Starring: Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde, Ben Barnes and Zoë Saldana
Directors: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 24, 2012
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

“The Words” was not a film that I was interested in seeing in theaters. I do love Bradley Cooper and Zoë Saldana but it just didn’t interest me. The romantic thriller also does have a decent supporting cast including Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Olivia Wilde and Ben Barnes. I was a bit plenty surprised this little film definitely kept you guessing until the very end. Not my favorite of the year but if you are bored on a Saturday night, looking for some great acting and an interesting story – then I would suggest checking this out. This special edition Blu-ray also includes an extended edition of the film, as well as the theatrical edition.

Official Synopsis: “There’s more than one way to take a life…” and there are no truer words. Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) has achieved his every goal: a loving wife, critical success and a best-selling novel. The only problem, he’s risked everything he values because his success is not entirely his own. Now, as his conscience starts to haunt him and his past wrongs are revealed, he uncovers the steep price that must be paid, throwing his whole world and relationship into jeopardy. The consequences may just affect the legacy of himself as well as those closest to him.

The Blu-ray itself doens’t break the barrier of the format but surely looks nice.  The 1080p transfer is crisp and looks clear.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks steals the show with the film’s score and delivered  packs the dialogue very clear as well. The special features really consist of only four featurettes.  They are decent but nothing amazing.  The first is a making-of with “Unabridged: A Look Behind the Scenes of The Words”.  The next is a chat with Bradley Cooper and the filmmakers in “A Gentleman’s Agreement”. Lastly there are also two character featurettes focusing on “Clay and Daniella” and “The Young Man and Celia”.  Since this film is really a character film it works well but I would have loved to seen a commentary track as well.

Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Thomas Haden Church, Juno Temple, Gina Gershon
Directors: William Friedkin
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: December 21, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

“Killer Joe” received some controversy behind it when it was released in theaters with its NC-17 rating. But controversy is nothing new to the Academy Award-winning director, William Friedkin, known best for “The Exorcist” and “The French Connection”. This dark comedy is based on the play by Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts and it converts well to the screen. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first but “Killer Joe” is a real surprise hit of the year. It packs some amazing performance from Matthew McConaughey, which was both ferrous and yet funny. The genre of a dark comedy is always a hard line to walk well, “Killer Joe” may not be for everyone.  But if you enjoy Friedkin then I would definitely recommend checking this unique film out.

Official Synopsis: When 22-year-old Chris (Emile Hirsch) finds himself in debt to a drug lord, he hires a hit man to dispatch his mother, whose $50,000 life insurance policy benefits his sister Dottie (Juno Temple). Chris finds Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a creepy, crazy Dallas cop who moonlights as a contract killer. When Chris can’t pay Joe upfront, Jose sets his sight on Dottie as collateral for the job. The contract killer and his hostage develop an unusual bond. Like from a modern-day, twisted fairytale, “Killer Joe” Cooper becomes the prince to Dottie’s Cinderella.

The Blu-ray presentation comes with a sharp 1080p transfer and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track.  BOth not ground-breaking but very clear and sharp. Since this film was released NC-17 in theaters, the film arrives on Blu-ray in this Unrated Director’s Cut.  There will also be an R-rated DVD version released but I prefer the director’s vision of the film.  The Unrated Director’s Cut will also feature an exclusive audio commentary track from director William Friedkin, highly recommended. The rest of the special features are decent but not spectacular. There is a featurette called “Southern Fried Hospitality: From Stage to Screen”, takes us through from the beginning.  Besides that there is some footage from SXSW including a Q&A with Cast and an intro by William Friedkin.  Wrapping up, there is the Red Band Theatrical Trailer included.

Actors: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane
Directors: Seth MacFarlane
MPAA Rating: R / Unrated
Studio: Universal
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 107 / 114 minutes

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

“Ted” may not be for everyone, but it doesn’t try to hide that fact either. It is in-your-face and up front. With all the superheroes flooding the theaters this past summer, this film was a nice relief. Seth MacFarlane has delivered yet again with this very hilarious and very R-rated comedy that still manages to have a lot of heart. This is his first time directing a feature and it is just what Hollywood was needing. So America, he no just hasn’t taken over TV with his three shows…he know is taken over Hollywood! The film is offense and really uses it’s R-rating well and doesn’t pussy out with its humor. Hopefully if you enjoyed it will leave you with the same “WTF” look that I had after watching.

This Blu-ray release comes with both the Unrated and Theatrical Versions of the film. The 107-minute theatrical cut actually get a nice improvement (and more rauchy comedy) added for its 114-minute unrated extended version of the film. As I wished the film was longer in the theaters, this extended cut is exactly what was needed. But at least they include both and give you the option. One of the best comedies of the year for sure. Congrats MacFarlane for giving Hollywood a kick in the ass!

