The History Channel
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 132 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When The History Channel released “The Universe: 7 Wonders of the Solar System 3D”, I enjoyed it very much but was left wanting much more. Well my prayers have been answered (mostly). This release includes the first three episodes of season 6, which was produced in 3D. With 7 episodes produced for season 6, I have a feeling we are going to see a few more volumes of “The Universe in 3D”. Not to be mention if the 7 episodes of season 7 were also produced in 3D (or even converted). The History Channel is also releasing “History in 3D” the same day on 3D Blu-ray. o there should be no shortage of 3D history learning in November of 2012.

Official Premise: Take an exhilarating, unprecedented 3D tour of the Universe in this amazing set. The planets of our solar system have experienced epic catastrophes throughout their long history, both raining down from outside and bubbling up from within. We’ll voyage back in time to investigate the violent events that profoundly shaped the planets, including earth itself. We’ll witness stunning revelations about what transformed Mars into a barren, hostile desert…The disaster that changed Venus from temperate to hellish…The impact that blew away Mercury’s mantle, turning it into a planetary core…A colossal disturbance that rearranged the orbits of the gas giants…Titanic impacts on Jupiter…And how a lost moon may finally explain Saturn’s rings. Explore the history of our planets for the first time in spectacular 3-D!

The episode included are “Catastrophes that Changed the Planets”, “Nemesis: The Sun’s Evil Twin” and
“How the Solar System was Made”.  If you are not a fan of 3D (despite how amazing these look), these are also available on the previously released “The Universe: Season 6” but in 2D only and have been released released in 3D.  The 1080p transfers on these episodes are stunning.  Since the show is mostly computer-generated, you can expect some amazing 3D effects.  I can’t wait to see what “The History Channel has planned next for this series. Still one of my favorites and its trip into the third dimension has only sealed the deal for me. Besides these three episodes though, there is no other special features included on this release.

The History Channel
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 179 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first heard that this release was coming out I was very excited to get some new 3D specials from The History Channel.  When I found out that this was just a collection of previously released Blu-ray’s, I was a little disappointed.  The Blu-ray’s included are “History of the World in Two Hours”, “Titanic 100 Years in 3D” and “WWII in 3D”. These specials are still very impressive and makes this set a must own (of course, if you don’t already own them individually).  “History in 3D” also comes with a nice lenticular cover. The History Channel is also releasing “The Universe in 3D” Blu-ray set as well on the same day. So hopefully, they will continue this trend in the future.

“History of the World in Two Hours”: From the formation of the earth and the emergence of life, to the advance of man and the growth of civilization, the CGI-driven History of the World in Two Hours in 3D offers viewers a rapid-fire view of 14 billion years of history.

Titanic 100 Years in 3D”:  In 2010, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and RMS Titanic, Inc. undertook an unprecedented expedition to document the entire wreck site and capture it all with high-resolution optical video, sonar, acoustic imaging, and 3D-HD video. Titanic: 100 Years in 3D pairs this stunning imagery with powerful untold stories of passengers and crew.

“WWII in 3D”: Creates a fully immersive portrait of history’s largest and bloodiest conflict. From the rise of the Nazis and their sweep across Europe to the Allied counterattack and the fall of Nazi Germany, dramatic moments were captured in 3D and then shuttered away in secret archives. Compiled here for the first time, are 3D color photos from Allied reconnaissance, images documenting the rise and fall of the Third Reich, photos secretly taken by a civilian in occupied France and more.

I think my favorite of the three is still  “WWII in 3D”.  I feel that it has the most bang for its buck.  It also included original 3D content from the days of the Third Reich.  “History of the World in Two Hours” still feels like it doesn’t cover enough in its 90 minutes (not two hours technically). The 3D on all these three specials are very impressive though, especially with their 1080p transfers.   These specials have never aired on TV, at least not in 3D.  So if you are a fan of The History Channel, I highly recommend these. Lastly, like the previous individual releases there are no additional special features included.

WWII in 3D”

Directed by: Justin Beasley
Starring: IWrestledABearOnce
Century Media Records/Supremacy Films
Rated: N/A
Runtime: 1hr 14 min.

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Not since the release of Dokken’s 1987 song “Dream Warriors” has a metal band been able to fully incorporate their sound in to a horror film. In this case the Shreveport, Illinois rockers IWrestledABearOnce not only incorporated their music in to the film but they also star in it. “A Beary Scary Movie” directed by Justin Beasley made its theatrical debut in late 2011 and is now set for a DVD release on Nov. 6th. The story is based around the band being hunted down by an undead guitar wielding psycho path named Shreddy. Accompanied by a blistering soundtrack and several notable cameos “A, Beary Scary Movie” is a refreshing spin on the standard band promotional video.

