Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Reuel Pendleton, Sakina Jaffrey, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly
Developed by: Beau Willimon
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
DVD Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 674 minutes
Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A
“House of Cards” is a pretty cutting edge TV series since it was made for and released specifically for Netflix. It consists of 13 episodes, which were released all at once on the paid online service. It is a fierce political drama with Kevin Spacey, perfectly leading pack. The show also co-stars Robin Wright, Kate Mara, and Corey Stoll (whom I loved in “Midnight in Paris”). David Fincher also co-created and directed the first two episodes and really set the tone for the whole season, which intense, smart and extremely well-written. This show also has paved for way for other shows to premiere online with Netflix. I can’t wait for season two, bring it on! If you are a fan of political dramas, then “House of Cards” is the show for you.
Official Premise: “House of Cards”follows House Majority Whip Frank Underwood (Spacey), a strong-willed, power-hungry Democrat from South Carolina set on conquering Washington D.C. alongside his wife, Claire (Wright). When the President decides to pass over Frank for a presumed appointment to Secretary of State, Underwood takes matters into his own hands by using Congress, the media, and corporate boosters as pawns in exacting revenge on those who betrayed him
Sony Pictures Entertainment gave this series a nice Blu-ray presentation. The 1080p transfer looks very impressive and is presented well with an aspect ratio of 2.00:1. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 works well with the drama filled intense dialogue. I am a bit disappointed that there are ZERO special features included for this series. If you are a subscriber to Netflix, there would be no reason for you to purchase this Blu-ray since you can watch the episodes already online for free. I would have loved to see some featurettes and commentary tracks included. So if you don’t have Netflix, then this would be for you but after you finish the season don’t expect anything extra.
Actors: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Paul Kasey, Arthur Darvill, Nicholas Briggs
Directors: Farren Blackburn
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Run Time: 60 minutes
Special: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
If you are a fan of “Doctor Who”, then like myself you look forward to the holiday season each year for the “famous” Christmas specials. While some of the past Christmas specials were completely independent from the series, “The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe” fits itself into the timeline very well. This seems to be a trend now also with the recent special “The Snowmen”. The story is a nice homage to “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and is easily one of my favorite specials. Currently this special is only available to purchase on a solo Blu-ray but I assume it will be included on the “The Complete Seventh Season” when it is released later this Fall. So if you can’t wait, this is a sure steal!
Official Premise It’s Christmas Eve, 1938, when Madge Arwell comes to the aid of an injured Spaceman Angel as she cycles home. He promises to repay her kindness – all she has to do is make a wish. Three years later, a devastated Madge escapes war-torn London with her two children for a dilapidated house in Dorset. She is crippled with grief at the news her husband has been lost over the channel, but determined to give Lily and Cyril the best Christmas ever. The Arwells are surprised to be greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world. Here, Madge will learn how to be braver than she ever thought possible. And that wishes can come true…
The Blu-ray presentation for the episode is impressive as it always has been with BBC Home Entertainment. The 1080i transfer is quite clear and sharp. The DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround audio track kicks some major ass and deliver for the special. It also packs a nice festive punch for the holidays. The special features are damn impressive, especially just for the one special. There is the short but sweet prequel to this special. There are also three featurettes with for “The Best of the Doctor”, “The Best of the Companions” and “The Best of the Monsters”. On top of the great extras, inside the Blu-ray there is a free in-game reward code for the online game “Doctor Who: Worlds in Time”.
Actors: Randolph Scott, Helen Gahagan, Nigel Bruce, Raymond Massey
Directors: Lansing C. Holden, Irving Pichel, William Cameron Menzies
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Legend Films
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Run Time: 500 minutes
Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Ray Harryhausen Double Feature consists of “She (1935)” and “H.G. Wells’ Things to Come (1936)” as well as a bonus film “The Most Dangerous Game (1932)”. Now, if you are a fan of Ray Harryhausen then you would already know that he did not do the special effects for these films. But what you might not know was that he was behind the colorization and restoration of these three classic films. So this release is presented by him in terms of him acting primarily as the color consultant. So it might be a little stretch calling this a “Ray Harryhausen Double Feature” but still these are classics and it is nice to see them getting a nice Blu-ray transfer to high definition.
“She” Official Premise: From the creative team that brought you King Kong, a thrilling tale of adventure, immortality and lost love. A group of explorers, led by the dashing Leo Vincey (Randolph Scott), sets out on a mission in search of the legendary flame of life, a mysterious force that bestows immortality. Their perilous journey takes them to the heart of a remote glacier where they are taken captive by the beautiful but impossibly cruel She.
“H.G. Wells’ Things to Come” Official Premise: A landmark collaboration between writer H. G. Wells (Island of Lost Souls), producer Alexander Korda (The Thief of Bagdad), and designer and director William Cameron Menzies (Gone with the Wind), Things to Come is a science fiction film like no other, a prescient political work that predicts a century of turmoil and progress. Skipping through time, Things to Come bears witness to world war, dictatorship, disease, the rise of television, and finally, utopia.
