Actors: Matthew Macfadyen, Jerome Flynn, Adam Rothenberg, Amanda Hale, MyAnna Buring
Directors: Andy Wilson
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 480 minutes

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

When I saw the trailer for “Ripper Street” on BBC America, I was immediately hooked.  A crime drama based around the killings of Jack the Ripper…where do I sign up?  This new series includes eight episodes which are each more incredibly gripping than the last. The show also boasts a very sharp cast including Matthew Macfadyen (“Anna Karenina”), Jerome Flynn (“Game of Thrones”), Adam Rothenberg (“Alcatraz”) and MyAnna Buring (“Downton Abbey”, “The Twilight Saga”).  The series is very character driven. This works perfectly since from the very first episode, you really find yourself loving this cast. I wish the series was longer, but at least we have something to look forward to since the series was already renewed. BBC American is bringing this show back in early 2014 with another eight episode series. Count me in! Until then be sure to pick this up and play catch-up with this.

Official Premise: BBC America’s compelling crime drama Ripper Street set in the seething backstreets of Victorian London comes to Blu-ray! Haunted by the failure to catch London’s most evil killer Jack the Ripper Inspector Edmund Reid now heads up the notorious H Division – the toughest police district in the East End. Charged with keeping order in the blood-stained streets of Whitechapel Reid and his men find themselves fighting to uphold justice and the rule of law; but always in the background lurks the fear of the Ripper is he back for another reign of terror? Rich episodic storylines meld with the intrigue of a criminal underworld festering on the hard streets of Victorian London following the battle of the men whose job it is to bring the law to the lawless

The Blu-ray presentation is decent but nothing special.  The episodes are presented in 1080i, which still looks sharp but could have been given the little extra effort that was required to make it a full HD Blu-ray. Same goes for the audio, which is an DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 surround track.  This works well with the show, since it is very dialogue driven.  Also the score is blended nicely here as well. I just would have like to seen them go the extra step to upgrade to the 5.1 track. The special features are decent as well for this release, though no commentary tracks.  There are three “Inside Looks” from the cast and production team. “London Calling: Whitechapel” is a tour of the Dublin, Ireland transformed into London’s East End during 1889. “Jack the Ripper: Prime Suspect” is a look into modern forensic science and its part in solving the case of Jack the Ripper.  Lastly there are some character profiles included.

Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Toni Collette, Danny Huston
Directors: Sacha Gervasi
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

When I first saw Anthony Hopkins in make-up for the role of Alfred Hitchcock, I was blown away.  Kudos to my buddy Greg Nicotero and his team at KNB EFX on that wonderful make-up job (snubbed for the Oscars BTW).  I have always been a fan of the mysteriousness of Alfred Hitchcock.  “Psycho” is one of my favorite films of all-time.  I was thrilled to see the story behind the making of it. I know this film may not be 100% correct with the facts but it is very entertaining and packs some very impressive cast performances. The film is well-paced running just over 90 minutes but I was literally enjoying every second of it.  I loved Helen Mirren in it and in fact, Media Mikes awarded her with our Best Actress of 2012 award.  All around witty, interesting and just fun to be had here. Recommend to check this out.

Official Premise: Oscar® winners Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren* are spellbinding in this provocative story about the making of one of cinema’s most iconic films. Plagued by both a reckless ego and nagging self-doubt, Hollywood legend Alfred Hitchcock (Hopkins) becomes obsessed with a grisly murder story that the studios won’t back. Determined, he risks his reputation, his home and even the love of his wife Alma (Mirren), as he sets out to make the film. Ultimately, Hitch wins Alma over, and the two collaborate to create an enduring masterpiece – Psycho.

Fox is delivering this released as a combo pack with the Blu-ray disc, a DVD disc and also a digital copy of the film. The 1080p transfer for the Blu-ray looks great.  There are no noticeable flaws or issues that I was able to pick out. The colors are sharp and the picture quality is super clear. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is also fantastic.  It works perfectly with the dialogue, which this film is quite driven by. It also works great with Danny Elfman’s score for the film.  Danny delivers a fun and very unique score, which is much different that we are used to for him.

The special features are very impressive for this release and come jam-packed.  First, there is a feature “Becoming the Master: From Hopkins to Hitchcock”, which showcased the transforming of Hopkins into character. “Obsessed with Hitchcock” and “Remembering Hitchcock” look into the phenomon behind the man. “Sacha Gervasi’s Behind the Scenes Cell Phone Footage” is fun to watch but remember it was shot on a cell phone. Speaking of cellphones’ “Hitchcock Cell Phone PSA” is included which aired in theaters prior to the films release. Next, there are three featurettes focusing on the the film’s story, the cast and the score with “Danny Elfman Maestro”, all three are great.  There is also a piece of “Hitch and Alma” from the film, as well as a deleted scene included.  Almost forgot that there is a decent audio commentary track with director Sacha Gervasi and Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”, which is information packed.  Wrapping up these extras is a theatrical trailer.

