Actors: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
Directors: Ben Affleck
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 120 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I am not going to lie, when “Argo” was released in theaters I was not very interested in seeing it.  But after viewing it, I have to say it was the most thrilling and engaging drama that I have seen throughout 2012.  Ben Affleck has proved that he is a director to reckon with after “The Town” and this even trumps that.  The acting in the film is A-grade and everyone involved with this film deserves recognition, especially Alan Arkin and John Goodman. They were amazing in the film and if you do not agree then you can “Argof*ck yourself”.  Sorry couldn’t resist.  Seriously though, I highly recommend catching this film for sure and I just can’t wait to see what Affleck has planned next and how he plans to out due himself after this fantastic film.

“Argo” has really been cleaning up during the Awards season.  They have taken the following awards: The 2013 Golden Globes: Argo, Best Motion Picture Drama, Affleck, Best Director. The 2013 BAFTA Awards: Argo, Best Film, Affleck, Best Director. Producers Guild of America Awards: Affleck, Outstanding Producer of a Motion Picture. Directors Guild of America Awards: Affleck, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Feature Film. Screen Actors Guild Awards: Argo and Affleck, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. Critics’ Choice Awards: Affleck, Best Director. AFI Film Awards: Argo, Movie of the Year. We all know that Affleck was snobbed by the Oscars for Best Director but the film should be a sure lock for Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards. Fingers crossed!

Official Premise:  On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage.  But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor.  Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, the Canadian and American governments ask the CIA to intervene. The CIA turns to their top “exfiltration” specialist, Tony Mendez, to come up with a plan to get the six Americans safely out of the country.  A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Warner delivers a very sweet Blu-ray/DVD Combo with an UltraViolet Digital Copy.  The 1080p transfer is fantastically presented, while still able to keep the 70’s/80’s feel of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio also delivers one hell of a track. Alexandre Desplat’s score really gets to shine as well and adds quite a lot of tension for this film. Overall, this film packs a very impressive release in the audio/video department.

The special features are quite impressive as well.  Let’s start with the “Picture in Picture: Eyewitness Account”, which is the bet of the bunch.  It includes interviews with key people from the Iran hostage crisis, including survivors Tony Mendez, as well as President Jimmy Carter and many more. The audio commentary track with director Ben Affleck and writer Chris Terrio is also not to be missed. It is very engaging and informative.  If you enjoyed this film then both the PIP option and commentary track are highly recommend for repeat viewings.

“Rescued from Tehran: We Were There” is another engaging featurette with interviews from President Carter, Tony Mendez and more as they chat about their experiences.  “Absolute Authenticity” is a featurette with Affleck chatting about how much work went into this production. “The CIA and Hollywood Connection” is a chat with Affleck, Terrio, Goodman, and Mendez as they discuss the CIA working with Hollywood. Lastly, “Escape from Iran: The Hollywood Option” is the 2005 television documentary focusing on the 25th anniversary of the film’s event, presented in standard definition.

“ARGO” available on Blu-ray Combo pack, DVD and for download 2/19!

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Actors: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin
Directors: Charles Walters
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 107 minutes

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

“Easter Parade” is hitting Blu-ray for the first time, thanks to Warner Brothers.   The talent in this film is completely overflowing with Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and the wonderful music of Irving Berlin. The film was originally set to star Gene Kelly but he was unable to star so Astaire came out of his recently announced retirement to take over. This really works with Astaire in the lead role. The film is celebrating its 65th Anniversary this year and this Blu-ray is a must purchase. I am looking forward to making this a yearly revisit each Easter season!

Official Synopsis: If you can’t join ’em, beat ’em! When his long-time dance partner abandons him for the Ziegfeld Follies, Don Hewes decides to show who’s who what’s what by choosing any girl out of a chorus line and transforming her into a star. So he makes his choice and takes his chances. Of course, since Fred Astaire portrays Don and Judy Garland plays the chorine, we know we’re in for an entertainment sure thing.

If you like music than this should be right up your alley, with seventeen musical numbers, all written by Berlin (ten of them are standards and seven are new specifically for the film). If you like dancing that you will love Fred Astaire’s dance solos, including “Drum Crazy” and “Steppin’ Out with My Baby”.  Judy Garland gets to shine those vocals with the song “Better Luck Next Time.” The music and dancing will leave you with a smile on your face and your toes tapping.

Warner really delivered a fantastic Blu-ray release.  The film has never looked better.  I originally saw this film on TCM and almost it claimed to be HD, it was a very poor print.  This 1080 transfer with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 looking clearing stunning.  The film is 65 years old, so there is a little age to it but it only adds to the charm of its time.  Since the film is a musical, the DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track really delivers the songs quite well and never fail to entertain. They are well balanced and have never sounded better.  There is also a Dolby Digital 1.0 track also available but obviously I prefer the HD track still.

