Actors: Louis Jourdan, Adrienne Barbeau, Ray Wise
Directors: Wes Craven
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

I have always loved “Swamp Thing” growing up as a kid for two reasons…Adrienne Barbeau. The film itself is based on the 1970’s charcter from the DC Comics Universe. The approach to the series was very campy but I aalways though that “Swamp Thing” could have been a killer horror movie, done very dark and deep New Orleans-like. The film is directed by horror director Wes Craven (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) and he did a good job with what he was given to work with. First thing I wanted to know with this release was if it was the uncut international version or the MGM cut version. Unfortunately, it is the latter. Shout! Factory was unable to get the uncut version due to legal reasons, which is a bit of a let down. Nonetheless, the film itself looks great and Shout! tried its best to deliver a great release. A must for any fan!

Official Premise: Deep in Florida’s darkest everglades, a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alec Holland (Ray Wise), and a sexy government agent, Alice Cable (Adrienne Barbeau), have developed a secret formula that could end world hunger and change civilization forever. Little do they know, however, that their arch nemesis, Arcane (Louis Jourdan), is plotting to steal the serum for his own selfish schemes. Looting the lab and kidnapping Cable, Arcane douses Holland with the chemicals and leaves him for dead in the swamp. Mutated by his own formula, Holland becomes Swamp Thing – a half human/half plant superhero who will stop at nothing to rescue the beautiful Cable and defeat the evil Arcane…even if it costs him his life!

Shout! Factory gave “Swamp Thing” some impressive love with its 1080p transfer within it’s aspect ratio of 1.85:1. I felt like certain scenes were better than others but overall it was impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono rack works well with the dialogue and the action scenes. Shout! delivered this release as a combo pack with both a Blu-ray and DVD included. There are some good new special features included on this release as well. Key word new special features! There is a brand new audio Commentary track with Writer/Director Wes Craven, which I really recommend. There is also an audio commentary with Makeup Effects Artist William Munns. There are great individual interviews with Adrienne Barbeau, Reggie Batts and “Swamp Thing” Creator Len Wein. Lastly, there are some Photo Galleries included.

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Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Marina Spirtis
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 1180 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love the cliffhanger for “The Best of Both Worlds”? Captain Picard turned into a Borg…NOOOOOO!!!! It is the best in the franchise no question and left many fans screaming (including myself). Season four starts off with the conclusion episode and really kicks off the season with a bang. Due to the success and fan’s response to that cliffhanger formula it was reused throughout the rest of the series, including this season’s finale “Redemption”. Season four also marked the historic 100th episode of the show and the series passing the original series, which only had three seasons. The season some classic moments including a funny Robin Hood spoof with Q, Wesley Crusher leaving and the return of Denise Crosby as her own half-Romulan daughter! Season three really set the stands for this one and season four really takes the show into a great direction. If you are a fan of the show, do not miss this release.

Like the past three seasons, Paramount has continued to deliver fantastic releases for this show. “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Four” delivers the show in glorious 1080p transfers of each episodes. These episodes look stunning, especially for being over 20 years old. Top that with a flawless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track for each episode and Trek fans will be nothing but thrilled. Alternate audio tracks also include an English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Italian Mono, Castilian Mono, German Mono and Japanese Mono tracks. These episodes have been through a fantastic restoration which involved returning to the original film elements and it was worth every single second of effort because this release is great.

Paramount not only delivers a wonderful audio and video presentation, they also knock your socks off with great special features. The first five discs include a few extras where disc six is jam-packed. There are two audio commentary tracks including Rob Bowman and Mike and Denise Okuda on “Brothers” and Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, and Mike and Denise on for “Reunion”. There are six “Archival Mission Log” featurettes, including “Mission Overview Year Four”, “Selected Crew Analysis Year Four”, “New Life and New Civilizations”, “Chronicles from the Final Frontier”, “Departmental Briefing Year Four: Production”, “Select Historical Data” and “Inside the Star Trek Archives”. These are Mission Logs are very informative and really cover all aspects from the show’s production and legacy.

Disc six from us a bunch of great high def extras. “In Conversation: The Star Trek Art Department” is a 68 minute discussion with Special Makeup Effects Artis Doug Drexler, Production Designer Herman Zimmerman, Scenic Art Supervisor Mike Okuda, Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Curry, Technical Consultant Rick Sternbach, and Deep Space Nine Scenic Artist Denise Okuda. Great new feature and a must-see for any fan of the show. ”Relativity: The Family Saga of Star Trek: The Next Generation Part 1: Homecoming and Part 2: Posterity” features cast and crew focusing on all aspects of the from the stories to the fandom and together they run to about an hour of great content. Lastly there is a nearly four minute Gag Reel and a collection eight deleted scenes.

