Actors: Freddie Mercury
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Run Time: 107 minutes

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

Freddie Mercury is one of those musicians that had such an amazing personality and yet also  had this very different side to him besides his persona in Queen.  “Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender” is a rare documentary that really does deep into this career and gets you to know the real Freddie Mercury.  The film is packed with amazing archival interview footage. His interviews are slightly awkward but that just adds to the mystery behind his character.  If you are Queen fan, you don’t need me to tell you how you need to see this. This is highly recommended.

Official Premise: Created by the same team behind last year’s widely acclaimed “Queen: Days of Our Lives” BBC documentary, “The Great Pretender” in similar vein presents a compelling insight into its subject matter, unearthing previously undiscovered or rarely seen footage and presented for the first time in High Definition. Produced and directed by Rhys Thomas, the programme uses extensive archive footage to reveal more than ever before the inside story of Freddie’s life and career and the solo projects he worked on outside of Queen, including rare interviews with Freddie, concerts, video shoots and personal material, much of it being seen for the first time, along with newly filmed contributions from fellow Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor, Queen manager Jim Beach, soprano Montserrat Caballé, composers David Arnold and Mike Moran, lyricist Tim Rice, comedian and lifelong fan Matt Lucas and many more.

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the company behind this release and behind most great music  releases.  The video quality only is presented with its 1080i transfer, like most Eagle Rock releases.  There are mixed aspect ratios ranging from 1.78:1 and 1.33:1 for the interview  and concert footage. So don’t expect full HD for the archival footage. The audio track included a solid LPCM 2.0 track, which works well with the music and dialogue. The special features included are also decent.  “Freddie Mercury Goes Solo” is from a April 1985 interview discussing first solo album.  There is an extended interview with Montserrat Caballé, with subtitles, about her work with Mercury.  Lastly there is “Making Barcelona: Special Edition 2012” showcases Stuart Morley as he tries to re-created the original album.

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Created by: Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
Actors: Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Taissa Farmiga, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Kate Mara.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Rated TV-MA
Release Date: Sep 25, 2012
Running Time: 534 minutes

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

When I first saw a promo for “American Horror Story”, I thought to myself that it was going to be absolutely amazing but not going to last.  Before shows like “The Walking Dead”, horror does not have a good track record. To my surprise this show became one of the best shows of last year.  It was nominated for 17 Emmy’s and brought Jessica Lange home a Golden Globe.  Well it really did deserve it…every bit of it.  This show is really sharp writing, fantastic acting and really sticks with you after watching each episode.  It there is a definition of must-see TV, this is it.

Official Premise: Brace yourself for an addictive thrill ride! American Horror Story is TV’s most original new drama, a deeply stylish psychosexual haunt devised to keep you on the edge of your seat. The Harmon’s (Dylan McDermott, Connie Britton) fresh start in a new home deviously twists to reveal discoveries of love, sex and murderous revenge. Featuring a Golden Globe-winning performance by Jessica Lange, Season 1 scares up a host of engrossing extras.

The Blu-ray presentation of the the show delivers, thanks to 20th Century Fox.  The three-disc set presents the show in 1080p transfers with its 1.78:1 broadcast aspect ratio, as well as it’s very effective DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks. The music and score in the film is just as haunting as the show itself and it plays well on this release.  The show was in HD on TV but only 1080i (and if you ever DVRed the show, it would be lower), so this is a nice upgrade from broadcast to high-def TV.

The special features are great but could have used just a little more umph. They add up to over sixty minutes of additional content, but luckily all of it is actually impressive. ?There is a commentary track on the pilot episode by Ryan Murphy, must listen for fans.  There is a tour of the “The Murder House” presented by Eternal Darkness Tours of Hollywood, good for a laugh.  Then there are four very in-depth behind-the-scenes featurettes including “Behind the Fright: The Making of American Horror Story”, “On the Set of American Horror Story Season One”, “Overture to Horror: Creating the Title Sequence” and “Out of the Shadows: Meet the House Ghosts”.  I liked learning about the ideas that went into the show’s creation and hearing from all the cast/crew about their experiences.  I think if you are a fan of this show this release is going to leave you very satisfied and at least hold you off until season two begins this Fall.

