Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue, Max Thieriot, Gil Bellows, Will Bowes, Jonathan Higgins
Directors: Mark Tonderai
Rated: PG-13 / Unrated
Studio: Relativity Media
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Run Time: 101 / 109 minutes

Film: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When this film came and flew threw theaters, I was shocked due to the popularity of Jennifer Lawrence from “The Hunger Games”. I am personally a fan of neither. I am also not a terribly big fan of PG-13 teen horror films but I was hoping that this would have surprised me. Well, I was completely wrong and this film fitted right into the cheesy waste-of-time lack of suspense teen wanna-be horror genre. The Blu-ray release for this film includes the theatrical cut and also a new 8-minute longer unrated cut, which adds a “shocking twist” you wasn’t shown in theaters but doesn’t help the rest of the film from sucking. I would recommend skipping both versions of this film and saving your money.

OFficial Premise: Academy Award® Nominees Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and Elisabeth Shue star in this edge-of-your-seat horror hit packed with heart-pounding thrills and gripping suspense. Newly divorced Sarah (Shue) and her teenage daughter Elissa (Lawrence) have just moved to the suburbs for a fresh start. But their hopes quickly shatter as they learn that, years earlier, a grisly murder took place next door when a deranged girl killed her parents and disappeared. The girl’s older brother Ryan (Max Thieriot) still occupies the house, and when he befriends Elissa, his secretive past could become her worst nightmare!

“House at the End of the Street” comes as a combo pack with Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy included. The 1080p transfer looks crisp with no major issues even in the dark scenes. There is a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track included as well, even though it doesn’t add any suspense. The issue I have with this release is that the film is pitched with the unrated cut but the DVD and digital copy included only come with the theatrical cut (even despite the DVD artwork showing the words “Unrated”). The special features are completely missing as well with only one extra included, “Journey Into Terror: Inside the House at the End of the Street”. I would skip this unless you absolutely loved this film.

Directed by: Seiji Kishi
Distributed by: Sentai Filmworks
Rated: Unrated
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Run Time: 365 minutes

Part 2: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Persona 4: The Animation” is based on the “Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4” video game (one of my favorites).  This collection of episodes concludes the 26 episodes developed for this show. The beginning of this animation series introduced the show and got into the heart of the story but these episodes are where the shit just crazy leading up to the intense finale. This is the type of show that I feel that I revisit and and tune in to the Midnight Channel very often. Here is our review of Collection 1.  Thanks to Sentai for not delaying to long and releasing Collection 2 so quickly. Though I have to admit though, I hope that they continue the “Persona” series in anime format since I absolutely love this franchise.

Official Synopsis: The mystery of the murders seems to have been solved, but the riddle of the Velvet Room and the lethal Midnight Channel is an enigma that Yu and the other students who form the Investigation Team still have to crack. And that’s to say nothing of the question of how their powers of Persona work in the first place, and how the fictional Teddie can exist in the real world. As conundrums wrap in conundrums, and the school year burns inexorably towards a blistering summer, the team must prepare for the most deadly challenge yet while still pretending to lead normal high school lives. But that won’t be easy under the evil eye of their new homeroom teacher. And when Detective Shirogane reenters the game with new information about irregularities in the police investigation and clues that may lead to an entirely different conclusion; both team and detective find themselves playing the role of prey once more! The body count is on the rise, the Shadows attack and new Persona are about to ascend as the Midnight Channel launches the ultimate cancellation program in the grand finale of PERSONA4!

The Blu-ray presentation on par with the Collection 1. The animation looks just as vibrant and sharp with  each 1080p transfer on the episodes. The audio track works good as well with its DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and does a good job of delivering the scale of this fantastic finale. Like in Collection 1, there is no original Japanese language track.  There is just English dub available, not the fault of Sentai though. Unfortunately unlike the episodes, there is not much in special features department.  Basically the only extra is the clean opening and closing animation sequences. Still a good feature but not enough to leave you satisfied. Lastly, there are trailers for other recent/upcoming Sentai titles.

