Directed by: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Voices of: Alan Reed, Jean Vander Pyl, Mel Blanc, Bea Benaderet, Gerry Johnson, Don Messick, John Stephenson
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 99 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“The Flintstones” are a timeless cartoon that can never be replaced. Warner Archive is releasing a pair of classic Flintstones specials on DVD for the first time. “The Flintstones Prime-Time Specials Collection – Volume 1” includes the special “The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone” and “The Flintstones Little Big League”. These classic Hanna-Barbera specials are perfect for cartoon fans of all ages. I would think that this being being released now to steal some spotlight from Halloween. If you are a fan of the series (I mean who isn’t) then this is a great addition to your collection.

“The Flintstones Meet Rockula” originally aired during Halloween of 1979 and “The Flintstones Little Big League” originally aired April of 1978. These are classics have been LONG out of print before Warner Archive released these as part of their Hanna–Barbera Classics Collection. These episodes are newly remastered and looks sharp for specials that are well over 30 years old. They are presented in 4 X 3 FULL FRAME with their original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Being a fan of this show since I was a kid, this release is a real treat to get to own these fantastic specials.  Time for Volume 2! Bring it on!

Synopsis: Following a spate of Saturday morning spin-offs, America’s favorite Stone Age family returned to network prime-time with a full slate of hysterical pre-historical specials – no quitting time for Fred! In The Flintstones Meet Rockula and Frankenstone, the Flintstones and the Rubbles travel to fear-fraught Rockysylvania thanks to a big game show win. Fred and Barney soon stumble upon – and awaken – the legendary Frankenstone Monster, who promptly revives his vampiric master, Rockula. When Rockula falls head over batwings for Wilma, will Fred end up having an undead-old time? Flintstones Little Big League sees Fred and Barney facing off as opposing Little League coaches while Bamm-Bamm and Pebbles duel across the diamond. Swept up by competitiveness and paternal pride, their friendship ends up in the dug-out doghouse. Meanwhile, a cop, a judge and Mr. Slate are all putting pressure on Fred to win at all costs – what’s a cavedad to do?

Starring: Terrance Zdunich, Paul Sorvino, Jessica Lowndes, Sean Patrick Flanery, Briana Evigan, Bill Moseley, Emilie Autumn, Shawn Crahan, Dayton Callie and Alexa Vega.
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Release Date: October 23, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 55 minutes

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

Click here to enter our giveaway for a chance to win a Numbered Copy of “The Devil’s Carnival” Ringmaster Edition
Click here for our interview series for “The Devil’s Carnival”

If you are a fan of “Repo!: The Genetic Opera”, then you surely know about Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich latest creation “The Devil’s Carnival”. This is the way that films should be made. It was done completely independent of any studio and ends up all the better for it. The film just got finished touring the country during its 40-city road tour and its 26-city encore tour and is now available on this Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack on this “Ringmaster Edition”, which is limited edition of 6660 units.  This is sure to become a very sought upon collector’s item. There is also “The Sinner Edition”, which is available only at Hot Topic stores and even includes different behind-the-scenes and commentary tracks, the film on DVD and an extended audio soundtrack as well.

This film has a tremendous cast including Sean Patrick Flanery (“The Boondock Saints”), Briana Evigan (“Step Up 2: The Streets”), Jessica Lowndes (“90210”), Dayton Callie (“Deadwood”), Paul Sorvino (“Goodfellas”), Terrance Zdunich (“Repo!: The Genetic Opera”), Alexa Vega (“Spy Kids”), J. LaRose (“Saw III”), Bill Moseley (“The Devil’s Rejects”), Emilie Autumn (Singer/Songwriter), Nivek Ogre (Lead Singer of Skinny Puppy”), Shawn Crahan (Clown from the band Slipknot), Marc Senter (“The Lost”), and Ivan Moody (Lead Singer of Five Finger Death Punch). Can you believe this freaking cast? If you are fan of “Repo!” then you will notice a few familiar faces here.  But let me tell you this film is so much different from “Repo!” but trust me that is not a bad thing.

