Actors: Morten Andresen, Erlend Nervold, Silje Reinåmo
Directors: Aleksander Nordaas
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Xlrator
DVD Release Date: April 23, 2013
Run Time: 77 minutes

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

“Thale” is a very unique Norwegian fantasy/horror film. The focus of the film is the folklore myth that is mythical character of ‘huldra’, which is a beautiful (and quite naked woman in the film) who lives in the deep in the woods and has a cow tail. I have to admit, I am sucker for another in either the fantasy or the horror genre. The story lacks any major twist or heavy horror aspects for me personally. It also barely runs 80 minutes but captures your attention throughout. If for nothing else I would watch this just for Silje Reinåmo. She is a sight to look at for sure.

Official Premise: wo crime-scene cleaners discover a mythical, tailed female creature in a concealed cellar. She never utters a word, unable to tell her story, but the pieces of the puzzle soon come together: she’s been held captive for decades for reasons soon to surface.

The cinematography in the film is quite impressive and handled by the director Aleksander Nordaas. In fact he also server as the writer, producer and editor for the film. I think he has real potential and I am looking forward to what his next project is. The film is the Norweigan language and that is the only way to watch it. The English dub is absolutely terrible and makes this film a comedy. I would prefer this film on Blu-ray since it has that fantasy feel and I am sure it will complement Nordaas’ film quite more. In terms of special features, there is nothing here on this DVD. This is disappointing since I would have loved to see some visual effects featurettes or commentary tracks.

Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 107 minutes

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

If you are a fan of Japanese films that you will know about “Rashomon”. This adapation of that the film really delivers a visual treat. It is also packs a great cast including Ananda Everingham (“Legend of the Tsunami Warrior”), Mario Maurer (“The Love of Siam”), Chermarn Bonnyasak (“The Love of Siam”), Mum Jokmok (“Ong Bak” Franchise, “The Protector”) and Dom Hetrakul (“Bangkok Dangerous”). The story is well paced and the action is mouth dropping. I would highly recommend checking out this film if you are a fan of the genre.

Official Premise: In this adaptation of the Japanese film Rashomon, a young monk leaves town to seek his father’s counsel after being disturbed by the murder trial testimony of the bandit Singh Khan, the wife of the deceased warlord, and a shaman who conjures up the warlord’s spirit. Along the way, he encounters a poor man who testified at the trial, and the two take refuge in an abandoned burial tunnel during a storm. They are met by an old beggar who joins in their lively conversation about the trial. In vivid detail, each story is witnessed on screen as it’s told from the bandit’s, the wife’s and the warlord’s perspectives, all riddled with bias and personal agenda. In the end, the young monk is left to determine what meaning is of true consequence not only in this murder trial, but in choosing to continue on his monastic path.

The Blu-ray presentation is great. The 1080p transfer is very impressive. The colors really pop out and looks very sharp. The action in the film is so well choreographed. The audio option included a Thai DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which really works with the charm of the film and compliments the action sequels very well. The special features are ok but nothing amazing. They include a brief “The Making of a Legendary Story”, “Behind the Scenes” featurette and an International trailer as well.

Actors: Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tang Wei
Directors: Peter Ho-Sun Chan
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

When I see that Donnie Yen is in a movie, I immediately add it to my must-see list! I am a big fan and he delivers yet again in “Dragon”. Yen is backed up with the equally amazing Takeshi Kaneshiro, who is known for his roles in “Red Cliff”, “House of Flying Daggers” and “The Warlords”. The action and fight choreography are very stylized and packs some fun wire-work. There is also a fun detective/Sherlock Holmes aspect to the film as well, which I enjoyed the blend of both genres. If you are looking for a very smart and entertaining flick, then do not miss this film!

Official Premise: Liu Jin-xi (Donnie Yen) is a village craftsman whose quiet life is irrevocably shattered by the arrival of two notorious gangsters in the local general store. When Liu single-handedly saves the shopkeeper’s life, he comes under investigation by detective Xu Bai-jiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro). Convinced that Liu’s martial arts mastery belies a hidden history of training by one of the region’s vicious clans, Xu doggedly pursues the shy hero — and draws the attention of China’s criminal underworld in the process.

