Actors: Brenda Bruce, Freddie Jones, Judy Parfit, Geoffrey Bayldon, Kate Dorning, Ian Wallace, Jonathan Cecil,
Directors: Barry Letts, James MacTaggart
Rated: Unrated
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 12, 2013
Run Time: 66 minutes / 120 minutes

Alice Through the Looking Glass: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Alice in Wonderland: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to “Alice in Wonderland”, I am first in line.  BBC is known for their classic productions of “Alice Through the Looking Glass” from 1973 and “Alice in Wonderland” from 1986.  I was never a huge fan of the “Looking Glass”, the production is extremely low and not as friendly as “Wonderland”.  I love the songs in “Alice in Wonderland” it’s not Disney quality but still fun for what it is. Both films definitely show their age but having watched them growing up they have that certain charm that still draws you in.  If you did the same then I would recommend checking out at least “Alice in Wonderland” again for sure.

“Alice Through the Looking Glass” – Official Synopsis: Join Alice on her journey through the mirror in BBC’s fanciful adaptation of Lewis Caroll’s classic novel! In an alternate world, just on the other side of the mirror’s reflection, Alice finds herself in the middle of a life-sized chess game, where she encounters a variety of surreal scenarios and fantastical characters, including Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Humpty Dumpty, the Red Queen and others. To be crowned queen and return home, Alice must traverse all the ranks to the end of this massive chessboard-but will she make it?

“Alice In Wonderland” – Official Synopsis: This classic BBC production of the family favorite tale begins one summer afternoon as Lewis Carroll regales his picnic companions with the tale of young girl named Alice who sees a fully-dressed, talking rabbit run past her. She follows the rabbit down a hole and enters a nonsensical world where it seems the normal rules of logic do not apply. In Wonderland, Alice participates in a winnerless race, alternates between being tiny and giant, hears riddles at a “mad” tea party, plays croquet with live flamencos, and attends a trial where the Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing the Queen’s tarts. Featuring Doctor Who’s Elisabeth Sladen as the Dormouse, and filled with memorable characters and songs, this is a version the whole family is sure to enjoy.

I do not remember “Alice Through the Looking Glass” looking that incredibly cheap.  They even have scenes that don’t match up with the overlay on the characters. The production on “Alice in Wonderland” is decent improvement on “Alice Through the Looking Glass” but that could have also been the 13 years between the two. Both films are presented in full frame with a 4×3 aspect ratio.  The audio tracks included are a standard DVD stereo track, which works for the age of the films.  Wasn’t looking for a DTS Surround track here.  There are no special features includes on these DVD releases, which is a little bit disappointing overall. Nostalgia is going to determine the success of these release since  time has revealed both of their ages.

Makinov is the director, writer, producer, cinematographer and editor on the new film “Come Out and Play”. The film is about a couple that find terror on an island inhabited by a community of killer children. Makinov always wears a mask and his identity is not known but that doesn’t change anything, this film is a must-see for sure. I can’t wait to see what he has planned next. Media Mikes had the chance to ask him a few questions about the film.

Mike Gencarelli: With this being your reported first directorial debut, what was your biggest challenge?
Makinov: This is not my first film. Is the first film I shoot with actors and that was part of the challenge. Also some people didn’t trust a face they couldn’t see, but I don’t think directors are completely trusted even if they show their faces.

MG: Where was the film shot?
Makinov: The film was shot in the Holbox Island in Mexico. It’s usually a beautiful place, but there was a storm during most of our shoot. We lost communication with the mainland for two weeks, it was like if the end of the world had happened.

MG: Were you ever concerned with showing the extreme violence towards kids?
Makinov:  I didn’t think about it. I think more gruesome violence towards children has been systematized and assimilated into western culture. Family is a violent institution, schools are violent, institutions of oppression and normalizing, preparing children to be unfulfilled, unhappy adults. Passing down to the next generation values that have been proved wrong, that will only lead to death and misery.

MG: Tell us about the score/music in the film, which I felt was very effective in setting the film’s tone.
Makinov:  It’s synthesizer and drum machine music. I composed it as I was editing. I drew inspiration from obscure Mexican band called Tuareg Geeks.

MG: What do you have planned next?
Makinov:  I am not sure, I am living in the wild with animals and they have inspired me a lot, and there is a sad resonance among the animal kingdom that lives at the mercy of humans. That is an interesting subject to me.

Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd and Lily Tomlin
Directed by: Paul Weitz
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hr 57 mins
Focus Features

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

I can hear the pitch: take two of the funniest people in Hollywood, put them in the same movie and put a few punch lines in the trailer. What’s the catch? Oh, it’s not a comedy.

In my imagination this is how the new film “Admission” came about. While it does have its humorous moments it’s really a film about love and life and what we must give up to seem happy to others. I think.

Portia Nathan (Fey) is an admittance officer at prestigious Princeton University. While preparing to screen applicants for the class of 2016 she receives a phone call from a former college mate of hers named John Pressman (Rudd). John has started his own “new age” school and asks Portia to stop by to address his students interested in secondary education. Portia has no intention of doing so but a mis-guiding GPS sends her down the dirt road to the school. There she is introduced to Jeremiah (Nat Wolff). He’s quite intelligent, Paul tells Portia. And he might also be your son! (Cue the loud music: BUM! BUM! BUM!

If there is one word to sum up the film…it’s FLAT. There are occasional emotional moments but all in all you really don’t end up caring for these characters. Which is a shame because I know the actors are trying. Both Fey and Rudd are strong actors who generally make things better when they show up on screen. But here they only manage to make things tolerable. Rudd’s John is all over the map…sad, funny, romantic but never deciding which guy he wants to be. He’s well meaning (heck, he’s the father of a 12 year old Ugandan boy he adopted while working in the country). Fey is similar. She purports to be a strong minded administrator but she’s really an emotional wreck. Thankfully Lily Tomlin shows up occasionally to give the film whatever life it has. The script was adapted from a novel but I can’t imagine the book (or the characters in it) being this un-interesting.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart and Morgan Freeman
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hrs
Film District

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

It’s a snowy night at Camp David. President Asher (Eckhart) is currently in the ring, sparring with his main Secret Service man, Mike Banning (Butler). Later that evening the president, his wife (Ashley Judd) and son (Finley Jacobsen) will leave for a party and get into an accident, one that leaves Mike having to choose whether to save the president or the first lady. Sorry, ma’am. Tales, you lose. Eighteen months later Mike finds himself riding a desk at the Treasury Department, no longer a part of the presidential detail. But an attack on the president soon brings Mike back to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Directed with maximum impact, “Olympus Has Fallen” could easily be pitched as “Die Hard” in the White House. Not only because the film has some great action but because screenwriters Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt have borrowed several plot turns from the adventures of Mr. John McClane. As this is their first produced screenplay I can only think that in between writing sessions they wore down a VHS copy of “Die Hard” in the VCR. I would be giving away plot points to go any further but I urge you to watch “Olympus Has Fallen” and not say to yourself, “Hey, that’s just like in “Die Hard.”

Retread plot aside, what the film has going for it is a top notch director and a charismatic star (just like “Die Hard,” I might add). Director Fuqua, who guided Denzel Washington to an Oscar in “Training Day,” has a great eye for action and stages the initial attack on the nation’s capital with some breath-taking special effects. Butler, in growling “300” mode, kicks ass and takes names when he’s allowed to switch himself on and defend his commander in chief from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Except a couple of lazy screen writers.

Starring: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vinessa Shaw, Daniel Gimenez Cacho
Director: Makinov
Distributed by: New Video
MPAA Rating: Unrated
RUnning Time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I am not sure what it was that drew me to “Come Out and Play”. Before watching this film, I hadn’t seen any of the teasers or trailers. I think what was the real draw for me, besides that it is a horror flick, was that it was directed by Makinov, who we know little about personally except that he is known for wearing a mask. Nonetheless, Makinov knows how to direct a film.  He delivers some great tension in his directorial debut in “Come Out and Play”. The film itself is a slow-burn but as it developed  throughout, especially in the third act, it grabs you and doesn’t let do. Do not miss this!

This is based on Juan José Plan’s 1976 Spanish horror classic, “El Juego De Niños”. The premise is quite simple yet very effective. It follows a young couple’s attempt to escape to a isolated island during vacation. This vacation represents their last chance to enjoy themselves before they become parents. When they arrive on the island, at first they do not see anyone else around. But they soon find out that they are not alone at all. In fact the island is filled with tons of children, who are ruling the island and have quite the murderous appetite. The couple struggle to survive and make it off this remote island. Think “Children of the Corn”, hold the corn and taking place on an island.