Actors: Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Rating: TV-MA
Studio: HBO Studios
DVD Release Date: January 15, 2013
Run Time: 280 minutes

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

If you are fans of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the comedy duo behind BBC series’ “The Office” and “Extras” and “The Ricky Gervais Show”, then “Life’s Too Short” is definitely for you! The series stars Warwick Davis (“Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” and “Harry Potter” franchise) playing a fictionalized character of himself.  I love the fact that he is able to poke fun at himself and in a very tongue-in-cheek style. Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant also pop in from time to time through the episodes for a good laugh. The show is also ace with cameo celebrity appearances like Liam Neeson (my favorite) and Johnny Depp They appear completely out of their typical context and will leave you on the floor laughing! Can’t wait for season two! Bring it on HBO!

Official Synopsis: Shot faux-documentary style, Life’s Too Short gleefully charts Davis’s every move as he tries to jumpstart his waning career by opening his doors to a reality TV film crew while trying to maintain his pride and self-respect in a series of uncomfortable, often-humiliating situations. Along the way, he seeks advice from his old pals Gervais and Merchant (playing versions of themselves) in hopes that their A-list celebrity connections including Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson, Sting, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Carell, Cat Deely (who all cameo) will aid his career.

The DVD is jam-packed with bonus features. To start there is a short featurette (get it short?), well not that short called “Making of Life’s Too Short”.  There are ten behind-the-scenes clips from the series.  There are also various deleted scenes and outtakes.  I feel the series works the way it did but I welcome the extra footage, as parts of it were indeed hilarious.  Lastly, there are previews for each episode.  Did I mention that I love Liam Neeson’s episode? I am surprised that HBO is not giving this series a Blu-ray release since in the UK it is getting one.

Directed by: Marko Makilaakso
Starring: Andrew Tiernan, Mark Wingett, Mikko Leppilampi, Jouka Ahola
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: January 1, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

Being a sucker for zombie flicks I was anxious to check out “War of the Dead”. Yes there have already been countless films based around zombie wars and Nazi experiments gone array but surely one more couldn’t hurt could it? A slow start and the absence any real recognizable names put this film in the red at the start however at about the 15 minute mark you catch your first glimpse of some zombies and the film starts to take off. Well somewhat.

March 1941. Captain Martin Stone (Andrew Tiernan) leads an American unit on a mission to destroy a secret Nazi underground bunker. Fighting alongside an elite platoon, the soldiers find themselves attacked by the same men they killed in an earlier assault. Now, the remaining officers must struggle to survive against the war’s most terrifying enemy…a flesh hungry army of the living dead.

The overall presentation of the film is decent but far from great. At times scenes appear dark, choppy and are rather chaotic making the film tough to watch especially if you get motion sickness easy. I should also point out that anyone expecting to find Academy Award winning performances from the actors involved should skip this. Though the Blu-Ray version of the film also includes a bonus DVD copy that’s about all you will find in the way of bonuses. Fans of zombie/war films should save their money and continue to wait patiently for the highly anticipated Marc Foster film “World War Z” which is being released in Spring of 2013.

Actors: Al Snow, John Wells, Sebrina Siegel, Erica Goldsmith, James Tackett
Directors: Brian Cunningham, Matt Niehoff
Rated: Unrated
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Run Time: 81 minutes

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

Alright so let’s talk about “Overtime”…with a tagline of “Guns, Girls, Aliens, Zombie…Cake!”, how can you  go wrong. “Overtime” is far from perfect but it is a fun science-fiction/horror/comedy.  The film has some decent gore, some sharp comedy and Former WWE superstar Al Snow.  That is enough for me.  Overall, the acting is terrible but for some reason, I was totally interested to see where this film was going. Is it the best movie ever? No.  But with all the crappy horror movies that I watch this film was at least worth checking out.

