Actors: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy
Directors: Gus Meins
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 3D Classics
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 77 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Laurel & Hardy are comedic legends…always will be.  “March of the Wooden Soldiers” is based on Victor Herbert’s 1903 operetta “Babes in Toyland”. This 1934 film has been spectacularly restored and presented in color…but there is still more this new release from Legends Films has been enhanced with a stunning stereoscopic 3D transfer.  The film is still a little bit creepy (as it has always been), but still fun to watch around the holidays. This is the first time that you have ever seen this film like this and let me tell you it looks good!

Official Premise: Imagine an enchanted fantasy world of timeless characters and magical moments where nothing goes right for the clumsy toymakers Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee. When a notorious scoundrel, Barnaby, demands to marry the beautiful Little Bo Peep, guess who secretly emerges as the blushing bride? Based on the original Babes in Toyland, this movie is a dazzling spectacle of 6-foot wooden soldiers, Mother Goose characters and the beloved team of Laurel and Hardy.

The original black and white tape was completely restored using the Legend Films proprietary restoration technology and then was colorized in High Definition resolution. So on this release we have the fully restored color and black and white versions.  There are no special features included on this release though unfortunately. I would have loved to see some classic shorts or other vintage goodies.  Nonetheless, Legend Films has scored again with another great restored and in this case 3D conversion. Can’t see what they have planned next.

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Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris
Directors: Simon West
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Release Date: November 20, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

When I say “The Expendables”, I wasn’t overly thrilled.  Though this sequel was exactly that this film should have been the first time around.  It is faster, meaner and more kick-ass.  The action is better, the jokes are funnier and the cast is more fierce. This time around the rogue team of misfits take on a new job for what they think should be a quick, in-and-out mission, but of course they get more than they bargain for.  When one of their own is killed, the Expendables set out to seek revenge in hostile territory where the odds are stacked against them. “The Expendables 2” has grossed over $300 million worldwide, so “The Expendables 3” is guaranteed and I say “Bring it on”. Just don’t expect to see Steven Seagal in it, read here. Can’t wait to see what they are going to come up with next.

Let’s just go through this cast real quick: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Damn! That never get’s old. I absolutely love this cast. Stallone is much more bad-ass this time around. Jet Li is MIA after the opening but still is cool. Van Damme is awesome as the baddie and perfectly named Jean Vilain. Bruce and Arnold are a great team up especially in the film’s finale. But for me the winner of the film has to go to Booker played by Chuck Norris. He pops in, kicks some major ass, quotes a Chuck Norris Fact and is surrounded by mystery…Classic!

This releases comes in a Blu-ray combo pack with an iTunes and Uiltraviolet digital copy, but where is the DVD copy?The Blu-ray presentation looks absolutely perfect.  The 1080p transfer is extremely impressive.  The star of the film, besides Chuck Norris, is the wonderful DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1.  Since this film is jam-packed with some great action, this is a wonderful companion.  My surround sound needed some aspirn for sure after blasting out this track.  And I would like to apologize to my neighbor if they are reading this 😉

The special features included are impressive.  There is an audio commentary track with director Simon West, which is awesome but I would have also liked to seen a cast commentary track as well.  NExt up there are four jam-packed behind-the-scenes featurettes.  “Gods of War: Assembling Earth’s Mightiest Antiheroes” looks into the mega-cast and how it was put together.  “On the Assault: The Real-Life Weaponry of The Expendables” looks into the heavy artiliary used in this sequel.  “Big Guns, Bigger Heroes: The 1980s and the Rise of the Action Film” is exactely what it’s subtitle says it is, a reflect on the influence of 80’s action films.  “Guns of Hire: The Real Expendables” wraps up the featurettes with a look into the real heros of the film. Lastly there are a few deleted scenes and gag reel included.  Highly recommend this release for holiday gifting.