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Episodes: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I personally cannot get enough of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Timed with the recent release of Season Four on Blu-ray, this two-part, “Redemption” is the season four finale and season five premiere. It is being released as a standalone similar to the “Best of Both Worlds” release with two episodes edited together for seamlessly. If you love these episodes like myself then you will be able to see the extended episode like never before. This cliffhanger is so epic and one of my favorites as we get to follow Captain Picard and Lieutenant Worf as they fight to end a Klingon Civil War. Currently the episode “Redemption, Part 2” is not available on Blu-ray, until Season Five comes out later this year. I would think that this release would be aimed for the hardcore Trekkies out there. It looks like we are seeing a trend now with these episodic feature length releases but  but for me this is a no-brainer for sure.

Like the series on Blu-ray, this also comes stocked with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and of course the original Dolby Digital 2.0 for those “Star Trek” purists that prefer the original broadcast audio tracks. The 1080p high definition transfer is nothing show of superb. Paramount did a beautiful job getting this series ready for its high-def close up. The special features are decent and unique to only this release. There is an Audio Commentary with Ronald D. Moore and Mike and Denise Okuda chatting about the episodes. There is decent length 30 minute featurette called “Survive and Succeed: An Empire at War” talking about the production of the episode from all aspects. Lastly there is two episodic promos for each episode. So you need to give props to Paramount since they could have just dropped these episode on a barbones disc and you know we still would have bought it, so the special features are a nice bonus to this release.

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Actors: Tom Wilson, Garrison Keillor, Paul Reubens, Grey DeLisle, Jacob Bertrand
Directors: Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 57 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Who doesn’t love Tom and Jerry? I recently just took a flight on JetBlue and I found myself watching Tom and Jerry marathon the whole trip and just laughing. Warner Bros. has done a good job of keeping this franchise alive and fresh with new original movies, even now and then. “Tom and Jerry’s Giant Adventure” is a new animated adaptation of classic story “Jack and the Beanstalk”. It features some great voice talents including Tom Wilson, Garrison Keillor, Paul Reubens, Grey Delisle and Jacob Bertran. If you are a fan of Tom and Jerry, this is a must purchase. It is clever, funny and great for the whole family!

Official Premise: In this all-new original movie, Tom and Jerry are among the last animals living in Storybook Town, a fairy tale-inspired theme park “where dreams come true, if you believe.” Young Jack is desperate to save the park from the hands of a greedy billionaire, setting out with his loyal cat and mouse friends to sell his prize cow for… some magic beans?! What follows is a journey up a beanstalk to a magical land ruled by a massively mean and hungry giant, and home to fun, fabled fellows like Droopy, Spike and even a golden goose! Will Tom and Jerry put an end to their furry feud long enough to save Storybook Town? You don’t need to wish upon a star. Join Tom and Jerry on their amazing adventure and find out.

Warner Bros. delivered this animated feature in a nice combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD and Ultraviolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 looks fantastic, as it has with past Tom and Jerry feature film releases. The colors are very sharp and pop nicely. My daughter really enjoyed this film due to that and also the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which wraps up the complete package very well. One thing, I am a disappointed about in this release is the lack of special features. I would have even settled for some classic or even new cartoons to accompany this all-new feature film.

Actors: Ross Lynch, Maia Mitchell, Grace Phipps, Garrett Clayton, John DeLuca
Director: Jeffrey Hornaday
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

Ever since “High School Musical” aired on Disney Channel seven years ago, it has brought back the musical and delivered it to a younger audience. I grew up watching musical like “Grease” and I cannot say not to a fun and excited film with great music. Well “Teen Beach Movie” definitely delivers some major fun for the entire family. I watched this film with my 14 month old daughter and she literally had a blast and was running around screaming. It may be cheesy and but I feel that it is exactly what it should be. Ross Lynch is known best for his role in Disney Channel TV series, “Austin & Ally” and really does great singing and dancing. Maia Mitchell is an Australian newcomer, who is going to be very big in the coming years. It delivers some really catchy fun musical, along with a cute young very talented cast and comes together into a very entertaining 90 minutes. Most importantly the film also packs an important message for kids. Highly recommended.