The film stars Vinessa Shaw, who I know best from “Hocus Pocus” but more recently in “The Hills Have Eyes” remake and Ebon Moss-Bachrach known for his role on “Damages”. The film really sits on their shoulders and they hold it up well with great performances. The horror is the film is practically yet packs a nice punch, literally. Assisting with the suspense is Makinov’s score, which really takes you along for the ride and does not let you take your eyes off the screen. There is no shortage of gore or even violence to the kids, which I feel is very ballsy but pays off. I hope this little film gets some attention because it should not be missed. I can’t to see what Makinov has planned next for sure.

Creators: Hanna-Barbera
Starring: Daws Butler, Paul Winchell, Hal Smith, Joe E. Ross, William Callaway, John Stephenson
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 328 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a big fan of pretty much anything Hanna-Barbera. I have to admit, I guess I am too young but I have never heard of “Help!…It’s The Hair Bear Bunch!”, which dates back to 1971. It only lasted one season and 16 episodes on the air. Even though it may not be Hanna Barbera’s best product, they have appeared in various other programs including Hair Bear’s cameo in “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law”. There was even a reference in “The Brady Bunch” to the show. After watching all 16 episodes I have to admit, I went to grab the next disc for more episodes. So to me that means that I really enjoyed this show. It is zany, silly and just plain fun. It also features great voice legends like Daws Butler (who takes a page from his Yogi Bear voice), Hal Smith (who was one of the original voices of Winnie the Pooh). I would recommend checking out this DVD.

Official Premise: In the Wonderland Zoo there are the certain bears who stay at home every night and never quarrel or fight, aw, they don’t even bite! So don’t yell “Help! Help!”, it’s the Hair Bear Bunch! Yep – it’s the heppest, savviest and silliest ursines to ever crash out of a zoo, Hair, Square and Bubi Bear. Their bear cave transforms from stone and straw to a swinging, scientific bachelor bear pad at the touch of a button – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Quick-talking Hair (voiced by Daws Butler), befuddling curlicue talker Bubi (voiced by Paul Winchell) and master of the invisible motorcycle, the zen-drawling Square Bear (voiced by William Callaway) are more than a match for their “keepers” Mr. Peevly (voiced by John Stephenson) and Botch (voiced by Joe E. Ross) – with or without the other delightful denizens of Wonderland Zoo, who are always ready to help the Bears in their bigger-than-the-zoo schemes. This two-disc, 16 episode collection contains all the mod bears madcap extra-zoohicular adventures.

This complete series are said to be newly restored but I am not doing back flips with the transfers. They are good but they look like they are still dated from 1971. The colors are a little muted but work enough to enjoy the series. The episodes are presented in full screen 4×3 with an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. This is the first time that this series has been released on DVD, so I am thrilled enough just to see it get some love. Thanks as always to Warner Archive. They are always responsible for pulling out some very unique and rare shows from the vaults and give them a new life. I can’t wait to see what they come up with yet. This release is available on only on WBShop.com and is MOD, which means “Manufactured on Demand”.  So if you are a fan of this show there is no telling how long they will be available so get it now.

Starring: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 1149 minutes

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

“Star Trek: Enterprise” or better known as just “Enterprise” for the first few seasons. The show started in 2001 and would run for four seasons and 98 episodes before being cancelled. It was also the last series in an 18-year run of back-to-back which started in 1987 with “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. Personally, I thought this series was quite sharp. Who doesn’t love Scott Bakula. It takes the prequel approach to “Star Trek” and explores the roots of the Federation and the beginning of exploring deep space. Here we got a new crew, a great captain (you rule Bakula!) and a great new concept. The show was was met with mixed reaction but have established a decent cult following over the years. I feel that it gets its legs as the series matures but still a great entry in the “Star Trek” universe.

Official Premise: Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) commands the Enterprise NX-01, the first Earth-built vessel capable of breaking the Warp 5 barrier. With his trusted Chief Engineer, Charles “Trip” Tucker III (Connor Trinneer), Science Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock), and security expert Lt. Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating), Capt. Archer is tasked with exploring new, unknown star systems. Propel your imagination farther and faster than before with an ever-expanding universe of captivating characters, interstellar intrigue, and adventures that will come to define the very essence of Starfleet.

