with starring Johnny Depp as Tonto. I am not sure how the executives at Disney didn’t see that. I (like most of America) had no interest in seeing this in theaters but I was still curious on Blu-ray. I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Depp is Depp…and that is not a bad thing obviously! Not a huge Armie Hammer, he reminds me too much of a car salesmen playing The Lone Ranger. The film itself is definitely epic, no question. Action packed and quite visual. But WAY too long. They could have easily trimmed 30 minutes off. Still this is a relatively fun popcorn flick and worth checking out. I am definitely a sucker for over-the-top Depp roles to hate it.

Official Premise: The Lone Ranger (Armie Hammer; “The Social Network”), the last of his kind, teams with Tonto (Johnny Depp; “Pirates of the Caribbean” series), a dark and mysterious vigilante, to seek vengeance after justice has failed them. It’s a runaway train of epic surprises, as these two unlikely heroes must learn to work together before the ultimate showdown between good and evil explodes. Screenplay by Justin Haythe (“Revolutionary Road”), Ted Elliott (“Pirates of the Caribbean” series) and Terry Rossio (“Pirates of the Caribbean” series).

Disney is releasing this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. With the film’s $200+ million dollar budget, you have to expect a very visual film and that does translate very well to its 1080p transfer. I liked the colors in the film, it set a certain mood that I dug quite a bit. Since the film is action packed, also the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track really soared. From the chugging train to the gunshots, this is one hell of an active and very impressive track. In terms of special features though, they are quite the letdown. “Riding The Rails of The Lone Ranger” is barely over 10 minutes and focus on the train and cars in the film. “Armies’s Western Road Trip: Armie Hammer” is a tour of the film’s scenic locations with the actor. “Becoming A Cowboy” is another short featurette about how they actors got into character. Lastly there is a Deleted Scene & Blooper Reel included.

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Actors: Al Roker
Directors: Barry Kimm
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 43 minutes

Films: 2.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When it comes to space, I am sucker for anything…especially in 3D. This “Galactic Adventures Double Feature” included both “3D Sun” and “Mars 3D” but I wasn’t really blown away with either one. I was recently spoiled rotten with the brilliant film “Gravity” and coming back to these films, I just wasn’t “wowed”. Still though being able to view the sun up close…and in 3D is still pretty damn cool. The narration track by Al Roker is decent but I am not a huge fan of him either…I guess Morgan Freeman was busy. “Mars 3D” is neat only because it was the first that that NASA’s actual 3D footage was adapted for public viewing so that is kind of cool getting to see this but I would call both of these one-timers. I wouldn’t watch this again for sure and both also only run less than 45 minutes together, so for the price it just doesn’t sell me.

“3D Sun” Official Premise: From Earth, the Sun cannot be looked at with human eyes. Narrated by Al Roker, 3D SUN gives audiences a chance to see the Sun up close in startling 3D. Stand above the arctic circle and witness the most brilliant auroras on Earth; take a ride on a solar blast from Sun’s surface to Earth’s Magnetosphere, and come to a deeper understanding of what this vast sea of fire means to life here on Earth. In October 2006, NASA launched twin spacecraft from a single rocket in Florida — a spacecraft that would, for the first time in the history of space exploration, capture space-born, high-definition 3D images of the Sun. In 3D SUN, the leading NASA scientists from the mission unveil these images and take us behind the scenes to tell the story of the Sun and why it is of crucial importance to all of us.

“Mars 3D” Official Premise: Mars 3D takes viewers behind the scenes of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission revealing daily dramas, mind-boggling physics and compelling science behind the $820 million dollar NASA project. Behold this celebration of space exploration and the human stories behind the mission, how engineers plunged the depths of gravity and physics to ensure a successful launch an landing and how two 380 pound rovers will bring scientists closer than ever before to solving the mysteries of Mars.

“3D Sun” looks the best of the two with its 1080p transfer framed in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The 3D looks pretty good and has some impressive depth. Now if we go to “Mars 3D”, this one was a real disappointment since it is only presented in a very sad 720p transfer in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Sorry but that is not Blu-ray quality at all, especially not 3D Blu-ray quality. Either way I feel like “Mars 3D” acts more like a bonus feature to this release as “3D Sun” carries most of the weight. Each film does have a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There are no additional special features included besides the two films.

