KEANU REEVES STARS IN THE 3D EPIC ACTION-ADVENTURE

47 RONIN

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD MARCH 18, 2014
AND BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK INCLUDING
BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET™ ON APRIL 1, 2014

NOW MOVIE FANS CAN WATCH 47 RONIN ANYWHERE ON THEIR FAVORITE DEVICES

Universal City, California, February 4, 2014— Keanu Reeves (The Matrix trilogy, The Day The Earth Stood Still) stars in a reimagining of one of Japan’s timeless tales, 47 Ronin, available on Blu-ray™ 3D and Blu-ray™ Combo Packs, DVD, DIGITAL HD including UltraViolet^™ and On Demand on April 1, 2014, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.­­­

Based on an epic story, this extraordinary tale of inspiring courage has its origins in the early 18^th century. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and reclaim their honor. Transformed into a thrilling, visually stunning 3D film by director Carl Rinsch, 47 Ronin tells the story of a small group of warriors, or ronin, on a quest to avenge the death of their master. Battling across a savage world of mythical beasts, shape-shifting witches and wondrous terrors, the ronin must seek help from kai (Reeves), an enslaved half-breed they once rejected – in their ultimate fight for redemption.

Keanu Reeves leads an international cast that includes Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine, The Last Samurai) as Oishi, the leader of the ronin; Tadanobu Asano (The Wolverine, Thor: The Dark World) as Lord Kira, the treacherous villain who will stop at nothing to destroy his enemies; Academy Award^®-nominated actress Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, Pacific Rim) as the Witch, a siren who executes Kira’s deadly plans; and Ko Shibasaki (The Lady Shogun and Her Men, One Missed Call) as Mika, the forbidden love of Kai’s life.

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet^™.

• BLU-RAY™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
• DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
• DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet^™ lets watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad^®, iPhone^®, Android^™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles and more.

EXCLUSIVE 3D BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK AND BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK BONUS FEATURES:

• KEANU & KAI — Keanu Reeves embodies one of cinema’s most richly imagined heroes as Kai, the outcast who leads a small band of rebels against an army and supernatural enemies. Along with Reeves, director Carl Rinsch and other key voices from the filmmaking team reveal how this adventure would not be possible without Reeves’ mastery of martial arts and total immersion in the role.
• STEEL FURY: THE FIGHTS OF 47 RONIN — This featurette explores the intense research, choreography and rehearsals that went into creating the film’s unique action sequences, including Kai’s epic battle against the silver Samurai and the heart-stopping Kirin hunt sequence.
• MYTHS, MAGIC & MONSTERS:  THE FX OF 47 RONIN — 47 Ronin’s world-class creative team reveals the technological magic it used to bring to life the creatures of ancient Japanese folklore, including The Kirin (a giant hybrid beast with the head of a dragon and the body of a deer), the Kitsune witch, the Oni troll and the demonic Tengu Monks.

 3D BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY and DVD BONUS FEATURES:

• RE-FORGING THE LEGEND — The story of 47 Ronin is one of Japan’s most time-honored legends. The filmmakers talk about how they brought this “dream world” to the big screen, from script to costumes, visual design, and culture.
•  DELETED SCENES

NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT WHEN
Grudge Match
ARRIVES ONTO BLU-RAY COMBO PACK, DVD and DIGITAL HD ON APRIL 8 FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Blu-ray and Digital HD include bonus content featuring interviews with the all-star cast!
All disc versions feature UltraViolet

Burbank, CA, February 19, 2014– Past-their-prime boxers pack a comic punch in “Grudge Match,” arriving onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on April 8 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. “Grudge Match” stars Oscar® winner Robert De Niro (“Raging Bull,” “Silver Linings Playbook”) and Oscar® nominee Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky” films, “The Expendables”) as old boxing rivals who come out of retirement for one final match.

Peter Segal (“Get Smart”) directs the comedy, which also stars Kevin Hart (“Think Like a Man”) as Dante Slate, Jr.; Oscar® winner Alan Arkin as Razor’s former trainer, Louis “Lightning” Conlon, who gets to put Razor through his paces again; and Oscar® winner Kim Basinger (“L.A. Confidential”) as Sally Rose, who was once the love of Razor’s life.