I have been a “Family Guy” fan since day one..especially after it was canceled. I helped spread the word and even attended the live show with MacFarlane and cast in NYC when it was renewed. In the recent days though, I have went seperate ways with the show as I have lost the taste for its humor. MacFarlane has yet again won me over with this film and his winning ticket is Mark Wahlberg. He completely steps outside from his comfort zone and delivers a really funny performance. The CG effects are great with the rauchy and rude bear Ted, which is of course also voiced by master MacFarlane himself. I am looking for to what they come up with the “Ted 2″…you know it is coming!

Official Premise: Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane delivers his boundary-pushing humor to the outrageous comedy blockbuster that critics are calling ³hysterically funny!² (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a grown man whose cherished teddy bear was brought to life as the result of a childhood wishŠand hasn¹t left his side since. Can John¹s relationship with longtime girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), move forward with his lovably profane buddy on his couch?

Universal delivers a sweet combo pack packing in a Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy included in this release.  I will be revisiting this film quite often thanks to this Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. “Ted” comes with a nice 1080p video transfer, which does well with what it has to work with. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track works great with the snappy dialogue and vulgar humor to ensure that you don’t miss a single joke.

The special features are a nice complement to this great film.  There is a highly recommend audio commentary track from Seth MacFarlane, co-writer Alec Sulkin and star Mark Wahlberg.  Informative and also funny, wish it had more Wahlberg though. There is 25 minute behind-the-scenes look into thee “The Making of Ted”, which covers all aspect. A little short but jam-packed. There is a short feature on shooting John and Ted’s fight scene in “Teddy Bear Scufflebrawl”. When it comes to comedies, always expect deleted scenes, there are fifteen deleted scenes.  They are short but worth checking out. If that is not enough there is another 10+ minutes of alternate takes and a hilarious gag reel included to finish off this release.

Actors: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, Bokeem Woodbine
Directors: Len Wiseman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 / Not Rated
Studio: Sony
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Run Time: 118 / 130 minutes

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

Alright, we all love Paul Verhoeven’s “Total Recall” from 1990 with Arnold Schwarzenegger. This 2012 reboot there very hard to compare to that film, maybe a little too hard. It picks and chooses aspects of the original film, while trying to stand out on its own. I do have a bit weak spot for science ficiton. This film is very sly and sharp. It is a well-polished, very loud and colorful action/thriller. Colin Farrell is good in the role but does have that comedy angle that Schwarzenegger brought to the role in the original. If the amazing CG and visuals aren’t enough for you, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel are great eye candy to look out. If you can get over the fact that this film is called “Total Recall”, there is a lot of action packed fun to be had here.

Official Synopsis: Prepare for non-stop excitement and pulse-pounding thrills in this “smart, sexy and action-packed” (Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood) action thriller. Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, a factory worker who visits Rekall, a revolutionary company that can turn his superspy fantasies into real memories. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, the line between fantasy and reality blurs as Quaid becomes a man on the run and the fate of his world hangs in the balance. Costarring Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel and Bryan Cranston, Total Recall is bursting with mind-blowing action sequences and spectacular visual effects, the ultimate high-energy thrill-ride!

Whether you enjoyed this film or not Sony delivers an amazing three-disc release with with two Blu-rays’s and a DVD. There is also a Ultraviolet digital streaming copy included. There are two cuts of the film including the theatrical release (118 minutes) and the extended director’s cut (130 minutes). The DVD and Ultraviolet copies only packs the theatrical release. The extended director’s cut really improves the film quite a bit, instead of the play-it-safe PG-13 theatrical release. I really enjoyed the new story lines and alternate ending. This is the way the film was meant to been seen and the way that I would recommend watching. “Total Recall” delivers one of the years best high definition 1080p transfers. It is literally perfect and works so well with this very pretty looking film. The audio also delivers a perfectly balanced Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound track.

The special features are nothing short of amazing on this release. On the first Blu-ray, there is a great and very honest commentary track from director Len Wiseman. Highly recommend this track. ““Total Recall Insight Mode” is perfect to check out during a second viewing since it allows the viewers to watch behind-the-scenes clips through the film. On Disc two there is a multitude of featurettes, as well as a 8-minute gag reel. “Science Fiction vs. Science Fact” is a look into the reality behind the future with Michio Kaku, Professor of Theoretical Physics and Author of Physics of the Future. “Designing The Fall” looks into the visuals and set designs but runs way too short. “Total Action” is a seven-part feature focusing on the films actors Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale and the making of key scenes including the film’s climax.

