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: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 129 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

This is definitely the year of Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson.  Mark Wahlberg is hot off his hit comedy “Ted” and just scored on “2 Guns” with Denzel Washington. Dwayne Johnson has put thrown into every franchise in Hollywood and come out swinging. The combo of the two together really work well for this film. It is not what you would expect from Michael Bay but it is definitely a fun ride. In fact, it is quite dark and violent which I was not expecting. Packed with a fast pace, this film definitely draws you in and besides the leads it packs an awesome supporting cast. I would recommend this as a renter for sure. Come on you know you will watch anything with The Rock in it just like me!

“Pain and Gain” is based on a true story about a group of personal trainers in 1990’s Miami who are sick of being poor and set out in pursuit of the American Dream. When they decide to mess steel from businessman (Shalhoub). They get complicated and they get caught up in much more than they expected. The film is adapted for the screen by writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely from articles written by journalist Pete Collins. The film also Ed Harris (A History of Violence), Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine), Rebel Wilson (Bridesmaids), Ken Jeong (The Hangover) and Bar Paly (The Ruins).

I think this movie didn’t succeed since when people think about Michael Bay, they just think about big movie with tons of explosions. That is not the case here at all. This quite a small film yet I appreciate Bay for trying something different. Paramount delivered this release in a combo back with Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. As would be expected with a Bay film despite its size, the film look stunning with its 1080p high definition and sounds amazing with its completely amped Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track! But the fun stops there since this Blu-ray comes ABSOLUTELY bare bones in terms of special features. That is a real shock to be honest and disappointing.

Actors: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery
Directors: Allan Kroeker, David Livingston, David Straiton, James A. Contner, James L. Conway
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 1112 minutes

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

If you are a fan of “Star Trek: Enterprise” then you will know that in season two the show starts to get its legs. The first season was more a transition and them getting their feet wet. We picked up from the “Star Trek” classic cliffhanger ending of the first season with Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) trapped in the 31st century. This season includes some great fan favorites including “Shockwave, Part II”, “Carbon Creek” and “Dead Stop”. There are plenty of connection introduced to original Star Trek series like with Klingons and even a Tribble. Speaking of other “Star Trek” series, there are several episodes this season which are directed by past cast alumni including Next Generation’s LeVar Burton, and Voyager’s Roxanne Dawson and Robert Duncan McNeill. So if you are a fan of this show that you should get ready to continue your journey abroad the Enterprise NX-01 with this impressive Blu-ray season release.

Official Premise: Where no one has gone before! Beginning with season one’s epic cliffhanger, experience the adventures of the Enterprise NX-01 crew as Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew explore the far reaches of space long before the United Federation of Planets was formed. The crew is tested as Chief Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer) is abducted while Science Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) struggles with a life-threatening disease. Witness the real first contact of Humans and Vulcans, the return of a familiar Star Trek alien, and the origins of Archer’s early career – all leading up to the explosive finale.

The first season of “Star Trek: Enterprise” looks good and much better than its prior TV release but wasn’t up to the par in terms of the recent “Star Trek: The Next Generation” releases. This second season aimed to improve that and quite succeeded. The show looks great within each the 26 episodes from the series’ sophomore season. The 1080p transfer has issues here and there but ultimately you should be able to enjoy this season with no major issues. It is not “TNG” but still decent. The show goes with a striking DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track, which works with every warp speed jump and the show’s action. It also comes with numerous other languages including German and Italian 5.1 (Dolby Digital), and French, Castilian and Japanese Stereo Surround (Dolby Digital).

Like “Star Trek: Enterprise” season one release, this release comes packed with great mix of new and vintage extras. They are spread out over the six Blu-ray discs. The main star of the special features on the first disc is the newly produced cast reunion feature, “In Conversation: The First Crew,” is moderated by series co-creator/executive producer Brannon Braga and features cast/crew chatting about the show. This runs just over 90 minutes and is a must for any fan of the series. “Uncharted Territory” is another must watch, which is a three-part behind-the scene featurette focusing the show’s production for the second season with cast/crew interviews.

