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.

Related Content

• Blu-ray Review “Metalocalypse: Season IV- Church of the Black Klok”
• DVD Review “Teen Wolf: The Complete Season One”
• DVD Review “Delocated: Season 1 & 2”
• DVD Review “Red vs. Blue- Season 9”
• DVD Review “Storage Wars: Season 1”

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).

Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack or Digital Download 10/2! http://bit.ly/N9oyxM
Like us on Facebook – http://on.fb.me/WBEntFB
Follow us on Twitter – http://bit.ly/WBHETW

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.

Directors: Aun Hoe Goh
Starring: Diong Chae Lian, Gavin Yap, Kennie Dowle, Christina Orow, Jay Sheldon
MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Sea Level” could be a cute movie but just feels a little two dimensional.  The characters are cute as well but the voices are horrendous.  All the great voice talent at there and we get a shark that sounds like Yogi Bear? Really?  The animation is very cool looking though.  I like the shading on the characters and the underwater environment is well rendered.  Lastly the baddies are also pretty bad-ass looking, maybe too bad for some little kids.  Nonetheless though the film deals with some very adult issues like poachers and as sweet as the film is it has a bit of a darker edge. For a kid though, it is colorful, funny and action-packed. So they will be entertained but then probably screaming to watch “Finding Nemo” or something better.

Official Synopsis: Pup, a bamboo shark, discovers egg sacs while playing around the ocean with his friends. When he sees human poachers stealing the eggs from his reef, Pup makes it his mission to save them. As he leaves the sea and enters the beautiful, yet dangerous, world of humans he’ll prove he isn’t too small to save his family.

Lionsgate only delivered this film on DVD but I have a feeling it would have looked ever better on Blu-ray or even 3D Blu-ray, since there were a few scenes calling for it.  The audio track sounds nice on DVD with its 5.1 Dolby Digital track.  The special features are also decent overall.  There is an interesting, yet short, Behind-the-Scenes featurette.  There is a feature on the Sculpture Design and also the Concept Art.  It really shows how much work went into this film.  Lastly there is a trailer gallery included.

Directed by: Alex Wright
Starring: Chris Olivero, Bobby Campo, Nazneen Contractor
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 89 minutes

Film:1 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

When Halloween comes each year, there is always a flood of new horror pics.  Some are good but most are crap.  “Séance” kinda falls right in line with the crap.  It’s main pride is that it is from an executive producer of “Hellraiser”.  The film suffers from some really bad “grade D” acting. I mean when girls scream should it be scary-like and not annoying as hell? If you are looking for a good exorcism flick from this year, check out “The Possession”. I literally had a really hard time even just finishing this film.  Not to mention that the cover has zero to actually do with the film itself.

Official Synopsis: Four friends decide to break into the city morgue and record themselves holding a séance after Joey (Campo) accuses the other of being a fake psychic medium. When the group summons a demon by mistake, Joey breaks the circle of protection and causes himself to be vulnerable. Once possessed they will have to find a way to drive the demon out of their friend before it destroys them all.

Lionsgate delivers a nice DVD presentation, though in today’s times…why no Blu-ray? The audio track included is a 5.1 Dolby Digital, which sounds good for DVD. The only extra included on this release is the featurette is “The Making of Séance: The Summoning”.  It is worth checking out if you enjoyed the film and looking for just a little more.  Since that is really all you get, overall it is too short.  Lastly there is a trailer gallery included.

Directed by: Danny Cannon
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Diane Lane, Armand Assante, Jurgen Prochnow, Rob Schneider
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 96 minutes

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

“I am the Law!” – Easily one of the best quotes in any film.  Even better since it is said by Sylvester Stallone, so perfectly.  This film was not a big success as it was deemed too cartoonish for the character of Dredd.  This was also released during the decline in the Stallone’s popularity.  I personally have always been a fan of this film.  It has a lot of problems but overall it is a fun film…yes even though Rob Schneider is in it.  Disney to choosing to re-release this film on Blu-ray now to time it with the release of Lionsgate’s “Dredd 3D”. If you are a fan of this film though, then this is a no-brainer purchase.

Even though this film was a big-budget release, it never really seemed like high quality production.  The 1080p transfer though looks very impressive and definitely one of the best of the recent Disney catalog releases.  The audio track includes a nice DTS-HD MA 5.1. It does its job very well.  It is very loud and delivers a punch like Mr. Dredd himself. There is a lot of action in this film and overall it sounds very impressive. Alan Silvestri’s score also sounds very impressive with the track.

The special features are not as impressive though.  Basically the only feature is a short 20 minutes featurette called “Stallone’s Law: The Making of Judge Dredd”. It techincally is a new feature but not newly produced.  It is a this made-for-TV promotional piece from 1995,though it was not included on 1998 DVD of “Judge Dredd”. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer and opens with a short narration by James Earl Jones.  Overall the extras could have used a little amping up in the content area but Disney still delivered a great release overall.

