Actors: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 545 minutes

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

I wondered how they were going to top the first season of “New Girl” but they managed to make this second season even better.  “New Girl” is easily one of the best comedies on television right now.  It is hip, funny, packs a great cast and some amazing writing. There is perfect balance of comedy and drama as well in this season. Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield,  Lamorne Morris and Hannah Simone are amazing together.  They each work off each other and it works so well. Season three is already off to a great start and I can’t wait to see what they have planned.

Official Premise: The romantic tension between Jess (Emmy Nominee Zooey Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson) escalates in the hilarious, quirky second season of New Girl – but will they ever hook up? Meanwhile, Schmidt fails to be hip, Winston isn’t “prepared” for a hot date, and Nick faces a death in his dysfunctional family. While Jess does her best to replace Cece on a modeling job and a drunk Elvis impersonator at a funeral, Schmidt and Winston hope to rearrange Cece’s arranged marriage.

Season two packed 25 amazing episodes and featured some guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis, Rob Reiner and Dennis Farina. I loved that Curtis and Reiner played Jess’ parents, they were really cute together and really added a lot to the season.  Farina also delivered a great role as Nick’s dad, who ended up passing away on the show (and also in real life this year). He is a great actor and was a great addition to the show. I also loved David Walton (TV’s short-lived “Perfect Couples”) as Jess’ doctor boyfriend. He was funny and meshed very well with the rest of the cast. This show is just filled with so many great one-liners, I am waiting for someone to start a website with nothing but quotes from this show.

I wish Fox would give this show the Blu-ray treatment but for now we just have DVD. The special features are pretty solid. We do though get he extended version of the very popular episode, “Virgins”, which is one of my favorite from the season. It is only available on this DVD and is a must see for any fan of the show. Besides that there is a commentary track for the episode “Cooler” and “Full of Schmidt”, which is a fun featurette on my favorite character. Lastly there are some great Deleted Scenes and a hilarious Gag Reel included.

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Starring: Will Payne, Jaime Murray, and Sean Power
Directed by: Eduardo Rodriguez
Rated: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

What a waste of time! “Fright Night 2: New Blood” is billed as a direct-to-video sequel to the 2011 remake, yet it is just another remake. I do not understand why they decided to take this route. Of course none of the original cast is back for this mess of a film. Charley, Amy and Evil Ed are placed in a high school program in Romania. Instead of Jerry Dandridge, we get Gerri Dandridge, who is not hard on the eyes I might add, as their female professor. Lastly Peter Vincent is also here except he a reality Ghost Hunters-wanna be paranormal investigator. There is no explanation or reference back to the other film, unless you know from reading this, I was left with a confused face on the entire movie.  Did I mention this is a waste of time?

Official Premise: By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in Gerri’s chilling web of lust and terror. Charley and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called “Fright Night,” to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

20th Century Fox still delivered a nice release for this terrible film as a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD Ultraviolet combo pack. The film is also delivered unrated but since it was never released, it is just another way to draw in any type of audience. The special features are just as weak as the film is.  There is an audio commentary by director Eduardo Rodriguez and producers Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta, Besides that there is “Fright Night” Webisodes and “Dracula Revealed” featurette included. Don’t waste your time, waste the 2011 remake instead or of course the original 1985 Tom Holland classic, which is the best. Stop making useless remakes!

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Actors: Jack Hanna, Suzi Hanna, Julie Hanna, Kathaleen Hanna
Directors: Guy Nickerson
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image/Madacy Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 15, 2013
Run Time: 1320 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to thank my mother-in-law for getting me into the world of Jack Hanna.  She is a big fan and has since introduced to his work. Jack visits yearly to SeaWorld in Orlando, FL.  So each year, I have the privilege of watching him work with the animals and even to meet him. He is not only a television personality and conservationist but also an author and lifelong adventurer. I am sure that plenty of kids wanted to be him growing up. This collector’s edition package “The Best of Jack Hanna” includes 30 episodes from “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” and also 30 episodes from “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures”  If you are a fan of his work, then this 5-DVD box set is a must own.

Official Premise: “The Best of Jack Hanna” follows America’s most beloved animal adventurer and his family as he spends time with nature’s creatures across the continents, over the years, and through two different TV shows. This collector’s edition package includes 30 episodes from Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild, which has garnered 6 Daytime Emmy Nominations and 3 wins to date, plus 30 episodes from Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures. Each episode provides insight into the protection and conservation of some of our planet’s most precious animals and endangered species. “The Best of Jack Hanna” takes you on an action-packed journey, leaving you with a renewed appreciation for all creatures, great and small.

