Actors: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith
Creator: Julian Fellowes
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PBS
DVD Release Date: January 28, 2014
Running Time: 525 minutes

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

“Downton Abbey: Season 4” is with not question one of the most anticipated show this year. The show already completed its airing in the UK but in the US it just started airing on January 5th. This season picks up around six months after the tragic end to the Series 3 Christmas Special. This Blu-ray includes the original U.K. unedited edition of the show and contain all of Season 4, including the finale. This show returns with the acclaimed ensemble cast led by Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, and Maggie Smith, as well as guest stars Shirley MacLaine and Paul Giamatti. This season is the most epic yet for sure. A must own for any fan!

Official Premise: Six months after Matthew’s tragic death, his loss is still felt throughout Downton Abbey. Mary struggles to face a new future with her fatherless child, and is encouraged by the family to pick up the pieces. With the twenties in full swing and the tides of change sweeping through Downton, Rose’s continued attraction to the bright lights of London spells trouble for the Crawleys, and Edith’s budding relationship with Michael Gregson is threatened by events beyond her control. Meanwhile, below stairs, passions run high and young hearts look set to be broken.

“Downton Abbey: Season 4” Blu-ray release looks amazing. Watching this show on PBS (in “high def”) doesn’t even come close to this. The locations where this show is shot look so amazing. I love the estate’s grounds look sharp and majestic as they should be. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for each episode also sounds amazing. It works well with the show’s intense and (English) dialogue and the show’s beautiful score. In terms of special features, there is not a lot but what is included is a must watch. You get to go behind the scenes and witness the making of Season 4 with more than 30 minutes of bonus footage! “Downton Abbey” already is scheduled to return for a fifth series in September 2014 (in the UK). So stay tuned!

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Actors: Guy Madison, Robert Shayne
Directors: Edward Nassour, Ewald André Dupont
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 159 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out 5 stars
Extras: N/A

When you see the cover art for Scream Factory’s latest double feature it no question just screams cheese! The 1950’s delivered some really great creature features and it also produced films like “The Beast of Hollow Mountain and The Neanderthal Man”. These films are not the worst for sure but they not the best either. I call these fun, kick back, drive-in films. These are maybe not in the cinematic term of classics but these remind me of films they show trailers for at Disney’s Sci-Fi Diner at Hollywood Studios.  So for what it is worth these still are able to draw me in.

Official Premise: “The Beast of Hollow Mountain” (1956): An American cowboy living in Mexico discovers his cattle is being eaten by a giant prehistoric dinosaur. “The Neanderthal Man” (1953): A mad scientist transforms himself into a prehistoric caveman*his cat into a saber-toothed tiger and his housekeeper into an ape person*which does not enhance his popularity.

Willis O’Brien may not be as well known as Harryhausen but he was still a big name when it comes to stop motion animation and it is well represented here on the Blu-ray for “The Beast of Hollow Mountain”. Scream Factory did a good job with this film’s 1080p transfer presented with an aspect ratio of 2.33:1. This CinemaScope production, which blended live-action and stop motion, is not perfect and shows its age but still acceptable for this type of film.  The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono also works for this film with the dialogue and roars from our dinosaur. There are no special features included for this film.

“The Neanderthal Man” has a few more problems than “The Beast of Hollow Mountain”. The 1080p transfer comes with an aspect ratio of 1.35:1, which is altered from previous releases. The special effects do not hold up as well within this high-def release but it almost adds a cheesy yet fun factor to it. This film also gets a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track which works quite well and is strong with the film’s score. There are no special features included for this film either.

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Actors: Boris Karloff, Nick Adams, Susan Farmer
Directors: Daniel Haller
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 80 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker for classic 50/60’s horror films. I love these films. They are definitely not perfect but they have that certain charm and special feel. “Die Monster Die” did not have that feel for me though. The film is 80 minutes long and nothing actually interesting happened in the movie until the last 10 minutes, which caused me to fall asleep which is quite rare for me to do. Boris Karloff is always great to see though since he is the king of horror. I would recommend this specifically to long-time fans of the film and that is all.