Since this is the 65th Anniversary Edition, there is no storage of fantastic extras.  First up we have an nice audio commentary with Ava Astaire McKenzie, Fred’s granddaughter and John Fricke, a historian/author on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland. Very fun and entertaining. “Easter Parade: On the Avenue” is a fantastic 30 minutes featurette on this wonderful production. “American Masters – Judy Garland: By Myself” looks into the career of the actress.  There are an outtake and dailies from the scene “Mr. Monotony”.  There is an audio only vintage radio promo from the film, as well as a 3/11/1951 Screen Guild Theater Broadcast.  Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy
Directors: Christopher Guest
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 90 minutes

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

Let me start this review by listing the fantastic cast: Christopher Guest, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley, Jr., Jennifer Coolidge, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Larry Miller, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey and Fred Willard. The only person missing from this comedy troupe is Harry Shearer. Can you honestly go wrong with a stunning cast like that? If you agree than skip the rest of the review and run out to the store! I wish more comedies that the wit and cleverness of this film.

I remember the first time I saw “Best in Show” in a small theater in NYC and I remember leaving in pain (from laughing). I got introduced to Christopher Guest and pals comedic genius in “Waiting for Guffman”. While that film is amazing, this really steps it up with the comedic talent and all around quality. Personally my favorite is “A Mighty Wind” but this film never misses a beat and continuously gets laughs even over ten years later.

Warner is releasing this film for the first time on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer is a nice step up from the DVD release and presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. For a catalog release, this is easily worth the purchase if you are a hardcore fan. Since the film is shot via documentary style, there isn’t much to see here in terms of quality but the transfer is still sharp and clear. The new audio includes an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. It work great with the cast’s hysterical dialogue.

The special features are a port from the previous DVD release. But still rather impressive. There is a very funny audio commentary track with Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. If you think the movie is funny, I urge you to check this out for sure. There are also about 30 minutes of deleted scenes, which contain 17 very very funny scenes. I would have loved to see these extra scenes includd in the film itself but at least they are available here. Lastly, there is a theatrical trailer including.

The Purebred Cult Comedy, Best In Show, comes out for the first time on Blu-ray Feb. 19th!! http://bit.ly/14CEoLs

Official Synopsis: The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives — the Mayflower Dog Show.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside
Director: Tony Scott
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 109 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love “Top Gun”? This film is easily one of the best things to have come out of the 1980’s and has Tom Cruise at his prime.  I think I must listen to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” at least once a week.  So what is new about this release of “Top Gun”, well most importantly it has been converted into the third dimension and boy is it impressive. Paramount did a really sharp job in restoring and releasing this film in 3D.  It is a very solid 3D presentation without any cheap gimmicks.  Of course when this film hits the skies is where the 3D really gets a chance to spread its wings. The aerial scenes are truly amazing and delivers the best added depth. The adding of the 3D just seems natural and like it was meant to be seen like this. If you are a fan, I mean who isn’t?, of this 80’s classic then this is a great way to enjoy the film again for the first time in its new format.

Paramount has delivered an impressive release within this two-disc Blu-ray.  Besides the 3D Blu-ray, it also including the previously released 2D disc as well and an Ultraviolet digital copy as well. This 1080p transfer is newly re-mastered and comes with the highest quality image that “Top Gun” has ever been attributed to. This release carries over the same audio options as the last Blu-ray release, which are still amazing! There are two tracks a DTS-HD MA 6.1 and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.  They are both impressive but the 6.1 track really shines the most.  Once the film takes off any Loggins’ “Danger Zone” starts playing, I got the chills and blasted the volume to 11! Let me tell you how amazing it sounded. Of course that is not the only great song in this film including the classics Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” and very funny “Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”.  Besides just songs the aerial battles are great and have you ducking as they fly by your speakers.

The special features are taken from the previous releases but are still very impressive.  First off we have a solid audio commentary track including producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Tony Scott, co-screenwriter Jack Epps, Jr. and naval experts.  This track contains information overload and really delivers. Must listen! “Danger Zone: The Making of ‘Top Gun” is a fantastic super in-depth 2.5 hour six-part documentary.  If you love “Top Gun” then this is the special feature for you. “Multi-Angle Storyboards” focuses on two sequences, “Flat Spin” and “Jester’s Dead”, from the film  with optional commentary by Tony Scott. This is cool but multi-angles extras feel a little too DVD for me. “Best of the Best: Inside the Real Top Gun” is another fantastic documentary is a look into the real-life history behind this film.

