Actors: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 545 minutes

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

I wondered how they were going to top the first season of “New Girl” but they managed to make this second season even better.  “New Girl” is easily one of the best comedies on television right now.  It is hip, funny, packs a great cast and some amazing writing. There is perfect balance of comedy and drama as well in this season. Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield,  Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone are amazing together.  They each work off each other and it works so well. Season three is already off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what they have planned.

Official Premise: The romantic tension between Jess (Emmy Nominee Zooey Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson) escalates in the hilarious, quirky second season of New Girl – but will they ever hook up? Meanwhile, Schmidt fails to be hip, Winston isn’t “prepared” for a hot date, and Nick faces a death in his dysfunctional family. While Jess does her best to replace Cece on a modeling job and a drunk Elvis impersonator at a funeral, Schmidt and Winston hope to rearrange Cece’s arranged marriage.

Season two packed 25 amazing episodes and featured some guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis, Rob Reiner and Dennis Farina. I loved that Curtis and Reiner played Jess’ parents, they were really cute together and really added a lot to the season.  Farina also delivered a great role as Nick’s dad, who ended up passing away on the show (and also in real life this year). He is a great actor and was a great addition to the show. I also loved David Walton (TV’s short-lived “Perfect Couples”) as Jess’ doctor boyfriend. He was funny and meshed very well with the rest of the cast. This show is just filled with so many great one-liners, I am waiting for someone to start a website with nothing but quotes from this show.

I wish Fox would give this show the Blu-ray treatment but for now we just have DVD. The special features are pretty solid. We do though get he extended version of the very popular episode, “Virgins”, which is one of my favorite from the season. It is only available on this DVD and is a must see for any fan of the show. Besides that there is a commentary track for the episode “Cooler” and “Full of Schmidt”, which is a fun featurette on my favorite character. Lastly there are some great Deleted Scenes and a hilarious Gag Reel included.

Related Content

• Blu-ray Review “The Originals: The Complete First Season”
• Blu-ray Review “Arrow: The Complete Second Season”
• Blu-ray Review “Person of Interest: The Complete Third Season” https://mediamikes.com/2014/08/blu-ray-review-bitten-the-complete-first-season/
• Blu-ray Review “The Walking Dead: The Complete Fourth Season (Limited Edition)”
• DVD Review “The Blacklist: The Complete First Season”

Starring: Will Payne, Jaime Murray, and Sean Power
Directed by: Eduardo Rodriguez
Rated: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

What a waste of time! “Fright Night 2: New Blood” is billed as a direct-to-video sequel to the 2011 remake, yet it is just another remake. I do not understand why they decided to take this route. Of course none of the original cast is back for this mess of a film. Charley, Amy and Evil Ed are placed in a high school program in Romania. Instead of Jerry Dandridge, we get Gerri Dandridge, who is not hard on the eyes I might add, as their female professor. Lastly Peter Vincent is also here except he a reality Ghost Hunters-wanna be paranormal investigator. There is no explanation or reference back to the other film, unless you know from reading this, I was left with a confused face on the entire movie.  Did I mention this is a waste of time?

Official Premise: By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in Gerri’s chilling web of lust and terror. Charley and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called “Fright Night,” to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

20th Century Fox still delivered a nice release for this terrible film as a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Ultraviolet combo pack. The film is also delivered unrated but since it was never released, it is just another way to draw in any type of audience. The special features are just as weak as the film is.  There is an audio commentary by director Eduardo Rodriguez and producers Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta, Besides that there is “Fright Night” Webisodes and “Dracula Revealed” featurette included. Don’t waste your time, waste the 2011 remake instead or of course the original 1985 Tom Holland classic, which is the best. Stop making useless remakes!

Related Content

• Blu-ray Review “Halloween: 35th Anniversary Edition”
• Blu-ray Review “Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th”
• Blu-ray Review “Dracula: Prince of Darkness”
• DVD Review “Frankenstein and The Monster From Hell (1974)”
• Blu-ray Review “The Black Waters of Echo’s Pond”

Actors: Jack Hanna, Suzi Hanna, Julie Hanna, Kathaleen Hanna
Directors: Guy Nickerson
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image/Madacy Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 15, 2013
Run Time: 1320 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to thank my mother-in-law for getting me into the world of Jack Hanna.  She is a big fan and has since introduced to his work. Jack visits yearly to SeaWorld in Orlando, FL.  So each year, I have the privilege of watching him work with the animals and even to meet him. He is not only a television personality and conservationist but also an author and lifelong adventurer. I am sure that plenty of kids wanted to be him growing up. This collector’s edition package “The Best of Jack Hanna” includes 30 episodes from “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” and also 30 episodes from “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures”  If you are a fan of his work, then this 5-DVD box set is a must own.