Official Premise: “Die Monster Die” is based on “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft. A young man visits his fiance’s estate to discover that her wheelchair-bound scientist father has discovered a meteorite that emits mutating radiation rays that have turned the plants in his greenhouse to giants. When his own wife falls victim to this mysterious power the old man takes it upon himself to destroy the glowing object with disastrous results.

Shout! still delivered this film with an impressive Blu-ray presentation for the nearly 50 year old film. The 1080p transfer was cleaned up quite well with little noise showing. The DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track works well the 60’s horror score and the classic sound effects. There are no special features listed on the Blu-ray case but when you get to the main menu it lists that there is a trailer included.

Starring: Chris Pine, Keira Knightley and Kevin Costner
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 45 mins
Paramount

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I lived in Baltimore I had season tickets to the Orioles at Memorial Stadium (and, later, Camden Yards). The seats behind me were owned by a very nice guy who sold insurance. We would talk between innings about all kinds of things. From football (he HATED the Washington Redskins) to where to get the best burnt ends (off Route 40 near the Golden Ring mall). The man also wrote a little. His name was Tom Clancy and one of the characters he created is the subject of the new film “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.”

When we meet Jack Ryan (Pine), he’s a college student in England. Then the events of September 11, 2001 take place and we meet him again on a military mission in Afghanistan as a member of the U.S. Marines. After his helicopter is attacked and crashes, his injured body is sent to Walter Reed Medical Center where he learns to walk again thanks to his beautiful doctor, Cathy (Knightley). Now working as a bank examiner, Jack hides from Cathy the fact that his job is a cover for his work as an analyst for the C.IA, where he was secretly recruited while in the hospital by Thomas Harper (Costner). Jacks latest assignment will take him to Moscow, where his dealings with crooked businessman Viktor Cherevin (Branagh) may make this lesson his last.

First things first, this film is not based on any of Tom Clancy’s books. The filmmakers have basically taken his most popular character and given him a new backstory. And, if you’re not a fan of the books, it works. While Ryan is much more of an action hero here (“you’re not just an analyst,” Harper tells him) Pine still manages to keep the character grounded in reality. Knightley gets a little more to do than in previous stories and Costner is an excellent choice to play Ryan’s mentor.

The action comes non-stop and credit director/co-star Branagh with making the film interesting, both with his performance and his guidance. The film moves quickly to a rather satisfying climax. This is not your father’s Jack Ryan and, when everything is taken into consideration, that’s really not a bad thing.

Actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl
Directors: Bill Condon
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 128 minutes

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

When I read the initial reviews and buzz about “The Fifth Estate”, I couldn’t be less interested in it. But this the year of Benedict Cumberbatch with “Sherlock”, “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and even “August: Osage County”, so I decided to give it a chance. I know a little bit of background on Assange and WikiLeaks but not a lot. I thought that the film was ok and overall entertaining but I wouldn’t see myself watching it ever again. “The Fifth Estate” though has some great performances from both Benedict Cumberbatch and Daniel Brüh, so it is worth watch just for that. What I can say that the film did do is create an appetite for knowledge. After watching, I did quite a bit of research including watching the very well done documentary “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks”, which I recommend (and can be viewed here).

Official Premise: Through the eyes of Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl), an early supporter and eventual colleague of Julian Assange (Cumberbatch), the film follows the heady, early days of Wikileaks to its abrupt end after a series of controversial and history changing info leaks. The website’s overnight success brought instant fame to its principal architects, but as their power expanded across the globe, Daniel grew increasingly disillusioned with Julian’s questionable tactics and ethics. The rift between the two friends became irreparable and their ideological differences tore them apart, but not before they revolutionized, for better and worse, the flow of information to news media and the world at large.