Official Premise: “Teen Beach Movie” centers around two teen surfers, Brady and Mackenzie, who are magically transported into a 1960’s beach movie where they must try to blend in until they can find their way out. They soon discover that there is an intense rivalry between the local surfers and bikers. Things don’t go according to plan when our modern-day duo accidentally change the plot of the movie, and the two lead characters fall for them instead of each other! As everyone around them starts singing and dancing, and a fight between the bikers and surfers breaks out, Brady and Mack must attempt to get out of the movie and back to present day.

There twelve brand new songs within for this film with each one being more fun than the next. Sure they are cheesy but still fun. “Surf Crazy” is a great energtic song. “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin'” is easily my favorite.  I love the dance choreography during this song.  Same goes for “Like Me”, which is ultra catchy and really fun. All I can say is that the minute, we finished watching this movie, I immediately when on iTunes and purchased the soundtrack and I am sure that you will be doing the same. Speaking of “Grease” BTW, fans of the Broadway production, should keep an eye out of stage veteran Barry Bostwick (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), who plays Maia’s uncle. I only wish he could have gotten a few line in during a song.

The biggest thing that I am disappointed with this release is the lack of a Blu-ray release.  Come on Disney, I know DVDs are still marketed primarly towards kids but this film would have really benefited with its music and colors sets on a Blu-ray disc.  The DVD does include some decent special features. There is exclusive Rehearsal Footage, which is fun to watch.  I saw a spot for the film on Disney Channel and they said that actors make the best dancers and these kids really have a lot of life in them. I would love to been able to move like they do. There is also a Never-Before-Seen Song included, which is a must for any fan of the film. Lastly, I would have loved to seen a sing-along version available but we can still hold our breath if they ever come out with a Blu-ray release. Can’t wait till “Teen Beach Movie 2”!

Actors: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Robert Forster
Directors: Antoine Fuqua
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
DVD Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 120 minutes

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

When you watch a film like “Olympus Has Fallen”, you have to go in just expecting a mindless kick-ass action thriller and that is exactly what you get. The director Antoine Fuqua has delivered us great films in the past like “Training Day” and delivers here again.  It packs a powerful cast including Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Dylan McDermott, Angela Bassett, and Melissa Leo. The talent is there, the action is there.  This film is plain and simple fun.  I am not sure why though Hollywood has this obsession with destroying the White House but it makes for an entertaining film, no doubt.

Official synopsis: When the White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped within the building. As our national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President, and avert an even bigger disaster.

“Olympus Has Fallen” is a film that needs to be seen on the biggest screen and in with the best audio/video quality. I feel that besides theatrical, Blu-ray is the only way to really watch this in my opinion. Despite the audio/video, aspect, my biggest issue with DVD’s today is that they lack a lot of the extras that Blu-ray contains.  There are tons of great special features included on the Blu-ray and yet we get nothing on the DVD release. It is completely bare-bones and that to me is very disappointing.  The only positive is that there is an Ultraviolet digital copy. I definitely would recommend going Blu with this one!

Actors: Chris O’Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell
Directors: Wayne Blair
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 99 minutes

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

After first glance I was really wasn’t interested in the film “The Sapphires” but it has since attracted some very impressive buzz and great reviews, so I gave in…and was that a good decision! You man recognize the lead star Chris O’Dowd from his role in “Bridesmaids”. He really steps up in this role and shows off what he can really do…including singing. The film itself is very entertaining. It packs a solid mix of emotions, music and all while manages to touch on an important message. Also be sure to have a few tissues handy. I would recommend this to anyone looking for some great tunes and a movie that actually comes with a great message of equality.

Besides Dowd, “The Sapphires” aka Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens & Miranda Tapsell are all just as equally amazing. They really all work together and deliver a fantastic collaborative cast. They also get to sing their hearts out…and sound amazing! There are 16 songs included in the film from the time period, including “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” “What A Man,” “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch,” “Soul Man,” “Today I Started Loving You Again,” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” They are great songs that we all know and love and due to that it adds a lot of energy to this film. You will it very hard not to be singing along.

Official Premise: Four smart, gutsy young Australian Aboriginal women become unlikely stars in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely of allies, in The Sapphires. Set in 1968, the film follows Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Julie (Jessica Mauboy) and Kay (Shari Sebbens) as they seize a risky, but irresistible, chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam. Under the guidance of an R&B-loving Irish musician, Dave Lovelace (Chris O’Dowd), the girls transform themselves into a sizzling soul act and set out to make a name for themselves hundreds of miles from home. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is a celebration of music, family and self-discovery.