There are several audio commentaries tracks included as well. The first is with co-writer Chris Black and Mike & Denise Okuda for the episode “Carbon Creek”. Next we get a commentary track for the episode “Dead Stop” with co-writers Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong. Actors John Billingsley and Bonita Friedericy give a great audio track for the episode “Regeneration”. Co-Writers Michael Sussman and Phyllis Strong give their two cents on the episode “Regeneration”. Lastly writer Chris Black and Mike & Denise Okuda breakdown the episode “First Flight”. They were recorded back in 2005 but if you have never heard they are worth giving a listen for these great episodes . There are also two text commentary track for “Stigma” with Mike & Denise Okuda and “First Flight with Mike & Denise Okuda.

There are deleted scenes from six different episodes including ,”Minefield”, “A Night in Sickbay”, “Dawn”, “Stigma”, “Cease Fire” and “The Expanse.” There are some short archival interviews with Brannon Braga, Rick Berman, Jolene Blalock, and Scott Bakula discussing the episode “Stigma”. There are three “NX-01 Files” 04 focuses on Scott Bakula. “NX-01 File 05” look the character Hoshia and “NX-01 File 06” features Anthony Montgomery reflect on his role. There eight “Archival Mission Logs” included spread out over the six disc. They focus on the following topics included “Enterprise Moments: Season Two”, “Enterprise Profile: Jolene Blalock”, “Inside “A Night in Sickbay””, “Future Tense”, “Enterprise Secrets”, “LeVar Burton: Star Trek Director” and Enterprise Outtakes”. Lastly there is a short season two promo and a photo gallery included.

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Actors: Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben
Directors: Craig R. Baxley
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Shout! Factory must be big fans of Dolph Lundgren (like myself). They recently gave a nice Blu-ray treatment to another one of his films “Joshua Tree”. “Dark Angel” a.k.a. I Come in Peace (1990) is another gem to come out of the early 90’s. It screams 90’s but it is still a damn fun horror/thriller. Plus who doesn’t love a good alien film? Lundgren really kicks some major ass in this and it is a real blast. If you are a fan of this film or better if you’ve never seen it, this is a must watch! Shout! Factory keep Dolph’s movies coming to Blu-ray, you guys always pick the best films that would normally never get any love!

Official Premise: Detective Jack Caine (Dolph Lundgren, The Expendables) thought he’d dealt with every kind of crime on earth. But now, someone is using human bodies to manufacture narcotics. Someone, or something, not of this world. To the Alien that has arrived on earth, humans represent ideal drug factories because of our endorphins. To detective Caine, the Alien represents mankind’s worst threat. If the alien’s mission succeeds, our planet will be destroyed. Which is bad. Together with his straight-arrow FBI partner (Brian Benben, Private Practice) and his girlfriend, the city coroner (Betsy Brantley, Deep Impact), Caine is going to send this alien home in pieces! Kaboom!

The Blu-ray transfer for “Dark Angel” is like film itself screams 90’s, but it still delivers the action and works well with the special effects. Like most Shout! Factory’s older release titles, the audio track included is a DTS-HD Master Audio track and also like the video it works for the action. The special features included on this release are a bit lacking. There is three interviews included with director Craig R. Baxley, Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: John Travolta, Robert De Niro, Milo Ventimiglia
Directors: Mark Steven Johnson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When I heard about “Killing Season”, I was drawn to it by its lead cast Robert De Niro and John Travolta.  I figured I can’t go wrong with both of them. Well, I was wrong. The film starts off well but then really takes a turn for the worst about 30 minutes in where it just gets repetitive and boring. I have to admit, I found myself checking my email more than watching this film after a while.

I read a few other reviews and they all critique Travolta role and Serbian accent but I actually liked it. Maybe it’s because I just give the guy credit for playing all these different roles.  I mean come on, he’s played a woman in “Hairspray” and now a Serbian soldier. The guy has balls. De Niro is just De Niro as usual, just a bitter old man. Nothing special.  I was taken back by how brutal some of the violence was, which even made me turn away. Not enough to make me watch this again though.