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Directed by: Daniel E Catullo III
Starring: Steel Panther
Guitar Anarchy Studios
Mixing: Jay Ruston
Rated: N/A
Concert Feature: 90 min
Special Features: 60 min

Our Score: Concert- 4 out of 5 stars
Special Features- 5 out of 5 stars

“British Invasion” is the long awaited DVD/Blu-Ray release from the spandex clad band Steel Panther. Release dates for this film go back as far as March of 2010 however the wait is finally over. There are two versions of the film being released in the U.S. on Oct. 22nd with the first being a 2 disc DVD version that will have the concert and special features on two separate discs along with a 16 page color booklet. The Blu-Ray release of the film will feature all of the same material and packaging but contained on a single disc. Shot on location in London, England at the famous Brixton Academy director Daniel E Catullo III (Nickelback, Rush, Godsmack) does a great job capturing all the hairspray filed hijinx as the concert was shot on 16 HD cameras which give the film a really stunning look.

I have been waiting patiently since the first announcements of this DVD were released over 2 years ago so when I finally received the Blu-Ray version of the film for review I couldn’t wait to see what was in store. Satchel, Michael, Lexxi and Stix deliver with every song and cheesy choreographed dance move as they make their way through the 90+ minute set shot during one of their sold out shows at London’s Brixton Academy. Lots of jokes and scantily clad women fill in the empty spaces making this a hysterical watching experience. At times the music does seems a bit too crisp and clean for a live recording however it’s not enough where it distracted my attention. The only other negative I could really find was that because of the film being shot during the highly successful “Feel the Steel” tour the set does not include any songs from the group’s latest release “Balls Out”. However the band does a good job making up for that during the bonus features.

The Special Features portion of the disc was chocked to the brim with over 60 minutes of bonus material. The first is a hysterical 40 minute documentary which takes you behind the scenes of the band known as Steel Panther. Next is a video of the bands performance from this year’s Download Festival which not only features performances of “Just Like Tiger Woods” and “17 Girls in a Row” both off of the “Balls Out” album but a very special guest vocal performance by Corey Taylor of Slipknot on the bands song “Death to All But Metal”. Closing out this portion of the disc are several deleted scenes that even though were obviously staged still managed to garner a number of laughs.

Great laughs and great music is what you find on Steel Panther’s “British Invasion”. So do yourself a favor. Pick up a copy of this film, tuck the little ones away for the night and get prepared to ROCK!!!

Main DVD:
1.) Eyes of a Panther
2.) Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’
3.) Fat Girl
4.) Hair Solo
5.) Party All Day
6.) Hell’s on Fire
7.) Stripper Girl
8.) Asian Hooker
9.) Turn Out the Lights
10.) Girl From Oklahoma
11.) We Want Pussy
12.) Community Property
13.) The Shocker
14.) Death to All But Metal

Bonus Disc:
40 Min. Documentary
Deleted Scenes

Download Festival 2012:
1.) Supersonic Sex Machine
2.) Community Property
3.) Just Like Tiger Woods
4.) 17 Girls in a Row
5.) Death to All But Metal (Feat. Corey Taylor)

Directed by: Kieth Merrill
Actors: Danielle Chuchran, D.B. Sweeney, Sean Patrick Flanery
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 9, 2012
Run Time: 102 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I saw the first “12 Dogs of Christmas” on TV a few years ago. I wouldn’t really call it a holiday classic but it was cute. I was assuming the same would happen with this sequel. This really has that ABC Family/Lifetime TV movie quality. It is cute but really doesn’t feel like much of a Christmas film until the end, which is a little too late for me. I wish they would have focused more time around the musical event and less on basketball games etc. This is also said to be “song-filled”, that isn’t really the case. To be honest this is best served a rental or just watch on cable TV.