Official Premise: Former WWE superstar Al Snow stars in this action-packed zombie-alien comedy that gives new meaning to working late. Ralph (Snow) is a hitman who has trouble balancing the responsibilities of work and home…especially when his boss calls him in to work on a Saturday. But when Ralph finds himself locked in an alien infested lab with his partner Max (John Wells), he must find a way to save a small group of survivors, keep himself safe from a hoard of zombie aliens and get to his son’s birthday party on time.

This release is presented as a two-disc set combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film.  The 1080p transfer looks good for “Overtime” but nothing amazing.  There are two audio tracks including a PCM 2.0 and 5.1 surround track. There are some decent but short special features included.  There is an audio commentary with stars Al Snow and John Wells, and directors Brian Cunningham and Matt Niehoff.  This is a must listen for fans of the film and works great for a repeat visit.  There are two featurette including “Surviving Overtime” and a behind-the-scenes featurette looking into the production. Lastly there is a press promotional promo and trailer included.

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Actors: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey
Directors: Pete Travis
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

The character of Judge Dredd made his first appearance in 2000 AD #2 back in March of 1977. After the disappointing attempt to bring to the big-screen, though cult favorite, back in 1995 with Sylvester Stallone in “Judge Dredd”, “Dredd” is the latest attempt and is adapted by Alex Garland from John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s legendary comic book and filmed in stunning 3-D. This film is the way that this comic book character should be portrayed. Karl Urban (“Star Trek”, “The Chronicle of Riddick”) really scores with this role, even while keeping his helmet on! Lena Headey (HBO’s “Game Of Thrones”) plays a good baddie as Ma-Ma. Overall the film is a blast to watch. It is action packed, gritty, gory and the way that Judge Dredd should be. I highly recommend checking this out and be sure to watch in 3D if possible.

Official Synopsis: The future America is an irradiated wasteland. On its east coast, running from Boston to Washington D.C., lies Mega City One – a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge, a dangerous drug called “Slo-Mo,” and the sadistic crime boss Ma-Ma (Headey) who is using it to take over the city.

Lionsgate is given “Dredd” a very impressive release as it explodes onto 3D Blu-ray.  The releases includes the 3D and the standard 2D version of the film on one disc plus Digital Copy and digital Ultraviolet code. The film looks absolutely stunning with its 1080p High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.40:1) transfer.  This works perfectly with the film’s very sharp visual effects sequences and 3D.  The film was shot in 3D using RED MX, SI2K and Phantom Flex high-speed cameras. The film has great depth and really looks amazing on Blu-ray.  The star of the release is easily the Blu-ray’s audio track.  “Dredd” comes packed with an insane 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio that is optimized for 11.1 Neo X.  This is becoming a trend with Lionsgate releases after “The Expendables 2“. I was blown away with this track and as was my surround sound.

The special features are impressive as well on this release. They are made up with six production-based featurettes.  The first is “Mega-City Masters”: 35 Years of Judge Dredd”, which looks into the legacy of this amazing action hero.  “Day of Chaos: The Visual Effects of Dredd 3D” focuses on the film very sharp and stylized visual effects. “Dredd” is a focus on the man that we know as “the law”. “Dredd’s Gear” is a look into all the super-cool goodies taht “Dredd” packs to kick some major ass! “The 3rd Dimension” is a look of introducing this series with the use of 3D. The last featurettes is “Welcome to Peachtrees”, which is a location-based feature on where 95% of the filming takes place in. Rounding out the fantastic special features is a “Dredd Motion Comic Prequel”, which is a nice lead-in to this film.

Actors: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel
Directors: Adam Arkin, Bill Johnson, Dean Parisot, Don Kurt, Gwyneth Horder-Payton
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 31, 2012
Run Time: 541 minutes

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

I have known of FX’s gun-slinging modern day police drama “Justified” but I never really got into it. I am a big fan of Timothy Olyphant though and he is quite amazing in the role. This season also guest stars the great Jeremy Davies in his Emmy-winning role as Dickie Bennett (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, 2012). This season where we find Harlan County no longer under the rule of the Bennett family.  We also see that Boyd returns to the criminal life, while Raylan has issues with keeping the town under control. The third season is said to be the best of the three and from what I have seen I do not disagree. The show does a good job of hooking you in from the very first episode and even those that haven’t watch from first season are still able to enjoy. Stay tuned because a fourth season of 13 episodes will return on January 8th, 2013 on FX.

