Starring: Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Virginia Hey, Joanne Samuel, Syd Heylen, Tina Turner
Directors: George Miller, George Ogilvie
Number of discs: 3
MPAA Ratings: R / PG-13
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Run Time: 290 minutes

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

Before Mel Gibson went all crazy on us, he was one bad son-bitch in “Mad Max”, which started him as an action mega star. This sci-fi franchise . This is the first time that the series is being released as Blu-ray collection and actually is the first time at all that “The Road Warrior” and “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” are available in this format. I am a big fan of this series, the first two films are awesome (the second slightly beating out the first) and the third film is…well fun! If you are a fan of this series, then this is a no-brainer purchase. It will easily hold you off while you await the 2014 release of “Mad Max: Fury Road” with Tom Hardy taking over the lead role.

“Mad Max” Official Premise: George Miller’s first entry in the trilogy, Mad Max packs brutal action and insane stunts as it follows the inevitable downfall of relentless cop Max Rockatansky (Gibson) in a world gone mad. Living on the edge of an apocalypse, Max is ready to run far away from it all with his family. But when he experiences an unfortunate encounter with a motorcycle gang and its menacing leader, the Toecutter, his retreat from the madness of the world is now a race to save his family’s life.

“The Road Warrior” Official Premise: The sequel to Mad Max, Mad Max Road Warrior provides action-packed, “automotive” entertainment, telling the story of a selfish-turned-selfless hero and his efforts to protect a small camp of desert survivors and defend an oil refinery under siege from a ferocious marauding horde that plunders the land for gasoline.

“Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” Official Premise: Mel Gibson returns for his third go-round as the title hero who takes on the barbarians of the post-nuclear future – and this time becomes the savior of a tribe of lost children. Music superstar Tina Turner co-stars as Aunty Entity, a power-mad dominatrix determined to use Max to tighten her stranglehold on Bartertown, where fresh water, clean food and gasoline are worth more than gold.

If having all three films together is not a thrill enough, fans are going to love the limited premium tin packaging that this comes in…and might I also add that it would make a super kick-ass gift for Father’s Day. If you don’t care about the time, already own “Max Max” from it’s 2010 Blu-ray releases, then “The Road Warrior” and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” will also be made available the same day/date solo, which out the snazzy case.

All three films are presented with amazing 1080p transfer within their respective 2.4:1 aspect ratios. “Mad Max” comes with its original “Australian English” audio with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This is the way to watch this film for sure. There is also the terrible, yet funny American dub as well but only in a Dolby Digital Mono track. “The Road Warrior” and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” also feature powerful DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks, which work well with the action!

The special features on this trilogy release are good but nothing to do back flips over. “Mad Max” includes a featurette called “Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon”. There is an ace commentary track from Jon Dowding, David Eggby, Chris Murray and (my personal buddy) Tim Ridge! You go Tim! “The Road Warrior” comes with another great commentary track from director George Miller and cinematographer Dean Semler. There is also an introduction from Leonard Maltin and a theatrical trailer included. Last but not least (well maybe) is “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome”, which has zero special features. I guess their approach is that we are even including it in this collection.

Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith and Sophie Okenedo
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 40 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

For some reason Hollywood has been enamored of light about films dealing with the end of life on Earth as we know it. Earlier this year we had “Oblivion.” Later this summer we’ll get “Elysium.” And this week we get Big Willie and his little boy in “After Earth.”

As the story begins we learn that the earth was invaded by an alien life form called Ursas. Unable to see the creatures hunted people down by smelling the pheromones they secreted when they became scared. Things were getting bad when a man named Cypher Raige (Will Smith) showed up. Showing no fear whatsoever he battled the creatures, killing them by the score. A term was coined for what he did – “ghosting.” With no pheromones to detect he was able to move among the Ursas and kill them at will. The Earth was left to its own defenses as the remaining members of the human race moved to a new home, called Nova Prime. It is hear that Raige’s son, Kitai (Jaden Smith) is training hard to be a cadet, to one day follow his father. Kitai also has a secret that haunts him. When he was younger and home with his older sister (Zoe Kravitz, Lenny’s daughter) an Ursa attacked. As Kitai stayed safe in a protective dome that blocked his pheromones from being detected, sis ventured out, believing that, like her father, she could “ghost.” She couldn’t. Hoping to reconnect with his family, Cypher informs them that he is set to retire. After one more mission.

Visually impressive but sadly incredulous, “After Earth” is only redeemed by the performances of the Smith family. Jaden, who made a strong screen debut opposite his pop in “The Pursuit of Happyness” and starred in the successful remake of “The Karate Kid” has grown not only as a young man but as an actor. The plot involves the two to basically act alone – Cypher is injured in a crash and must remain in the damaged ship while Kitai is given the task of traveling on foot to retrieve a rescue beacon. Smith senior gives a very emotional performance, made even stronger by the fact that he’s basically sitting in a chair for the majority of the film. On the other side of the spectrum, Jaden runs, jumps and battles everything from a rogue pack of primates to a pride of lions to a giant bird. The visual effects are strong, especially during interactions with the various animals.