If you are looking for award winning performances and cutting edge special effect then this film isn’t for you. However if you are anything like myself and love campy, B-movie type films then “A Beary Scary Movie will be right up our ally. Even if you’re not a fan a said genres but enjoy some really killer music do yourself a favor and check this film out. Clocking in 1 hr and 14 minutes this is not your average promotional film. Instead it’s packed with comedic performances by Shawn Crahan and his son Gage along with other great cameos by Jake Busey, Christy Johnson and of course the members of IWrestledABearOnce. The film is full of cliché 80’s horror references, interesting character names and colorful dialogue which only add to the overall appeal of the film.

“A Beary Scary Movie” may not be for everyone but it should be! Lots of gore, laughs and metal music makes this a really fun film to throw in and watch with friends. We only received the feature film to review but I am really hoping that the DVD release will include a special features portion as a movie like this surely warrants one.

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Starring: James Stewart, John Forsythe, Bruce Dern, Tippi Hedren, Karen Black, Priscilla Lane
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Format: Limited Edition
Number of discs: 15
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 1759 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Man, when Universal says it is going to celebrate its 100th anniversary, they aren’t messing around. Earlier this month they released the stunning “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection”. and now this release even tops that. This ultimate box set is jam-packed with 15 classic Hitchcock films including 13 that have never been released on Blu-Ray. “Psycho”‘ and “North by Northwest” are the only films in this set that have released previously. The 15 films are included in this “Masterpiece Collection” that span over three decades from 1942-1976 including “Psycho”, “The Birds”, “Vertigo”, “Rear Window”, “North by Northwest”, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, “Marnie”, “Saboteur”, “Shadow of a Doubt”, “Rope”, “The Trouble with Harry”, “Torn Curtain”, “Topaz”, “Frenzy” and “Family Plot”.

These films feature some of the best talent and performances that Hollywood has to offer, including James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Julie Andrews, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak, John Forsythe, Bruce Dern, Karen Black, Priscilla Lane and even Sean Connery. If 15 amazing Hitchcock films in high definition isn’t enough this release also includes over 15 hours of bonus features including a newly produced documentary for “The Birds”. If you could want any more Hitchcock (if that is possible), Warner Home Entertainment has recently released both “Strangers on a Train” and “Dial M for Murder 3D” to Blu-ray. This “Masterpiece Collection” is only set to be available for a limited time only for if you are a fan of Hitchcock, then I would highly recommend not missing this release.

Everyone knows that the legendary Alfred Hitchcock is the “Master of Suspense”.  He has directed some of cinema’s most thrilling and recognizable classics. This release is definitely the definitive collection and it showcases Alfred Hitchcock’s true cinematic talent.  The packaging for this release is similar to “Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection”. The 15 discs are packaged inside a really high-quality and sharp flipbook packaging with some amazing glossy images.  It also includes an exclusive 58-page collector’s book, called “The Master of Suspense”, which includes original artwork, trivia, and information about the films.  Besides “Psycho” and “North by Northwest”, which has been treated well on Blu-ray, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements in order to guarantee the ultimate Hitchcock experience.

Here are the premises for the 15 films included: “Saboteur (1942)”: This riveting wartime thriller stars Robert Cummings as a factory worker who is falsely accused of sabotage and sets off on a desperate, action-packed cross-country chase to clear his name. “Shadow of a Doubt (1943)”: This thriller about a young woman (Teresa Wright) who comes to suspect that the uncle (Joseph Cotton) she idolizes may in fact be a murderer was considered Alfred Hitchcock’s personal favorite. “Rope (1948)”: Two friends strangle a classmate and then hold a party for their victim’s family and friends while their former teacher (James Stewart) becomes increasingly suspicious that his students have turned his intellectual theories into brutal reality. “Rear Window (1954)”: James Stewart and Grace Kelly star in this voyeuristic masterpiece about a photographer who becomes obsessed with watching his neighbors and discovers a possible murder. “The Trouble with Harry (1955)”: While no one really minds that Harry is dead, everyone has a different idea about what should be done with his body in this quirky mystery starring Shirley MacLaine and John Forsythe. “The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)”: James Stewart and Doris Day star as a vacationing American couple who accidentally become involved in an international assassination plot and must take matters into their own hands after their son is kidnapped. “Vertigo (1958)”: James Stewart and Kim Novak star in this dizzying web of mistaken identity, passion and murder involving an acrophobic detective and the mysterious blonde he rescues from the San Francisco Bay.

