Actors: Alyssa Lobit, Jennifer Blanc, Brianne Davis, Dana Daurey, AJ Bowen
Directors: Danielle Harris
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 80 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

If you are a horrorhound like myself then you know who Danielle Harris is. She started down the path of becoming a scream queen after her roles in films like “Halloween 4 & 5” and “Hatchet” series. “Among Friends” is her Harris’ first time directing solo and she does a great good job. But I have to admit, I am a little tired of these psycho party game flicks, especially after IFC’s recent “Would You Rather”.  They are all for shock and gore but it grows old quick and it doesn’t help that this 80 minute flick feels like two hours.

Official Premise: Good times take a dark turn when longtime friends get together for an ’80s-themed murder-mystery party that is soon hijacked by someone from their past. The dinner guests will have to face their lies and secret betrayals as they discover the terrifying lengths to which their host will go to expose the truth.

What film does have is a kick-ass cast including Jennifer Blanc (“The Victim”), AJ Bowen (“You’re Next”) and of course Kane Hodder (“Friday the 13th VII-X”). I haven’t heard of Alyssa Lobit but she is really one crazy son-bitch. Harris even makes an appearing in costume from “Halloween 4 & 5” during drug trip scene. This DVD only comes with one special feature, including a commentary track with director Danielle Harris, Jennifer Blanc and AJ Bowen. I have to admit, they definitely had fun on this track and I preferred it to the film but no enough to win me over.

Stars: John Ratzenberger, Michael Teigen, Jason Earles
Directors: Robert Vince
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 81 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

I have been a fan of these talking puppies since the Buddies Series starts back with “Air Buddies”.  Since then there has been five other films including “Snow Buddies”, “Space Buddies”, “Santa Buddies: the Legend of Santa Paws”, “Spooky Buddies” and “Treasure Buddies”. Sure they are cheesy but they are just great family fun.  And most importantly my daughter loves them.  “Super Buddies” is a family friendly send-up of “The Avengers” and other superhero films. It features our favorite pups including Rosebud, B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud as they become caped crusaders and embark on their biggest adventure ever. Filled with great jokes, action and some great new characters, “Super Buddies” is super family fun.

Official Premise:  An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, “Buddies, assemble,” the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities?

“Super Buddies” stars John Ratzenberger (“Cars”, “Cheers”), Michael Teigen (“TRON: Legacy”), Jason Earles (Kickin’ It”, “Hannah Montana”). In terms of voice stars, the legendary Tim Conway voices Deputy Sniffer. The “Buddies” voices include Cooper Roth (“Are you Faster Than a 1st Grader), who voices B-Dawg; Tenzing Trainor (“Stevie TV” ) who voices Buddha; Jeremy Shinder (“Louie,” “Newlyweeds”) who voices Budderball; Ty Panitz (“Because I Said So,” “How To Eat Fried Worms”) who voices Mudbud; and G. Hannelius (“Good Luck Charlie”, “Sonny With A Chance”) who voices Rosebud. So there is no shortage of great talent here!

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment delivers this film as a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy). Disney has recently crossed over into the world of digital streaming, which is fantastic news.  I know my daughter is going to re-watch this release over and over on the iPad.  The 1080p transfer works with the action and visual effects and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also is very impressive and delivers a mainstream feel despite this direct-to-DVD release. These films are well made, like I said cheesy but still pretty sharp.  The downfall here is that there are no additional special features for the kiddies.  I could have seen some fun extras included for the kids included. Can’t see what is in store next for the “Buddies”!

Actors: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, James Franco
Directors: Ariel Vromen
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

I have been a fan of Michael Shannon since his role in “Groundhog Day”. Well, maybe that is not 100% true but since his turn in the film “Revolutionary Road”, he has really blown up. I mean the guy played General Zod in “Man of Steel”. He is such a deep actor and really gives him to each of his roles. He was the draw for me to “The Iceman” and he delivers yet again. The film also packs an impressive supporting cast including Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, James Franco. Great ensemble cast. Fans of mobster movies, should definitely check this out if not just for Shannon’s stone-cold performance.

Official Premise: Inspired by actual events, The Iceman follows notorious contract killer Richard Kuklinski (Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon) from his early days in the mob until his arrest for the murder of more than 100 men. Appearing to be living the American dream as a devoted husband and father; in reality Kuklinski was a ruthless killer-for-hire. When finally arrested in 1986, neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession.

Millennium is releasing this film on Blu-ray, after a very limited theatrical release. I could have seen this been huge in theaters, especially with this great cast. The 1080p transfer is good and gives a clear presentation but doesn’t blown me away. There are two audio tracks included. The first is obviously the best and only choice with its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. There is also a Dolby Digital 2.0 included but it is quite pointless. In terms of special features, there are two decent featurettes included. The first is “The Making of The Iceman”, delivers a look into the production with cast/crew. “The Iceman: Behind the Scenes” pretty much does the same thing but focuses more on the film itself but worth checking out.