Official Premise: Deep in the Appalachian mountains, a reclusive American military veteran (Robert De Niro) and a European tourist (John Travolta) strike up an unlikely friendship. But when the tourist’s true intentions come to light, what follows is a tense battle across some of America’s most forbidding landscape proving the old adage: the purest form of war is one-on-one.

Millennium delivered a fine Blu-ray release.  The 1080p transfer was sharp and really captured the beauty of the Appalachian mountains. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 worked with the opening scene and the high tension action between our duo. In terms of special features there was not much here.  There is a quick behind-the-scenes featurette, which briefly goes into the production. I would take a pass on this one, unless you really need to hear Travolta with a Serbian accent.

Actors: Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy
Directors: Jim Mallon
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 74 minutes

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

I have been a way of Mystery Science Theater 3000 or MST3K (to hardcore fans) since it first started airing on TV. I have always admired classic 50/60’s cheesy sci-fi/horror films growing up and this was a great way to enjoy it on a new level through humor. MST3K was produced and set between seasons 6 and 7 of the show and felt like a regular episode of the show yet quite epic at the same time. Trace Beaulieu (Crow T. Robot), Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Michael J. Nelson are just a riot together. If you are a fan of this type of humor also check out Michael J. Nelson and Kevin Murphy’s latest collaboration, RiffTrax, which are downloadable audio commentaries for many many great (I mean horrible films). “This Island Earth” is such a fun film, bad, but still fun. The jokes are never better and still funny after all these years. I highly recommended release for all fans of MST3K!

Official Premise: After six seasons of sublime, nerdy fun on television, the cult comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 took to the big screen in 1996 for its deliriously funny takedown of the 1955 alien invasion epic This Island Earth. Evil scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester explains the premise at the start: in his quest for world domination, he devises a scheme to subject the human race to the worst movies ever made. He tests his plan on Mike Nelson, the sole human aboard an Earth-orbiting space station known as the Satellite of Love. But our hero and his two robot sidekicks turn a lemon into a much funnier lemon by showering This Island Earth with wisecracks, ridicule and general silliness. The human race may never be rid of cheesy movies, but when the critics are this nutty, who cares?

Shout! Factory released this Collector’s Edition as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. I have to admit, I was actually rather impressed with the 1080p transfer. We have all see MST3K and we know that the films that they critique are not the highest quality of cinema. They are usually old 50/60’s public domain films but they did a good job of cleaning this up for its high-def debut. The DTS-HD Master Audio track also works well with the film’s very fast and snappy jokes.

What I am most excited about is the fact that there are some decent special features included for this release. There is “The Making of Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie”, which gives a lot of great insight about the MST3K crew and the production. There are deleted scenes including the removed sequences from the riffed motion picture and the alternate ending. So this is a must for all fans! “Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie: The Motion Picture Odyssey” includes new interviews with cast and crew and never-before-seen behind the scenes footage. This is again a must for any fan. “This Island Earth: 2 1/2 Years In the Making” shows how much preparation it was to put this today. Lastly there is the original trailer included.

Actors: Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric, Gilles Lellouche
Directors: Luc Besson
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 107 minutes

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

When I see the name of Luc Besson (“Taken”, “The Fifth Element”, “Le Femme Nikita”) behind a film my radar immediately goes off. The French filmmaker knows how to deliver entertaining action films, though this film doesn’t fall into that category. “The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec” starts off like a French copy of “Indiana Jones” and shows promise but loses all its steam very quickly. The film is based on a comic from the 70’s. I must say that the film does with some pretty impressive visual effects as is the cinematography Thierry Arbogast, who worked with Besson as well on “The Fifth Element”. Unfortunately it doesn’t save the film.

Official Premise: The year is 1912. A 136 million-year old pterodactyl egg, housed on a shelf in the Natural History Museum, has mysteriously hatched, unleashing a prehistoric monster onto the Parisian streets. But nothing fazes Adele, when she finds a connection with the ancient bird and reveals many more extraordinary surprises. Based on the acclaimed historical fantasy books by Jacques Tardi, The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adele Blanc-Sec follows this intrepid adventurer as she uncovers mysterious Egyptian treasures, attempts to tame a wild pterodactyl, eludes dangerous enemies and braves a formidable phenomenon to save her ailing sister.