Official Synopsis:  Fresh off the epic gun battle that concluded Season One, Season Two of “Justified” finds Bo Crowder dead, and the Crowder criminal grip on Harlan County broken. Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens must now face off against the criminal organizations that are moving to fill the void, and finds himself entangled once again with the mercurial Boyd Crowder and the brutal Mags Bennett.

This three-disc Blu-ray will deliver the goods to the fans of the show for sure. The 1080p transfer for each episodes looks good. It is the standard upgrade as far as high-definition goes. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround track is sharp but doesn’t really blow you away. Still impressive and major upgrade from the episodes on television. Besides the show’s thirteen episodes, this release includes a bunch of deleted scenes and outtakes. I am very impressed with the fact that their is cast and crew commentary on nine episodes. You usually lucky if you get get one episode. There are also three all-new featurettes that look into the making of the third season, as well as the stunts and nice tour of the set. Lastly, If you like the show they you are going to love the exclusive to the Blu-ray sit-down interview with Olyphant and Goggins, called “Talking Shop: Roundtable Discussion”. All the above are all good reasons to revisit this show on Blu-ray.

Actors: Vincent Tong, Kirby Morrow, Michael Adamthwaite, Brent Miller, Paul Dobson
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 154 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love LEGO’s? “LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” is the #1 rated show on Cartoon Network with boys ages 6-11. Well I know I am not in that age-range but this show still has incredible entertainment value, even for a 30 year old. This DVD includes the first seven action-packed episodes from season two of the show. The season consists of 13 episodes, which is actually quite short for an animated series. Since the show is so popular, there is a third season on the way but not until 2014. So if your kids love this show, this will be a good way to hold them over – besides TV repeats, of course. IF you like LEGO (who doesn’t) and ninja (who doesn’t again), this is a no-brainer both for young and old..er kids.

Official Synopsis: ONE NINJA MUST TRAIN TO SAVE THEIR WORLD. The great Devourer has been defeated, but Lord Garmadon is still at large and what’s worse – he now holds the four Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu, and soon he commands both the Serpentine and the Ninjas’ flying ship ‘The Bounty’. The four Ninja must train Lloyd for his confrontation with his father, but with limited powers and without a home, it proves more difficult than they could have imagined. And Lloyd is not exactly an A-student either. Garmadon is bent on preventing Lloyd meeting his full potential. He unleashes a series of devious plots including the ultimate Mega weapon, enemy pirates, dark replicas of the four ninjas and a dangerous race across Ninjago. The destiny of the Green Ninja has yet to be fulfilled.

The episodes included are: “Darkness Shall Rise”, “Pirates vs. Ninja”, “Double Trouble”, “Ninjaball Run”, “Child’s Play”, “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” and “The Stone Army”. “LEGO Ninjago” has quickly become not only the fastest growing but also the top-selling line in LEGO history. Keep an eye out since The complete second season and complete series of “LEGO: Ninjago Masters of Spinjitzu” are scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-Ray in early 2013. But for the time being this release will make a really nice stocking stuffer. Hint-Hint parents! I will be there waiting for the new episodes and releases of this fun show.  Now if you excuse me I need to go put in some hours on my latest purchase from LEGO Ninjago toy line.