Actors: Colleen Clinkenbeard, Spike Spencer, Allison Keith-Shipp
Directors: McFarland, Hideaki Anno
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
DVD Release Date: March 09, 2010 / March 29, 2011
Run Time: 98 / 108 minutes

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

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” is no question one of my favorite animes of all time. It is also one hell of a confusing and strange anime as well, especially in its closing episodes. Fans has been wanting more ever since it only consists of 26 episodes and ended all the way back in 1997. Hideaki Anno decided to “rebuild” the series instead of continuing it. That is where “Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone” and “Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance” come into play. These are two of four feature films, which are the redo of the “Neon Genesis Evangelion” anime series that give Hideaki Anno the chance to deliver the show the way that he initially envisioned it and this time not being restricted by technology and budget. I have to admit, I love this show and I love even more these redoes, the series was great but it did have some problems. The colors are so much more sharp and the CG effects added really lend a lot of new polish to this series. Overall, the animation just looks so much more crisp. Plus since “Neon Genesis Evangelion”  has never been released on Blu-ray, this is a great way to experience what I like to call “the best of” of the series but together. I have to admit, I even feel that at times I am watching an entirely new show since they have really advanced this show so much. A must have for any fan!

Official Premise for “Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone”: The stunning rebuild of the anime masterpiece is now extended and enhanced with never before seen new animation and 266 visual and audio improvements. Tokyo-3 still stands after most of civilization was decimated in the Second Impact. Now the city endures the ceaseless onslaught of the deadly Angels, bizarre creatures bent on eradicating the human race. To combat this strange and ruthless enemy, the government agency NERV constructs a fleet of towering humanoid machines – the Evas – and Shinji Ikari is called into action, reluctantly taking his place at the controls of Eva Unit 01. Living a life of loneliness and questioning his existence, Shinji struggles to accept responsibility for mankind’s battle for survival in this visually striking rebuild of one of the most important anime of all time. Shinji will fight the Angels alongside the only person who might understand his plight – Rei Ayanami, the elusive and frail pilot of Eva Unit 00. In this film experience not to be missed, Shinji and Rei will struggle to learn a simple truth: when carrying the burden of humanity’s survival on your shoulders, you are not alone.

Official Premise for “Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance”: The landmark anime Evangelion evolves, reaching new heights of intensity in the feature film: Evangelion 2.22. In this explosive new story, brutal action and primal emotion clash as a group of young pilots maneuver their towering cyborg Eva Units into combat against a deadly and disturbing enemy. In the battle to prevent the apocalyptic Third Impact, Shinji and Rei were forced to carry humanity’s hopes on their shoulders. Now, as the onslaught of the bizarre, monstrous Angels escalates, they find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots, the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. In this thrilling experience for fans of giant robot destruction, the young pilots fight desperately to save mankind – and struggle to save themselves.

Even though this series was made in the late 90’s, the Blu-ray presentation does not represent that at all. In fact both “Evangelion 1.11: You are (Not) Alone” and “Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance” are absolutely stunning. Their 1080p transfers presented with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 are absolutely brilliant. The mix of the regular animation with the CG effects work so well and really gives this amazing anime the face lift it deserves. The colors like I mentioned are so vibrant and the line detail really looks amazing on Blu-ray. There are two audio tracks included the English dub and original Japanese track, both in Dolby TrueHD 6.1. I have to admit, they are both freaking epic. I LOVE the Japanese track so much but I remember watching the English dub on Adult Swim also so it holds a special place as well.  The action and the amazing music in the show are captured so well and when those cyborgs go to battle hold on to the frames on your walls!

In terms of special features, I wasn’t as blown away as I would have hoped but they are still good and worth checking out. “Evangelion 1.11: You are (Not) Alone” is much weaker of the two in this area. First up we have “Rebuild of Evangelion”, which is a collection of a storyboards, animatics and test footage mixed with new CG footage.  There is an “Angel of Doom” promotional video and a few short News Alerts, There are also some trailers included and remixes of “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Beautiful World.”  “Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance” learned from the first releases mistake and amped up things a little bit (but not much). There is a U.S. Cast Commentary, which is quite interesting and definitely informative.  “Rebuild of Evangelion 2.02” is another collection of animatics from storyboards to CGI rendering and also backed to great music. “I Would Give You Anything Noguchi Version” is a remix version of the film’s song. “Omitted Scenes” includes four short scenes in various aspects of animation. Lastly, there are a few trailers and TV spots included along with an amazing 20 insert booklet giving great information on the franchise.

Actors: Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Famke Janssen
Directors: James Mangold
Number of discs: 4
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) / Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 126 / 138 minutes

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

When it comes to the “X-Men” film franchise, I have never been the biggest fan, the first three movies are good but not my favorite superhero films. I never even wanted to see “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and from what I’ve heard I am glad I haven’t. “X-Men: First Class” was visually amazing but also quite forgettable. So I wasn’t too thrilled when “The Wolverine” was announced, but it proved itself to be quite entertaining and very impressive entry into the franchise. I was excited that the film picks up at the end of “X-Men: The Last Stand” and steer away from the whole “Origin” story. Hugh Jackson just kicks as in this role, no question that he IS Wolverine and is simply bad-ass. I have to admit, I am now very excited for what is to come with “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and I also saw that “The Wolverine 2″ was just greenlit this week as well, so plenty more to come.