The last feature on disc two is a collection of Pre-Visualization Sequences called “Stepping Into Recall”. It shows various scenes in different animated states includingt “Apartment Waterfront Chase”, “The Fall Fight”, “Flight and Tripping Den”, “Elevator Chase” and “Car Chase”. The DVD of the film contains the gag reel, “Total Recall Insight Mode,” and the “Science Fiction vs. Science Fact” and “Designing the Fall” featurettes. Also not sure how this is related to “Total Recall” but there is a playable game demo of “”God of War™: Ascension”” for Playstation 3, which is in advance of its March 12, 2013 release. But it is a nice treat for fans of the game’s franchise!

Actors: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Aziz Ansari, Joy Behar
Directors: Mike Thurmeier, Steve Martino
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

When I the last chapter in this “Ice Age” franchise, which was also the first in 3D”, “Age of the Dinosaurs”, I thought the series had jumped the shark.  After a few viewings though, I that film has grown on me.  I was excited right off to see “Continental Drift”.  I thought the story looked cute, the 3D looks sharp and the new characters were fun.  I was right on all-three aspects.  This isn’t anything ground breaking in the story department but perfect for kids.  There are a bunch of great new characters, voiced by Jennifer Lopez, Aziz Ansari and Peter Dinklage.  This installment also introduces music into the film, with original songs and I think it works very well. Overall, I am very satisfied with this film and is perfectly timed for release to make a perfect Christmas gift this holiday season for every kid. Can’t wait to see what they come up with for the fifth installment in the “Ice Age” franchise.

Official Premise: This all-new chapter in the beloved Ice Age franchise reconnects families with herd favourites Manny, Sid, and Diego. Joining familiar friends of the Ice Age world on their latest journey is Sid’s long-lost and side-splittingly funny Granny plus a band of pirates led by the fearsome orangutan Captain Gutt. And no Ice Age film would be complete without celebrated icon Scrat, whose existence revolves around the elusive acorn. Scrat once again returns with his very own exploits; however this time his pursuits result in world-changing consequences.

One of the best aspects of the “Ice Age” franchise has always been its amazing voice cast. Ray Romano is always fun to listen to playing Manny.  Denis Leary plays the tough guy with the big heart, very well as  Diego.  John Leguizamo was born to play Sid with that lovable slur. Queen Latifah joined the cast last year voicing Ellie and is a nice match for Manny. Also Seann William Scott returns voicing Crash and  Simon Pegg as Buck.  Newcomers to the cast include Nicki Minaj voicing Steffie and parents will enjoy the “Shaun of the Dead” reunion as Nick Frost joins the cast with Simon Pegg voicing Flynn.

Fox delivers this release with a wonderful combo pack included the 3D Blu-ray, the standard Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy and also Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. You can literally want this film whenever and wherever you are. The 3D presentation really suits this franchise well and looks even better at home in a sharp 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.40:1. I think that the depth added in the 3D and really makes the action scenes feel like your on a rollercoaster ride. Besides the 3D, the film is also backs but an incredible DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1. There is no aspect of this Blu-ray release that isn’t amped up and ready to blow you away.

The special features are exploding out here with over four hours of extras.  Kids are going to eat up watching the film with the interactive “Party with a Pirate!” mode, very fun.  There is also a sing-along mode as well. I actually really enjoyed the original songs included here! There are many exclusive featurettes included, which gives some fantastic background into the production.  “Through a Pirate’s Spyglass: Voices Ahoy and Capturing the Crew” look into the recording sessions with the cast. “Granny and the Stink of the Sloths”, “Scrat Got Your Tongue?” and “Whale of a Tale: Drifts, Rifts, Beasties and Myths” focus on each of the respective characters and their aspects in the film.   There are two music video for the songs “We Are” and “Chasing the Sun”.  There are also some decent deleted Scenes included. “The Scratist” is an all-new animated short spoof with the lovable Scrat. “Ice Age: The Story So Far” is a seires overview for those who need a refresh on the first three films.  Lastly there are the original theatrical trailers included.

Starring: The Doobie Brothers
Distributed by: Eagle Vision
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Total Running Time: 148 minutes (including extras)

Our Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

With a career spanning over 40 years, over 40 million albums sold, and 25 band member line-up changes, the Doobie Brothers are a band that’s a ripe subject for an amazing documentary that chronicles their highs and lows and downs and outs. Unfortunately, “Let the Music Play” isn’t that documentary. While it does satisfy the prerequisites through band member interviews and archival footage and stills, it doesn’t really grab hold of the reigns and become something that is completely engaging or memorable.

