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?

Actors: Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, Juno Temple, James Marsden, Peter Stormare, Amanda Plummer, Dolph Lundgren, Rosie Perez, Rebel Wilson, James Caan and Johnny Knoxville
Directors: Jonas Åkerlund
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

If you are familiar with award-winning film and music video director Jonas Åkerlund known best for films like “Spun” and
Lady Gaga’’s “Paparazzi”” music video. “Small Apartments” is a real trip to say the least. Having known Jonas’ work, I had an idea what to expect but still didn’t see this film coming. When I say Matt Lucas was starring, I expected laugh out loud comedy. What we got here is more of a black comedy murder cover-up. It has its funny moments but the best part has to be this film’s collection of talent who pop in and out. Not sure if I could watch this again but one viewing was manageable.

Matt Lucas is the star of this film but it also packs some fun appearances from actors Billy Crystal (“When Harry Met Sally”), Juno Temple (“The Dark Knight Rises”), James Marsden (“X-Men: The Last Stand”), Peter Stormare (“Fargo”), Amanda Plummer (“Pulp Fiction”), Dolph Lundgren (“The Expendables”), Rosie Perez (“White Men Can’t Jump”), Rebel Wilson (“Pitch Perfect”), DJ Qualls (The New Guy”), James Caan (“The Godfather”) and Johnny Knoxville (“Jackass: The Movie”). This is a zany cast for a zany film for sure.

Official Synopsis: Trapped in a seedy LA apartment, Franklin Franklin (Matt Lucas) has a dead landlord on the kitchen floor and is surrounded by eccentric neighbors: the stoner (Johnny Knoxville) and girlfriend (Rebel Wilson), the wanna-be stripper (Juno Temple) and the artist (James Caan). To add to his chaos, a drunk investigator (Billy Crystal) is questioning him about his landlord. But none of this fazes Franklin. He dreams of Switzerland, and waits each day for an envelope from his institutionalized brother (James Marsden). Then, one day the envelope doesn’t come and Franklin becomes unhinged. Little does he know…his crazy brother has the secret that will set him free.

When it comes to special features there is nothing really going on here besides two pretty useless featurettes.  The first featurette is  “How to Build A Gravity Bong” with Johnny Knoxville.  He gives instructions on how to craft the ideal smoking device…real charming. The other feature is a short behind-the-scenes look into the production. Even though I wasn’t completely in love with this film, I would have loved to have a commentary track with the director and maybe a few of the cast members.

Actors: Jennifer Nichole Porter, Scott Winters, Brian A. White, Kathleen Kimball, Wayne Newton
Directors: Dana Packard
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Honey Tree Films
DVD Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 120 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I have to admit that I had never heard of “40 West” before it showed up at my door. I am glad that I checked this out (for the most part) since it is a well-written low-budget indie with a nice punch ending. This plays out like a slow-burn character drama/thriller, though maybe a little too slow. Running two hours, this could have been easily trimmed by 30 minutes and been much more effective. Jennifer Nichole Porter is not just the star of this film, she is also the writer and composer as well. Being a fan of music, I really enjoyed the music in the film for sure. Speaking of music, who doesn’t love Wayne Newton? His role in this film is very clever and well-executed.

“40 West” focuses on Maeve (Jennifer Nichole Porter), a blues singer, that ends up with her car breaking down and purse stolen, when she is about to take a trip. She is helped out by a stranger Elijah (Scott Winters), who looks helpful but then ends up setting her up with ex-con husband Colin (Brian A. White), who handcuffs her in a hotel room and plays catch up after being in prison for five years. The events get more complicated when Colin’s girl from the pen, Arlene (Kathleen Kimball), shows up and on top of that Arlene’s husband Bud (Wayne Newton) makes his appearance as well.

The film’s website boasts winning 17 international awards, which is very impressive for an independent film. Though I am a little confused since The New Maine Times is quoted on the box calling this “A Gripping Thriller”, while it won Best Comedy at the Mountain Film Awards. I guess the pickings were a little light for that festival, the film has a certain dark comedy aspect but really lands more in the drama/thriller genre. Nonetheless, the film does deserve any recognition it gets. So kudos to them, hopefully more to come! You can get this film from iTunes, Amazon.com, Walmart.com and of course the film’s website.

Actors: Sid Haig, Courtney Gains, Allen Maldonado, Taylor Piedmonte, David Schwager
Director: Douglas Schulze
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: February 12, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

“Mimesis” is a very clever homage to George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”…for the first 30 minutes. It plays out scene for scene at first…before it crashes and burns into a modern killer flick. I have to give it to them for trying to be original here but they lost focus in the second half. They also got horror genre favs like Sid Haig and Courtney Gains to make a brief appearance. They are listed on the back of the box as “starring” but one scene doesn’t constitute starring. Horror fans, I would say watch this if you want find it free or on Netflix but otherwise, I would steer clear.

