If you’re a fan of classic animation you surely are a fan of Ralph Bakshi. In his five decade career he has created such seminal animated features as “Fritz the Cat,” “Heavy Traffic,” “Wizards,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “Cool World” and many more. This week at the Kansas City Film Fest a retrospect of his work will be shown, featuring screenings of “Heavy Traffic,” “Coonskin” and “Wizards,” culminating in a Q&A Skype session with the director after Saturday’s screening of “Coonskin.”

Introducing the films this week will be another filmmaking member of the Bakshi family, Ralph’s son, Eddie. Eddie caught the filmmaking bug at a young age and is finishing up his animated producer’s debut, “Last Days of Coney Island.” While waiting for the Fest to begin, Eddie Bakshi spoke with Media Mikes.:

Mike Smith: Can you give the readers a little inside introduction to the upcoming retrospect of your father’s films at the Kansas City Film Fest?
Eddie Bakshi: The festival is presenting screenings of three of his films: “Heavy Traffic,” “Coonskin” and “Wizards.” There will also be samples of the original art – the original animation cells used to make the film. They will be on display and some will also be available to purchase. In addition, he will be Skyping in to the festival after the Saturday evening screening of “Coonskin” for an audience Q & A. The audience will have a chance to ask him a question about any of his films, be it “Coonskin” or his latest film, “Last Days of Coney Island.” He’s currently editing that film right now and will actually be Skyping in on the same computer he’s editing on.

MS: Can you talk a little about “Last Days of Coney Island?”
EB: “Last Days of Coney Island” is a project that we’re both working on. He’s directing and I’m producing. We’re currently in the middle of editing it. It’s an eighteen-minute featurette. When we announced it on Kickstarter we had said it would be a five to seven-minute short but now it’s a bit longer. Actually, we may continue the project and turn it into a full length feature film. If we can get the funding we would like to tell the entire “Coney Island” story, which takes place in the 1960s and involves cops and a whole lot of seedy characters…the inhabitants of Coney Island. It will be a classic Bakshi film in the vein of “Heavy Traffic.” It has a lot of strange characters and they’re all interlinked. He’s very happy with what he has done now but he would love to turn it into a feature. He’s very happy with the story and how it’s going. He’s been very involved the past several months lengthening the story to eighteen-minutes. The art style is very interesting.

MS: You will be offering some of his original art and cells to the public?
EB: Yes. It’s a great way for his fans to own a piece of his work.

MS: Is this retrospect a way to introduce his work to new fans as well as letting old fans know about his newest project?
EB: It’s a new way to promote Bakshi Productions. It’s really the first real chance people will have to ask him about the project directly. There has been a real spike in the increase of interest in his work since the advent of outlets like Twitter and Instagram. Many new fans are being exposed to his work. An outlets like Facebook these fans are finally getting to see the images from his films and it generated a lot of interest in the new film. We’ve been getting offers from all over the country to attend film festivals to not only talk about “Last Days of Coney Island” but to show his older films as well. It’s kind of like a bundle package. Once “Coney Island “ is ready we can take that to festivals, or show a trailer for it with some of the older films.

The Kansas City Film Fest runs through April 13. For more information go to www.kcfilmfest.org

Author: Alexandro Jodorowsky
Illustrator: Juan Gimenez
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Humanoids Publishing
Relesae Date: November 13, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“The Metabarons” is the cult classic spin-off science fiction comic series from Alexandro Jodorowsky’s own cult classic series “The Incal”. The Ultimate Collection brings together this epic multi-part, multi-generational space opera that follows the Castaka Clan as their family rises to fame as the galaxy’s greatest warriors, the Metabarons. I recently feel in love with Alexandro Jodorowsky’s work after watching “Jodorowsky’s Dune”, which is an outstanding documentary on Alejandro’s failed film adapation of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune” back in to the 70’s. Like “The Incal, “The Metabarons” is also heavily influenced by Frank Herbert’s “Dune” novels and includes aspects from Jodorowsky’s “Dune” as well. Again, if you are a sci-fi fan looking to discover something new or re-discover this cult classic, I highly recommend checking out this amazing collection.

Official Premise: A must-read cult spin-off of “The Incal,” by Moebius and Jodorowsky, centering around the fascinating lineage of the ultimate warrior. This collection introduces the Metabaron’s bloodline and reveals the origins of their deep-seated principles. Find out the source of the family’s vast wealth, learn why every Metabaron has cybernetic implants, and why the only way to become the next Metabaron is for him to defeat his own father in a mortal combat. Follow each successive generation as it struggles to overcome the forces amassed against it in a galaxy corrupted by greed, power, and terror. A true classic in the pantheon of graphic storytelling and Science Fiction as a whole.