Walt Disney Home Entertainment delivered this film as a combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD and HD Digital Ultraviolet copy included. The 1080p transfer and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works for what it is worth in the film. There is nothing too epic going on here but the score, thanks to Carter Burwell, does benefit from the thrilling aspects of the film. In terms of special features, we  include three decent featurettes. The first is “The Submission Platform – Visual Effects” which looks into the film from conception and pre-viz through post. “In Camera: Graphics” looks focuses on capturing the on screen graphics in camera and on the real interactions from the actors. “Scoring Secrets” is a look into composer Carter Burwell’s score. Lastly there are Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots included.

Actors: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Will Forte, Neil Patrick Harris, James Caan
Directors: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 189 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

In the world of movies, it is good to stay in the mind of the consumer. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” was released in 2009 and it took till 2013 to release a sequel. When my wife say that this was coming out she asked is anyone still care about this movie. I thought that was a sign for what was to come. The film did not perform very well in the domestic box office, which I was not shocked. But after watching the film, and like the first one, I enjoyed it still quite a bit. If you’ve seen the first one then you remember how colorful and fun it was. The second film feels like a bit of the same copying the success of the film, which takes away points for originality, but is still quite funny and definitely a visual ride. A fun time for the whole family!

Official Premise: Inventor Flint Lockwood (Hader) thought he had saved the world when he destroyed his most infamous invention, a machine that turned water into food, resulting in cheeseburger rain and spaghetti tornadoes. But Flint soon learns that his invention survived and is now combining food and animals to create “foodimals!” Flint and his friends embark on an adventurously mouth-watering mission to battle hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees, hippotatomuses, cheesepiders and other foodimals to save the world… again.

Sony delivered this film in a beautiful combo pack including a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet digital copy. When I get a Sony 3D Blu-ray, I know that it is going to be amazing no matter what! They have always impressed me the most, even for a film like “The Smurfs 2”. Sony knows what they are doing with that technology and they always deliver. “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2” was visually amazing with a very strong 3D presentation. In fact, the first film was one of the film 3D Blu-ray’s that I owned and literally sealed the deal for me to get a 3D TV. The effects are great and there are a lot of fun and excited in-your-face moments, which the kids are going to love for sure. So to me I know we have a winner right there!

The 1080p transfer is easily going to be one of the best of the year. The animation is very well represented and just jumps off the screen whether you are watching the 3D version or not to be honest. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also delivers a great viewing experience. The score is quite epic and really capture the action well and the musical numbers presented perfectly balanced. I have a 19 month old daughter, so right now she is obviously not going to be wearing 3D glasses, so the 2D version was the choice we went with and she was having a blast with this film. I have to give it to the fact that it is so visual. When you watch the film, you literally just say “Wow” out loud. In fact, that is exactly what my daughter did say when she first watched this.

The special features are a blast just like the film. There is plenty of great extras for the kids and also adults. First we get an audio commentary track with the directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, which is a very informative and also entertaining track to enjoy for repeat viewings. There are four brand-new mini-movies including “Steve’s First Bath”, “Super Manny”, “Attack of the 50 Foot Gummi Bear” and “Earl Scouts”. There are two featurettes on the production design. The first is “Production Design: Back in the Kitchen” with the crew talking about the film from a visual aspect. “Delicious Production Design” features additional insight on the same topic from Production Designer Justin Thompson.

Next up there are some interesting featurettes on the visual effects in the film. “The Mysterious Sasquash” features VFX Supervisor Peter Travers talks a look into the hidden secrets of the film. “Anatomy of a Foodimal” features cast/crew as they discuss these digital characters. “Building the Foodimals” does the same but on more of a technical aspect with Senior Animation Supervisor Peter Nash. “Cloudy Cafe: Who’s on the Menu?” features cast/crew again talking about the film’s characters both returning and new. “Awesome End Credits” talk about the film’s well…awesome end credits with the people that created them. There is a music video of “La Da Dee” by Cody Simpson and a short behind-the-scenes into the making. Lastly there are four very short deleted scenes as well.