Actors: George A. Romero, Tom Savini, Roy Frumkes
Directors: Roy Frumkes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Synapse Films
DVD Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

When “The Document of the Dead” was first released in 1985, the documentary by filmmaker Roy Frumkes focused purely on the production of the 1978 film “Dawn of the Dead”. “The Definitive Document Of The Dead” expands more on Romero’s career including work on “Land of the Dead”, “Diary of the Dead” and “Survival of the Dead”. There is a disclaimer in the beginning stating that this film was film over 32 years and the film’s vision has changed over the years. Fans of “Dawn of the Dead” and Romero should already known about this film and respect that Roy Frumkes is a life-long fan of his work. The film as a documentary isn’t Shakespeare but I feel that it does give Romero the credit that he deserves and never seems to get. Synapse Film released a DVD of this film going back almost 15 years now. So this is a welcomed revisit and packaged with a new “Definitive” cut. Also if you are a mega-big fan of this film, there is an Exclusive Limited Edition Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack limited to just over 1,000 copies on the Synapse Website. So that would be the ticket for hardcore fans, if it is even still available at the time of writing this.

“The Document Of The Dead” primary focus is “Dawn of the Dead” and it covers everything from pre-production, production and post-production. Frumkes was there shooting during the production and includes some very intimate interviews with Romero, (producer) Richard Rubinstein, special effects artist/actor/stuntman Tom Savivi, as well as several cast and crew members. I also liked how the film comes around through time and we get to see Frumkes and Romero reunited and reflecting on the film over time specifically during a segment on “Two Evil Eyes”, which showcased on a detailed special effects segment. The new interviews included in this are also a real treat.  Being a horror fan myself “Dawn of the Dead” is so iconic and this is a perfect companion piece to the film itself. This “Defintive” cut really dives further into his career and the film/series over the years…especially with spin-off like “Night of the Giving Head”. Trust me if your a guy, you need to watch this!

Official Premise: “George A. Romero, director of the original Night of the Living Dead, is one of the horror genre’s most celebrated filmmakers. Roy Frumkes amazing 1978 documentary Document Of The Dead was an intimate look at Romero’s creative process, with an outstanding collection of interviews, effects demonstrations (courtesy of make-up artist, Tom Savini) and behind-the-scenes footage from the classic horror film, Dawn of the Dead. This newly re-edited and re-mastered 2012 version of the award-winning documentary contains all-new exclusive material including additional interviews with Romero’s family and friends, candid on-set footage from Two Evil Eyes, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, Survival of the Dead and Many More Surprises! the Definitive Document of the Dead is a loving portrait of a horror legend, and a must-see for any hardcore horror fan!”

The DVD special features are a little bit of a let down since it is missing quite a bit of extras from the previous release. The only extra included on this release is an all-new 2012 audio commentary track with Roy Frumkes. It is fantastic to get a chance to hear a new perspective on the film from the director. I would have also like to had the previous audio commentary with director Frumkes, cinematographer Reeves Lehmann, and narrator Nicole Potter included as well, as well as the twenty minute interview segment from “Two Evil Eyes” with Adrienne Barbeau, George Romero, and Tom Savini. Still though if you already own “The Document of the Dead” DVD you have that already. This is the “Definitive” release with a longer cut doc and a new commentary, so it is all worth it in that sense.

Created by: Robert Hamner, David Karp
Starring: James Stewart
Distributed: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 588 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I think about Christmas, I can’t help it but think about Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. With the holidays just around the corner, I am excited to get a chance to check out a maybe lesser-known collection of work from Mr. Stewart. I think I can listen to his voice for hours, especially later in his career. There is nothing like it. Jimmy Stewart is perfectly cast as the slow-drawling Southern lawyer Billy Jim Hawkin. This mystery TV series aired for one season on CBS from 1973 and 1974 and was created by Robert Hamner and David Karp. Even though it was cancelled after one season Jimmy Stewart ended up winning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in Television Drama Series. If you are a fan of his work, this is a must purchase!

This 4-disc set consists of an eight film collection including “Death and the Maiden”, “Murder in Movieland”, “Die, Darling, Die”, “A Life For a Life”, “Blood Feud”, “Murder and the Slave Trade”, “Murder on the 13th Floor” and “Candidate for Murder”. There is something special about watching these classic TV movie adaptions.  “Hawkins” used to air during The New CBS Tuesday Night Movies back in the day. I think if they gave this show a bit of a chance it could have been the a very long running and successful series. He reminds me a pre-dated “Monk”. Each film stands alone and delivers some classic murder mystery. This is the first time that this has ever been released on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. This release is presented in 4X3 full frame with the its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio track is the original mono audio, which works perfectly within the legalese dialogue.