Anchor Bay delivered a very sharp Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p is very sharp and works great with the film’s consistent action. There are two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, one for Mandarin and English dub. The obvious choice though is the original language track, as usual. The action is well represented and the dialogue is very clear. The special features are lacking with only two special features included. First up we have “The Making of Dragon” with Donnie Yen, which is a decent look into the production. Lastly, there is a “Lost in Jianghu” music video.

Starring: Jet Li, Shengyi Huang, Raymond Lam
Director: Siu-Tung Ching
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

When I see the name Jet Li, I don’t even think twice.  His martial arts films like “Hero” and “Flying Swords of Dragon Gate” are absolutely breathtaking.  With a title like “The Sorcerer and the White Snake” it also sounds like it will be a blast but I was left really disappointed.  I don’t think I would ever say this but there is a thing as too much CGI.  The film really relies on this too much and less on the story, which makes it feel very repetitive and boring.  Don’t get me wrong now since the fight choreography is quite visually amazing but it can’t save this otherwise dull film.

Official Premise: Jet Li stars as a sorcerer monk in this epic special effects fantasy film based on the Chinese legend, “Madame White Snake,”. The story centers around a man who falls in love with a thousand-year-old white snake disguised as a woman. Discovering the white snake’s true identity, the sorcerer goes to battle believing that in so doing, he is restoring balance and order between man and the supernatural.

The Blu-ray presentation from Magnolia is good but lacking some depth. The film was originally presented in 3D and this Blu-ray release does not include the 3D version of the film.  I do not think this would have made me LOVE the film but I feel that it definitely would have wowed me a bit more.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track comes with both a Mandarin and English track.  I prefer the original language over the dub. Since the film is 75% action and fighting, the audio track does deliver in that department for sure.

The special features give this release a bit hope.  There are two “Behind the Scenes” featurettes.  The first is focused on the “Fighting, Stunts & Laughs” with Jet Li. It focuses on the many fight sequences and stunt work. The second is “Visual Effects and Production Design”, my favorite, takes us through the look and feel of the effects in the film.  The last one is “Beauties and the Beasts”, looks into the various creatures featured. All three together give a nice round look at the production from all the important parts that I would want to learn more about.  Lastly there is a “AXS TV: A Look at The Sorcerer and the White Snake” and a Theatrical Trailer included.

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Starring: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Raquel Castro, Jennifer Lopez, George Carlin
Director: Kevin Smith
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Miramax Echo Bridge
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 110 minutes

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

When it comes to “Jersey Girl”, I think that Kevin Smith was dealt a bad hand.  The film is nowhere near as terrible as everyone said it was. It got some poor press before it came out due to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s relationship, which caused him to cut the film.  Personally, I really enjoyed it and thought it was one of Kevin Smith’s most mature and honest films. It is sweet, heartwarming and yet still very sharp with that Kevin Smith touch. This is the first time that the film is being released on Blu-ray, thanks to Echo Bridge and they did a very impressive job (if you can look past the terrible cover art). And for $5 bucks, it is a no-brainer.

Official Premise: Ollie (Affleck) is a smooth and successful big-city publicist who has the life he’s always wanted—until things take an unexpected turn and he finds himself an unemployed single father back living with his dad in the suburbs. But just when he thinks his life has hit rock bottom, a sexy, no-nonsense video store clerk (Tyler) enters his life and shows Ollie that sometimes you have to forget who you thought you were and acknowledge what really makes you happy.

I have to admit the “Jersey Girl” looks quite stunning with its 1080p transfer in 2.44:1 aspect ratio. The colors are bright and looks very sharp overall. Cool fact about “Jersey Girl” is that it was shot by cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, who is known best for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.  He is not your typical choice for a film like this but you know that it is going to benefit from his talented eye. There are two audio track included on this Blu-ray.  The first is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and and the other a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. The 5.1 track is best option for sure and works best with the music in the film and well-balanced dialogue.