Humanoid honestly does not mess around with their releases. This book is absolutely gorgeous and runs nearly 550 pages long at almost 2″ thick. No question, this is one of the most impressive comic releases that I have recently seen. If you’ve seen the film “Jodorowsky’s Dune”, and if you haven’t I HIGHLY recommend it, you will know that Alexandro developed a “book” for the film which includes the complete script wrapped around storyboards drafting out literally every scene and every character. There were originally only a handful of these made at the time but no only one or two are left. I believe that if Alexandro was ever to release that book to the world (which he really should), Humanoid would be the only company that would be able to do it justice. Just sayin’

The stories in this collection are so interesting and thought provoking. I really have a deeper appreciation for Jodorowsky’s work. This plays out like a space opera that is side acting as a futuristic Greek tragedy production. So there is a lot going on and it is so well tied together and delivered. The original French comics were reproduced in English in their original format. “The Metabarons Ultimate Collection” includes “Othon & Honorata”, “Aghnar & Oda”, “Steelhead & Doña Vicenta”, “Aghora & The Last Metabaron” plus two bonus short stories, “The Crest of Castaka” and “The Incal’s Dream”. So you get the works with this collection. If you are looking to get sucked and spit out by this incredible space opera, than I cannot recommend “The Metabarons” any more. I can’t wait to check out Humaoid’s release for “After the Incal” and “Final Incal” next.

Actors: David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, David Bradley, Arthur Darvill
Created by: Chris Chibnall
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Entertainment One
DVD Release Date: April 1, 2014
Run Time: 394 minutes

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

David Tennant can honestly do no wrong. He won us all over in his portrayal of the the 10th Doctor in the BBC hit revival series of “Doctor Who”. His latest series “Broadchurch” introduces us to Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, another role in which he nails. The show is a serial drama/thriller which centres on the death of an eleven-year-old boy, and the search for his killer. Just in the first season this show netted very high ratings and much critical acclaim. I really enjoyed this show and I am glad to see it finally get a US release. I wish Entertainment One could have given it a Blu-ray like in the UK personally. If you love David Tennant (who doesn’t), then I highly recommend this series.

Official Premise: Two detectives – the strong yet compassionate Detective Sergeant, Ellie Miller, and the by-the-book Detective Inspector, Alec Hardy – are brought together to solve the murder of an eleven year-old boy on a picturesque beach in a small coastal town. Under the glare of the media spotlight, the two race to find the killer, while the clock ticks and the mystery deepens.

Fun fact, Tennant’s co-star in this show Olivia Colman plays Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller. She also appeared in episode 5.1 of “Doctor Who” called “The Eleventh Hour” but missed Tennant’s reign by one episode. “Broadchurch: The Complete First Season” comes as a three-disc set contain all eight episodes. In terms of special features there is a making of featurette “Broadchurch: Behind the Scenes” and a few Deleted Scenes included. I would have loved to see some commentary tracks on these episodes which were originally included in the UK Blu-ray release.

Well “Broadchurch” fans, reassured since series 2 of this show is in currently development. If you don’t believe me watch the last episdoe of this season and you will see that “Broadchurch Will Return”. But wait there is more. Fox is also producing a US remake of “Broadchurch” to air in the 2014–15 season, called “Gracepoint”…and wait for it…David Tennant is playing the lead (again) detective named Emmett Carver. So it is going to be a broad future for this show. Keep it coming!

“The Rise and Fall of the Clash”
Director: Danny Garcia
Number of discs: 1
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout Factory!
Run Time: 90 minutes

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

“The Rise and Fall of the Clash” takes a look at the life-changing effects that The Clash had on a generation. The film tells the fascinating inside story of rivalries, treachery, betrayal and the internal dynamics and managerial interference that ultimately led “the biggest band in the world” to self destruct. Directed by Danny Garcia the film is packed full with rare and candid interviews from surviving band members and those who were with the band on their rocket like rise to stardom and their irrevocable fall from grace.