M. Night Shyamalan has always been a competent filmmaker, despite his penchant to put “twist” endings on many of his films. No such thing here which is somewhat of a relief. However, there are still other hints of Shyamalan in the film, beginning with the confusing state of Cypher’s rank. He’s referred to as anything from General to Prime Leader to Colonel (apparently making a movie with your son can get you busted down in rank). The film is also full of some intense lines, like “Danger is Real…Fear is a choice!” At night the temperature on Earth falls to glacier epics, freezing everything in its path. However, the next day everything is green again. And even though the Ursa is highly deadly, it is guarded on board ship by the Keystone Cops, the kind who all huddle with the monster, surely must wonder how the cloth shower curtains at the entrance of its compartment are keeping them safe from being eaten. Or not.

Again, if you like the Smith’s and want to see a couple of good performances, then take an hour and a half to check out “After Earth.” If not…”Star Trek: Into Darkness” is probably playing next door.

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Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 56 mins
Summit Entertainment

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

There’s something attractive about the illusion of magic. From a simple card trick to making an elephant disappear, when it’s done right it’s a delight to see. Which makes me happy to report that the new film, “Now You See Me,” is certainly done right.

J. Daniel Atlas (Eisenberg) is a fast talking, playing card carrying magician, currently performing his tricks on any street corner that will have him. Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson at his best) is a mentalist who can hypnotize you into doing anything. He’s now appearing as the Sunday brunch entertainment at a local hotel. Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) rides the ferry across the river, impressing people with his ability to bend spoons. And Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) has a great water torture gimmick that involves flesh eating piranhas. All four are barely making a living. One day they all receive a themed Tarot Card, directing them to a meeting that will change their lives forever.

Packed with some incredible on-screen sleight of hand, “Now You See Me” tells the tale of these individual magicians, now performing in Vegas as a group billed as “The Four Horsemen,” and how they reward their audiences by showering them with cash. From robbing banks. Or rather, having their on-stage volunteers rob them. After apparently stealing 3 million Euros from a French bank (remember, they’re in Vegas) they are arrested and interrogated by both FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Ruffalo) and Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent), sent over from INTERPOL. With no real proof, the four are released and spirited away by their benefactor, the very wealthy Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine). They also come under the scrutiny of Thaddeus Bradley (Freeman), a man who has spent his life shadowing magicians and exposing their secrets. Bradley has made a fortune selling DVDs and hosting television specials (and how ironic is it that Morgan Freeman plays a character whose work is actually narrated by Morgan Freeman). Rhodes, Dray and Bradley attempt to join forces but, as Atlas has informed them, the Four Horseman are always two steps ahead of them.

Director Leterrier proved himself a fine action director with “The Transporter” and did more with “The Incredible Hulk” then Ang Lee could. That being said, I absolutely despised his remake of “Clash of the Titans.” Here he is back in top form, perfectly meshing the on-screen antics of his magicians with a true “who done it” mystery. He is helped out by a top notch screenplay that doesn’t rely on a few petty tricks to advance the story. The pace slows a little as it builds to the pay off, but not enough for the viewer to lose interest. The characters are fleshed out with each one given their own identity. It also helps to have a first rate cast, including Oscar winners Caine and Freeman and Oscar nominees Eisenberg and Harrelson. Even those without “Oscar” near their name perform well. And the illusions, as presented, are spectacular. If you don’t believe me, pay attention to the first card trick Eisenberg does in the film, a random “pick a card, any card” routine. You’ll probably be as surprised as I was when he picks YOUR card. Yes, the random card this guy (me) in the audience picked was the one he pulled. Like I said, you can’t go wrong with magic done right.

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Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Carl Reiner
Directors: Jerry Paris, John Rich
Number of discs: 3
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 811 minutes

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

I do not think that there could be such a thing as watching too much “The Dick Van Dyke Show”.  As these seasons are being released on Blu-ray, I find myself re-watching past seasons just to fill the gap in between. Even my wife now has become a fan finding the show like myself post airing. Image Entertainment is behind these and they have done such a wonderful job.  This season is first without Carl Reiner taking point in the writing department.  It still is exceptional funny, especially with the episode “That’s My Boy??”. With only two more seasons to go after this, I am going to be upset when the series is completed.  Can I suggest “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” next for them to release as a series? Hint Hint!

Official Premise: Pratfall-prone Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) and his plucky wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), along with wisecracking co-workers Sally (Rose Marie) and Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), captured America’s hearts in this TV favorite that irresistibly combined wit and slapstick. The third season, which earned the series’ highest ratings, opened with the landmark That’s My Boy?? about Rob’s fear that he’s brought the wrong baby home from hospital, getting the longest studio audience laughs in the show’s history. Also among the season’s 32 original full length episodes (airing 1963-1964) included in this set are the hilarious October Eve with Laura is mortified when a nude portrait of her surfaces in a New York gallery and Big Max Calvada in which a gangster muscles Rob, Buddy and Sally into writing a comedy routine for his nephew.

