Starring: Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, Cobie Smulders
Director: Lasse Hallström
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 120 minutes

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

Are you a female? Better yet are you a female Nicholas Sparks fan? If so you will like this film.  I have seen various film adaptations of his books and this is not the best and not the worst.  It comes with a little romance and some thrills.  For a guy it might be a bit of a nightmare to get through this but it is worth it to make your girl happy.  I mean who doesn’t love a good twist ending, even if it isn’t that good. Plus the men can enjoy looking at the gorgeous Julianne Hough, while the ladies are drooling at the handsome Josh Duhamel. So it could end up being a win-win for everyone.

Official Premise: Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough star in this spellbinding romantic drama based on the novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook). When a mysterious, beautiful woman named Katie (Hough), moves to Southport, North Carolina, she sparks the interest of the locals, especially Alex (Duhamel), a handsome widower. Although she is attracted to Alex, Katie is reluctant to trust him – that is, until a new friend (Cobie Smulders) convinces her to give Alex a chance. But before long, a dark secret from Katie’s past threatens her happiness in this thrilling romance directed by Lasse Hallström.

20th Century Fox delivered a nice combo pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy. But I was a little bit let down that this only includes an iTunes digital copy. I thought that Fox was full on the Ultraviolet band wagon…but not sure why they opted out for this release. The 1080p transfer looks stunning and definitely gives props to our leads and the beautiful North Carolina setting.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track also delivers as well.  Since the film is a romantic-thriller, it doesn’t blow you away but it works with what it has and does it quite well.

The special features are not great but at least they have given us something. There are five deleted and extended scenes, as well as an alternate ending including. This ending is not any better than the film’s original but still worth checking out. “Igniting the Romance in Safe Haven” is a short behind-the-scenes look into the production with interviews from director Lasse Hellström, author Nicholas Sparks and our leads. “Josh Duhamel’s Lessons in Crabbing” is what I like to call a “waste-of-time-filler extra, which shows Duhamel attempting to catch crabs, no pun intended…I think. There is a very short set tour with our author Nicholas Sparks, which this could have been longer.  Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

GWAR
“Electile Disfunction 08”
Slavepit Inc./Hypereal Productions
Chapters: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Continuing with the long tradition of GWAR films is the latest release from Slavepit Inc. and Hypereal Productions. “Electile Disfunction 08” was shot during the bands 2008 tour which featured the return of infamous GWAR manager Sleazy P. Martini. The DVD follows one of GWAR’s more popular story lines as head Scumdog Oderus Urungus and the other members of GWAR attempt to defend the Frank Sinatra Belts of Total World Domination against an interesting assortment of characters in the Intergalactic Championship Wrestling.

Classic GWAR from start to finish! The production may not be top notch but those familiar with GWAR’s previous films know what to expect and what may be lacking in production quality is made up tenfold with content and laughs. Though nothing beats seeing the band live “Electile Disfunction 08” does a great job putting you as close to the action as possible through a number of different POV camera angles. Watch from the safety of your home as GWAR hack and slash their way through a number of public figures before wrapping up the show with the always popular “Slaughterama”. If your anything like myself and have been stock piling the long list of previous GWAR films then you certainly won’t want to miss this one as it destine to become a classic.

Chapter Listing:
1.) Sleazy for Prez
2.) Wilco Chopped
3.) Bile Driver
4.) I Gotta Belt!
5.) BoneSnapper vs. McCain
6.) Murders Muse
7.) Hillary & Obama
8.) Drugs
9.) Destructo Express
10.) For the Belts!
11.) Ronnie’s Comeback
12.) Sleazy’s Encore

Actors: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley
Creator: Alan Ball
Number of discs: 7
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 720 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love HBO’s “True Blood”. The show has been going strong for five seasons now. When you start watching its is hard not to completed get sucked in. This season packs some great storylines i.e. Bill and Eric behind bars, Tara getting used to her new life as a vampire, Alcide turning his back on the wolfpack and a vampire civil war on the horizon. There is no shortage of action and drama this season. In fact this season is one of my favorite to date from the show, besides the first. You would think that after five seasons that this show would lose some steam but it only seems to get more interesting and entertaining. Season five also definitely can be considered a game-changer for the show and it was also creator Alan Ball’s final season. I am still looking forward to what happens next in the upcoming sixth season, coming this June! Bring it on!