Both “She (1935)” and “H.G. Wells’ Things to Come (1936)” have been restored to high definition from their original 35mm film elements and for films that are nearly 80 years old they look quite impressive. Since these have been selected and personally color-designed by Ray Harryhausen himself, you know that there was some love given to them. Also in this collector’s set we get both the color version of the film along with the original black-and-white format. Even though the transfer looks good, the audio tracks are not really up to Blu-ray par standards. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono tracks may not be perfect but they are able to deliver for these aged film, especially with Max Steiner’s amazing score on “She”.
The special features are impressive, especially for a Legend Films release. The bonus film “The Most Dangerous Game (1932)” is available on the extra DVD included, also in both color and black-and-white. The Blu-ray disc includes a great commentary track for “She” by Ray Harryhausen and Mark Vaz. We get some great details about the colorization and restoration. There are “Colorization Process Interviews with Ray Harryhausen” and “Film Interviews with Ray Harryhausen”, which is a must watch for any fan of his work. There are 12 minutes of classic sci-toy commercials, which are a great retro piece. Lastly there is a biography and filmography included for Ray Harryhausen.
Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith
Directed: Nathan Juran
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Legend Films
DVD Release Date: May 28, 2013
Run Time: 94 minutes
Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars
Legend Films is re-releasing the 1962 film “Jack and the Giant Killer” to capitalize on the release of Warner Bros recent film “Jack The Giant Slayer”. The DVD though is very unimpressive. The colors are extremely faded and the print looks a bit sad. Stop-motion animator Jim Danforth tried to recreate what Ray Harryhausen did with Nathan Juran’s “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad” but falls short of his talent. I would recommend the Rifftrax version of this film, at least it’s worth the laugh, which is also released by Legend Films coincidentally.
Official Premise: Farm boy Jack heroically rescues Princess Elaine from sorcerer Pendragon by slaying his bloodthirsty giant. But when Pendragon uses his evil powers to bewitch and imprison Elaine in his enchanted fortress, Jack must cross the ocean to brave dragons, two-headed ogres and an army of ghouls to save his lady love!
Even though the film’s transfer has seen better days, I have heard that this film has two versions of it floating around. One of them is the original 1962 version and the other has musical numbers added in. At least this one is the original 1962 version, since I have heard that the musical version is even more unwatchable. There are no special features included here, which is not shocking as all since this is just a cash-in release. If you are a childhood fan of this film and have never owned it prior, it just comes down to your love of this film and if you have $8.99 to blow.
Actors: Katharine Isabelle, Antonio Cupo, Tristan Risk
Directors: Jen & Sylvia Soska
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Xlrator
DVD Release Date: June 18, 2013
Run Time: 95 minutes
Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
I have to admit prior to this film, I had never heard of the Twisted Twins aka Jen and Sylvia Soska. But I can’t turn down a good horror flick…and boy was this quite a suprise. “American Mary” is the follow-up to their indie hit “Dead Hooker in a Trunk”. They wrote, directed and even co-starred in this. I found myself almost mesmerized by the film and its slow yet steady pacing. It is gory, in-your-face and will leave you with an unsettled feeling in your stomach…but to me that means that it was successfully. This film was also recognized by Screamfest and when I see that label you know the film major potential. Keep an eye out for the Soska Sisters because they are going to be the future of the horror genre for sure.
Official Premise: “American Mary” is the story of a medical student named Mary who is growing increasingly broke and disenchanted with medical school and the established doctors she once idolized. The allure of easy money sends a desperate Mary through the messy world of underground surgeries which leaves more marks on her than the so-called freakish clientele. Appearances are everything.
Katharine Isabelle, known best for her role in the “Ginger Snaps” series, was absolutely amazing in this film. You literally hung on her every word. If you are looking for a fresh and original horror film, then I will highly recommend this…just not for the squeamish. This DVD is rated R but I have heard that there is an uncut version, which is six minutes longer and I would have loved to seen that version for this release. The special features on the DVD are impressive. “A Revealing Look at the Making of American Mary” is a great behind-the-scenes look into the film with cast/crew. There is also very entertaining commentary track with the Soska Sisters, Katharine Isabelle and Tristan Risk. If you enjoyed the film, this track is a great way to enjoy a second viewing.
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 59 mins
20th Century Fox
Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars
I owe Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson a great debt. Back in 2005 they did a film together called “Wedding Crashers.” Funny film but I remember it best because a screening of “Wedding Crashers” constituted the first date for my wife and I. Happily still together we took in the new pairing of Vince and Owen in the film “The Internship.”