This film would definitely benefit from a Blu-ray release for sure to showcase those visuals.  The DVD comes with the original French audio in 5.1 Dolby Digital, as well as the terribly dubbed English track. The special features are ok but not spectacular. The best feature on the DVD is “The Making of The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-sec” which is a solid nearly 30 minute behind-the-scenes look at this production. There a few short deleted scenes but are not even worth checking out.  Lastly there is a brief music featurette, which I did love the score but this is way too short. Personally if you are interested in this film, I would wait until October 1st when Shout! Factory releases this film with a Director’s Cut on Blu-ray combo pack with Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy.

Actors: Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Jared Gilmore
Number of discs: 5
Studio: ABC Studios
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 946 minutes

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

When I first started watching “Once Upon a Time”, I wasn’t particularly thrilled with it and skipped the first season in its originally airing. I did though discover it on Blu-ray and really got into it quite a bit. There is such a deep and fun story behind this show. You find yourself really get drawn in this magical world within “Once Upon a Time”. There is also an endless wealth of great characters in the show. The primary cast included Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan, Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming, Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen, Emilie de Ravin as Belle, Colin O’Donoghue as Captain Hook, Meghan Ory as Red Riding Hood, and Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin. They all really meshes well together and deliver such a fun season with action, romance and twists and turns. There is endless possibilities and I can’t wait for season three and the spin-off series “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland”.

Synopsis: The curse is broken, magic has arrived, and there’s no telling what, or who, will be unleashed. Now the exiled fairytale characters of Once Upon a Time must grapple with a flood of awakened memories as they come to grips with their new “reality.” Old loyalties will be tested, new heroes will emerge and vengeful villains will wreak havoc, including ruthless pirate Captain Hook and the relentlessly wicked Queen of Hearts (Barbara Hershey). Amidst the backdrop of previously unexplored lands and a newly magical Storybrooke, love and sacrifice will set the stage for the ultimate battle between good and evil. For, in the words of Rumplestiltskin, where magic is concerned, only one thing is certain: it always comes at a price. From Storybrooke to Fairy Tale Land and beyond, experience the mystery, romance, action and adventure of Once Upon a Time.

Season two also packs a very impressive new cast with Jamie Chung as Mulan, Julian Morris as Prince Phillip, Lee Arenberg as Grumpy, Sarah Bolger as Princess Aurora, Jorge Garcia as Anton the Giant, Ethan Embry as Owen Flynn, David Anders as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Alan Dale as King George, Beverley Elliott as Granny, Eion Bailey as Pinnocchio, Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket and Tony Amendola as Geppetto. That is why ABC is a great place for this show to be airing since Disney is able to pull all the great characters from their library. I can’t wait to see who they drum up in season three.

Walt Disney Home Entertainment has delivered a very impressive Blu-ray release with all of the 22 episodes spread over 5-discs. The 1080p transfer is also very sharp for each episode. It draws you into Storybrooke with the beautiful sets and colors, which really stand out. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sounds fantastic as well and deliver that certain fairy tale feeling. The special features are quite impressive for this season’s Blu-ray. There are cast/crew audio commentaries…for EACH episode. Yep now joke, each episode. Very impressive for any fan of the show. “Sincerely, Hook” is a chat with Colin O’Donoghue who plays Killian Jones/Captain Hook about his roles. “Girl Power” is a feature on show’s strong women characters. “A Fractured Family Tree” goes deeper into the show’s magical family. “The Fairest Bloopers of Them All” is a very funny gag reel from this season. Lastly there are a few never-before-seen deleted scenes included.