The fifth season sees the return of our favorite True Blood cast members including Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley and Sam Trammell…just to name a few. They are all in fine-form and deliver some of their best performances of the series especially Ryan Kwanten, who has a fantastic arc. This season introduces various new cast members including Scott Foley as Patrick Devins; Christopher Meloni as Roman; Valentina Cervi as Salom; and Lucy Griffiths as Nora. I love the storyline surrounding the Authority and their affects on these characters. Each character their own arc, which works well for the most part, this season and the finale really brings it all together quite well.

HBO has delivered a very impressive DigiPack combo pack release for the fifth season of “True Blood”. Thanks to HBO Select, this release offers buyers the choice of three ways to watch in one set – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy included is redeemable via iTunes, Vudu or Amazon and of course my favorite, UltraViolet. The 12 episodes are well represented with their 1080p transfers. The show has been given consistently impressive releases thanks to HBO and have continued to look very sharp and impressive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks also deliver the mood for the show very well. I love composer Nathan Barr’s score for this show and as usual it is well represented here.

The special features are sure to leave diehard “True Blood” fans feeling very satisfied. “True Blood Episode Six: Autopsy” is an in-depth look behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew on that episode. “Authority Confessionals” gives you an inside look at the mysterious institution. There is an enhanced viewing option for the series allowing you to tap in Character Bios, Vampire Histories and fun facts while watching the show. There is a Flashback/Flash Forward option that will allow you to travel back through the show’s timeline and relive pivotal moments or Flash Forward to reveal the significance of a certain scenes. Lastly “True Blood Lines” is a fun guide to tap into secrets from relationships past and present.

Next up, the next batch of special features are available on the Blu-rays but are the only extras available on the DVDs. “Inside the Episodes” is an look into various back stories from each episode this season. There are five audio commentary tracks with cast and crew including creator/executive producer Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Denis O’Hare, Carrie Preston and many more! There are also Previews & Recaps from the series, in case you need to play catch up. Lastly you are able to watch these episodes seamless, so they flow really well together especially if you feel like marathoning it.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Kevin Corrigan, Paul Herman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kevin Costner, Al Pacino
Directors: Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, Brian De Palma
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Running Time: 697 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love a good kick-ass gangster film? “Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Contemporary” includes a collection of gangster films from the early 1970’s through 2000’s including “Mean Streets (1973)”, “The Untouchables (1987)”, “Goodfellas (1990)”, “Heat (1995)”, “The Departed (2006)”. In the last couple of decades they are definitely some of the best. I am also a big fan of films like “Casino”, which was not included. I thought that “Heat” was good but a little overrated, but maybe that is from my dislike of Michael Mann. “Goodfellas” is one of my all-time favorites. This release is great if you do not own these films prior since there is nothing new here in terms of content besides a 32-page book featuring images and facts about each film.

These five films all comes with impressive 1080p transfers. Since “The Departed” is the most recent, it also looks and sounds the best with its PCM 5.1 audio track. “Mean Streets” comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track, which is great, while “Goodfellas” comes with a Dolby Digital 5.1 track which is the worst of the bunch. They both come with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. “The Untouchables” has a kicking DTS Digital Surround 6.1 track, as well as a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track. “Heat” comes with a nice Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track and also a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. So these films range all over the place. All deliver for each film though, nothing terrible.

“The Untouchables” Official Premise: The critics and public agree. Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables is a must-see masterpiece – glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago… and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil and stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Malone, the cop who teaches Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first.

“Mean Streets” Official Premise: The future is set for Tony and Michael, owning a neighborhood bar and making deals in the mean streets of New York city’s Little Italy. For Charlie, the future is less clearly defined. A small-time hood, he works for his uncle making collections and reclaiming bad debts. He’s probably too nice to succeed. In love with a woman his uncle disapproves of (because of her epilepsy) and a friend of her cousin, Johnny Boy, a near psychotic whose trouble-making threatens them all, he can’t reconcile opposing values. A failed attempt to escape (to Brooklyn) moves them all a step closer to a bitter, almost preordained future.

“Goodfellas” Official Premise: Henry Hill is a small time gangster, who takes part in a robbery with Jimmy Conway and Tommy De Vito, two other gangsters who have set their sights a bit higher. His two partners kill off everyone else involved in the robbery, and slowly start to climb up through the hierarchy of the Mob. Henry, however, is badly affected by his partners success, but will he stoop low enough to bring about the downfall of Jimmy and Tommy?

