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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Actors: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah, Sean Young
Director: Ridley Scott
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 23, 2012
Run Time: 117 minutes

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

“Blade Runner” has been labeled with “The #1 Sci-Fi Film of all time” and it damn well deserves it.  The film is so epic and even though it is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, it looks like it was made yesterday.  This release comes stocked with a 4-Disc Blu-ray/ DVD + Book + UltraViolet Digital Copy Combo Pack.  I am particularly psyched about the streaming digital copy. How does that sound in terms of ass-kicking? What since the film is celebrating its birthday, there should be gifts right?  This one comes packed with goodies, including an all new concept spinner car replica, an action Lenticular and a 72 page art production book with never-before-seen Ridley sketches, poster art and photos. All that is fantastic and should satisfy any fan of the film. This commemorative gift set also includes all 10+ hours of bonus content from the equally amazing 2007 Ultimate Collector’s Edition, as well as all five feature film versions – The Final Cut, ‘92 Director’s Cut, Domestic and International Theatrical versions and the rare Workprint.

Also like the 2007 Ultimate Collector’s Edition, the video includes a really sharp pristine 1080P transferred from the newly minted 4K master. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is simply remarkable for the “Final Cut”.  I have seen this film so many times and yet it still never managed to impress me.  I should also note that the Vangelis’ score is also perfectly showcased on this TrueHD track. The rest of the versions are presented in standard Dolby Digital and the rare Workprint is presented in Dolby 2.0 stereo. If you are looking for the special features from the 2007 edition, look no future. There is over 10+ hours of extras included here as well spread out over the five disc, which seem to cover every aspect of the film’s production that is imaginable from commentaries to featurettes.

The first disc houses the film’s audio commentary tracks. Disc two holds the amazing must-watch documentary, “Dangerous Days” and runs over 3.5 hours itself. Disc three is baren of extra but don’t worry disc four is jam-packed. There are numerous featurettes, including “The Electric Dream: Remember Philip K. Dick”, “Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel Vs. the Film”, Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews, “Signs of the Times: Graphic Design”, “Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling”, “The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth”, “Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art” and “Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard”. There is also some vintage featurettes and screen tests for Rachel & Pris, as well as various deleted and alternate scenes. Lastly the extras are wrapped up on the fourth disc with theatrical trailers. The fifth disc sums up this amazing collection of extras with yet another audio commentary track and a great featurettes “All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cuts”, which covers every possible aspect of the various cuts.

I still have (and cherish) my limited and numbered “Blade Runner”- Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition in the kick-ass briefcase. So this edition doesn’t top that one in terms of coolness but in my eyes but it is still absolutely amazing! I know this maybe be hard to believe but, YES!, it is definitely worth the double-dip. Warner Bros. is also releasing a solo three-disc Blu-ray Book edition.  It will also deliver the five cuts of the film and all special features from the 30th Anniversary set.  Though the Blu-ray Book itself gets chopped down to only thirty-six pages instead of seventy-two pages.  It also cuts out the DVD disc, UV copies and of course the spinner replica and Lenticular hologram. So you decide which one you want but I highly recommend this release is a no-brainer if you are a fan!

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Starring: Tommy Blacha, Brendon Small, Mark Hamill, Victor Brandt, Malcolm McDowell
Directors: Tommy Blacha, Brendon Small
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 144 minutes

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 Out of 5 stars

When I first heard about “Metalocalypse” back in 2006, I was excited since I am big fan of brutal music and also Adult Swim’s animated show. The show has developed so well over the years and has consistently blown away any expectations I had. The show recently completed its fourth season on Adult Swim and has been the best season since the first. This season the show also returns to its original 11-minute long episode format, which I persoanlly preferred. It is so amazing to realize how far this virtual death metal band Dethklok has come since 2006 with CDs and tours. This show is totally brutal and I honestly cannot get enough of this. This release also includes a bonus of the entire season available to watch using Ultraviolet digital streaming copy. Now we just need to get seasons one and two put out on Blu-ray. You get that Adult Swim?