Next up have two decent featurettes, the first focusing on “Behind-the-Scenes”, which is clips mixed with interviews on the production. “Survival Training” looks into what the cast has to go through to get prepared for their roles. There is a nice interview with Tom Cruise chatting about the role and the film. Of course I go back to the great music in this film.  There are four music videos including Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone, Berlin’s Oscar-winning “Take My Breath Away”, Loverboy’s “Heaven In Your Eyes” and of course, the Top Gun Anthem with Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens.  Lastly there are also seven vintage television spots wrapping up these great extras.

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Actors: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
Directors: Sam Mendes
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Fox/MGM
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Run Time: 143 minutes

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

I have to admit, I did not see “Skyfall” in the theaters.  In fact I am probably one of the very few that didn’t.  The 23rd Bond film has been critically acclaimed and grossed over $1 billion dollars worldwide at the box office making it the biggest hit of the franchise.  It also highlights the celebration of 007’s 50th anniversary. Does it deserve all this attention and success? You bet your ass it does! This film really delivers everything you could ask from a Bond film and I have to say Daniel Craig IS James Bond.  I know, I know Sean Connery is a legend but Craig has really taken over this role quite well.  Before I saw this myself, I heard that people were calling it the best Bond film to date and I thought that was hard to believe.  But I got to tell you…it is really it. Believe it or not, “Skyfall” is the best Bond film to date.  Of course the classics are classics and they will always hold a special place in my heart, this film really knocks you off your socks and delivers exactly what at James Bond film should be.  Highly recommended if you haven’t seen it already.

Official Premise: Daniel Craig is back as James Bond 007 in SKYFALL, the 23rd installment of the longest-running film franchise in history. In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past returns to haunt her. 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. When Bond’s latest assignment goes gravely wrong and agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked forcing M to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent Eve (Naomie Harris) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

Fox/MGM has delivered a spectacular Blu-ray for this release with a nice combo pack:
Blu-ray/ DVD + Digital Copy and Ultraviolet. I see myself revisiting this quite often on Ultraviolet while on the go. The 1080p is one of the best I have seen in a while formatted with an 35MM aspect ratio of 2.40:1. Since the film was really in a 70MM IMAX-format, I would love to be able to see that version be released one day as well like “The Dark Knight” did on the Blu-ray.  Originally, I was hoping for a 7.1 surround track but that was not the case. But it doesn’t matter since the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track included will knock your socks off literally.  Whether it is the action or the car chases, they all sound amazing. Even right down to the dialogue and the subtle hints of the score. Really superb.

The special features are a nice but not stunning like the film itself.  It kicks off with two commentary tracks, with the first with director Sam Mendes. You can really tell that really loved working on this and he was involved with every aspect of this film. The next track is with the Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and Production Designer Dennis Gassner, not my favorite of the two for sure but some decent information is shared here. The real meat of the extras is “Shooting Bond” which is an hour of featurettes about the production. It can also be put together as one long featurette, which I preferred, instead of 14 individuals.  It cover everything from Bond himself to Q to villains and the action, of course. There is also some short footage from the Skyfall Premiere at the Royal Albert Hall.  Lastly there is a theatrical trailer and brief Soundtrack Promotional Spot rounding out the extras.

Actors: John Hawkes, William H. Macy, Helen Hunt, Moon Bloodgood, Annika Marks
Director: Ben Lewin
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

Before watching this film I knew little about it but was drawn to it by the cast.  John Hawkes and Helen Hunt give some of the best performances of the year with this little indie gem.  It is funny, yet at the same time very serious and dramatic as well.  I was just drawn to the chemistry between the two and the story was just magnetic.  Helen Hunt really gives herself to this role…completely, let’s just say.  So if you are a fan of hers get ready to see all of her.  The real shocker is where did Ben Lewin, the director, come from and how can we get him to do more?

Official Premise: Paralyzed and confined to an iron lung since childhood, poet-journalist Mark O’Brien (Hawkes) has overcome adversity time and time again. But now, at age 38, he faces his toughest challenge yet: losing his virginity. With the help of a beautiful therapist (Hunt), a sympathetic priest (Macy), and his own unbridled sense of optimism and humor, Mark embarks on an extraordinary personal journey to discover the wondrous pleasures that make life worth living.

Fox released this film with a Blu-ray + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. I am surprised that there is no DVD included also but I guess they are trying to steer away from standard definition. For a little indie pic to come out of nowhere, this 1080p transfer looks absolutely flawless and the same goes for the audio. The film is very low-key and dialogue-driven, nonetheless the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track really shines, especially with Marco Beltrami’s amazing score.