“Heat” Official Premise: Neil McCauley is a thief — an expert thief. His philosophy in life – become attached to nothing in life that you can’t walk away from in 30 seconds if you spot the “Heat” around the corner. His crew of criminals is a high-tech outfit pulling off professional jobs that impress even the likes of Detective Vincent Hanna. But Hanna, a man driven through life only by his work, becomes obsessed, at the expense of his private life, with bringing McCauley down. As McCauley’s crew prepare for the score of a lifetime, and Hanna’s team tries to bring him in, the two find that they are challenged by the greatest minds on the opposite side of the law that either one has ever encountered.

“The Departed” Official Premise: Two just-graduated officers from Massachusetts State Police Academy follow opposite sides of the law: Billy Costigan is assigned to work undercover with the Irish mobster Frank Costello to get evidences to arrest him. His true identity is only known by his superiors Dignam and Oliver Queenan. The protégée of Costello, Colin Sullivan, is promoted in the Massachusetts State Police and is the informer of Costello. Each police officer gives his best effort trying to disclose the identity of the other “rat”.

The special features are not as impressive as the “Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics” release since these films have been released on Blu-ray prior and are missing quite a bit of there previously released extras. “Mean Streets” comes with a vintage featurette “Back on the Block”. “The Untouchables” comes with an extra called “The Script, The Cast”. “Goodfellas” comes with two commentary tracks with cast and crew and a featurette “Cop and Crook”. “Heat” comes with eleven additional scenes. Lastly “The Departed” also comes with nine additional scenes with intros by director Marty Scorsese.

The “Ultimate Gangster Collection: Classics” and “Ultimate Gangster Collection: Contemporary” are available on Blu-ray 5/21

Starring: James Cagney, Leslie Howard, Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis, Virginia Mayo, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Directors: Archie Mayo, William A. Wellman, Mervyn LeRoy, Raoul Walsh
Distributed by: Warner Bros
Release Date: May 21, 2013
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 357 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of stars

Who can help but not love the classic B&W gangster films. The following films make up this “Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics” – “Little Caesar (1931)”, “The Public Enemy (1931)”, “The Petrified Forest (1936)”, “White Heat (1949)”.  These are all great films that I have seen many times and never grow tired watching.  Whenever I think “The Public Enemy”, I am transported to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios on The Great Movie Ride, one of my favorites.  These films are what made gangster films popular and paved the way for today’s films. If you are a looking for a great place to be transported to the origin of the gangster film then look no further than this Blu-ray release.

All of these films are appearing on Blu-ray for the first time ever, as part of Warner Bros. 90th Anniversary celebration.  Each of these films will also be available on May 21st individually on Blu-ray. But this box set collection is quite a think a beauty.  All the film comes in a nice slipcase and includes an additional 32-page book with images and facts about each of the film. The 1080p transfers are very impressive for these classic films the latest dating back to almost 80 years ago. They are all presented with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio tracks included are also DTS-HD Master Audio Mono for each film, which work very well. The dialogues are clear and just are held up so well.

“Little Caesar (1931)” Official Premise: The ambitious criminal Rico moves from the country to the big city in the east and joins Sam Vettori’s gang with his friend Joe Massara. Sooner he becomes the leader of the gangsters and known as Little Caesar, and gets closer to the great mobster Pete Montana. In a robbery of a night-club, he kills the Crime Commissioner Alvin McClure and his pal Joe witnesses the murder. When Rico orders Joe to leave his mistress Olga Strassoff, she takes a serious decision.

“The Public Enemy (1931)” Official Premise: Tom Powers and Matt Doyle are best friends and fellow gangsters, their lives frowned upon by Tom’s straight laced brother, Mike, and Matt’s straight laced sister, Molly. From their teen-aged years into young adulthood, Tom and Matt have an increasingly lucrative life, bootlegging during the Prohibition era. But Tom in particular becomes more and more brazen in what he is willing to do, and becomes more obstinate and violent against those who either disagree with him or cross him. When one of their colleagues dies in a freak accident, a rival bootlegging faction senses weakness among Tom and Matt’s gang, which is led by Paddy Ryan. A gang war ensues, resulting in Paddy suggesting that Tom and Matt lay low. But because of Tom’s basic nature, he decides instead to take matters into his own hands.

“The Petrified Forest (1936)” Official Premise: Gabby lives and works at her dads small diner out in the desert. She can’t stand it and wants to go and live with her mother in France. Along comes Alan, a broke man with no will to live, who is traveling to see the pacific, and maybe to drown in it. Meanwhile Duke Mantee a notorious killer and his gang is heading towards the diner where Mantee plan on meeting up with his girl.