Starring: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart and Tika Sumpter
Directed By: Tim Story
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 100 minutes
Universal Pictures

Our Score: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Laughter can only go so far. I’ll admit I laughed a few times during “Ride Along”, but they were short lived. Every once and a while there appeared to be the rumblings of chemistry between Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, but the man behind the camera failed to pick up on it. You could see it, but there never was a payoff. It almost felt like Hart and Cube had to stick to the garbage script and were forced into the comedic stereotypes audiences expect them to play. Laughter can be a cure in a weak movie. We can overlook its flaws when the humor is hearty and consistent. “Ride Along” is not one of those movies.

Ben (Hart) is a video game junkie who applies his first person shooter knowledge to his supposed cop instincts and skills. He’s a school security guard who garnishes respect by being verbally persuasive with the students. He’s currently seeing Angela (Sumpter), a curvy woman who is way out of his league. Seriously. There are moments you question what she even sees in him. He seems slightly unhappy in life, but hopes to change that after being accepted into a police academy. Enter our obligatory problem: He has to impress his potential, future brother-in-law James (Cube) by going on a…you guessed it…a ride along. This allows James two opportunities. One is to ruin Ben’s dreams of being a cop and the other is to hopefully get rid of the man, who refers to his penis as the “Black Hammer,” from his younger sister’s life.

OK. I will concede. That’s not a bad set-up for a potential string of funny scenes and jokes. But the movie has put Cube’s foul mouth in check and whittled Hart’s character down to the goofy guy who screams like a girl and falls a lot. It gets dull watching Hart act crazy and hysterical to fill the void of humor. Of course halfway through the movie the main “plot” is abandoned for a predictable side story that involves James going against his Lieutenant’s orders and chasing down Omar. Omar is an elusive, dangerous and never before seen criminal that James has been tracking for years.

The writer’s for “Ride Along” really must have relied on the preconceived notion that anyone entering the film will already love Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. Which for most of the audience I was with, was true. If you’re not a fan of either or a half-hearted follower, then you’re going to be greatly disappointed. You’re going to be waiting for that over the top moment followed by a wink at the screen from Ice Cube. But it never comes. You’re going to be waiting for at least one memorable liner you can quote to your friends in the parking lot. It fails to materialize. Simply put, this movie fails at being a comedy and falls apart when trying to be a cop action movie.

“Ride Along” steals all the typical cliches without injecting any ingenuity or originality into them. This movie never settles on what it wants to be or allows our actors to dictate what it will be. After going home and letting what I just saw soak in, I read that they had already greenlighted a sequel. Let’s hope the writers can man up to some constructive criticism because I’d like to see these two in a fresh, fluid cop movie. I actually want to have fun with ride along instead of feeling like I’m being dragged along.

“Gravity,” Alfonso Cuaron’s space masterpiece and “American Hustle,” David O’ Russell’s look back at the ABSCAM scandal of the 1970s, led all films nominated today for the upcoming 86th Annual Academy Awards. Both films received a total of 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

A total of 9 films were nominated for Best Picture this year, and those films nominated earned the lion’s share of other nominations. Right on the trail of “Gravity” and “American Hustle” comes “12 Years a Slave,” which earned 9 nominations. Three other Best Picture nominees earned 6 nominations each: “Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyer’s Club” and “Nebraska.” Two very difrerent films, Martin Scorsese’s tale of excess, “The Wolf of Wall Street” and Spike Jonze’s technical romance “Her” each had 5 nominations. Bringing up the rear is surprise nominee “Philomena,” which takes home 4 nods. Surprisingly missing from the list is the box office and critical favorite from earlier last year, “Lee Daniels The Butler,” which was shut out of every category it was eligible for.

“American Hustle” becomes the 15th film in Oscar history to receive nominations in all four acting categories. Ironically, director Russell’s previous film, “Silver Lining Playbook,” also duplicated that feat. “Silver Lining Playbook” was the first film to achieve this record since Warren Beatty’s “Reds” did it in 1981. Two of the “American Hustle” actors – Best Supporting Actor nominee Bradley Cooper and Best Supporting Actress nominee Jennifer Lawrence – were nominated in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories last year, with Lawrence taking home the Oscar. They are joined this year by Best Actor and Best Actress nominees Christian Bale and Amy Adams.