The special features are decent but run a little too short. There are two brief deleted scenes, fun but correctly removed. “Writer/Director Ben Lewin Finds Inspiration” is a brief chat about the film’s origin. “John Hawkes Becomes Mark O’Brien” features the lead actor talking about his transformation in character. “Helen Hunt as the Sex Surrogate” is the same thing but for her character. “A Session with the Cast” is a short interview with the cast. “The Women Who Loved Mark O’Brien” features the female actors talking about their relations to Mark. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Olivia Munn, Peter Mayhew, Ray Park
Directors: Mark Edlitz
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: DOCURAMA
DVD Release Date: February 12, 2013
Run Time: 73 minutes

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

When it comes to “Star Wars”, am I a fan…OH YEAH! Am I crazy obsessed with “Star Wars” like these people in “Jedi Junkies”…OH NO! They are on a whole other level. This documentary is a showcase of some of the devoted fans of the franchise. The focus on this is really the fans.  It looks into conventions, fan films and the obsession of collecting. There are celebrity interviews Olivia Munn (“Attack of the Show”), “Phantom Menace” actor Ray Park (Darth Maul) and “Blair Witch Project” director Ed Sanchez.

“Jedi Junkies” is a one-of-a-kind feature film about the world’s most dedicated Star Wars fans. From lightsaber-wielding martial artists to a filmmaker who built the world’s only life-size Millennium Falcon, the film offers viewers a rare glimpse into extreme fans personal and professional self-expression.

The DVD comes with some decent special features. There is a commentary track from director Mark Edlitz. There are various deleted and extended scenes, these could have easily been put in the film since it was only 73 minutes to begins with. Lastly there are three featurettes including “The Stars of Star Wars”, “Build Your Own Action Figure” and lastly “The Cult of Slave Leia”.  If you are a fan of “Star Wars”, you should enjoy this documentary quite a bit and for those who aren’t it will change the way you look at the fandom that surrounds this whole world of “Star Wars”.

Actors: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, James Coburn, Steve Buscemi, Mary Gibbs
Directors: David Silverman, Pete Docter
Number of discs: 5
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Disney-Pixar
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This isn’t the first rodeo for “Monsters Inc” on Blu-ray. It was first released back in November 2009 to the high-def format. It was an amazing release and holds up very well to date. This new Ultimate Collector’s Edition presents this amazing film now in 3D, with 7.1 killer audio track and some great new extras. Is that enough to wet your appetite? My daughter is a big fan already of this film at the young age of eight months. She has a full outfit to transform her into Boo and has visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios in order to meet Mike and Sully. With the release of “Monsters University” hitting theaters this summer, this release is warm welcomed. Disney went all out with this release and is most definitely worth the upgrade whether it is for the 3D or the 7.1 track or the extras.

Official Synopsis: Believed by monsters to be toxic, children are strictly forbidden from entering Monstropolis.  But when a little girl named Boo accidentally follows Sulley back into his world, he finds his career in jeopardy and his life in utter chaos. Assisted by Mike, the two pals plot to rectify the mistake and return Boo to her home.  When the trio encounters an unexpected series of complications, they become embroiled in a cover-up catapulting them into a mystery beyond their wildest dreams.

Since the success of “The Lion King” in theaters, Disney has gotten the itch to go back and convert a view of their classic films. Next up with have “The Little Mermaid” this Fall, which is one that I am really looking forward to.  It is one thing to have the computer generated “Monsters Inc” but the real art comes from bringing the 2D animation into the third dimension. Nonetheless, this 3D presentation of “Monsters Inc.” is quite stunning. They really went through a lot of trouble in order to really make this look amazing. There is some really great depth added within this third dimension, whether it is on the Scare Floor or during the door chase scene. This film looks like it was truly meant and designed to be in 3D.

This five-disc release comes with the following 3D Blu-ray / Blu-ray / DVD Combo + Digital Copy. This is becoming the norm for Disney’s new releases and it does nothing but leaving you quite satisfied. Disney also has upgraded the Blu-ray’s audio track from the 2009 release, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 EX to a stunning Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track with both the 3D and 2D versions. This track is literally amazing. It would have been very easily and still satisfying for Disney to just leave the old track in there but they went a step further and delivered more.

This 2013 release not only included an amazing 3D transfer, 7.1 sound but also a trio of new and exclusive extras.  There is an extended 3-minute “Monsters University” sneak peek.  I am very excited to see that they also included Toy Story Toons short “Partysaurus Rex” (in 3D, as well). I was shocked that this wasn’t included on the “Finding Nemo 3D” release since it was included with the film when it was released theatrically. There are also Outtakes and Company Play (also in 3D), the gag reel from the Monsters, Inc. theatrical credits included.  The only extra left out from the 2009 release (which is now outdated anyway) is “Ride and Go Seek”, which was a tour of the Monsters, Inc. attraction in Tokyo. Lastly, I was very impressed to see that the classic 2001 short “For The Birds”The rest of the extras are good but taken from prior Blu-ray/DVD releases.