Official Premise: Jackman returns as The Wolverine and faces his ultimate nemesis in an action-packed, life- or-death battle that takes him to modern-day Japan. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his limits, Wolverine confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality; an epic fight that will leave him forever changed.

“The Wolverine: Unleashed Extended Edition” is excited since it is the first time that a film in the “X-Men” series is receiving an extended unrated cut. This version runs about 12 minutes longer than the Theatrical Cut and contains several new scenes. Let me tell you this unrated cut is much much better than the PG-13 cut. There are a few extra F-Bombs and much more CG-gore as well. It is not “Kill Bill” but it definitely has a harder edge to it. The only problem is that the unrated cut is only presented in 2D and not 3D, this is not shocking but also a bit disappointing since like I said I much prefer the new cut.

20th Century Fox has delivered “The Wolverine” as a combo pack with Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. Both of the 1080p transfers with an 2.40:1 aspect ratio are absolutely equally stunning. I happen to prefer the film in 3D even though it was post-converted. It was done so well that the film has a certain arty feel to it and it really makes for a very fun and overall impressive 3D experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track is no schlep either. It is so intense that it actually woke up daughter up due to the wall-shaking action. No question, this has to be one of the best audio tracks of the year. Very impressive.

In terms of special features this releases do not let you down either. There is a solid commentary track from the director James Mangold. It is well-paced and pretty informative about the production. There is a neat “Second Screen App” available to download through either IOS or Android mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets in order to access additional bonus content. “The Path of a Ronin” is a really solid nearly one-hour behind-the-scenes look into the film with great interviews from cast/crew. There is an Alternate Ending included, as well as the Theatrical Trailer included. Lastly there is a sneak peek at “X-Men: Days of Future Past” with a set tour from the upcoming installment in this franchise..

Actors: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Ed Wynn, Hermione Baddeley, Karen Dotrice
Directors: Robert Stevenson
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Run Time: 139 minutes

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

“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” I am not joking, I must say that word at least once a month and in fact I used it in a sentence earlier today before even receiving this Blu-ray to review! “Mary Poppins” is such an amazing film and I can’t believe that it is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  This is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray and it was definitely has never looked better. I never released that “Mary Poppins” was Julie Andrews’ film debut. The film won five Oscars (Best Actress: Julie Andrews, Best Original Score, Best Song: Chim Chim Cher-ee, Best Editing, and Best Special Visual Effects) and has alaways been one of my favorites. Thinking about the film today and having an 18-month old daughter, this film is definitely a tougher sell for today’s generation, especially due to its nearly 2 hour and 20 minute running time. Nonetheless, it is a classic and is no question a must have for any Disney fan!

Official Premise: Releasing from the Disney Vault, creative visionary Walt Disney’s classic shines for the first time on Blu-ray. Starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in her Academy-Award winning role, and featuring iconic toe-tapping songs including “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Mary Poppins is a movie experience your family will enjoy again and again. An all-new digital restoration adds even more magic, helping bring the award-winning songs and amazing picture to life like never before. Share the music, share the magic, share the joy of Mary Poppins this holiday.

Disney definitely took into account that this was celebrating its 50th Anniversary and delivered a very solid Blu-ray release for “Mary Poppins” with a combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. I am very excited that Disney has jumped on the Ultraviolet bandwagon for their Digital Copies because this is going to get quite a bit of use. The film has received an all-new digital restoration on its 108op transfer and really looks stunning, especially with the half animation/live action scenes. The colors are muted a little but still really pop and look crisp. I am love with the classic line detail on the animation as well. I was also quite impressed that this 50 year old title was equipped with a very high def DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. The film’s timeless songs are really showcased quite well within this track and like the film itself have never sounded better.

The special features are quite impressive as well and definitely a good draw in with some new content included. The star of the show is no question, “Becoming Mr. Sherman”, which also plugs Disney’s new film “Saving Mr. Banks”. It features actor Jason Schwartzman, who portrays half of the famous composing team, the Sherman Brothers, in the new film, sitting down with Richard Sherman. It is a great feature on the films amazing music and also gives us a sneak peak into “Saving Mr. Banks”. The other all-new feature is a “Mary-Oke Sing-Along”, which is a fun and I expect to use this a lot as I introduce my daughter to the film over the years. Next up there is “A Magical Musical Reunion with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman”, this is a must watch for any fan of the film! It is great to see the trio reunited for this and reminiscing about the film. “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins” is a featurette going behind-the-scenes on the production. Lastly there is also a deleted song called “Chimpanzoo” included.

Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Rebel Wilson, Ed Harris, Tony Shalhoub, Ken Jeong
Directors: Michael Bay
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 3rd, 2013
Run Time: 129 minutes

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

I am feeling a little bit of deja vu here, I just reviewing “Pain & Gain” on Blu-ray only a few weeks ago. I was pretty taken back that it was completely bare-bones in terms of special features. So I think Paramount realized they made a mistake and are issuing this Special Collector’s Edition for the holiday season. The only draw for this release is that it includes about an hour of special features and a new (weaker) cover and also leaving out the DVD copy, otherwise it is same release.  Unless you are a die-hard Michael Bay fan and really need these bonus features, I would recommend a pass on this release.

If you want slightly more technical review, here is our review for the film and it’s original bare bones Blu-ray, which was released on August 27, 2013. I am honestly not a fan of double-dipping and the first release was really just a way for them to rush the film out onto Blu-ray fast. Since the draw for this release is the extras, so let’s get cracking on them, as are all bundled under “The A Game: Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain”. This consists of eight featurettes are can be viewed as a big one-hour documentary. The extra looks pretty in-depth behind-the-scenes on the production and also touches on true crime events as well. Since this is labeled as a “Special Collector’s Edition”, I would have wanted a bit more than just an hour of extras and there are still no commentary tracks included.

Here is a break down on the eight featurettes included. “Still a True Story: Ripped from the Headlines” looks into the real crime and being turned into a movie with reporter Pete Collins and the real Ed DuBois. “Back to Basics: Michael Bay’s Vision” is a love fest for Bay with himself and the cast talking about the film. “American Dreamer: Daniel Lugo” features Mark Wahlberg talking about his role. “Passion Player: Paul Doyle” is the same thing for Dwayne Johnson’s character. “Dirty Work: Adrian Doorbal” again does the same thing for Anthony Mackie’s role. “Victimless Crime: Victor Kershaw” looks into Tony Shalhoub’s character as well. “Diamonds in the Rough: Locations” talks about shooting locations in Miami. Lastly “The Real Deal: Law Enforcement” talks about the use of real police officers.

Starring: Willie Robertson, Jase Robertson, Kay Robertson, Phil Robertson
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Thomas Nelson
DVD Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 954 minutes

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

“Duck Dynasty” is an A&E reality show that follows the Robertson family, who run a multi-million dollar enterprise called Duck Commander. The show has been getting more and more popular since its first season and in fact, the saga of the Roberston family has recently become one of the biggest phenomenas in cable history as it smashed ratings for the series’ fourth season premiere episode. I am normally not a fan of reality shows but I have recently become hooked into “Duck Dynasty” like most people have. They also released a Christmas album this year as well, so they are everywhere right now. Seriously though, once you start watching this show you cannot stop. It is like a train wreck that doesn’t allow you to look away. If you haven’t seen it and want to binge like myself, this set is a great way to do it and would also make a great holiday gift!

Official Premise: Keep the camo-clad Robertsons in your sights at all times with this Duck Dynasty gift set from A&E. With these down-home millionaires from Louisiana, there’s always somebody up to something that you can rest assured somebody else isn’t going to like. See what happens when Willie hosts his own radio show, but makes the mistake of bringing Uncle Si on the air with him. Watch how his employee retreat fails to build trust among the Duck Commander team. And you’ll want to catch Jase’s plans to prevent Missy from finding out he’s lost his second, newly replaced wedding ring. But the Robertsons never back down from a challenge, always taking on new adventures. Whether it’s a family cooking, fishing or football competition; a blind leap into winemaking; a spontaneous road trip in the RV; or their run-ins with critters of all kinds, this clan makes the most of their funny business. And now you can, too. But please, don’t fight over who gets to wear the enclosed Duck Dynasty bandana!

Since we are talking about a reality TV series, “Duck Dynasty” doesn’t blow you away in terms of audio and video but it still is a solid presentation…after the first season. The first season is basically a DVD upscale with its 1080i transfer in an 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The subsequent two seasons have received a 1080p presentation. All three seasons come with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround track, which again isn’t bad but also doesn’t stand out since the show is all dialogue. This 6 disc collection also comes with a limited-edition, exclusive Duck Camo Bandana.