Official Premise: “The Best of Jack Hanna” follows America’s most beloved animal adventurer and his family as he spends time with nature’s creatures across the continents, over the years, and through two different TV shows. This collector’s edition package includes 30 episodes from Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild, which has garnered 6 Daytime Emmy Nominations and 3 wins to date, plus 30 episodes from Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures. Each episode provides insight into the protection and conservation of some of our planet’s most precious animals and endangered species. “The Best of Jack Hanna” takes you on an action-packed journey, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for all creatures, great and small.

Jack shows no signs of slow down either as he continues to develop new TV series including “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown”, which airs on Saturday mornings on ABC affiliates around the country. “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” and “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” are also currently in syndication as well. He has been working for decades to protect and spread the word about wildlife conservation and I am sure that he will continue to spread the word for many more years to come. I hope that Image/Madacy Entertainment is planning to release future releases of Jack Hanna because I would love to have more, specifically his new series. There are no special features on this DVD but there are 60 amazing episodes, so that is good enough for me.

Actors: Vincent Price, Reggie Rymal, Frank Lovejoy, Carolyn Jones, Charles Bronson
Directors: Andre De Toth
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

I remember the very first time that I ever saw “House of Wax”, I believe it was also my first introduction to the amazing Vincent Price. That was many many years ago and yet watching the film today, it is still as amazing as it was over 20 years ago. “House of Wax” was released in 1953 and was the first color 3D feature released by a major studio and grossed (in adjusted figures) over $400 million dollars. This film is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary and Warner Bros is releasing it for the first time ever in 3D as it was originally meant to be seen in theaters. Highly recommend for any classic horror and Vincent Price fan.

Official Synopsis: Professor Henry Jarrod (Price) is the owner and figure sculptor in a wax museum whose specialty is historic figures. When he and his business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) quarrel over the choice of exhibits displayed, Burke suggests it would be more profitable to burn down the museum in order to obtain the insurance money. As they fight, the museum burns and Jarrod is left for dead. It’s not until much later at a new museum that the fate of Jarrod and the mystery of how the lifelike waxed figures are created becomes gruesomely evident.

The film marked Vincent Price”s first major starring horror role and a real landmark point for his career. It also co-starred a young Charles Bronson (that’s right same guy from “Death Wish”). So this film just wasn’t a typical convert to 3D to cash in release, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging delivered a brand new 4K scan, a full restoration and a perfect 3D image alignment. It really shows and looks quite amazing in 3D for a film celebrating 60 years. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track also works very well. Warner also included as a bonus, the 2D version of the film as well.  This also marks the first time that “House of Wax” is being released on Blu-ray.

The special features are pretty decent. There is all new featurette: “House of Wax: Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before”, which is a must watch for any fan. I was also really impressed that “Mystery of The Wax Museum”, the original 1933 film on which “House of Wax” is based was also included as a bonus feature. “Round-the-Clock Premiere: Coast Hails House of Wax” looks at the premiere of the film. Lastly, there is an expert commentary track included as well as a theatrical trailer.

The most successful 3D movie of the 1950s, House of Wax, comes to 3D Blu-ray™ for the very first time on October 1st! http://amzn.to/18TEJ1q

Actors: Vicki Lawrence, Beverly Archer, Ken Berry, Dorothy Lyman, Eric Brown
Directors: Dick Martin, Harvey Korman, Roger Beatty
Number of discs: 24
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Starvista Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 3900 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love “Mama’s Family”? It really brings the dysfunctional into the word family. The series started off as spin-off from reoccurring comedy sketches on “The Carol Burnett Show”, which were called “The Family”. When I think about this show I just think about classic ’80s-era TV. This is before the madness of reality TV, where the talent actually had to be talented! Vicki Lawrence is so amazing playing Thelma ‘Mama’ Harper. She stars alongside a fantastic cast including Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Ken Berry, Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett. For the first time ever, thanks to StarVista Entertainment/Time Life this show is making its debut as a complete series in a very nice Collector’s Set featuring all 130 Episodes taken from the the original broadcast masters. If you are a fan of this show, you do not want to miss this set.