Being a fan of The Clash I wish I could tell you that this DVD is one you have to have for your collection. Sadly that is not the case. Though not a bad film per say it didn’t live up to the hype of the listed highlights shown the back of the packaging which boasted “new interviews” and “rare performance and archival footage”. Yes there may have been some new interviews however the same story that we all have heard countless times was basically just restated in a poorly edited piece of film. At several points during my viewing of the film I had to stop the movie just to try and figure out where the film/band was chronologically in their history and what relation the story being told had to that place and time. If the poor editing wasn’t enough the interviews sound quality wasn’t anything spectacular nor was the lighting which at times made the scenes that may have actually been interesting very dark and unappealing to the eye.

If anything can be taken from “The Rise and Fall of the Clash” DVD it should be merely accepted as a collective piece for hardcore fans of the band and not something containing “new” material as found very little if anything that truly could be considered new.

Starring: Eric Roberts and Danielle Harris
Directed by: Harrison Smith
Not Rated
Studio: Image Entertainment
Running time: 1 hour 34 mins
Release date: April 15, 2014

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

The newly released “Camp Dread” is everything you think it is, yet nothing like you would hope. I have now viewed this movie twice. One reason for this is because I was trying to understand the premise. I understood the premise as a movie, but I couldn’t fully decipher what the characters within the story thought it was.

The second reason I watched this film twice was to double the on-screen time of Danielle Harris, turning her whopping four minutes and thirty seconds of screen-time into a full nine minutes. That’s correct, Danielle Harris, whose visage is on the cover art, is only in this movie for four minutes and thirty seconds. It is her character that bookends the story.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: Julian Barrett (Roberts) was the director of the 1980’s “Summer Camp” series of horror films. However, as the series ended so did his career. In an attempt to raise funding for a reboot of his glorious franchise, Julian returns to the camp where he filmed his beloved series. Under the guise of filming a reality TV show with a group of angst-ridden twenty-somethings, his aim is to use this footage as a visual storyboard for his reboot.

The movie begins with a group of people seemingly auditioning for a reality TV series. But when the group arrives at the camp setting it is made known that they are somewhat court-ordered to be there for therapy. They HAVE to be there, yet they were auditioning? At the same time, Rachel Steele (Felissa Rose) arrives. She is the actress whom starred in the “Summer Camp” series; but since then she returned to school and became a therapist. Showing off her skills as a therapist, she proceeds to read private and intimate information of each one of the campers aloud to the entire group; sharing the personal tragedies and traumas that each character has encountered.

Barrett also explains to his campers that they are part of a game of survival, and they all have the opportunity to win $1 million. The story has now become ‘Survivor’ meets ‘The Hunger Games’ as the campers must attend therapy while avoiding a pretend killer whom will take them out of the game; while simultaneously preparing the camp for its re-opening, and still all being a part of the reality TV show whose footage will be used as a storyboard for the reboot of the “Summer Camp” film.

Did you follow all of that?

This is why I had to watch it twice. The story is so convoluted that it borders on making no sense whatsoever.

Besides using the ridiculous gimmick of placing cameras all over the grounds, each camper has a camera attached to their chest; the footage from which I don’t ever recall seeing. The characters are in their twenties, as is repeated in the movie several times, yet they are all portrayed as if they were teen-agers. The characters are one-note and cookie-cutter, they bring no depth or substance to the story at all. There is not one character that doesn’t fall into an obvious cliché’. The dialogue is stilted and obvious; the punch-line to any joke is easy to predict before the set-up is finished.

This movie is not scary, nor is it funny enough to be a satire or a dark comedy. To quote Julian Barrett, “That would be funny… if that were funny.” And for a movie with the tag-line: ‘Pitch Your Tent. Dig Your Grave.’ there should have been at least one tent in the movie: which there is not, since they all stay in cabins.

The only positives I have for “Camp Dread” is that it’s a good-looking cast. The men and women both aren’t bad to look at for an hour and twenty minutes. I also respect the use of practical gore effects over any computer-generated ones. The gore effects are decent enough, yet there are not enough of them for a movie of this genre. There also is a slight twist at the end of the movie, but by the time you get there it doesn’t matter. And when you fully analyze it you see how outlandish it really is.

For being the two main stars, Eric Roberts and Danielle Harris are both underutilized. Roberts could have done his scenes half-asleep and he would still be the best thing about this movie. Likewise, seeing Felissa Rose back in a “Summer Camp” setting is a nice touch of nostalgia; but all it really does is point out how good this movie is not. If you come upon this movie streaming on-line, it’s worth watching with a few friends, a bowl of popcorn and some rum; but there is no need to rush out and track a copy down. If you do watch it, though, watch it twice. That way it feels like it actually is a Danielle Harris movie. If I may suggest a better title: “Camp Dreadful!”

