Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 122 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

You know when you walk out of film and can honestly saw it was absolutely perfect, well that is definitely the case with “Guardians of the Galaxy”. Immediately after watching it, my wife and I said that we could have easily sat down again for a second viewing immediately. Marvel Studios has really got something special going on here with their Cinematic Universe for these superheroes. Everyone knows Iron Man or Spider-Man but not everyone knows Guardians of the Galaxy, even Stan Lee was taken on record that he wasn’t sure who all of them were since he didn’t create them (he does have a cameo BTW). So this film was a risky move for them but it really paid off. It was funny, action packed, sharp and just really fun. I couldn’t help sitting in the theater and thinking that this is what “Star Wars” would have been like if it was made today. So who knows maybe in 25 years, this film will have that type of cult status, I certainly think it is capable.

Let’s talk about this ensemble cast, this film has one hell of a amazing cast. Chris Pratt, who plays Peter Quill/Star Lord, is know best from “Parks and Recreation” is blowing up and after this he is starring in “Jurassic World”. This guy really rocks in this film. He is charismatic, funny and just could help it but remind me of a modern Han Solo. Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora, was amazing all in blue in “Avatar” and she is still kick-ass in all green for this film. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax in the film is absolutely amazing and he is known best for his WWE wrestling career. No idea how this guy said some of his lines without laughing. Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper lend their voices to Groot and Rocket Raccoon, respectively. They both easily steal the show, no question. Yes, that’s right a talking tree and a raccoon. Top of this amazing cast with Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro. Makes up a hell of a dream cast.

The film starts off with us taking a trip to 1988, where we meet a young Peter Quill at his mother’s death bed. After her passing, he runs out of the hospital and ends up getting abducted by a spaceship. Flash forward 26 years later on a distant abandoned planet we meet again Peter Quill all grown up and seeking out an orb, in order to get a pay day. He finds that this orb is much more valuable then he originally thought and has many people trying to get it for themselves leading him to meeting Gamora, Rocket and Groot. The three of them end up in a high security jail after a fight for the orb. Joining up with a inmate named Drax in the jail, the group breaks out of prison to return the orb to safety after they find out what it is capable and who is really after it. Ensue hilarity and epic space battles. Did I mention that Thanos also pops in for a few…

The film looks just really amazing. I loved the use of practical effects mixed in with CGI. Director James Gunn is known for that and if you need an example check his past film “Slither”, which is tremendously underrated. The visual effects are also top notch for Marvel. The space fights are absolutely epic and really action packed. The 3D effects are also woven in very well, so they feel very organic and really draw you into film. And of course, the music…oh the music! I haven’t stopped listening to the soundtrack for this film, which is very 70/80’s inspired with tracks like “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” by Elvin Bishop and the scene stealing “O-o-h Child” by Five Stairsteps. Music is very important to me in a film and tied in with Tyler Bates amazing score, this film’s music is literally a character itself.

Looking back on the summer so far, I think about films like “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, “Transformers: Age of Extinction” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and I enjoyed all of them but when you put them next to a film like this it honestly puts them to shame. I liked those but they were all flawed, I can say that this film is perfect. No question, Marvel’s best film to date and easily my favorite film of the summer. Can’t wait for the sequel, which is already scheduled to be released on July 28, 2017. Be sure to also stay at the end of the credits for a really cool post credits scene. It may not be incredibly important to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but still very cool. Now if you excuse me…ooga-chaka, ooga-chaka!

Director: Denis Sanders
Starring: Elvis Presley
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Run Time: 192 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Man, who doesn’t love the King! Elvis was and always will be one of the greatest performers in our time. The 1970 documentary, “Elvis: That’s The Way It Is”, gives us a great behind-the-scenes look into Elvis’ August 1970 Las Vegas show from development to rehearsal to stage. It has newly remastered and arrives on Blu-ray for the first time in a really sweet 40-page DigiBook package with rare behind-the-scene photos. This release also includes two cuts of the film, both the original theatrical cut and the re-edited and remixed 2001 Special Edition version. A must have for any Elvis fan.

Official Premise: With thousands of feet of materials including sequences added to capture with greater intimacy Elvis’ performances and his creative process behind-the-scenes, the previously released Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Special Edition is now being made available as a Blu-ray™ two disc Special Edition Premium Digibook. Denis Sanders (Shock Treatment) directed this “rockumentary.” Academy Award® nominated Lucien Ballard (The Wild Bunch) was the cinematographer, following the show’s development from rehearsal to stage.