Like the past three seasons, Image Entertainment has consistently delivers wonderful presentations for this show (and many others as well).  These episodes are brought to us on Blu-ray with all-new scans from the camera negatives. The 1080p transfer just look stunning. The original source elements have held up very well and really don’t show their age at all. The DTS-HD MA 1.0 audio track is a simple soundtrack for a simple show. There not much needed here this show and it works perfectly. The episodes were mostly taped with a studio audience and the laughing is balanced well with the snappy jokes and dialogue.

There are some new Blu-ray exclusive special features. Including “Mary on The Danny Kaye Show”, which if you a nice switch since on Season 2, we had Dick on that show. Decent but Dick’s appearance takes the cake for being slightly more entertaining. “TV Academy Tribute to Carl with Steve Martin and George Clooney” it is a nice ode to the man behind this great show. Martin gives tribute and Clooney does the awarding. The rest of the season features are roll-overs from past DVD releases but are still fantastic. There are commentary tracks from Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke on episode 64 (That’s My Boy??) and episode 90 (October Eve). There are “Episode Photos” throughout all three discs for episodes 18 out of the 32 episodes. There are also commercials/promos on episode 64, 66, 80 and others for Nick at Nite.

Other extras include featurettes on disc 1: “Remembering the Sheldon Leonard”, “Remembering Rob and Laura”, “Remembering Buddy and Sally”, “Remembering That’s My Boy??” (episode 64), “Remembering the Betty Lou” (episode 72), which look back at these episodes and the characters. Also there is “Sheldon on the Role of Executive Producer”. Disc 2 contains featurettes on “Remembering Joe Coogan” (episode 80). There is a also a featurette “The Cast Plays Stump the Stars” and Rehearsal footage from “A Day in the Life of Sheldon Leonard”. Lastly disc three has one more featurette: for “Remembering Alan Brady” (episode 86) and “Remembering October Eve” (episode 90). Also there is a look into the show’s Emmy Awards® (1963-1964) and “Dick and Mary on Van Dyke & Company” included.

Ian Somerhalder is known best for his role of Damon Salvatore on The CW’s “The Vampire Diaries, which is gearing up for its fifth season this Fall. Besides acting Ian is very involved with various charities including The IS Foundation, which aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures. He also recently got involved on the advisory board of RYOT.org, which is a website that is working to get young people to be engaged with the news. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ian again about new role and what his fans can do to help.

Mike Gencarelli: Honestly Ian, I have to ask with being an actor, activist and co-founder of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation; what do you do to balance your time?
Ian Somerhalder: It’s easy. I am energized by all the love and enthusiasm and positive energy around me. I meet amazing people every day that blow my mind with their wisdom and ideas. I believe that I become part of everyone I meet and they all become part of me – so that’s a lot of energy churning around in one body! But I do love spending time with my family – they keep me grounded and there really is no greater source of comfort than being at home.

MG: How did you get involved on the advisory board of RYOT.org?
IS: I’ve been friends with co-founders Bryn and David for years. The idea for RYOT came out of dozens of late-night conversations about the helplessness we all felt when reading the news. We wanted to find a way to make news empowering rather than depressing, so we spent a year building the site and launched it in October. It’s been amazing to watch it grow and see how many people love it and use it every day.

MG: The philosophy behind RYOT.org is that there are many ways to make a difference. How important is it for you to “make a difference”?
IS: RYOT’s founding principle is that everyone can make a difference. RYOT means “peasant” in Hindi and part of our inspiration was the MLK Jr. quote “A riot is the language of the unheard.” The way we see it, you don’t have to be rich or famous or an aid worker on the ground in Haiti or Africa to make a difference. There are ten thousand ways you can make an impact every day in your own community, or in many cases, right from your computer or phone. I try and make a difference by working on environmental issues: Supporting products that are sustainable and energy-efficient, and organizations/legislation that are working to preserve the planet. Taking action to help others is so important to our own fulfillment in life. We actually have a really great, recent article about this on RYOT.org, click here.

MG: Why do you feel that it is important for young people to be engaged with the news?
IS: This is our future we’re talking about! The more engaged we are, the better we understand other cultures and points of view, and the better our understanding, the more compassionate we are to others’ stories and struggles. Compassion is a necessity in this world, not a luxury.