Here are the episodes that are included in Season One: Broken Bow, Fight or Flight, Strange New World, Unexpected, Terra Nova, The Andorian Incident, Breaking the Ice, Civilization, Fortunate Son, Cold Front, Silent Enemy, Dear Doctor, Sleeping Dogs, Shadows of P’Jem, Shuttlepod One, Fusion, Rogue Planet, Acquisition, Oasis, Detained, Vox Sola, Fallen Hero, Desert Crossing, Two Days and Two Nights, Shockwave, Part 1.

If you are a fan of the show then thanks need to go to CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Pictures. They are behind releasing the first season of “Enterprise” on Blu-ray for the first time. They continue to deliver very impressive releases for the “Star Trek” franchise after “Star Trek: The Next Generation” seasons one and two. The show takes us into deep space for the first time along with the starship Enterprise NX-01 and includes some really fantastic 1080p high definition picture and very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks. I remember watching this show on UPN and let just say say “WOW”, this really really looks 10x better than I ever remember. If you are a fan of “Enterprise” you will be easily shot into warp speed with this wonderful Blu-ray presentation.

This Blu-ray comes packed with boasts some brand new bonus features that really makes this release shine for sure. The extras are spread out all over the six Blu-rays. Disc One features a brand new audio commentary track on the episode “Broken Bow” with co-creator/executive producer Brannon Braga, director James L. Conway, visual effects producer Dan Curry and cast members Connor Trinneer (Trip Tucker) and Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed). “Broken Bow” also has an audio commentary track with Brannon Braga and Rick Berman and a text commentary track by Michael and Denise Okuda.

Next up there are some deleted scenes for “Broken Bow” and “Fight or Flight”. There are three “Archival Mission Logs” including “Creating Enterprise”, “O Captain! My Captain! A Profile of Scott Bakula” and “NX-01 File 02”. The rest of the extras are all brand new including “In Conversation: Rick Berman and Brannon Braga”, presented in HD. “Cast Introduction” , “Network Presentation” and “Syndication Presentation” wrap up the first disc. After watching these extras, I couldn’t believe there were still five more discs of extras.

Disc two puts forward the following special features including a deleted scene from” Unexpected”. There is a text commentary track by Michael and Denise Okuda on episode, “The Andorian Incident”. There are two “Archival Mission Logs” including “Cast Impressions: Season 1” and “Enterprise Secrets”. This wraps up disc two but there is still tons more to come. Disc Three includes a brand new audio commentary track with writer/story editor André Bormanis and visual effects producer Dan Curry on the episode, “Silent Enemy”. There is a deleted scene from “Sleeping Dogs”. Lastly there are two more “Archival Mission Logs” including “Star Trek Time Travel: Temporal Cold Wars and Beyond”
and “Admiral Forrest Takes Center Stage”.

Disc Four includes not one but two new audio commentary track with writers/executive story editors Mike Sussman and Phyllis Strong on “Shadows of P’Jem”. The second is with co-creator/executive producer Brannon Braga, director David Livingston and cast members Connor Trinneer (Trip Tucker) and Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed) on “Shuttlepod One”. There is a deleted scene from “Shuttlepod One”. Lastly there are three “Archival Mission Logs” including “Inside Shuttlepod One”, “NX-01 File 01” and “NX-01 File 03”. Disc Five including two sets of deleted scenes from “Oasis” and “Fallen Hero”. There is another text commentary track by Michael and Denise Okuda on “Vox Sola”. There is another “Archival Mission Log” for “Enterprise Outtakes”. Lastly there is a new featurette called “On The Set”, though only in SD.

The sixth and last disc includes the best extra and also some deleted scenes from both “Two Days and Two Nights” and “Shockwave, Part 1”. There is also the last “Archival Mission Log: Celebrating Star Trek”. The last extra is also the best it is a brand new multi-part, retrospective documentary called “To Boldly Go: Launching Enterprise”. This is a real tribute to the show and a treat for the fans. It gives an inside look at the development and production of the series with new interviews with the show’s cast and crew and archival footage and behind-the-scenes clips.

The documentary includes the following three parts “Countdown, “Boarding the NX-01” and “First Flight”. Part 1, “Countdown” features all new interviews with creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, production designer Herman Zimmerman, technical consultants Michael and Denise Okuda, writers Andre Bormanis, Phyllis Strong and more talking about bringing this show to life. Part 2, “Boarding the NX-01” focuses on the series 2-hour pilot “Broken Bow” with all-new interviews with key cast and crew including series pilot director James L. Conway and series leads Scott Bakula (“Jonathan Archer”), Connor Trinneer (“Trip Tucker”), and Dominic Keating (“Malcolm Reed”). Lastly Part 3, “First Flight” looks into the first season with more all-new interviews with key production and post-production personal.