The film has also never looked better on this Blu-ray since it was newly remastered in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround. The sound is amazing and definitely lives up to the standards for the King. My main issue with this is that the 1970 original theatrical version is only available on DVD though and not Blu-ray. So if prefer that one to the 2001 special edition cut, you might be a little disappointed here. Other special features includes a cool featurette called “Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis: That’s The Way It Is” and 12 Outtakes: Song/Non-musical Sequences but that is really it.

To celebrate Elvis Week, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Two Disc Special Edition on August 12 as Premium Blu-ray™ Digibook.

Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Roger Craig Smith
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release date: July 29, 2014
Running time: 71 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Even though the “Iron Man and Hulk: Heroes United” wasn’t the best film of the year, Iron Man and Captain America are joining forces next in this all-new, original animated adventure, “Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United”. The film is being release only on Digital HD, On-Demand and Disney Movies Anywhere, which is an interested move but also a nice way to give good use to their new streaming app.

The film sees the return of voice actors Adrian Pasdar and Roger Craig as they reprise their roles as Iron Man and Captain America, as they team up to stop Red Skull and Taskmaster from unleashing an army of Hydra Brutes in order to take over the world. Clancy Brown lends his voice to the villainous Taskmaster.

This is a decent improvement over the last film and does include some twists and a cool special appearance by one of your favorite Marvel Super Heroes. Iron Man and Captain America are both sharp and witty characters and play well together here. I am not 100% sold on this style of animation since it feels a little cheap and not as polished as you would expect from Marvel but it is still a decent film.

Actors: Margit Evelyn Newton, Franco Garofalo, Ottaviano Dell’Acqua, Geretta Geretta
Directors: Bruno Mattei, Claudio Fragasso
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Blue Underground
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 198 minutes

“Hell of the Living Dead”: 4 out of 5 stars
“Rats: Night of Terror”: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I see an announcement from Blue Underground, I can’t help but get excited since they always find a way to release some crazy cult classics that I loved growing up. Case in point, their new ‘Blood-Soaked Double Feature’ Blu-ray, which includes both “Hell of the Living Dead” and “Rats: Night of Terror”. These are great Italian horror films that deserve a great release. I remember the first time I rented these on VHS and was drawn in by their fantastic boxes when I walked down the horror isle. So these were a great trip down memory lane.

Both of these films are directed by the legendary Italian director Bruno Mattei, who is also known for “Emmanuelle in Prison” and “SS Extermination Love Camp”. When you think of ’80s Italian shockers, these are always two that come to my mind. They are jam-packed with over-the-top gore, twist endings, humor and still hold up today. It’s been a while since I have seen these films but they are still just as fun and shocking.

Official Premise “Hell of the Living Dead”: An accident at a chemical plant unleashed a horrific virus, and an elite SWAT team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies as well as a beautiful female reporter who practices nude anthropology. Can the commandos survive this cannibal rampage, uncover a shocking government secret and still find time for occasional cross-dressing before the ravenous hordes of the living dead infect the entire world?

Official Premise “Rats: Night of Terror”: In the year 225 A.B. (After the Bomb), a group of post-apocalyptic bikers discover an abandoned research laboratory filled with food, water…and thousands of rats. But these are no ordinary vermin; these are super-intelligent mutant rodents with a ravenous appetite for human flesh. Can a bunch of heavily armed but not-too-bright human scavengers survive a night of terror against the most hungry and horrific predators on earth?

Blue Underground didn’t just throw these on Blu-ray, they really delivered them with some extra love. These were both given brand-new high definition transfers from their original uncut and uncensored negatives. These films have never look better personally. Blue Underground could have just dropped these on a disc and called it a day but instead, they really make sure they were giving a solid release to the fans. These films also come with solid DTS-HD Master Audio Mono tracks, both films sound great. So if you are a horror fan, these are a must.

In terms of special features, there is some decent content. There is a newly-produced documentary called “Bonded By Blood”, which includes interviews with Co-Writer/Co-Director Claudio Fragasso and Stars Margit Evelyn Newton, Ottaviano Dell’Acqua & Massimo Vanni. There is also an interview with Director Bruno Mattei in the extras “Hell Rats Of The Living Dead”. Other than that there are some Theatrical Trailers and Poster & Still Galleries included here.