“North by Northwest (1959)”: Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint star in this edge-of-your-seat thriller about an adman who gets plunged into a realm of spy and counterspy and is abducted, framed for murder, chased and crop-dusted. “Psycho (1960)”: Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh star in this shocking classic about an unsuspecting visitor to the Bates Motel who falls prey to one of cinema’s most notorious psychopaths, Norman Bates. “The Birds (1963)”: ‘Tippi’ Hedren and Rod Taylor star in this horrific tale of nature gone berserk when thousands of birds flock into a seaside town and terrorize the residents in a series of deadly attacks. “Marnie (1964)”: ‘Tippi’ Hedren stars as Marnie, a compulsive liar and thief, who winds up marrying the very man (Sean Connery) she attempts to rob in this psychological thriller that races to an inescapable conclusion. “Torn Curtain (1966)”: Paul Newman and Julie Andrews star in this action-packed thriller about a world-famous scientist who goes undercover to get top-secret information and ends up running for his life from enemy agents. “Topaz (1969)”: John Forsythe stars as an American CIA agent who hires a French operative to travel to Cuba and investigate rumors of Russian missiles and a spy codenamed “Topaz”. “Frenzy (1972)”: In this morbid blend of horror and wit, the “Necktie Murderer” has the London Police on red alert and an innocent man (Jon Finch) is on a desperate quest to find the real criminal and clear his own name. “Family Plot (1976)”: Chaos ensues in this suspense-comedy when a phony psychic and her not-so-bright boyfriend cross paths with a slick diamond merchant and his beautiful girlfriend.

On the packaging Universal is pushing the fact that this release included PERFECT video and PERFECT sound and, hot damn, that is not a lie. I would literally call these perfect transfers. Here is the listings of the audio tracks available for each film. “Saboteur”, “Shadow of a Doubt”, “Rope”, “Rear Window”, “The Trouble with Harry”, “The Man Who Knew Too Much”, “Marnie”, “Torn Curtain”, “Topaz”, “Frenzy” and “Family Plot” all include a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono tracks. They all sound amazing on Blu-ray and work perfectly for each film. “Vertigo”, “Psycho” and “The Birds” include both a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, as well as a DTS Master-Audio 2.0 Mono. Lastly “North by Northwest” includes the movie impressive with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track, as well as a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track.

If the amazing collection of 15 years isn’t good enough each film is packed with some really ace special features. “Saboteur (1942)” includes three featurettes including “Saboteur: A Closer Look”, “Storyboards: The Statue of Liberty Sequence” and “Alfred Hitchcock’s Sketches”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Shadow of a Doubt (1943)” includes two featurettes including “Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock’s Favorite Film” and “Production Drawings by Art Director Robert Boyle”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Rope (1948)” includes a featurette called “Rope Unleashed”, as well as Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer. “Rear Window (1954)” comes chock-full of goodies. First there is a commentary track with John Fawell, author of “Hitchcock’s Rear Window: The Well-Made Film”. There are a bunch of great featurettes including “Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary”, “A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes”, “Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of The Master”, “Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock”, “Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts” and “Masters of Cinema”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included, as well as a re-release Trailer Narrated by James Stewart. “The Trouble with Harry (1955)” comes with one feature titled “The Trouble with Harry Isn’t Over”. There are also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)” includes a behind-the-scenes look into “The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included.

The next four films comes with the most impressive extras.  “Vertigo (1958)” comes with two audio commentary tracks with Associate Producer Herbert Coleman, Restoration Team Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz + more and there is also one with director William Friedkin. There are four featurettes including “Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock’s Masterpiece” and “Partners in Crime: Hitchcock’s Collaborators”, “The Vertigo Archives” and “100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era”.  As well as Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts and the Foreign Censorship Ending.  Lastly this wraps up with the Theatrical and Restoration Theatrical Trailer. “North by Northwest (1959)” includes a commentary track from screenwriter Ernest Lehman.  As well as four featurettes including “The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style”, “Cary Grant: A Class Apart”, “North by Northwest: One for the Ages” and “Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest”.  I also am a huge fan of the isolated music-only audio track included.  Lastly, there is a stills gallery and theatrical trailers and a TV spot included. “Psycho (1960)” starts off with a commentary track from Stephen Rebello, author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”. There are a bunch of amazing featurettes including “The Making of Psycho”, “Psycho Sound”, “In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy” and “The Psycho Archives”. There is also “Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts” and “Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho” included.  Fans of “The Shower Scene” will be happy to find it here with and without Music and also in storyboards by Saul Bass. Lastly there are Posters and Psycho Ads, Lobby Cards, Behind-the-Scenes Photographs, Production Photographs and Theatrical and Re-release Trailers included.