The music in this film actually supersedes that of “Repo!: The Genetic Opera”. (Hope you take that as a compliment Terrance). I have been listening to this soundtrack on loop since it was released this past April.  I never seem to get tired of the songs…well maybe “The Devil’s Carnival” just a little. Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody really owns “A Penny For A Tale”. Emilie Autumn completely mesmerizes you with “Prick! Goes The Scorpion’s Tale”. Dayton Callie scores with a fun track “666” with the help of the Carnies. Even Sean Patrick Flanery delivers on his track “Grief”. Terrance Zdunich seals the deal with the track “Grace For Sale”, which wraps the film on a high note.  Also be sure to stay through the credits for my favorite song “In All My Dreams I Drown” with the amazing Jennifer Lowndes and Terrance Zdunich.

Official Premise: “An Obsessed Father (Sean Patrick Flanery), a kleptomaniac (Briana Evigan), and a gullible teenager (Jennifer Lowndes) are cast from Heaven by God (Paul Sorvino). They find themselves wandering the frightening, unsympathetic midway of “The Devil’s Carnival”. Unbeknownst to these condemned attendees, their lives – and the sins that paved their paths to Hell – have become tethered to specific fables in a book read by Lucifer (Terrance Zdunich)”. “The Devil’s Carnival” puts a unique spin on Aesop’s Fables. If you watch the special features you will hear Zdunich talking about how there is over 600+ different fables (That’s a lot of SEQUELS!).  This chapter includes “The Devil and His Due”, “The Dog and Her Reflection”, and “The Scorpion and the Frog”.  There is literally so many different ways that it can continue going down the line.

The special features are made for the fans with a lot of love.  I review a lot of Blu-ray/DVDs each week and it is sad to see the extras that some films come with.  This amazing release has not one but three commentary tracks, each one unique.  The first is with director Darren Lynn Bousman and writer/actor Terrance Zdunich. Out of the 55 minutes, there is not a millisecond of dead air.  The duo gives a lot of great information about the film and this labor of love for them.  The next is completely different with the cast including Emilie Autumn, Briana, Sean Patrick Flanery and Marc Senter.  This one focuses more on stories and rants from the cast and less on detailed production but is still fun as hell.  Lastly there is an amazing “A Repo Reunion” commentaries track with Darren Lynn Bousman, Bill Moseley, Ogre, Paul Sorvino, Alexa Vega and Terrance Zdunich.  This is my favorite of the three and is just a riot.  Sorvino and Vega definitely steal the show and help deliver a really entertaining commentary.

There are three featurettes included with each one outdoing the next.  The first is called “The Devil Made Me Do It: The Making of The Devil’s Carnival” and nearly runs an hour, fans are going to flip for this.  This includes interviews with pretty much all the cast and gives some amazing insight into the short seven-day production and road to the screen. The next one is a makeup featurette called “The Devil’s in the Details: The Special Makeup & Prosthetic Effects of The Devil’s Carnival”.  There is a lot of amazing details that went into this film that might be overlooked and this featurette puts all that into the spotlight.  The last featurette is called “A Devil of a Time: The Devil’s Carnival Road Tour”.  Like I said earlier in the review, this film toured 40 cities and then another 26 encore cities.  This featurettes is a look into the fans that supported this film and made it the success it is.  Wrapping up these great features is the theatrical trailer & web teasers for the film.

The Ringmaster Edition also includes a collectible booklet with song lyrics.  Remember that when DVD’s used to actually come with inserts?  The only thing that I have to comment on is that the film is a Blu-ray/DVD combo but comes in a standard DVD case.  Since this is a limited edition release, I would have preferred something a little more special or at least a Blu-ray jewel case. And don’t worry, if you are a fan of this film stay tuned because Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich are hard at work with the second and third chapter of “The Devil’s Carnival”. Please support independent film because without the fans, this film and others like it will never see the light of day. See you at the road tour for “The Devil’s Carnival: Part 2”.