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Actors: Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy and Samuel L. Jackson
Directors: Wayne Thornley
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Running Time: 82 minutes

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

“Adventures in Zambezia” is a beautiful film but feels like its been done so many times before.  It reminds me of a mix between “Ice Age” and “Rio” but without the heart.  The best thing this film has going for it is the amazing voice cast including Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park”), Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”) and Samuel L. Jackson (“”Pulp Fiction”).  But they can’t carry the whole film on their own.  Kids should enjoy this but parents beware don’t get taken in by the colors and the familiar voices.

Official Premise: When a spirited young falcon named Kai (Jeremy Suarez, TV’s The Bernie Mac Show) learns of Zambezia, the fabulous city of birds, he leaves his remote country home against the wishes of his father (Jackson). But when his dad is captured by an evil lizard who plans to attack the city, Kai must learn the importance of teamwork if he’s to rescue his father, save his new friends and help keep Zambezia lizard free. Samuel L. Jackson, Abigail Breslin, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy give voice to this beautifully animated fun-filled adventure the whole family will enjoy.

Sony is releasing this film as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. The 1080p transfer is very sharp and since the film is so colorful it really pops. This film was originally made to be seen in 3D and there are many scenes that are missing that depth. I would have loved to have seen Sony give this film the 3D treatment, as it was made to be seen. I do not think it would have made the film any better though but just a missed opportunity. The audio included is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  This works well with the fun music in the film and compliments the voice actors very well.

The special features are attractable for the kiddies and parents alike. There are four interesting and fun featurettes. “Birds of a Feature” looks at the birds that inspired the film and the voices behind them. “An African Story” looks into the story and the script behind the film. “The Tree City” looks into creating the animated Zambezia. “Technical Challenges” looks into the animating issues during production. Lastly there is a music video included for “Come Fly with Me” by Jewels Jaselle and Benj Heard.

Actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader
Directors: Steven Spielberg
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Dreamworks
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Run Time: 150 minutes

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

When it comes to Steven Spielberg, I have to admit his films are hit or miss. With his recent films I haven’t been a huge fan “The Terminal” was ah…ok, “Munich” was forgettable, as was “War Horse”. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is not a fan favorite. “The Adventures of Tintin” though is brilliant. So “Lincoln”, I can say is easily one of his best film that he directed in recent years. The acting was beyond phenomenal from Daniel Day-Lewis’ wonderful portrayal of our 16th President (yes haters, even his voice). Sally Field’s role was very intense and well done. Tommy Lee Jones, who was also nominated for many awards, did a damn good job (despite his Golden Globe death stare). Do not miss this film for sure. It is two and half hours, yet I have watched it twice and it flies by fast and gets only better with each viewing.

Official Premise: Capturing the danger and excitement of political intrigue, Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln chronicles the final four months in the life of the man regarded as America’s greatest President. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, the untold story focuses on a defining moment in Abraham Lincoln’s life – as commander-in-chief of a country in chaos; as a husband and father afraid of losing his own son to the war; and as a man guided by his conscience to end slavery. With the Civil War nearing conclusion, President Lincoln fights to convince a fractious Congress to pass a Constitutional amendment that will change the course of history. Facing fierce opposition, he wages a battle of strategy, persuasion, and political muscle to build a coalition out of his team of rivals.

The Blu-ray comes in a combo pack with the Blu-ray disc and DVD disc included. There is also a digital copy included but it is only for iTunes. When is Disney going to get on the Ultraviolet digital copy-wagon already. I easily would prefer streaming digital to download digital. “Lincoln” looks absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. The 1080p transfer really feels very intimate and really compliments Janusz Kaminski’s amazing cinematography. “Lincoln” also received a very shocking DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. The film really is 99% dialogue based, so a little bit is lost here with the 7.1 but it is still quite amazing. John Williams’ score really takes advantage of this the most and the dialogue also benefits quite a bit and is very sharp.