Billy (Vaughn) and Nick (Wilson) are born salesman. To paraphrase a popular saying, they could sell ice to an Eskimo. Currently they are in the high-end watch business. And now they’re not. In the middle of a sale they learn that their company has folded. Desperate, Nick takes a job selling mattresses in a store run by his sister’s boyfriend (a very funny Will Ferrell cameo). Billy begins a job search on line and discovers that GOOGLE is currently hiring. Actually the company is looking for interns, with a promise of a job for the best and brightest. Using their sales skills, the two talk their way past the admission board and embark on a journey to prove their Googly-ness!
Slow starting, “The Internship” is a buddy comedy with a message: that no matter who you are you have a purpose. Almost twice as old as all of the other candidates, the two find themselves at odds with pretty much everyone there. They are so out of touch that when a rival intern sends them to Stanford to get some information from a bald instructor in a wheelchair named “Professor Xavier” they blissfully head out. Of course, like all large gatherings, there are usually a few outcasts and Billy and Nick become a team with brooding Stuart (Dylan O’Brien), nerdy hot-chick Neha (Tiya Sircar) and Yo-Yo (Tobit Raphael) a home schooled young man whose mother is the very definition of “Tiger Mom,” all being guided by team leader Lile (Josh Brener, who I’m certain will one day play Woody Allen in a bio-pic). The younger roles are all well cast, with each actor getting a chance to develop their character.
The film picks up when the teams begin competing with either. Whether they’re inventing a new phone app or playing a game of Quiditch, the concept of team first is driven home by Vaughn, who apparently has a vault full of inspirational “Flashdance” references. The script, co-written by Vaughn and Jared Stern (who co-wrote the Vaughn/Ben Stiller vehicle “The Watch”) has some funny lines, most of them delivered by Vaughn. Wilson gives Nick a sweet personality that works well for him when he’s trying to woo one of the GOOGLE instructors. Speaking of GOOGLE, the company should be pleased with the almost two-hours of free advertising the film provides. And if you’ve nothing to do this summer, you may want to see if they still need some interns.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Rhys Wakefield
Directed by: James Demanaco
Rated: R
Running time: 85 minutes
Universal
Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
It sounds like a sweet deal…unemployment is at 1% and crime is at its lowest ever. As long as you exclude the Purge, 12 hours of the year where mayhem reigns supreme. The year is 2022 and the only significant differences are that we have new founding fathers who’ve lead America on a new path of enlightenment; one that is gleefully coated with blood. For half a day in the month of March, starting at 7 p.m., all emergency services are suspended and all crimes are made legal, including murder. This begs multiple questions in the first couple minutes of the movie. What happened in America for the solution of our problems to be a murder-thon? Can a night of carnage really be worth 364 days of peace and prosperity? Is the Purge just a huge excuse to eradicate those deemed poor and useless by society? Well, we’re just gonna have to ignore those questions.
After a very simplistic explanation of the Purge, we meet James Sandin (Ethan Hawke). He lives in the largest house in his upper middle class neighborhood. We then meet his lovely wife Mary (Lena Headey), his teenage, school girl outfit wearing daughter, Zoey (Adelaide Kane) and his loner oddball son Charlie (Max Burkholder). I’m surprised there wasn’t a golden retriever named Max to complete this family. After the introduction of our soon to be victims, we go through the motions of a dinner and conversation. Even when the family locks down the home and the Purge begins, the family just goes through the motions. Of course this would be a boring movie if everything went according to plan. The young Charlie watches in horror on the home’s security cameras as a ragged bleeding man pleads for his life (Edwin Hodge). As the only character with a conscience, it’s up to Charlie to let the unknown man in and give the movie some excitement. A mob of masked people arrive outside the home. Only one of the mysterious assailants takes off his mask to talk directly to the family. This polite and well-spoken lunatic (Rhys Wakefield) tells the family to hand over the “filthy homeless pig” and be spared. Or suffer the consequences when they rip the protective metal sheets off the house.
Before this movie began, it had two paths to choose from. A futuristic movie that went over the social ideas of class warfare and America’s obsession with violence or it could have been a violent fist pumping good time. I give credit to writer/director James Demanaco for going straight down the middle of these two paths. He drops little hints of problems within our own society, but not enough to nauseate us. He also manages to sprinkle in some suspense before giving us the blood splattering good time we know is coming. The acting by the two leads isn’t anything spectacular, but it isn’t terrible. There are plenty of things that prevent this movie from becoming the fantastic thriller I know it could have been. Our main characters aren’t fleshed out and lack sufficient background to care about their plight. It’s amazing how the first half of this movie has no character development. There’s also the questionable motives by the family, the crazed intruders and even the bloody stranger. My review could have easily been a list of questions directed at each character’s actions.