Actors: Lauren Ambrose, Steven Pasquale, Geena Davis, James Woods, Ellen Burstyn
Directed by: Mikael Salomon
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Run Time: 160 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Coma” is based on the bestselling novel by Robin Cook. This A&E Miniseries is also executive produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. The miniseries originally aired on A&E over two days this past Labor Day weekend. “Cona” runs just shy of three hours and blends both suspense and sci-fi. The issue with this miniseries is that is it too short or too long and I will explain further. The story is explain well for the first half and then realizes that it is running out of time and crams in all the pay-off into the rushed ending. This would been a lot better if they cut out some of the middle and or extended the ending.

Official Synopsis: A healthy patient suddenly falls into a coma. It’s not an impossible event, but it is rare. So why does it keep happening at Peachtree Memorial? Lauren Ambrose stars as Dr. Susan Wheeler in this thriller about a medical student who discovers that something sinister is going on in her hospital after routine procedures send more than a few seemingly healthy patients into comas on the operating table.

For TV mini-series, this film has a terrific cast including Lauren Ambrose (“Six Feet Under”), Steven Pasquale (FX’s Rescue Me”), Geena Davis (“Beetlejuice”). Also there is a terrific supporting cast including James Woods (“Disney’s Hercules”), Richard Dreyfuss (“Jaws”) and Ellen Burstyn (“Requiem for a Dream”). The DVD does not come with any special features included, unfortunately. I would have like to see some featurettes on the whole sci-fi angle of the series. Since there is such a stunning cast would have loved to see some interviews etc.

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Directed by: Joe Chappelle, Steve Miner, Rick Rosenthal
Starring: Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, Kim Darby, Marianne Hagan, Mitch Ryan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, LL Cool J, Michelle Williams, Sean Patrick Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tyra Banks, Busta Rhymes
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6, 2012
Running Time: 88, 85, 90 minutes (respectively)

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers: 3 out of 5 stars
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Halloween: Resurrection: 3 out of 5 stars

Echo Bridge is the studio behind this Miramax Triple Feature release. Though previously released individually before, this is the first time that “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers”, “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” & “Halloween: Resurrection” has been released together. These are all the films that are under the Miramax label, as “Halloween 1-5” are under other distributors. I am a little disappointed though with the missing features on “Resurrection” from its solo release. But even though these aren’t the best film in the series, if you are a fan of this franchise now you can have a chance to get all these films together in one Blu-ray release.

Official Premises: “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers”: In a single horrifying night, Michael Myers’ masked reign of terror changed Halloween forever. Now, six years after he was presumed dead in a fire, Myers has returned to kill again—and this time there’s no escape. As the homicidal fury builds to a spine-tingling climax, the long-hidden secrets of the screen’s most maniacal murderer are revealed…with shocking results. “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later”: Now the headmistress of a private school, Laurie Strode is still struggling with the horrifying, 20-year-old memories of the maniacal killer Michael Myers…when he suddenly reappears with a vengeance. “Halloween: Resurrection”: Reality programmers select a group of thrill-seeking teenagers to spend one night in the childhood home of serial killer Michael Myers. But the broadcast turns deadly when Michael himself decides to crash the party.

This Blu-ray presentations are these releases are varied but mostly with mixed results. “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” comes with a 1080i transfer and a 2.0 Stereo track, not the worst but also not the best. “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” comes with a 1080p transfer, but is the worst of the bunch and also comes with a 2.0 Stereo track. Lastly we have “Halloween: Resurrection”, which is the best of the trio with its 1080p transfer and its 5.1 DTS audio track. But like I said earlier don’t celebrate yet because the solo release for “Resurrection” also came with a Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS-HD MA, and LCM 2.0 Stereo tracks, which are missing here. Also missing for “Resurrection” is the special features from the solo release as well. So got to take the good with the bad.  Still worth the price of the cheap Blu-ray.