Actors: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott
Directors: Peter Jackson
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: New Line Home Video
DVD Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 169 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” series.  They are easily some of my favorite films that if I see them on, I just lost a day since I can’t not watch them. “The Hobbit” was also quite amazing and one of my favorites from 2012.  There has been much speculation on whether it is up to par with the film’s that it follows and I believe that it is.  “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the beginning of another trilogy with Peter Jackson behind all three.  This film is followed by “The Desolation of Smaug” and “There and Back Again”, which will be in theaters respectively in 2013 and 2014. So basically if you know J. R. R. Tolkien’s 1937 novel, which only runs just over 300 pages, that their is a little bit of embellishment here in order to span three films.  I like to look at “The Hobbit” as a way to lure us about to Middle Earth and get you ready for the following three films.  Is it as good as “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy…no, but did you really expect it to? Don’t forget what the power of a film earning a BILLION dollars will do! Stand alone, this is an amazing well-made film and I will be first in line for the next two and fingers crossed for an Extended Edition release in the future.  Be sure pick up this this first installment and begin your Hobbit collection! Keep ’em coming Peter Jackson!

Official Premise: The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

This edition from Warner’s comes as a Blu-ray combo pack with a Blu-ray disc, a DVD copy and also an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. When this film was released, there was a lot of focus on the 3D, since it was the first film to be released theatrically in the new 48FPS 3D (double the projection speed of regular 3D).  I had the privilege of seeing this film in 3D and I have to say it is really the way to go if you have the option.  Peter Jackson really sets up the Middle Earth to look amazing in the third dimension. Easily add a half a star to the film’s rating for the 3D added in. Nonetheless, the 2D version still works, it is just missing the added depth. I have to say Warner still delivers easily one of the best Blu-rays of the year in terms of audio/video.  The 1080p is stunning and absolutely crystal clear.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track is a real beast.  Get ready to write that apology letter to you neighbors since this shit is going to break the windows and shake the walls.  The action and score are perfectly balanced and will blow your speakers if you are not careful.  You have been warned.

Now on to the special features, which are very disappointing for a release of this stature. There majority of these extras aren’t even new since they have been available online. I am assuming that they are either holding out for the extended edition or the inevitable trilogy collection.  “ew Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth” is a short look with Peter Jackson and the production crew of New Zealand being turned back into Middle Earth. Next is ten “Video Blogs” from Jackson that were available previously that were made to tease us during the production. They run about an collective two hours and are very fun and informative still but as the only main extra included, I am a big taken back. Here is a breakdown of the blogs “Start of Production (April 14, 2011)”, “Location Scouting (July 9, 2011)”, “Shooting Block One (July 21, 2011)”, “Filming in 3D (November 4, 2011)”, “Locations Part I (December 24, 2011)”, “Locations Part II (March 2, 2012)”, “Stone St. Studios Tour (June 6, 2012)”, “Wrap of Principal Photography (July 24, 2012)”, “Post-Production Overview (November 24, 2012)” and “Wellington World Premiere (December 14, 2012)”. There are also a few film and game trailers included as well. Lastly there is a sneak peak access code included for an exclusive online sneak peek at “The Desolation of Smaug”, hosted live by Peter Jackson on March 24th at 3pm EST/12pm PST.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey available on Blu-Ray 3/19/13 at WB Shop http://bit.ly/WzQwcw

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Actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Jeremy Suarez, Jason Raize, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 85 minutes

Brother Bear: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Brother Bear II: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “Brother Bear” in the theaters, I first thought that Disney was slipping quite a bit with their animated films but since it has grown on it. “Brother Bear” is not a perfect film and in fact is one of the last classically animated film from Disney. The film delivered a great message and has quite a bit of heart. The animation still holds up, especially on Blu-ray. The voice cast includes an interesting choice of Joaquin Phoenix and Rick Mornais, in one of his last film roles. So since this film is a two movie collection, we also have the direct-to-video sequel “Brother Bear 2” included. This film screams direct-to-video and really should be considered as a bonus feature here for this release. “Brother Bear” is a the real draw here though and worth the purchase or upgrade alone.

Official Premise: Disney proudly presents two heartwarming and hilarious movies in one incredible collection – Brother Bear, the 2003 Academy Award nominee for best animated feature, and Brother Bear 2 – together for the first time on Blu-ray. Bring home an entire forest full of fun, complete with digitally restored high definition picture and sound. After an impulsive boy named Kenai is magically transformed into a bear, he and his little brother bear, Koda, take a courageous (and often hilarious) journey to see the Northern Lights. Experience the excitement of these two fantastic films like never before on Disney Blu-ray!