“Gravity”‘s only other major nomination was for Sandra Bullock as Best Actress. The majority of the film’s nomination are for technical achievements, including film editing and production design.

Bullock is among four previous Oscar winners in the Best Actress category which includes Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”, Judi Dench (“Philomena) and three time winner Meryl Streep (“August: Osage County”). Only Amy Adams of “American Hustle” is currently Oscar-less.

Best Actor is a contest between both Hollywood veterans and newcomers. Former Best Supporting Actor winner Christian Bale is nominated for “American Hustle,” while Bruce Dern earns his first Academy Award nomination since 1979’s “Coming Home” for “Nebraska.” Leonardo DiCaprio earns his fourth nomination for his work in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” These three are joined by Oscar newcomers Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club” and Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”).

Best Supporting Actor nominees include newcomer Barkhad Abdi (“Captain Phillips”), Cooper, Michael Fassbender (“12 Years a Slave’), Jonah Hill (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”). Best Supporting Actress noms went to Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”), Lawrence, Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave”), previous Best Actress winner Julia Roberts (“August: Osage County”) and June Squibb (“Nebraska’).

Joining Cuaron and Russell in the Best Director category are Alexander Payne (“Nebraska”), Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”) and previous winner Martin Scorsese (“The Wolf of Wall Street”).

“Frozen” leads the nominees for Best Animated Feature, which also includes “The Croods,” “Despicable Me 2,” “Ernest and Celestine” and “The Wind Rises.”

The 86th Annual Academy Awards will be presented live on March 2, 2014 on ABC Television.

Actors: Jake T. Austin, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne, Liam Neeson, AnnaSophia Robb
Directors: Anthony Silverston
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Millennium
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I have never heard of “Khumba” at all until recently. What drew me to the film is the very impressive cast. Jake T. Austin (“Wizards of Waverly Place”), Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”), Laurence Fishburne (“The Matrix”), Liam Neeson (“Taken”), AnnaSophia Robb (“The Carrie Diaries”) all lend their voices to this 3D South African computer-animated adventure comedy. The 3D effects work very well for the production and provide some fun in your face action. The story is pretty well done, it is dramatic yet still funny. Most importantly it managed to keep my 19 month old daughter attention the whole time and that to me means that it is a real success. Recommended for the whole family to enjoy!

Official Premise: Life is not all black and white for Khumba. A young zebra, born with only half his stripes, is rejected by his superstitious herd and blamed for a sudden drought affecting the land. Teaming up with a sassy wildebeest and a flamboyant ostrich, Khumba sets out on a daring mission across the Karoo desert to find the legendary waterhole where the first zebras got their stripes. Along the way he meets a host of colorful characters, but before he can reunite with his herd, Khumba will have to come face to face with a menacing leopard to take part in an epic battle… Khumba’s got to earn his stripes!

Millennium is behind this combo pack release including the following Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD. The 1080p transfer is very impressive. The colors are stunning and the animation is very impressive an indie production. The Dolby TrueHD track also works well with the action and the film’s music. The special features included on this release are not too bad either. There are three behind-the-scenes featurettes. The first is called “Acting Out”, which looks into each of the characters evolution. The next is “The Karoo”, which looks into a world of difference and how these animals are brought together. Lastly, “Nora” focuses on a great “partnersheep” and how they work together in the film.

Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand, Melonie Diaz, Chad Michael Murray
Director by: Ryan Coogler
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
DVD Release Date: January 14, 2014
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

When it comes to dramas, I am usually not the first to run out. When I was young, I used to attend all the indie NYC film festivals and I got a bit flooded with all sorts of dramatic features. So “Fruitvale Station” didn’t interest me at all upon first glance. When I got this Blu-ray, I figured I would give it a chance it has a fantastic cast including Michael B. Jordan (“Chronicle”) and Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer (“The Help”). Well I am glad I did because, I was quickly sucked into this very emotional drama and these actors mesmerizing performances. Keep an eye out for Jordan cause he is going to be huge. Highly recommend this film but just remember it is not light watching and very powerful 85 minutes.