Actors: Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Corri English, Laura Ortiz, Dave Brockie, Dee Snider
Directors: Adam Green, Sean Becker
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Run Time: 220 minutes

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

If you are a horror fan, then plain and simple it is in your blood to love “Holliston”. It was created by and also stars Adam Green (“Hatchet” series) along with Joe Lynch (“Wrong Turn 2”, “Chillerama”), who also executive produced. These guys are very talent directors and are taking over the genre. The series also crosses over into horror-metal music as well with appearances from Dee Snider and the late Dave Brockie aka Oderus Urungus from the band GWAR. The show focuses on some hororr themes but is also funny as hell and totally over-the-top. The second season amps up the ante with great new guest stars and takes the show to a whole new level of kick-ass.

Official Premise: The most original, groundbreaking sitcom to ever hit television is back with a whole new level of hilarity and outrageousness! Join Adam (Adam Green, Frozen), Joe (Joe Lynch, Knights of Badassdom), Laura (Laura Ortiz, The Hills Have Eyes), Corri (Corri English, Devil May Call), Oderus Urungus (GWAR’s Dave Brockie), and Lance Rockett (Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider) as they deal with zombies, werewolves, a suicidal horror icon, a cursed videotape, a psychotic 11-year-old girl and so much more!

Personally, this was a little hard for me to review right now with the passing of Dave Brockie last month. I have been a huge GWAR fan for the last 20+ years and he is gone just way too soon. He was hysterical in this show and was a legend in the music business. Some of the toher amazing guest stars from this season include Seth Green (“Family Guy”), Bailee Madison (“Trophy Wife”), Sid Haig (“The Devil’s Rejects”), Kane Hodder (“Friday the 13th” franchise), Danielle Harris (“Halloween” franchise), David Naughton (“An American Werewolf in London”) and more!

So like I said this season really stepped it up for the show. Some of the cool highlights include a Japanese horror inspired episode; a found footage episode and wraps up with an amazing season finale with not one but two musical numbers from the cast. If that doesn’t sound cool enough, also included is the uncut version of the show’s animated Christmas Special episode which bridgess the first and second seasons together.

But wait there is more! This Blu-ray also includes some solid special features. There are commentary tracks for each episodes including Creator/Star Adam Green, Director Sean Becker, Executive Producer/Star Joe Lynch and Star Laura Ortiz. There are is a great behind-the scenes look into the making of the show, which is a must watch for fans. There are some Deleted Scenes and Bloopers included. There are also some bonus Music Videos from the series.

Starring: Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Michelle Monaghan, Ray Liotta, Jane Fonda
Directors: Geoff Moore, David Posamentier
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Run Time: 92 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

“Better Living Through Chemistry” is a film that came out of nowhere for me but packs an amazing cast. Sam Rockwell was amazing in “The Way Way Back” last year. I fell in love with Olivia Wilde due to her role in “TRON Legacy”, Michelle Monaghan was great in HBO’s “True Detective”. Then wrapping up the cast is Ray Liotta, who is always great and Jane Fonda, who is a legend. The film is a fun dark comedy but takes its self a little too serious. I enjoyed this but I consider it a one-timer. It is just a shame that all that talent didn’t have the power to drive this film further.

Official Premise: Rockwell stars as Doug Varney, a small town pharmacist with an overbearing wife (Monaghan) and an uneventful life running the drugstore he bought from his insufferable father-in-law. Following a chance encounter with a lonely trophy wife (Wilde), Doug embarks on an exhilarating drug-and-alcohol-fueled affair with the most glamorous woman he has ever met.

Universal Studios is behind this release giving the film a combo pack release with a Blu-ray + Digital HD UltraViolet Copy. The film comes stocked with the typical comedy 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. It is nothing special yet not bad either. There are no special features are included on this release, other than a digital copy which is really no longer considered a special feature these days.

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Starring: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: April 29, 2014
Run Time: 1009 minutes

Season: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Well this is the end folks. Season four is the final season of “Star Trek Enterprise”. The series starred Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Linda Park, Anthony Montgomery and John Billingsley. These final episodes follows the adventures of the first Earth-built vessel capable of breaking the Warp 5 barrier. The show was no question cut off too show. Season four was one of the best seasons but luckily since being canceled it has spawned a nice new life with fans. Since being canceled though, this marks the first time that the series “Star Trek” has not had a TV show on the air since The Original Series. This is a must own for all Trekkies.