Starring: Scarlett Johannson and Morgan Freeman
Directed by: Luc Besson
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 30 mins
Universal

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

In the film “Defending Your Life,” Albert Brooks told us that most people only use 3% of their brains. That percentage is the reason we all deal with fear, because “that’s what little brains do!” In the latest film from Luc Besson that average number has risen to 10%. But what if it were more? 20%? 40%? What if a human being could utilize 100% of their brain’s function? In the new film, “Lucy,” the title character finds out.

Ever since man began evolving, he (and she) had to continually learn and know more than their ancestors. Whether it’s first discovering the uses for fire or figuring out how to solve the Rubik’s Cube, our noggins contain a pretty important piece of our lives. When we first meet Lucy she is being hustled by a new boyfriend to take a locked case into a very public place and give it to someone. The more she declines the more desperate he becomes. Finally, without warning, he handcuffs the case to her wrist and forces her into the building. Things only get worse when, after delivering the package, she wakes up and learns that a bag of a new synthetic drug has been surgically implanted in her stomach. She and three other people are to fly to their respective countries, now acting as drug mules. However, when the bag inside Lucy ruptures the contents inside causes her to, literally, think outside the box.

Smartly conceived, “Lucy” is one of those great “what if” films you occasionally stumble across that has you thinking long after it’s ended. It’s almost like a hyped up version of the book “Flowers for Algernon,” which featured a mentally diminished character who, after being given an experimental drug, became a genius, albeit temporarily. Here, Lucy doesn’t regress. Within moments she is able to learn entire languages, diagnose medical problems and interface with electrical currents and radio waves. She contacts a well- known professor (Freeman) who has previously theorized what is now a reality. But will he be able to help her?

The film succeeds as well as it does thanks to the work of Johannson. She is often on screen alone, with the audience hearing her thoughts and watching her actions. If she wasn’t believable this would have been a very boring and one-note film. Freeman brings along his usual gravitas, which fits his character well. The one thing that throws off the smoothness of the film is that occasionally the movie will go from a “Luc Besson” film to a “LUC BESSON FILM!!” Best known for such films as “The Professional” and “The Fifth Element,” “Lucy” occasionally jumps genres and becomes an adrenaline filled action picture. Lots of gunplay and a really unnecessary car chase that almost seems forced takes you out of the story momentarily. It’s not that the scenes aren’t well done. They are. It’s just that they almost seem to have come from another film.

That being said, I still recommend the film. Its premise alone makes it an interesting watch. Though perhaps a little more “thought” could have gone into it.

Starring: Jude Law, Richard E. Grant, Emilia Clarke, Demián Bichir
Director: Richard Shepard
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Run Time: 94 minutes

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

I didn’t catch “Dom Hemingway” in theaters, in fact I heard that it was pretty bad. I am a big Jude Law fan, so I figured I would give it a chance. Well, everyone else I was let down for it as a film. It is a basic crime comedy but what made it rather watchable was Law’s outstanding performance. Even though I wasn’t thrilled with the film, you got to give the guy credit for really nailing a character. Dom Hemingway is quite the hoot of a character, too bad the whole film can ride on his shoulders.

Official Premise: Jude Law steals the show as “Dom Hemingway”, a larger-than-life safecracker with a short fuse — and a long memory — who sets off to collect what he’s owed after 12 years in prison. When his long-awaited payday goes awry, Dom tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter (Emilia Clarke), only to be tempted again to crack safes.

20th Century Fox is releasing this film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray and Digital HD Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 are both solid and equally look and sound decent. In terms of special features, there is not a whole lot to brag about. There are a few Promotional Featurettes, a Ping-Pong Loop, an Audio Commentary by Richard Shepard and also a Gallery and Theatrical Trailer included. Marginal extras for a marginal film.

Directed by: Luc Besson
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Freeman, Amr Waked, Choi Min-sik
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 89 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“We only use 10% of our brain. At 20% she can manipulate the world around her. At 40% she can control matter. At 60% she can stop time. What happens when she gets to 100%? … I have no idea”

When I saw the trailer for “Lucy”, I had it feeling that it was going to be awesome. I love Scarlett Johansson and it looks like she would be kick ass in the film. What is interesting though is that the trailer and the actual film are quite different, which both good and also bad. For the first 45 minutes or so of this film, I was literally in love with this film. I was sitting in my seat, mouth open and in awe of this film…then it went downhill. The third act of the film is a quite rushed and a bit of a letdown. Here is the thing though, I still kind loved this film and haven’t stopped thinking about it since, so I am a bit conflicted here. This film is less than 90 minutes and it is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. I hope that this is one of the those films that grows on you since I still really want to love it.