Official Premise: Filmmaker Ryan Coogler makes his feature directorial debut with this drama centered on the tragic shooting of Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a vibrant 22-year-old Bay Area father who was senselessly gunned down by BART officers on New Year’s Day in 2009, and whose murder sent shockwaves through the nation after being captured on camera by his fellow passengers.

“Fruitvale Station” is a low-budget film with a low-budget feel that is not necessarily a bad thing but on Blu-ray, it doesn’t really stand out for me as a must have. The 1080p transfer is still very sharp and crystal clear. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works very well with the film’s powerful score, which I loved. Anchor Bay released this film as a Blu-ray combo pack with DVD included, as well as a Digital HD Ultraviolet copy. In terms of special features, we only get two extras here but they are decent. “Fruitvale Station: The Story of Oscar Grant” goes into the true story behind this tragic event. There is also included a Q & A with the Cast and Filmmakers talking about the film and the true story behind it as well.

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Starring: Tabitha St. Germain, Janyse Jaud, Adrienne Carter, Britt McKillip, Chantal Strand, Andrea Libman, Kathleen Barr, Venus Terzo, Kelly Sheridan, Brian Drummond, Ellen Kennedy
Directed by: Vic Dal Chele, John Grusd
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 180 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This two disc box set includes four classic “My Little Pony” movies, including: “Princess Promenade” (2006), “Runaway Rainbow” (2006), “Dancing in the Clouds” (2004) and “Friends Are Never Far Away” (2005). Shout! is a huge backer of this series and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next. I have my figures crossed for the original 1980’s series. With the success of “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic”, this series is now more popular than ever. Recommended for any fan of “My Little Pony” both young and old.

Official Premise: The My Little Pony adventures you grew up with are back in this collection of four timeless classic tales of Pony-rific fun! Join your favorite Ponies, including Wysteria, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Minty, and even Spike the Dragon for four outrageous tales guaranteed to make your heart swell and teach you the true meaning and value of friendship and teamwork!

“Princess Promenade” Premise: Wysteria and Pinkie Pie cross paths with a sleeping dragon named Spike who crowns someone a new princess. “Dancing In The Clouds” Premise: Twinkle Twirl tries to come up with a great idea to help with a dance for the Friendship Ball. “Runaway Rainbow” Premise: Rarity is teleported to another land. She wonders if she will be rescued in time to make the first rainbow of the season. “Friends Are Never Far Away” Premise: Ponyville and Butterfly Island try to become friends and work together.

My daughter is 19 months old and she has been obsessed with “Monies” as she called them since we received “My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas” last October. I personally would prefer the animation style of the 1980’s “My Little Pony” or even “Friendship is Magic” but my daughter is the one who is watching this over and over and over, so she really seems to dig it quite a bit. In terms of special features there is only a sing-along included for “Princess Promenade” and that is all.

Actors: Ken Marino, Gillian Jacobs, Patrick Warburton
Directors: Jacob Vaughan
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 84 minutes

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

When I saw the poster for this film, I literally what “What the F*ck” and knew that I immediately had to see it. I wasn’t surprised at all that after watching this film I had the exact same reaction. An alien that lives inside of a man’s ass? It’s just so crazy that it has to work. This was easily some of the most fun I have had watching a movie all year. It is a great blend of horror and comedy. “Bad Milo!” features some quite impressive creature effects and puppet work with smartly placed CG as well. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a good time. I see this becoming a cult classic for sure!

Official Premise: Duncan’s (Ken Marino) mounting stress starts to trigger an insufferable gastrointestinal reaction. Out of ideas and at the end of his rope, Duncan seeks the help of a hypnotherapist, who helps him discover the root of his unusual stomach pain: a pint-sized demon living in his intestine that, triggered by excessive anxiety, forces its way out and slaughters the people who have caused Duncan stress. Out of fear that his intestinal gremlin may target its wrath on the wrong person, Duncan attempts to befriend it, naming it Milo and indulging it to keep its seemingly insatiable appetite at bay.