Jack shows no signs of slow down either as he continues to develop new TV series including “Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown”, which airs on Saturday mornings on ABC affiliates around the country. “Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures” and “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” are also currently in syndication as well. He has been working for decades to protect and spread the word about wildlife conservation and I am sure that he will continue to spread the word for many more years to come. I hope that Image/Madacy Entertainment is planning to release future releases of Jack Hanna because I would love to have more, specifically his new series. There are no special features on this DVD but there are 60 amazing episodes, so that is good enough for me.

Actors: Vincent Price, Reggie Rymal, Frank Lovejoy, Carolyn Jones, Charles Bronson
Directors: Andre De Toth
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes

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

I remember the very first time that I ever saw “House of Wax”, I believe it was also my first introduction to the amazing Vincent Price. That was many many years ago and yet watching the film today, it is still as amazing as it was over 20 years ago. “House of Wax” was released in 1953 and was the first color 3D feature released by a major studio and grossed (in adjusted figures) over $400 million dollars. This film is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary and Warner Bros is releasing it for the first time ever in 3D as it was originally meant to be seen in theaters. Highly recommend for any classic horror and Vincent Price fan.

Official Synopsis: Professor Henry Jarrod (Price) is the owner and figure sculptor in a wax museum whose specialty is historic figures. When he and his business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) quarrel over the choice of exhibits displayed, Burke suggests it would be more profitable to burn down the museum in order to obtain the insurance money. As they fight, the museum burns and Jarrod is left for dead. It’s not until much later at a new museum that the fate of Jarrod and the mystery of how the lifelike waxed figures are created becomes gruesomely evident.

The film marked Vincent Price”s first major starring horror role and a real landmark point for his career. It also co-starred a young Charles Bronson (that’s right same guy from “Death Wish”). So this film just wasn’t a typical convert to 3D to cash in release, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging delivered a brand new 4K scan, a full restoration and a perfect 3D image alignment. It really shows and looks quite amazing in 3D for a film celebrating 60 years. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track also works very well. Warner also included as a bonus, the 2D version of the film as well.  This also marks the first time that “House of Wax” is being released on Blu-ray.

The special features are pretty decent. There is all new featurette: “House of Wax: Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before”, which is a must watch for any fan. I was also really impressed that “Mystery of The Wax Museum”, the original 1933 film on which “House of Wax” is based was also included as a bonus feature. “Round-the-Clock Premiere: Coast Hails House of Wax” looks at the premiere of the film. Lastly, there is an expert commentary track included as well as a theatrical trailer.

The most successful 3D movie of the 1950s, House of Wax, comes to 3D Blu-ray™ for the very first time on October 1st! http://amzn.to/18TEJ1q

Actors: Vicki Lawrence, Beverly Archer, Ken Berry, Dorothy Lyman, Eric Brown
Directors: Dick Martin, Harvey Korman, Roger Beatty
Number of discs: 24
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Starvista Entertainment
DVD Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 3900 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love “Mama’s Family”? It really brings the dysfunctional into the word family. The series started off as spin-off from reoccurring comedy sketches on “The Carol Burnett Show”, which were called “The Family”. When I think about this show I just think about classic ’80s-era TV. This is before the madness of reality TV, where the talent actually had to be talented! Vicki Lawrence is so amazing playing Thelma ‘Mama’ Harper. She stars alongside a fantastic cast including Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Ken Berry, Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett. For the first time ever, thanks to StarVista Entertainment/Time Life this show is making its debut as a complete series in a very nice Collector’s Set featuring all 130 Episodes taken from the the original broadcast masters. If you are a fan of this show, you do not want to miss this set.

Official Premise: Set in the fictional city of Raytown, “Mama’s Family” revolves around the eye-opening escapades of the Harper clan, headed by formidable matriarch, Mama Harper, a fiery-tempered no-nonsense woman who does not suffer fools gladly. In fact, she makes everybody suffer a little with her patented snappy retorts that truly put the “diss” in dysfunction. Adding to the unforgettable mix are Mama’s journalist sister, Fran (Rue McClanahan, The Golden Girls), who lives with her; her youngest son, Vint (Ken Berry, F-Troop), who moves in with his two teenagers after he is evicted; and Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, All My Children), who marries Vint by Episode 4. Mama’s extended family includes her two daughters, highfalutin’ Ellen (Betty White) and high-strung Eunice (Carol Burnett), as well as Eunice’s husband, Ed (Harvey Korman).