The special features on this 4-disc BD/DVD/Digital Copy Combo are good but lacking any commentary tracks. “The Journey to Lincoln” is a decent look into the production with Director/producer Steven Spielberg, producer Kathleen Kennedy (aka the head of Lucasfilm), screenwriter Tony Kushner, actor Daniel Day-Lewis, production designer Rick Carter, “Team of Rivals” author Doris Kearns Goodwin and a few more. “A Historic Tapestry: Richmond, Virginia” is a very short talk about shooting the film in Richmond. “In the Company of Character” is is a chat with key members of the film on the performances in the film. “Crafting the Past” looks into the production design and costume work. “Living with Lincoln” is the shows the team taking the production into full-immersion in order to get the right feel. “In Lincoln’s Footsteps” focuses on the narrative and score with Spielberg, Kennedy, editor Michael Kahn, composer John Williams and others.

Actors: Bill Travers, William Sylvester, Vincent Winter, Christopher Rhodes, Joseph O’Connor
Directors: Eugene Lourie
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: VCI Entertainment
Release Date: March 19, 2013
Run Time: 77 minutes

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

When it comes to giant monsters taking its vengeance on the big city, they have always interested me. When it comes to anything like Godzilla, count me in! I don’t know what it is but I just love watching these types of films. I remember the first time that I saw “Gorgo” as a kid, I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV. I was also a big fan of the mocking of the film within the television show “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. Watching it today, it is still a fun movie and should be taken for what it is. Taking a page from the “Godzilla” films, “Gorgo” has decent effects using suitmation and miniaturization techniques. If you enjoy giant monster films, then I recommend the film for sure…the Blu-ray itself though is not the greatest. If you enjoy giant monster films, then I recommend the film for sure…the Blu-ray itself though is not the greatest.

Official Premise: A volcanic eruption in the North Atlantic brings to the surface a 65-foot prehistoric monster. Two treasure divers capture the creature and take him to London where he made the star attraction at a circus. A scientist is thoughtful enough to point out that the sailors bonanza is only an infant, and that a full-grown specimen would be over 200 feet in height. Sure enough, Gorgo’s mama comes thundering ashore, reclaims her offspring and heads back to sea but not before, she trashes a generous portion of London.

The film dates back to 1961, so the Blu-ray shows the film’s age quite a bit. The film was restored for Blu-ray but I really wasn’t thrilled with the 1080p transfer at all. So I know this film must have looked really bad, in terms of that it is an improvement. The audio track is decent but doesn’t really blow you away either with its enhanced 5.1/PCM track. The special features included are very gallery heavy but still decent. “Ninth Wonder Of The World: The Making Of Gorgo” is the best oof the bunch, which is a new documentary by Daniel Griffith. The galleries included are “Gorgo- Video Comic Book and Comic Book Cover Gallery”, Extensive Lobby Card & Poster Gallery”, “Photo Gallery”, “Gorgo Toys & Collectibles Gallery” and “Pressbook Gallery”. There is also “Star Ciné Cosmos- French-language “fumetto” (comic book)” and a look into the “Restoration Video Before & After”. Lastly there is a trailer included.

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Actors: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen
Directors: Tom Hooper
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Release Date: March 22, 2013
Run Time: 157 minutes

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

Broadway shows being made into movies are kinda hit or miss. I was a fan of “Rent” but it was not well-received. Same goes for “The Phantom of the Opera”, also not well-received. “Chicago” was a very bit hit and was even revisited this year at the Oscars. “Les Misérables” is another film adaption of the long-running Broadway stage show, this one is a musical though unlike the 1998 version with Liam Neeson. In so many words, I do love the film but I also have some problems with it. Still though, I feel that the good outweighs the negative and I highly recommend giving it a chance. If you are expecting a mirror image of the stage show then you will most likely be disappointed. If you are open-minded then you should enjoy this quite a bit.

Here are some of the aspects that I loved in this film. Firstly, it has to be Russell Crowe. I know this is most people’s aspect that they disliked but I was just blown away. I thought he really was powerful and his voice really delivered. He is quite different then his character from the stage show and I appreciated that. The next one is a bit obvious and is Anne Hathaway’s perfect one take performance of “I Dreamed a Dream”. Lastly, I would also like to commend the live singing on the set. I think this really worked for the film. Some aspects that I was not a fan of was Tom Hooper’s shaky cam approach. Even though it was trying to be more raw like the singing, it didn’t work for me. Another major dislike is Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. I wish I could watch a version of the film without them completely.

