Actors: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Directors: Joseph Kosinski
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 124 minutes

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

A futuristic sci-fi flick starring both Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman?! Sign up me!! Wait a sec it is made by the director of “TRON: Legacy” and producers of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. I’ll take two please? I am a big sucker for sci-fi, especially an original film like “Oblivion”. It is not a sequel or prequel or remake. It is new, original and very epic. The film is very ambitious bringing a lot of ideas to the table all at once but it still manages to work out and really blows you away. After Joseph Kosinski directed “TRON: Legacy”, he has been on my top list and he delivers again! Can’t wait to see what he does next and fingers crossed for “TRON 3”. Sci-fi junkies should definitely check this out for sure. It is fast, crazy and a great time.

Official Premise: On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. 2077: Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Not that I expected any less from a visual film like “Oblivion” but it is easily one of the best Blu-ray presentation that I have been all year. Universal released this epic flick as a sweet combo pack with a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy and UltraViolet digital copy. The film is just a visual effects masterpiece and really looks stunning with it’s 1080p transfer. Same came be said for the film’s extremely epic DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio track.  My walls were literally rattling due to this film and I swear I thought I heard my neighbor’s car alarm going off. M83’s score also really scores with this track as well, another favorite of mine this year.

The special features are nothing short of great just like the film. There is a solid audio commentary track with the director Joseph Kosinski and Tom Cruise deliver. The track is very extensive and worth checking out. It is also very rare to see such a big actor do a track like this but I really admire his support to the film and it really got me pumped to watch it again. “Promise of a New World” is super impressive five-part behind-the-scenes documentary. If you didn’t get enough great content from the commentary track, this really dives into the making of this production and runs just over 45 minutes. There are four deleted and alternate scenes included. Lastly and my favorite is an M83’s isolated score presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround. Totally amazing!

When both you’re mother and father are well known in the theater it’s almost guaranteed that you will follow in their footsteps. Faran Tahir was born in Los Angeles while both of his parents studied acting and directing at UCLA. After completing their studies the family returned to their native Pakistan where they both established prominent careers. His father, Naeem, currently serves as the Director General of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. Returning the America at age 17, Tahir attended the University of California at Berkley, where he graduated with a BA in Theater. He later earned his Graduate Degree at Harvard.

He made his feature film debut in Disney’s live action telling of “The Jungle Book” and is best known for his roles in “Iron Man” and J.J. Abrams re-boot of “Star Trek.” He also has a recurring role on TNT’s new incarnation of the popular television drama “Dallas.” Later this year he will be seen opposite Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Escape Plan.” This week he stars as the President alongside Matt Damon and Jodie Foster in Neill Blomkamp’s “Elysium.” I recently spoke with Mr. Tahir, touching on his new films, his love of science-fiction and working with his parents.

Mike Smith: You’ve done a lot of sci-fi/fantasy genre’ projects: “Lost,” “Star Trek,” “Warehouse 13” and now “Elysium.” Is that something you enjoy? Do you intentionally seek out those projects?
Faran Tahir: I do enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s thought provoking. I think it tickles the imagination. And I like the fact that those kind of stories have very high stakes. Part of it is because I come from a theater background. If you’ve done any theater…any Shakespeare or Greek tragedy…the stakes are as high. I like the theatricality of science fiction. Do I seek it out? Yes, I do seek it out but not at the expense of other genre’s or other kinds of stories. I try not to get too complacent. If I do too many bad guys I try to play a good guy. If I do too much science fiction I try to do something else. I try to keep as much of a balance as I possibly can. I have “Elysium,” which is science fiction. I have “Escape Plan,” which is an action movie. I have two independent features coming out. One is an emotional drama about two families losing their children in a mall explosion (“Torn”). I play the father of one of the families. The other is a supernatural thriller (“Sara’s Cell”). So yes, I do like science fiction but I also need to make sure that I don’t get pigeon holed in just that genre.

MS: Can you talk a little bit about your role in “Elysium?”
FT: Sure! Elysium is a space station. A Utopian space station where all good things happen. Cancer is cured. The temperature never goes above 75. All of that good stuff. All of the grunt work to support Elysium happens on Earth. So the people on Earth desire to get up to Elysium while the people on Elysium don’t want the people from Earth coming over. I play the newly elected President of Elysium. My character is a politician. He’s nuanced. He’s very careful about how he deals with issues. He doesn’t want to hurt his base supporters both on Elysium and on Earth. The counter to him is the secretary of defense, played by Jodie Foster. She has a totally different idea on how to deal with these issues. There’s a nice, dynamic tension between these two characters of how they’re going to deal with the issue of the Earth people trying to come in and what are the resolutions to the situation.