“Grudge Match” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and on DVD for $28.98. The Blu-ray Combo Pack features the theatrical version of the film in hi-definition on Blu-ray, and the DVD features the theatrical version in standard definition. Both include a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet.* Fans can also own “Grudge Match” in Digital HD on April 8 via purchase from digital retailers.

SYNOPSIS

In “Grudge Match,” Billy “The Kid” McDonnen (De Niro) and Henry “Razor” Sharp (Stallone) are two local Pittsburgh fighters whose fierce rivalry put them in the national spotlight.  Each had scored a victory against the other during their heyday, but in 1983, on the eve of their decisive third match, Razor suddenly announced his retirement, refusing to explain why but effectively delivering a knock-out punch to both their careers.  Thirty years later, boxing promoter Dante Slate, Jr., seeing big dollar signs, makes them an offer they can’t refuse: to re-enter the ring and settle the score once and for all.

But they may not have to wait that long: on their first encounter in decades, their long-festering feud erupts into an unintentionally hilarious melee that instantly goes viral.  The sudden social media frenzy transforms their local grudge match into a must-see HBO event.  Now, if they can just survive the training, they may actually live to fight again.

BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS

“Grudge Match” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features:

• The Bull & The Stallion
• In the Ring with Kevin Hart
• Ringside with Tyson & Holyfield
• Blow for Blow with Larry Holmes
• Kevin Hart Unedited
• Alternate Opening
• Alternate Endings with an Introduction by Peter Segal
• Deleted Scenes

Standard Definition DVD contains the following special feature:

• Deleted Scenes

Yusry Kru may not be a name you recognize but he is making a name for himself not only working as a director but also producer and visual effects supervisor. He recently directed the action film “Vikingdom”. Media Mikes had a chance to as Yusry a few questions about the film and what’s next.

Mike Gencarelli: What was the most challenging aspect for you on “Vikingdom”?
Yusry Kru: Obviously, when we made the decision to film everything in Malaysia, I knew it was going to take massive planning to get it right. I remember, 20th Century Fox coming over to film in Malaysia for ‘Anna and the King’. This is the equivalent of them filming that whole movie in California (but with less money, of course). So, you could say that pre-production was the most challenging. I broke down the script to every single location, person and prop, and made a list, down to the spoon on the dinner table. From there, I called in a few illustrators and had them draw every single thing/person on that list. By the end of it, we probably had hundreds of illustrations before we even started with pre-production. We then scouted for locations in Malaysia that we could possibly use, that actually matched the illustrations. If there were none, we would then know these had to be built. It is the same process for every little detail on the pre-viz. Overcoming it was really by doing a thing at a time, without letting the whole production overwhelm you. Having said this, the filming was no walk in the park either… But if you’re asking about the most challenging aspect, that would definitely be the pre-pro. It was really extensive.

MG: Tell us about how the character Eirick was created?
YK: I discussed with Dom (Purcell) on how the character should be portrayed in the film. Imagine someone who was brought back from the dead… someone who has lost every reason for living… primarily driven by the fact that he is no longer able to be with his immortal lover, Frejya. To make matters worse, he is asked to go head on against the God of Thunder, Thor! How’s that for motivation? So he is a reluctant hero and his character is subdued until he fights against Thor at the final battle.

MG: Tell us about what you have in the cards for 2014?
YK: I am currently smack in the middle of directing my sixth feature film entitled “Cicakman 3” (or in English “Geckoman” – a successful Malaysian comedy super hero franchise I created in 2005), which is the 2nd sequel to my debut as a director in the film industry. KRU is also in the midst of completing our first 3D animation movie entitled ‘Ribbit’, about a frog with an identity crisis. Ribbit, with the voices of Sean Astin, Tim Curry & Russell Peters will be screening at EFM in February 2014. KRU is also in the midst of pre-production of various other projects, which we anticipate to announce at Cannes Film du Marche.

Starring: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio
Creator: Pendleton Ward
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 286 minutes

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

“Adventure Time” is no question of the most bizarre, unique and best shows on television right now. There are some episodes where I am left on the floor laughing and then some where I am totally freaked out and that is why I love this show so much. The third season was when this show started really getting some steam behind it and fans were spreading the word like wildfire and making it the mega hit it is today, myself included. This was my first season that I watched and fell in love. A must own for any fan of the show!