This collector’s set features all 130 episodes on 24 DVDs. Overall this set also contains over ten hours of special features, which are worth the purchase alone. The first two seasons feature the rare, original broadcast masters (aka the “Joe Hamilton” cuts) of the episodes. Each one also included an introductions from  Harvey Korman. There is a cast reunion roundtable with Vicki Lawrence (Mama), Ken Berry (Vint), Dorothy Lyman (Naomi), Beverly Archer (Iola), and Allan Kayser (Bubba).  There are all-new cast and the interview with Vicki Lawrence “interviewing” Mama through the magic of split-screen technology. There is the 1982 CBS-TV movie “Eunice focusing around Mama’s daughter (played by Carol Burnett), There are key “Family” sketches from “The Carol Burnett Show” and much more. Lastly there is also a “Collectible Mama’s Family Album” featuring character bios and a “Mama’s Family Tree”.

Actors: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong
Directors: Todd Phillips
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Run Time: 100 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

When I saw “The Hangover”, I thought it was one of the funniest, craziest comedies I have ever seen.  I never thought to myself though, “Man I really want a sequel!” Well money speaks for itself since the first film brought in a boat load of it.  The sequel was a carbon copy of the first film and was quite terrible. I know they say if something works the first time don’t change it but it was no fun.  So when I saw they were making a third film to “complete the trilogy”, I steered very clear. I have to admit though they actually did it up right this time (sort of). I think if they would have made this film the first sequel people wouldn’t have abandoned this franchise.

Official Premise: It’s been two years. Phil, Stu and Doug (Cooper, Helms and Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home. The only member of the Wolfpack who’s not content is Alan (Galifianakis). Still lacking a sense of purpose, the group’s black sheep has ditched his meds and given in to his natural impulses in a big way-which, for Alan, means no boundaries, no filters and no judgment… until a personal crisis forces him to finally seek the help he needs. What could possibly go wrong? When the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

The film feels very epic and large. I have to admit, I wasn’t on the floor laughing but overall I enjoyed the film. They attempt to tie everything up from the first two films, which feels a little forced including bringing back characters like Jeffrey Tambor, Heather Graha and Justin Bartha (who I don’t think speak one word). Zach Galifianakis and Ken Jeong are the highlight of the film. I have never been a fan of Ed Helms and who doesn’t just love Bradley Cooper. I would have liked to see more of Melissa McCarthy. She was funny but not over-the-top and could have added a lot more.

Warner’s delivered an impressive release with this Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet combo pack. The 1080p transfer is sharp and very impressive. Normally for a comedy, I would say that it doesn’t really push the standards of Blu-ray but this film does and it looks great. It also showcases really well all the various different locations from the desert to Mexico and (of course) Las Vegas. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 score is absolutely amazing and really feels like a huge action film and not like a comedy.

The special features are a bit of a let down though to be honest. “Replacing Zach: The Secret Auditions” is a short collection of secret auditions with director Todd Phillips. “The Wolfpack’s Wildest Stunts” show the cast/crew working through the films stunts and action sequences. “Zach Galifianakis in His Own Words” talks briefly about his role. “Pushing the Limits” talks about shooting with animals and children. “Inside Focus: The Real Chow” is Ken Joeng being Ken Joeng. There is a one minute “Action Mash-Up” montagte. Lastly there are three short extended scenes and tons of funny outtakes.

The Hangover Part III is available on Blu-Ray Combo Pack 10/8/13 at http://bit.ly/GetHungover

Film Review “The Hangover III”

It worked for Sylvester Stallone. It worked for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. And, if things go well, it’s going to work for Matt Thompson. An actor who does so much more, Thompson found himself in a quandary. You can’t get noticed in Hollywood unless you’re in something but unless you’re in something you can’t get noticed. So he took it upon himself to write and direct the new film, “Bloodline,” which opens today (9/27). He then cast himself in the lead. Take that, Hollywood! While taking time off from his next project Thompson took time out to talk with Media Mikes about his current one.

Mike Smith: Can you give us a quick introduction to “Bloodline?:
Matt Thompson: “Bloodline” is about a seminary student named Brett Ethos, who I play. He falls away from the church only to find out that his bloodline has been cursed, ironically, a couple of hundred years earlier.

MS: What inspired you to write the script?
MT: It was about 10 years ago when I was just starting out. I had talked to a producer and had told him how frustrating it was sometimes. How you have to have something to be in something yet you have to be in something to have something in this industry. It’s truly a Catch 22. I was taking an acting class at the time. He told me that I should write myself into something so I did exactly that. I looked at the horror/thriller genre’ and found it to be incredibly fascinating. It’s one of my favorite genres…it can grip you like no other can. Being from Northern California I had a great interest in Native American legends…I mean you can literally walk out into your back yard and find a grinding stone. It was really a natural fit, to piece together the Native Americans and the settlers and piece together the “Bloodline” idea…to tie in with the Native American legends.