“The Birds (1963)” is the only film wiht a newly produced extra, “The Birds: Hitchcock’s Monster Movie”. It also includes a rare Deleted Scene and Original Ending.  There is a featurette called “All About The Birds”. There is vintage “Tippi Hedren’s Screen Test” footage, as well as Hitchcock-Truffaut Interview Excerpts. There are two Universal International Newsreels included “The Birds Is Coming” and “Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock”. There are Storyboards, as well as Production Photographs and the theatrical trailer included. Lastly there is “100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics and The Lot”, which are also available on the “Universal Classic Monsters” release. “Marnie (1964)” comes with two featurettes “The Trouble with Marnie” and “The Marnie Archives” and wraps up with the Theatrical Trailer. “Torn Curtain (1966)” has two featurettes “Torn Curtain Rising” and “Scenes Scored by Bernard Herrmann”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Topaz (1969)” includes Alternate Endings, as well as a featurettes “Topaz: An Appreciation by Film Historian and Critic Leonard Maltin” and “Storyboards: The Mendozas”. There is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. “Frenzy (1972)” includes one feature “The Story of Frenzy” and there is also Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included. The last film “Family Plot (1976)” includes two features “Plotting Family Plot” and “Storyboards: The Chase Scene”. There is also Storyboards, Production Photographs and a Theatrical Trailer included.

If you are a Hitchcock fan, I know this release might be a little pricey but it is honestly worth every penny.  The films look not only impressive but like I said perfect.  You may find that the UK also has this release available for cheaper (when converted) but be warned since the UK box does not contain “North By Northwest.” So depends how much that film is worth to you, especially since it has been previously released. I just wait till my daughter (not 5 months old) will get to experience these films with me.  I am going to look forward to spending a lot of time introducing her to the masterpieces of Alfred Hitchcock.

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Directors: Joss Whedon
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Run Time: 280 minutes

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

If you are not aware “The Avengers” was not Joss Whedon first go-round with superheroes. The first run of the 2004 comic series “Astonishing X-Men” was written by Joss Whedon and art provided by John Cassaday. The four issues, “Gifted”, “Dangerous”, “Torn” & “Unstoppable” that he wrote are all present on this release and brought to life as a motion comic.  I am usually not a fan of motion comic but since Joss Whedon know owns all superhero fans, I am a drawn to this like a horse with a carrot in front of his mouth.  Plus if you are a fan of “X-Men”, then this is easily one of the most important X-Men stories of all-time and Joss Whedon is the one person that can do this up right.  This Blu-ray features over 5 hours of non-stop animated action and is a must have for all fans of anything to do with superheros.

“Gifted”: When Dr. Kavita Rao develops a controversial mutant cure, the X-Men once again find themselves battling against science, prejudice and a mysterious new alien foe! “Dangerous”: The tragic death of a student at the Xavier Institute reveals that a powerful enemy is working from inside the mansion to destroy the X-Men: an enemy who knows all of their weaknesses and can predict their every move. “Torn”: Emma Frost’s erratic behavior has the X-Men spinning in a nonstop downward spiral. Will an unlikely union be the final straw? Plus: The X-Man destined to destroy the Breakworld stands revealed! “Unstoppable”: The X-Men are off to protect the Earth from its destruction at the hands of the Breakworld. And when it’s all over, nothing will ever be the same!

This release looks sharp in The special features are pretty decent. There is a interesting interview included with Joe Quesada and Neal Adams.  I wish it was longer but it definitely should satisify any fan of the series.  Where is the interview with Joss Whedon though? I really enjoyed the Behind-The-Scenes Look At Marvel Knights™ Animation, which also included visual history of the characters. There is also a artists gallery for the man behind this series John Cassady.  There is an original Music Video for the song “Rise Up”.  Lastly also included is an all-new cover art illustration by John Cassaday.

Starring: Leticia Dolera, Javier Botet, Diego Martín
Director: Paco Plaza
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 80 minutes

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

I was a huge fan of [REC], before the crappy US remake and sequel. I thought the idea of the film was so scary and very ballsy. [REC] 2, I was not that big of a fan of. I thought it was too much of a tag-along to the first film. “[REC]3: Genesis” is believe it or not, one of my favorite films of 2012, so far. It is such an improvement over the last film and the franchise. The film is a nice plenty of horror and comedy and comes packed with some amazing gore and kill scenes.  The film also takes a different approach from the whole hand-held shakey aspect, which I really dug.  But most importantly, Leticia Dolera looks beyond hot as a vengeful bride with a chainsaw.  I mean come-on that is a no-brainer!! She needs to be in every movie that I see!

Official Premise: Koldo and Clara are about to celebrate the most important day of their lives: their wedding. Everything appears to be running smoothly, and the bride and groom and their families are enjoying a wonderful day-that is, until some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness. Before they know what’s happening, the bride and groom find themselves in the middle of a hellish ordeal as an uncontrollable torrent of violence is unleashed on the wedding. Amidst the chaos Koldo and Clara become separated and begin a desperate search for one another. What started off as an idyllic day quickly descends into a nightmare of the worst kind

I am very disappointed in this series, Sony is to blame this time, for not releasing this on Blu-ray.  I am not sure what the hell is going through their minds, since the series is available on Blu-ray everywhere but the US. To top it off, the special features are lacking a bit overall.  There are 12 deleted scenes included, some are pretty good and could have been put into the film…others are a big no.  Lastly there is a blooper reel included, which is definitely worth checking out.  But that is it, I was hoping for a little more.  Maybe the foreign market’s Blu-ray release will have some more goodies.  Heading to eBay now… Thank God this movie is completely awesome! This is a must for all horror fans!