Official Synopsis: A decade before TV saw another silver-haired, slow-drawling Southern shyster with a knack for sleuthing out the truth, M-G-M welcomed back two titanic talents, TV producer Norman Felton and screen legend Jimmy Stewart, for Hawkins. Stewart played Billy Jim Hawkins in rotation with the Shaft TV movies (Talk about Country Mouse and City Mouse!), solving crimes alongside his cousin RJ (Strother Martin) and a bevy of sensational costars. Bonnie Bedelia plays a troubled young woman accused of familicide, Cameron Mitchell plays a tinseltown spouse facing murder charges, Julie Harris plays an accused mercy killer, William Windom plays a parent with a vendetta, Lew Ayres and James Best play folk caught up in a deadly Civil War re-enactment, James Luisi plays a football pro caught up in foul play, Teresa Wright plays an ex-amour of Bill Jim’s, and Paul Burke and Pernell Roberts play a senator and aide caught up in a slaying.

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans, Vivica A. Fox, Omar Epps
Director: Paris Barclay
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

When this film was released back in 1996 (can’t believe it’s been 16 years) I was draw to this film just for the title. Then I found out that the Wayans Brothers were behind it and I was hooked. I was a huge fan of “In Living Color” and was looking for the next best thing. This film was surly it. I still to this day can recite this film from beginning to end. In the early days of the internet back in ’96 I used to watch this trailer over and over and yet there are funny parts still in the film, which is rare these days. With the Wayans Brothers returning to theaters this January with “A Haunted House”, this is a great time to revisit this great spoofs from the creators of “Scary Movie”. I should also note that Echo Bridge did a solid by also releasing this film in its director’s cut. Should I also add that I still have this soundtrack on cassette? Too late.

Official Premise: From the creator of TV’s “In Living Color,” this outrageous comedy hit had critics and audiences roaring with laughter! From block parties and beepers to high tops and high-powered weapons, it’s everything that’s funny about growing up in the ‘hood…the Wayans Brothers’ neighborhood, that is! Marlon, Shawn (TV’s The Wayans Brothers) and Keenen Ivory Wayans (TV’s In Living Color) get together and deliver a series of hilarious situations that all move to a hot hit soundtrack! Get ready for a good time, because there are plenty of laughs in this neighborhood!

This release looks surprisingly damn good on Blu-ray, even though it is only presented in 1080i resolution. The audio track makes up for it though with a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The special features aren’t jam packed but hey, at least there are special features included. There is a short deleted scene called “Interrogation”. There is a very sort featurettes called “Wayans Brothers Behind the Scenes”, which is just the brothers chatting about the film. “Hood Movie Gumbo” is more behind-the-scenes with cast and crew mixed with film clips, but it is just too short. Lastly there is a music video for “All the Things Your Man Won’t Do”. What I find odd is that the special features are in full 1080p, when the film is only 1080i. For the cheap price though this is a must have for fans of the Wayans Brothers.

Directed by: Larry Jackson
Narrated by: Orson Welles
Starring: Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, Friz Freleng
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 91 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes, I have been a life-long fan. This film is not your typical Looney Tunes special.  It is a documentary, hosted by animator Bob Clampett with interviews with Friz Freleng and Tex Avery.  This is also narrated by legendary director Orson Welles.  It includes nine Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons which were previously released during the 1940s.  This is a must for any Looney Tunes fans.

The shorts included are “What’s Cookin’ Doc? (1944)”, “The Wild Hare (1940)”, “A Corny Concerto (1943)”, “I Taw a Putty Tat (1948)”, “Rhapsody Rabbit (1946)”, “Walky Talky Hawky (1946)”,  “My Favorite Duck (1942)”, Hair-Raising Hare (1946)” and “The Old Grey Hare (1944)”

This is the first time that this has ever been released on DVD, thanks to Warner Archive. This release is presented in 4X3 full frame with the its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio track is the original mono audio, which works perfectly. Surprisingly  there is actually some decent special features including a commentary track from director Larry Jackson and an image gallery with behind-the-scenes photos.

Official Premise: What was it like to work in Termite Terrace, birthplace of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and a veritable horde of cartoon icons? Get a taste of that crazy and creative fun factory in this loving and droll documentary, hosted by ace animator Bob Clampett. Featuring interviews with fellow Termite Terrace residents Friz Freleng and Tex Avery and narrated by Orson Welles, Bugs Bunny Superstar includes nine complete cartoons that are prime examples of the collaborative efforts of Warner cartoonists, ink-and-painters, effects artists and others. “No idea was too outrageous,” Clampett says. Seeing rare home movies of the animators as they act out ideas adds to that sense of unrestrained creativity.