MS: Did you write the film with the intention of both appearing in it and directing as well?
MT: Exactly! You have to have something to be in something. The whole idea was to basically create a vehicle that I could put myself in. In the interim I had written a short film called “Fallen Soldier,” which I also directed. When it was completed friends would encourage me to direct and explore that side of my creativity more.

MS: Is it hard wearing two hats on the set? To concentrate on your performance as an actor while concentrating on everything else as a director?
MT: Oh my God, it’s an incredible task! You kind of have to be schizophrenic in a sense, jumping in and out of, a., being an actor and, b., being a director. In one frame you have to be completely emotionally invested with your co-stars while in another you’re out of the shot and worrying if the lighting is right…if the camera is in the right place. Are the actors delivering? And on top of all that you have to deal with all of these people. You’re not only their co-star and friend but you’re also their boss. There are a hundred different facets in acting and directing at the same time.

MS: You recently completed a run on stage as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a role considered one of the most iconic ever on the American stage. Is there pressure as an actor to take on a role that well known and so well associated with another actor? And do you take a look at the way other actors have done the role in previous performances?
MT: I knew how big the role was but I didn’t watch the movie. In fact, I didn’t watch the movie until I finished my last performance because I wanted to give Stanley my own spin. He was much more devious…more of a maniacal character. I actually prefer that version at the end of the day, more so then the movie. I mean, of course, hats off. In the movie Brando gives one of the best performances on film of all time, in my opinion. And I did the part because I really wanted to put myself out of my comfort zone and do something that was just really, really hard before going into production on “Bloodline.” I have so much respect for stage actors. Once you’re in that role…in that character….you’re there for two straight hours. There are no cuts…no one is laughing with you at the outtakes. You’re invested. And that’s the kind of discipline I wanted to have when I went after that role.

MS: Great answer. I played Moss in “Glengarry Glen Ross” several years ago..
MT: Nice!
MS:..and I purposely didn’t watch the film until the run was over. And when I watched it there was so much stuff I wish I had done…I could have stole that bit, I could have done that…but then I realized that if I had I would have just been doing an imitation of Ed Harris instead of making the role my own.
MT: (laughs) Exactly!

MS: What are you currently working on?
MT: I’m working on a few things. I have a couple of pilots right now that I’m getting ready to shoot. The biggest project I’m working on now is a crime drama that fits in the realm of “Blow,” “The Departed,” “The Town” and some other movies. It’s about a sheriff’s deputy that goes undercover in a multi-million dollar drug ring, becoming the right hand man to the guy that’s importing all of the cocaine from South America to California. He basically starts out as the shiny penny hero and becomes corrupt in the process. There’s instance after instance and decision after decision where you think “I’ll follow this guy all the way to the dark side.” I’m a big “Breaking Bad” fan and the film is akin to it, I think.

MS: Is this something you would also direct or do you just plan to appear in it?
MT: Right now I’m just concentrating on getting it green lit. I’m not opposed to having someone else direct it as long as they have great credits and a really great vision for the film. This is a project where I’d really like to concentrate on the acting portion so I probably won’t end up directing it. But there’s always the chance.

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Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore
Directed by: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
Relativity Media

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Don Jon” is the story of a man in New Jersey who cares and believes solely and whole heartedly in his body, his bachelor pad, family, God, girls and porn. And not in any particular order because, if so, porn would be in between every thing he loves. Don Jon (Gordon-Levitt) is a bartender that loves the night life, and there isn’t a night that he goes out that he returns home alone. He has no problems getting girls and they are always an 8 or better. So what’s the problem? He loves porn! He watches it any time he has a spare moment. For this reason any encounter he has is never like the clips and videos he watches. He is always left feeling unfulfilled, disappointed, still looking for that great sex!

Enter Barbara Sugarman (Johansson) She’s a “dime” — a straight up 10. Jon is in love at first sight and unlike every other girl in New Jersey she makes him work for it. No first night hook up, no one dinner date hookup. It’s meet the families, meet the friends, spend quality time. He is in love and he’s sure nothing could ruin this feeling…she’s the girl he’s been looking for to change him. But, just like every other girl, she isn’t a pornstar or anyone that gets paid for sex. He realizes this after their first encounter. Back to the porn he goes only to have Barbara catch him in the act. Heart broken and realizing the overall problem he actually has, he finds help directly and indirectly from the people around him, including his parents, played by Tony Danza and Glenne Headly, and an older woman in Jon’s class played by Julianne Moore.

This film is a very impressive writing and directing debut by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He captured a lifestyle of men that is becoming somewhat of a common problem in America and across the world. With easy access to the internet men are just a click away from beautiful, sexy, easy women. This gives men delusions of how woman act and that you can still find that one girl that will do anything but you can take home to your parents and, more importantly, to church. He details this struggle very well which makes me wonder…how much of this story is fact and how much is fiction.