Lucy is a girl that is just in the wrong place at the wrong time. She is forced to drop off a briefcase, in which she has no idea what the contents are, because of her dodgy boyfriend. Of course, the 1-2-3 hand off doesn’t go as expected and she is taken by a Korean gang and forced to harvest a new drug inside her intestines with plans to traffic it across the country. Crazy right? When things go wrong and the package is damaged while inside of her, it changes Lucy as her body absorbs the new and unknown drug in abundance. From then you have seen the trailers and you’ve heard that she is able to access more % of her brain and that leads to interesting circumstances as she adjusts to the drug and seeks revenge.

Scarlett Johansson was absolutely amazing. No joke, this was a bad-ass role with big shoes and she super nailed it. Her personality for Lucy was perfectly executed. From the subtle twitches to the dead face stares she was absolutely stunning. Another win for her after this year “Under the Skin”, which she was also quite amazing. Morgan Freeman is well…Morgan Freeman. I could listen to the guy read the instructions of a bottle of aspirin and love it. Amr Waked is not super well known in the US besides bit roles in films like “Contagion” but he was a great addition to the cast. If you are a fan of the Korean cult classic “Old Boy”, then you are going to love that fact that Choi Min-sik plays the main baddie in this and is absolutely amazing.

It is rare for me to say that but at 89 minutes, I actually wanted this film to be longer. When Lucy experiences the effects of the drugs, she goes from 10% to 40% in about an hour…and then zooms through to 100% in about 20 minutes. I could have see this being fleshed out much more, to be honest. In between all that, there is easily one of the coolest car chase scenes that I have seen in a while. It had some amazing stunts and super cool driving action. Like I said, you know when you are watching a film and it is so amazing and then just kind of ends too early and leaves you wanting more. That was the case here. I just loved this film and I wished it would have ended much better. I would still recommend this for all fans of Luc Besson and action/sci-fi fans.

Ashleigh Ball is known best for voicing both Applejack and Rainbow Dash in the TV series “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”. She is also narrating and starring in the similar themed documentary “A Brony Tale”, which focuses on the male fan-base surrounding the TV series “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ashleigh about the documentary and the new season of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”

Mike Gencarelli: Being the voice of both voice Applejack and Rainbow Dash; give us your reaction on this enormous fandom surrounding “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”?
Ashleigh Ball: It is something that I would have never anticipated. There is no way to prepare yourself for something like this. It is very cool to get recognition for doing voice work. It is also very cool that it is a totally unexpected group of people. So it is all weird and wonderful and I love it.

MG: How did you meet up with Brent Hodge to narrate and star in “A Brony Tale”?
AB: Brent and I have known each other for a while now going back to 2008/2009. We met through music. He used to work at CBC Radio 3 and did some interviews with my band Hey Ocean! and we got to know each other that way. We became close and he was always willing to help out with the band. So we were out to dinner one day and we had this discussion about Bronies. I told him he should come to BronyCon with me and start filming this because it would make a really cool documentary. So he agreed and followed me around and got a taste of the Brony life.

MG: Was BronyCon your first interactions with Bronies?
AB: My first interaction was actually caught on film. You can find it on YouTube. Brent also put the clip of me in the film as well. It was at a concert that I played in Vancouver. I was playing a show with my band and afterwards a group of guys came to the merchandise booth and asked me to sign their ponies. They were Bronies and they came all the way from Seattle. So that was the first time I met a Brony in person…and definitely not the last time!

MG: Do you think that this film will have an impact for these fans?
AB: Yeah. I think it is a great introduction into the world of Bronies. It explains who they are and what they stand for. It is way more of a community than the actual series. It is a good for someone who is not familiar with Bronies and think it is weird or perverted. It definitely clears up the whole Brony mystique.