Even though these films aren’t Disney classics per se, they are still decent film and look amazing on Blu-ray. “Brother Bear” looks stunning with its 1080p transfer presented with its aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with black bars at the top and bottom. The colors are beautiful, sharp and really pop off the screen. Believe it or not “Brother Bear 2” is also very impressive as well. Even though it is direct-to-video quality Disney cleaned this film up for this Blu-ray quite well. Next up is the audio, “Brother Bear” delivers a great DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works well with the action, the dialogue, the score and of course Phil Collins’ songs. Again “Brother Bear 2” also delivers with it’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. For what it is worth, the track works with what what the film has going for it.

Next up are the special features, which are just ports of previous DVD releases. They are decent but in terms of taking the extra effort, it is a letdown. “Brother Bear” starts off with an audio commentary track with the film’s characters Rutt and Tuke (voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas), the film’s Canadian Moose duo. If you are a die-hard fan, I highly recommend this as it is a riot. “Paths of Discovery: The Making of Brother Bear” is a four-part documentary focusing on the cast, story, production and score. There are three deleted scenes with an introduction from directors Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker, as well an Never-Before-Heard Song (except on the last DVD release) called “Fishing Song”. “Art Review” takes us with Art director Robh Ruppel and supervising animator Byron Howard as they discuss…art from the film.

“Bear Legends” is a very short series of Native American tales. There is the song “Transformation” with its original Phil Collins lyrics, as well as a Sing-Along Song for “On My Way” and a Music Video for “Look Through My Eyes” by Phil Collins. “Koda’s Outtakes” are in character and are quite funny, taking a page from “Toy Story”. “Making Noise: The Art of Foley” is a non-technical look at sound design for kids. Wondering about “Brother Bear 2” extras? The only extra is “Behind the Music” with Producers Jim Ballantine and Susan Kirch, director Ben Gluck and others talking about the films tunes.

“Brother Bear” is not the only animation classic being released on high-def Blu-ray. March 12th will also bring the release of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1 & 2″, “Mulan 1 & 2″ and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Of course like Disney is smart to release their films like that ”Mulan”, ”Brother Bear” and “Hunchback” with their direct-to-video sequels because otherwise I do not think that anyone would be interested in owning them. So I look at these direct-to-video sequels as a bonus feature really. I am not sure how “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” fits into this trend but that is one release that I am highly anticipating.

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Actors: Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd, David Lander, Wayne Allwine
Directors: Robert Zemeckis
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 104 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Wow, 25 years already? I remember watching this film as a kid over and over and over. Now here we are 25 years later and I am watching it with my own daughter. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is such an amazing film.  It really brings you back to the day before everything was all CGI and perfect.  The film definitely has it flaws since it is very ambitious blending animation with live-action.  This is before the days of “The Smurfs” or “Garfield”.  This took some real talent people to make this film work…and still work today. Disney did a pretty good job restoring this film for Blu-ray, but this lacks any effort in the extras department.  I thought it was missing a certain magic touch but still looks and sounds amazing and much better than I ever remembered, but Blu-ray today comes with high standards. If you are a fan of this film like myself you will enjoy this high-def upgrade. I recommend checking this out for sure.

Official Synopsis: On Blu-ray for the first time ever, this digitally remastered edition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit practically jumps off the screen with its brilliant picture, rich sound – and dangerous curves. It’s 1947 Hollywood, and Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), a down-on-his-luck detective, is hired to find proof that Marvin Acme, gag factory mogul and owner of Toontown, is playing hanky-panky with femme fatale Jessica Rabbit, wife of Maroon Cartoon superstar, Roger Rabbit. When Acme is found murdered, all fingers point to Roger, who begs the Toon-hating Valiant to find the real evildoer. Complete with hours of bonus features – including three digitally restored Roger Rabbit shorts, this multi Oscar winner (best film editing, best sound effects editing, best visual effects, special achievement in animation direction, 1988) is pure magic in hi-def Blu-ray.

I am not sure what I really expect with the Blu-ray’s 1080p transfer, I think I was expecting it to really pop more.  I really enjoyed watching it but I kept kind of sighing through certain scenes that still felt a little rough.  I will give it a little slack since the film is 25 years old. This new digital remaster still delivers a nice presentation. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is quite impressive. You will be holding your ears for all of Roger’s screams and the constant toon-action. The dialogue is clear and the score flows quite well. Both the audio and video are major upgrades from the last DVD release.  The release comes in a combo pack also, so we can both a Blu-ray disc and a DVD of the film.