MS: Where you a fan of Neill Blomkamp’s previous film, “District 9?”
FT: I’m actually a fan of Neill! You can sense that he’s a very bright guy. What I love about his work, and it’s true for both “District 9” and “Elysium,” is that he takes a hot-button issue and then he just slightly bases it in the fictional zone. But not so far in the fictional zone where you lose connection to it. “District 9” was a statement on apartheid. “Elysium” deals with other hot-button issues, like elitism and immigration. You can swap the words “Elysium” and “Earth” for “Developed Country” and “Under-developed Country.” You can say “the US” and “Mexico” and have the same dynamics. He works with some really great premises and presents them in a really fun way. I feel blessed that I got to work with him because he is really and truly a genius. He doesn’t push…you know exactly what he wants…but he never pushes his vision. He lets the actors get there organically. He trusts that you will get there with his guidance.

MS: A real change of pace role is Frank Ashkani on “Dallas.” Any chance of you coming back next season?
FT: (laughs) Here’s what I have to say about that. The story goes that anything is possible in science-fiction and on soap operas. So we’ll see what happens. (laughs) I could come back as the twin brother of the character…we’ll see. I really don’t know yet.

MS: Both of your parents are well regarded actors and directors in the theater. Have you ever performed with them?
FT: I have, actually. Back home the first television show I did was with my mom, which was kind of interesting. I’ve been directed by my father. And what I loved about it was that, although they were my parents, they were also consummate professionals. They would completely turn that side off and deal with me just as an actor when you were in a scene with them or being directed by them. All of the domestic issues could just wait. And it was a great thing to learn how to leave all of that behind when you’re working on something.

MS: You mentioned “Escape Plan.” Can you give us a quick preview?
FT: “Escape Plan” comes out in October. It’s a prison escape picture. The three of us…Stallone, Schwarzenegger and I…break out of a prison together. It was a lot of fun.

MS: Anything after that and the two independent projects?
FT: No. Right now I’m concentrating on those projects. After that we’ll see.

Actors: John Ireland, Faith Domergue, John Carradine
Directors: Paul Harrison
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Severin Films
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 91 minutes

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

Zombies are taking off Hollywood recently with hits like “World War Z” in theaters and “The Walking Dead” on television. “The House Of Seven Corpses” is a fun entry from the 70’s that is finally getting the Blu-ray treatment from indie distributor Severin Films. Right from this film’s great setup opening scene to the crazy zombie all-out finale, this is classic old school zombie flick. I see this being a good film to put on during a rainy weekend and just to vege out. The film is a slow-burn but it is worth sticking out due for the bang finish. Definitely screams 70’s horror but horrorhounds should dig it.

Official Premise: Eight graves! Seven bodies!” screamed the ads, “One killer… and he’s already dead!” Hollywood legends John Ireland (“Red River”, “Satan’s Cheerleaders”), John Carradine (“The Grapes of Wrath”, “Vampire Hookers”) and Howard Hughes’ paramour Faith Domergue (“Cult of the Cobra”, “This Island Earth”) star this much-loved `70s shocker about a film crew shooting an occult drama in a sinister manor – actually the former Utah Governor’s Mansion – with its own grisly history of family bloodshed.

Severin Films is releasing this film as a Blu-ray + DVD Combo. The 1080p transfer is very impressive as this film has been transferred into HD from original vault materials. The same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which works well with the spooks and scares. The special features are also pretty impressive with an exclusive archive interview with the legendary horror icon John Carradine. There is also a new revealing audio commentary with Associate Producer Gary Kent Moderated By The Alamo Drafthouse’s Lars Nilsen. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included.

Actors: Asher Tzarfati, Shmuel Wolf, Lilli Avidan, Tsilla Karny
Directors: Amos Sefer
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Grindhouse Releasing
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

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

“What the fuck?” Those are the words that I said aloud about receiving this Blu-ray release. I have not had the privilege of seeing “An American Hippie In Israel” prior to recently.  It was originally filmed in 1972 and is so unbelievably bad that is actually is very entertaining. I mean right from the box it is absolutely impossible to say no to the following – “machine-gun wielding mimes, robots, bloodthirsty sharks, free-loving debauchery and poignant anti-war monologues”. After reading that, it is one of those moments where you just have to drop everything and just watch it immediately.   This film is actually become quite the midnight sensation and cult classic over the year. This long lost psychedelic classic will probably only appeal to its fans with little crossover but it is definitely a crazy trip.