MG: Tell us what your fans can do to help out with RYOT.org and ISF?
IS: We are always looking for volunteers who want to join the ISF family. We have an AMAZING team right now who work tirelessly to keep our mission moving forward and to educate the world about what we do. You can head over to http://www.isfoundation.com/get-involved to get in touch with us. You can make a HUGE impact by setting RYOT.org as your homepage. RYOT gives a portion of all revenue to non-profits so just by getting your news from RYOT and sharing stories, you’re making a difference. Last but not least, make sure to follow RYOT and ISF on social media! (@ryotnews, facebook.com/ryotnews and @is_foundation, facebook.com/isfoundation)

Starring: Matt Smith, Jenna Louise-Coleman
Rated: Unrated
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 28, 2013
Run Time: 360 minutes / 60 minutes

“Series Seven, Part Two”: 4 out of 5 stars
“Series Seven, Part Two” Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars
“The Snowmen”: 4 out of 5 stars
“The Snowmen” Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Series Seven, Part Two” picks up with Matt Smith in the role as the Eleventh Doctor and Jenna-Louise Coleman as his newest Companion, Clara. I have to admit, I absolutely love the new companion.  She is easily my new favorite from the series reboot. She is so cute, sweet and very clever. She also has a great back story. The episodes included are: “The Bells of Saint John”, “The Rings of Akhaten”, “Cold War”, “Hide” , “Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS”, “The Crimson Horror”, “Nightmare in Silver” and “The Name of the Doctor”. The strongest episodes this season are easily “The Rings of Akhaten” and “The Name of the Doctor, the finale, which leads right into the 50th Anniversary episode…man November cannot come any sooner!  Overall one of my favorite seasons!

“Doctor Who: Series Seven, Part Two” Official Premise: The Doctor kicks off this new run of adventures by searching for his companion Clara – an Impossible Girl he’s already lost twice. Together they find themselves battling monsters on distant alien planets, trapped in a Russian submarine with a deadly passenger, chasing terrifying ghosts, delving into the heart of the TARDIS, facing the Crimson Horror in Victorian Yorkshire, and coming face to face with an army of upgraded Cybermen. The action grows and the Doctor’s oldest secret threatens to be revealed as the world’s longest running science fiction series builds toward its explosive 50th anniversary.

Also being the released the same day by BBC is “Doctor Who: The Snowmen”, which is the 2012 Christmas special.  It is also the first episode to star Jenna Louise-Coleman officially as The Doctor’s companion.  She originally appeared in the first episode,  “Asylum of the Daleks”, of the seventh series. The special also co-stars Richard E. Grant as Dr. Simeon, who also returns in finale of “Series Seven, Part Two” as the Great Intelligence. Also fun fact is that the voices of The Snowman is done by Ian McKellen and Juliet Cadzow as the Ice Governess. I thought this episode was one of my favorites of the Christmas specials.  It was also the first of them that contains continuity to the series episodes, which made me like it even more.

“Doctor Who: The Snowmen” Official Premise: Christmas Eve 1892 and the falling snow is the stuff of fairy-tales. When the fairy-tale becomes a nightmare and a chilling menace threatens Earth, an unorthodox young governess, Clara, calls on the Doctor for help. But the Doctor is in mourning, reclusive and determined not to engage in the problems of the universe. As old friends return, will the Doctor really abandon humankind or will he fight to save the world – and Christmas – from the icy clutches of this mysterious menace?”

Now on to the concerns for “Doctor Who: The Snowmen”…fans are not thrilled since this is not a part of “Series Seven, Part Two” and is only available as a separate release. I am very curious if BBC will be releasing “The Snowmen” as part of “The Complete Seventh Series” set, which should be available later this year. But currently if you already own “Series Seven, Part One” and plan on picking up “Series Seven, Part Two”, they you also need to purchase “Doctor Who: The Snowmen” in order to complete the series officially.

Like usual BBC Home Entertainment is delivering this series and special with a solid 1080i transfer. As much as I would have loved to have full HD, these episodes look damn good. They also sound amazing with there DTS-HD 5.1 track on both releases. The special features are good but not outstanding like in past releases. ”Series Seven, Part Two” only has two extras included. There is a short prequel to the first episode in part two “The Bells of Saint John”. There is also a featurette about the characters “Clarence and the Whisperman”. On “The Snowman” release, the special features are a little better, including two prequel to “The Snowmen”, “Vastra Investigates” and “The Great Detective”. Lastly there is a behind-the-scenes look on the episode called “Clara’s White Christmas”. Good features, just not enough to make it worth it unless you are a die-hard fan.

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Actors: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Thomas Mann
Directors: Tommy Wirkola
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R / Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 87 / 97 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
3D: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” is exactly what you would expect…over-the-top and fun..and that is all.  The action is pretty awesome and the film is quite gory for us horrorhounds.  The make-up effects are also pretty sharp. Overall, it is just mindless entertainment. For fans of “The Avengers”, did I mention it has Hawkeye in it? Jeremy Renner is fun in the role, poking fun at his character, as is Gemma Arterton, who isn’t hurting on the eyes either.  Famke Janssen also has a great role in the film and plays a great witch. This is also the American film debut of Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola, who did the 2009 feature “Dead Snow”, which is another fun zany horror/comedy with Nazi zombies.