Official Premise: Set in the fictional city of Raytown, “Mama’s Family” revolves around the eye-opening escapades of the Harper clan, headed by formidable matriarch, Mama Harper, a fiery-tempered no-nonsense woman who does not suffer fools gladly. In fact, she makes everybody suffer a little with her patented snappy retorts that truly put the “diss” in dysfunction. Adding to the unforgettable mix are Mama’s journalist sister, Fran (Rue McClanahan, The Golden Girls), who lives with her; her youngest son, Vint (Ken Berry, F-Troop), who moves in with his two teenagers after he is evicted; and Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, All My Children), who marries Vint by Episode 4. Mama’s extended family includes her two daughters, highfalutin’ Ellen (Betty White) and high-strung Eunice (Carol Burnett), as well as Eunice’s husband, Ed (Harvey Korman).

This collector’s set features all 130 episodes on 24 DVDs. Overall this set also contains over ten hours of special features, which are worth the purchase alone. The first two seasons feature the rare, original broadcast masters (aka the “Joe Hamilton” cuts) of the episodes. Each one also included an introductions from  Harvey Korman. There is a cast reunion roundtable with Vicki Lawrence (Mama), Ken Berry (Vint), Dorothy Lyman (Naomi), Beverly Archer (Iola), and Allan Kayser (Bubba).  There are all-new cast and the interview with Vicki Lawrence “interviewing” Mama through the magic of split-screen technology. There is the 1982 CBS-TV movie “Eunice focusing around Mama’s daughter (played by Carol Burnett), There are key “Family” sketches from “The Carol Burnett Show” and much more. Lastly there is also a “Collectible Mama’s Family Album” featuring character bios and a “Mama’s Family Tree”.

Actors: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong
Directors: Todd Phillips
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Run Time: 100 minutes

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

When I saw “The Hangover”, I thought it was one of the funniest, craziest comedies I have ever seen.  I never thought to myself though, “Man I really want a sequel!” Well money speaks for itself since the first film brought in a boat load of it.  The sequel was a carbon copy of the first film and was quite terrible. I know they say if something works the first time don’t change it but it was no fun.  So when I saw they were making a third film to “complete the trilogy”, I steered very clear. I have to admit though they actually did it up right this time (sort of). I think if they would have made this film the first sequel people wouldn’t have abandoned this franchise.

Official Premise: It’s been two years. Phil, Stu and Doug (Cooper, Helms and Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home. The only member of the Wolfpack who’s not content is Alan (Galifianakis). Still lacking a sense of purpose, the group’s black sheep has ditched his meds and given in to his natural impulses in a big way-which, for Alan, means no boundaries, no filters and no judgment… until a personal crisis forces him to finally seek the help he needs. What could possibly go wrong? When the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

The film feels very epic and large. I have to admit, I wasn’t on the floor laughing but overall I enjoyed the film. They attempt to tie everything up from the first two films, which feels a little forced including bringing back characters like Jeffrey Tambor, Heather Graha and Justin Bartha (who I don’t think speak one word). Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong are the highlight of the film. I have never been a fan of Ed Helms and who doesn’t just love Bradley Cooper. I would have liked to see more of Melissa McCarthy. She was funny but not over-the-top and could have added a lot more.

Warner’s delivered an impressive release with this Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet combo pack. The 1080p transfer is sharp and very impressive. Normally for a comedy, I would say that it doesn’t really push the standards of Blu-ray but this film does and it looks great. It also showcases really well all the various different locations from the desert to Mexico and (of course) Las Vegas. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 score is absolutely amazing and really feels like a huge action film and not like a comedy.

The special features are a bit of a let down though to be honest. “Replacing Zach: The Secret Auditions” is a short collection of secret auditions with director Todd Phillips. “The Wolfpack’s Wildest Stunts” show the cast/crew working through the films stunts and action sequences. “Zach Galifianakis in His Own Words” talks briefly about his role. “Pushing the Limits” talks about shooting with animals and children. “Inside Focus: The Real Chow” is Ken Joeng being Ken Joeng. There is a one minute “Action Mash-Up” montagte. Lastly there are three short extended scenes and tons of funny outtakes.