Thanks to Grindhouse Releasing who is giving us this crazy fucked up film, which is being released for the very first time on home-video.  The film is being released as a deluxe edition 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo, which is actually limited to 2000 copies that are going to be individually numbered. I expect this to be out of print quickly and become a very sought upon Blu-ray. Also included is a bonus DVD of “The Hitchhiker”, the Uncensored Director’s Cut. The film does scream 1970’s porn when watching it but Grindhouse gave it a really sharp high-definition digital restoration from the the original U.S. theatrical version print.  So it still look the part but has a nice new paint job. In terms of audio there is a bonus Bonus 5.1 audio track dubbed “The Beverly Cinema Experience”, definitely delivers a good time.

The special features are ridiculously jam-packed. There are six controversial scenes deleted From the original release, just when you though it couldn’t get worse. There are in-depth interviews With the film stars Asher Tzarfati And Shmuel Wolf, the Production Manager Moshe Berman and Singer/Co-Star Susan Devore. There is also a featurette on the star in “Asher Tzarfati – An Israeli Actor In Israel”. There is a “Channel 10 Tel Avi News Segment” and “A Cult Is Born” featurette on the film’s revival In Tel Aviv. There are the original 16mm Screen Tests and also “Be Careful Children”, which is Amos Sefer 16mm short film. Lastly there is Liner Notes By Acclaimed Horror Novelist John Skipp, Still Galleries, Trailer, Filmographies and Optional Hebrew Sub-Titles, as well as Grindhouse Releasing Prevues Of Coming Attractions.

Actors: Bryan Brown, John Hargreaves, Graham Kennedy, Graeme Blundell
Directors: Tom Jeffrey
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Synapse Films
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Run Time: 92 minutes

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

“The Odd Angry Shot” is a highly-acclaimed Australian war film taking a look into the hell of Vietnam.  I have to admit, I was not aware of this film prior to this release.  I know that when I see Synapse Films backing a film that it has to be good..or at least worth checking out.  Naturally, I am not a big fan of war films, not sure 100% way though.  I enjoy watching them but I never rush out to revisit again. The film stars Bryan Brown, who then went on to do films like “Breaker Morant” and “F/X” series. “The Odd Angry Shot” has never before been released on DVD in the U.S., so fans of this classic war film should be excited to finally see it getting some love. The film itself shows a different side of the war and really gets down and dirty to show the gritty truth behind it.  Definitely worth a rent for sure!

Official Premise: Tom Jeffrey’s classic Australian film, “The Odd Angry Shot”, is set in the late 1960s during the brutal war Australians shared with the United States: the struggle for Vietnam. Harry (Graham Kennedy), a hard-edged Special Air Service Corporal, meets a new company of soldiers during his second tour in Vietnam. There’s the naïve Bill (John Jarratt), the easy-going Bung (John Hargreaves), the blunt Rogers (Bryan Brown), the pragmatic Dawson (Graeme Blundell), and the youthful and innocent Scott (Ian Gilmour). Because of their training as professional soldiers from Australia’s toughest Army unit, these men believe they can deal with any situation. They pass the time playing practical jokes, getting into drunken brawls and humoring themselves to keep their minds off the war. But, when the first odd angry shot rings out, and an enemy mortar barrage hits their camp causing many casualties, the men realize their protective shield of humor is no defense at all against the harsh realities of armed combat.

For a film dating back to 1979, This film has never looked better with its new high-definition 1080p (1.78:1) transfer which was taken from original vault materials. Since this film has been given a proper U.S. release since VHS. So this should be a real treat for fans of this cult classic.  Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which works well showcasing the action from the war. Like most Synapse Films releases “The Angry Odd Shot” also comes with a sharp reversible cover art. The special features included are not spectacular but worth checking out. There is an audio commentary with Producer/Director Tom Jeffrey, Producer Sue Milliken and co-star Graeme Blundell. Worth checking out if you are a fan of the show. There is a featurette “Stunts Down Under with Buddy Joe Hooker”, which looks into how the stunts were performed.  Lastly, there is an original theatrical trailer included.