All that going for it and did I mention it is also in 3D? They most definitely take advantage of the third dimension as well and it works in the film’s favorite for more added fun. The 3D makes the film entertaining and there are a few great in-your-face gore shots and fireballs thrown at the screen. The film was delayed to be post converted but I think they have really mastered post conversion process…anyone see “Iron Man 3″? The film wasn’t a huge hit in the US but good enough…I hear that there is already a sequel in the card…do I smell a new franchise? Best movie of 2013? Nope but definitely worth a rental.

Official Premise: Get ready for a twisted take on the classic tale as Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have turned pro, coping with the trauma of their childhood captivity by slaying witches for hire. But when the seemingly unstoppable bounty hunters meet their match in an enemy so evil, it’ll take all their training, weapons and courage to survive. Revenge is sweeter than candy.

This release includes two cuts of the film. The original theatrical R-rated 87 minute cut and the extended unrated 97 minute cut.  The unrated cut is definitely worth checking out with more blood and gore…but it is only available in 2D.  I think that is the most disappointing part of this release is that the 3D Blu-ray only contains the theatrical cut, I would have liked to enjoy both in 3D.  I am sure it would haven’t have been much trouble to give us 3D cuts of both but nonetheless we got what we got.

Paramount delivers a fantastic three-disc combo pack including a 3D Blu-ray, standard 2D Blu-ray and DVD copy. Ultraviolet streaming digital copy, as well there is a iTunes digital copy. Like I said the 1080p transfer is very impressive and works very well with the 3D presentation.  2D fans will also appreciate this fine transfer as well. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track works perfectly with the action and score by Atli Örvarsson, who recently worked with Hans Zimmer to contribute music to the Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel”.

As brainless fun as the film is, the special features are lacking in terms but still are decent. There are three short featurettes. The first is “Reinventing Hansel & Gretel”, which runs about 15 minutes.  It looks into the origin of the film and its production. “The Witching Hours” looks into the cool design process of the witches in the film.  Kudos again for great make-up. Lastly “Meet Edward the Troll” is another short look at creating the Troll in the film. So overall decent but nothing really substantial in terms of value. Of course if you can always count the unrated cut as a bonus feature but that is up to you.

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Actors: David Matranga, Luci Christian, Charlie Campbell
Directors: Colleen Clinkenbeard
Number of discs: 5
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Funimation
DVD Release Date: June 4, 2013
Run Time: 390 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Appleseed XIII” is the new Japanese CGI anime adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s 1985 science fiction manga series “Appleseed”. The series consists of 13 episodes (if you didn’t get that from the title). The series focuses on the exploits of ES.W.A.T. members Deunan and her cyborg partner Briareos and stays pretty close the original manga stories. The series was produced in association with Production I.G, aka the makers of “Ghost in the Shell”. I am a big fan of “Appleseed” and I am glad to see this series get some new life. I wish it wasn’t returned to 13 episodes but it still works and it is a blast for fans looking for more.

If you are a fan of the past films “Appleseed” & “Appleseed Ex Machina”, you will be happy to know that David Matranga returns as Briareos and Luci Christian returns as Deunan Knute. So this should make fans of the characters happy. It has also been almost six years since the last film, so this OVA series is very welcomed. “Appleseed XIII” was also compiled into two theatrical feature films in Japan. The first feature film was titled, “Appleseed XIII: Tartaros” and the second titled, “Appleseed XIII: Ouranos”.

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

Funimation gave this OVA series a lot of love.  This limited edition Blu-ray release comes in a very sharp hard case with two cases, one for the Blu-ray presentation of this show and the another for the DVD. This is a typical “complete series” release from the studio and is very impressive. The 1080p transfers on the episodes look fantastic and work very well with the CG animation style and non-stop action for this series.  There are two audio tracks included, both which are Dolby TrueHD 5.1.  Like I mentioned above, I am fan of the English track due to the voice talent that is included.  But both of them are comparable and very impressive to satisfy either type of fan.

The special features are pretty awesome as well, just like the series itself. There are two audio track for two episodes. Episode #7 features Mike McFarland, Ian Sinclair and Monica Rial, which is a complete blast to listen to and adds a lot to the episode itself. The second is with Episode #12, which features Colleen Clinkenbeard and David Matrenga, also very informative and a must listen for fans. “The Inside” is a crazy long nearly two and a half hour behind the scenes look at the making of each episode. Plain and simple…this is awesome and highly recommend! Lastly there is a U.S. Trailer, and a Textless Opening and Closing Theme.