In terms of special features, this release certainly does not disappoint. There are around 70 minutes of bonus footage from the three season. Season one includes 25 short featurettes of interviews and extra scenes, which run just over 35 minutes. The featurettes are: Romeo & Juliet, Sibling Rivalry, Willie CEO, Yuppies, Hairy Guys, The World’s Largest Deer, Si-ence Fiction, All Cameramen Are Weird, Miss Kay’s Cookin’, When You Feed Them They Will Come, Generations, Uncle Si’s Tea Party, Phil-osophies The Birds and the Bees, The Other White Meat, Jase “Si” Robertson, A Kind Gentle Woman, The Making of the Duck Call, Talkin’ My Language, The Making of “The Commander’s Kitchen”, Snakes, Phil-osophies Chatter, Gators, Boys Will Be Boys, The Wives of Duck Dynasty, and Decoy Hunting.

Season two doesn’t pack the same punch as season one but does include nine short featurettes with additional interviews and bonus scenes. The featurettes are: Workin’ With Family, Jack of All Trades, Momma’s Boy, Pizza vs. Toast, Mountain Man, The Brains Behind the Duck, Bootleg Building, Catch Phrases, and Work Hard Nap Hard. Season three gets back to deliver the goods including a bunch of great extras after season two was a little light. First up we have, “The Duck Dynasty Phenomenon”, which focuses on the success of the show with various interviews included. There are also Cast Interviews, Deleted Scenes, a few Webisodes, Mash-Ups and Amanda Ryan Song Recaps included.

Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Fred ­Tatasciore, Dee Bradley Baker
Directors: Eric Radomski, Leo Riley
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 72 minutes

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

After “The Avengers”, Marvel superheros have never been in higher demand! And who doesn’t love a great team up. Iron Man is obviously everyone’s favorite character and Hulk was the fan-favorite from “The Avengers”. This brand new animated film makes cinematic history and teams these two unexpected heroes together. The film is pretty jam-packed with action and great humor, which is a must for these two characters. Adrian Pasdar (“Heroes”) returns to voice Iron Man/Tony Stark and as does Fred Tatasciore (“Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.”) for the Hulk and wrapping it up Dee Bradley Baker (“Star Wars: The clone Wars”) introduces and gives a voice to our new villain Zzzax. Now that Disney owns the Marvel brand, I hope that we are going to be seeing many more of these in the coming months! Recommend for any Marvel fan…young or old.

Official Premise: In this action-packed teamup, the Invincible Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk come together to save the Earth from its greatest threat yet. When two HYDRA scientists try to supercharge a Stark Arc Reactor with Hulk’s Gamma Energy, they unleash a being of pure electricity called the Zzzax, and he’s hungry for destruction. Together, Iron Man and Hulk are the only force that stands in the way of the Zzzax’s planetary blackout. But first the superhero duo will have to get through snarling Wendigos, deadly robots and the scaly powerhouse, Abomination. Can two of Marvel’s mightiest heroes find a way to work together without smashing each other before time runs out?

What I like about this film the most is that it is being made by people who know superheros. Eric Radomski (TV’s “Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Batman: The Animated Series”) was the Supervising Creative Director. The Executive Producers on the project are Alan Fine (“Marvel’s The Avengers”, “Thor”, “Iron Man 2”), Dan Buckley (TV’s “Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man,” “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” “Marvel Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.”), Joe Quesada (TV’s “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble,” “Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man”) and Jeph Loeb (TV’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”). The film was also written by Henry Gilroy (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Batman Beyond”) and Brandon Auman (TV’s “Iron Man: Armored Adventures,” “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”). So plenty of experience here!

“Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United” comes packaged as a combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. Disney/Marvel has been using Digital Copy Plus now, which is a real treat! The 1080p transfer works wonderfully with the animation, which is quite sharp and very colorful. You can see the difference between the usual TV style animation and the quality feature film animation. There is a lot of detail but into making this look great. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 also delivers a huge HULK SMASH to your surround sound systems. It works very well with the non-stop action and sound effects as well.

In terms of special features, they are not outstanding but still cool and worth checking out. Firstly we get “Marvel Mash-ups”, which are three super cool shorts from old Marvel cartoons with new voice actors overdub scenes. Note, though if you pause the film you get “Marvel Inter-missions”, which includes even more hidden ones. The only other bonus feature is a chat between Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada and Ryan Penagos (Agent M on Twitter) about Iron Man and Hulk’s history together and other things Marvel. Definitely worth checking out also. No question, this will make a great gift this holiday season!

Starring: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Fred Willard
Director: Adam McKay
Number of discs: 2
Rated: PG-13 / Unrated
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 94 / 97 minutes

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

“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” is with no question one of the best comedies of all-time. The film wasn’t that huge in theaters but became a cult classic very quickly when it hit DVD. I do not think that there is one day that goes by that I do not quote this film, numerous times in fact. It is also one of those films that you can watch over and over and it does not get old in fact it only gets better. The “Rich Mahogany” Edition features three versions of the film: the theatrical version, an unrated version and Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, all presented here on Blu-ray in glorious high definition. This Blu-ray was originally released as a Best Buy Exclusive back in 2010 but is FINALLY getting an expanded release to take advantage of the long-awaited sequel’s release this Christmas in theaters. This is a must for any fan of this film and yes it is worth the double dip.