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Starring: Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner, Jason Watkins, Dylan Brown, Sinead Keenan
Director: Toby Whithouse
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 360 minutes

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

I have been a fan of BBC’s “Being Human” since the first season and I am sad to see it go. The fifth season is also the show’s final season. Damien Molony and Michael Socha return for season five and Kate Bracken was added to the cast as Alex Miller (a ghost). I liked the way that these three really played off each other as the vampire/werewolf/ghost trio. I would have be very curious to see where they could have all gone together. But overall Season 5 was a big improvement over the rather dull season 4. Especially with transitioning a new character it was pretty solid. Like the first season, this one really aims to capture the perfect balance of drama and comedy that this series is known for.

Official Premise: Hal, Tom and Alex are three housemates with some serious issues on their hands, and they’re not just about household chores. Hal (Damien Molony) is a 500 year-old vampire, Tom (Michael Socha) is a hardened werewolf and Alex (Kate Bracken) has recently had the misfortune of becoming a ghost. But threat lurks around every corner. There is the volatile and deluded Crumb (Colin Hoult) – a newly recruited vampire, and the sinister Mr Rook (Steven Robertson) – head of a secret government department. With bills to be paid, our heroes take jobs in Barry’s kitschest hotel, but alongside the flock wallpaper and the cocktail umbrellas dwells an evil greater than anything faced before. On the face of it, Captain Hatch (Phil Davis) is just another foul-mouthed decrepit old man but he hides a dark secret that threatens not only our heroes’ friendships but the entire world.

BBC delivered “Being Human: Season Five” with each episode presented with 1080p transfers and Dolby Digital 2.0 audio tracks. Each of the episodes both look and sound awesome. This has been consistent for each season for this show as well. In fact, BBC always delivers in this department and their quality of their shows are always high. There are some decent special features on this season. There are five bonus clips: “Alex’s Unfinished Business”.  There are a few deleted scenes, as well as some cast interviews included.  I would have loved to seen some commentary tracks though, especially on the series finale.

Actors: Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney, Caroline John
Directors: Derek Martinus
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 96 minutes

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

“Doctor Who” is bigger than it ever has been.  With news of the 12th doctor recently released and the upcoming 50th anniversary episode, things have never been hotter for the series. So that is a perfect time to release “Spearhead From Space (Story 51)” on Blu-ray for the first time. In fact it is the first of any classic Doctor Who episodes to be released in this format. This was the first story of Season 7 of Doctor Who and also was the first to feature Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. We also get introduced to Caroline John as the Doctor’s new companion, Liz Shaw.  “Spearhead from Space” is a great story in the series and this is a must buy for any “Doctor Who” fan for sure. I hope that BBC has plans for future stories in this format.

Official Premise: Exile! The Time Lords have banished the newly regenerated Doctor to Earth. But the Doctor isn’t the only alien to have arrived, as a swarm of meteorites have crashed into the sleepy English countryside, bringing with them a terrible new threat to mankind. As the Nestene plan takes shape, UNIT, the Doctor and his newly appointed scientific advisor, Liz Shaw, race against time to stop humanity being replaced by a terrifying plastic facsimile race.

If you are curious as to why there isn’t more classic “Doctor Who” episodes being released on high-definition on Blu-ray, that is because “Spearhead From Space” was the first o be shot entirely on film, due to BBC strike. It was also the first classic story to be presented in full color. It has been restored from the original 16mm film elements and scanned into a beautiful high definition transfer.  It looks amazing on Blu-ray and within its original television 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The audio is also impressive with a sharp DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 track. There is also a few decent special features included on the Blu-ray including “A Dandy and a Clown”, “Carry On: The Life of Caroline John”, “Title Sequence Material” and “Restoration Comparison: Digitally Remastered Picture and Sound Quality”. So this is a well-rounded release, another solid release from BBC.

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Starring: Anna Kendrick, Craig Robinson, John Francis Daley, Ken Jeong, Rob Corddry, Thomas Lennon
Director: Paul Middleditch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 84 minutes

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

What is it with the end of the world obsession this year? We have this and “This is The End”..and why the hell is Craig Robinson starring in both of them? Very funny. Well I wish I can say that for this film. “Rapture-Palooza” is a clever movie that tries really hard to be funny, maybe a little too hard. What the film does have though is a sharp and funny cast. Besides Robinson, Anna Kendrick is amazing – simply amazing.  She has such range and it is sad to thing she wasted it in “The Twilight Saga”. Some of my other favorite comics, also pop in like Ken Jeong, Rob Corddry and Thomas Lennon. I would watch this just for the cast. So overall, the film does have some good jokes for sure but overall the barely 90 minute film has trouble louring you in the whole time.