But as the film wound down and I realized those nagging questions weren’t going to be answered, I turned off the thought processes in my brain and enjoyed the flick. With false scares and jump out of your seat moments, it’s a fun little movie. Even though the pacing at the beginning is a bit off, the final 30 minutes of this movie had every eye in the audience glued to the screen. I have to admit though that one final question popped into my head as the crowd cheered on the suburban family fighting back against their intruders. How many people are watching this and thinking the Purge actually wouldn’t be a bad idea? Is it really that far-fetched to assume citizens would approve of a concept like the Purge? These questions were solidified as applause arose from the crowd as an axe was violently driven into someone’s spine. Considering I’ll never be able to afford the security system in this movie or last in a dystopian future like this, I don’t think these are questions I want answered.
Actors: Lee Perkins, Marshal Hilton, Maria Olsen, Michael Villar
Directors: Justin Paul Ritter
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: June 18, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes
Film: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars
“The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse” is a feature film version of the cult underground Dynamite comic series, “The Living Corpse Exhumed” by Ken Haeser and Buz Hasson. I have been to many comic conventions and have seen these guys there. The animation is terrible. The voice cast is amateur and almost laughable. The zombie genre has some pretty high standards recently and this film just doesn’t meet those. I found myself actually tempted to turn the film off many times as well, which is rare for me. This might work well with the convention scene but otherwise steer clear!
Meet John Romero, the decaying corpse with a conscience, wracked with guilt and ready to kick ass. In his first frenzy of undead hunger, he’ll infect his own wife and slaughter his young daughter. But now this reluctant brain-eater must brawl his way through the wretched fiends of Hell itself to protect his surviving son from the horrors of the living. Get ready for a limb-ripping, flesh-chomping animated battle from beyond the grave, based on the hit underground graphic novel from Dynamite Entertainment.
The Blu-ray presentation of “The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse” is not as bad as the film itself. Even though I was not a fan of the animation the CG still looks decent despite its very low production feel. The Dolby True HD 5.1 audio track also works well with the film’s sound design, but nothing that blows you away for sure. The score is very mellow and not that memorable either. The only special feature on the release is a downloadable PDF for a “The Living Corpse: Haunted” comic. Come on people, this is an example of a good comic series getting ruined by a low quality poor film version.
Actors: Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Cree Summer, Don Novello, Claudia Christian
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Number of discs: 3
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Video
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 176 minutes
“Atlantis: The Lost Empire”: 3 out of 5 stars
“Atlantis: Milo’s Return”: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
Last year Disney started flooding the market with their less than par animated films on Blu-ray in these 2 Movie Collection sets. A few of them that we got “The Rescuers”/”The Rescuers Down Under”, “Pocahontas”/Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” and “Mulan”/”Mulan II”. This month we are getting a few more to add to our collections including “The Emperor’s New Groove”/”Kronk’s New Groove”, “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” and this release “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”/”Atlantis 2: Milo’s Return”. “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” is not the best thing that Disney has every made, it is watchable and put not one of my favorites. The sequel is another story, it was original made as a TV show “Team Atlantis” but failed and ended up being pieced together as a film. It is quite the failure in terms of Disney. I would say this release is for the hardcore Disney fans only.
Official Premise: Set a course for adventure as Milo Thatch and his fearless crew dive into the mysteries of the sea. The group’s underwater expedition brings them face-to-face with gigantic sea monsters, spectacular spirits and the mythical land of Atlantis while they discover the power of friendship and teamwork. Loaded with thrills and stunning visual effects, this sensational 2-Movie Collection takes audiences on an unforgettable voyage they’ll want to experience over and over again!
The 2-Movie Collection release of “Atlantis: The Lost Empire / Atlantis: Milo’s Return” is a 3-disc set. Which includes both films on one Blu-ray with each film also included on their own DVD. In terms of Blu-ray presentation, the 1080p transfers are great for “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”, which really looks clear and the colors are beautiful. “Atlantis: Milo’s Return” is not the greatest, especially since it really has that made-for-TV feel to it. Just doesn’t work for me overall. Both films come stocked with a standard, yet impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio tracks, same thing applies here also as the video transfer. The first film sounds stunning and very epic, while the sequel does not reach that same level at all. Decent but no wow factor.
The best thing this Blu-ray has going for it that “The Emperor’s New Groove”/”Kronk’s New Groove” and “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” doesn’t is that it actually has special features on the Blu-ray disc. There is an audio commentary on the first film from producer Don Hahn and directors Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise. I actually thought it was quite interesting and informational. “The Making of Atlantis” is a sweet hour long extensive ten-part documentary, which covers all aspects of the production. “The Lost Empire Deleted Scenes” includes four unused scenes. There is one deleted scene from “Milo’s Return” running thirty-two seconds long…really? Lastly there is “How to Speak Atlantean” as a faux news reel, “Atlantis: Fact or Fiction?”, which is fun for the kids and Theatrical Trailers included.