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Starring: Morgan Weisser, Crystal Green, Virginia Dare, Norbert Weisser, Lauren Sutherland
Directed by: Albert Pyun
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 78 minutes

Film: 0 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

Wow, what a piece of shit. When ever I see the name H.P. Lovecraft, I always come running without thinking twice. His short stories are also interested at least but this film adaption of the 1926 story was not one of my favorite. In fact it is completely unwatchable. The acting is absolutely terrible, the score sounds like a soft-core porn and even though the film is less than 80 minutes to drags major ass. The film was made in 2006 and was never realized to now but I understand why after watching this. There are also no special features included on this DVD, not that I would have watched them anyway. Warning: Stay away for this film!

Official Premise: Struggling screenwriter, Charlie Baxter sets out to write his long blocked “great American screenplay” when he suffers a heart attack and his mysterious upstairs neighbor Doctor Shockner comes to his rescue. The Doctor persuades Baxter to stay with him until he recovers fully, and introduces Baxter to a nightmarish world of insane experiments and murder. He knows something must be done to stop the evil that resides in the room at the top of the stairs.

Starring: Johnathon Schaech and Pell James
Director: Paul Soter
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: May 21, 2013
Run Time: 86 minutes

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

When I see the name “After Dark”, you know that you should expect some decent horror product…but that is not the case here. “Dark Circle” is your typical supernatural horror flick with twist…might I add a bad twist. It is written and directed by Paul Soter, who is a member of the comedy troupe Broken Lizard on films like “Beerfest” and “Super Troopers”. This is a real change for him but he does a good job but I felt the story could have used some kick. Johnathon Schaech and Pell James are great playing sleep deprived parents (I have a 1 year old and felt their pains). There are a few decent jumps as well and great suspense throughout the film but the pay off doesn’t work for me. I would recommend this for a rent, but just don’t hold hopes too high.

Official Premise: When new parents Alex and Penny retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things. Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence. As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really going in this house.

“Dark Circle” was only released on DVD from Lionsgate, no Blu-ray love. There are two audio tracks included, a Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 track. The special features are not amazing but worth checking out if you enjoyed the film. There is an audio commentary track with writer/director Paul Soter, Johnathon Schaech and blooger Ryan Turek. It is fun and informative. There is also “Behind-the-Scenes” featurette, with cast/crew interviews. It rather short at just over six minutes but it is pretty decent. Soter does say though in this featurette that he has plans for more horror films, so I am still on board to see what he can come up with next. Lastly, fans of “Beerfest” and “Super Troopers”, be sure to keep an eye out for an quick appearance from Philippe Brenninkmeyer.

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Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Carroll O’Connor, Roddy McDowall, Martin Landau
Directors: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Run Time: 251 minutes

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

If you are a film buff then you know about the story behind 1963’s “Cleopatra”. The epic film was shot on 70mm film and cost an enormous $42 million to make,which is the equivalent of $300 million today. The film nearly bankrupted Twentieth Century Fox at the time, but despite its production issues it won four Academy Awards and has since been considered has became an iconic classic. In honor of the film’s 50th anniversary, 20th Century Fox has delivered a beautifully restored and presented 243-minute stunning high definition version this film. This is a must but if I had to recommend, I would say purchase the Limited Edition DigiBook edition, which comes out the same day.

Official Premise: Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this epic spectacle – its opulence and sweeping grandeur have never been more glorious. Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, the glamorous and cunning queen of Egypt. To secure her hold on power, she seduces the rulers of Rome, only to meet her match in Mark Antony, played by Richard Burton. Their passionate romance could decide the fate of the world’s greatest empires.

Like I said 20th Century Fox did an amazing job restoring this film and its 1080p transfer does not look like a 50 year old year at all.  It comes with an aspect ratio of 2.22:1, which shows all the fantastic detail and depth that this film comes with.  Since this film was made for large format screen, the visual “WOW” of this Blu-ray will blow you away. The colors, set, costumes are all just so stunning. I am shocked that this film is 50 years old since literally it looks like it was done yesterday. Top that with an amazing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track and this is a perfect release. The action, romance, drama are well extremely represented here, esepcially Alex North’s absolutely amazing score.

The special features are split over two discs and are very impressive. There is a commentary track with Chris Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky, which is fantastic and a must listen. “Cleopatra Through the Ages: A Cultural History” is a short look at Cleopatra throughout history. “Cleopatra’s Missing Footage” is only eight minutes of lost footage, despite the endless reports of eight hour cuts of this film which will most likely never surface. So eight minutes is not eight hours but it still is something. “Fox Movie Channel Presents Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman” is a nice overview of the production. “The Cleopatra Papers: A Private Correspondence” includes reprints of letters and memos sent during the film’s shoot.

Disc two comes more great features including the continuation of the commentary track. “Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood” is a two hour in depth documentary on the film and it’s legacy. “The Fourth Star of Cleopatra” is a vintage featurette on the film’s production design. “Fox Movietone News” is various clips from Movietone items. Lastly there are three theatrical trailers for the film. Great special features rounding out a great release! Highly recommended!