The next set of extras are located on the second disc.  There is an audio commentary track from the Director Pete Docter, co-director Lee Unkrich, writer Andrew Stanton, and executive producer John Lasseter.  I have always like this track and it really gives a lot of details from this amazing collection of that on the film “Monsters, Inc.” There is a “Filmmakers Round Table”, which was filmed at the Hidden City Cafe with Docter, Unkrich, producer Darla K. Anderson, and story supervisor Bob Peterson. This was produced for the Blu-ray release exclusive and it is a blast to watch the genius flow through around this table. Lastly, there is also “Mike’s New Car”, which is the very fun short from the original DVD release of “Monsters, Inc.” I would have loved to see n this converted to 3D as well as “For The Birds”.

The remainder of the special features are located on the third Blu-ray and is a mix of HD & SD extras. “Roz’s 100 Door Challenge”  is an interactive trivia game. “Pixar Fun Factory Tour” is tour of the studio offices with John Lasseter (a little dated but still fun). There are four story Featurettes focusing n the pre-production featurettes of the film. “Banished Concepts” is a collection of five abandoned scenes. “Storyboard to Film Comparison” is a split-screen look at a few scenes. “Designing Monstropolis” introduces us to to work it took to create Mike and Sulley’s city. “Set Dressing” is a look at the props and cameras used on the film. “Location Flyaround” is a 360 degree looks at some of the film’s streets, rooms, and locations.  Too bad this wasn’t in high def, would have been better.

“Monster File” is a two-part EPK with some interviews from the voice actors. “Animation” is six-part feature focusing on the process, titles and the production. “Music & Sound” loos into the sound design and also Billy Crystal and John Goodman’s cover of “If I Didn’t Have You”. “Release” is a collection of promotional material from the premiere to trailers. “Monsters Only Section” is a few more featurettes including “New Monster Adventures”, “If I Didn’t Have You” music video, “Behind the Screams” which is an interview with Mike and Sully and “Orientation” which is a trio of animated videos “Your First Day,” “History of the Monster World” and “Welcome to Monsters, Inc”.  Lastly there is an art gallery of about 900 concept images and a farewell from the filmmakers included.

Starring: Allan Sherman, Bob Holt, Hans Conried, June Foray, Boris Karloff, Chuck Jones
Narrators: Eddie Albert, Boris Karloff
Directors: Hawley Pratt, Chuck Jones, Ben Washam
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Running Time: 132 minutes

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

2013 marks Warner’s celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Seuss’ “The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins”. What better way to celebrate than give your “Hats Off to Dr. Seuss” with this amazing collector’s edition including five of his classic TV specials. The first is “The Cat in the Hat” (1971), “The Lorax” (1972), “Horton Hears a Who!” (1970), “Green Eggs & Ham And Other Stories” (1973) – which was formally titled “Dr. Seuss on the Loose” and includes “The Sneetches”, “The Zax” and “Green Eggs and Ham”.  Lastly “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” (1966) wraps ups this release. Each of these are available for purchase on Blu-ray previously. If you own these already then this is a simple repackaged box set but if you don’t then it is worth it to check this out. I look forward to sharing these TV specials with my daughter as she grows up.

The Cat in the Hat: It’s a rainy day at home and siblings Dick and Sally have nothing to do. But all of that changes when The Cat and his messy sidekicks, Thing One and Thing Two, burst onto the scene, bringing with them adventure and chaos much to the dismay of a worried pet goldfish. Then, The Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Daisy-Head Mayzie, a girl who mistakenly thinks that the flower blooming on her head will only bring trouble, but eventually propels her to fame and fortune. And finally, blast off to The Hoober-Bloob Highway, where every road from a space laboratory leads to Earth… and eventually to gratitude.

Green Eggs & Ham and Other Stories: Join Sam-Am-I and his persistent attempts at introducing a reluctant fellow to a most delectable dish. Their escapades take them across a zany landscape while assembling a cast of characters that only the imagination of Dr. Seuss can bring to life. Will Sam-I-Am convince his new friend to take a chance and finally try something new? Find out in this timeless tale the whole family will enjoy. Then, meet The Sneetches, who teach us that being yourself is the best way to fit in, while the story of The Zax reminds us that there is nothing to gain from being stubborn.

The Lorax: The award-winning tale of The Lorax tells the story of the greedy, tree-chopping Once-ler and his equally greedy, tree-chopping clan, the brave little Lorax who speaks up for the vanishing forest, and the boy who could right all the Once-ler’s wrongs with a seed and a lesson learned. Then enjoy Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? and Butter Battle Book, a pair of bonus Dr. Seuss television specials sure to delight.

Horton Hears a Who!: Based on the 1954 book of the same name, the 1970 animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who tells the classic story of an elephant named Horton who just so happens to be the only creature capable of hearing the people of a tiny planet floating on a speck of dust. Or perhaps just the only creature who will listen long enough to hear them. Fully remastered, the special also features Horton Hatches the Egg!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Every who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just north of Who-ville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villains, only to discover: maybe Christmas, he thought doesn’t come from as store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it’s an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic.