Actors: Chris Sanders, Daveigh Chase, Tia Carrere, Ving Rhames, David Ogden-Stiers
Directors: Chris Sanders, Dean Deblois
Number of discs: 3
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Disney
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 153 minutes
“Lilo & Stitch”: 5 out of 5 stars
“Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch”: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A
Last year Disney started flooding the market with their less than par animated films on Blu-ray in these 2 Movie Collection sets. A few of them that we got “The Rescuers”/”The Rescuers Down Under”, “Pocahontas”/Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” and “Mulan”/”Mulan II”. This month we are getting a few more to add to our collections including “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”/”Atlantis 2: Milo’s Return”, “The Emperor’s New Groove”/”Kronk’s New Groove” and this release “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch”. I was never a huge fan of “Atlantis” but “The Emperor’s New Groove” is a great and very underrated film and “Lilo & Stitch” is a no brainer bonafide Disney classic. Thanks to “Lilo & Stitch”, I am proud to call my wife and daughter, my “ahona” every day. The sequel is not too bad either, not amazing but not as terrible as some Disney direct-to-video. I can’t wait to sit down and introduce my daughter to “Lilo & Stitch”.
Official Premise: “Lilo and Stitch” is the story of Lilo, a lonely little girl, and Stitch the mischievous little creature from outer space. When Stitch crash-lands in Hawaii, Lilo adopts him as her pet, but he soon turns her world upside down. Stitch takes Hawaii by storm, wreaking havoc and hanging ten while he evades the alien bounty hunters who are after him, and also learning about loyalty and friendship. Featuring six original Elvis Presley songs, “Lilo and Stitch” is fun for the entire family. The laughter continues in the hysterical sequel “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch.” As Stitch settles into life with his human family it appears his molecular makeup is out of whack and his friendship with Lilo is threatened as a result. Lilo and her friends must find a way to restore his “goodness” level before he ruins everything, including Lilo’s big hula competition – the same competition her mother won years before.
The 2-Movie Collection release of “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” is a 3-disc set. Which includes both films on one Blu-ray with each film also included on their own DVD. In terms of Blu-ray presentation, the 1080p transfers both looks stunning! The colors are vibrant and very crisp. “Lilo & Stitch” looks better obviously due to production quality of the film. But “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” also is quite sharp, especially since it is direct-to-video. Both films come stocked with a standard, yet impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio tracks. “Lilo & Stitch” packs some amazing music including Elvis Presley and sounds amazing. “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” doesn’t have the flair of the first film but also sounds very impressive for a direct-to-video entry.
Now we get to the special features, which is a real disappointment just like the “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” release. We get ZERO special features included on the Blu-ray, only on the bonus DVD copies. This is a real disappointment, especially with the first film’s audio commentary, which now can only be listened if you are watching the DVD of the film. I would have loved to had the opportunity to watch it with the Blu-ray. Same thing goes for the recently released “The Emperor’s New Groove”/”Kronk’s New Groove” double feature Blu-ray as well. Disney if you are reading this please cut it out with the double feature Blu-ray. This issue is the result of that.
Starring: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Warburton, Tracey Ullman, Wendie Malick
Director: Mark Dindal
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 150 minutes
The Emperor’s New Groove: 5 out of 5 stars
Kronk’s New Groove: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A
Last year Disney started flooding the market with their less than par animated films on Blu-ray in these 2 Movie Collection sets. A few of them that we got “The Rescuers”/”The Rescuers Down Under”, “Pocahontas”/Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World” and “Mulan”/”Mulan II”. This month we are getting a few more to add to our collections including “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”/”Atlantis 2: Milo’s Return”, “Lilo & Stitch”/”Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch” and this release “The Emperor’s New Groove”/”Kronk’s New Groove”. I was never a huge fan of “Atlantis” but “Lilo & Stitch” is a Disney classic and “The Emperor’s New Groove” is an underrated film and one of my favorites. I do not think that I can do a week without quoting this film at last one. “Pull the lever Kronk!….WRONG LEVER!” I will be wearing this Blu-ray out for sure.
Official Premise: Experience Disney’s outrageously funny animated comedies, The Emperor’s New Groove and Kronk’s New Groove – presented for the first time ever on Blu-ray, with perfect picture and sound. Featuring an all-star cast and the Academy Award-nominated song, “My Funny Friend And Me!” (best music, original song, Sting, 2000), this 2-movie collection is king-size fun for the entire family! When the young and spoiled Emperor Kuzco is transformed into a llama by his sinister advisor Yzma, it takes a thoughtful peasant to restore the kingdom and show Kuzco just how much fun it is to be true to yourself. Then laugh along with Yzma’s hilarious henchman Kronk as he cooks up big trouble in the hilarious sequel. These two comedy classics are better than ever on Disney Blu-ray!