Voices: Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, Jackson Beck
Studio: Warner Archive
DVD Release Date: May 7, 2013
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 409 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love Popeye The Sailor? If you are a parent, you should take advantage of his lessons to eat your spinach. When I was a kid, I remember my parents used to always say eat your spinach so you can be strong like Popeye. These shorts are really classics. They are also fun to watch when I was a kid and nothing has changed as an adult. I look forward to sharing these with my daughter as well. This release is volume 1 of the classics Popeye cartoons from Paramount, adding up to 72-episodes. If you are a Popeye fan, this is a great release from Warner Archive. The episodes look great and are well represented here. Sign me up for volume 2…and keep them coming Warner Archive!

With TV reruns of the Fleischer/Famous Studios theatrical shorts proving that Popeye still packed a spinach-powered punch that delivered smash ratings, King Features commissioned a new series of Sailor Man shorts under the aegis of executive producer Al Brodax. The TV incarnation of Popeye made up for its scaled back animation with a broadened narrative scope while still staying true to the source. Thanks to the continued use of voice actors Jack Mercer (Popeye), Mae Questel (Olive) and Jackson Beck (Bluto who was now called Brutus) as well as the use of veteran Popeye animation talents who were then working at Paramount Cartoon Studios, these shorts remained authentic. The addition of a number of Thimble Theater comic strip characters making their cartoon debuts – including King Blozo, Toar, and Sea Hag – only added to the shorts “yam what I yam” charm.

Disc 1 consists of the following episodes ranging from 1960-1961: 1. Hits And Missiles, 2. The Ghost Host, 3. Strikes,Spares An’ Spinach, 4. Jeep Is Jeep, 5. The Spinach Scholar, 6. Psychiatricks, 7. Rags To Riches To Rags, 8. Hair Cut-ups, 9. Poppa Popeye, 10. Quick Change Olie, 11.Valley of The Goons, 12. Me Quest For Poopdeck Pappy, 13. Moby Hick, 14. Mirror Magic, 15. It Only Hurts When They Laughs, 16. Wimpy The Moocher, 17. Voo-Doo To You Too, 18. Popeye Goes Sale-ing, 19. Popeye’s Travels, 20. Incident At Missile City, 21. Dog Catcher Popeye, 22. What’s News, 23. Spinach Greetings, 24. The Baby Contest, 25. Oil’s Well That Ends Well, 26. Motor Knocks, 27.Amusement Park, 28. Duel To The Finish, 29. Gem Jam, 30. The Bathing Beasts, 31. The Rain Breaker, 32. Messin’ Up The Mississippi, 33. Love Birds, 34. Sea Serpent, 35. Boardering On Trouble and 36. Aladdin’s Lamp

Disc 2 continue with shorts from 1961. 37. Butler Up, 38. The Leprechaun, 39. County Fair, 40. Hamburgers Aweigh, 41. Popeye’s Double Trouble, 42. Kiddie Kapers, 43. The Mark of Zero, 44. Myskery Melody, 45. Scairdy Cat, 46. Operation Ice-Tickle, 47. The Cure, 48. William Won’t Tell, 49. Pop Goes The Whistle, 50. Autographically Yours, 51. A Poil For Olive Oyl, 52. My Fair Olive, 53. Giddy Gold, 54. Strange Things Are Happening, 55. The Medicine Man, 56. A Mite of Trouble, 57. Who’s Kiddin’ Zoo, 58. Robot Popeye, 59. Sneaking Peeking and 60. Seer-Ring Is Believer-Ring.

Lastly Disc 3 completed the volume with more episodes but jumps from 1961 back to 1960 for some reason. 61.The Wiffle Bird’s Revenge, 62. Going…Boing…Gone, 63. Popeye Thumb, 64. Where There’s A Will, 65. Take It Easel, 66. I Bin Sculped, 67. Fleas A Crowd, 68. Popeye’s Junior Headache, 69. The Big Sneeze, 70. The Last Resort, 71. Jeopardy Sheriff and 72.Baby Phase.

Actors: John Cusack, Malin Akerman, Liam Cunningham, Lucy Griffiths
Directors: Kasper Barfoed
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Run Time: 89 minutes

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

When it comes to John Cusack, I am not sure what it is but I am always down for this films. Same goes for Malin Akerman, who is great in “Childrens Hospital” as well as “Rock of Ages”.  Both of them are great in this film. The story is well done and packs some nice suspense.  If you haven’t heard of this film that ok since it was initially available through iTunes and only received a limited U.S. theatrical release in April 2013. I feel that these two actors should have been given more of a push for mainstream, since it should have had a decent sized audience.  If you are looking for a decent thriller with good action then I would check this out, especially for John Cusack fans!

Official Premise: After his latest mission goes disastrously wrong, veteran CIA black ops agent Emerson Kent (John Cusack) is given one last chance to prove he still has what it takes to do his job. His new assignment: guarding Katherine (Malin Akerman), a code operator at a top-secret remote CIA “Numbers Station” where encrypted messages are sent and received. When an elite team of heavily armed assailants lays siege to the station, Emerson and Katherine suddenly find themselves in a life-or-death struggle against an unknown enemy. With the station compromised and innocent lives at stake, they must stop the deadly plot before it’s too late.