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Actors: Julian Sands, Wes Bentley, Angus Macfayden
Directed by: Alejo Mo-Sun
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

When I first heard of this film, I didn’t even recognize Wes Bentley on the cover. Then I realized that he was in “The Hunger Games” and this was a mere cash in on that role.  The film itself is an awesome premise dealing in a post-apocalyptic setting with samurai and dark magic but it doesn’t take advantage of this total coolness.  There is some decent CGI effects but nothing that really blew me away.  This feels like a low-budget “Dune” without the cool worms and blue eyes. Worth a went but I wouldn’t recommend this as a buyer.

Official Premise: On a planet where humans must scavenge the post-apocalyptic barren wasteland, Hirokin, a reluctant samurai with a dark past sets off on a mission to fulfill his destiny. Having fought to the death to save his wife and son from the planet’s evil dictator, Griffin, and his elite army of warriors, the lone samurai is left for dead in the vast desert. Armed with his samurai blade Hirokin is forced to choose between avenging the murder of his family and fighting for the freedom of his people. As he goes into war he’ll discover a shocking revelation about his family leaving revenge running through his veins.

The special features are ok but not spectacular on this DVD.  There is a short but sweet featurette called “Creating Aradius: The Making of Hirokin: The Last Samurai”.  I would have liked to seen more of Aradius in this film to be honest, just looked like a desert set to me.  There are also two featurettes on the fighting called “Training the Samurai” and “Fight Choreography”.  Lastly there are a few deleted scenes.  I should point out in closing that even though this is only DVD, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is quite decent with the few action scenes in the film.

Actors: Dave Foley, Derek Richardson, Sarah Chalke, Rob Riggle
Directors: Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 46 minutes

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

Since their debut in 2009, Wayne and Lanny have become my favorite Christmas elves. The “Prep & Landing” series is something I look forward to ever year. It is always so clever and smart. Also they are Executive Produced by John Lasseter, so you know it is going to be sharp. This Blu-ray release includes the original “Prep & Landing” and also “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice”. Both of these specials are two of my must-watch each Christmas season. If you are a fan of these specials, then you are going to be excited nonetheless to enjoy them on this high-def Blu-ray. Also keep an eye out since there is another holiday special being planned, though date not disclosed at the time of writing. Fingers crossed for Holidays 2012.

“Prep & Landing” – On Christmas Eve, a high-tech team of elves from an elite unit known as ‘Prep & Landing’ ensures homes around the world are prepared for Santa’s visit. But when two hilarious little elves face unexpected challenges and are pushed to their limits, it’ll take a great big effort to save the season. Enjoy a heartwarming holiday classic sure to make everyone’s Christmas list!

“Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice” – The outrageous yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne continue in this totally tinsel adventure that reminds us there’s room for everyone on the ‘nice’ list. Santa’s stealthiest little elves must race to recover classified North Pole technology, which has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking naughty kid, in order to stop Christmas from descending into chaos. Bring the family together for a comical adventure that puts the Ho, Ho, Ho in your holidays!

This release comes in a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The animation is very polished and looks sharp on its 1080p transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also works well with Michael Giacchino score. The special features are also very impressive for this release. There are two bonus “Stocking Stuffer” shorts “Operation: Secret Santa” and “Tiny’s Big Adventure”. There is a fun behind-the-scenes feature with Grace Potter performing in-studio on “Behind the Jingle”. “Kringle Academy” is a cute feature on how to become one of the few, the proud, the merry. Lastly “North Pole News & Commercials” are fun little extras that kiddies will surely enjoy.

Starring: Michael Caine, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, David Rudman
Director: Brian Henson
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
EXtras: 4 out of 5 stars

There is no film that I think about Christmas more with that “The Muppet Christmas Carol”.  It is one of my all-time favorites.  The music, the Muppets, the Christmas cheer…couldn’t ask for anything more.  This film has also never looked better on Blu-ray.  Disney really gave this film a really nice 20th anniversary edition release with this “It’s Not Easy Being Scrooge Special Edition”.  Although, this release only included the theatrical version and does not include the extended cut with the song “When Love is Gone”. I am sure this is going to upset many folks but it is what it is.  This does though include a very sharp digitally remastered 1080p transfer with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.  I really though this was a nice upgrade for such a wonderful film.  If you are looking to get into the holiday mood, then cuddle up with some hot chocolate and get ready to sing-along with the Muppets.