Directed by: Jorg Ihle
Starring: Jewel Staite, Marc Bacher, Nikki Griffin, Justin Baldoni, Kellan Lutz,
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

I understanding marketing but it never seems to aggrevate me. This film is put up to be the Kellan Lutz show, but he has very few scenes and lacks a major role in the film. He is still front and center on the box. The box tagline also states “As twilight sets an epic battle begins”. Now this has zero to do with vampires and the creatures also hunt in broad daylight, so I am clueless. This film should be put up as the Jewel Statite show (who I love BTW), she is the whole film and the main star but gets snubbed. The creatures are ok but end up looking more like hairy men in dreadlocks. The second half of the film is the better half and feels like “The Descent” in the jungle.

Official Premise: A group of friends set out on a luxury yacht for a gorgeous island vacation. But they soon realize that they have veered off-course to a strange uncharted island. After a horrific boat crash shipwrecks them in the dense jungle, it quickly becomes evident that they are not the first to arrive to their new island prison. Instead, an unknown, cannibalistic beast stalks the group from the shadows, picking them off one-by-one.

The sound on the DVD is quite decent packing a nice 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. The special features are let down as well. There is a making of featurette included, running just over 10 minutes. It is decent but too short. There is also a photo gallery and trailer thrown in. I think if this film just delivered itself for what it was it would delivered for me a much better viewing experience. I guess that is why this has sat on the shelf since it was made in 2009. Horror fans and fans of Staite, this is not the best horror title of the year but she is always a pleasure to watch. Overall, this will appeal only to confused “Twilight” fans looking to get see Kellan Lutz.

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones
MPAA Rating: R
Disney: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 127 minutes

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

I remember counting down the days until the release of “Ed Wood”. After watching Depp/Burton collaborate in 1993’s “Edward Scissorhands”, I became a lifelong fan of both. I was also a big fan prior of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”, despite how “bad” it is. This film was like nothing like I had ever seen at the time. Depp’s performance in the film is honestly one of his best. He completely embodied the role of Edward J. Wood Jr. Although “Ed Wood” didn’t muster up a wide audience and the film wasn’t really given a proper background. In 1994, Depp still wasn’t considered a sure-fire for hits back then. I loved the fact that this film was shot in black-and-White and just screams Tim Burton. Fans of his work and this film should not miss this great HD upgrade. Good job Disney!

The 1080p transfer looks great with this black-and-white film. Cinematographer Stefan Czapsky actually shot the film on black-and-white stock, which is something that is not as widely available in today’s times. The film has it spots here and there of slight noise but I feel that it plays with the film’s indie aspect. The audio track includes an excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1. It features clear dialogue and works well with Howard Shore’s score. Note: this is rare that Tim Burton didn’t use Danny Elfman for his score.

The special features are ports from the 2004 DVD, but are still very impressive. There is a jam-packed commentary track (well sort-of) with Director Tim Burton, Actor Martin Landau, Co-Writers Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, Director of Photography Stefan Czapsky and Costume Designer Colleen Atwood. These are various interviews complied together into the track. There are five short deleted scenes, all which I enjoyed. There is a music video composed by Howard Shore for the title theme. “Let’s Shoot This F#*%@r!” is a behind-the-scenes look tracked with Depp. “The Theremin” focus on Shore’s score. “Making Bela” shows how Martin Landau transformed into Bela Lugosi. “Pie Plates Over Hollywood” features Tom Duffield discussing about his own challenges on the film. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 193 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker plain-and-simple any kind of shark documentary. “Shark Divers” delivers some decent entertainment for any shark lovers. If you are looking for some hardcore documentary, this may not be for you. But it is a fun mix and facts with entertainment factor. Mill Creek’s delivers overall a nice collection of documentaries including the following: “The Shark Divers”, “Shark Business”, “Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” and “Giants of San Benedicto”.These are film taking advantage of the high-def underwater photography and are developed by Danny Mauro.  He has worked on over 100 programs about the marine environment, including “The Blue Realm”. So you know that these docs have a lot of love going into them.

“The Shark Divers” – Sharks are BIG business in adrenaline eco-tourism. And some thrill seekers deliberately pursue close encounters with deadly sharks – without the protection of a cage. The bigger and more dangerous the shark, the better. But have we taken this risky sport too far? “Shark Business” – Shark Business unravels some of the mysteries surrounding sharks with controversial behaviorist Dr. Erich Ritter. You’ll witness divers testing the limits of shark-human interaction outside of cages with dangerous sharks such as lemon, bull and even Great White sharks!

“Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” – Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants introduces us to this amazing creature through scientists who are racing against time to save the species. Utilizing space-age technology from NASA and the Hubble Telescope, researchers are able to identify, catalogue and track individual sharks.

“Giants of San Benedicto” – You’ll travel to the remote Socorro Islands off Mexico’s Pacific coast and see breath-taking encounters with enormous manta rays. You’re sure to love these majestic giants as you see how they invite human contact, and encourage certain divers to ride them. The film crew also travels to the Bahamas to visit “Bubbles”, a fifteen foot Manta in the world’s largest aquarium, and witness her release back into the ocean.

The Blu-ray release itself looks nice but not stunning within its high definition transfer. Despite the fact that it was shot underwater, it still looks presentable for the format, thought not going to blow anyone away.  The audio track  included is DTS-HD MA 2.0 is like the video transfer…acceptable.  The narration sounds decent and works well with the music in the docs. If you are looking for any additional special features, besides the four documentaries, you will be disappointed.  I wouldn’t though have expected much more besides the films themselves.