Actors: Mel Brooks
Directors: Robert Trachtenberg
MPAA Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love Mel Brooks? He has delivers some of the best comedy in the business over the last 60 years.  Whether it is film, TV, music or Broadway.  The man has done it all.  This latest American Masters program takes a look at Mel Brooks’ career in “Make a Noise”.  I grew up watching his films from “History of the World, Part 1” to “Blazing Saddles” to The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein”. This type of comedy always hit home with me and still has as I have grown up. I look forward to sharing these wonderful films with my daughter now as she grows.  They are timeless and will remain that way through time. This program was a great look into Mel Brooks, whether you know everything about him or are just meeting him for the first time.  There is a little something for everyone.

Official Premise: After 60 years in show business, Mel Brooks has earned more major awards than any other living entertainer; he is one of 14 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) winners. Yet, the comedy giant has energetically avoided a documentary profile from being made, even issuing an informal gag order on his friends – until now. Brooks has agreed to throw himself into a new documentary about his storied career, giving American Masters exclusive interviews and complete access to his film archives.

In the film we get taken through Mel’s life starting from his childhood growing up in Brooklyn to his start in the buisness to his marriage of Anne Bancroft to his Broadway career. There are new interviews with Mel Brooks, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner and Joan Rivers. These are people who know Mel and that have worked wiht him. They give wonderful insight into his career and who the real “Mel Brooks” is.  The program runs 90 minutes but I could have watch for at least 3 hours without becoming boring or repetitive.  The guy has done so much there is no way to sum it up in just 90 minutes.  The bonus feature included on this DVD is over 15 minutes of deleted segments.

Actors: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, Chris Tucker
Directors: David O. Russell
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Run Time: 117 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am not a fan of sports films at all. When I first heard about this film, I thought that’s what it was but was I wrong. David O. Russell’s last film was “The Fighter” with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg, which I was not a fan of at all despite Bale’s amazing performance. So I was very hesitant seeing this film at first. I have to say after watch it one…twice…three times…it easily became one of my favorite films of last year. The performances in the film are absolutely stunning. I do not think I even spoke a word during my first viewing because I was blown away. When I think about Bradley Cooper, I do not think that he has this kind of a role in him but he was so amazing. Also before this film I was not a fan at all of Jennifer Lawrence, especially after the horrid “The Hunger Games” but she is now on my fav list. She was stunning in this film and really deserves the Academy Award that she won.

Besides the main two, the supporting cast is also amazing. Robert De Niro really gives one of his best performances in recent years. Probably one of the biggest surprises was from Chris Tucker, that’s right the say guy from “Rush Hour” series. He only had a small appearance but was very effective and memorable. David O. Russell does another wonderful job directing this film and adapting the script from the novel by Matthew Quick. He has this fantastic vision and really delivers it well to the screen. This film might seem like a light romantic comedy but it deals with some very heavy issues and at the drop of the hat just like the bipolar disorder it switches from genre to genre. That is why I absolutely loved this film it is very unpredictable and keeps you on your toes. If you haven’t seen this…don’t miss it.

Official Premise: Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything — his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro) after spending eight months is a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet-and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

Starz / Anchor Bay delivered a very impressive combo pack release. We get both a Blu-ray and DVD disc copy of the film. There are also two digital copies including Ultraviolet and iTunes. I always prefer Ultraviolet, since it doesn’t take up space on your handheld devices and can be accessed anytime. The 1080p transfer is beautifully presented with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The cinematography in the film is so well-done including the handheld camera work, which I am usually not a fan of. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works very well with the snappy dialogue and the music, especially the big dance scene.

The special features are quite impressive on this Blu-ray release. There are nearly 30 minutes of deleted scenes included, which are quite impressive and a must watch for any fans of the film. “Silver Linings Playbook: The Film that Became a Movement” is a great feature on the production with interviews from cast and crew. “Q&A Highlights” are complied of various sessions with Russell, De Niro, Cooper, Lawrence and more. “Learn to Dance Like Pat and Tiffany” is a great ‘learn how’ feature with choreographer Mandy Moore on the moves seen in the film. The last two features are short but still fun. “Dance Rehearsal” has the duo showing us a few of their moves but runs under two minutes. Lastly, “Going Steadicam with Bradley Cooper” is a joke feature with Cooper taking the camera for less than a minute. Overall great extras, except the only let down is that there are no commentary tracks. I would have love to seen cast and crew giving their insight on the production.