Echo Bridge must be trying something new for 2013 because they are starting to include special features with their releases.  This is a trend after the recent “Hellraiser: Deader” and I hope they continue this! To start we have two audio commentary track with Kevin Smith, Scott Mosier and Jason Mewes, which is a laugh riot.  The other is another commentary with Smith and Ben Affleck, which is even better than the first. “The Making of Jersey Girl” is a decent behind-the-scene look with interviews and footage. “Kevin and Ben Reminisce” is a great interview Smith and Affleck that runs nearly 30 minutes. Lastly, “Roadside Attractions – Orlando, FL” is a feature which hits the road with Smith.

Starring: Kari Wuhrer, Paul Rhys, Doug Bradley
Director: Rick Bota
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Miramax Echo Bridge
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Run Time: 89 minutes

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

When it comes to the “Hellraiser” series, I have always been a fan. The films were not always amazing but still great horror fun. Doug Bradley is amazing in the role of Pinhead. “Hellraiser: Deader” is the seventh film in the series and this is the first time that it has ever been released on Blu-ray, thanks to Echo Bridge. They have also previously released “Hellraiser: Bloodline”, “Hellraiser: Inferno”, “Hellraiser: Hellseeker” and “Hellraiser: Hellworld”, which is the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th films in the series. I am assuming that now that “Deader” has finally be released, that Echo Bridge would be planning another multi-feature Blu-ray with all the films. They also own the rights to the third film “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth”, where is that Blu-ray release? Nonetheless for $5 bucks, this is easily worth the purchase and a fantastic upgrade from your previous Blu-ray. One of the best releases, that I have seen from Echo Bridge in recent months.

Official Premise: Amy Klein (Kari Wuhrer) is a tough-as-nails reporter working for an underground newspaper. But when Amy’s job leads her to a mysterious cult and the evil Pinhead, any moment could be her last. The thrilling villain you love to fear delivers another hellish nightmare you’ll never forget.

Echo Bridge really gave some love to this release. The 1080p transfer looks quite impressive.  The film is very dark itself but it looks clear and the colors are solid.  The DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround soundtrack works very well with the moments of horror.  It also compliments Heinrich Lohner score, who samples the original “Hellraiser” score by Christopher Young. Echo Bridge has also included a DTS-HD MA 2.0  track but I do not see anyone choosing it, since the 5.1 is much better.

There are some great extras included here and are only missing the commentaries tracks and the short film called “No More Souls”, even though it is listed on the box, from the 2005 DVD release. There is a “Behind the Visual Effects”, which is a chat with Visual effects supervisor Jamison Goei.  There are over 25 minutes of Deleted and Extended Scenes. There is a short Gag Reel, which is great just to see Doug Bradley as Pinhead and go out of character. “Location Scouting” is a making-of featurette on how and where the film was shot. “Making of Hellraiser” is another great behind-the-scenes look with director Bota and star Wuhrer. “Practical Effects with Gary Tuncliffe” is a chat into creating Pinhead’s chains. Lastly there are some Storyboard Comparisons ncluded.

Actors: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman
Directors: Don Coscarelli
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Run Time: 99 minutes

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

It has been over ten years since Don Coscarelli graced us with “Bubba Ho-Tep”, which starred Bruce Campbell. I worked on that film as a member of the street team handing out promotional material to assist in getting the word out. Over the years the film has become a very popular and loved cult classic. Don Coscarelli is also the genius behind the amazing “Phantasm” series. “John Dies at the End” is a fantastic comeback for him. It is unique, original and a shit load of fun. When I finished watching this film, I was left saying “WTF, just happened”. But I believe that was the goal of the film and what a pay off it had. I see this film becoming yet another cult classic for Coscarelli and I really hope that he doesn’t wait 10 years again to direct again. Horrorhounds, Do not miss this film!