The special features are a decent but not really 25th anniversary material.  There is nothing new for this release just ports from the last DVD release. The only semi-upgrade is that “The Roger Rabbit Shorts” – “Tummy Trouble,” “Roller Coaster Rabbit” and “Trail Mix-Up” have been digitally restored and presented in high definition.  The rest of the ported special features are an audio commentary track from Director Robert Zemeckis, producer Frank Marshall, associate producer Steve Starkey, visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston and co-writers Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, which still holds up but I would have loved to see something new.  There is also two featurettes on the production, only in SD, “Who Made Roger Rabbit” and “Behind the Ears”, both worth checking out and have some good behind-the-scenes footage. There is one deleted scenes called “Pig Head Sequence,” with an introduction by the filmmakers. Then we have “Before and After”, which compare raw production footage with final live-action/animation shots. “Toon Stand-Ins” is a short feature on the rubber models used for stand-ins and “On Set!” which is a fly-on-the-wall look at the shoot. Good extras like I said but lacking the anniversary quality.

Actors: Dallas Roberts, Alison Eastwood and Anne Dudek
Director: Matthew Arnold
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

Anything that boasts that it is from the producer of “The Devil’s Rejects” and “Capote” draws my interest. What a combination! This supernatural thriller is based on true events and that makes it much more interesting. The focus of the film is on SUNDS, which is the belief behind that your mind can actually kill the body through false belief. Is that crazy or what? Right off the bat, count me in! Dallas Roberts really delivers a great performance. You might know him recently from his role of Milton in season three of “The Walking Dead”. My main issue with the film was the blend of archival footage and actual interview, which takes away from the thrill. Get over that and genre fans should enjoy this quite a bit!

Official Premise: “Shadow People” is based on a true story about small town radio personality Charlie Crowe (Roberts) who unravels a conspiracy about encounters with mysterious beings. These “Shadow People” were the cause of hundreds of unexplained deaths. He encounters CDC Epidemic Intelligence Agent Sophie Lancombe (Eastwood), whose investigations entwine her with Charlie’s own discoveries leading them both into a dark world and a decades old cover-up.

What I liked about this film is that it actually used real historical evidence about SUNDS and the phenomenon of an inverse placebo effect. It is really an interesting topic and is blending with archival footage and actual interviews from people involved with the story that the film is based on. The Blu-ray looks very nice with its 1080p transfer and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well to create the suspense and a few good jumps. Unfortunately the Blu-ray does not have any special features included, which is a shame. I would have loved to seen more focus on the behind-the-scenes and many a special or two on the actual events and on SUNDS itself.  Oh well, at least we have Google for those looking for more.

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Actors: Kris Lemche, Joe Egender, Timothy V. Murphy, Eric Zuckerman
Directors: Andrew Weiner
Rated: Unrated
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 87 minutes

Film: 1 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When I read “From the makers of The Last Exorcism”, I was interested and yet also hesitant. I liked “The Last Exorcism” but didn’t really love it.  I love the topic of Frankenstein though and I  was loving the idea of a “Blair Witch”/found footage twist on the classic Mary Shelley’s story.  This film though took away 90 minutes of my life that I will never get back.. I couldn’t help relate this back to “The Troll Hunter” with a group of people heading to a strange place to try and find the mystery character. Except “The Troll Hunter” was ace and had some amazing visual effects and delivers some great scares.  The only payoff in “The Frankenstein Theory” is on the box cover.  The rest is waiting 90 minutes and being let down.  I would steer clear of this film by all means and don’t get tricked by its flashy/lenticular box.

The premise for this film is pretty interesting. What if the most chilling novel of all time was actually based on a true account of a horrific experiment gone awry? Professor John Venkenheim takes a documentary film crew to the Arctic Circle in order to prove the theory.  Of course things go array and pretty much nothing happens until the last 5 minutes. The film tries it best to be another “Blair Witch” meets “Jaws” with them hunting down the beast (who almost is not even seen, except on the box cover). They have many moments of “What was that sound?” and they even have a Quint-like U.S.S Indianapolis speech from “Jaws”, which I was laughing at loud at.  There are virtual no scares at all and the ending is actually makes the film even worse since it delivers zero payoff. On top of the terrible film, there is also zero special features included…not even a trailer. Do yourself a favor skip this and rent “The Troll Hunter”, which is basically the same movie for 100% better.

Actors: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, Hugh Jackman
Directors: Peter Ramsey
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: DreamWorks Animation
DVD Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

“Rise of the Guardians” is based on author William Joyce’s the “Guardians of Childhood” book series, read our interview with him here. The film was released in theaters and really got a bad rep. I think people don’t really understand why this film wasn’t the biggest animated film of the year. It came out with no competition but luckily it had some great legs nonetheless. I personally wasn’t thrilled the first time I saw it. I liked it but wasn’t blown away…that is because I did not see it in 3D. Wow, what a difference. This film really gets its wings with the addition of the third dimension. It also really has grown on my since. My 9-month also daughter also seems to really like it (not in 3D though, since the glasses don’t fit). But she goes crazy over this gorgeously animated film. If you like Dreamworks other titles like “How to Train Your Dragon”, this isn’t on par for story but production and quality it is.  I would recommend checking this out for sure, especially in 3D if possible.