Synopsis: The dogs of Doverville are in trouble again…but Emma O’Connor (Danielle Churchran) is back to save them in a song-filled, seasonal extravaganza. Mean-spirited mogul Finneas James (Sean Patrick Flaner) plots to shut down the local puppy orphanage, unless Emma can come up with the money to save it. With the help of some friends, she races against time to put together a musical holiday event that might just save the day.

The special features are not bad for a glorified TV movie. They include five featurettes which go behind-the-scenes and up close with the puppies. The first is ““What’s Your Favorite Dog?” with the cast and crew discuss their personal favorite. ““Behind 12 Dogs of Christmas” looks into the production. ““Working With Writer//Director Kieth Merrill” features the cast chatting about their experience on the film. “The Basketball Game Sequence” and ““The Christmas Finale” go in-depth into how those scenes were done.

Director: Joe Dante
Starring: Haley Bennett, Chris Massoglia, Nathan Gamble, Teri Polo, Bruce Dern, Quinn Lord
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Big Air
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

Firstly, let me start off that I am very disappointed that this film was not released on 3D Blu-ray.  The film was shot back in 2009 and was never released in the US until now. It is available on 3D Blu-ray in other countries but not US. The film itself was even shot in 3D, which only adds insult to injury. Joe Dante is known for creating such amazing films as “Gremlins” series, “Innerspace” and “The “Burbs”. This film is a great combination of horror and comedy. Even though it is PG-13, there is still a few great spooks and suspense. I am not sure why this was shelved so long, but this film screams classic Joe Dante and is a must for all fans of his work. Keep an eye out for regulars like Dick Miller, as well.

SYNOPSIS: From director Joe Dante comes a 3D thriller that explores the fears and secrets buried deep within the human mind. After moving into a new neighborhood, brothers Dane and Lucas, along with their neighbor Julie, discover a bottomless hole in the basement of their home. They find that once the hole is exposed, evil is unleashed. With strange shadows lurking around every corner and nightmares coming to life, they are forced to come face to face with their darkest fears to put an end to the mystery of THE HOLE.

The release itself doesn’t come in 3D but it does come in a combo pack with a  standard Blu-ray and DVD of the film. The 1080p transfer of the film does look very nice though.  I would have loved the seen the last 15 minutes in 3D, which probably would have benefited much more. The audio is also impressive with its DTS-HD Master Audio track.  The special features included are decent as well but would have loved to see a commentary track. There are two featurettes which expand deeper into the film with “The Keyholder” and “Relationships (Family Matters)”.  There is also two Behind the Scenes extras the first going a “A Peek Inside The Hole”, definitely recommend and the other looks into the production with “The Making of The Hole”. Lastly there are movie stills included.

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Director(s): Kenji Misumi, Buichi Saito, Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Actors: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Akihiro Tomikawa
Distributed by: AnimEigo
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 507 minutes

Films: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Animeigo delivers once again in 2012. They are releasing “Lone Wolf and Cub: Complete 6-Film Collection” in its original unedited, uncut presentation, which have also been remastered on HD from new prints. To top things off they are in their original Japanese language with English subtitles. Included in the set will be 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades”, 1972′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril”, 1973′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons” and 1974′s “Lone Wolf and Cub: White Heaven in Hell”.

Earlier this year, Animeigo released “Shogun Assassin – 5 Film Collector’s Edition” which included the “Shogun Assassin”, “Shogun Assassin 2: Lightning Swords of Death”, “Shogun Assassin 3: Slashing Blades of Carnage”, “Shogun Assassin 4: Five Fistfuls Of Gold” and “Shogun Assassin 5: Cold Road to Hell”. They were cut together from The “Lone Wolf and Cub” series and presented only in English dub. The “Lone Wolf and Cub” release is a much better way to view these film, no question.