I am going to turn this review over to Gonzo to give the official premise: “Greetings, holiday movie fans and culture lovers, I am the Great Gonzo.or as I am better known to fans of this classic motion picture-literary legend Charles Dickens. Ready to laugh, cry, sing, frolic, cavort, and enjoy yourself beyond belief!? Well, you’re in luck, because this Great Gonzo’s “From Chickens to Dickens” 20th anniversary edition of The Muppet Christmas Carol is guaranteed to put you in a holiday spirit that will stay with you forever – or at least until your Aunt Edna starts complaining that nobody is eating the fruitcake she brought.again! Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray with high-definition sound and picture, so you can enjoy even more of my blue-ness, not to mention the incredible spectacle of Kermit the Frog as Bob Crachit, Miss Piggy as Emily Crachit, Academy Award-winner Michael Caine as Scrooge, wonderful songs by Academy Award-winner Paul Williams, and, of course, my pal Rizzo the Rat as.well, Rizzo the Rat. A heartwarming and hilarious holiday classic, told as never before by yours truly! Yule love it! Happy Holidays!”

I am a big fan of this special featurets included on this Blu-ray. One of my favorite extras on this Blu-ray is the “Disney Intermission”. This is a brand new bonus feature, which activates when the film is paused and leads into five classic holiday-themed songs performed by the Muppets Chickens and chums. There is an all-new audio commentary with Muppets including Kermit, Rizzo, Gonzo and many more.  Highly recommended. “Frogs, Pigs and Humbug: Unwrapping a New Holiday Classic. A Behind the Scenes Look” is a vintage featurette hosted by director Brian Henson, Gonzo and Rizzo and gives a nice behind-the-scenes into the making of film. There is a funny blooper reel included form the the set.  “Pepe Profiles Gonzo: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Weirdo” is a funny featurette on Pepe the King Prawn. Lastly, Gonzo and Rizzo take the lead in showing us how the holiday is celebrated in “Christmas Around the World” feature.

Actors: Pia Zadora, Bill McCutcheon, Ned Wertimer, John Call
Directors: Wallace Worsley
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: KINO INTERNATIONAL
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 81 minutes

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

“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” has always been one of my favorite “bad” movies.  It is a cheesy 1964 science fiction film and it regularly featured in the “bottom 100” list on IMDB.  I found out about this film many years ago thanks to being spoofed on “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. Since then it has always been a favorite around the holidays.  When I say this is bad…I mean bad. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t recommend it.  I highly recommend it.  It is one of those films that you just have to watch over and over and then tell you friends about it.  Kino is giving this film the real treatment in this special edition Blu-ray.  The film is not what you would call high-definition worthy but it reminds me of other films like “Plan 9 from Outer Space”. The song “Hooray For Santy Claus” is such a terribly bad song that it will have you humming it all season.

Official Premise: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians tells the story of the depressed children of Mars (including one played by an 8-year-old Pia Zadora), who can only be brought out of their funk through the jolly cheer of Old St. Nick. So the Martian leaders travel to Earth and kidnap two local kids and Kris Kringle himself. Brought back to the Red Planet, they are forcibly installed in a factory to make toys. But you can’t manufacture happiness, with Santa having to teach his alien overseers the true meaning of Christmas.

Kino Classics has really made this bad film actually quite amazing.  It is a fully restored edition from HD elements and it is the first time that this movie is available on Blu-ray. The full-screen, 1.33:1 transfer looks a literally a thousand times better than the mass public domain prints. The mono audio track works for the film and didn’t really expect much more than that here. There are tons of great vintage special features included here. The collection of extras are really all over the map. First we get various vintage Christmas-themed footage for Santa’s Cool Holiday Film Festival. Then we have Shari Lewis and Lambchop giving a season’s greeting. America’s favorite family The Nelsons have a sponsor ad for Eastman Kodak.  Max Fleischer’s “Christmas Comes But Once a Year and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” cartoon is included. Castle Films’ Santa short subject from 1950 shows up, as well a bit from Abbott & Costello and also 1951’s Howdy Doody’s Christmas.  Did I mention all over the map? Lastly there are 50’s and 60’s vintage theatre Christmas greetings.

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Actors: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rufus Sewell
Directors: Timur Bekmambetov
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Run Time: 105 minutes

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

If you are not aware of it, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is actually based on the New York Times Best Selling novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, author of “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (who also wrote this screenplay).  When I heard that the fantastically original book was being turned into a movie, I was thrilled.  Then I found that the people behind it were Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov, I could have done a back flip.  Well, then I saw the film.  It actually pains me to say but it was a little tough to watch. The vampires looked cool but the story was rather lame and empty. I am very generous with my rating since I really want to kick major ass.