Official Premise: When an evil spirit known as Pitch Black (Jude Law), the reviled Bogeyman, lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians — Santa Claus (Alec Baldwin), the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), the Sandman and spirit of winter Jack Frost (Chris Pine) — must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imaginations of children all over the world.

Since their success with “Shrek”, one of the great things that Dreamworks has really delivered consistenly with their animated films is amazing voice casts.  This film really boasts a very fun and colorful cast of actors including Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Isla Fisher, Hugh Jackman.  Alec Baldwin is a blast playing good ‘ole Saint Nick.  Jude Law is a fantastic baddie voicing the Bogeyman. Speaking of sound, Dreamworks really delivered one heck of a fantastic Blu-ray presentation here. The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track is a think of beauty.  The film represented so well here with this track, especially the action scenes, which there are quite a few of.  It delivers the dialogue from the voice cast perfectly as well.  I really had to keep adjusting my 7.1 surround sound speakers so that it didn’t rumble my frames off the walls.  The 1080p transfer is also another gem of this release.  The 3D really adds so much wonderful depth to the film. The colors are so prominent and sharp that they literally jump off the screen. If you don’t have 3D Blu-ray, this release also comes with a standard Blu-ray, a DVD and a Ultraviolet Digital Copy. I have to say easily a 5/5 score just for the audio/video on this release.

The special features just continue on the successful path for delivers an impressive Blu-ray release. First off we have a don’t miss – audio commentary track including the director Peter Ramsey and producers Christina Steinberg and Nancy Bernstein.  It gives tons of information about this giant production and is very entertaining. “Behind the Magic” is a great four part feature series to explore the filmmakers’ journey with the look, characters, effects and music, including “Dreaming Up the Look”, “Naughty & Nice: Designing Memorable Characters”, “Enchanting Effects” and “Creating an Epic Score”.  All of these factors are such a part of this film being a success.  “The Man Behind the Guardians” is a feature on the author William Joyce and how his novel is brought to life. “Dreamers and Believers” looks into the the characters of the film with the cast and crew. “Sandy’s Dream Guide” is an interactive guide to interpret your dreams. Lastly there are two additional interactive games that are exclusive to the Blu-ray,  The first is called “Jack Frost Snowball Showdown” and the second is “Rock, Paper, Scissors with Sandy”, both fun for kids to enjoy!

Actors: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Mark Strong, Scott Adkins
Directors: Kathryn Bigelow
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 177 minutes

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

As I am sure everyone does, I remember exactly where I was on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Being a native New Yorker, I think that it affects us even more. “Zero Dark Thirty” brings us right back to that day with their very intense black screen opening sequence. I have to say I am typical not a big fan of war movies, though this film is not that. The film nears three hours yet it completely grasps your attention throughout. It only let up is when they were doing the Seal raid on Bin Landen’s compound. I felt like it broke apart from the rest of the film. Before that though I didn’t check my watch once and was completely enthralled in the drama. Kathryn Bigelow has done it again, after “The Hurt Locker”, she delivered another very powerful film and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Official Premise: For a decade, an elite team of intelligence operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar® winning team of The Hurt Locker, director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal, along with producer Megan Ellison, telling the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.

Jessica Chastain was amazing in this film. She is probably one of my favorite actresses right now. She was amazing and stole the show in “The Help”. She kicked some ghost ass in “Mama” and yet she still takes on this extremely intense role and delivers one of the best performances of the year. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance By an Actress in a Motion Picture in the Drama. Like Bigelow, I can’t wait to see what she is doing next. I really love the strong female role that Bigelow had created here. I also thought that Jason Clarke was absolutely amazing and another great performance after “Lawless” (also with Chastain). I would have love to see more of him. I was really taken back by every single scene he was in.

Let’s get to the special features, which I was dying to get to after watching this film. To start I was a little disappointed. I feel like this was rushed to DVD quickly due to the awards. I would have loved to see some commentary tracks included and also some longer featurettes. The four featurettes included are very informative but all run under ten minutes. First off we have “No Small Feat”, which is a brief look at the making of “Zero Dark Thirty”. “The Compound” is a look into how the film rebuilt the compound. “Geared Up” shows the cast training with the authentic SEAL gear. Lastly “Targeting Jessica Chastain” shows her talking about the role of Maya and her reflections.