MG: How did the film get support from Morgan Spurlock?
AB: Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Brent worked for a company in San Francisco and was at a Super Bowl party and Morgan was there. They told them about he was doing a documentary about Bronies. Morgan loved the idea, watched the film and called the next day and wanted to be involved. He is really excited about the film and the subject matter. I got to meet him in NY and he is a very cool guy.

MG: Season four of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” just ended but I am sure that fans are looking forward to season five already; any news from that?
AB: Yeah, we are in the process right now of recording season five. It is great. I can’t tell much about the episodes, but it is going to be very great. Lots of cool music and plot twist. Yeah, it is going to be great. It has such great writing and it is a wonderful show to be a part of.

James Garner, whose rugged good looks and wry charm made him a star for almost seven decades, passed away last night at his Hollywood home. He was 86.

Born James Scott Bumgarner in Norman, Oklahoma, Garner began his acting career shortly after returning home from the Korean War. While serving our country he received two Purple Hearts for injuries he received in combat.

After a few minor roles in television and film he hit it big in 1957 playing Bret Maverick in the popular television program “Maverick.” So popular was the character that he would often appear briefly in other television westerns as Maverick. His first major film role came in 1963 when he co-starred in “The Great Escape.” The next year he became a leading man, appearing opposite Julie Andrews in Arthur Hiller’s “The Americanization of Emily.” With the exception of a brief 1972 series entitled “Nichols” he worked consistently in film for the next decade, appearing in such well received projects as “Grand Prix,” “Support Your Local Sheriff!,” “Marlowe” and “Support Your Local Gunfighter.”

In 1974 he took on the role he would always be associated with, private investigator Jim Rockford in “The Rockford Files.” Driving his Pontiac Firebird and living in his mobile home, Rockford, with the occasional help of his father, Rocky (Noah Beery, Jr.) and occasional guest stars, would take any case – for $200 a day, plus expenses! The show was so popular that it’s theme song, written by Mike Post, reached #10 on the popular music chart and even won a Grammy Award for best television theme. “TV Guide” later named it the 39th Greatest Television Show Ever!

After the show left the air in 1980 he returned to film, starring in Robert Altman’s “HealtH,” opposite Lauren Bacall in “The Fan,” re-teaming with Julie Andrews in the outstanding comedy “Victor/Victoria” and romancing Sally Field in “Murphy’s Romance,” a role that brought him his first and only Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

The 90’s found him back on television, starring in the short-lived political series “Man of the People.” He also did several “Rockford Files” television movies and starred as Marshal Zane Cooper opposite Mel Gibson who took over the title role in the film adaptation of “Maverick.” The new millennium found him in space opposite Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland in “Space Cowboys” and also starring in arguably one of the most beloved romances of the decade, “The Notebook.” On television he gave voice to the Creator in the underrated “God, the Devil and Bob” and on the popular series “8 Simple Rules.” His role on “Rules” was expanded during the last season following the tragic death of the show’s star, John Ritter. Besides his lone Oscar nomination, he earned fourteen Emmy nominations (winning two) and twelve Golden Globe nods (winning three).

If I have one image of James Garner in my head, it isn’t from any of his film or television work. A few years ago, while visiting a local business, I was drawn to a photo of a group of young men, a few of them holding basketballs. I remarked to the owner that “the guy in the middle looks just like James Garner.” It was. The owner had served with Garner in Korea and, whenever time allowed, the men would have scrimmage basketball games at their post. In the photo Garner is beaming, as if he couldn’t be any happier. What’s amazing is that he had a whole new career ahead of him that he wasn’t even aware of. He will be missed.

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper, Rob Lowe
Directed by: Jake Kasdan
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Running time: 94 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Holy shit! I haven’t laughed as hard as I did in “Sex Tape” in a long time. The first time I saw the trailer to this I just knew it was going to be amazing. And guess what? All the funny gags (out of the gutter people, focus!) are not in the trailer. This movie is equally funny throughout. The real key for this film’s success is the fact that it is actually only 94 minutes long! Suck that Judd Apatow! No matter how amazing and funny a comedy is, there is no way for it to keep it up for that long (damn it, this is your last warning). Real critics aka pretentious hotshots that love to use big words, will most likely hate this but screw them because I had a blast with this film and so did the audience that I saw it with. Actually, I will even say that this was the funniest film that I have seen this year so far. So have drink, kick back and enjoy this flick!