The Hangover Part III is available on Blu-Ray Combo Pack 10/8/13 at http://bit.ly/GetHungover

Film Review “The Hangover III”

Actors: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride
Directors: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 107 minutes

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

“This is the End” is based on a short film called “Jay & Seth vs. the Apocalypse”. Now from the posters and everything else about the film you have no idea what it is really about. The film is balls-to-the-wall crazy. A little bit of horror and a whole lot of comedy. The film is gory and even some good scares yet still completely hilarious. The cast is absolutely amazing together including Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, James Franco, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride, which play so well off each other. The film basically plays like a sequel to “Pineapple Express”, except the actors play variations of themselves. There are also some surprise cameos (which is no so suprise thanks to the box cover listing them) including Rihanna, Michael Cera and Emma Watson. Easily one of the best comedies in a long time!

Official Premise: “This is the End” follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

The DVD of the film comes with an digital copy using Ultraviolet streaming sites. In terms of special features this DVD is a massive disappointment compares to the amazing amount of special features included on the Blu-ray release. There is a commentary track with directors Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, which is fun for sure still. There is a featurette called “Directing Your Friends”, with Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg discussing the production. There are some outtakes, cast featurette, and trailers and four additional confessionals included in “This Is The Marketing”. I was very disappointment that “The Making of “The Making of Pineapple Express 2” and the original short for “Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse” were not included.

Actors: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhar, Tom Hardy
Directors: Christopher Nolan
Number of discs: 6
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 456 minutes

From the very first time that I picked up a Batman comic back in the 80’s, he was always my favorite superhero. When you think about the word superhero and then think about Batman, some can debate whether or not his is really super. But in my eyes he is definitely a hero. Batman is one of the more darker of comic book heroes. His back story is grim and he is always battling himself with what he is doing and why he is doing it and always looking for a way out. Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy has been the best portrayal of the caped crusader to date, no question. His vision of these characters are so deep and lined with tons of great themes. These themes are what take this film beyond the typical superhero action film into something with much more depth and drama. Now that Nolan’s chapter for The Dark Knight has come to an end and we are celebrating the recent release of “The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”, I wanted to take some time to look into these themes that are presented in these great films. I figured we have all seen the film, so I wanted to focus on something new.

When you think about “Batman Begins”, it’s main focus was the rise of our hero. His struggle and fight through his own issues and fear is what made him the hero that he became. Heroism in the film is an apparent theme. The city of Gotham has never had anyone to look up before like him and putting their well-being over his own is what helped Bruce Wayne transforms himself into their hero. This also brings up point of what makes a hero? Batman wouldn’t be where he was if he didn’t experience all his pain and suffering. That is what made him a hero and helped him to overcome it. Another theme that plays a prominent factor in “Batman Begins” is fear. Like I said Bruce Wayne fights not only the villains in the film but also is own fear. His fear of bats and his want to strike fear into his victims are two main points. Also focusing on fear would be the Scarecrow, who hoped to expose the city to fear with this hallucinogen drug.

Anarchy comes to mind when I think about “The Dark Knight”. The Joker’s role in the film is to just spread anarchy and wreck havoc in Gotham. He doesn’t have any clear reasons or purpose, he just does it because it is fun and it entertains him. His back story isn’t clear at all, especially since he changes it every time he tells the story when he asks “You wanna know how I got these scars?”. He is one of the great villains in history due to that reason of him being unpredictable and unreasonable. To be honest, I think that we are all scared of anarchy in general and what it would bring if there really was someone like Joker terrorizing our streets. That is why it resonates with us so well and we are enamored with this character. Betrayal is also a theme that The Dark Knight faces himself when the city of Gotham turns there back on him after the death of Harvey Dent.

In “The Dark Knight Rises”, I have always felt that it is a blend of all the themes from the previous film and wrapping up all open-ended questions. Carrying over from “The Dark Knight”, Bruce Wayne is dealing with the denial from Gotham turning their backs on him. He continues to fight with him fears of continuing to put on the cowl and fighting for justice. He questions his intentions and almost let’s it get the better of him. With the character of Bane, the idea of order really comes into play. Bane wants to take all order out of Gotham and succeeds for the most part when the city is under his control. His character also deals with a bit of betrayal as well as we see in his back story when we find out what made him snap. Human nature is also a very big part of the film, as we see what happens when the order is removed from society. Luckily strength defeats the chaos in the film as we seen not only Batman’s rise over his enemies and his own struggles but the city itself as they step up on their own.