Actors: Nigel Havers, Martin Clunes, Sophie Ward, Kevin McNally
Directors: Lawrence Gordon Clark, Bob Mahoney, Rob Walker
Number of discs: 2
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Synapse Films
DVD Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 265 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Look Deeper into the Face of Fear”.  That is a very effective and very haunting tagline, especially when looking at this extremely eye-catching and eerie box art.  This television series was very short five episode horror anthology that aired in the UK back in 1995. This is the first time that these episodes have seen the light of the day in the U.S., thanks to the amazing Synapse Films. It is weird but something about 80-90’s TV anthologies, this have this unique aspect to them.  I was a big fan of “Monsters”, “Friday the 13th: The Series” and “Freddy’s Nightmare” growing up and this series fits in well with that.  This series starred many of Britain’s leading actors at the time including Nigel Havers (“Chariots of Fire”), Martin Clunes (UK’s “Men Behaving Badly”), Sophie Ward (“Young Sherlock Holmes”) and Kevin McNally (“Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise). “Chiller” obviously has a very English feel behind it but that is where the charm comes form.

Here is the official premise for each episodes included: PROPHECY: When a group of friends hold a séance in the basement of a London cafe, they each receive a prophecy. Five years later, the frightening prophecies begin to come true. TOBY: Ray and Louise Knight tragically lose Toby, their unborn baby, in a car accident.  Louise soon discovers she’s pregnant again, but a routine scan reveals she is not… even though her body feels like she is! HERE COMES THE MIRROR MAN: A social worker helps a young homeless man but may die trying, when she discovers her predecessor was murdered under mysterious circumstances. THE MAN WHO DIDN’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS: Richard Cramer, a professional de-bunker of the paranormal, moves into Windwhistle Hall with his family, only to find themselves involved in a series of unexplained events and accidents. NUMBER SIX: In Helsby, a small Yorkshire town, police search desperately for a child killer.  Tied somehow to an ancient Druidic site, this killer may strike again at the next full moon.

Horror fans should not miss a chance to own this episodes on DVD for the first time. This show shows it age a little but still has some good spook factor behind it.  The make-up effects hold up well as well. The only thing I wish is that if there were more episodes to this series.  They just don’t make good horror anthology anymore and now there is plans to reboot “The Twilight Zone” (again), which doesn’t interest me at all. Since it will be made for THE CW and turned into another “Twilight” or “The Vampire Diaries”.  These episodes do look nice for this two-disc DVD set.  They are not completely restored but they are presented well and makes me want to go back and re-watch other great 80’s/90’s horror anthologies. There are no special features included on this release besides the episodes but to be honest, I was left satisfied enough just with the episodes for this release.

Actors: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon, Mathieu Amalric, Jay Baruchel, Kevin Durand
Directors: David Cronenberg
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: January 1, 2013
Run Time: 109 minutes

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

“Cosmopolis” is based on a novel by Don DeLillo and is easily David Cronenberg’s best film in the last decade. This film is a real trip though and a lot different from much of his other work. It is very dark and slow-moving but it works with such intelligent dialogue that it literally has you unable to move from your seat. The script was also written by Cronenberg himself, which is the first feature he has done that with since “eXistenZ” (one of my all-time favorites). So let’s get to elephant in the room, Robert Pattinson.  He delivers here easily his best performance to date. Haters of “Twilight” need to see this film cause it is a real turnaround. Top it off with another amazing score from Howard Shore, who worked with Cronenberg on “Dead Ringers” and you get another gem from this director.

Official Synopsis: Unfolding in a single cataclysmic day, the story follows Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson) – a 28-year old financial whiz kid and billionaire asset manager – as he heads out in his tricked-out stretch limo to get a haircut from his father’s old barber, while remotely wagering his company’s massive fortune on a bet against the Chinese Yuan. Packer’s luxe trip across the city quickly becomes dizzyingly hellish as he encounters explosive city riots, a parade of provocative visitors, and is thrust into a myriad of intimate encounters. Having started the day with everything, believing he is the future, Packer’s perfectly ordered, doubt-free world is about to implode.