Actors: James Lorinz, Mike Lackey, Mark Sferrazza, Bill Chepil
Directors: James Muro
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Synapse Films
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 102 minutes

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

I grew up watching Troma movies (and even appeared in one of them) at a way to young age. So growing up in the 80’s I was in love with the horror genre and all the “trash” that came out of it. “Street Trash” is a very unique film, since it aims to offend so much with its super-gore and bad taste but it ends up only entertaining. The special effects are all practical and really make me yearn for those days when everything wasn’t digital. There was a lot of hard work that went into making this film, especially on a low-budget and it is just pain fun. In the world of reboots and remakes, it is great to see something truly original. This is definitely not for the squeamish but highly recommend for all hardcore horrorhounds.

Official Premise: In the sleazy, foreboding world of winos, derelicts and drifters in lower Manhattan, two young runaways eighteen-year-old Fred (Mike Lackey) and his younger brother, Kevin (Mark Sferrazza) live in a tire hut in the back of an auto wrecking yard. Life is hard, but the most lethal threat to the boys is the mysterious case of Tenafly Viper wine in Ed’s liquor store window. The stuff is forty years old… and it’s gone bad. REAL bad! Anyone who drinks it melts in seconds, and it’s only a dollar a bottle!

Synapse Films has beautifully re-mastered this film in high-definition and gave it the love and attention that it deserves. The 1080p transfer with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio presentation is very sharp and for a low-budget movie from the ’80s looks just plain awesome. It was taken from original camera negative and was meticulously restored. The colors in this film are very key and they really pop with this new transfer. The film has a certain cartoon feel to it and this really extenuates that positive. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is also impressive. It works very well with the dialogue and especially with the Vietnam War flashback. This track was created specifically for home theater systems and it sounds great. This is easily one of the best Synapse Films in the recent years.

Synapse went all out with the extras included the ability to create your own bottle of Tenafly Viper Wine with an exclusive label sticker included. The special features are stunning like the film itself. There are two commentary track included. The first is with writer/producer Roy Frumkes, which is super informative and fun. The second is with director James Muro, it is more technical and a little drier but still a tons of great info. “The Meltdown Memoirs” is an epic two plus hour multi-part documentary that really encompasses all aspects of the production. There is the original 16mm short film “Street Trash”, which inspired the film.
There is an “Interview with Jane Arakawa” from 2007 sharing her experience making “Street Trash”. Lastly, there are a few Deleted Scenes and Outtakes, as well as Promotional Teaser and Theatrical Trailer included.

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Actors: Eric Porter, Angharad Rees, Jane Merrow, Keith Bell
Directors: Peter Sasdy
MPAA Rated: Not Rated
Studio: Synapse Films
DVD Release Date: July 9, 2013
Run Time: 85 minutes

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

Something about Jack the Ripper has always fascinated me. I think I am not the only one either. The mystery behind this character has been reproduced in cinema for many many years and it never gets old. Hammer delivered yet another Gothic and very brutal, while still unique approach to the character in this film. This film has also been noted as being one of the most gruesome Hammer horror films ever made and that is not an exaggeration. This Blu-ray also features footage never before seen and is completely uncut. So that should make fans very happy. Synapse Films has been behind releasing these classic films on Blu-ray with fantastic transfer and a wealth of special features. Keep them coming guys! A must purchase for any fans of Hammer.

Official Premise: An infant girl watches in horror as her father, the infamous Jack the Ripper, brutally murders her mother. Years later, young Anna (Angharad Rees) is now under the care of a fake psychic and has been forced into prostitution. At the end of a séance one evening, a woman is mysteriously killed. Dr. John Pritchard (Eric Porter) suspects Anna is the murderer but cannot understand how she could do this unspeakable act. Using new Freudian psychoanalysis techniques, Pritchard experiments on Anna and discovers a shocking secret. The spirit of the Ripper is alive and well, and may be possessing his own daughter! Can this evil be stopped before it’s too late?

Synapse Films is releasing “Hands of the Ripper” as part of their Hammer Horror Collection and as a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack. The film has been completely restored in high-definition and released uncut for the first time on Blu-ray in the U.S. The 1080p transfer looks stunning with its widescreen (1.66:1) presentation. There is a fantastic DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track included as well, which complements every scream and the film’s amazing score.