Directed by: Greg Spence, Gregory Widen, Patrick Lussier, Joel Soisson
Starring: Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Viggo Mortensen, Virginia Madsen Elias Koteas, Vincent Spano, Russell Wong
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: November 6th 2012
Running Time: 428 minutes

The Prophecy: 4 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy II: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy IV: Uprising: 3 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy V: Forsaken: 3 out of 5 stars

Finally! Echo Bridge has released all 5 “The Prophecy” films in one Blu-ray release. They have previous been split up in all shorts of different sets. But now we get “The Prophecy / Prophecy II / The Prophecy 3: The Ascent / The Prophecy IV: Uprising / The Prophecy V: Forsaken” all together in one release…and it is great! There is no upgrades from previous release, so if you have them then stick with those.  But if you’ve been holding out, then this is your time! I have been a fan of these films (yes, even the sequels) and I am happy to get a chance to have them all in collection.

“The Prophecy” follows an L.A. homicide detective, who while fighting to stop the forces of evil, finds an unlikely ally in an elementary school teacher. Together they race against time and terror to save the world as we know it. The Prophecy: God’s Army” brings the returns of Christopher Walken as the menacing angel Gabriel. The only hope for survival in the battle of good and evil lands in the unborn child of an innocent woman (Jennifer Beals)…unless Gabriel catches her first. “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” concludes the Gabriel trilogy, as fearsome armies of rebel angels wage war in heaven and on Earth, Pyriel, the brutal Angel of Genocide, rises to power and intends to destroy mankind. The only one on Earth with the ability to stop the bloodshed is Danyael, who was born of an angel and a woman.

Next we come to the sequels without Christopher Walken: “The Prophecy: Uprising” jump starts the series again, when an ancient religious manuscript lands in the hands of an unsuspecting young woman, she is suddenly thrust into the center of an epic battle between ruthless fallen angels. “The Prophecy: Forsaken” follows the fighting for control of the Lexicon – an ancient religious text that reveals the arrival of the Antichrist – a group of fallen angels will stop at nothing to capture it and the young woman who possesses it.

The Blu-ray presentation on all these films are similar to the previous releases from Echo Bridge, that which are quite impressive. All five of these films are presented with 1080p high definition transfer except “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” which is only 1080i, not sure why this could be fixed. The audio tracks are split up with all different results.   presented with a Dolby Digital have a sharp 5.1 DTS track.   “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” comes with a 5.1 track and lastly “The Prophecy II” only comes with a 2.0 Stereo track. There are no special features included on these very full release. If you are a fan of the series and looking to own the complete series, then this is a cheap and quick way to get these films on Blu-ray.

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Actors: John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Carol Kraft, Doug Foster
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 132 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I am a fun fan of anything that comes out of the mind of the comedy duo Tim and Eric from “Tom Goes to the Mayor” to “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!”.  So I understand their rare brand of comedy and obviously this is not for everyone.  John C. Reilly is total gold playing Dr. Steve Brule.  “Check It Out with Dr. Steve Brule” is a fantastic spin-off from the madness that was created by Tim and Eric.  The show itself is even more awkward that its predecessors but it works…oh so well.  I recommend this show very highly…for your health! Where’s season three Adult Swim?

“Check It Out” Season 1 and 2 includes all 12 episodes from the series. It is a parody of a local market’s news magazine show starring Oscar-nominee John C. Reilly as Dr. Steve Brule. Each week our host Dr. Brule will introduce his audiences to local celebrities and interesting things around town as well as providing health and lifestyle tips. Produced by John C. Reilly ands Absolutely Productions.

I was hoping for some great special features here but they are most M.I.A. The only present extras are some deleted and extended scenes.  They are a nice continuous of the show but I feel like they could have done so much more.  I would have loved to seen some commentary tracks from Dr. Steve Brule and maybe even Jan and Wayne Skylar all in character.  But nonetheless, this DVD is a must purchase for all fans of Tim and Eric’s work and those looking to see Reilly in one of his most zaniest and funniest performances.

Actors: H.B. Halicki, Jerry Daugirda
Directors: H.B. Halicki
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Anderson Merchandisers
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

Many probably don’t know but the 2000 action film, “Gone in 60 Seconds” with Nicolas Cage & Angelina Jolie, was actually a remake.  H.B. Halicki was the man behind the original 1974 “Gone in 60 Seconds”.  This film gave birth to the car-chase film genre and stars Eleanor, the only Ford Mustang in history to receive starring credit in a movie! This movie also prides itself on wrecking over 93 cars within it’s extremely long 40 minute chase-scene!  This film is the real deal, no CGI, when cars were crashed it was real.  If you are a car buff, then you have to check out the amazing driving and stunts in this film.