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Created by: Craig Gerber
Voices of: Ariel Winter, Wayne Brady, Sara Ramirez, Travis Willingham, Jess Harnell, Tim Gunn
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 5, 2013
Run Time: 48 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess” is a full-length movie that also served as a pilot to the television series. The show introduces us to the latest (and cutest) Disney princess, Sofia. This series lives on Disney Junior, which is a 24-hour channel made for preschoolers (and my 9-month old’s favorite channel). Watching this film (and series) with my daughter, Bella, really makes my day a little brighter.  She just lights up from the moment the theme song starts and is kicking her little legs for the beautiful colors and wonderful music. I also have had the privilege to chat with the creator Craig Gerber, read here, and I just love his passion behind this project. The good news is that “Sofia The First” was already renewed by Disney Junior for a second season, which would bring the episode total to 45 already. But I am sure that this is only the beginning of this wonderful franchise.

The story is set in a new storybook world called Enchancia.  Like I said the film introduces Sofia, an everyday day whose life suddenly transforms when her mother marries the king and she becomes a princess, Sofia the First. Assisting her in the transition is the help of three headmistresses of Royal Prep Academy – Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather, you might know them as the fairies from the Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”, also the royal steward, Baileywick and some cute woodland creatures led by a sharp-talking rabbit, Clover.  The film also gets a special appearance from Disney Princess Cinderella to share her wisdom with new fellow Princess Sofia. With the help of her new friends, Sofia tries to get used to this new life of royalty, while holding onto her own hopes and dreams.

Ariel Winter gives life to Sofia and really could not be a better voice for her. Wayne Brady is also very fun as Clover the rabbit. Overall though, this film is so magical and has that Disney charm. I have watched it numerous times now and it never gets boring.  It not only entertains kids (and their big kids) but also educates and teaching some very important values. The songs in the film are also very classic Disney and yet very hip. “Rise and Shine” is a really sweet song and a new princess instant classic. Since Cinderella makes an appearance, it is only right that she should have a song as well with Sofia.  That song is “True Sisters” and it is also very fitting for a princess. So speaking of music, this DVD also includes a Royal Sing-Along version of the film, as an added bonus. This DVD also comes with a free “Princess in Training Activity Kit” with stickers and tiaras.  I would recommend this very highly for any Disney fan young or old.

Actors: Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Yul Brynner, John P. Ryan, Stuart Margolin, Arthur Hill
Directors: Richard T. Heffron
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 108 minutes

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

“Futureworld” is the sequel to the crazy science fiction thriller “Westworld” from 1973. Thanks novelist Michael Crichton, he created the high-tech Disneyland for adults known as Delos. Of course if you’ve seen “Westworld” you know that it isn’t all colorful songs and fun like the park. I have always been a big fan of “Westworld”, I loved the twist and it still makes me smirk today. “Futureworld” is a great follow-up and continuation of this story. It also boasts an amazing cast including Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner and the return of the amazing Yul Brynner, which was also his last film role. Speaking of “westworld”, that was also recently released on Blu-ray this month from Warner Bros, so be sure to get that as well.

Official Premise: Do you remember that disaster at Delos a few years ago when the Westworld robots went out of control and killed a few guests? Well, the entire resort has now been rebuilt and redesigned to be completely fail-safe. To combat the lingering adverse publicity, Duffy, the Delos representative, has offered the IMC Communication Network exclusive rights to the new Delos story. Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner), the network’s top commentator, has been assigned the story with Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda), the newspaper reporter who broke the original Westworld disaster story. But as Tracy and Chuck’s private tour starts, they get the feeling the entire resort might not be as safe as Delos thinks…

Shout! Factory delivers a strong and sturdy Blu-ray release of this film. It is not perfect but it does the job and it is easily worth the upgrade from DVD. The 1080p transfer cleans up the film really well and looks solid within its 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The audio track included is also a nice DTS-HD Master Audio. It works well with the films action and Fred Karlin’s score. The special features included though are very disappointing for this release. It only includes a Theatrical Trailer, some Radio Spots and a Still Gallery, Hint to Shout! Factory, now we just need the short-lived 1980 television series “Beyond Westworld” finally released. Of all films that are screaming for a remake, this would be a great candidate.

Actors: Fred Ward, Belinda Bauer, Peter Coyote
Directors: William Dear
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

What really makes a cult classic? I remember seeing this film on the video store self when I was a kid. This 1982 cult classic has been out of print on DVD for many years now. Thanks To Shout! Factory it is finally getting a proper released on high-def Blu-ray. Fans are going to be thrilled with this release. If having it on Blu-ray isn’t enough, it also includes the complete and uncut version of the film. Now back to the cult classic question…this is not the best film ever it’s plot could be summed up in 30 minutes.  But if you love sci-fi, motorcycles and a kick ass score (thanks to Michael Nesmith, “Repo Man”) than you will love this film and understand why it is considered a cult classic.

Official Premise: Lyle Swann (Fred Ward) is a champion off-road racer who accidentally gets zapped into a time-travel experiment and sent 100 years into the past! When a gang of brutal bandits steals his motorcycle, Swann must outsmart the local cowboys and submit to the desires of a beautiful outlaw woman (Belinda Bauer). Armed with only his wits and a map from an Exxon station, will Lyle Swann survive the Wild West and get back to his future?