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Actors: Travis Pastrana, Tommy Passemante, Jolene Van Vugt, Jeremy Rawle, Jim DeChamp
Directors: Gregg Godfrey, Jeremy Rawle
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Arc Entertainment
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

Based on the MTV reality stunt series, “Nitro Circus: The Movie” takes the death-defying exploits of a gang of outrageous daredevils onto a bigger scale and also into the third-dimension. The 3D in the film is insane and this film really took advantage of the format. The film has heart as well as death-defying stunts. Travis Pastrana is today’s Evel Knievel and it is surprised he is still alive. The show is channeling its inner-Jackass but it takes it to a whole new level. In “Jackass”, the show is set to fail for laughs. These stunts need to succeed otherwise the people will most likely me killed. This film comes with warning and it should cause I literally was cringing throughout. Don’t try this at home kids…but be sure not to miss this either.

Official Premise: Travis Pastrana and his tightly knit, highly skilled, adrenaline-addicted friends bring their insane and hysterical adventures to the big screen, Dreaming up the most dangerous stunts in the world of action sports – whether back-flipping a bike between two 60-story buildings or going air-born to destroy their friends in a life size, high-speed game of Freedom Flyers — Pastrana and his gang are always at it. High Risk. High Octane. No Safety Nets Allowed.

This release from Arc Entertainment is a super three-disc combo pack including a 3D Blu-ray, a standard Blu-ray and a DVD of this film. So you watch it wherever you are and under any circumstance. I highly recommend viewing this in 3D, it is really the way to go for sure. I hope that Arc Entertainment is planning on releasing more 3D Blu-rays since this one is a big thumbs up. The 1080p transfer looks quite good for a stunt-based film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works perfectly with the broken bones and stunt effects, as well as the music.

The special features are decent overall. The back of the box cover though doesn’t list properly all the extras. There is an interview with Steve-O from “Jackass”. There are two behind-the-scenes featurettes focusing on “Gregg’s Car Roll” and “Roner’s Pond Skim”.  Both are highly recommend for an more detailed look into those skits. There are about seven minutes of deleted scenes, which equals to just more crazy stunts. There is also a sponsors spot for “All Season Long” and a trailer included.

Directed by: Tim Johnson
Starring: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, David Cross, Lucy Liu, James Hong
Jack McBrayer, Dan Fogler
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Dreamworks Animated
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 25 minutes

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

Firstly, I am stumped that this short was not included on “Dreamworks Holiday Classics” release. As a stand-alone release, I really think that it is a toss-up to purchase unless you are a really hardcore “Kung Fu Panda” fan. What is good about this short though is that it brings back ALL of the original voice cast. It also doesn’t specifically focus on Christmas, it keeps it on a generic holiday angle so it is available to a more wide-audience. When it comes down to it though, this is a fun short for the whole family that will make you smile and get in the mood for the holiday season!

Official Premise: In this hilarious action adventure, Master Shifu calls on Po to host the year’s biggest event – the Winter Feast, a special time of the year to celebrate family, tradition and the awesomeness of Kung Fu! Po and the Furious Five must team up to throw the best celebration the Valley of Peace has ever seen. Can Po pull off the perfect party, impress his heroes, and discover the true meaning of the Winter Feast?

“Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special” looks stunning on Blu-ray in its super sharp 1080p transfer. It also packs a really impressive Dolby TrueHD 7.1 surround track. Dreamworks did not cheap out on this at all. The special features are aimed at kids and are decent. There are various interactive features including “Learn to Draw Wo Hop”, “Kung Fu Panda Holiday Shuffle”, “Mr. Ping’s Noodle House” and “How to Use Chopticks”. I was hoping for a little more since this release just includes the 25 minute short but like I said decent overall.