The special features are not too bad and worth checking out for Hammer fans. There is a great featurette in “The Devil’s Bloody Plaything: Possessed by Hands of the Ripper”, it clocks in just short of 30 minutes and packs some interesting interviews. “Slaughter of Innocence: The Evolution of Hammer Gore” is a neat motion still gallery. There is the U.S. television introduction and original theatrical trailer and TV spots. But the real score of this release for myself is the isolated music and effects audio tracks included. I would highly recommend that for any true Hammer fan!

Actors: Marlon Wayans, David Spade, Matthew Lillard, Rip Torn, Brad Dourif
Director: Penelope Spheeris
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

After getting “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood”, “Senseless” may not be the most smartest comedy but is damn funny. The thing is that you kind of expected a little more from director Penelope Spheeris, who is known for great comedies like “Wayne’s World” and “Black Sheep”. But I don’t care this film still makes me laugh, it is zany over-the-top and just plain stupid. Call it a guilty pleasure I guess but there isn’t a week that goes by that my father or myself do not quote this film. “CORN!!! I didn’t eat no CORN!!!” Classic!

Official Premise: Perpetually poor Darryl (Marlon Wayans) is destined to lose his dream Wall Street job to a wealthy snob (David Spade)…until he volunteers for a high-paying scientific experiment that gives him superhuman senses and the competitive edge he needs. But when the side effects start, he finds his chances for success sabotaged by attacks of sensory overload.

Echo Bridge released this film on Blu-ray for the first time with a damn impressive high definition 1080p transfer.  I know the film is just a comedy but it is sharp and real step up from the last DVD release.  It is presented in widescreen 16×9 with an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 also does the trick for the film and is very impressive as well. Since this film is all about the senses, the Blu-ray really does a good job of successfully deliver in both the audio and visual department.  Unlike most Echo Bridge releases “Senseless” actually comes with a Behind the Scenes featurette called “Play N Hockey”.  It is not much but at least it is a special features and better than a bare bones release.

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Actors: Luke Evans, Adelaide Clemens, Lee Tergesen, Derek Magyar, Beau Knapp, America Olivio, Brodus Clay, Linsay Shaw.
Directors: Ryûhei Kitamura
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Last year, I was sent a film “Barricade” from WWE Studios and I loved it. So when the opportunity came up to watch Anchor Bay Films and WWE Studios’ latest horror film, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.  “No One Lives” is violent, super gory and delivers some really impressive twists and turns. The film is helmed by director Ryûhei Kitamura, who is known for “Midnight Meat Train”, “Versus ” and “Godzilla: Final Wars”.  This guy really knows horror and I am very excited to see what he has planned next. I watch many horror films a year and I couldn’t help but watch this twice in a row, just since I was so blown away. I highly recommend this brutal and intense horror thriller.

Luke Evans is absolutely amazing in this film, read our interview, here. If you don’t know him by name he is the main baddie in “Fast and Furious 6” and co-stars in “The Hobbit 2 & 3”. Adelaide Clemens is one of my favorite new actresses as well, you might know here from “Silent Hill: Revelation”. Since the film is produced by WWE, you have to expect a wrestler involved, we get Brodus Clay, read our interview here.  I should also mention that Brodus and Luke really get close in this film, you need to watch the film to understand.

Official Premise: When a ruthless criminal gang takes a young couple hostage and goes to ground in an abandoned house in the middle of nowhere, all hell breaks loose. When tragedy strikes, the tables are unexpectedly turned, and the gang finds themselves outsmarted by an urbane and seasoned killer determined to ensure that no one lives.

Anchor Bay released this title as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack edition. “No One Lives” packs a very sharp 1080p transfer.  Since the film is very dark, it still look great and really works with the action and gore. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track works well with the action and insanity that comes out of this film. My biggest disappointment in this release is the special features. The only extra is “From the Script to the Crypt”, which briefly goes into the behind-the-scene. The film has some of the most creative kills that I have seen in a while and I would have loved to seen a featurette on the special effects as well as a commentary track.

Starring: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hr 49 mins
Tri Star Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

The last time director Neill Blomkamp and actor Sharlto Copley worked together it was in the brilliant, Oscar-nominated “District 9.” Four years later they’ve reunited for another cautionary tale called “Elysium.”