The film itself is based off David Wong’s novel of the same title. It is genre crossing, focusing on horror but with comedy and also some sci-fi elements thrown in as well. There is no way that you will not leave this film with a smile and immediately wanting another viewing. I wasn’t too familiar with the leads Rob Mayes and Chase Williamson but they are a blast in the film. Also great supporting performances from Clancy Brown, Paul Giamatti and even Angus Scrimm pop in! BOYYYYYYYYYY!!

Official Premise: In “John Dies at the End”, it’s all about the Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John (Rob Mayes) and David (Chase Williamson), a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Adapted from David Wong’s audacious trans-genre horror novel, “John Dies at the End” with screenplay by and directed by Don Coscarelli (“Bubba Ho-Tep”) and also stars Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Paul Giamatti.

For a low-budget film, “John Dies at the End” looks stunning on Blu-ray. The film also feels like it is scaled way higher than its budget.  Don did a great job utilizing some impressive visual effects even including a meat monster.  Yes a meat monster…and he looks amazing in the film, kudos of Robert Kurtzman’s Creature Corps. Along with the fantastic 1080p transfer, this Blu-ray also come with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  It is clear, sharp and works perfectly with Brian Tyler’s (who also composed “Bubba Ho-Tep”) score.

The special features are pretty kick ass as well.  We start off we are fun commentary track with Director Don Coscarelli, Producer Brad Baruh, Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes.  Must listen for all fans of Coscarelli’s work.  There are nine deleted scenes, which were cool but well cut.  ”Getting Sauced: The Making of John Dies at the End” is a behind-the-scenes look at the production.  It is a little too short but me but there is some good footage. “Creature Corps: The Effects of Soy Sauce” is my favorite extras, which looks into the prop and monster design. There are Casting Sessions from the actors auditions. “Fangoria Interview with Paul Giamatti” is a great chat with the actor and his love for the genre.  Lastly there is a trailer included for the film and David Wong’s book “This Book is Full of Spiders”.

Actors: Adam Goldberg, Jay Harrington, Bob Balaban, Sean Lennon, Vanessa Paradis, Danny Huston and Catherine O’Hara
Directors: Bibo Bergeron
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Run Time: 87 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“A Monster in Paris” is beautiful animated film from the director of “Shark Tale”, Bibo Bergeron. The film was a very successful French animated film from 2012. It never given the proper attention it deserves until now, thanks to Shout! Factory. The film also boasts an impressive voice cast including Adam Goldberg, Jay Harrington, Bob Balaban, Sean Lennon, Vanessa Paradis, Danny Huston and Catherine O’Hara. The film is looks quite stunning in 3D and ends up being a fun experience for the whole family. Some of the content is a little higher level for some kids but still should be attracted to the sharp animation and the colorful cast.

Official Premise: Paris, 1910. Panic sweeps the city as floodwaters rise and a monster is on the loose! Meanwhile a wacky inventor, his camera-crazy best friend, and a madcap monkey are on a mission to protect the beast, Franc, as he holds a rare and special talent. With the help of the beautiful but feisty singer Lucille, the team harbors the monster to keep him from the ghastly wannabe Mayor, Commissioner Maynott, who has a plan to capture Franc and reveal him to be nothing more than a monstrous danger to the people of Paris.

Shout! Factory delivered all the goods for this release.  They have the film available as a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + iTunes Digital Copy.  They have all their options covered here for various viewings.  Both the 2D and 3D 1080p transfers are presented in 1.85:1.  The animation and colors for the film look impressive in both transfers.  I preferred the 3D since it really created some impressive depth and there is just something about animation always looking better to be in the third dimension. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers the goods and some impressive music, which was also co-written by Vanessa Paradis. The most disappointing aspect of the release is the special features since there is only a trailer included.

Actors: Eva Gerretsen, Raymond Mvula
Directors: Jordi Llompart
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: April 23, 2013
Run Time: 49 minutes

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

Every year when Earth Day comes around, I always find myself in the mood to watch documentary films like “Magic Journey to Africa”. I never had the privilege of seeing this film in theaters, where it was made for giant-screen format theaters and presented in 3D. Unfortunately, The Blu-ray does not included the 3D transfer of the film. You can tell that this film was shot with that added depth and feels like it is lacking that magic on this Blu-ray release. Nonetheless, it is still fun for the whole family to enjoy, it runs less than an hour so you might want to consider that as well.