“White Heat (1949)” Official Premise: Cody Jarrett is the sadistic leader of a ruthless gang of thieves. Afflicted by terrible headaches and fiercely devoted to his ‘Ma,’ Cody is a volatile, violent, and eccentric leader. Cody’s top henchman wants to lead the gang and attempts to have an ‘accident’ happen to Cody, while he is running the gang from in jail. But Cody is saved by an undercover cop, who thereby befriends him and infiltrates the gang. Finally, the stage is set for Cody’s ultimate betrayal and downfall, during a big heist at a chemical plant.

These “Classics” each come with their own set of extras.  “Little Caesar (1931)” comes with a commentary by film historian Robert Sklar. Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Spencer Tracy Short The Hard Guy, Cartoon Lady Play Your Mandolin and Theatrical Trailers. There is also a featurette “Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero” included. “The Public Enemy (1931)” includes a commentary by film historian Richard B. Jewell. Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931 with Newsreel, Comedy Short The Eyes Have It, Cartoon Smile, Darn Ya, Smile! and Theatrical Trailers.  There is also a featurette “Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public” included.

“The Petrified Forest (1936)” includes a commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax. Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1936 with Newsreel, Musical Short Rhythmitis, Cartoon The Coo Coo Nut Grove and Theatrical Trailers. There is also a featurette “The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert” included and an Audio-Only Bonus: 1/7/1940 Gulf Screen Theater Broadcast. Lastly “White Heat (1949)” includes a commentary by Film Historian Drew Casper. Leonard Maltin Hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1949 with Newsreel, Comedy Short So You Think You’re Not Guilty, Cartoon Homeless Hare and Theatrical Trailers.  There is also a featurette “White Heat: Top of the World” included.

If all that is not enough there is still more.  There is a bonus DVD included with yet another feature-length documentary called “The Public Enemies: The Golden Age of The Gangster Film”.  Even though this is just on DVD, it is still a must-watch if you are a fan of this genre and only makes this release worth every penny.

The “Ultimate Gangster Collection: Classics” and “Ultimate Gangster Collection: Contemporary” are available on Blu-ray 5/21

Actors: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum
Directors: Richard Lagravenese
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 124 minutes

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

Ever since “The Twilight Saga” has been done, Hollywood has been searching for the next “Twilight”. “Beautiful Creatures” is the latest in a long line of recent YA book adaptations to film. I have to admit, I have seen the “Twilight” films and I enjoyed them all (except “Breaking Dawn: Part 1”). Ever since I saw the trailers for “Beautiful Creatures”, I thought it was going to be very painful to watch…and I was right. The film runs over two hours long and it really drags hard. Jeremy Irons is always a pleasure to watch on the big screen but he hides his fantastic accent with a not so fantastic Southern one. The rest of the cast is a quite a bore, especially our two leads. Fans of the YA book series might enjoy and some female tweens but otherwise steer clear.

Official Premise: When newcomer Lena Duchannes arrives in the small town of Gatlin she quickly captures the attention of Ethan Wate, who only wants to escape what he views as a boring and dead end town. He quickly gets more than he bargained for, as Lena possesses strange powers that have long kept her at a distance from others in her life. Lena and Ethan are drawn together, but their budding romance is threatened by the dangers posed by Lena’s being a Caster and her family’s Dark powers, for upon her sixteenth birthday Lena must undergo the Claiming, a process that will decide her fate forever: Light or Dark.

I have to say no matter if I like the film or not Warner Bros delivered a nice Blu-ray presentation amongst its Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet digital copy combo pack. The 1080p transfer looks sharp and works well with the visual effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works with the action and the film’s score. The special features are not too bad either and are very featurette drive.  There are a few deleted scenes, but not sure how this film could have been longer.  The featurettes included are “Book to Screen”, “The Casters”,  “Between Two Worlds”,  “Forbidden Romance”, “Alternate Worlds” and “Designing the Costumes”.  There is nice coverage here over the whole production with cast and crew.  Lastly there are Theatrical Trailers and a Book Trailer: “Icons” by Margaret Stohl included.

Beautiful Creatures available on Blu-Ray 5/21/13 at WB Shop http://bit.ly/Xo9tAW

Starring: Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin, Julianna Margulies, Mark Margolis
Director: Fisher Stevens
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

In terms of talent in this film, I would give it an extra star just for the cast. Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin are all amazing together. Al Pacino never stand out better, well maybe his role in “Jack & Jill” might top this 😉 They are very funny and these guys actually get into their characters. Actor Fisher Stevens, who I just watching this week in “The Burning” (Fun fact: which was his first acting role), continues to give directing a go and he does a great job with this crime comedy. The film itself is decent.  It is probably not something I would plan on revisiting in the future.  But nonetheless it is still worth a watch if you are a fan of the film’s cast.