So obviously these are only a few of the dozens of amazing themes included within these three very well made films. Before Nolan’s trilogy for “The Dark Knight”, you would never have thought that a “superhero” movie would have this much depth and character to it. I believe that it has changed the path for the future of these films and it will open doors for filmmakers to expand the universe of this films. I would love to open the door as well to everyone reading to point our your favorite themes from these films as well in the comments below. If you are looking to revisit these great themes and enjoy these films again, I would highly recommend picking up “The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”.

This amazing release includes all previous special features from the films as well as a bunch of one extras as well. “The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy”, is a behind-the-scenes look on the franchise and is full of never-before-seen footage, rare moments, and exclusive interviews. “Christopher Nolan & Richard Donner: A Conversation” is a sit down chat with directors Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight Trilogy”) and Richard Donner (“Superman”). Lastly there are the complete IMAX® Sequences included for “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises”. There is also some great new and exclusive memorabilia including three premium Mattel Hot Wheels Vehicles: Batmobile, Batpod and Tumbler. There is a newly commissioned collectible art cards by Mondo featuring Scarecrow, Joker, Bane, Harvey Dent, and Ra’s al Ghul and a 48-page book featuring production stills and behind-the-scenes images from all three movies. Lastly, you get digital copies of all the films to add to your Ultraviolet account. Act quick though since this set is limited and numbered to only 141,000 copies.

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt
Created by: Julian Fellowes
Number of discs: 9
Studio: PBS
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Running Time: 1425 minutes

Seasons: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I have never watched “Downton Abbey” prior to hearing of this new release. I know that series four just started airing in the UK and the hype is all around. Created by Academy Award-winner Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”) and features a quite outstanding cast. I wanted to give this show a shot since literally everyone is talking about it. In the US, after the airing of the third series it has become the highest-rated PBS drama of all time. PBS is releasing “Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2 & 3” as a limited edition box set which includes all three seasons of the series, as well as a bonus documentary, “Secrets of Highclere Castle. This series is quite amazing, just a marvel to look at. So well acted and so well scripted. I am now hooked and can’t wait to see what lies in for series four.

Official Premise: “Downton Abbey” tells the story of a complicated community. The house has been home to the Crawley family for many generations, but it is also where their servants live, and plan, and dream, and they are as fiercely jealous of their rank as anyone. Some of them are loyal to the family and committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the look out for betterment or love or just adventure. The difference is that they know so many of the secrets of the family, while the family know so few of theirs. But for all the passions that rage beneath the surface, this is a secure world, serene and ordered, and, at first glance, it seems it will last forever. Little do they know, family or staff, that the clouds of the conflict that will change everything are already gathering over their heads.

Just a note if you are a really hardcore “Downton Abbey” fan, I would suggest getting this from Amazon since it includes an additional over 50 minutes of exclusive footage not available anywhere else. There are never-before-seen deleted scenes from Seasons 1-3, all-new cast interviews, and 11 minutes of clips and interviews from Season 4! So that would be the way to go and easily worth the purchase of the release alone. The episodes look and sound great on Blu-ray, a real improvement over the presentation on PBS. The 1080p transfer looks amazing and really captures the beauty of the gorgeous Highclere Castle. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 also delivers a great presentation, especially with the score from composer John Lunn. The score works so well with the show, which also made me immediately download the CD.

The rest of the bonus features includes are also available on the previously released Blu-rays. Season 1 consists of “Making of Downton Abbey – A House in History” and “Great British Heritage Pass, a promotional spot for British tourism”. Season 2 consists of the “Downton Abbey Christmas Special”  and the following three featurettes “Fashion and Uniforms”, “Romance in a Time of War” and “House to Hospital”. Season 3 delivers the best extras of the three with the powerful Season 3 Finale: “A Journey to the Highlands”, “Downton Abbey Behind the Drama”, “Shirley MacLaine at Downton “, “The Men of Downton” and “Downton in 1920”. All three seasons add up to more than three hours of bonus content. Lastly the bonus disc: “Secrets of Highclere Castle” includes the one-hour documentary, which takes us the castle featured in Downton Abbey and gives a unique look behind-the-scenes on this show.