The Blu-ray presentation from Entertainment One is literally amazing. The 1080p transfer is flawless and so well with the anarchy that is presented in the film.  There are two audio tracks included on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works great with Shore’s score as well. The special features are limited in quantity but back some not in quality.  “Citizens of Cosmopolis” is a nearly 2-hour documentary on the film and it’s production.  There are tons of interviews including the director David Cronenberg, Robert Pattinson and many of the other cast and crew talking about the film and the novel.  Lastly there is a sweet and informative audio commentary with Cronenberg, which will leave his fans very satisfied.

Actors: Ed Stoppard, Leelee Sobieski, Jeffrey Tambor and Max Von Sydow
Directors: John Laskowski, Andrey Kaykov
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Run Time: 106 minutes

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

When I saw the poster for “Branded” at my local theater, I wondered where did this film come from?  Well, after watching it – I wish it would have slipped a little lower under my radar.  This film is a complete waste of time…PERIOD.  The film packs a super cool cover and premise promising some great action and science fiction aspects.  The film takes over an hour – AN HOUR! – just to introduce the sci-fi genre and from there completely fails to do anything useful after that as well.  The cast is also completely out of place with Leelee Sobieski and Jeffrey Tambor.  Max Von Sydow was nominated for an Oscar in 2011…what was he thinking?!

Ed Stoppard, Leelee Sobieski, Jeffrey Tambor and Max Von Sydow star in this mind-bending, edge-of-your seat sci-fi thriller set in a surreal, not-so-distant future. In a dystopian society where mega-corporations rule, a terrifying conspiracy has been unleashed one that controls the minds of the citizens. One man (Stoppard) is determined to unlock the truth behind the conspiracy. His quest to find it will plunge him into a tangled web of power and intrigue, leading to a shocking revelation and an epic battle with the hidden forces and creatures that threaten the fate of mankind.

The Blu-ray presentation of this release is also completely bland just like the film.  The 1080p transfer looks good enough but doesn’t pack any “Wow” factor.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track sounds the best in its introduction logo than it does the rest of the film.  There is only one special feature included on this Blu-ray, which is an audio commentary with directors Jamie Bradshaw and Alexander Doulerain.  This is worth missing just like the film. Don’t let the box and cool premise draw you in…unless you feel like wasting two hours of your life. Go rent John Carpenter’s “They Live” instead!

Created by: Rankin/Bass
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: August 31, 2012
Run Time: 148 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Rankin/Bass, they are the Christmas special gods! I always think about their specials when the holiday season comes around. This TV Holiday Favorite Collections includes some of the lesser popular titles like “The Little Drummer Boy: Book II”, “Pinocchio’s Christmas”, “The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold” and “The Stingiest Man in Town” (which is the only one not using stop-motion “animagic”). I watch these specials every year on ABC Family. They are not the best of the best but they are still Rankin/Bass and they are classics.

Official Premise: Four family classics from the studio that helped make the holidays magic!: The Little Drummer Boy Book II: Starting where the original left off, Book II sends Aaron, the little drummer boy, off on a quest to aid Simeon, crafter of the silver bells. With Greer Garson and Zero Mostel. The Stingiest Man in Town: Rankin/Bass departs from its usual stop-motion “Animagic” process for this line animation adaptation of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. With Walter Matthau, and Tom Bosley. Pinocchio’s Christmas: After Fox tricks him out of a gift for Geppetto, Pinocchio sets out on an adventure to reclaim Christmas. Along the way he meets up with a beautiful marionette and a jolly old man in a flying sleigh. With Alan King. The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold: A sailor and a leprechaun join forces to reclaim the Christmas gold after a wailing banshee makes off with it, thanks to the sailor’s blunder. With Art Carney and Peggy Cass.

If I am not mistaken, this release is the first time that “The Little Drummer Boy: Book II” has been released on DVD, so that is the main draw here. The other specials have been previously released before on DVD, but it is nice to have them in the spotlight for once. The specials look nice on DVD but like some Warner Archive releases have not been remastered but taken from the best quality master that is currently available. So they could use a little touching up but for me that has always been the charm of these films, which is their imperfections. I look forward to sharing these episodes with my daughter and revisiting these each year.