The film not only shows the struggle of an addict and his consequences, it follows his story to the end. Deceit in a relationship comes with consequences. With consequences a great lesson is generally learned. Though you may have lost that love you had the lessons learned are much more important. You love and lose but you will love again.

“Don Jon” is well written with a great cast. It’s a great love story with numerous short, one second porn clips. In other words, it’s a love story that men will enjoy. Gordon-Levitt does a fine job on both sides of the camera and I will make sure to catch the next movie he decides to put his talents to.

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Actors: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride
Directors: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 107 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“This is the End” is based on a short film called “Jay & Seth vs. the Apocalypse”. Now from the posters and everything else about the film you have no idea what it is really about. The film is balls-to-the-wall crazy. A little bit of horror and a whole lot of comedy. The film is gory and even some good scares yet still completely hilarious. The cast is absolutely amazing together including Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Craig Robinson, James Franco, Jonah Hill and Danny McBride, which play so well off each other. The film basically plays like a sequel to “Pineapple Express”, except the actors play variations of themselves. There are also some surprise cameos (which is no so suprise thanks to the box cover listing them) including Rihanna, Michael Cera and Emma Watson. Easily one of the best comedies in a long time!

Official Premise: “This is the End” follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

The DVD of the film comes with an digital copy using Ultraviolet streaming sites. In terms of special features this DVD is a massive disappointment compares to the amazing amount of special features included on the Blu-ray release. There is a commentary track with directors Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, which is fun for sure still. There is a featurette called “Directing Your Friends”, with Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg discussing the production. There are some outtakes, cast featurette, and trailers and four additional confessionals included in “This Is The Marketing”. I was very disappointment that “The Making of “The Making of Pineapple Express 2” and the original short for “Jay & Seth vs. The Apocalypse” were not included.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl
Directed by: Ron Howard
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hours 3 mins
Universal

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

When I was growing up in the 1970s there was no ESPN. There was one baseball game shown on television on Saturday afternoon and “Monday Night Football” was just beginning. If you enjoyed sports your show of shows was ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.” From cliff divers to the Harlem Globetrotters and everything in between, WWoS was the place to be. Among the events broadcast was Formula One racing. Think of it as NASCAR in a smaller, less safer car. In 1976 the World Championships of Formula One racing came down to two drivers: James Hunt of England and Austria’s Niki Lauda. Both paid a price in their hunt for the top prize, a price detailed brilliantly in Ron Howard’s latest film, “Rush.”

James Hunt (Hemsworth) seemingly has it all. Good looks. A way with the ladies. And the ability to drive a car faster then almost anyone else in the world. From early days in the minor leagues of racing he has worked his way into the echelon of Formula One racing. Niki Lauda (Bruhl) can also maneuver a car around a track with seeming ease. But instead of embracing all that racing has offered he keeps to himself, constantly working to become the best he can be. On August 1, 1976 at the Nurburgring Grand Prix in Germany, both men’s lives changed in an instant. Those changes, and the events that lead up to them, are the story of “Rush.”

It’s ironic that Ron Howard’s first film as a director, 1977’s “Grand Theft Auto,” dealt with cars going very fast and crashing. His latest film is yet another jewel in the crowns of one of the finest filmmakers of the past quarter century. In his second pairing with screenwriter Peter Morgan (the two earned much deserved Oscar nominations for their first venture, “Frost/Nixon”), Howard has managed to take the audience inside the world of Formula One racing, putting them directly into the cockpit and enabling them to experience the thrill and the danger from their seats. Morgan’s script is solidly written, especially when it deals with the inner workings of the main characters. Hunt is the typical 70s athlete…confident to the point of being smug. Lauda is the same, only where Hunt’s attitude is looked at as bravado Lauda comes across as arrogant. They both find themselves supported by significant others, again in similar yet different fashion. While Suzy (Olivia Wilde) eventually learns that the only love in Hunt’s life is racing, Marlene (Alexandra Maria Lara) learns to accept her place in her husband’s life and her support is vital. Sadly, both female leads don’t have much to do, often as much in the background as the fans in the stands. A sub-plot showing Suzy Hunt dating Richard Burton (they would eventually marry after, rumor has it, Burton paid James Hunt $1 million to hasten the divorce) seems to be shoehorned into the film at the last minute.