Official Synopsis: THE ASSIGNMENT: to steal 48 muscle and exotic cars! THE CHALLENGE: avoid getting caught! ELEANOR: She’s one fast and furious Ford Fastback Mustang– a superhero of car chases…buckle-up as she slams through 5 cities, cops after cops can’t touch her…wrecking over 93 cars in Eleanor’s 40 minute Chase-Scene! It slams you on a full-throttle ride you’ll never forget!

H.B. Halicki’s Original Gone in 60 Seconds comes in a sweet Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack. The film is restored in widescreen and digitally remastered in 5.1 Dolby & DTS Surround Sound. This film has never looked or sounded better. It also comes packs with a great collection of bonus features. “The personal life and times of H.B. “Toby” Halicki, the Car Crash King” looks into the creators legacy. There is an interview with Denice Halicki on the set of her filming the 2000 Remake of Gone in 60 Seconds, which starred Nicolas Cage & Angelina Jolie. There is a rare interview with the “Father of the Ford Mustang,” Lee Iacocca. If you are a commentary, there is a track from Jack Vacek (Director of Photography) & Warner Leighton (Editor). Lastly there are three featurettes “Cut to the Chase” including information about the real accidents caught on film!

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Mike Myers, Hugh Laurie, Reese Witherspoon, Antonio Banderas, Seth Rogen, Will Arnett
Directors: Raman Hui, Gary Trousdale
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Dreamworks Video
DVD Release Date: August 28, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“DreamWorks Spooky Stories” arrives just in time to celebration Halloween.  This release features six shorts and included two new season’s themed specials from “Shrek” and “Monsters vs. Aliens” series.  In “Shrek’s Thrilling Tales”, we get three tales including “Shrek: The Ghost of Lord Farquaad” and the new shorts “Shrek: The Pig Who Cried Wolf” and and “Monsters vs. Aliens: Night of the Living Carrots”, There is also more Shrek goodness in “Scared Shrekless”.  “Monsters vs Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space” is last but not least. This is a great collection for kids to get in the mood for Halloween with their favorite Dreamworks characters.

“Shrek’s Thrilling Tales”: Join Shrek, Donkey, Puss and B.O.B as they get the fright of their lives in three spooktacular stories that will keep you howling with laughter. This Shrektastic Halloween treat includes The Pig Who Cried Werewolf, Night of the Living Carrots and The Ghost of Lord Farquaad.

“Scared Shrekless”: Halloween is Shrek’s favorite holiday – but instead of the usual tricks or treats, Shrek ups the ante and challenges the gang to spend the night telling scary stories. The last one to be Scared Shrekless wins. And don’t miss the Shreked-out parody of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

“Monsters Vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space”: The gang is back as special operatives dispatched to investigate a mysterious alien presence on Halloween. As the night unravels the innocent-looking pumpkins are revealed for what they really are – mutant aliens! Luckily the Monsters are there to smash the mutants’ wicked scheme to take over Earth.

The Blu-ray presentation on this release is extremely impressive. Each special is presented in 1080p high definition and looks fantastic. I am even more impressive though with the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track included on the special except “Mutant vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space” & “Shrek: The Ghost of Lord Farquaad”, which have Dolby True HD 5.1.  They all sound really fantastic and gave my surround sound a nice workout. There is not much additional extras included here though.  There is an optional pop-ups on “Night of the Living Carrots”. The World of DreamWorks Animation featuring previews and a few music videos. Still this is worth the purchase to get ready for the holiday season!