The film establishes its pattern from frame one: talking head > concert footage/stills > repeat. While the stories each of the Doobies tell are fairly interesting, there are constant and tedious refrains of self-praise (“This is a band that could play anything!”) and stories of how a relentless recording and touring schedule burnt out so many members of the group. It’s pretty cut-and-dry stuff and, as a result, “Let the Music Play” never ascends above the level of a “Rockumentary 101” student’s final project.

How could the documentary have been a better one? For starters, the interview questions could have been a lot more probing and elicited more personal responses that shine a light on the band’s soul. We don’t get to hear any anecdotes or specific “There was this ONE time on the road…” stories that often make band bio films fascinating. It would be one thing if the Doobies were fairly droll individuals who weren’t articulate and interesting to listen to, but that’s far from the case. Throughout the entirety of “Let the Music Play”, we keep waiting for those stories that probably could and want to tell – the ones that we’ll remember after the end credits have rolled – but they’re never delivered.

The filmmakers would have done well to borrow some well-established motifs – and dare I say clichés – that are constantly used in the myriad of “making of classic rock albums” docs that have been released over the past decade. Legendary producer Ted Templeman factors into “Let the Music Play” quite frequently, shedding light as to what working with the Doobies was like, and accurately describes them as “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with leather jackets”.Given this, why not put him behind a mixing console so he can play some of the individual tracks from the multi-track studio mixes to highlight some of the three-part harmonies that made songs like “Black Water” unique and classic? It’s a huge missed opportunity that could have added the type of depth that the film as a whole lacks. And what about all of those guitars we see behind each of the guitarists while they are being interviewed?  Why not let them play them from time to time to demonstrate how some of the classic licks that the Doobies are famous for were created? Pat Simmons has a guitar in his lap whenever he’s talking to the camera!  Alas…another missed opportunity.

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of “Let the Music Play” is that it really doesn’t let the music play much at all. It would be one thing if footage of great performances were scarce but that’s clearly not the case given that the disc’s sole extra is 48 minute worth of live performances. The nine tracks that comprise this bonus feature are presented chronologically and span a wide range of the years from longhair to mullet to grey. The opener, “Rainy Day Crossroad Blues”, shows lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Johnston and a handful of his band mates gathered in a circle around a hotel’s outdoor pool area. A single camera on a tripod captures Johnston chunka-chunking away at his acoustic guitar and singing the lyrical sections that he’s already come up with for the song and humming the rest. It’s a stop-and-start affair full of trial and error, but the net result is that we get front-and-center seats to see the miracle of life as a new song is born. Even though this home movie clip runs a mere four minutes, it’s more fascinating that the entirety of the 100-minute documentary that it’s been tacked on to. Adding it and a couple of the other live footage clips to the film would have allowed “Let the Music Play” become something special and worthwhile.

It’s a shame that the film falls so short of being the definitive documentary about a band that is so proficient and significant and whose music is often timeless. “Let the Music Play” should, when inhaled, provide a great high but, instead, only delivers a disappointingly weak buzz.

Actors: Corey Sevier, Jasen Wade
Directors: John Lyde
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

Zombie Osama Bin Laden? What will they think of next? If that doesn’t draw you into “Osombie”, nothing will. Obviously, you know that this film needs to be taken with a very large grain of salt. But believe it or not, this film works.  It is a nice mix of action and horror. There are swords, guns, zombies and exploding heads.  How can you say no to all that? I mean the terror isn’t really there but the special effects are decent for a low-budget film.  Did I mention again this has a Zombie Osama Bin Laden? Shake you head if you want but this is worth checking out for a good laugh.

Officie Premise: Dusty (Eve Mauro) is on a desperate mission to rescue her brother, a conspiracy theorist who is convinced Osama Bin Laden is still alive. In Afghanistan, she falls in with a team of Special Forces soldiers on a secret assignment. When the group crashes headlong into a zombie apocalypse, Dusty and the troops realize they must find and destroy the root of this evil before it s too late.

Believe it or not the Blu-ray presentation on this low-budget action/horror flick looks impressive.  The 1080p transfer also compliments the effect work quite well. The audio track included, DTS-HD Master Audio track, doesn’t break any new ground but works with the action scenes.  Though on the downside of this release, there are zero special features includes, as this is completely bare bones.  I was hoping for a make-up effects featurette or at least a commentary track from the director explaining himself for bringing back Bin Laden and then killing him again.  This release is still worth checking out for a decent laugh.

Creator: Matt Groening
Cast: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 286 minutes

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

When this show got canceled back in 2003, I was dying for more “Futurama”. Between me and you, I like this show far better than “The Simpsons”, post-90’s. This volume contains the first 13 episodes of the seventh season of the show. This season has some really good episodes. This season touches base on everything happening in pop-culture this year from the Maya Calender to the election to even Bender having a baby. Some of the best episodes of the series here and a real improvement from season six. These episodes also have a great replay value and only get funnier. If you want more “Futurama”, the second half of season seven begins in June 2013.