Official Premise: It’s one crazy adventure after another in Cartoon Network’s #1 hit comedy show and Emmy-nominated series. Follow the post-apocalyptic adventures of Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada), a human boy with a funny hat, and his friend Jake (John DiMaggio), a magic and mischievous dog. They’re out to have the most fun possible and they sure do find it exploring the Land of Ooo!

Here are the episodes included from this season: “Conquest of Cuteness”, “Morituri Te Salutamus”, “Memory of a Memory”, “Hitman”, “Too Young”, “The Monster”, “Still”, “Wizard Battle”, “Fionna and Cake”, “What Was Missing”, “Apple Thief”, “The Creeps”, “From Bad to Worse”, “Beautopia”, “No One Can Hear You”, “Jake vs. Me-Mow”, “Thank You”, “The New Frontier”, “Holly Jolly Secrets (Part 1)”, “Holly Jolly Secrets (Part 2)”, “Marceline’s Closet”, “Paper Pete”, “Another Way”, “Ghost Princess”, “Dad’s Dungeon” and the introduction of Flame Princess in the finale, “Incendium”.

Cartoon Network delivered this Blu-ray release with beautiful 1080p transfer for each episode. The animation on the show isn’t Pixar quality but I simply love it. The colors are amazing and really shine on this release. I am not pleased with the plain Dolby Digital 2.0 (DVD quality) audio track. This has been the trend for the first two seasons as well, but I was hoping they would upgrade to HD tracks, as the show got more popular. They did include the entire season available to add to your Ultraviolet digital account, which is a super cool.

The special features are a must watch for any fan of the show. There are episode commentaries on ALL 26 episodes this season. This really makes watching the season over and over a must. There is a great interview with series creator Pendleton Ward in “How An Ida Becomes Adventure Time”. There is also an Alternate show introduction, which is cool. Most importantly this season come in a rad BMO case and as an added special treat this BMO slipcase can transforms into a collectible BMO figurine.

Cartoon Network has been great with releasing these seasons on Blu-ray. Season four is next, so hopefully they will be dating that season very shortly. Then that will bring up to the date with the current season five, which actually has been airing since 2012 and will contain 52 episodes or double the rest of the seasons. So I have feeling that Cartoon Network will be releasing season five in two volumes. Either way, bring it on because I want more! I suggest they do a fan contest to pick the box cover for the future Blu-ray case.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Catherine Bach, Geoffrey Lewis, Gary Busey
Directed By: Michael Cimino
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 115 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: Feb 11, 2014

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

Personally, I am not the biggest fan of Clint Eastwood at all. I never really got the whole fandom surrounding him. I am though a huge fan of Jeff Bridges and I read that he showed Eastwood up in this film, so that was a real draw for me.  I really enjoyed this movie and it still holds up today already 40 years after it was made, which is just crazy to think. Frank Stanley did an amazing job showcasing  Montana’s Big Sky country in the film. I am a score guy, I love film scores. This film packed a great score by Eastwood regular Dee Barton. If you are a Bridges or Eastwood fan, this is the first time that this film has ever been released on Blu-ray and it is a must purchase.

Official Premise: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) marked the directing debut of screenwriter Michael Cimino (The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate), working under the meticulous guidance of star/producer Clint Eastwood. Eastwood plays a typically laconic loner, a big-time thief in hiding who hooks up with a goofy young drifter (Jeff Bridges, giving an Oscar®-nominated performance). First attempting to escape from a couple of vengeful former partners (George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis), then joining forces with them to pull off a risky robbery, Eastwood and Bridges give us an ultimately touching portrait of masculine friendship.

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for a film like I said that is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Jeff Bridges did not need CGI in this film, like in “TRON Legacy”, to make him look 25 again 😉 The DTS-HD MA 1.0 is solid and works with the action and the score. Speaking of the score, the special features include an Isolated Music Track for Dee Barton’s amazing music. There is an audio commentary with Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman. It is not the most exciting commentary track but it is certainly informative. Lastly there is the Original Theatrical Trailer included.