Official Premise: Will Ferrel (Old School, Elf) is Ron Burgundy, a top-rated 1970’s San Diego anchorman who believes women have a place in the newsroom – as long as they stick to covering fashion shows or late-breaking cooking stories. So when ron is told he’ll be working with a bright young newswoman (Christina Applegate) who’s beautiful, ambitious and smart enough to be more than eye candy, it’s not just a clash of two TV people with really great hair – it’s war! Filled with wicked wit and slapstick humor, Anchorman is the year’s most wildly irreverent, must-see comedy hit!

Paramount has given this Blu-ray release a lot of love. I just wish they would have updated this release from it being a Best Buy Exclusive and included an Ultraviolet Digital Copy with this updated release. We get both the 94-minute theatrical cut and the longer 97 minute extended cut of the film on the first disc. Besides the various cuts of the film, there is also Ron’s personal 32-page diary – “The Many Months of Burgundy” included as well as a very cool set of 12 Trading Cards, really a must for any fan of the film. In terms of presentation, the 1080p transfer is quite impressive within its 1.78:1-framed transfer, or at least as far as comedies go. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is a typical of a comedy high definition track but works very well.

So let’s get to some of the special features now, this “Rich Mahogany Edition” two-disc Blu-ray release of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” has no shortage of goodies. The first disc consists of an audio commentary track with Director/Writer Adam McKay; Actor/Writer Will Ferrell; Musicians Lou Rawls and Kyle Gass; Entertainer Andy Richter; and Actors Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Christina Applegate. These commentary tracks really add tons of great replay value to this film. Disc one also includes a collection of 36 deleted and extended scenes,which run just short of an hour. There is also a blooper reel, the “Afternoon Delight” music video and Ron Burgundy’s ESPN SportsCenter Audition.

Disc two kicks off with one hell of a special feature which would be the full-length film “Wake Up, Ron Burgundy”. It is a full-length film that was pieced together from various cut scenes and various subplots that didn’t make the final cut of “Anchorman”. There is also a brief “Intro-Commentary” for Wake Up, Ron Burgundy, which runs just under 13 minutes with Will Ferrell and Aaron Zimmerman. Honestly worth the purchase of the release alone just for this film in high definition.  Also included there are five Ron Burgundy Public Service Announcements, Ron Burgundy’s 1970 Emmy Awards speech. “Raw Footage ‘Good Takes'” includes nearly 40 minutes of more alternate takes and improvisations. Next up is “Afternoon Delight” Recording Session, “Happy Birthday AMC Loews” covering Loews’ 100th birthday. There are various interviews from the 2004 MTV Music Awards with Rebecca Romijn, Jim Caviezel, and Burt Reynolds. There are also three short featurettes including “Cinemax: The Making of ‘Anchorman'”, “Comedy Central Reel Comedy: ‘Anchorman'” and “A Conversation With Ron Burgundy”.

You think we are done yet? Well we still have more! There are cast auditions for Christina Applegate, David Koechner, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Kevin Corrigan, and Justin Long. There is a Table Read from 6/2/03 and more rehearsal footage included. “Playback Video” is a collection of the news team’s more embarrassing moments. Same goes for “Commercial Break”, which is more funny moments from the “Anchorman” set. Lastly we get the film’s teaser trailer, theatrical trailer and “Trounced Spiderman” TV Spot. So obviously, this release is a must-have for any “Anchorman” fan since it really delivers to its fans!

Actors: Art Carney, Burgess Meredith, Cliff Robertson, Dennis Hopper, Bill Bixby, Leonard Nimoy, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Jack Klugman, Robert Redford, Lee Marvin, Martin Landau, Telly Savalas, William Shatner
Created by: Rod Serling
Number of discs: 25
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: November 19, 2013
Run Time: 4524 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Who doesn’t love “The Twilight Zone”? I have been obsessed with this show since I was a little kid and I used to watch it whenever I could catch it. Growing up I used to watch endlessly for hours on Fourth of July and Christmas Eve on Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy). One year for Christmas many years ago, I received “The Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Edition” DVD box set, which included all the episodes and tons of great special features. It was a dream release for fans of the show and it has been out of print for some time. This latest release of “The Complete Series” does come with all 156 Episodes of Rod Serling’s classic TV series but unfortunately does not have any of those special features included. I recommend this set for anyone looking to get the complete series of this amazing show at a good price and doesn’t mind no special features. Of course if you owned the previously released DVD box set, “The Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Edition” then this release is not for you.