Official Premise: A magical and extraordinary world opens before your eyes in this dazzling giant-screen spectacle. On the wings of imagination, an adventure-loving young girl finds herself exploring the mysteries and amazing wildlife of untamed Africa! Spectacular aerial photography captures lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and a multitude of strange and magnificent animals. The breathtaking landscape pulses with life – the lush rainforests, untouched coastline, ancient red sand dunes and even the culture of a remote native village. A fantastic journey awaits your whole family in a place like no other, a place where dreams and magic come alive.

Image delivered the Blu-ray release in 2D only but it still packs a very sharp 1080p transfer   I sure that this would have looked amazing on the big screen since it was film in that format but still very impressive for a Blu-ray. The audio included is a very nice DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  When it comes to these nature documentaries, the score is always very important to drive the story and it succeeds here.  In terms of special features, there are three  making of documentaries with bonus behind-the-scenes footage and trailers included. It may not be a lot but it is still quite impressive in terms of quality.

Number of discs: 4
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: April 2, 2013
Run Time: 440 minutes

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

I may not be the most religious man in the world. I grew up going to church and catholic school, so I know the stories of The Bible quite well. There has been many history specials on these stories but never in the scale of this. The new epic mini-series is produced by Mark Burnett (“The Voice”, “Survivor”) and, his wife, Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”). If you watched the show on The History Channel, this is worth revisiting since this Blu-ray for an exclusive an all-new cut  featuring more stories than was show on television.

This mini-series is narrated by Emmy winning actor Keith David (“They Live”, “Cloud Atlas”) and features a fantastic international cast including Portuguese actor, Diogo Morgado as Jesus Christ and Roma Downey as Mother Mary. The score of the mini-series also features sound beautiful score from Oscar and Grammy winning composer Hans Zimmer, who reunited with acclaimed vocalist Lisa Gerrard for the first time since “Gladiator”. The score blends perfectly with the breathtaking visuals created for the mini-series. The performances are very impressive and the production value on the series really is on a high-scale and packed with some amazing visual effects.

Official Premise: From Executive Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett comes The Bible — an epic 10-part miniseries retelling stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, The Bible features powerful performances, exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis through Revelation. This historic television event is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.

“The Bible” really looks stunning on Blu-ray. When I first watched this on television, I knew that this was a show that had a lot of production put into it. Whether it is the set locations, visual effects or costumes, this show did not take the cheap route. The 1080p transfers are near-flawless and represent the action and the epic quality of the series quite well. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track also delivers. From every sword fight to thunder strike to battle scene they each sound absolutely amazing.

The special features are quite amazing for this mini-series. First off we have “The Bible: Creation” is a very in-depth three-part making of series. “Creation I: The Vision, The Look” is a behind-the-scenes look into the locations, production overall and costume design. “Creation II: Production Stories” is a cast/crew recollection of unique events that occurred throughout the production. “Creation III: Crucified & Resurrected” looks into the making of these emotional scenes.

“The Bible: Genesis” is a chat with with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey about how they prepared to film the stories of the Bible. “The Cast of The Bible” is again with Mark and Roma as they talk about the actors used for the mini-series. “Scoring The Bible” takes us into the score with composer Hans Zimmer and award-winning soloist Lisa Gerrard. “Believing in Miracles” feature cast and crew reliving moments that occured during filming. Lastly, “The Bible: Visual Effects” is a montage clip of all the amazing scenes created for the series.

Actors: Carol Kane, Charles Durning, Colleen Dewhurst, Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford
Directors: Fred Walton, J. Lee Thompson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 208 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to late 70’s / early 80’s horror, this is a period of horror films that will always be held special. This double feature comes with two classic horror flicks “When a Stranger Calls (1979)” and Happy Birthday to Me (1981)” that I grew up watch (without my parents permission, sorry guys). These films are fun and represent that classic period of horror to the T. There was some worry with this release since “Happy Birthday To Me” is used the artwork for it’s 2004 release, which used a terrible disco score for the film. But rejoice since the original score is included for this release and it sounds great! Horror fans this release should be an instant purchase, especially for less than $10 bucks for both films.