Actors: Zane Lamprey, Stephen McKenna
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Run Time: 614 minutes

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

I was a fan of Zane Lamprey and his crazy drinking madness since the days of “Three Sheets”. “Drinking Made Easy” is a fun show but it definitely is not for everyone. This DVD contains all 24 episodes from the outrageous second season. I never thought I would say this is possible but after watching this show, I personally have no desire to drink ever again. If you are a fan of this show season three has already started on HDNet on October 3rd. There are thirteen new episodes airing from October 3rd. So the madness continues…if his liver can survive.

Official Premise: Join the “Indiana Jones of drinking”, Zane Lamprey, with his buddies Steve McKenna and Pleepleus as they tour the U.S. looking for the best drinks, drinkers, and watering holes. Each week Zane and Steve visit a new city and explore its history, nightlife, and the local drinking culture. They are on a mission to show what libations and drinking lifestyles this fine nation has to offer and, of course, to make drinking easy!

It is hard to believe that one person is able to do as much drinking as Zane does. This season he made stops in the following cities: Maui, Kauai, Monterrey, Key West, Miami, Tampa, St. Augustine, Savannah, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Newport, Cape Cod, Portland, Memphis, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Charleston, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane, Missoula, Santa Barbara and Aspen.

There is also no shortage of special features on this DVD.  There is a commentary track from Zane and the crew of the show.  There is the one-hour special included as a bonus episode, which is called “Ultra Premium Imperial Reserve Platinum Epsecial”.  Fun stuff, definitely worth checking out for sure.  Lastly, there are additional bonus scenes from a few episodes and also some extended interviews.

Actors: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin, Michael Pare, Bren Foster
Directors: Keoni Waxman
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: November 6, 2012
Run Time: 98 minutes

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

When I saw that Steven Seagal and Steve Austin were starring together in “Maximum Conviction”, I could request this faster to review.  I don’t care what people say but I think that Seagal can still kick some major ass.  Austin is also such a bad-ass.  The duo is also also behind-the-scenes producing on the film.  Steve Austin is executive producing, while Steve Seagal is producing.  You can tell that they are behind this film 100% and it is not just some cheesy action/thriller. If you are a fan of kick-ass action films, this is a no-brainer. Sit back, relax and get ready to have the Steve’s kick some ass!

Official Premise: When former black ops operative Tom Steele (Steven Seagal) and his partner Manning (Steve Austin) are assigned to decommission an old prison, they must oversee the arrival of two mysterious female prisoners. Before long, an elite force of mercenaries assault the prison in search of the new arrivals. As the true identities of the women are revealed, Steele realizes he’s caught in the middle of something far bigger than he had imagined. Fists will fly and bones will shatter as the situation escalates with every passing minute.

Anchor Bay is delivering “Maximum Conviction” as a DVD + Blu-ray combo pack. The Blu-ray looks sharp, especially with the action in the film. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track also sounds great on the Blu-ray. The special features are quite decent for this action/thriller. There is an audio commentary with Executive Producer/Director Keoni Waxman and Co-Executive Producer Binh Dang. There is a short but effective behind the scenes featurette. “Icons: Working with Legendary Action Stars” is a feature on these two get action stars Seagal and Austin working together. Lastly there is an interview with Steve Austin and Bren Foster.

Actors: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito
Directors: Matt Shakman, Randall Einhorn
Rated: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 286 minutes

Episodes: 4 out of 5 Stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 Stars

Official Synopsis: In season 7 see the Gang prepare for the apocalypse, hit the beach at the Jersey Shore, produce a child beauty pageant, and take a walk down memory lane at their high school reunion. As they say, some things never change. So prepare for more depraved schemes, half-baked arguments and absurdly underhanded plots to subvert one another.

First airing in 2005, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has never failed to tackle timely subject matters through the uniquely twisted eyes of the Paddy’s Pub gang. Season seven, which kicked off with a dead hooker (“Frank’s Pretty Woman”) and covered everything from social networks to child beauty pageants, was no exception.

If Sweet Dee’s (Kaitlin Olsen) pregnancy was the notable addition to the sixth season, season seven was the year of “Fat Mac.” Series creator and executive producer Rob McElhenney put on fifty pounds for the sake of trying out its comedic possibilities. While McElhenney has shed the weight in the current season which began on October 11th, the decision paid off in spades in episodes on this set such as “How Mac Got Fat” and “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore” (where Mac and Danny DeVito’s Frank introduced the world to getting drunk off of Rum Ham).