Official Premise: Crank up the gravity and put your head safely in a jar! It’s Volume Seven of FUTURAMA – the animated sci-fi comedy from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Crammed with a whole new dimension of extras not shown on TV, this cosmic collection includes 13 bizarre and brilliant episodes involving ancient prophecies, Presidents’ heads, robot gangsters, angry butterflies, and of course, sausage-making. It’s a shipload of futuristic fun!

The episodes includes in this volume are: The Bots And The Bees; A Farewell To Arms; Decision 3012 ; The Thief Of Baghead; Zapp Dingbat; The Butterjunk Effect; The Six Million Dollar Mon; Fun On A Bun; Free Will Hunting; Near-death Wish; 31st Century Fox; Viva Mars Vegas and Naturama.

The special features are A-MAZING! There are commentary tracks on all of the 13 episodes from this season.  There is even a bonus commentary on the second episode “A Farewell To Arms” from the Animators of Rough Draft Studios.  These are worth the price of the release alone! There is an alternate ending for the fifth episode “Zapp Dingbat”. I am a big fan of the score from “Futurama” and there is a nice feature on the composer “Christopher Tyng’s Big Score”, read our interview with Christopher here. There is a funny sing-along with the character in “Futurama Karaoke”.  Lastly there is a funny infinite loop for “Möbius Trip” and some really great collection of deleted scenes in “Too Good For TV”.

Created by: Fred Freiberger
Starring, Jim Malinda, Bill Ewing, Naomi Pollack, Christopher Man
Narrated by: Burgess Meredith
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 344 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Korg: 70,000 B.C.” is a short-lived live-action Saturday morning TV series from 1974 that was executive produced by Hanna-Barbera. The show only lasted one season of 16 episodes but has developed quite the following over the years. I can’t say that I was able to watch this show during its original run, but I was aware of this series, despite its short-life and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The series also spawned a board game and comic series tie-in back in the day. Warner Archive is behind this complete collection of this show. It is the first time it has every been released on DVD.

Official Synopsis: A plaintive hunting horn, heard over a ruddy sunrise, signaled the start of something different on Saturday mornings in the mid-seventies. Clan Korg had arrived to take kids and kids at heart on a series of live-action anthropological adventures across the dangerous terrain of prehistory. Aided by consultants from both New York’s American Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Korg ditched battling dinos and discovering fire for a more mature focus on the dawn of cooperation and compassion amongst our Neanderthal brethren as personified by it’s pre-nuclear family. Korg is the patriarch of the clan, which includes Mara, his mate; Bok, Korg’s younger brother; and Korg’s three offspring: Tana, 15; Ree, 12; and Tar, 11. Together, they brave opposing tribes, cave bears and fire while discovering the roots of art, diplomacy and commerce in the world of 70,000 BC. Burgess Meredith narrates.

The quality of the episodes are decent for a 35+ year old show.  This release hasn’t been remastered or restored but it has been taken from the best-quality video master currently available.  So it looks good but could look much better, I am sure.  But I think that fans of the series will just be happy to finally have this series available on DVD.  They are presented in 4 X 3 Full Frame with it’s original aspect ration of 1.37:1.  The audio track included is a Dolby Mono track, which is in line with all the Warner Archive release.  There are no other extras included besides the episodes.

Actors: Freddie Prinze Jr., Monica Rial, Vic Mignogna
Directors: Justin Cook
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: December 28, 2012
Run Time: 84 minutes

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

With “Mass Effect 3” tearing up video game systems right now, fans are in looking for more and more.  Thanks to Bioware and visionary Production I.G, we are delivered “Mass Effect: Paragon Lost”, which is an anime prequel to “Mass Effect 3”.  Production I.G. is known for their work on “Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C.” and “Blood: The Last Vampire”. The anime style is great and really works with the franchise. If you are a fan of the “Mass Effect” series and have played 1 and 2, then this is great way to great introduced  into 3.  Now if you haven’t played any it is still overall an awesome anime and will make you run out and purchase the game ASAP! In fact this month there is a newly released “Mass-Effect Trilogy” for Playstation 3.

Officical Premise: Mass Effect: Paragon Lost follows the early career of Alliance Marine, James Vega. Vega leads an elite Special Forces squad into battle against a mysterious alien threat known as The Collectors. Stationed at a colony in a remote star system, Vega and his soldiers must protect civilians from ruthless invaders determined to capture the population for unknown purposes.  Movie audiences will discover new insights into the Mass Effect universe with an unprecedented glimpse into the haunted past of the franchise’s newest hero.