Official Premise: All 156 episodes of Rod Serling’s classic, groundbreaking series in one special box set! Travel to another dimension of sight and sound again and again. The series cast includes Rod Serling, Art Carney, Burgess Meredith, Cliff Robertson, Dennis Hopper, Bill Bixby, Leonard Nimoy, Burt Reynolds, Don Rickles, Jack Klugman, Robert Redford, Lee Marvin, Martin Landau, Telly Savalas, William Shatner and many more!

“The Twilight Zone” premiered over 50 years ago and yet it still remains television’s most treasured anthology program ever produced. Rod Serling was such a brilliant mind and created one of the best TV shows ever. This show is so timeless and I find that I am able to re-watch and re-watch these episodes over and over and never get tired of them. I am looking forward to introducing my daughter to this show as she grows up (but right now she is only 18 months, so we have a while to go) but that is why a release like this is worth checking out. A lot of people are buzzing that since this doesn’t include the extras from The Complete Definitive Edition but for those that don’t care, this is definitely worth the cheap price. Of course, watching these episodes on Blu-ray is the best way to go but the DVD still looks quite amazing (as it always has), thanks to Image’s TLC for these great shows.

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Starring: Q, Sal, Joe and Murr
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: November 26, 2013
Run Time: 374 minutes

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

If you haven’t heard of truTV’s hit series “Impractical Jokers”, then you are truly missing out. This show follows four longtime friends form New York that dare each other to do outrageous and often humiliating things in public all while being filmed by a hidden camera. I can honestly say that I have never laughed so hard in a LONG time then when I watch my first episode from this show. I was super excited that Warner Home Video releases that there is a market to re-watch these 17 episodes from the series’ first season and are releasing them on Blu-ray. Let’s hope that these do well and we see many more seasons to come.

Official Premise: They have to SAY it. They have to DO it. You have to SEE it. Once you start watching, you just can’t stop! For the first time ever on DVD, watch Q, Sal, Joe and Murr compete in a series of the most hilarious dares ever, recorded by hidden cameras, with Impractical Jokers: The Complete First Season. Packed with all 17 episodes from the first season plus bonus features, this DVD will have you howling with laughter!

“Impractical Jokers” has become such a hit for truTV. The show is getting more popular and popular with each new season. The show just started its third season and even have their own post-show series now with six episodes of “Jokers After Party”, which features Q, Sal, Joe and Murr chatting about their favorite moments from various episodes. If you want more “Impractical Jokers”, fans of the show can also catch the guys live during the truTV Impractical Jokers Tour featuring The Tenderloins, which has been touring all over the country. But wait…there is still more they also have an app available now in the App Store and Google Play, which features clips from the show, a soundboard smorgasbord, doodle pad and a chance to call the jokers directly and speak with them live.

In terms of special features, there is enough to add some decent replay value to the show. There are 12 deleted scenes that add up to about 10 minutes. I honestly was loving these personally. There are four short behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Brian Quinn: Q Up for Laughter,” “Larry! It’s the Best Joe Moments Ever!,” “James Murray: Off the Couch,” and “Delicious! The Best of Sal Vulcano.” *Meet the Stars of Impractical Jokers” is another four featurettes, which introduces each one of guys. Lastly there are five commentaries with the guys on the episodes, “Pay It Forward,” “Boardwalk of Shame,” Out of TP,” “Who Arted?,” and “Charity Case.” A must listen for any fan of the show.

Actors: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Katy Perry, Hank Azaria, Brendan Gleeson, Christina Ricci and J.B. Smoove
Directors: Raja Gosnell
Number of discs: 3
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 105 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw “The Smurfs” back in 2011, I was pleasantly surprised. I grew up watching the animated series and have always had a special place for those little blue people. Of course Sony scored big with the first film and a sequel was inevitable. I just wasn’t really dying for another one so soon, especially since the first was enjoyable but still nothing amazing. The sequel doesn’t match the fun of the first film. It is worth checking out most definitely for kids since it is quite entertaining for them. I might be a little harsher on this film than it deserves but I just feel like this is a bit too sloppy for me and a little bit lazy (and the box office showed this). Hopefully they will improve on this for the again inevitable “The Smurfs 3”.

Official Premise: Evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria) creates Hackus and Vexy, a pair of mischievous Smurf‑like creatures, hoping they will let him harness the magical Smurf‑essence. However, he soon discovers that he needs the help of Smurfette, who knows the secret to turning the pair into real Smurfs. When Gargamel, Hackus and Vexy kidnap Smurfette from Smurf Village and bring her to Paris, it’s up to Papa, Clumsy, Grouchy and Vanity to reunite with their human friends, Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris)and Grace Winslow (Jayma Mays), to rescue her.