Official Premise: “Stand Up Guys” stars Academy Award winners Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin as retired gangsters who reunite for one epic last night. But one of the friends is keeping a dangerous secret – he has to kill his friend, and his time to find an acceptable alternative is running out. As the sun rises on the guys’ reunion, their position becomes more and more desperate and they finally confront their pasts once and for all.

Lionsgate is delivering this film as a Blu-ray combo pack with an Ultraviolet digital copy.  This is becoming a trend with them recently and leaving out the DVD copy. The film itself both looks and sounds great on Blu-ray, especially with the exclusive music from Jon Bon Jovi.  The special features including an audio commentary with Director Fisher Stevens, which is worth checking out if you liked the film.  There are also three featurettes on the production including “The American Muscle: The Stand Up Stunt Driving Scenes”, “The Lowdown On Making Stand Up Guys” and “The Stand Up Songs Of Jon Bon Jovi”. Lastly there are few deleted scenes included as well.

Starring: Keri Russell, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo, Kadan Rockett and J.K. Simmons
Directed by: Scott Stewart
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

I remember when I saw the trailer for this movie as I fast forwarded through the commercials while watching TV.  When I got to this trailer I stop short and just had to watch it (twice in fact)…but was that a mistake.  I had myself some great nightmares that night especially having a young daughter.  Also when you  flash the words “From the producer of Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and Sinister”, you immediately have my attention.  These are the types of horror movies, I love.  In fact “Insidious” is in my top five of all-time in fact.  “Dark Skies” is a real trip and packs some great scares.  I definitely recommend checking this our horror hounds!

Official Premise: From the producer of Paranormal Activity, Insidious, and Sinister comes Dark Skies: a supernatural thriller that follows a young family living in the suburbs. As husband and wife Daniel and Lacey Barret witness an escalating series of disturbing events involving their family, their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels. When it becomes clear that the Barret family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters in their own hands to solve the mystery of what is after their family.

“Dark Skies” comes as a  Blu-ray + DVD combo pack with an Ultraviolet digital copy. The 1080p transfer deliver with the mood of the film and looks sharp.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track delivers the jumps and the eerie mood for the film very well.  Yes, if you are wondering it did make my wife jump off the couch at one point! Boom! I love my surround sound system!  The main disappointment with this release is the special features.  There is a nice commentary track with Writer/Director Scott Stewart, Producer Jason Blum, Executive Producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Editor Peter Gvozdas, which is worth checking out.  Lastly there are a few alternate and deleted scenes included. No featurettes 🙁

Actors: Beverly D’angelo, Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall
Directors: Harold Ramis
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” was a very important film of the 1980’s. It was a great kick-off for John Hughes, who then went on to making “The Breakfast Club”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day” etc. It was directed by Harold Ramis, who also gave us “Caddyshack”, “Groundhog Day” and of course starred in “Ghostbusters” series. But most importantly this movie introduced us to the Griswold family. I think that is the most important. There is not a year that go by that I do not quote this film or its sequel “Vegas Vacation”. Of course who doesn’t watch “Christmas Vacation” every Holiday! “Vacation” is where it all started and it is celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary with this new release. If you own the last Blu-ray from 2010, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading but if you don’t then this release is a must-own for any fan!

Official Premise: Everything is planned, packed… and about to go hilariously wrong. The Griswolds are going on vacation. In the driver’s seat is Clark Griswold (Chase), an Everyman eager to share the open road and the wonders of family togetherness, and his wife Ellen (D’Angelo). Myriad mishaps, crude kin (Quaid), encounters with a temptress (Christie Brinkley), financial woes, Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) on the roof, one security guard (John Candy) and 2,460 miles later, it’s a wonder the Griswolds are together. There’s never been a family vacation like it. Except maybe yours. And that helps explain why the classic comedy remains so popular and so very funny.

“National Lampoon’s Vacation: 30th Anniversary Edition” includes the same transfer from the 2010 Blu-ray release which is quite impressive. The 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 is quite strong and hold up real well. The color are sharp and the even though the film is screaming 1980’s it still looks sharp. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track included works well with the dialogue and music in the film. I would have loved to seen this beefed up a little though to a 5.1 surround track for this anniversary release.