I have to say with anime, I always prefer a Japanese audio track but “Mass Effect: Paragon Lost” really does features a very sharp English voice cast including Freddie Prinze, Jr., Monica Rial (Deadman Wonderland) and Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist).  I still would have liked at least an option for a Japanese track but since this is more of a US release, I understand why it is not included. The real stars of the film though is composers David Kates and Joshua R. Mosley really steal the show with their fantastic score. Kates previously worked on the scores for both “Mass Effect” and “Mass Effect 2”, so he knows the series well. I am sure the score would sound even better with the audio track on the Blu-ray release.

The special features for the film are maybe not a lot in terms of quantity but nothing short in quality.  First we get “All Doors Open: A Look Inside Electronic Arts”, which a nice look into the studio.  I really enjoyed “An Inside Look at the Mass Effect Universe”, this is a really in depth look into how much work was but into the film, including character modeling and designing. I really enjoyed this 13 minute featurette. There is a decent behind-the-scenes featurette with “Directing Effect”, which looks into creating the film from the game with cast/crew interviews – also runs a nice 25 minutes. Lastly there is a trailer included.

Actors: Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Madonna, Glenne Headly, Mandy Patinkin
Directors: Warren Beatty
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When I think of “Dick Tracy”, I immediately get transported back to my grade school school yard back in 1990.  We used to run about the school yard pretending that we were characters from the film.  I even had (and actually still have) school-work folder with the “Dick Tracy” logo.  I had various toys from the film and even shirts.  So is “Dick Tracy”, the best comic book adaption film to date…nope but it has history with me and that is worth the purchase only.

Plus since this film is available on high-def Blu-ray for the very first time, it comes with a hot new digital restoration.  The 1080p transfer really delivers the goods.  The audio track included is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and works well with the score and the film’s action.  I wish Disney would have given more effort here as well. This film has never looked better (for what it is worth, it’s 1990 come on!).  Fans of this film should definitely check this out, just don’t expect anything in the special features department.

Warren Beatty played the role of Dick Tracy well.  Today he is probably not the best choice but in 1990, he was the bees knees.  Madonna was decent as well and sings a great song “Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)”, which won the Oscar that year. But the star of the film is really Al Pacino. I love his take on the character Big Boy. Also who doesn’t love William Forsythe depiction of Flattop. The make-up is this film is awesome and there is no shock that it won the Oscar for Best Makeup that year.

Synopsis: Thecomic strip detective (Beatty) finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney (Madonna) makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice’s (Pacino) united mob. Winner of three Academy Awards (1990), including Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Makeup and Best Music (Original Song for “Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)”).

This release comes as a combo pack with Blu-ray disc and digital copy. I would have also like to see an DVD copy as well. There are zero special features included on this release, which is very disappointing. I would have loved to at least gotten a trailer or even better the animated short “Roller Coaster Rabbit”, which was released theatrically with this movie. Oh well there is always the 25 anniversary in three years, hint-hint!

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Actors: Ben Stiller, Tim Blake Nelson, David Goldman, Kenan Thompson, Cody Burger, Joseph Wayne Miller
Director: Steven Brill
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 97 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I have never been a big fan of “Heavyweights”.  Let’s just say that age does not make this film any better. It features the early writing and executive producing from Judd Apatow, whom I am not a big fan of to begins with.  A little trivia about the film is that it features appearances from the father-mother-son team: Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, and Ben Stiller. Obviously, this is the best role that Stiller has ever done.  I have a feeling the only reason why Disney is releasing this catalog title on Blu-ray is to cash-in on Apatow’s latest film “This is 40”.  It is not really a film that I would rush out and purchase on high-definition though. I would only recommend for mega-fans of the film only, if not just for the special features.

Synopsis: From the Producer of Bridesmaids…comes Heavyweights, a comedy of enormous proportions! It’s the hilarious story of a group of underdog kids who discover their beloved summer camp has been sold to a crazy fitness fanatic (Ben Stiller) who’s determined to make their lives miserable! The new owner plans to keep the boys huffing and puffing, but these hungry kids have a plan of their own. They unite to turn the tables, take back their woodsy hideaway and challenge the rival camp to themost outrageous summer games of all! You’ll laugh out loud with these Heavyweights – they’re big, loud and proud, and ready to win their way into your heart!