Ken Marino (“Children’s Hospital”) is at his best and really stands tall with this leading role. He is funny as well and I have always been a fan of his work since MTV’s “The State”. Only a great character actor like himself can pull off playing a guy with an alien in his ass. Patrick Warburton (“Rules of Engagement”) is always fun at playing the douche bag and he does it quite well here as Duncan’s boss. Peter Stormare (“Fargo”) plays Duncan’s hypnotherapist and is a riot as well. If that is not enough, Stephen Root (“Office Space”) plays his stoner father with a secret of his own.

The Blu-ray presentation is solid in both video and audio. The 1080p transfer is solid and works well with the creature effects. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track works well with the jokes and the crazy antics, especially in the film’s finale. The special features are also a must watch as well. There is a great audio commentary track featuring the cast and crew. It is a must listen a great way to revisit this fun movie. There is a great interview with Ken Marino included. There are a few decent deleted scenes and outtakes. “AXS TV: A Look at BAD MILO!” is an EPK piece looking behind-the-scenes. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

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Actors: Dominic Purcell, Craig Fairbrass, Conan Stevens, Natassia Malthe
Directors: Yusry Abd Halim
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Epic Pictures
DVD Release Date: January 21, 2014
Run Time: 114 minutes

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

Holy shit! What a ride! Vikingdom” is by no mean “The Lord of the Rings” and it doesn’t try to be either. It is low-budget feature, sometimes a little cheesy but it is also brutal as all hell, fast paced and a really fun time. Did I mention it is gory as hell, definitely for the squeamish here. The visual effects are quite impressive for the budget and stand up very well. “Vikingdom” is one of these films that you can just kick back relax, let yourself go and enjoy! Hope Epic Pictures is planning a franchise for this since I have my fingers crossed tightly!

“Vikingdom” is a fantasy, action adventure loosely based on the tales of Viking mythology.  It stars Dominic Purcell as Eirick, a man who’s story begins when he dies and comes back to life. He sets out on a journey to battle for his life ranging from hell and beyond in order to retrieve the mystical artifact, Odin’s Horn. He is told that this artifact is the only way to defeat Thor, the God of Thunder, and prevent The Blood Eclipse. Only Eirick can unleash its powers and stop Thor from conquering the world.

Dominic Purcell is one busy man and had five films released just in 2013 alone. He is known for his role in the TV series “Prison Break” and also with Uwe Boll with “Suddenly” and “In the Name of the King III”. He really nails this role and and even rocks that long hair quite well. Conan Stevens, who played Thor in this film is also know for is motion capture work playing Bolg in “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”. Jon Foo, known for his role in “Tekken”, rocked some awesome martial arts. Why aren’t we seeing more of this guy?!

Natassia Malthe is also known like Purcell for her work with Uwe Boll in the “BloodRayne” series. She is awesome as always and quite bad-ass. She also worked with Purcell in Boll’s “Assault on Wall Street”, another great film. My main complaint is that they censored the sex and nudity scenes. If you have seen her in “Bloodrayne: The Third Reich” you will know what I mean. The film is already unrated and bloody as hell, so why cut away?

This film was initially shot for release in 3D and I am really disappointed that we are not able to get a chance to experience it in that format. I think it would have been really awesome, especially with the battle scenes with obviously catered to that dimension. The film also would have benefited from a Blu-ray release to really take advantage of the film’s very impressive visual layer. Hopefully, the DVD will catch on and give the studio a reason to consider releasing it this way.

In terms of special features, there is some decent extras included here. First we get “Making of ‘Vikingdom'”, which consists of a featurette with interviews with cast/crew. It runs a meaty 25 minutes and really shows a decent look behind-the-scenes with this film. There is also a music video included from Mojo with the song “Dark Clouds”, which also plays over the film’s end credits. It is epic like the film and screams 80’s hair metal. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included, as well as a teaser and TV spot.