Both leads are outstanding. If you only know Hemsworth from his work as Thor in the various Marvel Universe films, prepared to be impressed. He captures perfectly Hunt’s swagger yet still manages to portray the vulnerability Hunt felt in his lonelier moments. Bruhl is just as captivating. Probably best known to movie goers for his portrayal of Private Frederik Zoller in “Inglorious Basterds,” Bruhl is sure to make the short list in the Best Supporting Actor category come Oscar time. And keep a spot reserved for Howard as well. His cameras not only take you to the races, they put you in the middle of them. You can practically feel the wind in your face as the camera takes you around the track at 200 miles per hour. Simply put, “Rush” is a rush!

Actors: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhar, Tom Hardy
Directors: Christopher Nolan
Number of discs: 6
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 456 minutes

From the very first time that I picked up a Batman comic back in the 80’s, he was always my favorite superhero. When you think about the word superhero and then think about Batman, some can debate whether or not his is really super. But in my eyes he is definitely a hero. Batman is one of the more darker of comic book heroes. His back story is grim and he is always battling himself with what he is doing and why he is doing it and always looking for a way out. Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy has been the best portrayal of the caped crusader to date, no question. His vision of these characters are so deep and lined with tons of great themes. These themes are what take this film beyond the typical superhero action film into something with much more depth and drama. Now that Nolan’s chapter for The Dark Knight has come to an end and we are celebrating the recent release of “The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”, I wanted to take some time to look into these themes that are presented in these great films. I figured we have all seen the film, so I wanted to focus on something new.

When you think about “Batman Begins”, it’s main focus was the rise of our hero. His struggle and fight through his own issues and fear is what made him the hero that he became. Heroism in the film is an apparent theme. The city of Gotham has never had anyone to look up before like him and putting their well-being over his own is what helped Bruce Wayne transforms himself into their hero. This also brings up point of what makes a hero? Batman wouldn’t be where he was if he didn’t experience all his pain and suffering. That is what made him a hero and helped him to overcome it. Another theme that plays a prominent factor in “Batman Begins” is fear. Like I said Bruce Wayne fights not only the villains in the film but also is own fear. His fear of bats and his want to strike fear into his victims are two main points. Also focusing on fear would be the Scarecrow, who hoped to expose the city to fear with this hallucinogen drug.

Anarchy comes to mind when I think about “The Dark Knight”. The Joker’s role in the film is to just spread anarchy and wreck havoc in Gotham. He doesn’t have any clear reasons or purpose, he just does it because it is fun and it entertains him. His back story isn’t clear at all, especially since he changes it every time he tells the story when he asks “You wanna know how I got these scars?”. He is one of the great villains in history due to that reason of him being unpredictable and unreasonable. To be honest, I think that we are all scared of anarchy in general and what it would bring if there really was someone like Joker terrorizing our streets. That is why it resonates with us so well and we are enamored with this character. Betrayal is also a theme that The Dark Knight faces himself when the city of Gotham turns there back on him after the death of Harvey Dent.

In “The Dark Knight Rises”, I have always felt that it is a blend of all the themes from the previous film and wrapping up all open-ended questions. Carrying over from “The Dark Knight”, Bruce Wayne is dealing with the denial from Gotham turning their backs on him. He continues to fight with him fears of continuing to put on the cowl and fighting for justice. He questions his intentions and almost let’s it get the better of him. With the character of Bane, the idea of order really comes into play. Bane wants to take all order out of Gotham and succeeds for the most part when the city is under his control. His character also deals with a bit of betrayal as well as we see in his back story when we find out what made him snap. Human nature is also a very big part of the film, as we see what happens when the order is removed from society. Luckily strength defeats the chaos in the film as we seen not only Batman’s rise over his enemies and his own struggles but the city itself as they step up on their own.

So obviously these are only a few of the dozens of amazing themes included within these three very well made films. Before Nolan’s trilogy for “The Dark Knight”, you would never have thought that a “superhero” movie would have this much depth and character to it. I believe that it has changed the path for the future of these films and it will open doors for filmmakers to expand the universe of this films. I would love to open the door as well to everyone reading to point our your favorite themes from these films as well in the comments below. If you are looking to revisit these great themes and enjoy these films again, I would highly recommend picking up “The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”.

This amazing release includes all previous special features from the films as well as a bunch of one extras as well. “The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy”, is a behind-the-scenes look on the franchise and is full of never-before-seen footage, rare moments, and exclusive interviews. “Christopher Nolan & Richard Donner: A Conversation” is a sit down chat with directors Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight Trilogy”) and Richard Donner (“Superman”). Lastly there are the complete IMAX® Sequences included for “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises”. There is also some great new and exclusive memorabilia including three premium Mattel Hot Wheels Vehicles: Batmobile, Batpod and Tumbler. There is a newly commissioned collectible art cards by Mondo featuring Scarecrow, Joker, Bane, Harvey Dent, and Ra’s al Ghul and a 48-page book featuring production stills and behind-the-scenes images from all three movies. Lastly, you get digital copies of all the films to add to your Ultraviolet account. Act quick though since this set is limited and numbered to only 141,000 copies.