The Blu-ray is being released as a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack. The 1080p transfer really shines with the film’s period and the musical numbers. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is the star of this release and really shines due to the collection of great music throughout. The track really gets a work out for sure and delivers these great vocal tracks perfectly balanced. The special features are good but not as spectacular as the film itself. There is a decent behind-the-scenes look in “The Making of The Sapphires”. There is an “Interview With The Original Sapphires”, which is a cool to see. Lastly there is a focus on the film’s music in “The Music of The Sapphires with Jessica Mauboy”.

Actors: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel, Danny Sapani, Matt Cross
Directors: Danny Boyle
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

When I saw the trailer to “Trance”, I knew that I would be in for a trip of a movie! The film is fast, visually amazing and jam-packed with great twists…all from the wonderful mind of Danny Boyle. Plus top that off some amazing performances from James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson and Vincent Cassel and this is one crazy-fun movie. This is a film that actually makes you think and may not be for everyone. If you are looking for a no-brainer action film then look somewhere else. This challenges you and when you think you got it, it does a 360 degree turn. So if you are looking for something unique, then I would definitely recommend checking this out for sure.

Official Premise: Danny Boyle helms this psychological thriller about an auctioneer falling foul of a gang of ruthless art thieves. When upmarket art auctioneer Simon (McAvoy) double-crosses the gang responsible for the daring daylight robbery of a priceless painting by Goya, he incurs the wrath of the gang’s violent leader, Franck (Cassel). In the aftermath of a beating where he is knocked unconscious, Simon claims to be suffering from amnesia and is therefore unable to remember where the painting is, provoking Franck into hiring female hypnotist Elizabeth (Dawson) to find the answer. But as Elizabeth delves ever deeper into Simon’s subconscious, the lines between fantasy and reality converge, threatening to consume all as a series of shocking events spiral violently out of control.

20th Century Fox is delivering this film as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and HD Digital Copy including UltraViolet streaming. The 1080p transfer is very impressive and shot with a certain hypnotic feel (pun intended). It is framed with a nice aspect ratio of 2.39:1. The star of the release though is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio track. It is very impressive and honestly a bit of a shock from this little film.  The music and dialogue benefit very well for this mix.

The special features are impressive as well but I would have loved to see a cast/crew commentary track.  There are seven deleted scenes, which run just over 15 minutes total. “The Power of Suggestion – Making Trance” is a really sharp 30+ minute in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production. “Danny Boyle: A Retrospective” is a basic rundown on the director’s career to date. “Eugene” is a short film created by Spemcer Susser, which follows the film’s main character coming into the possession of a magic lamp laptop. Lastly there is a trailer and also an easter egg included called “Trance Unraveled”, but you have to find it yourself.

Actors: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, T.J. Miller, Julie Marcus, Nolan North
Directors: Joe Sichta, John Eng, John Sanford, Louie del Carmen
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 299 / 255 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love “How to Train Your Dragon”? It is easily one of Dreamworks best animated features to date. So when I heard that they were making an animated series, I was really excited. Even more so that it actually contains original voice talent from the film including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Zack Pearlman, and more. Fox is releasing the first 20 episodes of this exciting and fun show which aired in its first season in a two part DVD set. This show holds the same charm that the animated film has, including action, heart and humor. So if you love the film, then you need to immediately watch this show for sure. Also keep an eye out for the new second season of DreamWorks’ “Dragons: Defenders of Berk” returns this Fall on Cartoon Network (note the new title).

Episodes include on Part 1 are “How to Start a Dragon Academy”, “Viking For Hire”, “Animal House”, “The Terrible Twos”, “In Dragons We Trust”, “Alvin and the Outcasts”, “How to Pick Your Dragon”, “Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Young Man”, “Dragon Flower”, “Heather Report Part I”, and “Heather Report Part II”. Episodes included on Part 2 are “Thawfest”, “When Lightning Strikes”, “What Flies Beneath”, “Twinsanity”, “Defiant One”, “Breakneck Bog”, “Gem of a Different Color”, “We Are Family Part I”, and “We Are Family Part II”.