Actors: Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Paul Kasey
Writers: Steven Moffat
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 705 minutes

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

What an amazing series! “Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series” was jam packed delivered some of the best episodes to date for this franchise. It also had a shift in companions with Amy and Rory Pond ending their run with The Doctor and Clara (and her exciting and curious story) jumping right in. As much as I really loved Amy Pond as a companion, I think that Clara’s character has so much depth behind her and it makes her so much more exciting. Plus it doesn’t hurt at all that Jenna-Louise Coleman is so cute and very easy on the eyes. Overall, we got an explosive seventh series, the first have of the series was gut-trenching with the Pond departing and then fun and exciting second half with Clara.We recently also found out that Matt Smith was departing from the role after the 50th Anniversary Special and 2013 Christmas Special. This is real sad new since I have really loved his take on the Doctor for the last three series but Peter Capaldi does look very promising.

Included here we get all 13 Series Seven episodes including both the 2011 and 2012 Doctor Who Christmas specials (“The Doctor, The Widow & The Wardrobe” and “The Snowmen”). There was some complaints from fans since the Christmas special was not included on “Doctor Who: Series Seven – Part 1 & 2 releases but I always prefer waiting for the “Complete” series releases. Speaking of complete though, I should make you aware that BBC has another surprise up it’s sleeve this November releasing “Doctor Who” Series 1-7 on Blu-ray in a Limited Edition Giftset / w/ Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote. That’s ride Whovians, that’s series 1-4 in HD Blu-ray, which has never before been avaiable. Just something to consider when making up that Holiday wish list.

Official Synopsis: Matt Smith returns as the Eleventh Doctor faces new monsters and familiar foes like you’ve never seen them before. The first part of this series sees the Ponds (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) in their final voyage with The Doctor. They save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in the Wild West and are even kidnapped by the Doctor’s oldest foe. But when they arrive in Manhattan, the Weeping Angels are waiting. Christmas brings with it a new companion for The Doctor named Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman). But how, where and when will he meet her again? And how does this Impossible Girl defy death? The final eight episodes of Series Seven finds The Doctor and his new companion battling monsters on distant alien planets, trapped on a Russian submarine with a deadly passenger, chasing terrifying ghosts, and coming face to face with an army of upgraded Cybermen, all while The Doctor’s oldest secret threatens to be revealed.

The Complete Seventh Series includes the following episodes and specials: “The Doctor, The Widow & The Wardrobe” (2011 Christmas Special), “Asylum of the Daleks,” “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship,” “A Town Called Mercy,” “The Power of Three,” “The Angels Take Manhattan,” “The Snowmen” (2012 Christmas Special), “The Bells of Saint John,” “The Rings of Akhaten,” “Cold War,” “Hide,” “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS,” “The Crimson Horror,” “Nightmare in Silver” and “The Name of the Doctor.”

I have to admit, BBC has always given this series a lot of love when it comes to their releases. Even though, series 1-4 has never been released on Blu-ray (now will be resolved this November), they have done very well with their Blu-ray releases. The 1080p transfer on these episodes are very impressive and sharp within their aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio tracks also deliver quite well with their DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This series also seemed to be expanding the scale of the show as well. The episodes felt much bigger and epic than in the past and the impressive audio and video presentations were there to support that new change.

The special features are epic just like the series. BBC does not disappoint here at all. There are Behind-the-scenes featurettes for every episode of Series 7 including Christmas episode “The Snowmen”. There are interviews with Matt Smith and Jenna-Louse Coleman from BBC AMERICA’s “The Nerdist” (one of my favorite shows on BBC). There are seven additional all-new featurettes “Inforarium”, “Clara and the TARDIS”, “Rain Gods”, “The Making of the Gunslinger”, “Creating Clara”, “Last Days of the Ponds” and “Pond Life”. Each of these go into great detail on their respective topic, must watch! There are four “Doctor Who Specials” including “The Science of Doctor Who”, “Doctor Who in the US”, “The Companions” and “Doctor Who at Comic Con”. There are great short prequels included for the following episodes: “The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe”, “Asylum of the Daleks”, “The Snowmen”, “The Bells of Saint John” and “The Name of the Doctor”. Lastly there our audio commentary tracks for the following episodes “The Snowmen”, “Cold War”, “Hide” and “The Crimson Horror”