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Starring: Woody Allen, Martin Landau, Alan Alda, Caroline Aaron, Claire Bloom, Mia Farrow, Jerry Orbach, Sam Waterson
Director: Woody Allen
Distributed by: Twilight Time
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Feb 11, 2014

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

I am a big embarrassed to say this but I have never seen “Crimes and Misdemeanors”. I am a huge Woody Allen fan though and I am pissed that it took so long to finally catch this amazing flick. I love how clever the film and witty this is. The cinematography was also a highlight courtesy of Sven Nykvist. It also packs some amazing performances from Landau and of course Allen. The story also had me thinking the entire time trying to figure out how the stories intertwined. This film has never been released on Blu-ray prior to this release and if you are a fan of Allen, this is a must purchase.

Official Premise: Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) is a rare combination of film noir and black comedy, about an esteemed New York ophthalmologist (Martin Landau) whose affair with a flight attendant (Anjelica Huston) puts the careful construct of his life in jeopardy. As he contemplates a permanent solution to his problems, we are also treated to an interwoven story about another kind of moral crisis: a struggling documentary filmmaker (Allen) considers selling out by making a doc about a Hollywood jackass (Alan Alda), with the situation further complicated by the appearance of an entrancing TV producer (Mia Farrow).

This Blu-ray release is an Screen Archives Entertainment Exclusive and is a Limited Edition release with only 3000 copies produced. The 1080p transfer looks amazing for a film that is now 25 years old. The DTS-HD MA 1.0 plays out ok but I noticed that I had issues with some of the dialogue and consistently adjusting the volume. In the special features section, there is not much here. I did enjoy the Isolated Music & Effects Track quite a bit and adds another level to watching the film. Lastly, there is the Original Theatrical Trailer included.

Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Gabriella Wilde and Bruce Greenwood
Directed By: Shana Feste
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 104 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 1 out of 5 stars

It must be that time of year. The quick cash in where nearly every company tries to find that bankable Valentine’s Day product. I’m not saying it isn’t a holiday(although that is up for debate), but unlike most economically driven holidays where plenty of businesses can spread out their plans over a couple of months, Valentine’s Day only hits home for a couple of days or just for the one week it rests upon. In terms of the movie industry, February is an opportune time to roll out some romance movies. This year the day of love falls on Friday and instead of taking that opportunity to shine, they’ve rolled out a cart of trash for everyone to feast on called “Endless Love”.

It’s graduation day at the only school in America that doesn’t have ugly teenagers. That’s where we meet David Elliot (Pettyfer). He looks about 10 years older than he’s suppose to be and looks so airbrushed you’d think they patterned the Ken doll off of him. Which raises even more questions as to how he’s single. Anyway…David is smitten by a girl he’s never even talked to, Jade Butterfield (Wilde). David tells us that he’s spent two years simply watching her from afar; too afraid to talk to the most antisocial, quiet girl in the school. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of more things that don’t make sense. So of course the only way for these two to finally meet and converse is at David’s job as a valet. He wins her over with a little grand theft auto and a bunch of quick near kisses. I’m barely 10 minutes in and I already wish I had the metaphorical watch to look at. So as we go through the motions, we realize that our protagonist of this movie will be Jade’s father, Hugh (Greenwood). This is because he automatically distrusts David’s chiseled good looks and scoffs at the fact he has no ambitions for college. Instead of character motivations, we’re given long speeches by characters that are horrendously written and sometimes woodenly delivered. These useless dialogues are suppose to make us feel like our characters have a deeper understanding of life, even though their asinine actions would tell us otherwise. Eventually I quit taking notes because I was putting way more thought into my review than the writers did on this script.

If you’ve never seen attractive white people fall in love before, then this movie will feel like a breath of fresh air. Since I doubt any of you haven’t, you’re going to get through the first act of this movie wondering if the projectionist left a Lifetime movie on by mistake. As you wait for the predictability to play out, you’ll begin to wonder if you’re actually trapped in a time loop where time doesn’t pass because the length really begins to feel like water torture as you pass the hour mark. Then the third act really drags out and pulls out nearly every soap opera twist it can find. This movie falls in the category of “romance movies”, but even admirers of that genre will find this movie incredibly stale. And as the old saying goes, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

As for the veteran actors in this movie, like Greenwood. You really feel sorry for them. The most agonizing moment comes when Robert Patrick is wheeled out as David’s father, Harry. He was probably has the only enjoyable moments because my mind wandered off to him trying to kill John Connor. It’s sad really. Hollywood had the chance to prove there’s plenty more to be done with the genre this week. They knew movie lovers would use this weekend as a chance to enjoy their two loves, their significant other and movies. Instead of dazzling them and giving them something memorable, Hollywood generated another generic and forgettable movie. You’re better off staying home with your loved one this Friday. Order a pizza and watch “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown”. It’s more touching than this plane crash.