There is actually some decent special features included on these DVD as well. Part 1 & 2 included the following: “World of DreamWorks” and Sneak Peaks. Part 1 also includes “Dragon Tracker Part 1”, “Evolution of Thunderdrum” and “Heavy Metal” Dragon Mash-Up, while Part 2 includes “Dragon Tracker Part 2”, “Evolution of Whispering Death”, “Fly High” Dragon Mash-Up. Definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the series. Also each DVD comes with a code to unlock an ultimate battle pack on DreamWorks’ online and mobile game, “School of Dragons”. For more information, visit http://www.schoolofdragons.com.

Starring: Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Cathy Weseluck, Rebecca Shoichet
Directors: Jayson Thiessen
Rated TV-Y
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 72 minutes

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

I have to admit, love it or hate it “My Little Pony” is very popular since the TV series “Friendship is Magic” really took off with fans of all ages. The brand has never been popular and now Hasbro got even more and decided to expand in this universe. “My Little Pony: Equestria Girls” shows our favorite ponies being transformed in teenage girls. This gives Hasbro another opportunity to continue producing more toys, apparel, publishing and accessories for this franchise. I think this was a very smart idea. And to be honest the movie is quite fun, especially for young girls. My daughter enjoyed it quite a bit between the music and the bright colors. A must watch for any fan of the show, whether you are a young girl or even an adult you will enjoy this.

Official Premise: When Twilight Sparkle’s crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, she pursues the thief, Sunset Shimmer, into an alternate world where she finds herself turned into…a teenage girl! To regain her crown and return to Equestria, Twilight must learn how to fit into this strange, new world and defeat Sunset Shimmer in a competition to become crowned Princess of the Fall Formal at Canterlot High. Luckily, she will have the assistance of Spike and five teenage girls who remind her of a certain group of ponies back home.

If you are a fan of the series, then you will be happy to know that this full-length movie follows the events of “Magical Mystery Cure”, which was the final episode of the third season of “Friendship is Magic”. So it continues the story line and holds us off until season four comes this November. I also like that it has a certain “Alice Through the Looking Glass” feel to it as well.  I noticed that from the moment I saw the box and it peaked my interest. Comparing this to the TV series, it is a little more mature since the ponies are turned into high school girls but it is nothing that a young girls will not be able to watch. Also the end monster is a little scary for younger kids.

Shout! Factory really has given a lot of love to the “My Little Pony” over the last few years. I also should point out that this is the first time that the ponies have been given a high-def Blu-ray release. So the 1080p transfer really shines (or should I say sparkles, maybe?). The colors are really sharp and the animation style looks fantastic. Like I mentioned there is some fun movie in the film with six new songs from Dan Ingram, but it is more pop music and quite different from the original series but that is a good thing also. The special features are also fun including a featurette called “Through The Mirror Of Equestria Girls”. There is karaoke versions of the songs in the film. There is an option to “Pony-fy Yourself” and lastly there is a Printable Movie Poster included.

Actors: Jonny Weston, Gattlin Griffith, Peter Holden, Musetta Vander, Kelcie Stranaha
Directors: Steven C. Miller
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Xlrator
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

I have been a fan of Steven C. Miller’s films since I first saw “Automaton Transfusion” years ago. His latest projects like “The Aggression Scale” and “Silent Night” are showing him getting better and better as a director. Steven has a love for the classic horror scares and he set out to do that with “Under the Bed” and succeeds. The film has some nice jumps and also well shot. It is also feels very original and not like another tired low-budget horror film. The scale of the film feels quite large, which is another thing that I believe that Steve has mastered with his film. I would easily recommend this to any horrorhound and if you like it, be sure to also check out his other films as well.

Official Premise: Every child knows about the monster under the bed Neal Hausman’s mistake was trying to fight it. Neal (Jonny Weston, Chasing Mavericks) has returned from a two-year exile following his tragic attempt to defeat the monster, only to find his father ticking ever closer to a breakdown, a new stepmother who fears him, and his little brother Paul (Gattlin Griffith, Green Lantern, Changeling), terrorized by the same monster. While Neal and Paul work together to try and fight the nocturnal menace, their parents are taking desperate measures to get the family back to normal. With no support from their parents, the brothers have nothing to rely on but each other, and courage beyond belief.