These films show their age a little bit in their high-def transfers but I feel that any noise on these films just add texture to the films themselves. Since they have been completely reconstructed from new prints, overall the 1080p 2.35:1 transfer looks sharp. The audio included is the original Japanese LPCM mono tracks, which is actually a great thing and work very well with these. The special features are…well…there really isn’t any. There are some production notes and trailers but that is all. Lastly, the case presentation is also not as nice as the release for “Shogun Assassin – 5 Film Collector’s Edition”. But nonetheless, hardcore fans of the “Baby Cart” series are going to need to get this release.

Here are the official premises for each of the six-films:
“Sword of Vengeance”: Betrayed by the fiendish Yagyu, Ogami Itto and his son begin their bloody journey towards revenge. Their first commission: to save the life of a Daimyo and kill the traitors and ronin that plot his death.

“Baby Cart at the River Styx”: The Evil Yagyu Retsudo sets a band of deadly female Ninja on Ogami’s trail. Meanwhile, Ogami must kill a traitor who seeks to sell a Clan’s secrets to the Shogun — a traitor guarded by three men known as “The Gods of Death!”

“Baby Cart to Hades”: After undergoing torture to demonstrate his honor and buy the freedom of a girl about to be forced into a life of prostitution, Ogami is hired by his very-impressed torturers to kill a corrupt governor. The governor figures out he’s the target when Ogami turns down the governor’s own commission, and the body-count soon starts rising to monumental proportions!

“Baby Cart in Peril”: Ogami is hired to kill a tattooed female assassin, but the job is not as straightforward as it seems. Meanwhile, Gunbei Yagyu, disgraced by Ogami in a duel before the Shogun, happens upon Ogami’s son Daigoro, and sees his chance for revenge. In the end, Ogami will have to defeat a horde of Yagyu warriors before he can face his arch enemy, Retsudo Yagyu!

“Baby Cart in the Land of Demons”: 5 warriors challenge Ogami to duels. Each has 1/5th of his usual fee, and 1/5 of the information he needs to complete his new assignment. Ogami has to be skillful enough to not only kill them, but kill them in such a way as to allow them to tell him what he needs to know, or he’s not the man for the job. His mission is to kill a mad Daimyo before he destroys his clan — a Daimyo guarded by a legion sworn to give their lives in his defense, even though they’ve just hired Ogami to kill their master!

“White Heaven in Hell”: The final film, and the final confrontation between Ogami and Retsudo. With most of his family already dead at Ogami’s hands, Retsudo launches one last plot to destroy him, and when that fails, unleashes the fury of every remaining member of the Yagyu Clan. Outnumbered 5000 to 1, Ogami might be in a little over his head (and thus, lose it!) this time!

Actors: Vincent D’Onofrio, Jake Weber, Eamon Farren, Julia Ormond
Directors: Jennifer Lynch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

When you hear about a film named “Chained”, you can only expect it to be one hell of a brutal film.  Well it definitely leaves you feeling very uncomfortable, which is it’s purpose obviously.  Vincent D’Onofrio is such an amazing actor and really gives himself over to the role and is extremely disturbing. Director Jennifer Lynch (“Boxing Helena”) delivers one-hell of an intense thriller and leaves you biting your nails trying to cope with what is going on.  The film was originally rated NC-17 for a one scene, which was “too shocking”, though it is included as a deleted scene.  If you are looking for a disturbing film with great performances, look no further than “Chained”.

From Anchor Bay’s official synopsis: “Coming home from a routine trip to the movies, eight-year-old Tim (Bird) and his mother, Sarah (Julia Ormond, Mad Men: Season Five) are picked up by a psychopathic cab driver named Bob (D’Onofrio). It ends up being their last ride together. Bob murders the young boy’s mother and keeps Tim as his unwilling protégé, making him clean up the mess following each murder he commits. After a couple of aborted escape attempts, Bob chains Tim – now renamed Rabbit – allowing just enough length to move freely within the house. As the years pass, Bob starts instructing Rabbit, teaching him anatomy and human behavior. Now a teenager, Rabbit (Eamon Farren, The Pacific) is slowly being pressed by Bob to start his own homicidal spree. Slowly but surely, he must soon choose whether to follow in Bob’s serial killer footsteps or make one final, desperate attempt to break free.”