Starring: Mike Myers, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Dreamworks Animated
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 85 minutes

Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Christmas is right around the corner and “DreamWorks Holiday Classics” is the second compilation release after last months “DreamWorks Spooky Stories”. This release includes five Christmas-themed shorts, including “Shrek the Halls”, “The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper”, “Merry Madagascar”, “Donkey’s Christmas Shrektacular” and “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury”. Though missing from this release is the previously released “Madagascar” short “Party With The Penguins”.  Also Dreamworks also released “Kung Fu Panda Holiday”, which could have been included in this release easily. Nonetheless, these Dreamworks shorts really bring the Christmas spirit and are just downright right.   If you own these shorts previously though, I wouldn’t say that they are worth the purchase but if you don’t the HD upgrade is worth it.

Official Premise: “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury”: The Dragons are back in the exciting next chapter to the Academy Award-nominated film, “How to Train Your Dragon”. The epic story of Hiccup and Toothless continues as they take flight in a thrilling adventure to discover an island of ever-before-seen dragons. “Merry Madagascar”: When Santa and his reindeer crash onto the island of Madagascar, it’s up to Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman and those wacky Penguins to save Christmas. Get ready for a sleigh full of laughs in this hilarious holiday classic. Also includes “The Penguins of Madagascar in a Christmas Caper”. “Shrek the Halls”: After promising Fiona and the kids a Christmas they’ll remember, Shrek is forced to take a crash course in the holiday. But just when he thinks he has everything for a quiet family Christmas just right, Donkey, Puss in Boots, Gingy and the rest of the gang decide to crash the party. “Shrek the Halls” is the greatest holiday tale that’s never been told until now. Also includes “Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-tacular”.

This release is delivered as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfers looks amazing on each short. The colors are perfect and super crisp. The star of the release though is the Dolby True HD 7.1 track for “Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury” and “Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-tacular”. I was very impressed with these. The rest of the films include Dolby TrueHD 5.1 tracks, which are also stunning. The downfall though is that there is only one special feature included on this release, which is a sing-along version for “Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-tacular”. Lastly there is also some previews for additional DreamWorks titles.

Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Disney-Pixar
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 75 minutes

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

When it comes to Disney/Pixar, the Award-winning studio behind Toy Story 3, Up and WALL•E, they are the best when it comes to short films.  I get to the theater early for everyone of their films just to catch the shorts.  This Blu-ray release includes 12 short films, which are together for the very first time.  Obviously, this is the second volume of shorts and is a real step up from volume one.  The first volume includes the classics but these include some of my personal favorites.  If you are a fan of these shorts, then this a must purchase to get all these shorts in one place.

The following shorts included are “Your Friend the Rat” (2007). “Presto” (2008), “BURN-E” (2008), “Partly Cloudy” (2009), “Dug’s Special Mission” (2009), “George & A.J. (2009), “Day & Night” (2010), “Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation” (2011), “Cars Toons: Air Mater” (2011), “Toy Story Toons: Small Fry” (2011), “La Luna” (2011) and “Cars Toons: Time Travel Mater” (2012).

“BURN•E” is based on characters from “WALL•E”. “Dug’s Special Mission” and George & AJ” are both inspired from “Up”. “Air Mater” and “Time Travel Mater” are from “Cars Toons” featuring Mater. “Your Friend The Rat” features Remy and Emile from “Ratatouille”. The last two that are related to a franchise are  “Toy Story Toons” including “Hawaiian Vacation”, which was shown in front of “Cars 2” and “Small Fry”, which was shown in front of “The Muppets”. Original shorts included are Day & Night was shown before “Toy Story 3”. La Luna is the newest and was just shown in front of “Brave”. “Partly Cloudy” was shown before “Up”. “Presto” was shown before “WALL-E”. These areall previously on the respective Blu-ray/DVD releases. This is the first time that the shorts “George & AJ”, “Small Fry” and “Time Travel Mater” have ever been released on Blu-ray/DVD.

This release comes as a combo pack including both a Blu-ray and DVD included. There are several commentary tracks, as well as introductions for the shorts included. But the real draw for this release besides the shorts themselves are seven rarely seen student films from John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter. These are worth the purchase of the disc alone. The student films that are included are “Nitemare”, “The Lady & The Lamp”, “Somewhere in the Arctic”, “A Story”, “Winter”, “Palm Springs” and “Next Door”. These just show where these creative geniuses have come from and how far they have come since their early days.