On the previous 2010 Blu-ray release, the special features were not anything to call home about. Well on this 30th anniversary edition, we are only getting one new featurette called “Inside Story: National Lampoon’s Vacation”. It is a nice 85-minute trip down memory lane with the cast/crew but I would recommend purchasing this Blu-ray just for this one featurette, especially if you owned the prior release. The rest of the extras are the roll-over from the 2010 Blu-ray including a brief introduction to the film with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, and Matty Simmons. There is a fun audio commentary track with Harold Ramis, Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, and Matty Simmons. Fans should enjoy this track. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer.

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Actors: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nelisse, Daniel Kash
Directors: Andy Muschietti
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Running Time: 100 minutes

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

Guillermo del Toro is producing a horror film? Where do I sign up? His past films that he has served as a producer such as “The Orphanage” and “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” have turned out quite well. “Mama” starts off with some decent scares and a nice setup but falls into a rut and loses its originality quickly. The film also takes a page from “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” that I was not a fan of and that is DON’T SHOW THE CREATURE SO MUCH! I thought it was creepy as hell seeing the ghost’s hair in the trailer but then if you shot the CGI ghost every time it doesn’t stay creepy and scary anymore. If you like del Toro’s films then I would recommend at least checking it out. Plus you can’t go wrong looking at Jessica Chastain for 100 minutes. I would call “Mama” a one-time watcher.

Official Premise: Guillermo del Toro, the Academy Award-nominated writer of Pan’s Labyrinth, presents this supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When the young sisters are found alive in a decrepit cabin, their uncle (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones) and his girlfriend (Oscarr nominee Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty) take them in. As they try to introduce the children to a normal life, Annabel (Chastain) begins to wonder if the traumatized girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home.

Unviersal is known for delivering some impressive Blu-ray presentations and they deliver for sure on “Mama”. Within the two-disc combo pack we get a Blu-ray and DVD disc, along with an iTunes digital copy and an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer is impressive for the horror film and holds up in the very dark settings. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track does a great job in terms of a horror film. It works with the suspense and gets a few good jumps as well.

The special features are what I like to call short but sweet. There is an informative audio commentary track from director/co-writer Andy Muschietti and producer/co-writer Barbara Muschietti. They feel very passionate about the film and it sure shows. There is the original short that inspired Guillermo del Toro to develop the big screen adaptation. This also includes an optional commentary with the Muschietti’s. “The Birth of Mama” is a nice behind-the-scenes look into the film with interviews with del Toro, and other key members. “Matriarchal Secrets: The Visual Effects of Mama” is a look into the blend of practical and CG effects. Lastly there are six deleted scenes with optional commentary, which run about eight minutes and are worth checking out.

Starring: Jaleel White, Carmen Electra, Charlie O’Connell, Barry Bostwick
Distributed by: Asylum Home Entertainment
Running Time 264 min
MPAA Rating: Not rated
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Here is the thing about these films…they are very bad but so bad they are good. Yes these are all fun films. “2-Headed Shark Attack”, well has a two headed shark and that is cool enough for me. Please it has Carmen Electra, Charlie O’Connell and Brooke Hogan in the lead. “2010: Moby Dick” is a riot and Barry Bostwick is a riot in the film. Lastly we have Jaleel White in “Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus”. The film is a follow up to the amazing “Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus”. I mean where else can you see a giant croc eat Shamu at SeaWorld? There is tons of fun to be had here with this 3-Pack if you are up for it.

“2-Headed Shark Attack” Official Premise: A Semester at Sea ship is sunk by a two-headed shark, and the survivors escape to a deserted atoll. When it starts flooding, the coeds are no longer safe from the jaws of the monster. “2010: Moby Dick” Official Premise: A modern adaptation of the classic novel of the captain of a high tech submarine and his obsessive quest to destroy the enormous prehistoric whale that maimed him. “Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus” Official Premise: The massive prehistoric shark has survived the last battle, and the world is again threatened when a new, more dangerous foe is discovered in the jungles of Africa.

This 3-Pack marks the first time that “2010: Moby Dick” and “Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus” are being released on Blu-ray. I have to admit, I am glad to get a chance to own them but I would have preferred to have individual releases especially for “Mega Shark Vs Crocosaurus”. The main issue with this release is that all three films are all compressed onto one 25GB Blu-ray. The bitrates are a low for a Blu-ray quality and they do not look the greatest with their 1080p transfers. The audio tracks are also only Dolby Digital 5.1, which to me is not even Blu-ray standard.

So why am I still recommending this release? Since if you know Asylum Home Entertainment, if you’ve seen their past release then you should know that they are not always quality. But still they are fun films are since this is currently the only way to own two of the three films, I am down for this sub-par release.  I will keep my hopes up that they will produce individual releases in the near future.