The 1080p video transfer for this release looks good but nothing stunning. The audio track included is a decent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, which works overall but nothing special either.  Like I said, this isn’t really a film that was yearning for a Blu-ray upgrade. The special features are the best part of the release.  There is a behind-the-scenes feature called “The Making of Heavyweights”. There is a new audio commentary track with Judd Apatow, Steven Brill, Allen Covert, Aaron Schwartz, Shaun Weiss, Tom Hodges and Special Guest Paul Feig.  There are over 30 never-before-seen deleted & extended scenes.  There is a new video chat with Judd Apatow and Kenan Thompson.  There is some fun Super 8 footage of the Cast and Crew.  “Judd’s Art Project” are bizarre photos From the set taken by the executive producer. “Where Are They Now?” looks into the film’s cast and their current status.  Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

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Actors: Ray Bolger, Ed Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, Ann Jilliann
Directors: Jack Donohue
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Run Time: 106 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

“Babes in Toyland (1961)” is timed perfectly for the Holiday season. This is the first time that this film has been released on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer looks sharp on this release. Disney has delivered the good for for a film that over 50 years old, it doesn’t show it’s age. The production scale is so memorable and really doesn’t skimp on quality. A little trivia about the film is that this was Disney’s first live-action musical fantasy…and who doesn’t love a nice Disney musical, especially a holiday themed one! This was also produced by Walt Disney himself. This is a perfect film to get in the mood for the holidays!

Official Synopsis: Tom the Piper’s Son is about to marry Mary Quite Contrary. On the eve of their wedding, evil miser Barnaby hires two henchmen to drown Tom and steal Mary’s sheep, cared for by Little Bo Peep, thus depriving Mary and the children she lives with of their livelihood, forcing her to marry Barnaby. The sheep arestolen, but Gonzorgo and Roderigo, Barnaby’s henchmen, double-cross him by selling Tom to a band of gypsies instead, leaving Tom with the opportunity to escape and make his way with Mary, Bo-Peep, and other Mother Goose characters to Toyland.

Like I mentioned the video transfer is sharp for “Babes in Toyland”, which is also presented with an original aspect ratio of 1:33:1. The new digital restoration really delivers the goods and does not disappoint. The audio track is not as impressive though as the video transfer with its Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono surround track. I would have liked to see a little more effort in the audio department here. Also to add insult to injury there are no special features included as well, which really makes this release feel more like a port then an upgrade. This is still worth the low-price for this Blu-ray though, especially for hardcore Disney fans.

Actors: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Marina Spirtis
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 4, 2012
Run Time: 998 minutes

Season Two: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” has become one of my favorite series, but only in the last few years. I got into it thanks to Netflix Instant. When I got a chance to review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season One” earlier this year, I was blown away by the way the episodes looked. Well it season two, I believe they went beyond and delivered a more impressive release (if that is possible). Season two also delivers the birth of the fan-favorite baddies, Borg. They are the best villains of the series! Resistance is futile! One of my favorite episodes of the series happen during season two: “The Measure of a Man”. Fans of the series are sure to do back flips for this release.  Also it is perfectly timed to be added to everyone’s Christmas lists and also nicely priced as well, compared to season one.

“Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two” Blu-ray looks extremely impressive with it’s high definition transfer. The series is presented with its original broadcast 4×3 aspect ratio, which is perfect and expected. Like season one, this series contains improved special effects from the original camera negatives. If you are a fan of this series and know it well, you will have your mouth open experience these upgrades. The star of this release though has to be Season Two’s surround-sound pumping DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Obviously the soundtrack wasn’t made with that but I can’t help but get goosebumps when I hear that theme song in 7.1 sound. Of course for the hardcore Trekkies, there is also the original Stereo Surround audio included as well.

Official Premise: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two travels warp speed into the next realm of adventure. Under the leadership of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), the Enterprise faces a season of new changes and big challenges. With Dr. Crusher on sabbatical, Chief Medical Officer Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) fills in. And Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) arrives as 10 Forward’s wise El-Aurian bartender. This voyage explores watershed moments, including Riker (Jonathan Frakes) experiencing the Klingon culture, Data (Brent Spiner) defending his humanity and the introduction of the Borg, a species of terrifying cybernetic conquerors threatening the fate of intelligent life.

“Star Trek: The Next Generation” – Season Two has various special features spread out over all five discs. They are a nice improvement over season one.  To start each episodes contain their own “episodic promos”, which are an awesome retro look at the series.  Disc one extras start with an 1998 On-Air Season Two Promo, “Energized! Season Two Tech Update” is a chat with Dan Curry, Michael and Denise Okuda about release season two to high definition. Decent but I wish it was much longer. There is 1988 Star Trek-themed “Reading Rainbow” Segment with LeVar Burton, as well as a 2012 Reading Rainbow iTunes Promo with Burton showing off his new Reading Rainbow app. Lastly there is “Archival Mission Log: Departmental Briefing Year Two – Production”, which is a vintage featurette looking into a the “best of” from the filming of season two.