“Season four of “Metalocalypse” begins with our heroes, extreme metal gods Dethklok, as they ejoin from the sky to the earth to confront the evils that lay before all-human kind: the evils of dating fans; the evils of perceived racism, of the ‘tell-all’ books, of the bullying helpless diabeties, and the evil of fellatio. Will Dethklok face their fears or will they self-destruct when they world needs them most? The Metalocalypse continues…” Also the truth behind the shadowy organization, the Tribunal is starting to reveal itself and its mission to end Dethklok.

The fourth season contains the following episodes: “Fanklok”, “Diversityklok”, “Prankklok”,” Motherklok”, “Bookklok”, “Writersklok”, “Dethcamp”, “Dethvanity”, “Going Downklok”, “Dethdinner”, “Breakup Klok”, “Church of the Black Klok”. This season features guest appearances from some awesome talent like Corpsegrinder (Cannibal Corpse), Cam Pipes (Three Inches of Blood), Dweezil Zappa, actor Jon Hamm (Mad Men), and director Werner Herzog (Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans).

The Blu-ray presentation on this season is an nice improvement over season three.  It is presented it in its 1.78:1 broadcast ratio and looks sharp in its 1080p transfers.  The star of the release though has to be the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track, since the show is based around music and this does not disappoint. There are also some decent special features, adding up another two hours of bonus content.  There is fun interactive “Facebones DethGame”, which has some decent replay value.  There is a sweet tribute to all the brutal fan art that was submitted to the show.  There is a montage sequence included for the “Black Klok”. There is also “StaresDowns” with the band, a feature called “MurderThoughts”, A “Pickles Flyby” and a Tribunal BTS featurette. The feature that steals the show though is “Nathan reads Shakespeare #4: A Comedy of Errors” this is a 90 minute feature film and is a must see for fans!

2012 is a big year for Adult Swim’s virtual death metal band Dethklok. They are headlining a 34 date concert tour this Fall and also they just released a new album, “Dethalbum III”. The album also just debuted at #10 in the Billboard 200, which is the highest that series has ever achieved. If you are a fan of “Metalocalypse”, you should be doing back flips for all this brutality. Now we just have to wait for a fifth (and hopefully not last season) from Brendon Small. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another two years to release that.  But at least for the time being we can mosh it out at the concerts and blast the new tunes!

Actors: Chuggington Characters
Directors: Sarah Ball
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 61 minutes

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

Having a five month old daughter, I have to admit that I am familiar with the Chuggington brand name. She is not old enough yet to completely go nuts for it but she surely love the colors and music from this series. I have to admit it is definitely entertaining and cute to say the least. The episodes are also very short running 15 minutes, so it is not too overwhelming. With the holiday season right around the corner, this DVD release focusing on the show’s winter adventures. There are six very cute and very chilly episodes included within “Icy Escapades”. I would highly recommend this release for all parents with kids.

Offical Premise: In this traintastic collection of winter adventures, the crew takes to the tracks as snow and ice cover Chuggington! When the rails become frozen, it’s up to Wilson, Koko, and Brewster to save the day and keep the town moving! With help from their fellow Chuggers, the trainees get rescued from a blizzard, dig their way out of snow drifts, and even take to the skies when the wintery winds lift Hodge from the rails! Share in the journey as the trainees learn important lessons like teamwork and problem-solving, while discovering there’s snow-place like Chuggington!

For a kids DVD, usually the episodes are enough since they will most likely just be put on loop for the kids to watch over and over and over. But this release actually includes some decent bonus features for the kiddies. There is a bonus Badge Quest episode called “Honk Your Horns”. There is a cute little featurette called “The Chugger Spotlight: Speedy, Frostini”. Lastly there are various coloring and activity sheets to print for kids via the your DVD-ROM drive. I look forward to future episodic releases of this series for sure.

Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson, Fred Clark, Lloyd Gough
Director: Billy Wilder
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 110 minutes

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

Being a film buff everyone know’s that “Sunset Boulevard” is a must in your library. The film still engages you like it was just released today. The acting is nothing short of spectacular. William Holden and Gloria Swanson are such iconic characters actors and they can never be replaced. “Sunset Boulevard” heads to Blu-ray for the first time ever. It looks good in its 1080p transfer, with its 1.37:1 showcasing the original aspect ratio. Since the film is over 60 years old, there is some noticeable grain throughout the film. Still due to the film age it does get some high points in my book.  This is a must for all fans of classic cinema.

This is not just catalog title that is being released to Blu-ray. “Sunset Boulevard” was fully restored and made to maintain the look/feel that was originally created by the director and cinematographer. Since there was no original source that survived. The restoration team ended up having to use a 35mm negative for the main source for its 4K restortation. So in terms of that what we have as the finished product is impressive. The audio on the Blu-ray is also impressive with its minimalistic yet true to the original film, Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

The special features here are the very impressive for this release with over two hours of extras, including a never-before-released deleted scene “The Paramount-Don’t-Want-Me Blues”, which was obtained from the Academy Film Archive and features Academy Award-winning songwriters. Together these extras really aim to paint the picture for the entire story of “Sunset Boulevard”. There is an audio commentary track from Ed Sikov, author of “On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder”. Not the most engaging track but still very informative if you are a film buff.

There are various featurettes included, some of which start to repeat themselves but are worth checking out at least one. “Sunset Boulevard: The Beginning” dives into the cast and the character dynamics. “Sunset Boulevard: A Look Back” talks about the alternate opening, reaction to the film and overall the film’s legacy. “The Noir Side of Sunset Boulevard” looks into the aspects of the film that made it a noir classic. “Sunset Boulevard Becomes a Classic” look onto the culture impact that this film had to date. “Two Sides of Ms. Swanson” dives into the life of Gloria Swanson with the help of her Granddaughter. “Stories of Sunset Boulevard” is more behind-the-scenes look into the production. “Mad About the Boy: A Portrait of William Holden” looks into the film’s star and his life.

“Recording Sunset Boulevard” reflects on Franz Waxman’s classic score. “The City of Sunset Boulevard” takes a look into the shooting location used in this classic. “Franz Waxman and the Music of Sunset Boulevard” is another look into Franzz work with the insights of other known composers. “Morgue Prologue Script Pages” includes a reproduction for the various versions of the famous cut opening sequence. There is an interactive map of Sunset Boulevard with videos on various locations. “Behind the Gate: The Lot” looks back at the history of Paramount Pictures. “Edith Head: The Paramount Years” looks into the life of the famous costume designer. “Paramount in the ’50s” takes us back to view Paramount’s best films from the 1950s. Lastly there are various photo galleries and an HD theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott
Directors: Marc Webb
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 9, 2012
Run Time: 136 minutes

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

When I received “The Amazing Spider-Man” to review, I was both excited and disappointed. I had missed the film in the theaters due to the birth of my daughter. So I have been highly anticipating this release. The film was originally released in theaters in 3D and IMAX. So I was not thrilled to find a standard DVD to review. Would anyone even buy just the DVD anyone especially with all the Blu-ray combo packs that are released? Either way let’s get to the film itself. It was actually pretty freaking kick-ass. The plan to reboot this series has worked and now I also can’t wait for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in the summer of 2014.

When “Spider-Man” came out in 2002, it was something new and really kicked off the whole superhero phase that we are in today. The sequels, well are a different story, I was never a big fan of them. In general, I was not never a fan of Tobey Maguire specifically in the role of Peter Parker. He spent more time crying, moaning…and even dancing (boy, I wish I skipped “Spider-Man 3”). “The Amazing Spider-Man” really did the franchise up right. I actually wish in fact that this was the first in the series and replaced the first three.