Official Premise: In the final harrowing season of Star Trek: Enterprise, timelines collide as Captain Jonathan Archer and his crew rally with humans and other species to form the Federation and prevent intergalactic war. Starfleet and the crew of the Enterprise are put to the test as they fight to avoid a deadly virus on the ship, deal with an alternate “mirror” universe, battle radical alien factions, and prevent the alteration of history – including a Nazi-occupied America. If the Temporal Cold War is not brought to an end, history and life as they know it will be forever altered.

Episodes included in this season are: “Storm Front, Part I”; “Storm Front, Part II”; “Home”; “Borderland”; “Cold Station 12”; “The Augments”; “The Forge”; “Awakening”; “Kir’Shara”; “Daedalus”; “Observer Effect”; “Babel One”; “United”; “The Aenar”; “Affliction”; “Divergence”, “Bound”; “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part I”; “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part II”; “Demons”; “Terra Prime” and “These Are The Voyages”

“Star Trek: Enterprise – Season Four” boasts the best Blu-ray presentation out of the series. The 1080p transfer on these episodes are fantastic. This season was quite ambitious and really looked great. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks are equally impressive. I am going to miss hearing that theme song circle my surround sound system, luckily these episodes have great replay value. Other audio track included are German 5.1 Dolby Digital, French Stereo Surround and Japanese Stereo Surround as well. The discs also include English SDH, French, German, Japanese and Dutch subtitles.

If you are a fan of this series, you know that they have been jam-packed with amazing new and ported special features. The real highlight to this release was “In Conversation: Writing Star Trek Enterprise”, which is an exclusive, 90-minute writing staff reunion special. It brings together series creator and executive producer Brannon Braga, along with Mike Sussman, André Bormanis, David Goodman, Chris Black, Phyllis Strong, and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens talking in great detail about behind-the-scenes stories for this series. There is also a newly produced, four-part documentary “Before Her Time: Decommissioning Enterprise,” which includes more in-depth interviews with the cast and crew.

Those two new extras and much of the rest of the extras resides on the sixth disc. Disc one includes a Deleted Scene on “Storm Front”, an Extended Scene and Script Gallery: Original Editing on “Home” and Archival Mission Logs: Enterprise Moments: Season Four. Disco two includes a brand new episode commentary track with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Mike & Denise Okuda on “The Forge”. There is also a text commentary from 2005 with Mike & Denise Okuda on “The Forge”. Disc three includes another brand new episode commentary track with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Mike & Denise Okuda on “Observer Effect”.

Disc Four includes another brand new episode commentary track with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and David Livingston on “United”. There is also a Deleted Scene on “The Aenar”. Disc Five kicks off with five commentary tracks. The first is from 2005 with Mike Sussman and Tim Gaskill on “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part I”. On the same episode, there is also an episode commentary with James L. Conway, Mike Sussman and Mike & Denise Okuda, which is brand new. Mike Sussman and Tim Gaskill have a commentary track from 2005 on “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part II”, again also on this episod is a 2005 text commentary from Mike & Denise Okuda on “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part II”. The last episode commentary is with Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating on “Demons”, which is also brand new. Lastly there is a Deleted Scene from “In A Mirror, Darkly, Part II”, Archival Mission Logs: Inside the Mirror Episodes included.

Disc Six includes yet another three commentary tracks. The first is a brand new track with Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating on “Terra Prime”. There is a 2005 episode commentary track with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Tim Gaskill on “Terra Prime”. Lastly there is a text commentary with Mike & Denise Okuda on “These Are The Voyages” from 2005. There is a four part featurette including, “New Voices”, “Memorable Voyages”, “Final Approach” and “End of an Era”. Rounding out there extras are a few Archival Mission Logs, Outtakes Photo Gallery and an NX-01 File 10. Great way to close out a series.

Actors: James Spader, Steve Harris, Camryn Manheim, Michael Badalucco
Directors: Dennis Smith
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: April 15, 2014
Run Time: 960 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I had never seen David E. Kelley’s Emmy® Award-winning legal drama but I was a HUGE fan of “Boston Legal”, which was this shows spin-off. This eighth and final season of “The Practice” was really awesome and perfectly set up the pass for the equally critically acclaimed spin-off, “Boston Legal”. I am never usually a big fan of law shows but David E. Kelley really knows how to deliver a powerful show.

This season introduced us to not only the debut of Alan Shore, but early appearances from Tara Wilson (Rhona Mitra), Catherine Piper (Betty White), Sally Heep (Lake Bell)… and the legendary attorney Denny Crane (William Shatner). The Alan Shore/Denny Crane relationship was something that can never be recreated on TV. Absolute thing of beauty. This final season of “The Practice” is a must-own for fans of “Boston Legal”.