Actors: Jemma Dallender, Joe Absolom
Directors: Steven Monroe
Rated: Unrated
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

I think I may have mellowed out in my taste for certain types of films. When I saw the original “I Spit On Your Grave” from the late 70’s, I thought it was like nothing I have ever seen. In 2010, the film was remade by director Steven R. Monroe and I enjoyed it. It took the film to a new place and gave it an updated feel but the themes were a little too strong for me personally. This time around, I thought it was a bit of overkill (maybe it is having a newborn daughter). Jemma Dallender does a great job in this very trying and difficult role. I enjoy horror but this brand is getting a little much for me to stomach recently. This feels a little bit unnecessary.

Official Premise: “I Spit On Your Grave 2” stars beautiful newcomer Jemma Dallender (“Community”) as Katie, a beautiful girl on her own in NY, who is trying to make it in the cutthroat world of modeling. When Katie innocently accepts an offer to have new photos taken for her portfolio, the experience quickly turns into an unthinkable nightmare. Severely beaten, battered, bruised, and broken, she will have to tap into the darkest places of the human psyche to not only survive her ordeal, but to ultimately find the strength to exact her brutal revenge.

Anchor Bay delivered this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD. The 1080p transfer looks good despite the gritty feel of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers the suspense from Corey Allen Jackson’s score (He also did the score for 2010’s “I Spit On Your Grave”. In terms of special features, there is nothing like besides a few deleted scenes. I think this could have benefits from a behind-the-scene featurette or even a commentary track from cast/crew.

Actors: Ariel Winter, Sara Ramirez, Wayne Brady, Tim Gunn
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 17, 2013
Run Time: 112 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have a 16 month old daughter and every since the very first commercial for this show she (and my wife and I) have been in love with this show. Sofia is so sweet and the morals of the show are great for kids to grow up with and learn. The show is also packed with some amazing very fun songs. “Sofia the First: Ready to Be a Princess” contains five episodes from the first season, including “A Royal Mess”, “The Shy Princess” (which is my favorite episode to date), “Blue Ribbon Bunny”, “The Princess Test” (my second favorite) and “Two To Tangu”, which includes a special appearance from Princess Jasmine. If you have a young girl, I highly recommend this show and this DVD since it really delivers some of the best episodes so far.

Official Premise: Your favorite little princess-in-training returns for more music, majesty and magical fun, so get ready to have a ball with Sofia the First. Becoming royalty overnight is every girl’s dream, and Sofia is eager to prove she can be a true princess. Visit an enchanted circus, meet a pet dragon and soar through desert skies with Sofia and Amber on a magic carpet ride. But when their high-flying adventure veers off course, it’s special guest Princess Jasmine to the rescue with inspiring advice about trying new things, staying strong and trusting yourself. Sparkling with extraordinary songs, unforgettable characters and thrilling surprises, Ready to Be A Princess opens the door to a whole new world of kindness, helping others and being the best you can be.

The last “Sofia The First” DVD release was just the pilot feature length film, so I am glad to see that they included more than one episode here. I am hoping that they are going to be releasing these very often since we cannot get enough of this show. The DVD is presented in widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a solid Dolby Digital 2.0, which works well with the music. There are no additional special features included here but there is a free bonus Dress-Up Play Set with Wardrobe. This is really cute and a great addition to this already great DVD release.

Starring: James Garner, Margot Kidder, Neva Patterson, John Beck, Stuart Margolin
Created by Frank R. Pierson
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 1225 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Prior to receive an email about this new DVD release from WB Archive, I have never heard of this TV series “Nichols” but I am a fan of James Garner. So I decided to check it out. The show was originally broadcasted during the 1971/72 season and only 24 episodes were made. Garner is great as always in this Western along with a pre-Lois Lane Margot Kidder but I didn’t lasso me in. I guess I am not the only one either as it didn’t last very long during back in the day.

Official Premise: James Garner is Nichols, the reluctant sheriff of a small Western town, in this quirky, offbeat series. It’s 1914 and a violence-weary Nichols (Garner) has returned to his Arizona home after 18 years in the army. Forced into becoming its new lawman by the tough and powerful rancher (Neva Patterson) whose family runs the town, Nichols refuses to carry a gun as he takes on bank robbers, Apaches, con artists, banditos and more, armed with only his wits and his charm.