Official Premise: When the Apocalypse actually happens and a billion people are raptured up to heaven, Lindsey (Kendrick) and her boyfriend Ben (Daley) are left behind in suburban Seattle. The young couple try their best to lead a normal life surrounded by talking locusts, blood rain showers, and pot-smoking wraiths. But when the Anti-Christ (Robinson) makes his home base in their neighborhood, Lindsey finds herself the object of his affection. With the help of her family, friends, and a lawn-mowing zombie neighbor, the young couple set off to stop the Anti-Christ from taking her as his bride… and just maybe, saving the world in the process.

Lions Gate delivered this film in its usual format, Blu-ray + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. I do love me some Ultraviolet code, even for a movie like this which I would consider watching again to see if it gets any better second time. The 1080p transfer is clean and works well with the visual effects. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which scores with the film’s jokes. The special features are not bad either. There is an audio commentary track with Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel, which is a laugh riot and better than the film itself, for real. There is a featurette on the film called “It’s Good to Be the Beast”. Lastly there are some Deleted Scenes and a Gag Reel included.

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Actors: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Directors: Joseph Kosinski
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 124 minutes

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

A futuristic sci-fi flick starring both Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman?! Sign up me!! Wait a sec it is made by the director of “TRON: Legacy” and producers of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. I’ll take two please? I am a big sucker for sci-fi, especially an original film like “Oblivion”. It is not a sequel or prequel or remake. It is new, original and very epic. The film is very ambitious bringing a lot of ideas to the table all at once but it still manages to work out and really blows you away. After Joseph Kosinski directed “TRON: Legacy”, he has been on my top list and he delivers again! Can’t wait to see what he does next and fingers crossed for “TRON 3”. Sci-fi junkies should definitely check this out for sure. It is fast, crazy and a great time.

Official Premise: On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. 2077: Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Not that I expected any less from a visual film like “Oblivion” but it is easily one of the best Blu-ray presentation that I have been all year. Universal released this epic flick as a sweet combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy and UltraViolet digital copy. The film is just a visual effects masterpiece and really looks stunning with it’s 1080p transfer. Same came be said for the film’s extremely epic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio track.  My walls were literally rattling due to this film and I swear I thought I heard my neighbor’s car alarm going off. M83’s score also really scores with this track as well, another favorite of mine this year.

The special features are nothing short of great just like the film. There is a solid audio commentary track with the director Joseph Kosinski and Tom Cruise deliver. The track is very extensive and worth checking out. It is also very rare to see such a big actor do a track like this but I really admire his support to the film and it really got me pumped to watch it again. “Promise of a New World” is super impressive five-part behind-the-scenes documentary. If you didn’t get enough great content from the commentary track, this really dives into the making of this production and runs just over 45 minutes. There are four deleted and alternate scenes included. Lastly and my favorite is an M83’s isolated score presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. Totally amazing!

Actors: John Ireland, Faith Domergue, John Carradine
Directors: Paul Harrison
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Severin Films
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

Zombies are taking off Hollywood recently with hits like “World War Z” in theaters and “The Walking Dead” on television. “The House Of Seven Corpses” is a fun entry from the 70’s that is finally getting the Blu-ray treatment from indie distributor Severin Films. Right from this film’s great setup opening scene to the crazy zombie all-out finale, this is classic old school zombie flick. I see this being a good film to put on during a rainy weekend and just to vege out. The film is a slow-burn but it is worth sticking out due for the bang finish. Definitely screams 70’s horror but horrorhounds should dig it.