Shout! Factory delivered a very beautiful looking and sounding Blu-ray.  The 1080p transfer is amazing for a film that is over 30 years old.  The motorcycle racing footage is very clear and impressive. If you are used to watching this film on TV or VHS, you are going to feel like you are watching an entirely new movie. The audio track boasts an impressive DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio, which is a real step up from the Dolby Stereo track.  The special features includes an audio commentary track with Director William Dear.  There are also new interviews with Producer Michael Nesmith and William Dear.  Lastly there is a Storyboard Gallery included.

Actors: Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave, Robert Duvall, Nicol Williamson, Laurence Olivier
Directors: Herbert Ross
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 22, 2013
Run Time: 113 minutes

Film: 3 out 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Putting Sherlock Holmes with Sigmund Freud in a movie together sounds like it would be a blast.  The film is decent with a good Blu-ray presentation from Shout! Factory. I loved the performances from Alan Arkin, Robert Duvall and Nicol Williamson.  Alan Arkin played Freud very well and that accent is a riot.  Robert Duvall is fun as Dr. Watson and Nicol Williamson plays Holmes very sharply.  He’s no Robert Downey Jr. but he’ll do (just kidding).  The script has it’s issues and the film runs a little long. Yet the film was still nominated for an Oscar for Best Screenplay, so maybe it was just me, but I like I said I still enjoyed it.

Official Premise: The world’s two greatest masters of the art of deduction, Sherlock Holmes and Sigmund Freud, meet for the first time in this delightful mystery adventure based on the best-selling novel by Nicholas Meyer. Stylishly directed by Herbert Ross, the film boasts a superb cast headed by Nicol Williamson as Holmes, Alan Arkin as Freud, Vanessa Redgrave as Lola Deveraux, Laurence Olivier as Professor James Moriarty, and, in a brilliant example of off-beat casting, Robert Duvall as Dr. Watson. To this ingenious tale of detection, addiction and abduction must be added the excitement of the chase – capped by a sword fight on top of a puffing locomotive roaring across Europe!

Shout! Factory delivered a nice Blu-ray presentation within the film original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The 1080p transfer looks good but the colors feel a little dimmed, that could be that it was taken from an older master and not given much love during restoration. Still worth checking out if you are a fan of the film. The audio track includes a sweet DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, which works perfectly for the sharp dialogue and fun score. The only special feature included is “When Sherlock Met Sigmund” with Nicholas Meyer.  It is an interview with Meyer chatting about the production and the film’s reaction over time.

Actors: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Jason Alexander, Mary Kay Bergman, Corey Burton
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 159 minutes

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: 4 out of 5 stars
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is another one of Disney’s underrated films.  This was released in the mid-late 90’s during introduction of Pixar and their computer generated animated films like “Toy Story”.  “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” didn’t make the cut with its “boring” 2D animation and was not given the respect it deserves.  I love the music in the film thanks to the genius of Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid”, “Tangled”). Disney has paired this film, which is hitting Blu-ray for the first time with its painful direct-to-video sequel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II”. The sequel barely runs an hour and is one of my least favorites of the Disney’s mass explosion of direct-to-video sequels. Still though, if you are a fan of the first film then this Blu-ray is surely worth the upgrade to high-definition.

Official Premise: Rediscover the majestic musical adventure of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame II – together for the first time in stunning Blu-ray high definition. Bring your family together for the extraordinary tale of Quasimodo in a soaring celebration of the beauty inside all of us! Join the world’s most unlikely hero as he meets his first real friend, Esmeralda, while fighting to save the people and city he loves. The legendary story continues as Quasi reunites with his gargoyle friends to protect the cathedral’s most famous bell and find true love. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame soars with a magnificent score by renowned composer Alan Menken (Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin). Enjoy both magical films, bursting with brilliant animation and unforgettable characters, together on Disney Blu-ray.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” looks very vibrant with its 1080p transfer.  Honestly, though it is not perfect and it feels a little 2D and does pop like other recent classic hand-drawn animated films has.  But that doesn’t mean that it is not impressive.  In fact “The Hunchback of Notre Dame II” believe it or not also looks quite impressive.  Despite the fact that it is not the greatest film, it sure does look sharp even with its direct-to-video features. Both films also include a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The first film contains some wonderful songs and a great score, thanks again to Menken and his work is represented very well here. The second film also packs some songs, not as good, but still sounds very nice with this track. Also I should mention that both films are located on one Blu-ray disc and the additional two DVDs include each film on their own disc.