The one thing this releases has going for it that it has been newly remastered and looks great for a show that is over 40 years old. It is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. For anyone who is a fan of the show, you can give thanks to WB Archive, since they recovered this lost series from oblivion with their Made To Order DVD service. The audio format included is a decent Dolby Digital track. There are no additional special features besides the 24 episodes.

Actors: Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Vanessa Hudgens, Dean Norris, Kevin Dunn
Directors: Scott Walker
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

I am a sucker for anything that Nicolas Cage does.  The guy is so cool that he is featured not once but twice on the cover of this Blu-ray. He is joined with an impressive cast including John Cusack (playing the serial killer Robert Hansen) and Vanessa Hudgens (she is quite impressive). I have to admit, the film was really well done and drew me in from the moment it starts. It follows the true story behind the hunt for Robert C. Hansen, one of America’s most notorious serial killers who brutally murdered 17 young women over the course of 12 years in the town of Anchorage, Alaska. After watching the film, I did some more research on the true story and that is how I know when I really enjoyed a film that it leaves thinking afterwards.  This film should have received more attention in theaters since it definitely deserves it.

Official Premise: Based on a shocking true story of Alaskan State Trooper Jack Halcombe (Nicolas Cage) as he sets out to end the murderous rampage of Robert Hansen (John Cusack), a serial killer who has gone unnoticed for 13 years. As the bodies of street girls start to pile up in Anchorage, fear strikes a chord with the public. Risking his life, Halcombe goes on a personal manhunt to find the killer before the next body surfaces. When a seventeen year old escapee (Vanessa Hudgens) reveals key information about the case, Halcombe is finally on the trail of the killer. But will he catch him in time to save the next victim?

Lions Gate delivered a solid Blu-ray presentation (as always). Included is a Blu-ray disc and also a Digital HD Ultraviolet copy as well. The 1080p transfer looks great and really captures the landscape of Alaska. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is solid as well and works with the crime-thriller. The special features are also impressive on this release. There is a solid commentary track with director/writer Scott Walker and producer Mark Ordesky and Jane Fleming. There are some
Deleted Scenes included along with additional ommentary by Director Scott Walker. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette with interviews from the cast/crew, along with a few extended interviews with cast and crew. Lastly there is a featurette looking into the “Anatomy of a Serial Killer”. Solid extras for a solid film.

Starring: Jason Bateman, Andrea Riseborough, Alexander Skarsgård, Hope Davis, Frank Grillo, Michael Nyqvist
Director: Henry Alex Rubin
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: September 17, 2013
Run Time: 115 minutes

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

Although “Disconnect” has a terrible box art, it drew me in with its impressive cast. Jason Bateman, Alexander Skarsgård and Hope Davis all give terrific performances in this very gripping and impressive drama. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was quite glad that I checked this film out. Not sure why it never made it in theaters, especially with Bateman’s success with “Identity Theif” and “Horrible Bosses” and Skarsgård’s draw from “True Blood”. I watch a lot of horror films personally and this was a nice change of pace and very engaging. It is also quite relevant in today’s times of everyone being disconnected, if you may, with smart phones, Facebook etc.

Official Premise: A hard-working lawyer, attached to his cell phone, can’t find the time to communicate with his family. A couple is drawn into a dangerous situation when their secrets are exposed online. A widowed ex-cop struggles to raise a mischievous son who cyber-bullies a classmate. An ambitious journalist sees a career-making story in a teen that performs on an adult-only site. They are strangers, neighbors and colleagues and their stories collide in this riveting dramatic thriller about ordinary people struggling to connect in today’s wired world.

Lions Gate packed in an impressive Blu-ray release. Included in a Blu-ray disc along with an Digital Ultraviolet copy included. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 work for the film but don’t get pushed to far. The transfer is sharp and Max Richter’s score sounded great. The special features weren’t as impressive as the film. There is an audio commentary with Director Henry-Alex Rubin, which is a big waste of time to be honest. “Making the Connections: Behind the Scenes of Disconnect” runs nearly 30 minutes and is a great making-of feature with interviews from cast. “Recording Session of “On the Nature of Daylight” for Disconnect” is a short but neat look at a studio session for the film. Lastly there is a Theatrical Trailer included.