Official Premise: Eight graves! Seven bodies!” screamed the ads, “One killer… and he’s already dead!” Hollywood legends John Ireland (“Red River”, “Satan’s Cheerleaders”), John Carradine (“The Grapes of Wrath”, “Vampire Hookers”) and Howard Hughes’ paramour Faith Domergue (“Cult of the Cobra”, “This Island Earth”) star this much-loved `70s shocker about a film crew shooting an occult drama in a sinister manor – actually the former Utah Governor’s Mansion – with its own grisly history of family bloodshed.

Severin Films is releasing this film as a Blu-ray + DVD Combo. The 1080p transfer is very impressive as this film has been transferred into HD from original vault materials. The same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which works well with the spooks and scares. The special features are also pretty impressive with an exclusive archive interview with the legendary horror icon John Carradine. There is also a new revealing audio commentary with Associate Producer Gary Kent Moderated By The Alamo Drafthouse’s Lars Nilsen. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Asher Tzarfati, Shmuel Wolf, Lilli Avidan, Tsilla Karny
Directors: Amos Sefer
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Grindhouse Releasing
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

“What the fuck?” Those are the words that I said aloud about receiving this Blu-ray release. I have not had the privilege of seeing “An American Hippie In Israel” prior to recently.  It was originally filmed in 1972 and is so unbelievably bad that is actually is very entertaining. I mean right from the box it is absolutely impossible to say no to the following – “machine-gun wielding mimes, robots, bloodthirsty sharks, free-loving debauchery and poignant anti-war monologues”. After reading that, it is one of those moments where you just have to drop everything and just watch it immediately.   This film is actually become quite the midnight sensation and cult classic over the year. This long lost psychedelic classic will probably only appeal to its fans with little crossover but it is definitely a crazy trip.

Thanks to Grindhouse Releasing who is giving us this crazy fucked up film, which is being released for the very first time on home-video.  The film is being released as a deluxe edition 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo, which is actually limited to 2000 copies that are going to be individually numbered. I expect this to be out of print quickly and become a very sought upon Blu-ray. Also included is a bonus DVD of “The Hitchhiker”, the Uncensored Director’s Cut. The film does scream 1970’s porn when watching it but Grindhouse gave it a really sharp high-definition digital restoration from the the original U.S. theatrical version print.  So it still look the part but has a nice new paint job. In terms of audio there is a bonus Bonus 5.1 audio track dubbed “The Beverly Cinema Experience”, definitely delivers a good time.

The special features are ridiculously jam-packed. There are six controversial scenes deleted From the original release, just when you though it couldn’t get worse. There are in-depth interviews With the film stars Asher Tzarfati And Shmuel Wolf, the Production Manager Moshe Berman and Singer/Co-Star Susan Devore. There is also a featurette on the star in “Asher Tzarfati – An Israeli Actor In Israel”. There is a “Channel 10 Tel Avi News Segment” and “A Cult Is Born” featurette on the film’s revival In Tel Aviv. There are the original 16mm Screen Tests and also “Be Careful Children”, which is Amos Sefer 16mm short film. Lastly there is Liner Notes By Acclaimed Horror Novelist John Skipp, Still Galleries, Trailer, Filmographies and Optional Hebrew Sub-Titles, as well as Grindhouse Releasing Prevues Of Coming Attractions.

Actors: Bryan Brown, John Hargreaves, Graham Kennedy, Graeme Blundell
Directors: Tom Jeffrey
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Synapse Films
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

“The Odd Angry Shot” is a highly-acclaimed Australian war film taking a look into the hell of Vietnam.  I have to admit, I was not aware of this film prior to this release.  I know that when I see Synapse Films backing a film that it has to be good..or at least worth checking out.  Naturally, I am not a big fan of war films, not sure 100% way though.  I enjoy watching them but I never rush out to revisit again. The film stars Bryan Brown, who then went on to do films like “Breaker Morant” and “F/X” series. “The Odd Angry Shot” has never before been released on DVD in the U.S., so fans of this classic war film should be excited to finally see it getting some love. The film itself shows a different side of the war and really gets down and dirty to show the gritty truth behind it.  Definitely worth a rent for sure!