I also love about Anchor Bay how most of their films come in Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. This film is presented in its 2.39:1 original aspect ratio with a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track. I was very impressed with the audio track, especially for a low-budget film like this. I just got the new Indiana Jones Blu-ray set and even that didn’t have 7.1 tracks. The special features are decent but nothing special. There is a commentary track by writer/director Jennifer Lynch and actor Vincent D’Onofrio. If you liked the film you will like this. The alternate, more graphic version of “Mary’s Murder” scene is not really impressive either just a little more blood. Lastly there is the original theatrical trailer included.

Directed by: Jonathan Krisel
Starring: Carrie Brownstein, Fred Armisen
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Video Services Corp.
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 220 minutes

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

Between me and you (and all of our readers), I was never a big fan of “Portlandia”.  I am a big fan though of sketch comedy series (besides “SNL”, sorry Fred).  This show is  created, written by and starring Fred Armisen (“SNL”) and Carrie Brownstein (“Wild Flag”, Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist). I though the first season really delivers more laughs and better skits.  But I still like the idea of these character-based shorts all taking place in this dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon raining with 90’s culture and political correctness.  This season new guest stars include Jeff Goldblum, Sean Hayes, Penny Marshall, Tim Robbins, Andy Samberg, Amber Tamblyn, and Kristen Wiig.

Season two synopsis: Some of Portlandia’s most loved and notable characters from Season One return for Season Two including Portland’s trusty but sometimes misguided Reggae bass playing Mayor (Kyle MacLachlan), Peter and Nance, an overly eco-­conscious couple caught up in the organic and local food movement; Bryce Shivers and Lisa Eversman, an arty, obsessive couple who find a new trend to explore; and Toni and Candice, the former activist shopkeepers of the feminist bookstore Women and Women First. New residents have also moved in for Season Two including Doug and Claire, a couple whose lives spin out of control when they run out of new episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” and a struggling band who finds itself with an all too enthusiastic fan.

The Blu-ray comes in a very slim paper case with a slip sleeve. It seems very easily to be crushed and I am not a big fan. The video looks sharp enough though it is a indie comedy series. The audio track also works well with the dialogue and music. The special features are impressive and should satisfy fans. There is a behind-the-scenes Portlandia Live tour footage, which I never knew happened (would have been cool to attend). There are various commentaries from the creator of the series, There is a bonus scene surrounding the feminist bookstore, “Brunch Village: The Director’s Cut”.  There is an excerpt from the new book “Portlandia: A Guide for Visitors”.  Lastly, there is a documentary special called “Inside Portlandia”.  All around very impressive, which the season could have wowed as much.

Directed by: Mitch Glazer
Starring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kelly Lynch, Danny Huston
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 419 minutes

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

“Magic City” is a fresh new series thanks to STARZ. It was created by writer and executive producer Mitch Glazer (“The Recruit”, “Scrooged”). Fans of the series can rejoice since the second season of “Magic City” is set to air on STARZ in 2013. Anchor Bay Entertainment is behind this great release, which includes all 8 memorable episodes of this sizzling mob drama. “Magic City” also packs an impressive cast with Jeffrey Dean Morgan (“Watchmen”), Danny Huston (“30 Days of Night”) and Kelly Lynch (“The L Word”). The show has a really impressive sets, some amazing cinematography and one hell of a score. I can’t wait to see where this show goes with its second season.

Dangerous and decadent, “Magic City” begins in 1959, in Miami’s Miramar Playa Hotel where hotelier Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Watchmen, Texas Killing Fields) is conjuring up ways to finance his dream. He has essentially sold his soul to the devil: mob boss Ben “The Butcher” Diamond (Danny Huston, The Kingdom). Ike’s wife Vera (Olga Kurylenko, Quantum of Solace), a former showgirl, and his three children think he is an honorable man, but he just can’t break his pact with the most notorious criminal in town. So Ike’s life is a façade: his home and his business must be kept separate – but does he have the sleight of hand to pull it off?