The 2-Movie Collection release of The Emperor’s New Groove / Kronk’s New Groove is a 3-disc set. Which includes both films on one Blu-ray with each film also included on their own DVD. In terms of Blu-ray presentation, the 1080p transfers both looks great! The colors are vibrant and very sharp, especially on “The Emperor’s New Groove”. “Kronk’s New Groove” doesn’t quite have that polished look to it but still very impressive. Both films come stocked with a standard, yet impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio tracks. “The Emperor’s New Groove” is a loud, funky and fun film. It features fun music and sounds great on this Blu-ray. “Kronk’s New Groove” doesn’t have the flair of the first film but also sounds very impressive for a direct-to-video entry.
Now we get to the special features, which is a real disappointment. “The Emperor’s New Groove” / “Kronk’s New Groove” does not have ANY special features included on the Blu-ray, only on the bonus DVD copies. This is a real disappointment, especially with the first film’s audio commentary, which now can only be listened if you are watching the DVD of the film. I would have loved to had the opportunity to watch it with the Blu-ray. Same thing goes for the recently released “Lilo & Sitch 1 & 2” double feature Blu-ray as well. Disney if you are reading this please cut it out with the double feature Blu-ray. This issue is the result of that.
Actors: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hyden Walch, Tom Kenny
Created by: Pendleton Ward
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Cartoon Network
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Running Time: 572 minutes
Seasons: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars
I have to admit, I was not aware of this amazing show when it first started airing. I came in around the third season but I have never seen anything like this before. “Adventure Time” is an amazing blend of animation with fantasy and plenty of comedy. It is trippy, strange and completely weird but impossible not to love. The show’s creator Pendleton Ward is just 30 years old and has really delivered us a fantastic show not just for kids either, this show is for “kids” of all ages. There are some many pop-culture references through this series that literally brings out the fanboy in all of us. If you have never heard of “Adventure Time”, now is the perfect time to start. If you are a die-hard fan like myself, need I say more?
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Cartoon Network has released numerous DVDs for “Adventure Time” in the last few years but just recently started getting into the complete seasons, which I am big fan of. This is the first time that The Complete First Season is available on Blu-ray and also the first time that The Complete Second Season is available at all in full. Together these releases brings us, the fans, 52 episodes of this amazing show in glorious high definition. They also come in very cool slipcases. First season is Finn with a removable hat and the second season, surprised it isn’t Jake, is The Ice King, with removable beard. Very clever and a nice added touch!
The Complete First Season Official Synopsis: What time is it? It’s time for Adventure Time! Cartoon Network’s #1 hit comedy show and Emmy-nominated series centers on the post apocalyptic adventures of Finn (voiced by Jeremy Shada), a human boy with a funny hat, and his friend Jake (John DiMaggio), a magic and mischievous dog. The Blu-ray includes all 26 episodes from Season 1 and tons of special features by Ward. The first season also comes packaged with a collectible slipcover and is a must have for any Adventure Time fan.
The Complete Second Season Official Synopsis: It’s one crazy adventure after another for human boy, Finn, and his best friend, Jake, a 28-year old dog with magical powers. They’re out to have the most fun possible and they sure do find it exploring the Land of Ooo! Whether it’s saving Princess Bubblegum (Hynden Walch), battling zombie candy, taunting the Ice King (Tom Kenny) or rocking out with Marceline the Vampire Queen (Olivia Olson), with Finn & Jake it’s always Adventure Time.
Like I said before the episodes looks quite amazing with their 1080p transfers and aspect ratio of 1.78:1. I watched this show on Cartoon Network HD and this really gives the show a real impressive make over. The most disappointing aspect of this release is the audio tracks. Oh man, they really let us down here. Each season only comes with a weak Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps) track. This is even bad for DVD standards. The show is dialogue based, so it doesn’t suffer too much but if I am upgrading this series, especially for the first season on Blu-ray, then I expect Blu-ray quality audio tracks.
The Complete First Season features the same extras, which are replicated from its previous DVD release. “Behind the Scenes” features the show’s creator Pen Ward show us around the show’s offices. To top that there is a “Behind the Behind the Scenes,” which includes more strangeness inside the show. “Adventure Time Music with Casey + Tim” is a featurette with the show’s composers Casey James Basichis and Tim Kiefer. There are also four commentary tracks including “Trouble in Lumpy Space” & “Prisoners of Love” with John DiMaggio, Jeremy Shada, Tom Kenny and Pen Ward; “Tree Trunks” by Bettie Ward and Polly Lou Livingston and “Ricardio the Heart Guy” with George Takei, Tom Kenny, Hynden Walch, Jeremy Shada and Pen Ward.
The Complete Second Season extras are not as bountiful as the first but it makes up for it in its content. There are literally 26 commentary tracks includes. If you are a fan of this show, each one is better than the next. There is also a featurette “The Crew of Adventure Time”, with them being interviewed by Pen Ward. Topping this release off is my favorite part, even though it is not much of a bonus feature, if you like digital copies then these two seasons releases include all the episodes available to be added to your Ultraviolet digital streaming account!