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Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Robert Duvall, Werner Herzog, Richard Jenkins, David Oyelowo
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 130 minutes

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

Before this film was released, I had never heard of this ass-kicking ex-Army anti-hero created by Best-Selling Author Lee Child, Jack Reacher. Tom Cruise takes on this title role and really nails the role. I have to say I came into this film expecting a crazy action film like in “Mission Impossible”, but I was really surprised with what I got. This is a real slow-burn detective story mixed with some great action and one hell of a car chase scene. Besides Cruise, the rest of the cast is also phenomenal including Rosamund Pike (“Wrath of the Titans”); Werner Herzog (“Rescue Dawn”), who is usually behind the camera directing but he is quite a stunning villain; David Oyelowo (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”); Richard Jenkins (“The Cabin in the Woods”) and Jai Courtney (“A Good Day to Die Hard”). If you like Cruise then you should enjoy this for sure. Just don’t expect an all out action-fest. I would love to see this series continued in further installment but I have a feeling that this will be Jack Reacher’s first and last go.

Official Premise: Adapted from a novel in Lee Child’s best-selling crime series, the film sees Cruise in the title role as an ex-military policeman turned vigilante drifter who is called in to investigate after an expert sniper takes the lives of five random victims. When the authorities pull in former army sniper, James Barr (Joseph Sikora), they are certain they have the perpetrator, but Barr believes he’s been set up and asks that Jack Reacher (Cruise) be assigned to the case. At first, Reacher is weary of Barr but after some thorough investigation he is led to believe there is an unseen force pulling the strings of the investigation and he’s determined to get to the truth.

Paramount really went through the trouble of delivering a very nice presentation with this Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Also included is an UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer is super sharp and top that with a very impressive (and unexpected) DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. At first I thought that this wasn’t necessary but it really worked with the car chase scene and Joe Kraemer score. The special features are pretty darn good. There are two commentary tracks, the first with Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie and the second with composer Joe Kraemer. I am very impressed that Cruise lended his voice and it is worth checking out. “When the Man Comes Around” is a look into the film’s journey from the page to the screen. “You Do Not Mess with Jack Reacher: Combat & Weapons” focuses on that training and stunt choreography through the fight sequences. Lastly, “The Reacher Phenomenon” is a look into this series popularity around the world with Lee Child. Also included is a $10 off coupon for sports tickets at Ticketmaster and there is also a code for the first chapter of Lee Child’s next “Jack Reacher” novel “Never Go Back”. So if you are a fan of the series, this is a nice bonus!

Actors: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington
Directors: Dan Fraga
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 328 minutes

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

I have been a fan of “The Ricky Gervais Show” when it aired on the UK radio station, XFM, over ten years ago.  Since then this show was been developed as a podcast, audio book and mostly recently an animated series.  When this animated series was announced I wasn’t particularly thrilled.  I originally thought that re-releasing the podcasts with new animations was a little lame, but I forgot how very funny all of these actually were. Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington are very funny together.  This season contains the last 12 out of the 39 episodes produced. There has been talks about a fourth season, but was shelved last year from Gervais himself. If you are a fan of shows like “The Office”, “Extras” and “An Idiot Abroad” then this is sure to deliver some great laughs whether you are a fan of the podcasts or not.

Official Premise: Series 3 starts with an impossible mission as Karl pitches another movie idea and struggles in vain to relay the insane plot to Ricky and Steve. Over the following 12 episodes Karl offers fascinating insights into his family history, encounters with domestic insects and the dangers of wearing crash helmets. Challenged at every turn by Ricky and Steve, who entertain with their own priceless real-life exploits, Karl remains stoic and retains his bizarrely unique perspectives regardless. As things draw to a close. The tree imagine themselves in an old people’s home – still arguing over utter nonsense with the final word going to Ricky, appropriately enough.

This DVD release is being release by Warner Archive as a “made-to-order” DVD. I would love to see these seasons make their way to Blu-ray like in the UK but I have a feeling that this is the best that we are going to get. These episodes have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this release. The animation is simple yet still looks very good on this DVD presentation. They come with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio track included is a Dolby Digital track. The first and second season included a some great extras but this release is completely baron. The second season DVD was also “made-to-order” but it still contains some sweet extras. So I was left disappointed with this final season but at least it is available for fans.