The Blu-ray presentation both look and sound amazing for this show and really shines. The special features are very impressive for this season release. The features include various behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is a basic all around production featurette “Starz Studios: MAGIC CITY”. Next up “The Cars of MAGIC CITY”, explores the period cars used for the show. “The Style of MAGIC CITY” looks into the shows fashion. “Building An Empire” looks into the show’s set design. “The Golden Age of Music” dives into the shows period’s music. Lastly, in “Miami Beach: The Real MAGIC CITY” takes a look at the real city and the filming locations.

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Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 113 minutes

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

When I heard that Tim Burton was directing Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in “Dark Shadows”, I almost fell out of my chair. I am a big fan of the original series and low the duo’s past collaborations. This film was a bit disappointing and has a lot of story and pacing issues. Johnny Depp is brilliant in the film that otherwise feelings cloudy and claustrophobic. The screenplay is from Seth Grahame-Smith, author of “Pride & Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. This was also the last film that was produced by Oscar® winner Richard D. Zanuck (“Jaws”). Besides Depp, this also has a great supporting cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green (my second favorite) and Chloë Grace Moretz. Upon second viewing this film improved a bit but not even close enough to make this one of my top 20 of the year.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack features a high-definition Blu-ray and standard definition DVD copy of the film as well as an UltraViolet digital streaming copy. The 1080p transfer looks nearly perfect and really shines. The colors in the film are absolutely sharp and works well with light and dark situations. The audio is also nearly perfect with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The film relies heavily on its score and themed 70’s music and it comes with very clearly with this track. The special features are decent but lacking any commentary tracks, which I would have liked to seen with this release.

The special features are primarily made up with nine behind-the-film Focus Points. The first is called “Becoming Barnabas”, which takes us through Depp’s transformation. “Welcome to Collinsport!” takes us on a trip through the created town. “A Melee of Monstrous Proporitions” looks into the plans for the final battle sequence. “Angelique: A Witch Scorned” is a character profile with Johnny Depp and Eva Green chatting about their plot-relationship. “Reliving a Decade” takes Collinsport into the music of the 70s. “Dark Shadowy Secrets” brings us into the mind of Tim Burton for the films props and special effects that bring this world alive. “The Collinses: Every Family Has It’s Demons” looks at the rest of the Collin family with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and their co-stars. “Cooper Rocks Collinsport!” is a party featurette with Alice Cooper and cast on the roof of Collinsport Manor. “Vampires, Witches and Werewolves, Oh My!” examines the twists behind Burton’s plans to include his favorite classic movie monsters in the gothic universe of Dark Shadows.

Synopsis: From the wonderfully warped imagination of Tim Burton comes the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a dashing aristocrat who is turned into a vampire by a jilted lover and entombed for two centuries. Emerging from his coffin into the world of 1972, he returns to his once-majestic home, only to the few dysfunctional descendants of the Collins family who remain. Determined to return his family name to its former glory, Barnabas is thwarted at every turn by his former lover – the seductive witch Angelique (Eva Green).

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Director: John Huston
Starring: Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Tim Curry, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Aileen Quinn
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 127 minutes

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

Who doesn’t love little ole’ Annie and her wonderful songs like “Tomorrow,” “Easy Street,” “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”.  This wonderful Blu-ray release from Sony celebrates the film’s 30th Anniversary with its very impressive Sing-Along Edition.  This film was adapted from the smash Tony Award®-winning musical comedy based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip.  It also packs one of the best musical casts including Albert Finney, Carol Burnett, Aileen Quinn, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking and Tim Curry.  I remember the first time I saw this film with my then girlfriend (now wife) many years ago.  This musical still brings a smile to my face and has you singing along with little Annie and her friends. Highly recommended!