Dominic Purcell is known best for his role of Lincoln Burrows in Fox’s long running TV series “Prison Break”. Recently Dominic has worked with acclaimed director Uwe Boll on great films like “Assault on Wall Street”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Dominic on his latest film “Vikingdom” and what he has planned for 2014.

Mike Gencarelli: What was the most challenging aspect for you working on “Vikingdom”?
Dominic Purcell: Most challenging aspect was the trust it required to engage in a heavy CGI movie made outside the safe confines of Hollywood an industry that excels in extravagance.

MG: How do you prepare for a character like Eirick?
DP: Preparation for me is all about economy. If its necessary I will but rarely do. I rely on the text and excute what is simply required.

MG: What do you enjoy most about working with Uwe Boll on various projecting including “Assault on Wall Street” and “In the Name of the King III”?
DP: Uwe is a courageous film maker that challenges conventional thinking. Directors and film makers of this kind have always been inspirational for me they allow when given the opportunity to challenge and provoke thought. Is this not what is important? I will continue to work with Uwe on future projects that provoke and challenge apathy and comfort.

MG: You had a very busy 2013 and 2014 looks to surpass, tell us about what you have in the cards?
DP: I’ve got couple of films being released. All worth a look. I’m especially interested in “A Fighting Man and watching how it is received. Spending a year training (boxing) and getting my head smashed it better get some love out there amongst critics. It’s a good film.

Starring: Sean Schemmel, Stephanie Nadolny, Christopher Sabat, Daisuke Gōri, Mayumi Tanaka, Kenji Utsumi
Director: Mike McFarland
Number of discs: 4
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Run Time: 830 minutes

Season: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

This is a very exciting Blu-ray release, actually, if you are a “Dragonball Z” fan. This is the first time ever that uncut Dragon Ball Z episodes are available on Blu-ray! This collection includes episodes 40-74 of this classic anime series fully remastered. This is a must own for any fan and real treat that these episodes are finally being a released. Dragonball Z: Season 3 Blu-ray is already slated to street on April 1, 2014, so like I said before I expect this series to be fully available by year end. Hopefully Funimation is planning a giant box set because that would be the ultimate release.

Official Premise: Having suffered heavy losses in the battle with the Saiyans, and with Goku still recovering from his injuries, the remaining Z-Fighters must embark on a perilous journey to Planet Namek in search of the Namekian Dragon Balls. Unbeknownst to them, however, a powerful new enemy has set his sights on the same prize—the ruthless tyrant Frieza!

These episodes are presented in 1080p high definition quality and 16:9 aspect ratio amd were restored using frame by frame, pan and scan technology. These episodes were given a lot of love from actual fans of the series and it shows in its release. There are three audio tracks included, which also have been re-mastered and have never sounded better. The English dub comes with an Dolby TrueHD 5.1 with the original Japanese music. The original English language broadcast version with the broadcast version music is presented with an Dolby TrueHD 2.0 track. Lastly the original Japanese track with the Japanese music, of course is delivered with a Dolby TrueHD Mono track.

This season stepped it up a bit from season one actually including some decent special features. “Inside Dragonball Z” is a two part interview series with Christopher R. Sabet and Sean Schemmel. There is a fun featurette called “Justin Cook Shares His Headshot Collection”. Then there are also the textless opening and closing songs, as well as trailers included. Lastly also like the first season, there is the ”Marathon Feature”. This allows you to view the episodes continuously without the credits each episode. This really adds a lot and makes it very easy to enjoy a great binge viewing experience of this amazing series.

Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, Mr. T
Directors: Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen
Number of discs: 6
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: February 11, 2014

Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

The “Rocky” franchise is really just great. Whenever you flip through the TV and come across any of the “Rocky” movies you know that it is quite impossible to turn it off or you hear Drago threatening “I must break you”. Rocky is a character that ever loves even as it has aged. This collection includes all six Rocky films, from the original “Rocky” (1976) to the latest “Rocky Balboa” (2006). So I am sure you are wondering how does this release differ from the 2009 release “Rocky: The Undisputed Collection”? Well this release an all-new 4K transfer of the original “Rocky” and then the previously released versions of “Rocky II-V” and “Rocky Balboa”. The original “Rocky” is now the spotlight of this release (as it should be) and makes this release a must own for all fans.

Official Premise: Go the distance with this Rocky Heavyweight collection, featuring all six knockout Rocky films including the first film with a stunning new master. Sylvester Stallone stars in the greatest boxing saga of all time and triumphs as one of the most inspirational characters in cinematic history. Witness every epic, action-packed fight and unforgettable moment as Rocky strives for greatness through sheer determination against impossible odds. This collection contains over three hours of bonus features including a new featurette “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” narrated by Director John Avildsen.

So the main reason to upgrade to this new collection would be for the 4K transfer of “Rocky” (1976). I personally think that this new restoration looks amazing. The 2006 previously released Blu-ray was quite the disappointment. In terms of “Rocky II-V”, the transfers are good but could have used a bit of a face-lift like the first film to make them perfect.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for I-V are impressive though and really no major complaints either. “Rocky Balboa” easily delivers the second best transfer since it is the latest film and packs an even better uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio track. They really went all out here and it shows in the film. The music in the film is so well presented and makes you literally get out of your chair and those fights punching along with Rocky.

Now if you are wondering what happened to the jam-packed seventh disc of extras from the “The Undisputed Collection”, which is missing from this release…well don’t worry. It has been added to the the original “Rocky” disc along with three commentaries restored from the “Rocky” DVD. There is only one new special feature included on this release. which is “8mm Home Movies of Rocky”. It is a bad-ass special features I might add and it is narrated by Director John G. Avildsen and Production Manager Lloyd Kaufman. So being a big fan of this franchise, this new purpose just makes you wonder how much the updated transfer of “Rocky” is worth to you. I wish MGM would have thrown in some HD Digital Ultraviolet copies of these films and that would have made this a no brainer!

The fest of the special features included are just as great. “In the Ring: Three-Part Making-of Documentary” is a great in-depth behind-the-scenes looks. There are a few Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes included focusing on the  Makeup, Music, Directing and Camera Work. There are also two Boxing Featurettes including Three Rounds with Legendary Trainer Lou Duva and The Opponents and The Ring of Truth. There are two tributes for Burgess Meredith and James Crabe. There is an interview with a Legend: Bert Sugar along with a Video Commentary with Sylvester Stallone. Lastly there is Sylvester Stallone appearance on “Dinah!” (1976) and Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots and More!

Starring: Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Regina Hall
Directed by: Steve Pink
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 40 mins
Screen Gems

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

If you have any fond memories of the 1986 film “About Last Night…” I urge you to go read the “Robocop” review also available on this site. If not…

Danny (Ealy) and Bernie (Hart) are best friends. Upwardly mobile, fairly successful and in their early 30s, their lives revolve around their jobs and their favorite bar, where they spend their time trying to pick up new ladies. Well, Bernie does. Danny is in a funk since his last girl dumped him. Tonight Bernie has met Joan (Hall) and soon the two of them are back at Bernie’s place frantically doing what Jerry Reed called in “Smokey and the Bandit” ‘he-ing and she-ing.” A few evenings later Joan introduces Danny to her roommate, Debbie (Joy Bryant). The two start off talking quietly but end up back at Danny’s place. The End. Actually there’s another 80 minutes or so left of the film but if you’re still reading I’ll keep writing.