“When a Stranger Calls” Official Premise: A terrified young baby-sitter…an incessantly ringing phone…and whispered threats set the stage for one of the most suspenseful thrillers ever filmed. Carol Kane stars as the baby-sitter who is tormented by a series of ominous phone calls until a compulsive cop (Charles Durning) is brought on the scene to apprehend the psychotic killer. Seven years later, however, the nightmare begins again when the madman returns to mercilessly haunt Kane, now a wife and mother. No longer a naive girl, though still terrified, but prepared, she moves boldly to thwart the maniac s attack in scenes that culminate in a nerve shattering conclusion.

“Happy Birthday To Me” Official Premise: Get ready for a taut mystery-shocker that will keep you at your wit s end and at the edge of your seat. Popular high school senior Virginia Wainwright (Melissa Sue Anderson) survives a freak accident, but suffers from memory loss and traumatic blackouts. As she attempts to resume a normal life, something terrible is happening – her friends are ruthlessly murdered one-by-one. Will she be the next victim or is she the killer? The terrifying truth is finally uncovered at Virginia s 18th birthday party and you re invited!

Both “When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me” look amazing on Blu-ray, especially for films that are over 30 years old. The transfer are sharp and clear. “When a Stranger Calls” is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, while “Happy Birthday to Me” comes with an 1.78:1 aspect ratio. In the audio department, “When a Stranger Calls” comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which delivers for the film itself. Surprisingly, “Happy Birthday to Me” comes with an amped up DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, trying to apologize to its fans of the past release with the terrible disco scores. No additional special features are included on this release.

Actors: Steven Seagal, Lisa Lovbrand, David Kennedy, Danny Webb, Matthew Davis
Directors: Michael Keusch, mink
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 192 minutes

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Steve Seagal, I am always first in line. His films in the last 10 years haven’t been groundbreaking but I still dig them.  These films included in this double feature, “Attack Force” and “Into the Sun”, are nothing unique and far from his best films to date but I still have enjoyed them when they were released. After Seagal had a brief comeback with “Exit Wounds” and “Half Past Dead“, aka his “rapper phase”, his films have since been solely heading right to DVD. These films are no different and if you are a fan of Seagal you know that they fun and entertaining….if they were presented well.  This release has way too many issues and I wouldn’t recommend it at.  Even if you are an insane hardcore Seagal fan, be prepared to be letdown.

“Attack the Sun” Official Premise: Steven Seagal is back in this high-octane, action thriller! When Marshall Lawson (Seagal) loses his striketeam in a cold-blooded and seemingly random attack, he takes it upon himself to investigate the suspicious circumstances of the brutal killings. Soon he uncovers CTX Majestic, a covert military operation so secret, that now the military wants Marshall eliminated. Resolute in his pursuit, Marshall engages in a merciless battle with a drug dealer operation that appears to be secretly funded by a rogue arm of the military.

“Into The Sun” Official Premise: Action superstar Steven Seagal is back in this nonstop thrill ride! When the governor of Tokyo is murdered, it falls on ex-CIA agent Travis Hunter (Seagal) to track down the responsible terrorists. However, the plot to kill the Governor is only the beginning of a web of corruption and violence. Hunter discovers a plan by a rising Yakuza leader to build an enormous drug-dealing network with the Chinese Mafia. With time running out and the Yakuza determined to see their plan through, Hunter must thwart the operation and get out alive.

The 1080p transfers on both “Attack Force” and “Into the Sun” looks good and both films have a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, but that is not where the problem lies. “Attack of the Sun” has issues with dialogue syncing and looks like a bad “Godzilla” movie. I am not sure why this wasn’t addressed before distributing.  It makes the film very hard to watch unless it is just background noise.  But that isn’t even the worst of it, most of “Into the Sun” is in various different languages, mostly Japanese I believe, and get this…there are no regular subtitles for the non-English languages.  So you miss most of what is being said.  Now given there is an English SDH track but then you have to even watch the English dialogue subs…and badly subbed to boot. There are no special features included either for this release. Although it is available at less than $10 bucks, this is a solid pass!