Official Premise: Major upheavals have left Ellenor (Camryn Manheim), Eugene (Steve Harris) and Jimmy (Michael Badalucco) in charge of the firm. In an attempt to rebuild their ranks, Ellenor hires an old friend: the enigmatic and ethically-challenged Alan Shore (James Spader). Shore’s brilliant-yet-highly-unorthodox methods succeed in winning big cases — but will they also threaten the future of the firm?

I know this show has never received a Blu-ray release but I would have loved to see this season get that treatment. Just like I have been holding out buying the complete series of “Boston Legal” until they get released on Blu-ray. There are no additional special features on this release besides the 22 episodes. I would have loved to had some commentary tracks included on these episodes from the cast/crew.

Starring: Pat Healy, Sara Paxton and David Koechner
Directed By: E.L. Katz
Rated: R
Running Time: 85 minutes
Drafthouse Films

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I don’t know about you, but the most I’ve spent on a bottle of liquor is $35 and that was on sale. Imagine spending $300 for a bottle of tequila and silencing the waitress’ doubts that you can afford it by flipping out five Benjamins with a quick flip from your pocket (tip included). That’s exactly the kind of money Colin (Koechner) has to spend and that’s barely a drop in the bucket to his unforeseen amounts of wealth.

Our story isn’t about Colin, it’s about Craig (Healy). Despite being in a happy marriage, Craig is quickly and quietly down on his luck. As soon as he steps outside his apartment, he finds an eviction notice on his door. Even as he arrives to his job as a grease monkey, his boss calmly tells him that the company is downsizing and his name was on the chopping block. Instead of going home and telling his wife that he’s now unemployed and they will soon be out on the street, he decides a night at the bar with his friend Vince (Ethan Embry) would be better. That’s when they meet Colin and his wife Violet (Paxton). They’re celebrating her birthday by making $50 bets and soon want to include them in on the fun.

What kind of fun? Colin tells Craig and Vince that the first one to get the depressed looking female at the bar to slap them across the face, gets $200. Vince is game, but Craig is not. On to a strip club where one of them can now go slap a stripper’s rear end for a couple hundred. Vince is game, but Craig is still not. When they’re chased out, Craig is the one who is picked up by the scruff of his shirt by a bouncer and asked if he’s the one who touched the stripper. Colin in the heat of the moment says, “I’ll give you $500 if you hit him first.” After a night of watching a total stranger shell out money like a deranged Secret Santa and seeing his buddy cheerfully take every bet and make his wallet fatter, Colin gives in. He’s not the strongest looking guy so his meager punch is quickly responded with one knockout blow from our beefcake security guard.

As the night progresses, so does the severity and corrupt nature of the bets, but as the money stakes progress, Colin and Vince can’t help but become competitive. As Craig points out in the movie, we’ve already seen hundreds, if not thousands compete in degrading reality TV competitions, that sometimes involve the consumption of horse genitalia, for the almighty dollar. We also can’t forget that history has taught us that men have done worse for far less. Craig and Violet are a couple that Marquis de Sade would have idolized and wished he had written about. While Violet is the obvious reciprocator of watching these increasingly lewd, sexual, violent acts that Colin and Vince do, Craig is the cuckold husband who is the financial means to an end. Although the narrative is lacking and depraved set-ups are sometimes wasted, this is still a devilishly fun watch.

“Cheap Thrills” shows how insane our characters are willing to go for a quick buck while silently whispering in the audiences ear, “How far would you go?” Our society still divides itself over what is morally right and wrong for some easy cash. Companies will still cut safety corners to save a dime while people will gladly lineup for the next season of bug eating or starvation on “Survivor”. So I ask myself…would I punch the bouncer of a strip club in the face for $500 with the repercussion being a solid blow to my own? Make it $2,000 to help cover the cost of potentially losing my dental crown and you got yourself a deal.

NOW PLAYING EXCLUSIVELY AT AN ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE THEATRE NEAR YOU!

April 7 – Tonight the First Time Fest will be honor director Julie Taymor with the John Huston Award for Achievement in Cinema. This will be her first film award after directing four features: The Tempest, Across the Universe, Frida and first film, Titus.