A remake in name only, “About Last Night” is a poorly directed series of Kevin Hart skits with an occasional emotional moment somehow finding its way onto the screen. As much as I like Kevin Hart in small doses, like when he shows up on “Modern Family,” as a featured player in a movie he seems to play the same person: Chris Tucker. His motor-mouthed, high pitched performance is so reminiscent of Tucker that I kept waiting for him to yell, “can you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” Hall keeps up with him, shrill word for shrill word. On the other side of the coin you have Ealy and Bryant. They both do their best to keep the film grounded in some sort of reality but eventually seem to give up, as if knowing it would be a thankless task. The best parts of the film are when Debbie moves in with Danny…the two of them learning to understand the commitment they’ve made, even when it seems impossible. It’s in these scenes that a little love is paid to the 1986 film (that and a short clip on television). Otherwise, the entire dynamic of the original film (Bernie and Joan HATE each other from the start. It is this dislike that keeps Danny and Debbie cautious) is totally ignored.

Instead of trying to tell a story it seems like director Pink just pointed his camera and filmed until the actors stopped talking. There is no pacing. No rhythm. You never get in a storytelling groove that might allow you to care for some of these characters. If there is anything positive at all about this film it is the performances of Ealy and Bryant.

Valentine’s Day 2014 will long be remembered as the first day that three 1980’s remakes hit theatres simultaneously (“Endless Love” also starts today). A couple more misses like this and it may be remembered as the last.

Starring: Luci Christian, David Matranga
Director: Takayuki Hamana
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Funimation
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 168 minutes

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

If you are a fan of the series “Appleseed XIII”, then you might want to consider checking out “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros & Ouranos”…as long as you do not expect new content. This new release from Funimation is two-film shortened summarization of the 13-episode anime series. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant since I did like the “Appleseed XIII” quite a bit, but these two films do work very well. They are tighter and really pack a nice punch. What is nice about these, most importantly, is that I feel that you can own both of these, the movies and the series, since they are both different beasts. A no brainer purchase if you love great anime.

Official Premise: In the wake of destruction from a worldwide non-nuclear war, the city of Olympus has become the control center of the world. As humanity adopts biological enhancements in attempts to achieve perfection, a terrorist organization uprises to prevent what could be the eventual extinction of the human race. Two former LAPD SWAT members join a special mech-piloting, military force to take down the leader of the terrorist organization.

Funimation Entertainment are the best when it comes to their Blu-ray anime releases. They really give a lot of love to these and I respect that. This release comes stocked with a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfer is awesome and really works well with this sharp and snazzy CG animation. There are two DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks included for both English and original Japanese audio. In terms of special features, there is nothing too impressive here. There are original previews for both “Tartaros & Ouranos”. There is a textless closing song and trailers included.

Starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Spike Lee
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Run Time: 104 minutes

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

“Oldboy” is a remake of the Korean cult classic of the same name directed by Park Chan-wook, which was released in 2003. This version was directed by Spike Lee and stars Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. It is hard to really fall in love with a movie personally when you read about how much the director hates the movie himself. Originally, Lee’s cut of this film was nearly three hours long and it was torn apart by the producers bringing it down to 104 minutes. I was a fan of the original Korean film, so I also had high expectations. This film isn’t terrible but it also doesn’t improve or surpass the original. Worth checking out for some fun shock and wow but I would prefer the original.

Official Premise: “Oldboy” is a provocative, visceral thriller that follows the story of an advertising executive (Brolin) who is abruptly kidnapped and held hostage for 20 years in solitary confinement. When he is inexplicably released, he embarks on an obsessive mission to discover who orchestrated his bizarre and torturous punishment only to find he is still trapped in a web of conspiracy and torment.

Sony released this film on Blu-ray including also a HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. I would have loved to seen them take a chance and release the director’s cut of this film also but maybe they are holding out for a double dip to make more money to recoup how bad this film did in theaters. The 1080p transfer works well with the look and feel of the film, same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. In terms of special features, there are three featurettes including “The Making of Oldboy”, “Transformation” and “Talking Heads”. There are some alternate and extended scenes. Lastly there is a Workout Video Promo, which is quite funny.

Actors: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Directors: Alfonso Cuaron
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I cannot recall an experience that I had in theaters like “Gravity” in a very long time. I was found myself emotionally effected throughout the film. I was blown away and even exhausted after viewing it. Sandra Bullock hasn’t been a favorite of mine but she was outstanding in this film. George Clooney is as charming as ever. Alfonoso Cuaron did such a beautiful job on this film. When you read into it and find out how much work was actually done to make this project come to life it is unbelievable. The visuals are out of this world…literally. If I had to describe this film in one word would be “Breathtaking”. No question, this was the best film of 2013.