Actors: Elisabeth Shue, Kevin Bacon, Josh Brolin, Greg Grunberg, Peter Facinelli, Laura Regan, Christian Slater
Directors: Paul Verhoeven, Claudio Fäh
Rated: Unrated / R
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 210 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When I think about Paul Verhoeven, I immediately think about the brilliant work he has done with “Robocop”, “Starship Troopers” and “Total Recall”, hell, even “Showgirls”…but I don’t really think about “Hollow Man”. The film was a see once and then forget about. Watching the film about on Blu-ray gave it a bit of new life. There are parts that I really liked and some I didn’t but overall it is a pretty good film. “Hollow Man 2” is exactly what you expect it would be. It is a lower budgeted direct-to-video film. It doesn’t reach half the standards of the first film due to time and budget but still entertains. Both of these films together on one Blu-ray seems like a no brainer, especially when it is less than $10 bucks. Can’t go wrong.

“Hollow Man” Official Premise: What would you do if you were invisible? How far would you go? After years of experimentation, Dr. Sebastian Caine, a brilliant but arrogant and egotistical scientist working for the Defense Department, has successfully transformed mammals to an invisible state and brought them back to their original physical form. Determined to achieve the ultimate breakthrough, Caine instructs his team to move on to Phase III: human experimentation. Using himself as the first subject, the invisible Caine finds himself free to do the unthinkable.

“Hollow Man 2” Official Premise: Christian Slater stars in the action-packed sequel to the box office hit Hollow Man as a volunteer soldier/assassin who goes mad after he turns invisible. A driven Seattle detective and the molecular biologist he s been assigned to protect, find themselves on the run from an undetectable solider gone rogue as he destroys everything in his path in order to find the serum to save his life and punish the unscrupulous scientists and agents of the government responsible for this creation.

Mill Creek delivered impressive audio and video and both films, even being compressed on one Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer for “Hollow Man” is sharp and clear, as was Sony’s 2007 Blu-ray. The audio is slightly different yet still very effective, boasting a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track. The action and the score sound great. “Hollow Man 2” has that direct-to-video feel but still looks decent with its 1080p. Same goes for the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, which works well but doesn’t have the same suspense the first film did, also the score is not comparable. There are no special features on this release but at least “Hollow Man” comes with the director’s cut of the film. If you couldn’t care less about the sequel and want some extras you could always pick up the original “Hollow Man” Blu-ray from 2007, which still holds up.

Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam
Directors: John Rich, Robert Butler, Sheldon Leonard
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 750 minutes

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

There is just something about classic 60’s television. I actually miss it quite a bit. Today when you turn on the television it is all reality TV shows and trash. I really love escaping into the world when in order to be on television you needed to have talent. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore are two of the funniest people in the business. Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam are also fantastic compliments to the two leads. The humor is very funny and clean family fun. It is also very timeless. It has been over 50 years since this show aired and I still laugh out loud many times during each episode. Image Entertainment is the leader of bringing these great shows to Blu-ray with great shows like “The Twilight Zone”. This is not the first rodeo on Blu-ray for “The Dick Van Dyke Show”. Image released the complete series last year. This is the first time though that the individual seasons are being released. If you are a fan of this show this release is a must have! Relive the classics again!

Official Premise: Trip into the living room of comedy writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) along with his lovely wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), wisecracking co-workers and nutty neighbors. Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, this groundbreaking series is consistently ranked among the top TV comedies of all-time and renowned for its top-notch cast and stellar writing. Now enjoy the first season’s entire 30 episodes (air 1961-1962), each digitally remastered to its original full-length version. Get ready to laugh out loud with such classics as Rob and Laura balancing a career-building cocktail party with caring for a sickly son in the series’ first episode, The Sick Boy and the Sitter; then in My Blonde-Haired Brunette and insecure Laura disastrously dyes her hair; and Rob’s shy brother (Jerry Van Dyke) is a sleepwalking Jekyll and Hyde in the hilarious two-parter I am My Brother’s Keeper/The Sleeping Brother.