The film was wasn’t some B-movie either. It carried a strong $69 million dollar budget and was even filmed in 3D.  The best parts that drew any attention was the stylized action, which was very sparce to begin with. Those scenes also would have looked the best in 3D but we were only able to review this in 2D, so some of the thrill was lost there as well.  I recommend seeing it but this could have been so much cooler.  I mean with a title like “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”, it just oozes coolness. Major missed opportunity here. Who knows maybe the 3D adds so much to this film that makes up for the lameness but I doubt it.

Official Premise: “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” explores the secret life of Abraham Lincoln before he became President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton (Dark Shadows) and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the bloodthirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history’s greatest hunter of the undead.

Fox delivered this release in a Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy combo pack.  The 2D Blu-ray transfer looks sharp but lacked the edge and depth the the 3D transfer would have delivered on.  The saving grave for the film though is the kick-ass DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, which works with the three actual action scenes. The special features are damn impressive as well.  There is an audio commentary with the novelist and screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, which is pretty cool! “The Great Calamity” is a  graphic novel CGI short film, definitely worth checking out! “The Making of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” runs a sweet 75 minutes and is a super in-depth five part making-of documentary.  This covers all aspects of the production from the book-to-screen. Lastly, there is a music video for “Powerless” by Linkin Park and the theatrical trailer.

Starring: Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Brian Cox, John Lithgow
Director: Jay Roach
Rated: R / Unrated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 85 minutes (R-Rated) / 96 minutes (Extended)

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

Not sure about everyone else, but I am sick and tired of all the political bullshit that has flooded the web and TV in the last few weeks. I am not a fan at all. I think the @ShitMyDadSays twitter feed has described the election process best “Anyone who thinks they know what’s best for 300 million people is a titanic asshole. So we’re just voting for king of the assholes.” Amen. So, this film was the answer to my prayers! It was a big FU to all things dealing it politics. It was completely raunchy over-the-top and in your face. I commend Jay Roach for finally returning to funny films, unlike the shitty “Meet the Parents” franchise. Will Ferrell is also at the top of his game in his funniest role since “Step Brothers”. Combine his performance with Zach Galifianakis’ belly-laughing character and it is a match made in heaven. The extended cut is actually a real nice improvement from the theatrical and contains an additional 11 minutes of hilarity. Don’t miss this film! Best comedy of the year, no question!

This release comes in a Blu-ray + DVD + UV Digital Copy combo pack. I love that Warner’s is known for this format and I love the use of Ultraviolet digital streaming! The video and audio on the Blu-ray does look great and the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works perfect with the dialogue and the music.
Alright if you are looking for some deep production filled special features and great commentary tracks you are going to be very disappointed. But if you are looking for just some more madness and insanity continued from the film than you are going to like these extras. There is a Line-O-Rama, which is just a laugh after laugh mash-up. There are a few deleted scenes, some are funny enough to be in the film. Lastly there is a hilarious gag reel, that needs to be watched numerous times to catch everything missed due to laughing.

Official Premise: When long-term congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major public gaffe before an upcoming election, a pair of ultra-wealthy CEOs plot to put up a rival candidate and gain influence over their North Carolina district. Their man: naïve Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis), director of the local Tourism Center. At first, Marty appears to be the unlikeliest possible choice but, with the help of his new benefactors’ support, a cutthroat campaign manager and his family’s political connections, he soon becomes a contender who gives the charismatic Cam plenty to worry about. As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other, in this mud-slinging, back-stabbing, home-wrecking comedy.

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Actors: Tom Kane, Dee Bradley Baker, Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Matthew Wood
Directors: Dave Filoni
Rated: Unrated
Studio: WARNER HOME VIDEO
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Run Time: 506 minutes

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

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is like a fine wine…it gets better with age. The first season was decent, the second was good, the third was great and the the fourth season is simply the best. It is extremely rare that a show only gets better as it develops. It just shows how plentiful and deep the Star Wars universe really is.  I mean bringing back from the dead, Darth Maul, was one of the best choices that this series has made to date. Usually with shows, the start to loose their ideas and creative steam but not Dave Filoni and his amazing team. This show only seems to get more dark, deep and intense as the series moves on, don’t even get me started on the current fifth season. All 22 Action-Packed episodes are included beautiful here in high definition. “Star Wars” fans don’t miss this highly recommended release!

Official Premise: In its critically acclaimed fourth season, the battle to save the galaxy reaches new heights of peril and new depths of darkness. The valiant Jedi Knights and clone troopers defend exotic planets from enemy forces. They wage war underwater, battle across a night-shrouded world and take on the merciless Death Watch. Our heroes are tested like never before as Anakin is haunted by the realities of his past, Ahsoka fights to free her people, and an undercover Obi-Wan braves a deadly bounty hunter tournament. Season Four culminates with the shocking return of a villain from the past: the ruthless Darth Maul, who will stop at nothing to achieve vengeance.