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt
Created by: Julian Fellowes
Number of discs: 9
Studio: PBS
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Running Time: 1425 minutes

Seasons: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to admit, I have never watched “Downton Abbey” prior to hearing of this new release. I know that series four just started airing in the UK and the hype is all around. Created by Academy Award-winner Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”) and features a quite outstanding cast. I wanted to give this show a shot since literally everyone is talking about it. In the US, after the airing of the third series it has become the highest-rated PBS drama of all time. PBS is releasing “Downton Abbey: Seasons 1, 2 & 3” as a limited edition box set which includes all three seasons of the series, as well as a bonus documentary, “Secrets of Highclere Castle. This series is quite amazing, just a marvel to look at. So well acted and so well scripted. I am now hooked and can’t wait to see what lies in for series four.

Official Premise: “Downton Abbey” tells the story of a complicated community. The house has been home to the Crawley family for many generations, but it is also where their servants live, and plan, and dream, and they are as fiercely jealous of their rank as anyone. Some of them are loyal to the family and committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the look out for betterment or love or just adventure. The difference is that they know so many of the secrets of the family, while the family know so few of theirs. But for all the passions that rage beneath the surface, this is a secure world, serene and ordered, and, at first glance, it seems it will last forever. Little do they know, family or staff, that the clouds of the conflict that will change everything are already gathering over their heads.

Just a note if you are a really hardcore “Downton Abbey” fan, I would suggest getting this from Amazon since it includes an additional over 50 minutes of exclusive footage not available anywhere else. There are never-before-seen deleted scenes from Seasons 1-3, all-new cast interviews, and 11 minutes of clips and interviews from Season 4! So that would be the way to go and easily worth the purchase of the release alone. The episodes look and sound great on Blu-ray, a real improvement over the presentation on PBS. The 1080p transfer looks amazing and really captures the beauty of the gorgeous Highclere Castle. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 also delivers a great presentation, especially with the score from composer John Lunn. The score works so well with the show, which also made me immediately download the CD.

The rest of the bonus features includes are also available on the previously released Blu-rays. Season 1 consists of “Making of Downton Abbey – A House in History” and “Great British Heritage Pass, a promotional spot for British tourism”. Season 2 consists of the “Downton Abbey Christmas Special”  and the following three featurettes “Fashion and Uniforms”, “Romance in a Time of War” and “House to Hospital”. Season 3 delivers the best extras of the three with the powerful Season 3 Finale: “A Journey to the Highlands”, “Downton Abbey Behind the Drama”, “Shirley MacLaine at Downton “, “The Men of Downton” and “Downton in 1920”. All three seasons add up to more than three hours of bonus content. Lastly the bonus disc: “Secrets of Highclere Castle” includes the one-hour documentary, which takes us the castle featured in Downton Abbey and gives a unique look behind-the-scenes on this show.

Actors: Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Paul Kasey
Writers: Steven Moffat
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 24, 2013
Run Time: 705 minutes

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

What an amazing series! “Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series” was jam packed delivered some of the best episodes to date for this franchise. It also had a shift in companions with Amy and Rory Pond ending their run with The Doctor and Clara (and her exciting and curious story) jumping right in. As much as I really loved Amy Pond as a companion, I think that Clara’s character has so much depth behind her and it makes her so much more exciting. Plus it doesn’t hurt at all that Jenna-Louise Coleman is so cute and very easy on the eyes. Overall, we got an explosive seventh series, the first have of the series was gut-trenching with the Pond departing and then fun and exciting second half with Clara.We recently also found out that Matt Smith was departing from the role after the 50th Anniversary Special and 2013 Christmas Special. This is real sad new since I have really loved his take on the Doctor for the last three series but Peter Capaldi does look very promising.

Included here we get all 13 Series Seven episodes including both the 2011 and 2012 Doctor Who Christmas specials (“The Doctor, The Widow & The Wardrobe” and “The Snowmen”). There was some complaints from fans since the Christmas special was not included on “Doctor Who: Series Seven – Part 1 & 2 releases but I always prefer waiting for the “Complete” series releases. Speaking of complete though, I should make you aware that BBC has another surprise up it’s sleeve this November releasing “Doctor Who” Series 1-7 on Blu-ray in a Limited Edition Giftset / w/ Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote. That’s ride Whovians, that’s series 1-4 in HD Blu-ray, which has never before been avaiable. Just something to consider when making up that Holiday wish list.