The film also packs a pretty decent cast including Jonny Weston (“Chasing Mavericks”), Gattlin Griffith (“Green Lantern”) and Peter Holden (The Social Network). The Blu-ray itself looks sharp with its 1080p transfer and its audio track does well with the creepy score to set the scene for the jumps. The one part that I was the most upset with was there is zero special features included. I am seeing a bit of a trend with recent Xlrator releases and I hope that this doesn’t continue on this trend. I would have loved to see a commentary and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

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Actors: Joseph Kaufmann, Beverly Hope Atkinson
Directors: Ralph Bakshi
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Run Time: 77 minutes

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

“Heavy Traffic” is writer-director Ralph Bakshi’s follow-up to his controversial animated adult film “Fritz the Cat”, which is a hard act to follow. It is quite an odd and spacey film, definitely something that came out of the 70’s for sure. It is definitely not for everyone but is still super entertaining for fans of Bakshi’s work and like most of his films it is chock full of sex and violence. Bakshi really has a unique visual style to his animated projects.  They are like nothing else that I have ever seen.  This is the first time that this film has ever been on Blu-ray, thanks to Shout! Factory. It is not the perfect release we are all hoping for after the fantastic recent release of Bakshi’s “Wizards” on Blu-ray but I would recommend for those hardcore animation fans.

Official Premise: Heavy Traffic, the second feature from writer/director Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat), combines a quick-edit pace, a frenetic story line and an array of eye-popping animation and live-action styles. Michael, a young artist who lives with his neurotic mother and two-timing father, escapes the absurd and often ugly side of life on New York’s tough streets by satirizing its rich yet wacky characters in wildly entertaining cartoons. From the gruff homeless and wisecracking prostitutes to gun-toting gangsters and corrupt cops, Michael’s world becomes an outlandish kaleidoscope of shocking images and horrifying events that are either a testament of his wild imagination or a reminder of the strangeness of reality.

Shout! Factory is releasing “Heavy Traffic” on Blu-ray with a pretty decent 1080p transfer in 1.67:1 aspect ratio.  The film doesn’t look perfect but that is the feeling that I get from Bakshi’s films.  They are not perfect.  They are low budget and it looks as good as it can.  The mix of animation and live action is presented well and the colors are sharp. The audio track comes with an also decent  DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track.  It works for the dialogue and the film’s music. Doesn’t blow you away but does the trick. Unfortunately, there are zero special included to complement this Blu-ray release. I would have loved to seen Ralph Bakshi do up a commentary track on this release but I doubt he had any involvement at all.

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 50 minutes

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

Anything related to shark, count me in.  With Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” right around the corner, “Great White Shark – A Living Legend” arrives at the perfect time. This episode was originally filmed for “Natural World” on BBC. If you can’t get that from the cover art we get to go up close and personal one of our most feared predators in our oceans. I mean who doesn’t love shark.  I am absolutely fascinated and eat up anything I can get on these amazing creatures. My main concern is that this only runs 50-minutes but it is entertaining and there is a bit of knowledge shared here but nothing out of this world.  If would recommend this for hardcore shark fan. Come on in the water!

Official Premise: Get up close and personal with one of the most vicious predators of our oceans, the Great White Shark! We think of great whites as fearsome aquatic killers, but do we know them as well as we think? In this presentation from BBC’s acclaimed Natural History Unit, Mike Rutzen, the world’s foremost great white shark diver, follows great whites as they feed, at proximity never before achieved. Mike’s unique ability to communicate with them using his body language allows him to swim amongst them unscathed. Mike explores why occasionally attack people. He also challenges the view that their feeding is unstructured and frenzied, to prove instead that they obey the subtle rules of a complex form of social hierarchy.

Even though it is short, BBC still delivered a very nice Blu-ray presentation for “Great White Shark: A Living Legend”. The episode looks amazing with its 1080p high definition in 1.78.1 widescreen.  The colors are sharp and the detail is very impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also quite great. Since there is no action in this film, the score and music still delivers  a great surround experience and takes advantage of this track. In the special features department, there is only one extras included, called “Smart Sharks: Swimming With Roboshark”. This 50-minute documentary is narrated by David Attenborough and looks into the life sized mechanical shark designed by Andrew Sneath. This as a good companion to “Great White Shark – A Living Legend”.