Made in 1999, Titus is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s violent revenge tragedy, Titus Andronicus. It stars Sir Anthony Hopkins as the titular Roman general whose murder of the sons of an enemy Queen (Jessica Lange as Tamora) leads to the destruction of his entire family. Taymor joined festival goers this week, along with composer Elliot Goldenthal for a screening and discussion of the film. It screened as a part of the fest’s First Exposure series highlighting successful director’s first features.

Even though Taymor had already produced the play “very simply and inexpensively” in a church in 1994, the film version did not come about until after her wildly successful production of The Lion King on Broadway.

“I came off The Lion King and what do you do next?” she told the audience, “I had to go to the opposite end of the spectrum–I mean I know that’s considered Hamlet–but really I think that I just didn’t want to be put into a box of any sort. And also I really wanted to work with the greatest writer in the English language…and I had loved the play when we did it.”

Taymor maintained it was her favorite Shakespeare play despite the popular opinion that it’s not one of Shakespeare’s best works saying it presented “a young man’s anger…before he got refined and self-reflective” and later adding “no contemporary movie compares to the bravado of that play. That you think Titus is going to be the good guy and then he kills his daughter! And then he kills his sons! And then Tamora and she says ‘cruel, irreligious piety’, her sons are taken away–you should understand everything that she does. And then look what she does.”

Along with her passionate discussion of the play itself Taymor offered additional trivia about the film itself including:

• Al Pacino was in consideration for the lead role before Anthony Hopkins signed on.
• Taymor initially planned to shoot the film in Las Vegas rather than Rome but after visiting Rome on the advice of production designer Dante Ferretti, changed her mind.
• Many of the cast members including Jessica Lange, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Laura Fraser had never performed Shakespeare before the film.
• Anthony Hopkins insisted a scene in which he has one of his hands chopped off be done in one take because, as Taymor recalled him telling her “ I know myself and what I’m gonna do, if i do it again, I will have a heart attack.”

Starring: Danny Trejo, Danny Glover, Andrew Divoff, Jacqueline Obradors, Jonathan Lipnicki, Dante Basco
Director: Craig Moss
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw the film “Bad Ass” with Danny Trejo and Danny Glover. I just knew it was going to be a riot. But after watching it I was really left speechless. The film was so over-the-top and crazy that it has you laughing out of loud screaming “DAMN!”. When I saw that the senior citizen duo were back in business for a second one, I thought to myself “Really?” but if you liked the first one this is still quite the trip.

Official Premise: Vietnam vet Frank Vegas (Trejo) not run an East L.A. Community center where he trains young boxers to survive in and out of the ring. But when his prize student falls in with the wrong crows and turns up dead, Frank teams up with his pal Bernie (Glover) to take matters into their own fists and prove that justice never gets old.

Danny Trejo and Danny Glover are really fun together. I can watch Trejo in anything he does, the guy is really a rock star. Not a huge Glover fan personally but he supports Trejo well. They are also a little more hammy this time around. The film also co-stars Jonathan Lipnicki (“Jerry Maguire”) and Andrew Divoff (“Wishmaster”).

Fox delivered the film as a combo pack including a Blu-ray and Ultraviolet HD digital copy. The 1080p transfer works well with the film and action. Remembering the first film it wasn’t that special either. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is solid as well. There is only one special feature included, which is a “Making of Bad Asses” featurettes, which gives a brief behind-the-scenes looks.

If you enjoyed this film, then don’t worry since the third film in this new franchise just finished being filmed and is called “Bad Ass 3: Bad Asses on the Bayou”, which might be taking this a little too far but strangly enough I am still game. How about you?

Actors: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
Director: Stephen Fears
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: April 15, 2014

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

Who doesn’t love Judi Dench? The woman is a legend. She continues to show just how amazing she is through her films. She is able to be sly and cool playing M in new James Bond series and then she is able to play very sharp and touching characters like Philomena Lee. The film is based on the 2009 investigative book by Martin Sixsmith “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee”. In terms of acting, WoW! Both Dench and Steve Coogan really give wonderful performances. I really enjoyed the that the film was able to blend nicely the comedy with the drama. It is probably a film I will never watch again but definitely work checking out if you enjoy watching the actors at their best.

Official Premise: Judi Dench stars in the story of Philomena Lee, mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock and given up for adoption. Nearly 50 years later, Philomena meets Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a former BBC reporter looking for his next big story. Together, they embark on a journey to locate her long lost son. As the pieces of the puzzle come together, the unlikely travel companions form a comic and heartwarming friendship.