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Created by: Hanna-Barbera
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: September 14, 2012
Run Time: 72 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Hanna-Barbera, they are the masters of animation.  I have been a fan of their work for over 30 years. This Christmas collection includes the C-grade of specials.  If you are looking for “The Flintstones” or “The Jetsons”, then you should look somewhere else.  This collection includes: “A Christmas Story” (1971), “The Town Santa Forgot” (1993) and “Casper’s First Christmas” (1979).  The special episodes are cool to have just because they are not the typical ones that you see every year on TV.  They are the forgotten ones or the ones that are not that popular.

Official Synopsis: A dog and a mouse head for the North Pole to deliver a lost letter. Hanna-Barbera superstars lend a helping hand to the world’s friendliest ghost. The greediest boy in the world discovers the magic of giving. What could three such different tales have in common? Hanna-Barbera and Santa Claus, that’s what! Hanna-Barbera assembled its mightiest talents of pen and voice to produce one of its first forays into prime-time animated Christmas specials, A Christmas Story, the tale of Goober and Gumdrop’s quest to save Christmas for one little boy. Dick Van Dyke narrates The Town Santa Forgot, based on Charmaine Severson’s beloved poem “Jeremy Creek” about the confusion created by a gargantuan wish list. Casper’s First Christmas sees Casper facing a Christmas Eve eviction when he receives holiday help from the likes of Yogi Bear, Boo-Boo, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy.

The episodes look good but haven’t been remastered for this release. They were taken from the best known master available.  The colors are a little dull and could use a face lift but like I said these are specials that are not as loved as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” etc. They are presented in their original aspect ration of 1.37:1. My favorite of the three is easily “Casper’s First Christmas” since it comes packed with many well-known Hanna-Barbera characters including Yogi Bear and many others. It may not be the best collection of Christmas specials but if you are looking for something different, check it out!

Actors: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillroy, Kevin Durand, Boris Kodjoe
Directors: Paul W.S. Anderson
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Run Time: 95 minutes

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

When I went to the theaters to see “Resident Evil: Retribution”, I had no idea it was going to be one of my favorite movies in the series, nor my favorite of the year.  My expectations were completely blown away with this film.  It is hard to believe that the 5th film in the franchise will surpass the film’s before it…but it sure does! “Resident Evil: Retribution” takes what is amazing about this franchise and amps to to 11 (and above)! It doesn’t get old watching Milla Jovovich in skin-tight leather kicking zombie ass.  It reminds me of Kate Beckinsale in “Underworld” but between me and you Milla does it better.

In this fifth film, there are tons of return characters, despite being dead (that doesn’t mean they are zombies either – see the movie to known what I mean). Michelle Rodriguez comes back in her role of Rain Ocampo from the first “Resident Evil”, as well as another character also. Colin Salmon or better known as “One” also from the first “Resident Evil” comes back with in this installment. My favorite return is Sienna Guillory aka the sexy Jill Valentine comes back, this time as a baddie.  She is mega-hot and also kicks some mega-ass.  Oded Fehr from “RE: Apocalypse” and “RE: Extinction” comes back from the dead but not the way that you would think. We find out what happened to Luther West (Wentworth Miller) as he returns as well. Lastly, and probably fan favorite Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts) is back and very helpful to Alice – or is he?

What I liked about the opening of this film is that you do not need to see the first five films in order to enjoy this.  It literally goes back and covers all the important ground.  Now if you have seen the previous film it only makes better, like the end scene from “Afterlife” being played backwards in slow-motion. Perfect way to start the movie. The 3D effects in the film are the best that I have seen throughout the entire year! Seriously! There is tons of in-your-face moments and also adds to some great jumps. The depth added throughout and it really works with the films’ action.  Speaking of the action, from the moment it starts, this film is a 90+ minute rollercoaster ride.