Disc Two brings various cuts of my favorite episode “The Measure of a Man”.  It includes an HD Extended Version, which runs 57:35 minutes from Editor Robert Lederman.  The extended cut includes thirteen minutes of new footage, which was recently turned up from Writer Melinda Snodgrass’ private VHS tape collectionand then reconstructed in high definition. Next, we have a Hybrid Extended Version for “The Measure of a Man” running at 55:50 minutes. This version of the episode that mixes up the broadcast footage in high definition and the rough VHS footage.  It is raw but still a cool look at the amazing episode.  Lastly, there is an amazing audio commentary track from Melinda Snodgrass, Michael and Denise Okuda as they discuss about the episode.

Disc Three consists of two “Archival Mission Logs” featurettes.  The first is “Inside Starfleet Archives: Penny Juday – Star Trek Coordinator”, which has her speaking about her role as the Star Trek archivist, with Star Trek Magazine and working on the film “Star Trek: Nemesis”. Next up is “Selected Crew Analysis – Year Two”, which features various cast/crew chatting about the show’s characters roles including Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton,  Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Wil Wheaton, Marina Sirtis, Diana Muldaur and Peter Lauritson.  Lastly there is a funny Gag Reel, presented in HD and runs about 10 minutes.

The star of Disc Four extra is the audio commentary track from Dan Curry, Rob Bowman, and Mike & Denise Okuda for the episode “Q Who?”.  Lastly, there is also another “Archival Mission Log” called “Departmental Analysis Year Two – Memorable Missions”.  It features interviews with cast and crew on the following episodes:  “Loud as a Whisper”, “The Icarus Factor”, “Up the Long Ladder”, “The Dauphin”, “Elementary, Dear Data”, “Manhunt”, and “The Measure of a Man”.

Disc Five has the best extras of any disc and also the best feature in the whole release, which is “Reunification: 25 Years After Star Trek: The Next Generation”, which runs just over an hour.  It is a awesome cast reunion with all of the primary cast members — Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, and Wil Wheaton.  It just makes me want to give them all a hug and re-watch the episodes again! “Make it So – Continuing Star Trek: The Next Generation”. It consists of two parts, the first part 1 – “Strange New Worlds” and the second “New Life and New Civilizations”.  Each one runs about 40 minutes and is a look into the season’s best qualities and character in depth from cast, crew and others.  Lastly there is one more final “Archival Mission Log” called “Mission Overview – Year Two”, which is a look into Roddenberry’s plans for the future and reflection on the show’s success.

Actors: Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry, Levy Easterly, Lowell Landes
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: December 4, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

“…once there was a Hushpuppy and she lived with her daddy in The Bathtub“. 

Before getting into “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, I was not sure what to expect. This little indie keeps your attention from the moment it starts. It is extremely brutal and honest but that is the charm of this film. Quvenzhané Wallis really gives a wonderful performance playing Hushpuppy. She delivers such a fantastic performance that I wouldn’t be surprised to see award bells ringing in her future. Then Mix in some giant prehistoric beasts and you have yourself one enthralling film. Since this is Benh Zeitlin’s directorial debut, it is quite impressive. I am sure we will get some amazing things in the future. As we enter the end of the year, I would recommend checking out this little indie drama.

Official Premise: Teeming with magic, beauty and pure joy, this crowd-pleasing winner at the Sundance Film Festival has emerged as one of the year’s most acclaimed films. Newcomer Quvenzhan‚ Wallis delivers an “Oscarr-worthy performance” (Philadelphia Daily News) as Hushpuppy, the six-year-old force of nature in an isolated bayou community. When her tough but loving father Wink (Dwight Henry) succumbs to a mysterious malady, the fierce and determined girl bravely sets out on a journey to the outside world. But Hushpuppy’s quest is hindered by a “busted” universe that melts the ice caps and unleashes an army of prehistoric beasts.

The Blu-ray presentation from 20th Century Fox is no joke. It is being delivered as a combo pack with a Blu-ray and DVD discs, as well as a downloadable digital copy. The film is low-budget but that doesn’t stop it from looking and sounding amazing. The 1080p transfer is extremely sharp and looks great. The audio included is a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This works well with the film’s scale and score. If you enjoyed this film be sure to check out the digital flipbook at http://www.comeseethewild.com/.

The special features are decent for this Blu-ray release. There are about 15 minutes of deleted scenes, each includes commentary from director Benh Zeitlin. There are the initial audition tapes for Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry. “The Making of Beasts of the Southern Wild” is a nice look into the production. It sort-of makes up for a lack of commentary track on the release. “Glory at Sea” is Ben Zeitlin’s first short film, from 2008 and in sort-of a lead into this film. There is a feature on the music with composer Dan Romer. “The Aurochs” looks into creation of the enormous beasts, I wish this was longer! Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.