Official Premise: Hugh Jackman, Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway star in this critically acclaimed adaptation of the epic musical phenomenon. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

Whether the film is good or not, Universal delivered a fantastic Blu-ray high-def presentation. They deliver the film with their typical combo pack with Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Digital Copy. The 1080p transfer looks very clear within it’s 1.85:1 aspect ration, while still keeping the gritty look that Tom Hooper and cinematographer Danny Cohen were going for. The real star of the show though is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. This really works perfectly with the film’s score and the music. The film is 99% singing and it is well-represented here for sure.

The special features included on this release are good but lacking a bit. There is an audio commentary by Director Tom Hooper. It is very in-depth and interesting. If you enjoyed the film and looking a decent inside look I would check it out. “Les Misérables: A Revolutionary Approach” is an hour long multi-part featurette, which goes in-depth into the production. The featurettes included are “The Stars of Les Misérables”, “The West End Connection, “Les Misérables on Location”, “Creating the Perfect Paris”, “Battle at the Barricade” and “Les Misérables Singing Live”, also which my favorite. “The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables” is a decent but short look taking Victor Hugo’s novel to the screen.

Actors: Dong-won Kang, Yun-seok Kim
Directors: Dong-Hoon Choi
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Run Time: 135 minutes

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

Right from the minute when “Woochi” starts it really grabs you in with amazing visual effects and CG work.  Right after that it really starts to unravel…and unravel.  The film was made back in 2009 and this was the first time it is being released on Blu-ray. The film is also 2 hours of 15 minutes, which is way too long, though it is labeled as being only an hour and 55 minutes. So I assume that Shout! Factory missed that for the packaging. I found myself looking to fast forward numerous times throughout this film. The action scenes are decent when they actually occur but not frequently enough. I would put a giant pass on this film for sure or just watch the trailer and all the good stuff is right in there.

Official Premise: This fantasy-action blockbuster based on a Korean folktale broke all box-office records in Korea in 2009. Jeon Woo-chi, an undisciplined, womanizing wizard unjustly accused of the death of his master, is trapped inside an ancient scroll until he is set free in 2009 by the wizards that imprisoned him to help fight against evil goblins that have taken over present-day Korea. The only problem is that Woo-chi is more interested in his new modern home – and the women of Korea – than becoming a hero. Will he be the savior of mankind?

The Blu-ray presentation is well delivered by Shout! Factory. The 1080p transfer looks clear with the CGI work, even though that effects themselves looked decent at best. There are multiple audio tracks including a Korean and English DTS Master Audio 5.1 tracks, as well as Korean and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. The only way to watch this film is in Korean, since the English track is completely unbearable. The special features included are impressive, even though the film isn’t. First off is a Making-of Featurette, which runs about an hour. If that isn’t enough there are four Production Featurettes focusing on “The Magic of Computer Graphics”. There are also some deleted scenes and trailers included.

Actors: John de Lancie, Tara Strong, Lauren Faust
Number of discs: 4
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BronyDoc, LLC.
Run Time: 267 minutes

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

Are you a brony? Do you know what a brony is? Well according to Urban Dictionary: a brony is “a male fan of the series, “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” I have heard about this group of fans before watching this documentary. I wasn’t very exposed to “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” but I knew about the 80’s show from when I was growing up but was never a big fan since it was obviously aimed at girls. Since having watched “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic”, I understand why people are really latching on to the show. This documentary is a really interesting look this cultural sensation. If you are obsessed with this show then you must see this. But also if you have no idea yet curious, this is also the answer for you.

I recently had the chance to chat with “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star John de Lancie, check it out here, who is also the character voice of Discord in “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic”. He told me about how his involvement with how the show lead to developing this documentary. One point that he made about the show, which I really agree with is that the show has a nice message of showcasing the elements of “harmony, being kind, generous, loyal and tolerant”. The documentary was funded by a Kickstarter project raising over $322,000 dollars, which was a record at the time. This told us not to underestimate the power of the fans. Anyone see what happened with “Veronica Mars” on Kickstarter? I think this project really brought a lot of attention to the idea of being a brony.

“Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony” really gives the male fans of “My Little Pony” a chance to tell their story. We get to meet people from all over the world ranging from the United States to Germany to Israel to the United Kingdom. These fans show us their passion and their love of “My Little Pony”. We go to BronyCon, a convention focusing specifically on “My Little Pony” and get to see how fans have come together for their love of this show. There we get to meet the voices of the characters including John de Lancie, Tara Strong and series creator Lauren Faust. We also get to meet and see fans who have created numerous works of art including music, art and animation. It really delivers a nice message of why these people are obsessed with this show and gives them a voice.