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Spencer, Joey King
Director: Sam Raimi
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 130 minutes
Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
After the success of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland”, we knew that more films like this weren’t far behind. When I heard Sam Raimi was directing this I also was a little hesitant since I wasn’t thrilled at all with what he did with the “Spider-Man” franchise, especially with all that money. But once I saw the first posters and trailers, I was really drawn in. I felt like they might have actually gotten it right. Well let’s say that I enjoyed the film…wasn’t in love with it but there were parts that I liked. The film is a visual thing of beauty but really falls into the category of looking too fake. When you watch “Avatar” you believe that they are really there but this felt like a giant green screen shoot. You are still able to enjoy the film and it’s many references back to the original “The Wizard of Oz” story, but it just didn’t pack any magic to my viewing. I am on board for the inevitable sequel just hope they make some needed changes.
One of the main things, I had a problem with was the believability of these actors in there respective roles. James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz have all either won or been nominated for Oscars and numerous other awards. Sorry Mila Kunis, “Family Guy” is only a TV show. So I found it a little hard to watch these “great” actors in these less than great roles. Also speaking of Mila Kunis, she doesn’t really have a good angry voice. So when she screamed it just felt like Meg from “Family Guy” screaming at Peter, not very effective. So I was never able to really get behind their roles, I thought it was quite miscast for sure.
Official Premise: Disney’s fantastical adventure Oz The Great And Powerful, from the director of the Spider-Man trilogy, follows Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics. When Diggs is hurled away to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — until he meets three witches (Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams), who aren’t convinced he’s the great wizard everyone’s expecting. Reluctantly drawn into epic problems facing Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it’s too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even some wizardry — Oscar transforms himself into the great wizard and a better man as well.
Obviously, this film was meant to be seen in 3D, read out review of the 3D Blu-ray here. Disney decided to split this film releases and decided not to include a 3D Blu-ray in this combo pack. I have to say the film still works (sort of) without being in 3D but missing that pop for me that drew me into the world that they created. The 1080p transfer still is quite impressive and like on the 3D Blu-ray, the colors are extremely vibrant, especially with the switch from black and white to color after the opening 20 minutes. I enjoyed this much more in the 3D version of the film since it packed that extra depth. Disney delivered a very sharp DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and the sound is quite amazing from the twister swinging through Kansas to the flying monkeys flying past your head. I have to also give props to Danny Elfman’s amazing score as well!
This Blu-ray release includes a two-disc set with a Blu-ray and a DVD disc. There is also a digital copy that you can now redeem with Disney Movie Rewards and will be able to view the film online via your tablets, smartphones, TV etc. This release is also the only way to get special features for this film. They start off with “The Magic of Oz the Great and Powerful: Second Screen Experience”, which is a great way to get immersived in the world of Oz by using the app on your iPads. “The Enchanting Characters and Creatures of Oz” showcases everyone from Munchkins to flying baboons. “The Sounds of Magical Oz” looks into the film’s sound design. “Sleight of Hand: Zach Braff Puppet Theater” looks into Zach Braff voice over work. There is also a music video from Mariah Carey’s “Almost Home”.
“China Girl and the Suspension of Disbelief” looks into the life behind China Girl and how went from paper to the screen. “Before Your Very Eyes: From Kansas to Oz” takes a stroll into the visual effects world with Production designer Robert Stromberg. “Mila’s Metamorphosis” looks into how the actress was transformed into her green self with lead makeup artist Howard Berger. “Walt Disney and the Road to Oz” looks into Walt Disney fascination with the Land of Oz and the classic Baum books. “Mr. Elfman’s Musical Concoctions” is an interview with composer Danny Elfman. “My Journey in Oz by James Franco” is a feature with Franco discussing this role and his inside story. Lastly there are Bloopers included.
Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Spencer, Joey King
Director: Sam Raimi
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 130 minutes
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A
Overall Score: 3 out of 5 stars
Disclaimer: This review is focusing solely on the 3D release and not on the film itself. If you are looking for more of film review, check out our review for the 2D Blu-ray combo pack here. When I think about “Oz The Great and Powerful”, I think of a really beautiful and visual 3D experience. Disney decided to stray from their usual 5-disc massive Blu-ray combo packs and release the 3D Blu-ray for this film individual from the rest. That means that if you purchase this Blu-ray, you will be no standard 2D Blu-ray or DVD of the film, like usual. That is ok for me since if I am going to watch this film it really would need to be in 3D anyway but I think that this is a really poor choice that Disney has made. To make matters worse, they are then giving you the option to “upgrade” and purchase a 2D Blu-ray for $5.99. Also this 3D Blu-ray isn’t even any cheaper than the 2D Blu-ray combo pack. According to Amazon, they are the exactly the same price.