Jay and Annie are two people that fall in love and absolutely love having sex with each other. After they get pregnant and decide to get married, they find that they need to find a way to get that spark back in their live. You know we all have been through this people! So they decide that in order to spice this up a bit, they shoot a sex tape of them practicing ever position in the book “The Joy of Sex”..for three hours. Of course instead of deleting it after they were done like they said they would, it gets uploaded to their iTunes Cloud and synced to all their friends, family and even some strangers including the mailman (Ow, why did I just get hit?). The couple and their two friends set out to try and stop the rest of the world from seeing this sex tape and of course in the process, mucho hilarity ensues.

Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel are fantastic together. I have to admit, Segel looks a little strange since the weight loss but good for him. They are hysterical together in a kind of sexy awkward way. Rob Corddry and Ellie Kemper are also hysterical as their friends who set out to help them. Great laughs from them as well. But the winner of this film is easily the great Rob Lowe. From the moment he steps in front of the camera, this guy owns this entire movie. I mean every word he speaks is practically gold. He just nails it. Great cast. Great laughs. Nice and tight (Oh, what the hell…OH YEAH!)…running time. This is definitely a must see of the summer! So parents if you got kids, get a sitter and don’t miss this flick!

Director: “Released”: Stanley Dorfman/ “Highlights of Released”: John G. Smith
Number of discs: “Released”: 6 Discs/ “Highlights of Released”: 1 Disc
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout Factory!
Run Time: “Released”: 16 hrs. +/ “Highlights of Released”: 2hrs. 38 min.

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Released: The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998” is this the first ever compilation of the historic Human Rights Concerts which were presented by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization Amnesty International from 1986-1998. Over those 12 years audiences around the world were treated to performances by a bevy of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel and Sting amongst a long list of others. To coincide with the 25th anniversary of the “Human Rights Now! 1988 World Tour” Shout Factory released the complete 6 disc version of the concerts in November of 2013. With over 16+ hours of footage directed by Stanley Dorfman fans for the first time were able relive all their favorite performances and moments from those truly memorable shows. The footage is also accompanied by a 40 page full color booklet that includes photos and written firsthand accounts from the people who were there during these events. Probably my favorite disc of the 6 was the “Context on The Human Rights Concerts- Part 2” which featured some really great performances by Green Day, Mumford and Sons and Seal and Jeff Beck. Though I found a large portion of the footage to be a touch grainy due to its age the overall sound of the 6 discs proved to be quite good and made up for the visual shortcomings of the release. The impressive amount of footage and artist roster make this release a music lovers dream however it may be a bit cumbersome for just your average listener.

The latest version of the Human Rights Concert series titled “Highlights of Released: The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998” was directed by John G. Smith and features select performances from the previously released 6 disc box set. Though the release sports a considerably stripped down program when compared to its predecessor viewers still get over 2 hours of footage with performances by The Police, Lou Reed and Bryan Adams along with an in-depth documentary featuring interviews with Sting, Pete Townsend and Bono. Though a number of the performances I enjoyed from the full release were left off this version I wasn’t too upset as there is only so much space to fill and it’s a select performance piece. The biggest thing is that the select portion of these releases is often times up to the director and/or producers to determine what they feel are the “best” pieces to include. This can certainly give a hit or miss element to a release like this but it seems like for the most part everything was a hit. If you were interested in the original release of these concerts however were a bit put off by the size or price you can now get a good taste of those memorable shows from a decade gone bye while supporting a good cause as both releases net proceeds will be given to Amnesty.

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Starring: Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo and Zach Gilford
Directed By: James DeMonaco
Rated: R
Running Time: 103 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Are you ready to celebrate the annual Purge? Nearly every tattooed, face painted, vein bulging, rotted teeth maniac featured in the latest offering seems to be. “The Purge: Anarchy” takes us to 2023, a year after the previously featured Purge with a new batch of disposable characters hoping to survive the 12 hours America has made all crimes legal. Out of all the crimes that are now legal, everyone gladly picks up their nearest sharpened tool shed item and freshly polished automatic rifle, and settles on a night of murder. This time around, we’re not confined to an upper middle class home, but instead we’re placed in some rotting downtown urban warfare.