Actors: Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Ray Stevenson, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Run Time: 110 minutes

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

I am an 80′s kid and I have and always will be a fan of “G.I. Joe”. The first film “G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra” was fun but a bit of a mess. “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” is a nice improvement, yet far from perfect. It is jam-packed with non-stop action and some great visuals. One problem that I had with the first film was how cartoony it looked. This film is must more realistic and the way they should have done “G.I. Joe” from the beginning. If you’ve seen the trailers then you will know that action stars Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis have joined the team and help to rescue this franchise. They both deliver in terms of amping up this film to a higher profile. Most importantly, they ditched Marlon Waynes from the first one, which was the worst casting ever. If you are looking for a fun and action-packed time, then check this sequel out. I am sure that we have not seen the end of this franchise. GO JOE!

“G.I. Joe: Retaliation” focuses around the team not only fighting their mortal enemy COBRA, but they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The G.I. Joes get framed by Zartan, who disguises as the Commander in Chief (Jonathan Pryce), of stealing nuclear warheads. Due to this the elimination of the Joe’s are put in place by the fake president and it is up to Roadblock (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki), Flint (D.J. Cotrona), Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and Jinx (Elodie Yung) to fight the Cobra Commander and put a holt on his plans for world domination.

Paramount is releasing this film as a Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with an UltraViolet. In addition, this release will include a limited time offer to receive a FREE set of high-quality, collectible personalized dog tags. This film was delayed so it can be post-converted to 3D in order to follow the trend of recent releases. I would like to say that it works for the film but it is really doesn’t. There isn’t really much depth or wow factor added to film with this aspect. The 3D isn’t the worst that I have ever seen but it is not the best either. As much as it pains me to the say, the 2D version is actually much more clearer and is the preferred way to enjoy this film fully. Despite the 3D, the 1080p transfer is super clear and works well with non-stop action. When it comes to audio tracks, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” will literally knock you on your ass with its Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track. It sounds amazing, period.

All of the special features appear on the 2D Blu-ray, there are no 3D extras here. First up we have an audio commentary track with director John M. Chu and producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, which delivers tons of great information about the production. Next up we have “G.I. Joe: Declassified”, which is an eight part series of featurettes. “Mission Briefing” looks into the production and design with director Jon M. Chu. “Deployment” takes us through the military aspect of the film with Military Advisor and ex Navy SEAL Harry Humphries. “Two Ninjas” looks into the Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes role in the film. “The Desert Attack” looks into filming the film’s critical sequence. ”Cobra Strikes” looks into the Cobra’s look and sets for his evilness. “The Lone Soldiers” looks into the history behind the series”. “The Monastery” looks into the creating the huge Storm Shadow-Snake Eyes fight. “Fort Sumter” talks about shooting at Fort Pike. Lastly there are three short deleted scenes.

Actors: Brittany Snow, Jeffrey Combs, Sasha Grey
Rated: Unrated
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

Horror films recently have become more about grossing you out than actually scaring you. “Would You Rather” fits a into that mold but where the gore would be the film cuts away, which blows by mind. What this film does have is a good cast (with the exception of porn star Sasha Grey, who thinks that she is an actress now but reality check…she is not!). Jeffrey Combs is always brillant in anything he does and he was the main draw for me. John Heard , aka the dad from “Home Alone” pops in but does not stick along very long. Eddie Steeples from “My Name Is Earl” does a good job of crossing over from comedy. I found myself very bored with the rest of the film.  The idea starts off right but then gets repetitive, especially with 95% of the film takes place at a table. Definitely do not recommend for any horror fan.

Official Premise: What would you do if a millionaire offered you a chance to solve all your life’s problems? After the tragic death of her parents, Iris (Brittany Snow, Pitch Perfect, John Tucker Must Die) is desperate to make ends meet while caring for her terminally ill younger brother. When seemingly philanthropic aristocrat Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs, Re-Animator, Masters of Horror) expresses an interest in helping her by inviting her to an exclusive dinner party that offers the chance at untold riches, Iris finds herself in a group of similarly desperate individuals all looking to make some easy money. But the guests soon find themselves trapped in Lambrick’s mansion and forced to play a sadistic parlor game of Would You Rather, where one is faced with two grim, violent choices and where only the winner will get out alive. As the game progresses, Iris must decide how far she will go to save her brother – and herself.

“Would You Rather” looks good enough on Blu-ray.  It’s 1080p transfer goes break any new ground but delivers the film clear and sharp. This would work either way on DVD or Blu-ray. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works with the dialogue and the screaming, which there is a bit of. There is not much in the way of special features included.  There is a commentary track with the director David Guy Levy and writer Stefften Schlachtenhaufen (what a name). Lastly there is a poster gallery and trailer included.