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Starring: Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Malin Akerman, Erinn Hayes, Ken Marino, Megan Mullaly, Henry Winkler, Lake Bell
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: April 9, 2013
Running Time: 156 minutes

Season: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

I have loved “Childrens Hospital” ever since the first season but I feel that we are starting to part ways.  The fourth season of the show is definitely funny in parts but it doesn’t feel as unique that it has in past season. The show only runs 11 minutes per episode and I think that that works in its favor. The show packs a phenomenal cast including Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Malin Akerman, Erinn Hayes, Ken Marino, Megan Mullaly, Henry Winkler and Lake Bell. This season also had some wonderful guests starring including Jon Hamm, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Offerman, Frances Fisher and Brian Huskey. There is great talent here but maybe the show has run it course for me. “Childrens Hospital” has spawned two spin-offs shows. One of them is good,  “NTSF:SD:SUV::” and one of them not so good “Newsreaders”.

Official Premise: TV’s sickest medical series returns for its fourth twisted season, winner of the 2012 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment. A satirical jab at network medical dramas, Childrens Hospital explores the lives of a group of self-absorbed doctors who put their libidos first and patients second. Amnesia, Madonna sightings, single-mom promotions, assassination attempts, Mafia kingpins and the accidental electrocution of one of its stars are just some of the topics addressed.

I am assume that I am not the only one who feels this way either since this is the first season that is being produced only as an MOD or Made-to-order DVD. Warner Home Video’s past releases have been much higher quality.  They have come with nice cases with slipcases.  These episodes have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored for this release. They come with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio track included is a Dolby Digital track. Lastly there is also no special features included here.  The past DVD releases for Season 1 & 2 and Season 3 have had some great extras included. Overall this is a letdown from past releases but at least it is available for fans. And fans should keep an eye out for more episodes this Summer as the the series was renewed for a fifth season by Adult Swim.

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
DVD Release Date: April 30, 2013
Run Time: 1181 minutes

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

When I first watched the third season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, I was blown away. “The Best of Both Worlds” was one of the best storylines to come out of this series. I saw it long after it was originally aired and I have known about this arc but it still shocking and holds up as one of the best cliffhangers on TV. Overall, the whole series in general really running on all cylinders and kicking ass. The cast and the writers are settled in their roles and really delivered their best performances. Also available the same day is “Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds” for the mega “Star Trek” fans who are looking for a new edit of that fantastic storyline into a new-feature format. This is another very impressive release from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount. They have been giving this series nothing but love since they started releasing these seasons. If you love this series, then this release is a must-buy!

“Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Three” delivers absolutely perfect 1080p transfers of each episodes. These episodes don’t just look good. They look stunning. Top that with a flawless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track for each episode and Trek fans will be nothing but thrilled. I wonder what Gene Roddenberry would have thought if he could have seen his creation presented like this. Alternate audio tracks also include an English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Italian Mono, Castilian Mono, German Mono and Japanese Mono tracks. If you have seen these episodes on TV or DVD, this give you the show like you have never seen it before due to this fantastic restoration which involved returning to the original film elements.

The special features are quite impressive for this season. The newly produced high definition extras (found mostly on disc six) include an all-new featurette called “Inside The Writer’s Room”, which is moderated by Seth MacFarlane. He leads a panel and a great discussion on the creation of the show’s acclaimed third season with some of today’s best science fiction television writers including Ronald Moore, Brannon Braga, Naren Shankar and Rene Echevarria. There is an entirely new multi-part documentary called “Resistance is Futile – Assimilating Star Trek: The Next Generation”, which really dives into the behind-the-scenes on the making of Season Three. There is a very nice tribute to Michael Piller, which includes never-before-seen interviews with cast, crew and more discuss his lasting influence on the “Star Trek” franchise. Rounding out the high-def extras is a new gag reel for fans, which is located on disc five.