SYNOPSIS: The charismatic little orphaned Annie’s (Aileen Quinn) luck changes for the better when billionaire Oliver Warbucks (Albert Finney) arrives at the orphanage looking to take one of the children for a short time. Annie soon charms the billionaire with her lively warm nature and together they set out to search for Annie’s parents. With the mean head of the orphanage, Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett) attempting to hinder their plan, Annie’s search will prove to be quite a heartwarming journey.

This 30th Anniversary Blu-ray both looks and sounds amazing.  The 1080p transfer really brings out the color in the film and looks very sharp.  It’s DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works perfectly with the sounds and sounds just amazing!  This release also comes with an Ultraviolet digital streaming copy.  The special features are not amazing but still good.  Exclusive to the Blu-ray is “Sing-Along with Annie”, which allows fans to sing along to all their favorite songs.  There is also a musical performance of “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” by pop group Play. There is only one production featurette called “My Hollywood Adventure with Aileen Quinn”, short but worth checking out. Lastly, the Blu-ray also includes the original trailers and TV spots from the film.

Director: Tobe Hooper
Starring: Bill Moseley, Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson, Lou Perryman, Chris Douridas
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 101 minutes

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

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974 and is still one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen. It has had three direct sequels, a remake and two sequels to that remake with the latest “Texas Chainsaw 3D” coming in January 2013. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” is one hell of an ambitious big-budget sequel to a very small horror film. It might not have been the best idea for Hooper to go so mainstream in the sequel but is has become one of horror best sequels. Bill Moseley gives an amazing and cult classic performance as Chop-Top. The last Dennis Hooper is such a nut as Lefty. Of course Caroline Williams nails the role of Stretch, which is also such an iconic role in horror genre.

This sequel is not only more horrific but also funny as well. It follows Lefty (Hooper), who is a Texas Ranger looking to seek vengeance against the flesh-eating family from the first film. He also goes head-to-head in one of the most notable high-octane chainsaw showdowns with the legendary Leatherface. Radio deejay, Stretch, (Caroline Williams) is kidnapped and brought in between this battle and the family’s madness.

The Blu-ray presentation looks great with its restored 1080p transfer and original aspect ratio: 1.85:1. The audio track is decent but could have used a little extra umph with its DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The special features are very impressive with the ported extras from the 2006 DVD edition. There is a commentary with Director Tobe Hoooper and David Gregory, director of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth”. This is a little dull but still worth-wild for fans. There is another commentary track with actors Bill Mosely and Caroline Williams and special effects makeup creator Tom Savini. This one is the best and most recommended. There are six deleted scenes in “The Cutting Room Floor” mostly dealing with an abandoned story dealing with the Sawyers going hunting in the city. “It Runs in the Family Documentary” is an amazing 90 minutes documentary covering every aspect of the production. Lastly there is original Theatrical Trailer included.

Directed by: Andrew Currie
Starring: Eric McCormack, Jody Thompson, Conner Dwelly, Ryan Grantham
Distributed by: WWE Studios
Release Date: September 25th, 2012 (Exclusively at Walmart)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 83 minutes

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

I love the fact that WWE Studios is branching out with its films. I was surprised to see that Eric McCormack was starring in this film and not a wrestler but he was well-cast. The film has more horror and terror than a bunch of recent “horror” films I have seen this year combined. It is fast, intense and packs a hell of a bunch. It also aims to play a lot of tricks with your head. Even though the film runs just over 80 minutes it is non-stop and plays perfect to the genre and delivers a really fun-time.

Terrance Shade (Eric McCormack) takes his children on a holiday getaway to a cabin in the woods. But when a blizzard buries the house, the family finds themselves trapped and without communication. As the storm surges on outside, a sinister presence materializes. Unable to explain it, and unable to escape it, they quickly realize that maybe they haven’t locked the evil out…instead they’ve just locked it in.