When it comes to the Blu-ray presentations, each of these are equally very impressive with their 1080p transfers.  The colors are very crisp and really pop out well. You can’t forget that some of these specials have a few years under their belt.  There are various audio tracks on each of these specials.  The best of the bunch gets awards to “The Cat in the Hat”, “Green Eggs & Ham and Other Stories” and “The Lorax” with a nice DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track.  They are clear and work well with the dialogue and music.  Next up are good but not really up to Blu-ray full potential. “Horton Hears a Who!” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” both come with a Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps) track.  Seeing that these are two of my personal favorites, I was a little let down but overall it is not a total letdown.

On the scale of special features, this release delivers a nice collection of extras.  To start their are four additional TV specials including “The Butter Battle Book” (1989), “Daisy-Head Mayzie” (1995), “The Hoober-Bloob Highway” (1975) and “Pontoffel Pock & His Magic Piano” (1980). Other bonus features includes a sing along version of “The Cat in the Hat”, which is fun for the little kiddies (and the big kiddies also).  There is a 1994 documentary “In Search of Dr. Seuss”, which worth a watch.  There is a featurette for “The Lorax” called “The Trees! The Trees! The Voice Of The Trees”.  Another featurette includes “Dr. Seuss and the Grinch: From Whoville in Hollywood” follows the road from the pages to the screen. Lastly there are four interactive puzzles. Also I should mention that this release comes with a booklet of rate Dr. Seuss artwork including a few images of his hat collection.  I wish this was much longer but still very cool.

Actors: Kentaro Shimazu, Shigeru Matsuzaki, Rina Takeda
Directors: Noboru Iguchi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: First Look Pictures
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

What can you expect from a film titled “Dead Sushi”? Well take what you think and throw it away because it will leave your mouth wide-open saying “WTF is going on here!”. That is the way I was watching this film but that was I was expecting. I am very familiar with Noboru Iguchi’s work like “Machine Girl”, “Robogeisha” and the upcoming “The ABC’s of Death”. If you are fans of these films then you are going to LOVE this film. I never thought that I would enjoy a film about mutant killer sushi but this is a laugh riot packed with amazing gore and humor.

Keiko the daughter of a legendary sushi chef runs away from home when his Karate-style regimen becomes too severe. Finding work at a rural hot springs inn she is ridiculed by the eccentric staff and guests including the employees of a pharmaceutical firm there on a work retreat. But little do they know that a disgruntled former researcher has also come to the inn with a plan for revenge using a serum he developed that can awaken the murderous instincts of ordinary sushi turning it into bloodthirsty monsters! Keiko must use both her sushi training and her martial arts skills to save the others and defeat the flying killers.

I have to admit, I expected much more from the Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer looks decent and is presented with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio tracks is where I was very disappointed. There is both a Japanese and English audio track but they are only available in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0. Not sure why they couldn’t go the HD route on this but this may work for DVD but not Blu-ray.  In terms of special features there is a decent making-of featurette.  The World Premiere Stage Greeting and Fantasia Film Festival interview are not-bad.  Though, the best feature is a “Dead Sushi Extreme Sushi Eating Contest”, definitely worth checking out.  Lastly there is a trailer included as well.

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Actors: Clint Howard, Brian Gallagher, Jen Dance, Shaun Paul Costello, Chelsey Garner
Directors: Jason Christopher
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 78 minutes

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

With a title like “Nobody Gets Out Alive”, how can you not be interested in this film? The film is really a low-burn horror/thriller that really tips its hat to the classic slasher films. The gore is super present and is not shy to keep the camera rolling.  Even be being desensitized, I was very shocked at how far they go.  The film also boasts an all too brief cameo from actor Clint Howard (“Austin Powers”, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”). If you are a fans of 70/80’s horror then I would definitely recommend checking this out for sure.

Official Premise: The film charts the tragic path of Hunter Isth (Gallagher), whose life is turned upside down when his young daughter is killed by a drunk driver. In mourning, depressed and angry, Hunter disappears and is rumored to have moved away from Braiden Woods. As years go by, Hunter and his devastating story evolve into a local legend, a myth that many consider to be just that, until a group of partying teenagers accidentally find themselves trapped in a brutal fight for survival… with a legend bent on vengeance!

The special features for the DVD are not amazing but worth checking out if you liked the film, especially the audio commentary track.  There is a short and sweet behind-the-scenes “making of” featurette, as well as outtakes.  I always find it odd to include outtakes in a horror film since it kind of clashes with the mood. Honestly, I was impressed that there was at least any special features here for this low-budget horror flick.  So something is definitely better than nothing.