Actors: Louise Lasser, Brion James, Bruce Campbell, Paul L. Smith
Directors: Sam Raimi
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

“Crimewave” is one of the lesser known film in Sam Raimi’s filmography.  This is the first time that this film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray, thanks to Shout! Factory.  The film has developed quite the cult following over the years due to the fact that it was not only directed by Raimi but also co-written by Ethan and Joel Coen and also co-stars Bruce Campbell. The film is very over-the-top campy and slap stick filled. It hasn’t really held up over the years but fans of Coen Brothers, Raimi and Campbell will enjoy seeing this film getting a little respect finally.

Official Premise: In a slapstick spoof of hitmen and crime stories, the head of a security systems company is bumped off by two gonzo exterminators who have gone from stomping out pesky varmints to stomping out human targets. The exterminators go after the partner who hired them and his blatantly obnoxious wife (Louise Lasser) and, in the meantime, frame a poor security guard (Reed Birney) for the murder of the company boss.

Shout! Factory has delivered a decent 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. This film has not had a great track record in terms of releases, so the film elements that were used for this transfer don’t look too bad.  The film does do look a little aged but it’s not the worst transfer that I have ever seen and seems to play to the tone of the film itself. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track works for the most part and keeps the dialogue and score clear.

The special features are not stunning but I am sucker for anything with Bruce Campbell.  He gives a fantastic audio commentary track along with Michael Felsher, who produced the supplements for the Blu- ray. Let me tell you it is more fun than watching the film by itself.  “The Crimewave Meter with Bruce Campbell” is a new interview with Bruce Campbell about this troubled production. “Made in Detroit with Edward Pressman is a chat with the film’s producer. “Leading Man with Reed Birney” is a chat with the actor about the film and his career. Lastly, there is an Alternate Title Sequence, Photo Gallery and Trailer included.

Actors: Brian Matthews, Leah Ayres, Jason Alexander, Lou David, Shelley Bruce
Directors: Tony Maylam
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

“The Burning” is probably either one of your favorite horror films or it is one of those that you have heard about but never seen.  The later was the case for me, I have known about this film forever and never saw it until it aired on a (long gone) TV station called “Monsters HD” years ago. The film is gory, cheesy and a must watch for any fan of horror. Be sure to keep an eye out for early roles from Fisher Stevens (“Hackers”), Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) and Holly Hunter (“The Piano”). The film wasn’t even given a proper DVD release until 2011. Thanks to Shout! Factory sister label, Scream Factory, we get this beautiful Blu-ray release that is going to leave hardcore horror fans very satisfied.

Official Premise: After a cruel joke goes awry, severely burning him and subjecting him to five years of intensive, unsuccessful skin graft treatments, Cropsy (Lou David) is back at camp…and ready to wreak havoc on those who scarred him! With his hedge clippers in hand, he terrorizes the camp and systematically mutilates each victim. Can a few courageous campers save themselves and destroy this demented madman before he kills them all?

This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray + DVD combo pack comes with reversible cover art.  You can either have Nathan Thomas Milliner’s amazing new artwork or if you prefer the original theatrical artwork you can just reverse the insert and BOOM! The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray looks good for a film that is over 30 years old.  It is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85: 1.  I was very impressed with this transfer, especially gives props to Tom Savini’s impressive special make-up and effects. The audio track included in a decent DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track.  It is not stunning but works for the film, especially scores with Rick Wakeman amazing score!

The special features are damn impressive as well.  Shout! Factory really delivers for the fans here.  There are two audio commentary tracks.  The first is with with Director Tony Maylam and International Film Journalist Alan Jones and the second is with stars Shelley Bruce and Bonnie Deroski.  Fans should enjoy both.  The first is more technical, while the second is more rehashing, but still fun.  “Blood ‘n’ Fire Memories” is a look into Tom Savini’s make-up effects. “Slash & Cut” is an interview with editor Jack Sholder. “Cropsy Speaks” is an interview with Lou David.  “Summer Camp Nightmare” is an interview with actress Leah Ayres. There is some retro Behind-the-Scenes Footage.  Lastly wrapping up the extras is the Theatrical Trailer and a Make-Up Effects/Poster Still Gallery.