The Blu-ray presentation is quite impressive with its 1080p transfer and 2.35:1 aspect ratio. You sometimes forget that this is a TV series since the quality on the show challenges many feature films.  The cinematic aspect of this series is amped more with its surround sound pouding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, you literally find yourself dodging lightsabers and blaster fires. The special features are also very impressive with more than six-and-a-half hours of extras. I really enjoyed the idea of the video commentaries, which run about two hours.  First up we have the “Jedi Temple Archives”, which adds up to almost five hours in itself. It covers everything from deleted scenes to development reels to focus on various aspects of animation, character designs, storyboards and much, much, much more. If you are fan of the series, you will be watching these without blinking one.

There are five super engaging and very informative commentaries with supervising director Dave Filoni and company.  The episodes chosen for this are “The Battle of Mon Cala” three-episode arc (“Water War,” “Gungan Attack” and “Prisoners”), “The Darkened World of Umbara” four-episode arc (“Darkness of Umbara,” “The General,” “Plan of Dissent” and “Carnage of Krell”), “The Slaves of Zygerria” three-episode arc (“Kidnapped,” “Slaves of the Republic” and “Escape from Kadavo”), “The Obi-Wan Undercover” four-episode arc (“Deception,” “Friends and Enemies,” “The Box” and “Crisis on Naboo”) and my favorite “The Darth Maul Returns” four-episode arc (“Massacre,” “Bounty,” “Brothers” and “Revenge”).  Easily these are the best special features to date out of all four of the seasons.

Cast: Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Gene Raymond, Mary Astor
Director: Victor Fleming
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 83 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Prior to receiving this review DVD, I have never seen this fantastic film before. But I surely know the names of Victor Fleming, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow and I would never say no to check out some of their work.  This film was originally released in 1932.  The film looks absolutely amazing for a film that..get ready…80 years old.  Wow, that is absolutely amazing.  The film is already so sharp and well done.  Films are not made like this any more and this one is such a classic.

Thanks to Warner Archive, yet again for finally releasing this film on DVD.  It is not just a drop off on DVD either, this film is newly remastered. Boy, does it look amazing for an 80 year old film.  It is also beautiful presented in 4X3 full frame and its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  Warner also delivers the original mono track, which suites the film perfectly. Lastly, there is a trailer included on the disc as well. If you are looking for a classic MGM studio film on a rainy day, I highly recommend picking this up.

Premise: From the first moment wisecracking Vantine (Harlow) takes refuge on the plantation run by Carson (Gable), he sizes her up as an easy mark for his virile charm. But when a research engineer (Gene Raymond) and his elegant wife, Barbara (Mary Astor), appear on the scene, Carson falls hard for the beautiful Barbara, discarding Vantine as nothing more than a “cute little trick.” The steamy rivalry between the women soon boils into a jealous rage – with violent consequences. Oscar®-winning Best Director Victor Fleming (Gone with the Wind, 1939) deftly orchestrates the script’s tense drama and hilarious erotic comedy, helping Gable and Harlow turn Red Dust into pure gold.

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Actors: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Kara Hayward
Directors: Wes Anderson
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Wes Anderson’s films, they are this different brand of cinema. There is really nothing like them and they are definitely not for everyone. I am a big fan of all of his work, whether it is “Rushmore”, The Royal Tenenbaums” or even “Fantastic Mr. Fox (which might even be my favorite). This film is so unique and enthralling and leave you literally glued to the screen and hesitating to blink. The young stars of this film really steal the show, Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward. They are mesmerizing on the screen. Rounding out the amazing cast is Bruce Willis (“Die Hard”) as well as Academy Award nominees Edward Norton (“American History X”) and Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”) and Academy Award winners Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) and Tilda Swinton (“Michael Clayton”). Fans of his work, should not miss it and those looking for something original and different should definitely check it out.

Official Premise: Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom follows two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm begins to brew off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside-down and changed forever.

This release is very impressive within its Blu-ray/DVD/UV Digital Copy combo pack. I am a big fan of the Ultraviolet streaming service and I know I will be taking advantage of that aspect quite a bit. The 1080p transfer is extremely impressive and meets Wes Anderson standards and showcases Robert D. Yeoman’s wonderful cinematography. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track believe it or not is the star of the show. The sound is practically flawless and works perfectly with the score and dialogue. The downfall of this release though is the special features. There are only a few dull short featurettes including “A Look Inside Moonrise Kingdom,” “Welcome to the Island of New Penzance,” and a “Set Tour with Bill Murray.” Come on Wes Anderson, we know you can do better? Where’s the commentary track and actually meaningful special features?

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