Official Premise: A group of horror fans find themselves unwilling participants in a living nightmare that pays homage to a classic horror film. Seven complete strangers whose only common link is a love for classic era horror films are invited to attend an exclusive “horror fan” party at a remote farm. But as the sun sets, these strangers soon find themselves within a real life version of the 1968 George Romero cult horror classic “Night of the Living Dead”!

The Blu-ray presentation looks good enough with its 1080p transfer. The DTS TrueHD 5.1 track work well with the score and suspense in the beginning. I got tired real quick with the speed up/slow down shots throughout the whole film. This isn’t “The Matrix”, you know! The only special feature listed here is an audio commentary track from the Director/Co-Writer Douglas Schulze and Co-Writer Joshua Wagner. I love their passion for the genre but it still doesn’t make it up for it’s disappointing third act.

Actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Wallace Shawn, Anne Sofie von Otter
Directors: Yaron Zilberman
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

When I saw the cast for this film I was immediately drawn.  I mean you’ve got both Academy Award Winners Christopher Walken and Philip Seymour Hoffman, who are absolutely brilliant in this film.  They have also had very strong years with “Seven Psychopaths” and “The Master”, respectively.  Also Academy Award Nominee Catherine Keener takes the stage with force. The film is very powerful and packs an intense passion of music.  I am a sucker for anything when it comes to music.  Something about it really speaks to me…maybe it is my yearning to be a musician myself.  Well if you are looking for a great piece that you probably missed in it brief theatrical release, I would recommend giving this a watch for sure.

Official Premise: After 25 years together, the members of a world-renowned string quartet learn that their beloved cellist (Walken) may soon be forced to retire. But the news stirs up equally painful challenges when competing egos, harbored resentment, and irrepressible lust threaten to derail the group as they struggle to maintain harmony in their music – and their lives.

20th Century Fox has delivered a nice Blu-ray presentation on this release.  It is just a sngle disc Blu-ray no DVD combo.  The 1080p looks very crisp and sharp, within its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1.  Since the film is about music, I was really hoping for a smashing audio track and it was delivered here with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.  Works well with both the dialogue heavy scenes and the music as well.  The special features is where this release fails. There is only one short featurette called “Discord and Harmony”.  I would have loved to seen a commentary track with the director and this wonderful cast.

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Actors: Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harington, Sean Bean, Carrie-Anne Moss, Malcolm McDowell
Directors: Michael J. Bassett
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “Silent Hill”, I wasn’t really blown away at first.  The film has grown on me since but still isn’t near perfect.  With the sequel I was really hoping that this was going to fix all the issues they had but with the first film but they leave way too many loose ends and focus too much on the back story. There are also flashbacks to the first film countless times, I would have like to seen them take the film it is own and new direction instead of holding onto the first film like a crutch.  The film is still entertaining though and visually beautiful (like the first).

If you have played the games then you know they are scary as shit.  This film (and the first) never really captured that fear aspect.  The creepiest part in the film was the nurses but nothing really scary here. Pyramid Head plays the role of the anti-hero more than a villain. When it comes to gore, there are some decent gory moments, but not very many.  Maybe I am desensitized but I was missing some major “What the F***!” moments here.

Let’s get to the aspect of the 3D.  I have to say I was very impressed with the 3D.  It feel like it was used well and almost sparingly.  It delivered some great in-your-face moments without going cheesy, while also providing some amazing depth to the town of Silent Hill.  I loved any shots with the falling ash since I felt like they really stood out well.  I might even go as far to say that the 3D was in fact the best part of this film.  Having also seen the film in 2D, it plays well but misses that depth that really binds it all together with the extra dimension.

In the video game world, “Silent Hill: Revelation” is a take on the game “Silent Hill 3”. Sean Bean returns from the first film, but really feels more like a cameo.  It is similar to the appearances from Radha Mitchell and Deborah Kara Unger, who also return from the first but only one scene in the whole film. Carrie-Anne Moss is almost unrecognizable playing Claudia Wolf, the head priestess of the order. Adelaide Clemens takes the lead in this and does a good job playing Sharon Da Silva / Heather Mason, but I couldn’t get over her resemblance to Michelle Williams.  Lastly there is another fun cameo from genre favorite Malcolm McDowell.