“Philomena” gets delivered to us as a Blu-ray combo pack along with an Digital HD UltraViolet copy. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track work well for the simple film that this is. There is nothing really wrong but at the same time nothing really special either. The Blu-ray comes with some decent special features. There is “A Conversation with Judi Dench”, which talks about the character which she takes on in the film. “The Real Philomena Lee” is a nice biography of the featured lady. There is a Q&A with Steve Coogan, who is always brilliant. Lastly there is a audio commentary with Steve Coogan and Screenwriter Jeff Pope, definitely worth a listen.

Actors: Ariel Winter, Sara Ramirez, Wayne Brady, Tim Gunn
Directors: Jamie Mitchell
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: April 8, 2014
Run Time: 118 minutes

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

When I first saw the trailer for “Sofia the First: The Floating Palace”, I was really blown away. I have been a fan of the show from episode one but this new full-length adventure really looked and felt like a feature-film. Plus it featured one of my (and my daughters) favorite princesses Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”. The special was good overall, I personally thought it was quite intense for young kids especially Mr. Cedrick’s transformed character. I love the songs including Sofia’s duet with Ariel “Joining Together” and the fun “Merriway Cove”. “Sofia the First” is a great show and I know it is going to be around for a long time. You can tell that a lot of work went into making this full-length feature and I really hope that they plan more of these in the future for the show.

Official Premise: Do YOU believe in mermaids? You will – when you set sail on a magical full-length adventure under the sea with Sofia The First! After Sofia helps a little mermaid named Oona, Sofia’s amulet grants her the power to transform into a mermaid and visit her new friend’s secret underwater kingdom. But when Cedric (disguised as a sea monster) plots to steal Oona’s enchanted Mermaid Comb, danger surfaces for both worlds. With a little help from special guest, Princess Ariel, Sofia embarks on an adventure to rescue Oona and prevent a typhoon before it’s too late. Overflowing with oceans of song-filled fun – plus three more exciting episodes – “The Floating Palace” proves that when families and friends work together, they can weather any storm and save the day.

Honestly, I have to admit that I am a little disappointed with the bonus features on this DVD. In a typical Disney Junior DVD, there is an extended episode as the feature and usually around five additional episodes. But after “Sofia the First: The Floating Palace”, there are only three additional episodes including “Tri-Kingdom Picnic”, “Finding CLover” and “Make Way for Miss Nettle” (one of my least favorites to date). It obviously doesn’t bother by two year old daughter especially since there was also free bonus Sofia Friendship Bracelets, which have been keeping her occupied as well. Look forward to future releases from this show but hopefully next time there will be more bonus episodes included.

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Actors: Peter Dinklage, Steve Zahn, Ryan Kwanten, Summer Glau, Danny Pudi
Directors: Joe Lynch
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Entertainment One
Release Date: April 1, 2014
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

With a title like “Knights of Badassdom”, how can you really go wrong? With a cast like Ryan Kwanten (“True Blood”), Peter Dinkage (“Game of Thrones”), Summer Glau (“Firefly”), Steve Zahn (“Saving Silverman”), Danni Pudi (“Community”) and Jimmi Simpson (“House of Cards”), how can you really go wrong? Unfortunately “Knights of Badassdom” was shot back in 2010 and has since sat on a shlef waiting to be released. To make things worse, the film was directed by Joe Lynch (“Holliston”, “Wrong Turn 2”) but this film that we get today is not his film. This Blu-ray contains a brutalized producers cut, which is just sad to me. I enjoyed watching the film but I know it could have been so much better. The cast alone makes this worth watching for sure, everyone is gold here.

Official Premise: “Knights of Badassdom” follows three best friends and dedicated LARPers (Live Action Role Players) as they take to the woods to reenact a dungeons and dragons-like scenario fresh out of the mythical Middle Ages. Trouble arises after they unwittingly conjure up some serious evil in the form of a blood-lusting Succubus, from the pits of hell. Fantasy and reality collide on the Fields of Evermore in an all-out epic battle of make-believe wizards, demons and assorted mythical creatures.

The 1080p transfer for this looks decent, I wasn’t really blown away. For me the main start was the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, I was IN LOVE with this film’s score and music. Whether you love this film or not I highly recommend checking out the soundtrack to this film, it is really epic and this track really nails it (check out our review here). In terms of special features, the only meaty extra is a panel from San Diego Comic Con. There is some promotional material including some interviews and fun YouTube shorts included. There is also an interview with the director Joe Lynch talking about the film (in standard definition). Lastly there is a trailer included. Would have loved to see a featurette on the music and the visual/practical effects.