The 1080p is very impressive as well.  I thought the film was well shot and looks awesome on Blu-ray. I have to admit the DTS-HD MA 5.1 is quite amazing. It is kick-ass and in your face. The action is sharp and the dialogue is clear. The score is also fantastic courtsey of Paul Leonard-Morgan (“Dredd”). The special features are not the greatest and there is only one extra but it does the trick. “The Making of The Numbers Station” is a 15 minute behind-the-scenes look at the film with interviews from John Cusack and Malin Ackerman. If you liked the film than this EPK is well worth watching.

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Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson
Directed by: Justin Lin
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 10 mins
Universal

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

When we last saw Dom (Diesel), Brian (Walker) and company they had just dragged a bank vault through the streets of Rio de Janero before heading off to a wealthy retirement. The film ended with Agent Hobbs (Johnson) being shown a photo of Dom’s girlfriend Lettie (Michelle Rodriguez) thought to be dead, taken recently. Bum! Bum! Bum!

At least a half-hour too long, “Fast and Furious 6” is not fast, which made my backside furious. Both Dom and Brian have settled down (Brian and his woman have just had a baby), declaring the old life over. But they are soon back in business when they are asked to track down another group of fast-drivers who have been targeting military hardware. Hobbs gets Dom to help out by showing him the photograph of Lettie. But things don’t go as planned when he first locates her. Unless he planned on her putting a bullet in him. Darn that amnesia…..some people can’t remember anything.

Packed with action that goes on F O R E V E R, “FF6” seems to have been made with the motto “anything worth doing is worth doing long.” I like cool car chases and epic stunts but not as the only reason to see a film. Of course the “FF” series has really been built on cool car chases and epic stunts, but this time it all seems so formulaic that it downright disappoints.

After this many films the roles have got to be getting boring to the cast. At least that is how they seem here. Even Diesel, who has always made Dom interesting, seems to be walking through the film. Surprisingly only Rodriguez shows any spark – perhaps missing the last film charged her batteries.

A film that’s all flash and no substance, only true fans of the series will truly enjoy it. And stay around for a sneak peak at “FF7.” To me it was the best part of the evening.

Actors: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel and Olivia Munn
Creator: Aaron Sorkin
Number of discs: 6
Rated: Unrated
Studio: HBO Home Video
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Run Time: 725 minutes

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

Aaron Sorkin knows how to do political drama, after all he also created the Emmy Award-winning “The West Wing”, which was a pretty well-known show 😉 HBO is really delivering some of the best television shows in the last year or so, along with “Veep” and “Game of Thrones”. “The Newsroom” features an all-star cast lead by Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Dev Patel and Olivia Munn. There is also a fantastic recurring cast including Jane Fonda, Hope Davis, Terry Crews, David Krumholtz, Patton Oswalt and Marcia Gay Harden. There is just so much talent in this show, I don’t know how it doesn’t explode. The show is witty and well-written, thanks to Scott Rudin (“The Social Network”). If you enjoyed the first 10-episode season, you will be happy to know that “The Newsroom” was renewed for a second season, which premieres on July 14, 2013 only on HBO.

Official Premise: HBO presents the new one-hour drama series from the fertile mind of Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin and Alan Poul. Smart, topical, humorous and highly entertaining, The Newsroom takes a behind-the-scenes look at a high-rated cable-news program at the fictional ACN Network, focusing on the on- and off-camera lives of its acerbic anchor (Jeff Daniels), new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), their newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and others) and their news-division boss (Sam Waterston).

HBO gives a whole lot of love to its shows Blu-ray releases. First of all they all come packaged in this beautiful strong box, which is very sharp.  It also comes with HBO Select, which offers its viewers the choice of three ways to watch the show – Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy. The digital copy is redeemable via a provider of your choice: iTunes, Vudu or Amazon, as well as an UltraViolet copy through supporting providers. So you are filled with choices here and can watch the show wherever – whenever. The 1080p transfer of the show is very clear and sharp.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track works well with the dialogue and since this is a political drama it is very important for this to work!

The special features are also very impressive, again since HBO treats their shows very well. There is a five audio commentaries track with no only Aaron Sorkin, but also executive producer Alan Poul and cast members Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Emily Mortimer and more! This is a great way to get some replay value out of the show. “Mission Control”  is a great behind-the-scenes look at the production with the cast and crew. “The Rundown” is a roundtable discussion with Aaron Sorkin, executive producer Alan Poul, co-executive producer Greg Mottola, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston as they discuss the first season. “Inside the Episodes” is an inside perspective on each episodes with Aaron Sorkin. Lastly there are a few Deleted Scenes and Episodic Previews & Recaps, rounding out a great release.