Exclusive U.S. DVD Distribution Rights for Season 9 of the #1 Paranormal Show

LOS ANGELES, CA – Grand Entertainment Group (GEG), an independent multi-platform content and distribution company, has obtained exclusive DVD rights from Pilgrim Studios to Season 9 of their hit Syfy original series “Ghost Hunters.” Under the deal brokered by GEG President David Rand, Michael Purleski, Vice President of Legal Affairs for Pilgrim Studios and Executive Producer Alan David. Grand Entertainment Group will produce market and distribute the latest season on DVD throughout the United States.

“Ghost Hunters,” the #1 paranormal reality television series and longest-running series on the Syfy network, is executive produced by Craig Piligian, Mike Nichols, Thomas Thayer and Alan David. “We are very excited to be working with Pilgrim Studios and the ‘Ghost Hunters’ franchise,” states David Rand. “The show has a loyal fan base and past DVD sales have performed well — we anticipate as much success with Season 9.”

In Season 9 of “Ghost Hunters,” Jason Hawes and his team from The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) continue conducting chilling investigations across the country.  Locations include Los Angeles’ historic Sowden House, said to be the site where Elizabeth Short — more famously known as “The Black Dahlia” — was brutally murdered; the eerie Peoria Asylum in Bartonville, IL, where an estimated 16,000 people perished under gruesome conditions; and Sylvan Beach Amusement Park on Lake Oneida, NY which, according to its owners and patrons, is a rollercoaster of paranormal activity.

“Ghost Hunters” Season 9 will be available second quarter at major retailers and online distributors.

Pilgrim Studios | www.pilgrimstudios.com

Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Studios produces a wide variety of unscripted programming for television, including Fast N’ Loud for Discovery; Ghost Hunters and Killer Contact for Syfy; The Ultimate Fighter for FOX Sports 1; Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy for History; Orange County Choppers for CMT; Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and Raising Whitley for OWN; David Tutera: Unveiled for WEtv; Wicked Tuna for National Geographic Channel, and Swamp Pawn for CMT. In the scripted realm, Pilgrim’s original movies for Lifetime include Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial In Italy; Abducted: The Carlina White Story and the crime thriller Stalkers.  Pilgrim’s most recent scripted projects include a pilot for ABC Family and a mini-series for Spike about the 2012 terrorist attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Grand Entertainment (GEG) | www.GrandEntertainmentGroup.com

Grand Entertainment Group (GEG), launched in early 2012, as a complete destination for programming.  With the ability to distribute DVD; digital; streaming; television and limited theatricals, Grand Entertainment gives filmmakers and their films the platform they deserve. GEG is a subsidiary of Grand Distribution Group, which produces and distributes diversified products, services, and technologies.  With a line-up of films slated for 2014, GEG is moving forward in a “Grand Way.”  

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Actors: Mischa Barton, Ryan Eggold, Leah Pipes
Directors: Mark Edwin Robinson
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Epic Pictures
Release Date: January 28, 2014
Run Time: 111 minutes

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

When I read about “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, I immediately interested due to the supernatural nature of the film. What I didn’t know is that the film also has a well-balanced aspect of romance as well. Mischa Barton really gets a chance to show off her acting chops and she impressed me quite a bit. I enjoyed the film even though I felt like it could have been about 30 minutes shorter. I felt like it dragged in the beginning getting to the part dealing with the film’s title but when it does get the suspense portion of the film, it is quite effective for sure with some great jumps. I would still recommend checking it out for a good rainy day film.

Official Premise: A young woman (Mischa Barton) who is severely depressed after the death of her parents retreats within herself, only to be drawn out of her depression by an unexpected romance with a young man named Adam (Ryan Eggold). After Adam mysteriously disappears into the depths of a haunted apartment building, she vows to pursue him, even if it means crossing into the world of the supernatural.

“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” had a brief theatrical release last year and was also released on VOD. I personally prefer the film when it’s title was just “Into the Dark”, the current title seems like it is trying to explain itself too much. Epic Pictures is behind this film’s life on DVD and they are becoming quite the powerhouse after their fantastic release for “Big Ass Spider!”. They also have a film called “Vikingdom” in the cards for this month as well. In terms of special features, there are a few decent behind-the-scenes featurettes taking a look into the production with cast/crew. There is also a few short deleted scenes included.