The Jersey Shore episode was definitely a season highlight in a year where the gang was so often found outside of their base at Paddy’s pub–a major leap forward for Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), who up until this season just couldn’t seem to make it out of the city limits successfully. Other season highlights include “Chardee Macdennis: The Game of Games” featuring a twisted combination drinking-board-physical-challenge game that only the Always Sunny gang could devise, and the two part High School Reunion finale. The latter of which corralled, for all intents and purposes, the rogues gallery of Always Sunny nemeses from past seasons including guest stars Judy Greer, Jason Sudeikus and my personal favorite David Hornsby as downward spiraling Rickety Cricket.

This season does find some weaker moments than earlier years of Always Sunny such as the flashback-heavy “Frank’s Brother”, however I can’t think of another show that is as consistently hilarious and surprising, especially after seven years. As far as sitcoms go, it also has one of the highest rewatchability factors as the writers continue to flesh out this alternate universe Philly with supporting characters and callbacks to past plots.

The extras on the Blu-Ray set are not as extensive as some of the previous sets, featuring four episode commentary tracks (of thirteen episodes), an enjoyable blooper reel and a drunken tour of Philly with recurring character Artemis. One misses the behind the scenes featurettes from past releases. On FX, the show is aired in HD and continues to look and sound great on this Blu-ray transfer.

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Actors: Christian Slater, Stephen Dorff, Wes Bentley, Ryan Donowho
Directors: W. Peter Iliff
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

“Rites of Passage” packs a decent cast including Christian Slater, Stephen Dorff and Wes Bentley. Not A-list but definitely notable stars. The story itself takes too long to get started and ends up not delivers much before its close. There is some decent laughs, even though they are not really warranted. It ends me being a bit too formulaic for me, personally. I would say if you have nothing better to do on a rainy day, this might be worth a rent but its not special.

Premise: An anthropology student, invites a few of his classmates, and their professor to his family’s abandoned ranch – once a sacred Chumash burial ground – to recreate an ancient ceremony. There they meet Nathan’s psychotic older brother and his drug fueled friend. The students then embark on a rite of passage that no one will ever forget.

The Blu-ray presentation is good enough and holds up for the format. The 1080p video works well for the film. The audio included is a sharp DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The special features are lacking quite a bit. There is only a short “The Making Of” featurette and a trailer included. So if you are looking for commentary or anything decent to companion the film, you will be disappointed.

Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, K.C. Martel
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Pictures
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 115 minutes

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

“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and this film time being released on Blu-ray.  It has been digitally remastered from the high resolution 35MM original film elements,  supervised and approved by Spielberg himself. This release also only the original theatrical version of the film.  The 20th Anniversary edition version with the alternate cut is not present here.  Not sure the reasoning for that but the original is always the best especially for this classic.  I wish they would release the original cuts of the “Star Wars” trilogy.  E.T. reminds me of a time when Spielberg was at his best. Let’s just say this film’s today don’t have the charm that they once did.  Fans of this film should be thrilled with this high-def upgrade.

The Blu-ray presentation is honestly one of the best of the year.  The combo pack includes Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet.  I am very excited about the digital streaming copy since this is one of those films that I would want to watch whenever/wherever. The did a wonderful job on restoring this film in its 1080p transfer.  The real stare of this release has to be its DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track.  It sounds like it’s from another planet…and works perfectly with John Williams’ timeless score.  Overall, this film has honestly never looked or sounded better.

The special features are just as amazing as the film.  There is a new retrospective called “Steven Spielberg & E.T.”, which the director reflects on the film and its response through the years.  Another Blu-ray exclusive is “The E.T. Journals”, which runs about an hour consisting of original behind-the-scenes footage shot during the production.  To sup up the HD extras, there are two short deleted scenes, which are well cut.