Official Premise: Return to a place of insanity and blood-curdling chills in this shocking sequel to one of the most surreal and gruesome horror films ever created. Heather Mason (Clemens) and her father (Bean) have always tried to stay one step ahead of the malevolent forces intent on their destruction. But on the eve of her 18th birthday, a dangerous revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her in a nightmarish landscape forever.

When it comes to the release itself though, Universal has all option covered here and delivers the goods. There is a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy. I mean what else can you ask for? Everything format is covered and you have the option to what this film whenever/wherever you go. The 1080p transfer is very nice with the dark colored film and works well with the 3D presentation. The audio track is also solid here with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.  It definitely delivers the score well and adds a lot of eerie aspects to the film.

The special features or should I say lack there of is another knife for “Silent Hill: Revelation” though. There is only one VERY short behind-the-scenes featurette, running about three minutes. The good thing is that it is actually presented in 3D, which is rare for extras but it doesn’t last long enough to deliver anything worth actually watching. Where are the rest of the extras? I would have loved to seen a visual effects featurette and even a commentary track.

Actors: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Jesse Plemons, Price Carson
Directors: Paul Thomas Anderson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: February 26, 2013
Run Time: 144 minutes

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

“The Master” is quite amazing…but is definitely not for everyone. This film deals with a lot of very deep underlying issues that don’t reveal themselves in one viewing. But that would mean you would really have to watch this film more than one. I do not think that I could do that. Is this film well-shot/well-acted etc? YES! But it is something that I would watch once and probably never speak of again. The film was shot for 70MM IMAX and I am sure that would have been an amazing way to see it but I did not have a chance. If you like Paul Thomas Anderson or looking for great performances, then I would recommend it but be warned it is not an easy dish to swallow.

Official Premise: A striking portrait of drifters and seekers in post-World War II America, Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER unfolds the journey of a naval veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future–until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

Anchor Bay is releasing “The Master” as a Blu-ray Combo Pack including a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy (not Ultraviolet though). The 1080p transfer is flawless as is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track. The special features include: “Back Beyond” which features outtakes and additional scenes edited to music by Johnny Greenwood.  Next up is “Unguided Message”, which is an 8 minute short, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette looking into the production.  I was very interested in the fact that John Huston’s landmark documentary about WW-II veterans was included, called “Let Their Be Light (1946)”. Lastly there is teasers/trailers included.

Starring: Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Michael York, Marisa Berenson, Helmut Griem
Director: Bob Fosse
Rated: PG
Studio: Warner Brothers
Run Time: 124 minutes
Own it on Blu-Ray: February 5, 2013

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

Musical and film fans will be pleased to own Warner Brothers’ blu-ray release of Bob Fosse’s 1972 classic, Cabaret.

Official Synopsis: Flamboyant and eccentric American entertainer Sally Bowles (Minnelli) sings in Berlin’s decadent Kit Kat Club, even as Nazism rises in Germany in 1931. She falls in love with a British language teacher (York) – whom she shares with a homosexual German baron (Griem). But Sally’s insular, carefree, tolerant and fragile cabaret world is about to be crushed under the boot of the Nazis as Berlin becomes a trap from which Sally’s German friends will not escape.

Even forty years later and amidst modern movie musicals such as Les Mis and Chicago, Cabaret still maintains its edge. It’s perhaps because of Joel Grey’s disturbingly impish Master of Ceremonies that we never quite get to know while his Kit Kat Klub performances are all too aware of, if not concerned by, the dark times brewing outside. It was not for nothing that one of this film’s eight Oscar wins was for David Bretherton’s film editing, which among other structural coups features Grey doing a gleeful German slap dance as we watch a man beaten by Nazis.

Bridging the gap between the club and the outside world at the center of the film is Liza Minnelli’s brash American entertainer Sally Bowles. Bowles may seem at first to be the manic-pixie-dreamgirl to York’s straight-laced Brian Roberts but she’s much more than that. On top of the powerhouse performances Minnelli gives to such classics as “Maybe this Time” and “Mein Heir”, she is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking as Sally’s eccentricities expose a loneliness and desperation for attention that she may finally get from York’s charming Brian.

Some of the major themes explored in the film such as homosexuality and abortion, though far more taboo at the time of the film’s release, still hit home today. Cabaret sharpened the edge on movie musicals in a way you’d be challenged to find in the big bright musicals of the sixties. That impact is more thoroughly discussed on this set’s new featurette “Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals” which features the film’s stars as well as additional commentators. Most notably director Rob Marshall, whose Chicago was the most direct benefactor from the structure set in place by Cabaret.