Actors: Paul Walker, Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Norman Reedus, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elijah Wood, Lukas Haas, Kevin Rankin.
Director: Wayne Kramer
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 112 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

What a trip! From the moment this film starts, I couldn’t help but think that this feels like a live-action comic book. It is action packed and very intense. It is graphic, in-your-face and feels like “Pulp Fiction” on drugs. The film also packs one very impressive cast spread out and also intertwined between each of the three stories. Just look at the box, the better question is “Who isn’t in this movie?” Everyone in the cast, no matter how small the role, really adds a lot to the film. It is a real ensemble. My only concern is that the film slows down a bit in its third act but ends up paying off as it all comes together in the end. Very clever, unique and a ton of fun.

Official Synopsis: In this shop, these people may be pawning far more than they bargained for: Brendan Fraser (“The Mummy”), Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings”), Vincent D’Onofrio (“Men in Black”), Academy Award® nominee Matt Dillon (“Crash”), Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Thomas Jane (“Hung”), Lukas Haas (“Inception”), and Paul Walker (“Fast & Furious”), star in 3 twisted tales all connected by items from a Southern small-town pawn shop. A man searching for his kidnapped wife, a couple of white-supremacist meth heads, and a sad-sack Elvis impersonator, plus more desperate characters come to life in the action-packed and hilarious story written by Adam Minarovich and from the director of “The Cooler” and “Running Scared”, Wayne Kramer.

Anchor Bay is releasing this film as a Blu-ray combo pack with a DVD disc as well. The 1080p transfer relays the film’s comic book feel very well and looks sharp doing it. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 works well with the film’s fast paced again and music. In terms of special features, I would have expected more from this release. There is only an audio commentary from director Wayne Kramer and writer Adam Minarovich. I would have loved to seen some behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kevin Howarth, Riley Smith, Tanit Phoenix
Director: Andrew Goth
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Wesley Snipes is out of jail and back in the business! Too bad this is not the great comeback one could have hoped for. “Gallowwalkers” has a cool premise but plays off like a boring Western. Like most low budget films, the opening scene shows promise but then the story kicks in and drags this film down to the ground. Let’s hope that Snipes has a better comeback with “The Expendables 3” next summer!

Official Premise: A mysterious gunman, Aman (Snipes), is the son of a nun who breaks her covenant with God to ensure his survival. This act brings a curse upon Aman – all those that die by his gun will return. Soon, he is hunted by a gang of his undead former victims, led by the vicious Kansa. Aman enlists Fabulos, a new young warrior, to fight by his side.

Lions Gate is releasing this film only on DVD, no Blu-ray treatment. It is also includes a digital Ultraviolet streaming copy but I could not see myself re-watching this film a second time. The special features are also light like the film itself. There is a brief “Behind-the-Scenes look into the production with cast/crew interviews. Lastly there is a trailer gallery included.

Actors: Pink Floyd
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Release Date: August 27, 2013
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Ever since I was a kid, I have been a huge fan of Pink Floyd, starting with “Dark Side of the Moon” (thanks Dad). After listening to this album over and over and over, I never got tired of it and still never have. “Dark Side” is one of those records that just gets better every time, I can’t explain it but if you are a Floyd fan that you will know what I am talking about. “Classic Albums – The Making Of Dark Side Of The Moon” was originally released in 2003 and covers the making of this amazing album. It features great interview with with band members including Roger Waters, Richard Wright, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason. But more than that there are also great and very insightful interviews with engineer Alan Parsons, the late designer Storm Thorgerson, and tons of others. After 40 years, “Dark Side” is still one of the best selling albums in history and will continue to shine on.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is behind this Blu-ray release to be honest it just feel a little lazy. This is the first in there new SD (Standard Definition) Blu-ray releases. So basically this is just an upscaled versions of the original DVD. So it is cool to have it on Blu-ray but it is not really worth the upgrade if you already own the DVD’s. Along with “The Making of The Dark Side of the Moon”, they are also giving this treatment to the following Blu-ray “Bee Gees: One Night Only”, “Scorpions: Moment of Glory”, “The Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile”, so be wary of these as well. In terms of audio, the uncompressed LPCM 2.0 track works but I would have love to see this given a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

Since this was originally shot for television, it runs 50 minutes. But there is an additional 40 minutes of bonus Features included on this Blu-ray. There are extra portions on “Brain Damage”, which features a complete solo acoustic performance by Roger Waters, which is amazing. “Money” features Roger Waters and Alan Parsons discuss the song and weaved in-between is David Gilmour playing guitar and Roger Waters playing bass. “Us And Them” features the late Richard Wright talking about the song and playing solo piano. “Breathe” features a complete solo acoustic performance by David Gilmour. “Time” features Waters discusses the track and showing demo footage. Lastly “Gilmour’s Guitars” focuses on track tracks including “Breathe”, “The Great Gig In The Sky” and “Us And Them”.

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.

Related Content

• Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Four”
• Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Redemption”
• Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Three”
• Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds”
• Blu-ray Review “Star Trek – Enterprise: Season One”

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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