Early in the 22nd century, the Earth is but a shell of its former glory. Over-population has turned the planet into one giant, overcrowded slum, where unrest and violence reigns. High above the planet sits Elysium, a space station where the very rich and connected live worry free. The weather is always nice and nobody ever gets sick, thanks to an invention that cures everything from a paper cut to stage-4 cancer. We meet young Max (Maxwell Perry Cotton) and Frey (Valentina Giron) in the orphanage they live in. They both marvel at the sight that floats in the sky above them. “One day,” Max tells Frey, “I’m going there.”

We meet the now adult Max (Damon) as he walks through the crowded streets to work. Max works on the assembly line of a company that makes androids. Max did not do well after he left the orphanage and has spent some time in prison. His boss knows his past and constantly berates him. When an accident at work leaves Max with only days to live he will do anything he can to get to the Shangri-La in the sky.

What made “District 9” such a great film was the “under the radar” anti-apartheid message it told. That same greatness permeates “Elysium.” Here the message is over-population and illegal immigration. Is it a coincidence that the majority of those left on Earth speak Spanish, while the citizens of Elysium chat happily in French? Who knows. But it certainly makes you think.

Besides Copley, who plays a rogue agent for the tough-as-nails anti-immigration defense secretary (Foster), the cast is clearly divided between the have and have-nots. Damon, his body covered in enough steel to make him a cyborg, fights against all costs to realize his childhood dream. Besides Foster he has to contend with John Carlyle (William Fichtner), at whose company he works. It is Fichtner’s second baddie of the summer (after “The Lone Ranger”). On the more moralistic side is Frey (Alice Braga), now an adult and single mother and newly elected President Patel (Faran Tahir). Everyone in the cast does a fine job with the surprising exception of Foster. Speaking in a clipped, faux-accent, she sounds like Madonna after she moved to England.

Visually the film is packed with powerful images. Is that what our planet will look like in the next century? The future looks bleak, though if a comment the adult Frey makes, even though the world is in chaos you can still find cartoons on television. It’s certainly a world Neill Blomkamp wants you to consider. And do your best to avoid.

DISCOVER THE WORLD’S GREATEST HEROES IN THE NEWEST ANIMATED ADVENTURE FROM THE CREATORS OF ICE AGE

Bring home Epic Adventure with a Brand New Interactive Coloring App and Nearly an Hour of Fun and Immersive Special Features for the Whole Family 

Arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Deluxe Edition Blu-ray and DVD August 20 

LOS ANGELES, CA. (July 23, 2013) – From the creators of Ice Age, the year’s funniest, most exhilarating animated adventure comes home as EPICdebuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Deluxe Edition Blu-ray, and DVD this August 20 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  Directed by Chris Wedge (The Ice Age Franchise) and featuring an amazing voice cast including Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, and Beyoncé, the blockbuster film comes home just in time to help families become one with nature and end the summer in Epic style.

Transported to a magical world, a teenager (Amanda Seyfried) is recruited by a nature spirit, Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles), to help the “Leafmen” save their existence – and ours – from evil warriors. The whole family will love this fast-paced thrill-ride, with its astonishing animation and all-star voice cast that includes Colin Farrell, Oscar^® Winner Christoph Waltz, and Steven Tyler!

Every Blu-ray and DVD comes with the Epic Coloring and Storybook Builder app. The app will allow kids to create their own Epic story and share it with family and friends.

The EPIC Blu-ray combo-pack includes Blu-ray, DVD and DigitalHD and comes complete with exclusives that will have kids both engaged and learning about the environment, just before heading back to school.  With special features including an overview of what life as a person two inches tall would be like, to discovering all of the different bugs from the film, EPIC is the perfect gift for families to enjoy from summer to the holidays!

EPIC 2- disc Blu-ray Combo Pack – BD/Ultraviolet/DVD & DC

• Mub & Grub Intro – Join Mub and Grub for an EPIC tour through the special features of this Blu-ray!
• Birds, Bugs and Slugs: Forest Explorer – Journey into the forest to meet the real-life counterparts of the EPIC world!
• Rot Rocks – Mandrake might be the bad guy, but his world of rot benefits ours in a number of ways, let’s discover how!
• Bugs of Camouflage – Join us to find out how bugs use their environment to hide right under our noses, just like the Leafmen!
• The Epic Life At Two Inches Tall – How would your life be different if you were only two inches tall? Aside from being small, there are some surprising and amazing benefits!
• Mysteries of Moonhaven Revealed – Meet the incredibly talented filmmakers, artists, and animators at Blue Sky, and learn all about the making of EPIC!
  • The World
  • The Leafmen
  • Queen Tara
  • Mub & Grub
  • Nim Galuu
  • The Stompers
  • Finding Moonhaven
• Epic Coloring & Storybook Builder App – Color your own EPIC story with exclusive pages on your iOS or Android devices. Then become the story teller by recording your own voice and share on your television with family and friends
• Theatrical Trailer