Andrew Garfield was quite awesome as the web-slinger and really owned it. Emma Stone was also very charming in the role of Gwen Stacy, count me in. Denis Leary was a nice addition to the series, as well. Let’s get to the topic of the villain, The Lizard was an interesting choice but I feel that it really worked out. I am a big fan of Rhys Ifans (and have even rode a rollercoaster ride with him) and he also nailed this role. The film had some good comedy but wasn’t campy at all. There was a real darker feel to the story as well, which I enjoyed. Not as dark as “Batman Begins” but still a good re-start for the franchise.

When I saw “Spider-Man 2 & 3”, I thought it had way to much special effects and lack of stories. This film was packed with special effects but were all effective and worked well with the film. It would probably be even better on Blu-ray and in 3D. A few other aspects that I enjoy from the reboot was the finding of the mask and even his web shooters. “The Amazing Spider-Man” also featured the best Stan Lee cameo yet out of any superhero film yet.

The special features are quite disappointing. There is much more included on the 3D/2D Blu-ray combo packs. Yes there are even 3D extras, which is also extremely rare. But all we get here on this release are less impressive. There is an audio commentary track from the filmmakers. There are a few short deleted scenes and stunt rehearsals. Lastly there is a production art gallery, which focuses on The Oscorp Archvies. OVerall, I give high thumbs up the film but highly recommend skipping this DVD release and picking up the 4-disc combo pack for sure!

Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen
Director: Sarah Smith
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 97 minutes

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

When it comes to Christmas films, I always get excited. Whether it is animated or live action…doesn’t matter. “Arthur Christmas” is fun and ‘pretty’ to look at. The 3D also really adds a lot of depth to the film and makes the colors really pop out. When I first saw this in the theaters, I am not going to lie and say I wasn’t a little bit disappointed. But after viewing a second time, I have to say that it definitely is one of those films that grow on you. It may not be the best Christmas movie ever but it is still quite a bit of fun. Also if you are looking for a way to kick start some Holiday spirit that I would highly recommend this. Fun for the whole family. Guaranteed to become a must watch in my house each year!

The film is made from a combo of Aardman Animations, known best for claymation films like “Chicken Run” and “wallace and Gromitt” and Sony Pictures Animation (“The Smurfs”). It has a nice feel to its animation style and has a lot of nice character designs. The voice cast is made up of mostly UK actors like James McAvoy (“X-Men: First Class”), Hugh Laurie (TV’’s ““House””), Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”) and Jim Broadbent (“Moulin Rouge”). So expect a lot of British humor. Kids are also going to love the fact that Justin Bieber’s single, ““Santa Claus is Coming to Town”” from his album “”Under the Mistletoe” is included. I remember when I was forced to sit through that in the theaters (it was very painful), but again it is not for me…the kiddies will love it for sure.

Official Synopsis: The film tackles the question of how Santa delivers all his presents in one night. When Santa’s elves and their high-tech system of present delivery forgets to deliver one present to a young girl in England, Arthur embarks on a mission to safely deliver her pretty pink bicycle. Arthur decides it’s up to him not to disappoint this little girl and ensure that she will still believe in the magic of Christmas, even if it means conquering some of his own fears. With Arthur’s determination and Grand-Santa’s quirky cynicism, the operation is bound to be an adventurous one.

This release comes in a three disc combo pack including a Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD + UltraViolet Digital Copy. The transfer looks very sharp and super clear.  The star though has to be the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  It really captures the action and showcases the score very well. The special features are very kid-friendly.  There is a cute “Elf Recruitment” video.  There is a decent behind-the-scenes featurette called, ““Unwrapping Arthur Christmas”, which focuses about the Clause Family and the production.  Lastly, there are five progression reels included that dive into  how the filmmakers had created these fun characters in “Arthur Christmas Unwrapped”, “Arthur’s Office”, “Grand Santa”, “Invasion” and “Trelew”.