As for the Blu-Ray remastering, which apparently involved the manual removal of a thousand foot scratch on the film’s original print, the film looks stunning. The effects of the remastering, the first done to the film in over twenty years, are most evident when you compare the feature presentation to the clips of the film utilized in previously produced (1997) featurettes “Cabaret: A Legend in the Making” and “The Recreation of an Era” which are also included here. Additional features included many of the cast sharing fond memories from making the film and are welcome additions if perhaps not new to any die-hard fans out there.

Actors: Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey, Oliver Clark
Directors: Frank Pierson
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Run Time: 139 minutes

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

They just don’t make films like “A Star is Born” anymore.  The wonderful cast of Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, and Gary Busey.  Yes Gary Busey, before he got all messed up! This 1976 musical was awarded an Academy Award and five Golden Globes, back in the day. The main draw for this Blu-ray release is the fact that it comes with packaged with a super cool 40-page Digibook with live performance photos and rare behind-the-scenes photos and more.  If you are a fan of this movie and of musicals in general, I would highly recommend this release for sure. The film is still as touching as it was and very entertaining.  Time has been good to this film, as Warner has been good with this Blu-ray release.

Official Synopsis: The fire of Barbra Streisand. The magnetism of Kris Kristofferson. The reckless world of big-time rock ‘n’ roll. All three bring a new passion and timeliness to A Star Is Born one of the screen’s classic love stories (previously filmed in 1937 and 1954) and winner of five Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture Actress and Actor (Musical/Comedy).Paul Williams Kenny Loggins Leon Russell and others worked with Streisand on one of the most popular song scores ever topped by the Streisand/Williams Evergreen winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award as 1976’s Best Original Song.

Warner does not chimp on its Blu-ray releases. They always deliver the best possible video and audio for their catalog title Blu-ray releases. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for the near 40 year old film within its original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also perfectly works with the film. Especially for a film who’s soundtrack sold over four million copies in the US alone. “Evergreen” sounds amazing and is just such an amazing and emotional song. The special features include a nice audio commentary with star Barbra Streisand. There are a few additional deleted scenes and wardrobe tests included as well. Lastly there is a trailer gallery included. Overall not bad but nothing new to really draw ya in.

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Actors: Luke Pasqualino, Ben Cotton, Lili Bordan, Mike Dopud, John Pyper-Ferguson
Directors: Jonas Pate
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: February 19, 2013
Run Time:  97 Minutes

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

When it comes to “Battlestar Galactica” you are eitehr a hardcore fan or nothing.  There is really no in-between here. This all-new chapter is a prequel to the 2004 “Battlestar Galactica” series. Since the failed attempt at the spin-off prequel with the short-lived “Caprica”, fans are now giving the chance to get more out of this franchise. Syfy is behind this and delivered this show in web-series format airing it over weeks on Machinima.com in a 10-part series. After the enormous success of “Mortal Kombat Legacy”, they were trying to grab that success. For a web series, this packs some killer visual effects and amazing CGI work. Did I mention the visual effects on this show are EPIC! Seriously? How did they do this on a web-series budget? They initially pitched this as a pilot of a new series but they decided against it, but at least we get this new two-hour movie. I am sure we have not seen the end of this franchise for sure. So if you enjoy “Battlestar”, are you going to dig “Blood & Chrome”…you bet your FRAKING ass! I WANT FRAKING MORE!!!

Official Premise: An all-new chapter in the Battlestar Galactica saga, Blood & Chrome takes place in the midst of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, the sentient robotic Cylons, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a young, talented fighter pilot, William Adama (Luke Pasqualino, The Borgias), finds himself assigned to one of the most powerful battlestars in the Colonial fleet: the Galactica. Though Adama quickly finds himself at odds with his co-pilot, the battle-weary officer Coker (Ben Cotton, Alcatraz), the two men must set their differences aside when a routine escort mission with an enigmatic passenger (Lili Bordán, Silent Witness) turns dangerous and becomes a pivotal one for the desperate fleet.

So why would you want this Blu-ray release instead of just watching it on Machinima.com or Syfy? Well, that is simple it is for the never-before-seen Unrated Edition cut.  The unrated cut adds about 10 additional minutes to the show and is worth checking out for the new footage.  Universal is behind this release and they are delivering the goods with a sharp two-Disc combo Pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet. The 1080p looks much better than it does online. Even though the show has a web-series scale, the quality and production scale is very high.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is banging with the non-stop action and the ships will literally fly right past your head! The special features are usually a big draw for a web-series to Blu-ray but lacking a bit here. There are 13 deleted scenes included, seven which are exclusive to Blu-ray only.  Lastly there is “Blood & Chrome: Visual Effects”, which looks into how this series looks as good as it does.  I was hoping for a little more here in terms of featurettes but overall it is still worth the purchase.