Official Premise: Tom Jeffrey’s classic Australian film, “The Odd Angry Shot”, is set in the late 1960s during the brutal war Australians shared with the United States: the struggle for Vietnam. Harry (Graham Kennedy), a hard-edged Special Air Service Corporal, meets a new company of soldiers during his second tour in Vietnam. There’s the naïve Bill (John Jarratt), the easy-going Bung (John Hargreaves), the blunt Rogers (Bryan Brown), the pragmatic Dawson (Graeme Blundell), and the youthful and innocent Scott (Ian Gilmour). Because of their training as professional soldiers from Australia’s toughest Army unit, these men believe they can deal with any situation. They pass the time playing practical jokes, getting into drunken brawls and humoring themselves to keep their minds off the war. But, when the first odd angry shot rings out, and an enemy mortar barrage hits their camp causing many casualties, the men realize their protective shield of humor is no defense at all against the harsh realities of armed combat.

For a film dating back to 1979, This film has never looked better with its new high-definition 1080p (1.78:1) transfer which was taken from original vault materials. Since this film has been given a proper U.S. release since VHS. So this should be a real treat for fans of this cult classic.  Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which works well showcasing the action from the war. Like most Synapse Films releases “The Angry Odd Shot” also comes with a sharp reversible cover art. The special features included are not spectacular but worth checking out. There is an audio commentary with Producer/Director Tom Jeffrey, Producer Sue Milliken and co-star Graeme Blundell. Worth checking out if you are a fan of the show. There is a featurette “Stunts Down Under with Buddy Joe Hooker”, which looks into how the stunts were performed.  Lastly, there is an original theatrical trailer included.

Actors: James Lorinz, Mike Lackey, Mark Sferrazza, Bill Chepil
Directors: James Muro
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Synapse Films
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

I grew up watching Troma movies (and even appeared in one of them) at a way to young age. So growing up in the 80’s I was in love with the horror genre and all the “trash” that came out of it. “Street Trash” is a very unique film, since it aims to offend so much with its super-gore and bad taste but it ends up only entertaining. The special effects are all practical and really make me yearn for those days when everything wasn’t digital. There was a lot of hard work that went into making this film, especially on a low-budget and it is just pain fun. In the world of reboots and remakes, it is great to see something truly original. This is definitely not for the squeamish but highly recommend for all hardcore horrorhounds.

Official Premise: In the sleazy, foreboding world of winos, derelicts and drifters in lower Manhattan, two young runaways eighteen-year-old Fred (Mike Lackey) and his younger brother, Kevin (Mark Sferrazza) live in a tire hut in the back of an auto wrecking yard. Life is hard, but the most lethal threat to the boys is the mysterious case of Tenafly Viper wine in Ed’s liquor store window. The stuff is forty years old… and it’s gone bad. REAL bad! Anyone who drinks it melts in seconds, and it’s only a dollar a bottle!

Synapse Films has beautifully re-mastered this film in high-definition and gave it the love and attention that it deserves. The 1080p transfer with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio presentation is very sharp and for a low-budget movie from the ’80s looks just plain awesome. It was taken from original camera negative and was meticulously restored. The colors in this film are very key and they really pop with this new transfer. The film has a certain cartoon feel to it and this really extenuates that positive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also impressive. It works very well with the dialogue and especially with the Vietnam War flashback. This track was created specifically for home theater systems and it sounds great. This is easily one of the best Synapse Films in the recent years.

Synapse went all out with the extras included the ability to create your own bottle of Tenafly Viper Wine with an exclusive label sticker included. The special features are stunning like the film itself. There are two commentary track included. The first is with writer/producer Roy Frumkes, which is super informative and fun. The second is with director James Muro, it is more technical and a little drier but still a tons of great info. “The Meltdown Memoirs” is an epic two plus hour multi-part documentary that really encompasses all aspects of the production. There is the original 16mm short film “Street Trash”, which inspired the film.
There is an “Interview with Jane Arakawa” from 2007 sharing her experience making “Street Trash”. Lastly, there are a few Deleted Scenes and Outtakes, as well as Promotional Teaser and Theatrical Trailer included.

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