Additional extras included are spread out over the six discs. There are four “Archival Mission Logs” including “Selected Crew Analysis Year Three”, “Mission Overview Year Three”, “Departmental Briefing Year Three: Production” and “Departmental Briefing Year Three: Memorable Missions”. There are four all-new audio commentary track spread out on the release. Disc one features a commentary track from Ron Moore on “The Bonding”. Disc three features features a commentary track from Ron Moore and Ira Steven Behr on “Yesterday’s Enterprise”. Disc four features the last two audio commentary tracks. The first is with Rene Echevarria and Mike & Denise Okuda on “The Offspring” and the second is with Ron Moore on “Sins of the Father”. If you are looking for audio commentary on the episode “The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1”, you should check out the stand-one release mentioned above. Lastly, there are also episodic promos available for each of the 26 episodes.

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Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: April 30, 2013
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

For all “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fans, we all know that “The Best of Both Worlds” was one of the best arcs in the series. The classic two-part cliffhanger ended the third season and started the fourth season. This Blu-ray contains both parts of this great story blended into one seamlessly edited feature length film. The only issue with this Blu-ray is that since “The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1” was one of the best cliffhangers ever, putting the two parts together kind of takes a little bit of that away anticipation away. But I love this story and this new edit works quite well. Also “The Best of Both Worlds: Part 2” isn’t available until Paramount releases the “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4” on Blu-ray possibly later this year. But in the meantime fans can enjoy it in advance right here.

Official Premise: The powerful cliffhanger: The Best of Both Worlds Part 1 and 2 has been fully restored in brilliant 1080p HD and seamlessly edited together into one feature-length presentation…and the crew of the Enterprise is asked: How do you stop an unstoppable foe? The Enterprise team discovers the devastated remains of a Federation colony as an ambitious young officer joins the crew to confirm the presence of the deadly Borg. Soon after, Borg drones abduct Captain Picard, mutilating him horribly as they assimilate him into their collective. Commander Riker must take over as Enterprise captain as Steerfleet braces for an all-out battle to defend Earth. But the Borg’s power proves overwhelming, and resistance is futile. Will Riker be forced to destroy his former captain to save Earth and the Federation?

So I wouldn’t really consider this a double-dip since it does come with some great special features.  This is also the only place to watch the two-part edit since only Part 1 is available on the third season Blu-ray. Some fans also might want to only own the episodes in a feature-length format then the whole seasons. The Blu-ray presentation is pretty sharp as well with a nice Velcro snap half-cover slipcase, simple but nice touch. Another bonus to this release is that Paramount is including a UltraViolet digital streaming copy of the episodes. They are beautifully presented in 1080p with a stunning 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. The episodes have never looked or sounded better. The special features include an audio commentary track with Cliff Bole, Mike & Denise Okuda and Elizabeth Dennehy. There is also a featurette “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg” and a Gag Reel included. These bonus features are also not available on the “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Three” Blu-ray release.

Actors: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone
Directors: Ruben Fleischer
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: April 23, 2013
Running Time:

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

I am not the biggest fan of gangster films. My all-times favorites have been always been “Goodfellas” and “Casino” but besides those, I never really dig this genre. “Gangster Squad” is a movie with a great talented cast but suffers from a weak script and the same-old, same-ole gangster approach. Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn and Emma Stone all are good in the film but their performances suffer from being stuck in a box and not able to perform outside of it. This film was affected by the Colorado shooting last summer and was forced to re-cut the a shootout scene that took place in a movie theater. I feel that it was a smart move to re-shoot. If you like Gangster films, you might really enjoy this film but otherwise it feels like to be done already and nothing new here.

Official Premise: Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and – if he has his way – every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop – except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart.

Whether “Gangster Squad” is good or not, it still packs a fantastic Blu-ray presentation. Warner Brothers delivers a two-disc combo pack set with a Blu-ray and DVD of the film. There are also two digital copies included, Ultraviolet and iTunes. I personally always prefer the digital streaming copy since you don’t have to use your own storage space on your device. The 1080p transfer is very sharp and work well with the tone of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works well with every gunshot and explosion. I also thought that Steve Jablonsky’s score really got presented very well.

The special features are pretty good as well. There is an audio commentary track from director Ruben Fleischer. It is not my favorite commentary track ever but does have some good info. “The Gangland Files” is a Picture-in-Picture overlay during the film that gives interviews and facts about the film. “Focus Points: The Set-Up” is a collection of fifteen behind-the-scenes featurettes which add up to abut 45 minutes together. There are seven deleted Scenes with an introduction from the director. “Rogues Gallery: Mickey Cohen” is a documentary about the famous gangster. “Then and Now Locations” is a collection of photos from locations. Lastly, “Tough Guys with Style” is a short piece with the cast about the production.