EPIC DVD

• Mub & Grub Intro – Join Mub and Grub for an EPIC tour through the special features of this Blu-ray!
• Rot Rocks – Mandrake might be the bad guy, but his world of rot benefits ours in a number of ways, let’s discover how!
• Bugs of Camouflage – Join us to find out how bugs use their environment to hide right under our noses, just like the Leafmen!
• Epic Coloring & Storybook Builder App – Color your own EPIC story with exclusive pages on your iOS or Android devices. Then become the story teller by recording your own voice and share on your device with family and friends
• Theatrical Trailer

EPIC 3-Disc Deluxe Edition BD3D /BD/Ultraviolet/DVD & DC

Includes feature film on Blu-ray 3D and all of the features of the Blu-ray combo pack. In addition, inside every Deluxe Edition Blu-ray, families will find 3 Epic Seed cards—so you can grow your own Epic Garden!

ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and DigitalHD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

Actors: David Argue, Carl Weathers, Jurgen Prochnow, Louise Mc Donald
Directors: Colin Budds
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I can’t explain why but I am big sucker for cheesy 80/90’s action films. I can’t help it. It is like an addiction. Plus who doesn’t love Carl Weathers. Before this film, I grew up watching him as Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” series and Dillon in Predator. Of course everyone knows him as Chubbs Peterson from “Happy Gilmore”. He is just such a kick-ass guy and he does just that in “Hurricane Smith”. Like I said, this movie screams 90’s action but that is what makes it so good. It is not trying to hide anything. If you feel the same way that I highly recommend you picking up this DVD.

Official Premise: He’s been taken for a ride, roughed up and dumped in the gutter. But that won’t stop him. He’ll tear through Bribane, like a…well, his nickname is “Hurricane”! The man who put the Action in Jackson now puts the Hurricane in Smith. Determined to locate his sister, Billy travels from small-town Texas to Australia’s teeming Gold Coast. There, his search plunges into the street war of drug mobsters who’ll soon wonder what hit them. Jurgen Prochnow (Das Boot) costars as stone-cold evil gangster Charlie Dowd. And Cassandra Delaney is the good-hearted hooker who helps Billy as he blasts through a Down Under of high-rise chic and quaint Victoria buildings, of glorious beaches and back-alley gambling. For action that’ll blow you away, brace for Hurricane Smith.

Warner Archive is behind this release and it is the first time that “Hurricane Smith” is getting a DVD treatment. This film has been newly remastered and looks pretty awesome, especially for a 90’s film.  The film comes with an 1.85:1 aspect ratio and looks very impressive. The audio included is also an impressive Dolby Digital track, it works for the film’s action and cheesy yet funny dialogue.  There are no additional special features included here. I just need to say that Warner Archive deserves an award for giving these great titles some love and attention that would otherwise just remain stuck in the VHS age.

Created by: Joe Ruby, Ken Spears
Voices of: Mel Blanc, Laurel Page, Marilyn Schreffler, Vernee Watson
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 440 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I just loved Captain Caveman! When was I kid, I would run down my hallway screaming the “Captain CAAAAAVEMAAAAAAANNNN!” The show was originally aired as a segment on “Scooby’s All-Star Laff-A-Lympics” (1977-79) for the first 24 episodes and after that the remaining 16 episodes shown in its own timeslot in 1980. Captain Caveman’s voice was provided by none other than Mel Blanc (aka voice of Bugs Bunny and hundreds others). There is just something about Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons that always bring my back to a great time from my childhood. They seem all very similar yet they are just so much fun. If you grew up with this show like myself or just discovering it, I would highly recommend this latest addition to the Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection.