Actors: Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Darren Shahlavi, Jerry Trimble
Directors: Jesse V. Johnson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: None

All you had to say here for get me sold is Steve Austin and Dolph Lundgren in an action movie together. Too bad it doesn’t heat up till the last 20 minutes. The film drags a bit but really gets going finally when the two action stars get together. There is such potential in this film for a real man’s man action shoot ’em up and it does deliver but needs a little shot of Red Bell. Nonetheless, Steve Austin is badass (not a shock here) and Dolph Lundgren plays the kick-ass baddie as well.

Official Premise: Vengeance Delivered. Guaranteed. Steve Austin and Dolph Lundgren star in the bone-crunching action flick that delivers the goods: Austin is combat veteran Tommy Wick, a nightclub bouncer and stone-cold enforcer for a Seattle mob boss. Lundgren is `The German,’ an international crime lord and hardcore killing machine. But when Wick is asked to courier a mysterious package to The German, he’ll suddenly find himself hunted by relentless teams of hit men, mercenaries, assassins and sadists. Time is running out. The bodies are piling up. And for two very pissed-off men with a history of bad blood, the ultimate retaliation is about to be ripped wide open.

Despite the film itself, Anchor Bay delivers a very nice Blu-ray presentation.  The 1080p transfer is hot and works well with the action.  The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track really delivers as well and will have you dodging the bullets for sure.  The release comes as a combo pack with both a Blu-ray and DVD of the film included.  Lastly though, there are zero special features included on this release.   If you are an action junkie and fans of these two greats, I would give this a watch just to see them battle it out.

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Actors: John Cusack, Jennifer Carpenter, Dallas Roberts, Mae Whitman, Sonya Walger
Directors: Morgan O’Neill
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 19, 2013
Running Time: 104 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: None

When I think about John Cusack, I do not think about direct-to-DVD releases.  In fact it almost makes me upset since he is a really great actor and deserves better. I found out that this film had finished shooting in mid 2008 and has been stuck on a limbo shelf for the past five years.  I am not sure why since it has an impressive cast including Jennifer Carpenter from “Dexter” and Mae Whitman from TV’s “Parenthood” and “Arrested Development”. The film is a by-the-book serial killer thriller but delivers a nice surprise ending.

Official Synopsis: Present. Buffalo. The unforgiving winter. A killer roams the streets, abducting women on cold, quiet nights. All prostitutes, missing persons with no one to miss them. He leaves behind no traces, no clues; nothing. Detective Mike Fletcher (John Cusack) is the one cop on the force bent on bringing him to justice. Mike sees the tragedy in all of this: that these poor women are alone in life, and in death. They have no one to stand up for them – no one except him.

“The Factory” is directed by Morgan O’Neil, who is relatively unknown.  He has done two films “Drift” (2012) and “Solo” (2006) that no one has heard of. Thought he does a decent job here.  The film is produced by Joel Silver (“The Matrix” trilogy) and Dark Castle Entertainment. So you know that their is talent behind this. The DVD comes with no special features at all besides a an UltraViolet digital streaming copy. I understand why this film wasn’t released but if you are a fan of Cusack or Carpenter from “Dexter”, it is worth checking out.

Actors: Emilia Clark, Michelle Fairley, Maisie Williams, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Developed by: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss
Number of discs: 7
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Studios
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 561 minutes

Season: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

How are you going to top such a powerful season as the first of “Game of Thrones”. The show is so intense and gripping that you can literally watch the whole season in one sitting. The second season is spot on with the first and really delivers an equally impressive season. This season follows the path of George R.R. Martin’s “A Clash of Kings”, the second book of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. I personally haven’t read the book but from what I am told the book ranks better…but isn’t that the way it also is with literary purists. The second season of Game of Thrones was nominated for eleven 2012 Emmy awards (including Outstanding Drama Series) and ended up winning six. I feel that this season is a grand slam and guaranteed to entertain and satisfy. Besides the season itself there is also tons of great never-before-seen bonus materials included.

The epic drama set in the fantasy continent of Westeros picks up in the midst of a rapidly approaching winter season – that of the white raven. The episodes in the second season includes “The North Remembers”, “The Night Lands”, “What Is Dead May Never Die”, “Garden of Bones”, “The Ghost of Harrenhal”, “The Old Gods and the New”, “A Man Without Honor”, “The Prince of Winterfell”, “Blackwater”, “Valar Morghulis”. “The Ghost of Harrenhal” is easily the weakest of the season, though still gripping. “Blackwater” is easily the fan favorite of the season as well. This was the episode that really hooked my wife into this show. The second season’s cast is said to be the largest on television. Besides the returning cast from the first season, there are 29 new characters that are introduced with the episodes.