“Gangster Squad” available on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and Digital Download 4/23

Starring: Chad Michael Murray, Abigail Spencer, Katee Sackhoff, Emily Alyn Lind
Director: Tom Elkins
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 100 minutes

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

Let’s get this out of the way…what were they thinking with this title? I remember when I first say this film announced on Bloody-Disgusting and I just thought to myself “WTF, are they serious?” I understand that “The Haunting in Connecticut” was a very successful film but they could have easily have just called this “The Haunting in Georgia” and it would have gotten much more respect. It is based on a true story and in fact the film is quite awesome! Yes, I am serious.  The film is scary and has about tons of really great jump moments. I mean seriously, a man can’t handle that much! The story itself might not be the most well thought out of the year but it delivers the scares and for me that is the more important.  After watching as many shitty horror films as I do per year, this was easily one of the better and quite impressive.  I don’t look forward to going to bed tonight though. I will look forward to the third installment “The Haunting in New York” for sure!

Director Tom Elkins gets his first time in the director’s chair with this film and really proves his knows what he is doing.  He previously worked as an editor on films like “The New Daughter” and “Red Eye”, so he knows the genre quite well.  Since he also edited this film, he succeeds in piecing the good parts together well and effectively. I can’t wait to see what his next directorial effort will be.  Chad Michael Murray and Abigail Spencer both deliver strong performances or at much they can expect from a direct-to-video sequel. The star of the film for me is Emily Alyn Lind.  She is absolutely amazing and might I mention only 10 years old! You might know here best from her roles in films like “Won’t Back Down” and “J. Edgar, as Shirley Temple” and her TV role in ABC’s “Revenge” as Young Amanda Clarke.  She is going to be a huge actress for sure as she grows up, she keep an eye out!

Official Premise: Building on the terror of The Haunting in Connecticut, this horrifying tale traces a young family’s nightmarish descent into a centuries-old Southern hell. When Andy Wyrick (Chad Michael Murray, House of Wax) moves his wife Lisa (Abigail Spencer, TV’s “Mad Men”) and daughter Heidi to an historic home in Georgia, they quickly discover they are not the house’s only inhabitants. Joined by Lisa’s free-spirited sister, Joyce (Katee Sackhoff, TV’s “Battlestar Galactica”), the family soon comes face-to-face with a bone-chilling mystery born of a deranged desire a haunting secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.

Lionsgate delivered a very impressive Blu-ray release for this film.  It also comes with an Ultraviolet streaming digital copy.  The 1080p transfer looks absolutely stunning within its 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The visual aspect of the film is a real home run and is well represented here. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is also amazing.  Yes, some of the jumps are a little cliche but it is effective and very scary. The special features are a bit of a let down though.  There is an audio commentary track with Director Tom Elkins, Writer David Coogeshall and Co-Producer Brad Kessell, which is not bad.  “Seeing Ghosts: The True Story of the Wyricks” is a cool feature for all ghost lovers.  There are over 15 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary with Director Tom Elkins and also some outtakes. Lastly there is a trailer for the first film and the sequel.

Actors: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
Directors: Quentin Tarantino
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Weinstein Company/Anchor Bay
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 165 minutes

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

When it comes to Quentin Tarantino you know that you are getting not your typical Hollywood cookie cutter movie. “Django Unchained” is a real shocker from the moment it starts and doesn’t let up until its finale.  I have to admit, I am not a big fan of Jamie Foxx but as an actor you can’t not like him. He really plays the hell out of this role.  Christoph Waltz was absolutely stunning.  I literally hung on every word that he spoke. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor but he is in over 2 hours in a 2 hour and 45 minute movie. To me that is more than just supporting.  Leonardo DiCaprio easily delivers one of his best performances to date…again unrecognized with any awards. Samuel L. Jackson is good but I feel that he has lost his appeal a bit since he went joined up with “S.H.I.E.L.D” and all. Definitely not as powerful as he was back in the “Pulp Fiction” days.