Image Entertainment does nothing of short of delivering “The Dick Van Dyke Show” looking better than it ever has on Blu-ray. The 1960’s black-and-white television show looks honestly stunning on high definition. For the Blu-ray, Image delivered each episode’s 1080p transfer with new scans from the camera negatives. You can tell that there is a lot of love for a show like this. Also for a show that is over 50 years old, you could have easily fooled me. There is no issue at all with the DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track. The show doesn’t really need much in order for it to succeed well. The track is perfect for the show’s dialogue, the music and laugh-track.

The special features are very impressive for this release (and mirror last year’s complete series release). There is audio commentaries track with Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on the following episodes 19: “Where Did I Come From?” and episode 29: “The Sleeping Brother”. I love the chemistry between both of these guys and they are a riot. I would have loved to see them cover each episode but that is not practical. There is the Original Series Pilot Episode, “Head of the Family”, which is a riot. There are interviews with various members of the cast and directors from the show. There are Emmy Award Telecast Clips Honoring “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and also Original Commercials with the Cast and Network Promos. Lastly there are Photo Galleries for the 16 out of the 30 episodes. Can’t wait for the the rest of the seasons being released. Keep them coming Image Entertainment!

Actors: Bridget Hoffman, Wayne Akers, Stephen Apostolina, Heather Ashton, Michaline Babich
Directors: Ryutaro Nakamura
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: November 27, 2012
Run Time: 325 minutes

Series: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Close the World. Open the Next”

I have to admit, I am a bad anime fan.  I have not heard of “Serial Experiments: Lain” until recently. The series originally aired in 1998 from acclaimed artist Yoshitoshi ABe. This very existential series has been said to pave the way for films like “The Matrix”. The word “existential” barely even describes this show show since it is one hell of a trip.  If you are looking for a light watching material for an afternoon, this is definitely not it.  It is a slow, deep and very intense series. I enjoyed it as a whole because I was able to marathon the whole series in one sitting.  I think that if I had to watch this episode by episode over time, I wouldn’t be as optimistic. Overall, this isn’t my favorite anime series of all time but I did like the futuristic and almost sci-fi feel of it.

Official Premise: Follow along as fourteen year old Lain driven by the abrupt suicide of a classmate logs on to the Wired and promptly looses herself in a twisted mass of hallucinations, memories, and interconnected-psyches. The episodes are setup as “Layers”.  There are 13 layers to this series including “Weird”, “Girls”, “Psyche”, “Religion”, “Distortion”, “Kids”, “Society”, “Rumors”, “Protocol”, “Love”, “Infornography”, “Landscape” and “Ego”.

Serial Experiments: Lain is finally available on Blu-ray, thanks to Funimation. No need to  shell out major bucks anymore for the Japanese import. There have been some complaints of banding issues with this release but I thought that the 1080p transfers look fantastic. The colors are very sharp and the animation still holds up in high-def despite being 15 years old.  There are two audio tracks includes for “Serial Experiments: Lain”. There is an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track for the original Japanese track and English dub as well. I have to say that the English track definitely impresses the most.  It is well-cast and sounds stronger than the Japanese track, which is a rare case for anime.

“Serial Experiments: Lain – Complete Series” is being released as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. This limited edition release comes in slipcase with a case for the Blu-ray discs and a case for the DVDs. In terms of watchable special features, they are disappointing but luckily there is additional readable extras included. The special features only include a brief Promo Video, Original Commercial, U.S. Trailer and Textless Opening and Closing Songs.  The reason why the extras are worth the purchase is due to the additional booklet included with episode commentaries between Saito and Ueda, as well as emails from Saito.  The star of the release though is easily the larger book called “Inside Serial Experiements: Lain Artbook.  This contains tons of sketches and animation details for the show.

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