Official Premise: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone, tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they’ve lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left, and the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.

For this release of “Gravity”, Warner packaged up a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + HD Digital Ultraviolet copy. The Blu-ray being reviewed here is not the 3D Blu-ray, which is ashame but “Gravity” was literally the best 3D film that I seen since “Avatar”…and I watch A LOT of 3D films. The 2D transfer is still outstanding and flawless just missing that extra “Wow” for me. The 1080p transfer is perfect and will stand up as one of the best of the year, I am definite. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also absolutely amazing. It is not a 7.1 track, which maybe disappoint some but I was left very satisfied. This track especially complements Steve Price’s score. This score was one of the best scores that I have heard in recent years and it is represented very well. It also plays out like a third character in the film, which I loved.

The special features are absolutely amazing like the film, but I wish they wrapped it all up with a commentary track. “Gravity: Mission Control” is a very in-depth 107 minutes behind-the-scenes look into the prodcution. There are nine mini-featurettes included within this as well focusing on everything from cast to visual effects. “Shot Breakdown” is a nearly 40 minute look into five of the films most impressive FX shots. Amazing stuff here. “Aninigaag: A Short Film by Jonas Cuaron”, which is a short film tieing of the films most emotional scenes together. Lastly “Collison Point: The Race to Clean Up Space” is narrated by Ed Harris and takes about the real-life crisis happening now.

Own Gravity on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD 2/25

Brighid Fleming is an up and coming teen actress who has appeared in television series and films ranging from “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia” to “Gamer” with Gerard Butler. Brighid’s most recent film “Labor Day” stars Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet and was released to rave reviews. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Brighid recently about her work on the film as well as her work on the upcoming horror film “The Road Killer”.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us what first got you interested in acting?
Brighid Fleming: When I was younger we used to go to New York a lot to watch plays. Seeing all these made me fall in love with the idea of performing. My mom asked me after one time if I wanted to meet the characters after a performance and I told her no. I wanted to be the characters. She got me involved in Stage Theater and from there I just couldn’t stop.

AL: Can you tell us about your new film “Labor Day” and your character Eleanor?
BH: The film is about a convict that gets picked up by a mom and her son. The man ends up hiding out with a family and sort of takes care of them. It’s a love story that stars Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet. I play the role of Eleanor who is a very edgy and independent girl. She is very smart and knows what she wants. Things were pretty free with the character and I think I was able to add quite a bit to her. Eleanor is a pretty interesting character.

AL: What was it that interested you in the role?
BH: I was really drawn to how strong the character of Eleanor was. Finding a role this strong for someone my age is sort of rare. A friend suggested that I submit an audition tape so I did even though I thought no one would ever see it. A couple weeks later I got a call telling me about the call back. It was very surprising.

AL: What was it like working with such a diverse cast and what was your best memory from the shoot?
BH: All of my scenes were with Gattlin Griffith who plays Henry however; I was able to me Kate Winslet. She was so great. Kate was very nice and level headed. It was great experience. Probably my favorite memory from the shoot was the day we were filming out on these big white rocks. Our scene was shot as we were walking across them. This was also the same day I had my first on screen kiss. That day was a lot of fun.

AL: Can you tell us about some of your other upcoming projects?
BH: I have a role in Shakespeare’s “A Mid-Summers Night Dream” which is being put on by the Inter-City Shakespeare Company. This program is really great as you get attend workshops put on by the professional artists from the company. This is a great opportunity for young actors and actresses and you can find more out about the program at www.innercityshakespearecompany.org. I also am working on a play written by Eric Ludnik titled “Day Trader” which runs through mid February. Besides those performances I am an associate producer on a horror film titled “The Road Killer” which stars Maria Olsen. I am a big horror film fan and while working with Maria on another project we became friends and are now working on this project together.

AL: Is producing something you see yourself doing more of as you get older?
BH: I have always been very interested in the production side of things. I have always been writing and actually wrote my first novel when I was 7 though, it may have not been very good. (Laughs) I like the idea of being behind the camera. I think there are a lot of interesting aspects to both being behind and in front of the camera. Producing and acting are things that I hope to be able to keep doing for a long time to come.

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