The film is quite long but doesn’t drag. Quentin’s dialogue is mesmerizing and perfectly delivered by each the actors. The action is very powerful and intense that you find yourself yelling back at the screen. I love the force and explosion behind each bullet wound. Some of the battle scenes at Candyland reminded me a bit of the Crazy 88’s fight in “Kill Bill: Volume 1”. I have no idea how this film cost $100 million though.  It is quite epic don’t get me wrong, but there is no major special effects in here. I would have to rank this film third behind “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglorious Bastards”. So it may not be Quentin’s best film, but it is still a blast to watch. If you are a fan of his style then don’t miss this for sure.

Official Premise: Set in the South two years before the Civil War,  “Django Unchained” stars Academy Award®-winner Jamie Foxx as Django, a slave whose brutal history with his former owners lands him face-to-face with German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Academy Award®-winner Christoph Waltz). Schultz is on the trail of the murderous Brittle brothers, and only Django can lead him to his bounty. The unorthodox Schultz acquires Django with a promise to free him upon the capture of the Brittles – dead or alive. Success leads Schultz to free Django, though the two men choose not to go their separate ways. Instead, Schultz seeks out the South’s most wanted criminals with Django by his side. Honing vital hunting skills, Django remains focused on one goal: finding and rescuing Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), the wife he lost to the slave trade long ago.

Django and Schultz’s search ultimately leads them to Calvin Candie (Academy Award®-nominee Leonardo DiCaprio), the proprietor of “Candyland,” an infamous plantation. Exploring the compound under false pretenses, Django and Schultz arouse the suspicion of Stephen (Academy Award®-nominee Samuel L. Jackson), Candie’s trusted house slave. Their moves are marked, and a treacherous organization closes in on them. If Django and Schultz are to escape with Broomhilda, they must choose between independence and solidarity, between sacrifice and survival…

Starz/Anchor Bay did a very fine job with this release. The combo pack release includes a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy and an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer looks stunning with its beautiful aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The film feels quite large and epic. This looks amazing on all the film’s wide shots and also the action scenes. When it comes to Quentin Tarantino, you have to expect good music and a great score. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track really sounds amazing. You find yourself dodging every single bullet amongst the action. The dialogue is perfectly balanced. The songs in the film represent the Spaghetti Western quite well.

The special features are a bit of a letdown though. I was hoping for some a nice look behind-the-scenes on the film and also some commentary tracks. Instead we get three featurettes, which are good but not at all what I was hoping for. “Remembering J. Michael Riva: The Production Design of Django Unchained” is a nice homage to the film’s production designer, who passes on during shooting. “Reimagining the Spaghetti Western: The Horses and Stunts of Django Unchained” has interviews with Tarantino and Jeff Dashnaw, the stunt coordinator, chatting about the production. “The Costume Designs of Sharen Davis” focuses on the wardrobes used in the film. Lastly there is a trailer for “Tarantino XX Blu-ray” and “Django Unchained Soundtrack”.

Directed by: Carl Urbano, Don Lusk, Paul Sommer, Robert Alvarez, Jay Sarbry
Voices of: Charlie Adler, William Callaway, Teresa Ganzel, Dick Gautier, Phil Hartman, Don Messick, Frank Welker, Patric Zimmerman
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: April 30, 2013
Running Time: 290 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am not sure what it is about “Tom and Jerry” but they have always been one of my favorites. This popular cat and mouse duo has been around since 1940 and have never left the public eye for long. This animated series features the duo as kids, probably taking a page from “Muppets Babies”. “Tom and Jerry Kids Show” premiered in 1990 on Fox Kids and ran through 1994 for five seasons for a total of 65 episodes. This complete first season includes the first 13 episodes. So how does the the young Tom and Jerry rank against the older Tom and Jerry? Well it is fun and still had me laughing! So I give it a thumbs up…It was good as a kid for me and still good for me as an adult! I look forward to future seasons!

Official Premise: A Rivalry for All Ages! Spend some time with the beloved animated duo in their furry, formative years in Tom & Jerry Kids Show: The Complete Season One. Available for the first time on DVD in this 2-Disc collection, these delightful adventures follow the kitten and baby mouse as they taunt each other and create mayhem like only young ones can. Joined by their pals Droopy, Dripple, Spike and Tyke, Tom and Jerry bring on the giggles and good times in episodes such as Toys Will Be Toys, Bat Mouse, Cosmic Chaos and The Maltese Poodle. So run wild with 13 episodes from the hit TV series that feature more than four hours of hi-jinks that will be sure to bring out the kid in all of us!