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Alan Rafkin, Jerry Paris, John Rich
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 800 minutes

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

I think I can literally watch “The Dick Van Dyke Show” every single day for the rest of my life…over and over. This show makes me laugh consistently every time it is on. Image released The Complete Series on Blu-ray for “The Dick Van Dyke Show” last November and it was such a wonderful job for a show that is now over 50 years old. Since then they have been releasing each season, which has been a great way for fans to grab their favorite episodes without needing the whole series. Season two is where this show really gets its legs and deliver some of the best episodes including “The Attempted Marriage” and “It May Look Like a Walnut”. It is also the last season before Carl Reiner stepped back mostly from the writers chair. If you are a fan of the show this is a must purchase and a really Blu-ray treat, thanks to Image Entertainment.

Official Premise: “The Dick Van Dyke Show” truly found its niche in its second season, rapidly climbing to ninth place in the Nielson ratings. Millions across the country tuned in weekly for the fun with comedy writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) on the job with his wisecracking co-workers (Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie) and at home with his lovely wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). Now enjoy all 33 of the season’s hilarious episodes in spectacular high-definition!

Image has given a lot of love to this show and has released this episode on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer just look stunning. The original source elements have held up very well and really don’t show their age at all. I have been films shot today, released on Blu-ray and look 10 times worse than this 50 year old show does. The DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track is a simple soundtrack for a simple show. There not much needed here this show and it works perfectly. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and dialogue.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features. First, we have an Anti-Smoking PSA Radio Spot featuring Dick Van Dyke, “Kick the Habit”. Always interesting to see these old spots especially since the show was sponsored by cigarette companies. “It May Look Like a Walnut” Color Test is was trial on bringing color to one of the show most famous episodes. “Safety Council Reel” is a bunch of PSAs on safe driving. Lastly there is Dick Van Dyke’s appearance on “The Danny Kaye Show”. It is a must watch for any fan of either actor.

The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episodes 34 (The Attempted Marriage) and episode 37 (My Husband Is Not a Drunk). There are also tracks on Episode 41 (A Bird in the Head Hurts) and Episode 53 (All About Eavesdropping) with Rose Marie, Larry Mathews and Ann Morgan Guilbert. There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 27 out of the 33 episodes. There are also commercials/promos included on 21 episodes for product including Dash, Joy and Kent cigarettes.

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering the Ottoman”, “Remembering Rob and Laura”, “Remembering Buddy and Sally”, “Remembering the Bank Book” (about episode 33), “Remembering the Woodpecker” (episode 41), which look back at these episodes and the characters. Also there is a look into the show’s Emmy Awards® (1962-1963). Disc 2 contains more featurettes on “Remembering Dick’s Sneezing (episode 42)” and “Remembering Jerry Paris (episode 43)”. There is a also the making of one of my favorite episodes “It May Look Like a Walnut (episode 51)”. Lastly disc three has one more featurette: for “Remembering “Oh, Rob”.

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Voices of Bret Iwan, Russi Taylor, Bill Farmer, Tony Anselmo and Tress MacNeille
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 21, 2013
MPAA Rating: TV-Y
Run Time: 126 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first saw the commercials of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Quest for the Crystal Mickey”, I laughed at loud since I am a huge fan of Indiana Jones.  I thought that this was a super cute idea both for the kiddies and also their parents. The episode is very clever and includes at a lot of great odes to the adventure genre.  Mickey Mouse takes the role of Kansas City Mickey as he and his friends chase down Plunderin’ Pete ( I just love that name BTW). There is some great music included as well. That darn theme song for Kansas City Mickey has been stuck in my head.  Like with all episodes of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, there is also some great morals and lessons learned through the show. This is a must have for any fan!

Official Synopsis: Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all their pals in the newest Clubhouse crusade. When the legendary Crystal Mickey goes missing, Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. Grab your hat, buckle your seatbelt, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey!” There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world’s most extraordinary hero “Kansas City Mickey,” get the magical statue back in time? Only with help from young viewers at home…and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete’s trickiest traps!

I have seen some places note that this DVD also comes with “Mickey’s Treasure Map Game with Stickers but that was not included with my package, so I am not sure if it is still happening. What is included though as a bonus are some great episodes of the show for kids (and their parents) besides “The Quest for the Crystal Mickey”. The additional episodes are “Donald Of The Desert,” “Donald The Genie,” “Goofy’s Coconutty Monkey,” and “Goofy’s Giant Adventure.” They stick with the theme of the adventure like “Crystal Mickey” and are really fun episodes.  I mean who doesn’t love to call out for Toodles or doung the Hot Dog dance! Parents you know you do! BTW if you don’t have kids you are probably shaking you head right now but trust me they are catchy and you WILL be doing the same thing if you watch this show every single day!  So fans of Disney Junior and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, this is another great release and I highly recommend it!

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