Sony is know for delivering some of the best Blu-rays that are being released today. This three-disc combo includes Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer is actually quite amazing, which is not surprising since this film was mastered in 4K for maximum picture and expanded color (not though this is only for the 2D version of the film). Like with “The Smurfs”, I was quite the fan of the 3D transfer. Same goes for this sequel, the added dimension really works for this film. It is a little cheesy but I feel that it works well with the type of film this is. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers quite well, which the zany antics and fun action.

In terms of special features, they are pretty impressive. Only included on the 3D and Blu-ray combo packs is the Sony Pictures Animations’ animated Smurfs mini-movie, “The Legend of Smurfy Hollow.” This was previously released on DVD earlier this Fall and luckily now is available with this release. There are two featurettes including “Daddy’s Little Girl: The Journey of Smurfette” and “Animating Azrael”, which are available on the Blu-ray and DVD. There are also three Blu-ray exclusive featurettes including “The Puurrfect Companion: Azreal’s Tail”, “Evolution of the Naughties” and “The Naughties! The Tale of Hackus and Vexy” included. Lastly Sony has been integrating smart phone apps with their Blu-ray releases. With this release we get “Smurf-O-Vision 2 App”, which allows you to play fun activities with your favorite Smurfs and sync with your Blu-ray to expand even more fun extras from the film.

Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: December 3, 2013
Run Time: 73 minutes

Episodes: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I am totally obsessed with the Angry Birds-mania, which is taking over the world. From what started as a smart phone video game has since expanded into a cultural phenomena. Included in the first volume of the “Angry Birds Toons” are 26 episodes from season one. The show is wordless but if you are a fan of the games you will enjoy seeing these characters come to life.

Official Premise: Life isn’t easy on Piggy Island for the Angry Birds. Red and his fearless feathered companions, Chuck, Matilda, Red, Bomb, Blues and Terence, must band together to protect their eggs – and their future – from the wily plotting of the Bad Piggies.

The animation is very crisp and look great with their 1080p transfers. I have seen these episodes before on my smart phone via the “Angry Birds” apps. So the colors are very sharp and really impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio tracks are good but if you know the show there is not much in terms of dialogue, more like sound effects..but it still works. I am curious to see how this is going to translate and expand in the upcoming feature film.

In terms of special features, there is some decent content including “Meet the Characters” and “Meet the Flock” Pods. There are three Behind-the-Scenes featurettes on the show. There is the special holiday episode “Wreck the Halls”, which themed perfectly with the upcoming holidays. There is a Character Art Gallery. Lastly there is a bonus Angry Birds Windows PC Game included.

Actors: Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner
Number of discs: 22
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Time Life Entertainment
Run Time: 1500 minutes

Collection: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love “The Carol Burnett Show”? I wasn’t able to watch the show during its original run but I have always been a fan and have watched the show as a kid and now as an adult. The show debuted on CBS in 1967 and ran for 11 years, it received 25 Emmy Awards and five Golden Globes and it will always be one of the most honored shows in television history. With that being said about the show, this DVD “ultimate collection” isn’t really the ultimate collection. This 22-DVD boxed set, which was originally released in late 2012 including 50 episodes of the classic series, along with a 24-page memory book, a replica curtain from the show, and over 12 hours of bonus features. If you realize that this isn’t the complete series and are looking for a collection of hand-picked episodes then you should be happy with this release.

What this set does have is a wonderful presentation. This comes in a very sharp looking collectible box, which is opened by drawing up the replica curtain. In terms of special features, there are three episodes from “The Garry Moore Show”, which is where Carol got her start, including the “Supergirl” episode, where Carol did her Tarzan yell, for the first time on television. There are some rare sketches from the first five seasons, which have not seen anywhere in over 40 years including guest appearances by Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, plus one of the most beloved sketches in the history of the show– “The Dentist,” with Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. There is a great 100-minute Cast Reunion with Carol, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Lyle Waggoner.

“I Want to Push That Button…” The History of The Carol Burnett Show” is a great look into the show and its legacy. “Leading Lady” takes a look into Carol Burnett and her role in television. There are some Q&A’s from Carol with “Bring Up the Lights”. There is a focus on the episode “The Family”. There is a featurette on “Tudball and Wiggins” in “Ahhhh, Mrs. Ha-Wiggins?”. There is a celebration of movie parodies in “Starlet, Mildred, and More”. Next Stop, Broadway is a featurette on musicals. “Breaking Up Is Hard…Not to Do” looks into the ensemble’s chemistry and the famous “break-ups” on The Carol Burnett Show. “Where Do You Get Your Ideas?” is a showcase on the writers of the show. Lastly “Gags and Gowns” is a ode to the Designer Bob Mackie.