The film looks and sounds great even though it is on DVD. It’s DTS-HD Master Audio track works perfectly with the suspense and delivers it very well. The special features are also fantastic and a great compliment to the film itself. “Blueprint to Fear: The Cabin” takes us on a tour inside the film’s haunted house. “Whiteout” focuses on creating the special effects and the blizzards. “Breaking Type: Eric McCormack” showcases his characters transforming into madness. Lastly “Manning Park” takes us through how they transformed a ski resort into the film’s set. After really enjoying the film, the features just aided my appetite for more.

Directors: Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Kazuo Mori, Kenji Misumi
Starring: Riki Hashimoto, Miwa Takada, Yoshihiko Aoyama, Kojiro Hongo, Shiho Fujimura, Hideki Ninomiya
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
DIstributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 240 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mill Creek Entertainment is one of favorites. They are the studio that brought “Gamera” to Blu-ray. They really aim to give fan-favorites back to the fans and present them for the first time in gorgeous high definition. “Daimajin – Triple Feature Collector’s Edition” takes us traveling back to 1966 and includes “Daimajin”,”Return of Daimajin” and the rarely-seen “Daimajin Strikes Again”. The the trilogy also boasts a newly produced English dub for “Daimajin Strikes Again”. I have always been a fan of anything that came out of Daiei and these films are just glorious in HD. The special effects looks great back them and then look even better now.

Official Synopsis: In 1966, the Daiei Motion Picture Company – the studio behind Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon and the Gamera series – released a trilogy of films that combined elements of the popular daikaiju (giant monster) and jidaigeki (period drama) genres. Set during Japan’s “Warring States” era, the Daimajin movies told the story of Majin, a giant statue of an angry god that would come to life in times of desperation to punish evildoers. But when Majin’s rage was unleashed, it could be directed at both the wicked and innocent, alike. Acclaimed for their serious tone and spectacular special effects, DAIMAJIN, RETURN OF DAIMAJIN and the rarely-seen DAIMAJIN STRIKES AGAIN present a unique take on a monster who is both savior and devil.

This release isn’t just a lazy HD upgrade, this included brand-new high definition transfers from the original film elements. Mill Creek really did a great job and since this films are from 1966, they still look amazing. The audio tracks also just sound great, it reminds me of the early classic “Godzilla” films. The film is labels that the new English language track for “Daimajin Strikes Again” is a special feature for nonetheless it is very cool. There are also interviews with cinematographer Fujio Morita. Overall this is a fantastic release and highly recommended.

Director: Pascal Laugier
Starring: Jessica Biel, Stephen McHattie, Jodelle Ferland, William B. Davis
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: Sep 25, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 106 minutes

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

I was really looking forward to this film, especially after French director Pascal Laugier’s last film, “Martyrs (2008)”. Well it wasn’t even on the same plain at all. “The Tall Man” is being labeled as a horror thriller but it is more horrible than horrific. After getting about 40 minutes into the film, I realized that I kept checking the clock. The next hour dragged and dragged. The film tries to be shocking by letting out revealing secrets, which just made it worse each time. The only good part of the film is that it stars Jessica Biel, but boy what is she doing in a film like this. Not even recommended for the most amateur of horror fans.

Official Synopsis: In an isolated, slowly dying mining town, children are vanishing without a trace – abducted, the townsfolk whisper, by a mysterious entity known locally as “The Tall Man.” Town nurse Julia Denning (Jessica Biel) seems skeptical…until her young David disappears in the middle of night. Frantic to rescue the boy, Julia lives every parent’s darkest nightmare in this twisting, shock-around-each-corner thriller.

The Blu-ray comes in collectible “O-card” packaging, but that doesn’t wow me much. The 1080p transfer does look sharp, especially in dark scenes. The audio includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which works with whatever suspense there is in the film (which is little). The special features are very disappointing just like the film itself. There is one 9 minute deleted scene that deserves to stay deleted. There is also a visual concepts gallery, which is a waste of time unless you absolutely love this.