For this second installment, to what I assume will be a never ending franchise until the one that doesn’t make money, we’re introduced to three separate storylines. First off is the young, well-to-do couple, Shane (Gilford) and Liz (Kiele Sanchez). They’re one of those annoying shoppers that wait until the last possible minute to get groceries, but the real kicker is that they’re going through a shaky separation. Bad timing if you ask me. There’s also Eva (Ejogo) and Cali (Zeo Soul), a mother and a daughter just hoping to survive another annual Purge in their decrepit apartment building. Finally there’s Leo (Grillo), a father hoping to avenge his son’s death by dressing all in black and being armed to the teeth like Frank Castle. I’m sure you’ve already pieced together that they’ll eventually all meet-up, but the real unpredictable fun comes when they have to stick together to survive the night.

While the last “Purge” felt like someone left the “Panic Room” on simmer, the latest entry goes head on into dismemberments, bullet riddled bodies, gore and urban combat. It seems like one of the director’s favorite cult classics might have been “The Warriors” as we roam from one outlandish incident to another. Despite our characters quietly lurking, the film’s pace seems to be in top form as it finds clever ways to keep the anarchy engaging and absorbing. The plight of our characters isn’t an emotional investment, more than it’s a grotesque investment in the joy of watching another kill or be killed scenario.

Meanwhile, the director has still failed to create a working theme representing class warfare and race equality. He seems to believe the audience is too dense to pick up on the already implied subtleties so he proceeds to insert poorly written dialogue into actor’s mouth and further disrupts the flow with characters talking over obvious visual cues. Early on we’re introduced to a AK-47 toting pacifist who’s obviously the 2023 embodiment of Che Guevara who will obviously be making an appearance, but is given nothing of relevance to say. In more capable, demented hands, one could easily assemble a thoughtful good time.

As pure testosterone fueled savagery that’s aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, this “Purge” sequel works. As a potential cult classic with social and political commentary, it fails once again. Demarco may want to consider bringing on a second person to help him with the next “Purge” movie if it’s going in the direction I believe it’s going. If he’s hoping to hunt down some bigger issues, he may find out he’s unskilled enough to tackle them. He may just want to stick to blood and guts in poor taste and quenching American moviegoers never-ending thirst for sadism.

Starring: Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Danny Aiello, Jeff Daniels, Wallace Shawn, Seth Green
Director: Woody Allen
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Release Date: July 8, 2014

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

A few years back I became very much obsessed with music from the 30’s and 40’s. I am a huge fan of Woody Allen but I have to admit, I have never seen this film prior to this release. It packs a wonderful cast including Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Danny Aiello, Jeff Daniels, Wallace Shawn, Seth Green with Woody Allen narrating. I literally was watching this film speechless during certain points just completely in love. The music, the acting, the writing. Woody Allen never lets you down. A must have if you are a fan of Woody Allen, no question.

Official Premise: Writer-director Woody Allen’s tenderly nostalgic, joyously funny Radio Days (1987) is a vignette-packed memory piece about growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940s, obsessed with the music, entertainment, and news of the wide world brought into every household via the magic of radio. A young Allen surrogate (played by a teeny red-headed Seth Green) lives with his parents (the wonderful Julie Kavner and Michael Tucker) and extended family in the wind-swept Rockaway neighborhood, their daily routines spiced by the glamour, excitement, thrills, and even occasional doses of grim reality coming to them over the airwaves.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. This film is delivered with a looks good with its 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also works perfect with the dialogue and the music. Oh the music is so fantastic with some amazing songs from the 30’s and 40’s that intertwine so well with the film.
In terms of special features, besides some trailers, there is only an Isolated Music and Effects Track includes, which is a bit of a letdown. Nonetheless, Twilight Time has been releasing some great Allen films over the last year and change, so I hope that they are planning on continuing this.

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Starring: Michael Ironside, Jennifer O’Neill, Patrick McGoohan, Stephen Lack, Lawrence Dane
Director: David Cronenberg
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Criterion Collection (Direct)
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Run Time: 103 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

David Cronenberg has really affected up my taste in films over the years. I remembered the first time that I watched “Scanners”, I didn’t know anything about the director but I instantly fell in love.  That is one thing that I have always loved about Croneberg’s films is that they are rather timeless. “Scanners”,”Videodrome”, “The Fly”, “Naked Lunch”, eXistenz”. These are all films that are just as good as the very first time that I saw them.  They are extremely unique and cannot be duplicated. This film has never been released on high-def Blu-ray in the States (though we do already have “Scanners 2 & 3” on Blu-ray, thanks to Shout! Factory). Leave it to Criterion for giving an amazing film like this an even better release. This comes with a brand new, restored 2K digital film transfer, which was supervised by director David Cronenberg and includes an uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray.