“Tom and Jerry Kids Show The Complete Season 1″ is animated fun for the whole family. I have a 10-month old daughter and she literally lit up when these cartoons came on. I love that. For a show that I watched growing up now I will be able to share with my own child. The 13 episodes are split over a two-disc set with over four hours of guaranteed laughs and of course many “Tom and Jerry” hi-jinks. Each episode of this show is about 7 minutes so it works out that there is more like 39 mini-episodes included. The colors on the episodes still look sharp for a show that was produced well over 20 years ago, feeling old now. The audio included on the DVD is a typical Dolby Digital Mono track, which works well for the show itself. There are no additional special features included on the DVDs.

Season 1 episodes list:
Disc 1
1: Flippin’ Fido, Dakota Droopy & the Lost Dutch Boy Mine, Dog Daze Afternoon
2: Toys Will Be Toys, Droopy Delivers, My Pal
3: Prehistoric Pals, Super Droop & Dripple Boy Meet the Yolker, Marvelous Marvin
4: Bat Mouse, Puss n’ Pups, Outer Space Rover
5: The Vermin, Aerobic Droopy, Mouse Scouts
6: Sugar Belle Loves Tom, Sometimes, Mall Mouse, Super Duper Spike
7: Cosmic Chaos, Droopy of the Opera, Beach Bummers

Disc 2
8: Gator Baiter, Hoodwinked Cat, Medieval Mouse
9: Clyde to the Rescue, Droopio & Juliet, Maze Monster Zap Men
10: Crash Condor, Yo Ho Ho…Bub, Scrub-a-Dub Tom
11: No Biz Like Snow Biz, The Maltese Poodle, Cast Away Tom
12: The Little Urfulls, Droopo – First Bloodhound, Indy Mouse 500
13: Exterminator Cometh, Foreign Legion Frenzy, Urfo Returns

Actors: Jane Lynch, Christopher Lloyd, Vanessa Williams
Directors: Nikhil Advani
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Arc Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 16th, 2013
Run Time: 96 minutes

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

“Delhi Safari” is the latest CG animated film, which originated as a foreign film and retooled with an American cast. This film originated from India and still keeps its Bollywood feel. It is filled with music and songs throughout. It does have a great American cast including Vanessa Williams, Cary Elwes, Brad Garrett, Jane Lynch, Christopher Lloyd and Jason Alexander. The movie is decent not amazing but I am also a sucker for music and animation.  I think that kids would enjoy it. They probably won’t get the message but still be entertained.

A wacky pack of mismatched animals takes on the human race as they travel to the big city to protest the destruction of their jungle. How can a leopard cub and his mother, a peace-loving bear, a mischievous monkey, and a wisecracking parrot present their ideas to a bunch of humans? You ll find out in this hilarious and heart-warming adventure that will have you cheering at the end.

This film is currently released as a Wal-Mart Exclusive. I believe that in June it will be released everywhere else. This is released as a combo back with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy.  The 1080p transfer looks nice but this is another example of Arc Entertainment refusing to release these films in there proper 3D format.  This film would have had a lot of extra “Wow” if it was shown in 3D.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works perfectly with the music and of course the songs.  There is no additional special features included on the release.

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Narrator: Josh Duhamel
Directors: Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Michael Pitiot
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

When you think of April, one of the most important days of the month each year is Earth Day. I honestly have to give it to BBC Earth and Disneynature for really highlighting this month with wonderful nature documentaries. “Planet Ocean” is released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Narrating the doc is actor Josh Duhamel (“Transformers” series). It is directed by acclaimed photographer, filmmaker and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand (“Home”). “Planet Ocean” is visually stunning…plain and simple. It is engaging and really entertaining not just for the nature buffs but for the whole family!

Official Premise: Planet Ocean captures extraordinary images of our remarkable oceans – the source of all life on our planet. Filmed by directors Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Michael Pitiot, along with an outstanding team of international underwater cinematographers, in partnership with OMEGA, and with the scientific support of Tara Expeditions, the film aims to explain some of the planet’s greatest natural mysteries, while reinforcing how essential it is that mankind learns to live in harmony with our oceans. Planet Ocean serves as a reminder of the bond between humans and nature, and the duty that exists to protect and respect our planet.