Now that all of that is out of the way. The film looks absolutely stunning on this 3D Blu-ray. The 3D is some of the best that I have seen recently and literally jumps off the screen. The colors are extremely vibrant and beautiful, especially with the switch from black and white to color after the opening 20 minutes. I think that this move really benefited the film since you are watching it on a 4:3 scale and then it is blown up to 2.40:1 and turned into glorious HD color. As much as I loved the audio track just as much. Disney delivered a very sharp DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Near Field Audio Mix track! The sound is quite amazing from the twister swinging through Kansas to the flying monkeys flying past your head. My only issue is that the Blu-ray defaults a really basic Dolby Surround 2.0 track, which is mind boggling. What is going on here? Why not the best track on the Blu-ray?
Official Premise: Disney’s fantastical adventure Oz The Great And Powerful, from the director of the Spider-Man trilogy, follows Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics. When Diggs is hurled away to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — until he meets three witches (Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams), who aren’t convinced he’s the great wizard everyone’s expecting. Reluctantly drawn into epic problems facing Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it’s too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even some wizardry — Oscar transforms himself into the great wizard and a better man as well.
I should also point out that even though this 3D Blu-ray release doesn’t come with the 2D Blu-ray or DVD, it does at least come with a digital copy. Finally Disney woke up and smelled the roses with their digital copy releases and joined the rest of the world with cloud streaming. Plus now they don’t have to produce the extra digital copy DVD for each release. So they are not joining board with Ultraviolet service but you can now redeem with Disney Movie Rewards and will be able to view the film online via your tablets, smartphones, TV etc. So at least that is a plus and I hope that then plan on doing that going forward for the rest of their new releases. Lastly to continue to add salt to the wound, there are no special features on this release. So if you want those you would either need to purchase the 2D Blu-ray combo pack or upgrade to the 2D Blu-ray. Let’s hope that this is the last release that Disney decided to do this to.
Actors: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt
Directors: Bryan Cranston, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, George Mastras, Michael Slovis
Number of discs: 3
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Run Time: 374 minutes
Season: 3 out of 5 stars Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
“Breaking Bad” was a show that I never got into. I am was not a fan of this show right away and was introduced to it when “The Walking Dead” drew me to AMC. I am not sure if I really am a fan actually. I like parts of the show and the idea of it but overall it is still entertaining. The first half of Season five, felt a little rushed but left us on a major cliffhanger. The second half will premiere on August 11, 2013 and will bring this series to a close. So I expect that it is going to be quite epic and hopefully they were saving the bang finish for the series’ ending. Fans of the show will still appreciate this Blu-ray release though as it is jam-stocked with get extras.
Official Premise: Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul return in their Emmy winning roles of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman in the fifth explosive season of Breaking Bad. With Gus Fring dead, Walt’s transformation from a well-meaning family man to ruthless drug kingpin is nearly complete. Forming a partnership with Jesse and Mike (Jonathan Banks), Walt proceeds to make a killing in the meth business until the fruits of his murderous schemes are threatened by a new development in the investigation led by his relentless brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris). Executive produced by Vince Gilligan and Mark Johnson, the fifth season charts the murderous rise of Walter White as he reaches new highs…and new lows.
Comparing this show to its airing on AMC, it looks stunning on Blu-ray. It’s 1080p transfer really set the tone for the show and delivers the episodes very clear. Same goes for the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track, which sounds amazing. In terms of special features like I mentioned below, this release is quite awesome. There are a few Blu-ray exclusive special features including “Scene by Scene: Directors Discuss Memorable Moments”, must watch for fans. Also “The Writers of Breaking Bad” gets the wrtiers together to chat about the season. The coolest features is easily “Chicks ‘N’ Guns”, which is an eight-minute, uncensored bonus scene, written and produced exclusively for the home entertainment release. The scene starts Aaron Paul, Bob Odenkirk and Charles Baker and tells a very pivotal back story to episode eight, “Gliding Over All.”
There is a cast & crew commentary track on each of the eight episodes. There are a few other deleted scenes and outtakes included. There are three all-new featurettes including “Nothing Stops This Train”, which looks into the train heist. “The Cleaner: Jonathan Banks as Mike” feature the actor talking about his role. There is a Behind-the-Scenes look into “Chicks ‘N’ Guns” with Aaron Paul and Bob Odenkirk. “Writers’ Room Timelapse” is a cool look into the writing of Episode four, “Fifty-One” with commentary from the writers. There is Laura Fraser & Jesse Plemons audition footage, as well as the prison stunt rehearsal footage. If you watch “The Nerdist”, you will like “Chris Hardwick’s All-Star Celebrity Bowling”. There are 19 minisodes for “Inside Breaking Bad”. Lastly there is “Gallery 1988 Art Show” with inspired artwork from the show.