Actors: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon
Directors: John Hughes
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

This year “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Paramount is delivering this classic hilarious comedy to Blu-ray for the first time. John Hughes was one of the best writers/directors in the business.  This film is a laugh-a-minute raunchy comedy that delivers something new every time you watch it. Steve Martin and John Candy delivered some of their best performances.  I mean if you have never seen this, just watch the opening scene and you will be hooked. So, if you do not own this film, this might be the time to change that!

“Written and directed by the incomparable John Hughes and starring comedy greats Steve Martin and John Candy, the uproarious classic follows a businessman (Martin) who is struggling to get home for Thanksgiving, but burdened by one travel mishap after another, as well as the company of an annoying traveling salesman (Candy). Filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth, the film also features appearances by Michael McKean, Edie McClurg and Kevin Bacon.”

Alright let’s get to the 1080p high definition transfer, which is decent so to say but it actually looks its age and shows quite a bit of noise. Though it is still a major upgrade from the previous DVD and should be a must for any fan. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks works well with the dialogue but like with most comedies are not completely challenged. Blu-ray score: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The special features are worth the purpose alone just for the new “John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast” feature. It is presented in high-def 1080p and is a two-parter with “John Hughes: The Voice of a Generation” and “Heartbreak and Triumph: The Legacy of John Hughes”, totally around an hour. “Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is a fun vintage press chat with John Hughes, Steve Martin, and John Candy (def not for kiddies). “John Hughes for Adults” is a look into this mature film rather than his teen-aimed films. “A Tribute to John Candy” is a look into his work in the film, as an actor and a person. Lastly, there is a deleted scenes in HD called “Airplane Food”. Overall great features for a great movie.

Actors: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard
Directors: Various
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Legend Films
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 78 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I don’t think I have ever laughed harder then the first time I saw “The Three Stooges”. There is something so simplistic about their comedy that never ceases to draw hilarity. Thanks to Legend Films, this is there first go with 3D conversions and it is definitely a success. They are also releasing “The Best of Little Rascals in 3D” as well on the same date. If you are looking for a flashback to TV days of the 40-50′s with a modern update in the third dimension, then look no further. The Stooges has never looks so good and the price cannot be any better either. These episodes are a no-brainer and I hope that Legend has plans to release more classic shows in 3D in the coming months.

The following episodes are included in 3D: Disorder In The Court (1936), Brideless Groom (1947), Sing A Song Of Six Pants (1947) and, Malice In The Palace (1949). They are restored and look very sharp on Blu-ray and the 3D conversion is quite impressive and work well with the show. The episodes are still over 60-70 years old, so there is so age but overall, it is a really nice restore on Blu-ray. These shorts are available in both a colorized & the original B&W restored versions. I like the idea of having both versions available but I still prefer the B&W but I feel that the colorized versions work better with the 3D.

Official Premise: This is The Three Stooges at their bumbling, eye-poking, hair-pulling best! Including a full, high-quality restoration and colorization, this feature offers something that none before it have: a stunning, stereoscopic 3D transfer. See the boys like you have never seen them before with antics that jump off the screen as every slap, fall and nose-tweak is brought to life within your home. This set is a must-have for every fan and is the perfect complement to your home video library!

Actors: George McFarland, Carl Switzer, Billy Thomas, Darla Hood
Directors: Hal Roach
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Legend Films
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 84 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I was a kid, I remember watching “The Little Rascals” for the first time. The show is a classic and has stood the test of time.  Thanks to Legend Films, this is there first go with 3D conversions and it is definitely a success.  They are also releasing “The Three Stooges in 3D” as well on the same date.  If you are looking for a flashback to TV days of the 50’s with a modern update in the third dimension, then look no further.  The gang has never looks so good and the price cannot be any better either.  These episodes are a no-brainer and I hope that Legend has plans to release more classic shows in 3D in the coming months.

The following episodes are included in 3D: “Fly My Kite, “A Lad in a Lamp”, “The Kid from Borneo”, “Hi Neighbor” and “Hide and Shriek”.  They are restored and look very sharp on Blu-ray and the 3D conversion is quite impressive and work well with the show.  The episodes are still over 50 years old, so there is so age but overall, it is a really nice restore on Blu-ray. These shorts are available in both a colorized & the original B&W restored versions.  I like the idea of having both versions available but I still prefer the B&W but I feel that the colorized versions work better with the 3D.