The 1080p transfer and 1.78:1 aspect ratio just looks stunning. This type of film would have looked even better in 3D since it was so well shot. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sounds amazing and really transports you in the film and you feel like you are traveling through the ocean. I usually don’t focus much on the additional languages but this documentary also comes with DTS 5.1 tracks in Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Very impressive even though I speak non of those languages it is nice and makes this release very marketable.

The special features are quite impressive for this nature documentary. There is are three featurettes inside “The Making of Planet Ocean”, which goes behind-the-scenes in the documentary. The first is “In the Skies Above Rio”. which includes some really stunning images of Rio de Janeiro’s shores. I am a big fan of beautiful photography and this really left me inspired. “Underwater” is next and it looks into the mysteries of the marine life alongside the film’s underwater cinematographers. Lastly, included is “Shanghai”, which packs some really breathtaking aerial photography of the harbor and its significance.

Actors: David Tennant, Janet Montgomery
Director: Coky Giedroy
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Warner
DVD Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 180 minutes

Mini-Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Who loves Doctor Who? Who thinks that David Tennant was brilliant as the Doctor  Well if you are like me then you are going to jump at the chance to see him in another amazing role. “Spies of Warsaw” is based on the book by historical spy novelist Alan Furst and is broken down into a two-part mini-series drama. This BBC adaptation packs plenty of espionage, betrayal and intrigue and most importantly did I say David Tennant already? I forget. He is fantastic in the role and the spy genre really suits him quite well. This is a must see for all his fans!

Official Premise: David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Janet Montgomery (Entourage) keep you guessing in this intense spy thriller based on the Alan Furst novel. Set in Poland, Paris, and Berlin at the onset of World War II, the aristocratic French attaché to Warsaw, Jean-François Mercier (Tennant), feels drawn to the world of espionage and intrigue while he engages in a passionate, illicit love affair with Anna (Montgomery), a Parisian lawyer for the League of Nations.

BBC Home Entertainment delivers a fine Blu-ray presentation here. The 1080p transfer is very crisp and captures the action very well. The audio track is good but could have used a small upgrade beyond its DTS-HD 2.0 track. It still works well with the film’s content. There is also a surprise Ultraviolet digital copy included inside the case. There was no mention of it anywhere else, so this was a real treat. I would have loved to see much more in the special features department. Instead we only get one feature, “David Tennant on Spies of Warsaw”. It is still worth checking out if you are a big fan. Since the film was shot on location, I would have loved to see behind-the-scene featurettes.

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Directors: James Brickwell & Richard Fitzpatrick
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 9, 2013
Running Time: 185 minutes

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

With Earth Day right around the corner, this is the time of the year when I can’t get enough nature documentaries. BBC Earth always puts out the best of the bunch. “Great Barrier Reef” is no different. Also who doesn’t love exploring the ocean. This is something that I have always been fascinated with this topic. What I also love about this film is the length of it. I say when it comes to nature documentaries the longer the better. This one runs over three hours, which is amazing!! The longer the better! Looking for a way to celebrate and support Earth Day? Get ready to into Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and look no further?

Official Premise: Stretching a full 2000 kilometers in length and made up of 3000 individual reef systems and hundreds of islands, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is breathtakingly beautiful. Selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981, it is one of the wonders of the natural world. These programs offer a definitive guide to the secrets of the reef — how it was created, how it works, the intricate relationships between its inhabitants and how climate change and other factors might shape its future. Using the latest specialist filming and visual techniques, the series captures the magic of the reef as it has never been seen before.

BBC Home Entertainment delivers a very impressive Blu-ray here but I am surprised that it is Blu-ray only, unlike the other recent release “One Life”. I would have like this to come in a combo pack with a DVD and Ultraviolet digital copy as well. The 1080p/16:9 transfer looks stunning, like I knew it would. You literally are transported into the reef and get to experience this wonders first hand. The audio track, DTS HD Stereo, is good but not overly impressive. It doesn’t disappoint either, so don’t worry. Also unlike “One Life”, this release does not come with any special features. But don’t forget it is also double the length of “One Life”, so you have to weight that factor as well. I would have loved to see a commentary track or some great behind-the-scenes though to be honest.