Official Synopsis: Matt Smith returns as the Eleventh Doctor faces new monsters and familiar foes like you’ve never seen them before. The first part of this series sees the Ponds (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) in their final voyage with The Doctor. They save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in the Wild West and are even kidnapped by the Doctor’s oldest foe. But when they arrive in Manhattan, the Weeping Angels are waiting. Christmas brings with it a new companion for The Doctor named Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman). But how, where and when will he meet her again? And how does this Impossible Girl defy death? The final eight episodes of Series Seven finds The Doctor and his new companion battling monsters on distant alien planets, trapped on a Russian submarine with a deadly passenger, chasing terrifying ghosts, and coming face to face with an army of upgraded Cybermen, all while The Doctor’s oldest secret threatens to be revealed.

The Complete Seventh Series includes the following episodes and specials: “The Doctor, The Widow & The Wardrobe” (2011 Christmas Special), “Asylum of the Daleks,” “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship,” “A Town Called Mercy,” “The Power of Three,” “The Angels Take Manhattan,” “The Snowmen” (2012 Christmas Special), “The Bells of Saint John,” “The Rings of Akhaten,” “Cold War,” “Hide,” “Journey to the Center of the TARDIS,” “The Crimson Horror,” “Nightmare in Silver” and “The Name of the Doctor.”

I have to admit, BBC has always given this series a lot of love when it comes to their releases. Even though, series 1-4 has never been released on Blu-ray (now will be resolved this November), they have done very well with their Blu-ray releases. The 1080p transfer on these episodes are very impressive and sharp within their aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The audio tracks also deliver quite well with their DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This series also seemed to be expanding the scale of the show as well. The episodes felt much bigger and epic than in the past and the impressive audio and video presentations were there to support that new change.

The special features are epic just like the series. BBC does not disappoint here at all. There are Behind-the-scenes featurettes for every episode of Series 7 including Christmas episode “The Snowmen”. There are interviews with Matt Smith and Jenna-Louse Coleman from BBC AMERICA’s “The Nerdist” (one of my favorite shows on BBC). There are seven additional all-new featurettes “Inforarium”, “Clara and the TARDIS”, “Rain Gods”, “The Making of the Gunslinger”, “Creating Clara”, “Last Days of the Ponds” and “Pond Life”. Each of these go into great detail on their respective topic, must watch! There are four “Doctor Who Specials” including “The Science of Doctor Who”, “Doctor Who in the US”, “The Companions” and “Doctor Who at Comic Con”. There are great short prequels included for the following episodes: “The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe”, “Asylum of the Daleks”, “The Snowmen”, “The Bells of Saint John” and “The Name of the Doctor”. Lastly there our audio commentary tracks for the following episodes “The Snowmen”, “Cold War”, “Hide” and “The Crimson Horror”

Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Leehom Wang
Directed by: Dennie Gordon
Not Rated
Running time: 1 hour 45 mins
China Lion Films

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Sophie (Zhang) is a dreamer. While working her dull, unexciting job selling vacation packages over the phone she longs for the adventures she dreams up and home and puts on paper. Sophie likes to draw comics and submits them for publication. The latest one features a handsome, suave secret agent, whom she fantasizes about meeting one day. When she wins an all expense paid trip to Singapore that day comes sooner than expected.

Deftly directed by Dennie Gordon, who also used her skill to help make David Spade appealing in “Joe Dirt,” “My Lucky Star” is James Bond-lite – from the opening credits on- with a twist. Here the smart one is Sophie herself, with the occasional help provided by the object of Sophie’s attention and imagination: David (Wang). The story deals with a diamond (the “Lucky Star” of the title) Sophie thinks she won as part of her vacation package. The diamond is being kept in a case built to withstand an atomic blast. When Sophie tries to obtain the diamond she is made to luck the case so that she can only open it. She does this by kissing the case shut, which makes it bad luck for anyone interested in the contents of the mysterious case.

What is amazing about “My Lucky Star” is that it takes what is really a one note concept – artist begins to live her drawings – and turns it into a film that not only holds your imagination but helps to fuel it. Zhang, currently helping to kick box-office butt with the martial arts biography “The Grandmaster,” is perfect as Sophie. Curious as to what life has to offer, Zhang gives Sophie a true sense of naiveté that those around her recognize. Her life is a comic book and she does her best to fit in. In a way, Sophie is a lot like John Cusack’s character, Hoops McCann, in “Better Off Dead.” Zhang is also surrounded by some great on-screen talent, including the handsome Wang, who gives off an aura of coolness with just a glance.

Technically the film is solid. Director Gordon keeps the story flowing smoothly and the photography, by cinematographer Armando Salas, is picture perfect. From Beijing to Macau to Singapore, not an inch of screen time is wasted.

“My Lucky Star” is currently in limited release in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and the Washington, D.C.