The special features are disappointing and are simple ports of the films previous DVD releases.  First we have an audio commentary track for the first film with directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise and its producer Don Hahn. Decent track and some decent information shared. “The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is a decent length featurette with host Jason Alexander and with voice cast Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, and Tony Jay and many more talented people who works on this film. There is a “Multi-Language Reel” for the song “A Guy Like You”, which was translates into sixteen different languages. There is “Behind the Scenes with Jennifer Love Hewitt”, which is basically a short interview with actress talking about her role.  Lastly “A Gargoyle’s Life” has Jason Alexander’s character Hugo reciting a poem with clips from the first film.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is not the only animation classic being released on high-def Blu-ray. March 12th will also bring the release of “Brother Bear 1 & 2″, “Mulan 1 & 2″ and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Of course like Disney is smart to release their films like that ”Mulan”, ”Brother Bear” and “Hunchback” with their direct-to-video sequels because otherwise I do not think that anyone would be interested in owning them. So I look at these direct-to-video sequels as a bonus feature really. I am not sure how “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” fits into this trend but that is one release that I am highly anticipating.

Actors: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Miguel Ferrer, Pat Morita, Harvey Fierstein
Directors: Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 167 minutes

Mulan: 4 out of 5 stars
Mulan II: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Mulan” was at the tail end of Disney’s hand-drawn animation success.  I have always been a fan of “Mulan” and I always thought it was underrated.  The music and songs are memorable and it has fun characters like Mushu (thanks to Eddie Murphy).  The film also creates another classic Disney princess, who is not only pretty but also very strong.  I think having a daughter of my own that resonates a little more with me. “Mulan II” on the other hand is quite a different story. It comes from a time that Disney was making sequels left and right to their products just for the sake of the buck.  To be honest though, it is not as bad as I remember.  Maybe that is due to its impressive Blu-ray transfer (more on that below).  So obviously the main draw here is to own “Mulan” for the first time on high-def Blu-ray.  The film is also celebrating its 15th anniversary, which is cause for celebration.

Official Premise: Celebrate the 15th anniversary of Disney’s critically-acclaimed masterpiece Mulan with this sensational 2-movie collection – presented for the first time in Blu-ray high definition. Mulan’s triumphant tale of honor, courage, and family pride shines brighter than ever with new digitally mastered picture and sound! Disney’s original animated classic magically transforms an ancient Chinese legend into a spectacular motion picture event. Relive all the wonder and excitement as Mulan breaks tradition by joining the Imperial army accompanied by her hilarious guardian dragon, Mushu. The adventure continues in Mulan II, as newly engaged Mulan and Shang journey to a distant city in a valiant quest to save their beloved empire. Your whole family will adore these two extraordinary films on Disney Blu-ray.

Alright now more on the audio/video presentation.  Disney is known for going out of their way to deliver very impressive high-def transfers of their classic animated films.  “Mulan” ranks up their with the best of them. The 1080p is extremely sharp and really showcases the beautiful animation and colors used throughout this film. There is something about hand-drawn animation that just really looks amazing on Blu-ray.  Even though, I love me some Pixar films, I really have a special place in my heart for the slight imperfections in the lines and it just reminds you that everything does not need to be perfect.  “Mulan II” also (believe it or not) looks quite amazing with its 1080p transfer.  Of course, it is not as good as “Mulan” since it carriers that direct-to-video look, but the colors look good and sharp even though. Like the 1080p video, “Mulan” also packs a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track.  It works very well with the music and action. “Mulan II” also sounds great but again a notch below the first.  The songs (even though not great) sound decent and the dialogue is clear. Also I should mention that both films are located on one Blu-ray disc and the additional two DVDs include each film on their own disc.

The special features are probably my least favorite aspect of this whole release.  “Mulan” packs nothing new at all for it’s 15th anniversary and just rehashes its DVD features, all presented in SD.  There is an audio commentary track with Producer Pam Coats and directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, decent and very informative.There are seven deleted scenes (like usual) in storyboards mode with introductions by director Tony Bancroft. “Classic Backstage Disney” runs about an hour with numerous behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Mulan’s Fun Facts,” “The Journey Begins,” “Story Artists’ Journey,” “Design,” and  “Production”.  Lastly “Classic Music & More” includes more featurettes including “Songs of Mulan,” “Mulan’s International Journey and five music videos. “Mulan II” fares even worse with only three short extras.  “Voices of Mulan” looks into the return of several original cast members, as well as the new voices.  There are three deleted scenes, surprisingly in HD. Lastly there is a music video for “I Wanna Be Like Other Girls” by Atomic Kitten.

“Mulan” is not the only animation classic being released on high-def Blu-ray.  March 12th will also bring the release of “Brother Bear 1 & 2”, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1 & 2” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.  Of course like Disney is smart to release their films like that “Mulan”,  “Brother Bear” and “Hunchback” with their direct-to-video sequels because otherwise I do not think that anyone would be interested in owning them.  So I look at these direct-to-video sequels as a bonus feature really.  I am not sure how “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” fits into this trend but that is one release that I am highly anticipating.