Official Premise: Spanky, Buckwheat, Porky and all The Little Rascals at their hilarious best! Your family will fall in love with the antics of Our Gang as they get lost in a haunted house, race down a precarious hill in their homemade fire engine, and try to survive an unexpected visit from the famous Wild Man of Borneo! These timeless comedy classics have been given a high-definition restoration and colorization that is second only to the stunning stereoscopic 3D conversion! The kids will leap off the screen and right back into your hearts in this collection of hilarious and entertaining Rascals films — now presented in 3D for the very first time!

Cast: Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Kathryn Leigh Scott, Roger Davis, Nancy Barrett, David Selby, John Karlen
Director: Dan Curtis
Studio: Warner Bros.
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 97 / 95 minutes

House of Dark Shadows: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Night of Dark Shadows: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

“Dark Shadows” is the longest running horror soap opera, actually I think it is also the only. I never saw this show on TV but I have watch many many episodes courtesy of Netflix Instant over the years. The original series had actually ran for over 1200 episodes.  With Tim Burton/Johnny Depp’s recent reboot recently released on Blu-ray, it is prime-time to finally release these movies for the first time ever on DVD, let alone Blu-ray. These films are definitely a bit campy, but they also have a few decent creepy moments. “House of Dark Shadows” features Jonathan Frid in the lead as Barnabas Collins and is my favorite of the two. “Night of Dark Shadows”  was originally supposed to bring back Barnabas, but the show ended before the film started production and Jonathan Frid had moved on.  It is still a decent installment to the series.

Warner Brothers delivers the good with both of these 1080p transfer presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. They also look good since these were just low-budget movies and weren’t large productions at the time. They are still catalog release quality but are much more impressive that I would have expected. Both films also have DTS-HD Master Audio Mono audio tracks, which work well for each. It setups up the mood and works well with the dialogue.  If you are a fan of the “Dark Shadows” series, I would definitely recommend picking up these reasonably priced Blu-rays. They are a nice upgrade since the films were only previously available on VHS and Laserdisc.  So if you are looking for a flashback to the 70’s to meet up with the Collins again, then this is a no-brainer.

Official Premises: “House of Dark Shadows”: Rejoice, night creatures! Collinwood’s affected Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) hopes a series of serum injections will make him normal. Alas, nothing can be normal at eerie Collinwood! “Night of Dark Shadows”: One bite is never enough! New blood comes home in Night of Dark Shadows, as Quentin Collins (David Selby) arrives with his bride (Kate Jackson).

House of Dark Shadows + Night of Dark Shadows both available on October 30th! http://bit.ly/QYt7ht
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Actors: Dean Cain, Gary Valentine, Elisa Donovan, Joey Lawrence, Michael Gross, Shelley Long
Directors: Michael Feifer
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: December 4, 2012
Run Time: 87 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Believe it or not “The Dog Who Saved The Holidays” is the fourth film in this franchise following: “The Dog Who Saved Christmas”, “The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation” and “The Dog Who Saved Halloween”. Mario Lopez was the voice of Zeus for the first two with Joey Lawrence taking over for his starting with “Halloween” and now this film as well. The combination of Dean Cain and Joey Diaz are hysterical together and have been through this series. Gary Valentine and Elisa Donovan are also very funny together.  This installment wraps up the cast with Michael Gross and Shelley Long.  A must for all families looking to get in the holiday mood.

Official Premise: It’s a sun-soaked holiday season for the Bannister family as they travel to Southern California to stay with Aunt Barbara (Shelley Long), who surprises them with a new puppy named Eve (voiced by Peyton List). Everyone is smitten with Eve — except for the Bannister’s dog, Zeus (voiced by Joey Lawrence), who sees what a mischievous animal she is when no one else is around. After deciding to run away, Zeus sees Ted and Stewey, two thrifty thieves, trying to break into the family home while the Bannisters are at church. It’s up to Zeus and his newest sister Eve to join together to save the holidays for their family!

There is only one special feature included on this DVD.  It is a very busy commentary track with director Michael Feifer, co-producer Peter Sullivam, executive producers Barry Barholtz and Jeffrey Schenck and lastly sound designer Andres Boulton.  To be honest, when I think about cheesy family Christmas movies, I do not think about listening to a commentary track.  It is definitely not for the kids specifically and I do not see parents re-watching this just for the commentary either. Either way, this series has always been a pleasure to watch during the holidays and I look forward to future installments of the adventures of the Bannister family.