Official Premise: With Scanners, David Cronenberg plunges us into one of his most terrifying and thrilling sci-fi worlds. After a man with extraordinary—and frighteningly destructive—telepathic abilities is nabbed by agents from a mysterious rogue corporation, he discovers he is far from the only possessor of such strange powers, and that some of the other “scanners” have their minds set on world domination, while others are trying to stop them. A trademark Cronenberg combination of the visceral and the cerebral, this phenomenally gruesome and provocative film about the expanses and limits of the human brain was the Canadian director’s breakout hit in the United States.

Instead of telling you all the details, I will let the linear notes tell you the techy details: “Supervised by director David Cronenberg, this new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from a 35mm interpositive at Vision Globale in Montreal; the color grading was done at Deluxe Toronto. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI’s DRS and Pixel Farm’s PFClean, while Digital Vision’s Phoenix was used for small dirt, grain, and noise management. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the 35mm Dialogue/Music/Effects magnetic track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD, AudioCube’s integrated workstation, and iZotope RX 3.

So if you understand what all that technical specs mean, this film looks just amazing. If you disagree, you might catch me starring at you very intently…wait a second…and…BOOM! Unlike the Australian Blu-ray, which has a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, this Blu-ray includes an LPCM 1.0 surround track, which is much more impressive. The score is just so outstanding, I would have loved to seen an isolated audio track. This director approved dual-format Blu-ray and DVD, also comes with an amazing illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Kim Newman. I look forward to Criterion releases so much because they really put a lot of effort into these releases and don’t settle for less than perfect. Plus take a look at this cover art, isn’t it just amazing and there is different version inside the case as well!!

Like always Criterion has delivered a jam-packed Blu-ray with amazing extras. “The Scanners Way” is a brand new documentary film and includes interviews with director of photography Mark Irwin, special makeup artists Stephan Dupuis and Chris Walas, special effects supervisor Gary Zeller, and visual effects specialist Rick Baker talking about the production. This was was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2014 by Michael Lennick, a Toronto-based documentarian and visual effects designer and supervisor (Videodrome). “Mental Saboteur” is a brand new video interview, actor Michael Ironside, who plays Darryl Revok, reflecting on his role. This was able produced by Criterion this year.

“The Ephemerol Diaries” is a video interview from 2012 with actor Stephen Lack, who plays Cameron Vale, discussing his work on the film. We get excerpts from the “The Bob McLean Show” from the March 10, 1981 episode with David Cronenberg. A real treat definitely has to be David Cronenberg first completed feature, “Stereo”, is included, which he did in 1969. It stars Ronald Mlodzik, Jack Messinger, and Iain Ewing and runs just over an hour. Lastly there is a trailer and three original radio spots included. If Criterion is reading this PLEASE give Cronenberg’s “eXistenZ”, the Blu-ray treatment next. It has only been given a rather poor Echo Bridge Blu-ray and needs some love.

Starring: Haley Joel Osment, Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Victor Garber
Director: Richie Mehta
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Well Go USA
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

When I saw that Haley Joel Osment was starring in a new science fiction time travel drama, I have to admit, I was rather curious. The kid hasn’t really done much major since his breakout role in “The Sixth Sense”. Along with Osment, it comes stocked with a great cast Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”), Rufus Sewell (“Dark City”) and Victor Garber (“Alias”). Great performances and a nice spin on the time travel genre, this film is entertaining throughout and packs a nice surprise. Worth checking out for sure.

Official Premise: An accomplished physicist (Rufus Sewell) mysteriously disappears on a business trip. Abandoned, his wife (Gillian Anderson) and son Erol (Haley Joel Osment) struggle to cope. Years later, now a young scientist himself, Erol uncovers papers, formulas, a machine, and a mind-bending possibility. But time travel is impossible. Isn’t it? Erol’s obsession to find his father and restore his family will throw him into the unknown and possibly threaten his life. What would you do to repair the past?

The 1080p transfer is solid and delivers with the sci-fi aspect of the film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works with the rather impressive score. The special features aren’t anything special. There is a short 12 minutes behind-the-scenes making featurette, which looks into various aspects production including the music. Lastly there are three short deleted scenes included.