The rest of the extras are presented in standard definition and ports from the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD. “A Look Back”  is a documentary on the production, which runs about 40 minutes. “The Evolution and Creation of E.T.”  includes some good interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. “The E.T. Reunion” is a reflections with Spielberg, Thomas, MacNaughton, Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote and producer Kathleen Kennedy on the film. “The 20th Anniversary Premiere” is featurettes with composer John Williams and a full symphony orchestra. “The Music of E.T.” is an interview with the master composer John Williams. There are six images galleries including designs, photographs and marketing.  Lastly, there is Special Olympics TV Spot and Theatrical Trailer included.

Starring: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Victor Buono, Anna Lee, Maidie Norman, Marjorie Bennett
Director: Robert Aldrich
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 134 minutes

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

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were known for there feuding both on and off the screen during making “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?”. After 50th years, they still deliver some great performances in this film. Warner’s is releasing this film in their trademark Digibook release and it is definitely worth the upgrade for fans of this classic film. Warner Brothers delivers a real nice 1080p video, within its new digital transfer taken from the original camera negative and restored audio elements. This really makes the picture pop off the screen and looks amazing in black and white still after all these years. The original DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also works well with the 50 year old film.

The special features are great but nothing new for this 50th anniversary release. There is a commentary track from Charles Busch and John Epperson Epperson, which is relatively funny. “Bette and Joan: Blind Ambition” looks back on the legendary careers of both iconic actresses. “Behind the Scenes with Baby Jane” is short but neat vintage featurette on the production. The is an excerpt from “The Andy Williams Show” on 12/12/1962, when Bette was a guest on the show. “All About Bette” is a TCM special focusing on Davis and hosted and narrated by Jodie Foster. There is a “Film Profile” on Joan Crawford, which runs just under 30 minutes. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer.

Synopsis: Two icons from the golden age of Hollywood, Oscar® winners* Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, take their famous feud onscreen in Robert Aldrich’s newly restored thriller. In fierce, no-holds-barred performances, Bette Davis portrays aging ex-child star Baby Jane Hudson while Joan Crawford plays Blanche, the crippled sister Jane torments psychologically. As the sisters descend into madness, the tension builds to a shocking ending in this unforgettable Academy Award®-winning classic.

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Actors: Jonathan Sadowski, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Jesse McCartney, Nathan Philips
Directors: Brad Parker
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

When I first heard about “Chernobyl Diaries”, I thought it was just another Summer horror movie.  Then I saw that it came out of Oren Peli, the man behind “Paranormal Activity”, I became immediately interested. He serves as both co-writer and producer and this film. and the man known how to do reality-horror right! “Chernobyl Diaries” is not another found-footage film though and takes a different (and cool) route from the “Paranormal” series.  There are a few good jumps here and thought harshly criticized during its theatrical release is not as bad as everyone says.  Good watch for Halloween season.

Another cool aspect of this film is where it was shot, this they were unable to film in the real Pripyat since there is still-present nuclear dust from the Chernobyl disaster, they shot in  abandoned an Soviet Air Force Base and in underground tunnels used as Nazi headquarters in World War II under Belgrade, Serbia.  We also had the chance to chat interview quite a few people from this film including the director Brad Parker, co-writer/producer Oren Peli and star Jonathan Sadowski.  Click on their respective names, if you want to hear the inside scoop about the film.

Warner Bros’ delivers a really nice release, within its Blu-ray/DVD/UltraViolet Digital Copy combo pack.  The film looks sharp in its 1080p transfer in its 1.85:1 original aspect ratio.  This works really well with the film’s locations as well.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well with the score and the suspense. The special features on the disc are decent overall.  The main extra here is the alternate ending, which is pushed as a big deal on the cover of the box.  It is decent but I still prefer the theatrical ending…yes I do.  There is one deleted scene included, also nothing special.  The last two features are neat though, including a informerical for “Uri’s Extreme Tours” and a viral video for “Chernobyl Conspiracy”.

Official synopsis: The film follows a group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an ‘extreme tour’ guide. Ignoring warnings, [their guide] takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than twenty-five years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon…[realizes] that they are not alone.

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