Official Premise: As originally announced by Gary Owens’ stupendous stentorian tones: “Set free by the Teen Angels from his prehistoric block of glacier ice, comes the world’s first superhero, Captain Caveman! Now the constant companion to the Teen Angels, Brenda, Dee Dee, and Taffy, in their hilarious, and sometimes scary mystery missions. Get ready for Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels!” Originally a segment on Scooby’s All-Star Laff-a-Lympics (and utility player on the field for The Scooby-Doobies), the Mel Blanc-voiced Neolithic Wonder became a Saturday super-star in his own right, and he and the Teen Angels graduated to headliner status on their own show. This 2-Disc, 40-Episode collection contains every mystery solved by the Teen Angels and the Captain. So, beware villains and miscreants, the trademark battle-cry of “Caaaptain Caaaavemaaaan!!!!” is heard across the land again!

Thanks to Warner Archive, we finally get all 40 episodes of “Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels” for the first time. The episodes looks amazing for a show that is nearing 40 years old. They have been newly remastered and very impressive. They are presented in their original full frame aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The audio is also impressive with a Dolby Digital track. There are no additional special features included. Warner Archive has been a big proprietor of Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons and I can’t wait to see what they have planned next. Sorry just need to scream it one more time…”Captain CAAAAAVEMAAAAAAANNNN!”. Ok I am done…for now!

Related Content

Shout! Factory is releasing two sexy thrillers on Blu-ray for the first time! The double feature of The Hot Spot / Killing Me Softly will be in stores August 13.

THE HOT SPOT
Experience film noir like never before when a lowlife drifter (Don Johnson, Django Unchained), who sells used cars in a Texas burg, robs the local bank and gets involved with two sultry women: one bad, one innocent. Based on Charles Williams’ 1952 novel Hell Hath No Fury and directed by Dennis Hopper, this steamy noir also stars Barry Corbin, Charles Martin Smith, Jack Nance, Jennifer Connelly, Jerry Hardin, Leon Rippy, Virginia Madsen and William Sadler. Rated R.

KILLING ME SOFTLY
From the very moment that Alice (Heather Graham, The Hangover) locks eyes with Adam (Joseph Fiennes, American Horror Story), a mysterious stranger, she is catapulted into a whirlwind of intense erotic desire and adventure, risking everything just to be with him. But when secrets from Adam’s past begin to surface, Alice finds herself in a bizarre and potentially lethal situation she can’t escape. Acclaimed director Kaige Chen directs this contemporary suspense thriller, now on blu-ray for the first time. Unrated and uncut.

Actors: Joe Don Baker, Martin Balsam, John Saxon, Linda Evans, Morgan Paull
Directors: Andrew V. Mclaglen
Studio: Warner Archive Collection
DVD Release Date: July 23, 2013
Run Time: 97 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I came across “Mitchell” like I am sure many people have through “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. I absolutely loved that episode of the show and it introduced me to the actor Joe Don Baker and his great roles for film’s like the “Walking Tall” series. I know it pokes fun at the movie “Mitchell” but it also gave me an appreciation for the film as well. I am able to quote various lines from it and it always makes for a fun time watching it with friends. Even without the funny commentary track from “MST3K”, “Mitchell” is still a very entertaining film.  It may not be perfect but it is fun and action packed.

Official Premise: Told to lay off a case involving an attorney who shot an intruder in his home, headstrong police detective Mitchell ignores the order — and proceeds to get tangled up in an investigation that connects the lawyer (John Saxon), the head of an import racket (Martin Balsam) and a scheme to unload a million-dollar cache of stolen heroin. Joe Don Baker, who made a name for himself as club-wielding sheriff Buford Pusser in the drive-in classic Walking Tall and whose later credits include a notable role in 2013’s Mud, plays the title role in an action film that’s gained a following among connoisseurs of guilty pleasures. At the center of all the action, of course, is Mitchell, giving as good as he gets in pell-mell sequences involving shootings, brawls, car chases, suicidal dune buggy jousts and a rappel from a police helicopter onto the racketeer’s speeding getaway boat. Linda Evans and Merlin Olsen are also in the cast.

The film previously was only available on DVD as part the “Mystery Science Theater 3000”, so it is great that Warner Archive is giving this film some solo love and diving people a chance to enjoy it outside of the spoof series.  I personally look forward to sharing this with my friends and enjoying it for numerous repeat viewings over the years.  The DVD transfer itself looks good, I am not sure if Warner Archive has done any more restoration but I was used to watching it on a crappy TV bootleg copy. I would have loved to see this get the Blu-ray treatment especially since Warner Archive has been getting into that market recently. In terms of special features, there is nothing additional included on this DVD release.