HBO has delivered a fantastic job with this Blu-ray, in fact this is already on the list for one of the best Blu-ray releases of 2013 to date. The 1080p transfer is flawless, as is the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. You literally have to duck for the sword and dodge the rolling heads. What I like most about the release is that it cares about the quality of the show over cost.  It gives each of the ten episodes a lot of room to breathe over the five 50GB Blu-rays .  Most companies would cram the mere ten episodes onto two discs.  This release also includes a DVD series of the show, those on the other hand are squished onto two double sided DVDs.  But this show really needs to be experiences on high def Blu-ray.  There is also a digital copy for iTunes and Ultraviolet available as an added option on the go.

The special features are just as great as the season and sure to satisfy all die-hard fans.  If you recall from “Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season” there were an amazing sevn commentary tracks…well second takes it up another level with twelve.  That’s right there are twelves audio commentaries tracks spread out over the five discs featuring cast and crew including David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, George R.R. Martin, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington and more. Next up each episode has an “In-Episode Guide” which gives an interface that gives fans a chance to learn more about the characters, lands and histories of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. There are also seven character profiles with bios, complete with cast and crew interviews including Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon and Theron Greyjoy.  If you are fans of “easter eggs”, this release has “hidden dragon eggs” to uncover even more content spread throughout the five discs.

The rest of the extras of located on the fifth disc starting with “Histories & Lore”. They are short animated videos told from each individual character perspective. “War of the Five Kings” is only for the die-hard fans and is a very details interactive guide to track the claims, strategies and key players involved in the battle for the Iron Throne. “Creating the Battle of Blackwater Bay” is a behind-the-scenes looks with developing and executing the ninth episode’s major battle. “Game of Thrones Inner Circle” is a roundtable sit down with cast/crew Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley and Liam Cunningham and executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. “The Religions of Westeros” is a chat with Martin, Benioff and Weiss on the religious values that underlie on the series.

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Actors: RZA, Russell Crowe, Rick Yune, Cung Le, Lucy Liu, Byron Mann, Jamie Chung
Directors: RZA
Rated: R / Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Running Time: 96 minutes (Theatrical) / 108 minutes (Unrated)

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“The Man with the Iron Fists” is a real labor of love for the rapper RZA, he not only directs but also co-wrote and stars in this wannabe-grindhouse kung-fu film. Let’s say he might have taken a bit more than he can chew. The plot is a mess and all over the place. The film is co-written and produced by genre favorite Eli Roth and is presented by Quentin Tarantino but they don’t really lend anything to the film. I think the reason why I am so upset is that this film didn’t live up to what it could have been. The only thing that made this film barely watchable is the occasional and rare action and the gore. This definitely not for everyone but the hardcore genre fans.

I had a real problem with the constant narrative by RZA. You can tell that he is really trying to fill in the major plot holes with useless dialogue. The fighting scenes are great and are well choreographed. The blend of CG effects work sometimes and then look crazy fake the rest. Props needs to go to my buddy Greg Nicotero and his partner Howard Berger for delivering some really sweet gore, which like I said is one off the saving graces for this film. This Blu-ray contains a theatrical and an unrated cuts of the film. The theatrical runs 95-minutes long, while the unrated cut runs an extended 107-minutes. The 12 minutes are made up of additional plot and gore, which for the most part adds enough to the film to check it out again.

RZA…I am sorry but the guy is not an actor. He may be a great rapper but the dude can’t carry this film and drags in down. He plays it way too serious and almost laughable. Russell Crowe continues his travels to becoming my favorite actor after his fantastic role in “Les Misérables”.  I mean the guy literally guts a man’s stomach and screams “My name is Mr. Knife.  You can call me Jack”. This guy is the shit, hands down and he is a freak in this film. Byron Mann also kick-ass as the film’s main baddie. Keep an eye out for cameos from Pam Grier and Kung-fu legend Gordon Liu

Universal delivers in terms of the release here, yet again.  It comes in a two-disc combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet.  The DVD actually comes with both the theatrical and unrated cuts, usually that is not the case.  Universal also did the same with this year’s “Death Race 3: Inferno”.  The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray is stunning and looks fantastic but with a supposed grindhouse film, should it really look this polished? The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track also works well with the action and RZA’s score. You can literally hear the bones breaking and the body parts flying. In terms of the audio/visual, this release is fantastic.  That again goes to Universal who has yet to disappoint recently with their stunning releases.

Back to the negative side again of this film, the special features are not spectacular. There are about 20 minutes deleted and extended scenes.  Some of decent but the rest is just filler.  There is a super short featurette called “A Look Inside”, which has RZA talking about the film. It was actually quite interesting and then the two minutes were up and it left you wanting more.  Next up we have “On the Set with RZA”, which is also very short and consist of five one-minute promos on the story, the cast and the special effects. Lastly “A Path to the East” is another two-minute behind-the-scenes with RZA. I was left wanting a lot more…and where is the animated short prequel that was made to promote the film?