Official Synopsis: The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, ALICE (Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

Sony is releasing this film in a very nice 2-Disc Combo Pack, including the Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, and DVD, as well as UltraViolet™ digital streaming copy.  The film works well in 2D but it looses a bit of its charm.   The 3D in the theaters was great but I have to say that the 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray is really sharp and draws you in so well.  The film literally plays like a video game, which is the way it should be and works best with the transfer.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sounds beyond amazing.  Since the film is literally a 90-minute roller coaster ride, the sound is constantly  pumping giving the surround system quite the workout.

The special features on this release is nothing short of stunning just like the film itself.  I am nothing but 100% satisfied that there are actually 3D special features.  Sony is getting a name for doing this after “Men in Black III” and “The Amazing Spider-Man”.  It is not much but there are still deleted & extended Scenes and Outtakes in 3D that are exclusive to the Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray. On disc two there are also six exclusive featurettes, each better than the next. “”Maestro of Evil: Directing Resident Evil: Retribution”” looks into Anderson returning to the franchise as the director of the film. ““Resident Evil: Reunion”” looks into this huge cast reunion as I described above. “Evolving Alice”” show about Jovovich keeps playing Alice fresh. “In “Design & Build: The World of Resident Evil: Retribution” looks into creating the gigantic sets for this gigantic film. “Resident Stuntman”” gives a look into the action stunts with stunt coordinator Nick Powell. Lastly, “Code: Mika” is a short look with star Mika Nakashima, as she reprises her role as “J-Pop Girl”.

The rest of the bonus features include various cast, director and producer commentary tracks. They each provide different perspectives from the production.  There is also on final featurette ““Drop (Un)Dead: The Creatures”, which is a look into the various creatures from the franchise with the cast/crew. There is also an interactive map called ” Project Alice: The Interactive Database”,” which will allows you to investigate the living, the dead and the undead of the “Resident Evil”. I would also like to note that “The Complete Series: Resident Evil 1-5” will also be available on Blu-ray with UltraViolet starting December 21st, including each 2D feature film in the Resident Evil franchise.
 

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Starring: Ron Rubin, Dan Hennessey, Howard Morris, Greg Morton
Studio: Warner Archive
Number of Discs: 3
DVD Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 658 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you were a kids in the late 80’s like myself, then you would have looked forward to coming home from school for shows like this.  I have always been a fan of the “Police Academy” series, obviously shows like this don’t really warrant a animated series but it still is fun and reminds me of the time when afternoon cartoons were the bees knees.  This series fits in between the fourth and fifth movie in the franchise but this does not include any of the original cast voicing their characters.  I am not sure what it is about 80’s animated series but they just have this certain charm. I am glad to finally have these episodes on DVD and I look forward to the next volume to complete this animated series.

There were 64 episodes in this series produced over two seasons.  The first season consisted of 26 episodes, so the 30 episodes presented here cover the first season and a bit of the season. This is the first time that this episodes have ever been released on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. The episodes have not really been restored for this release but they still look good. They have been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available.  They are presented in a 4×3 full frame with the original aspect ratio of  1.37:1. The audio track included is a basis mono track but it works, especially with the catchy theme song “They Wear the Blue” performed by The Fat Boys.

Official Synopsis: The wacky rookies are back – and this time their antics are animated! After a bust goes awry in the opening episode, the heinous Capt. Harris gets busted back to the academy. With a serious hate-on for academy alums, Harris drags Mahoney, Jones, Hightower, Hooks, Tackleberry, Callahan, Sweetchuck and Zed back to the academy! In this 30-Episode, 3-Disc collection, the hit cartoon spin-off of the legendary law-and-disorder comedy franchise, Mahoney and Co. are joined by the stalwart members of the K-9 Corps, dog cops who are a few bones short of being top dogs, while battling super-villains like the Kingpin, Lockjaw, Amazona, Numbskull, Mr. Sleaze and the Claw. The noble-but-not-all-there Commandant is on hand as well, aided by new character The Professor and his crazy gadgets. Tip-top hip-hop act The Fat Boys sings the toe-tapping theme.