The Blu-ray comes available as two separate releases including the Main Edition and the Extended Interviews. Both are available in a single discounted bundle under “Complete Edition”. The Main Edition is feature documentary with two bonus segments covering two European conventions: B.U.C.K. in the UK and Galacon in Germany. The Extended Interviews discs including longer interviews with Producers Lauren Faust, John de Lancie, and Tara Strong totaling over three hours. So there is a lot more than just an 80 minute movie here. To be honest, I think it would have been easier to just include these interviews on the Main Edition Blu-ray, instead of being packaged in two different discs/cases. Nonetheless, the fans are going to eat up this documentary and the additional bonus material for sure.

G.B. Hajim is the co-writer, cinematographer, producer, and director the animated lesbian rock musical “Strange Frame”.  The film can only be described by seeing it. The film itself is a real trip and extremely unique. It also packs a very strong voice cast including Tim Curry, Claudia Black, Ron Glass, George Takei, Alan Tudyk and Michael Dorn…just to name a few. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with G.B. about the film, his love for science fiction and his unique animation style.

Mike Gencarelli: You acted as Co-Writer, Cinematographer, Producer, and Director on “Strange Frame”, which is such a unique film; how did this come about?
G.B. Hajim: I read a lot of science fiction and it seems like science fiction film and TV always falls short of what science fiction literature is doing. So, I am a big John Varley fan and also Neal Stephenson. It seems like most of the science fiction film or TV is a just a setting for action or battle scenes. It is not really setup to take that heady trip and imagine what is humanity going to become in the future. Right now, we are already experimenting with genetic engineering and bio-modifications. We are also at the cuff of basically beginning to be a spacefaring race. I really wanted to explore those ideas here. I am also influenced by some of my favorite science fiction like “Blade Runner”. That is the short of it. From the tone of the movie you can see that I have experimented with psychedelic drugs. So all these kind of things gelled together. Shelley Doty, who co-wrote it with me, also comes from a very similar space being a big sci-fi head. We might have crammed a little too much into the movie but we really wanted to lay out a world that was different than you have seen before.

MG: How did it end up being a lesbian rock musical?
GBH: Shelley Doty, who co-wrote it, is an African American lesbian and also a rock guitarist. She has been on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine and is a very accomplished musician. So when we sat down to write this, we thought about who would we want to write about. What is great about writing about musicians is that they are seen as the lowest end of society like playing the dingiest clubs or street corners but also seen as the rock star when they are at the highest level of society. You get this unique perspective of being able to transcend all the class barriers. Since we wanted to show so much of this new universe that we were laying out, we wanted a character that could transcend all that. It seemed like a really good fit.

MG: How did you end up working with an amazing voice cast including (deep breath) Tim Curry, Claudia Black, Ron Glass, Juliet Landau, Tara Strong, George Takei, Alan Tudyk and Michael Dorn…to name a few?
GBH: We were very lucky. Early on I knew that sound was going to be very important for our film, especially since it was a musical. I was reaching out to some of the best sound guys in the business. Finally, I was introduced to Gary Rizzo, who was mixing at the time a little film called “The Dark Knight Rises”. He looked at our film and wanted to be on board. To have an Academy Award Winning sound guy on board gives you a lot of cred when talking with voice and cast directors. They were very jazzed that we had Gary on board. We ended up working with Jamie Thomason and they asked who we wanted in terms of voice actors.  Shelley and I are big sci-fi fans, obviously, so we picked through our favorite people. We ended up getting mostly everyone that we wanted. So it was really awesome. They saw what we were doing with this project and how it was very unique but they also saw how we were doing it. I trained local kids here in East Hawaii, which is a super poor area. These kids have nothing to do, so I brought them on board and trained with in animation and they became the animation crew. They really resonated with our actors.

MG: Tell us how you got music in the film by Roger Waters?
GBH: I am a huge Pink Floyd fan. When I was animating this, most of the time I had live Pink Floyd music blasting. I think “The Final Cut” is such an under-rated album and “The Gunner’s Dream” is just such a beautiful song.  It was  also related to what we were talking about in the movie. So I approached Roger Waters’ management and told them about what we were doing with the kids and the movie. Roger was really stoked about it. First you have to get the rights from the artist but then you also need to go to the rights organization, Warner/Chappell Music and those guys dragged their feet. Roger gave us this track for next to nothing but they wanted tens of thousands of dollars for this. We are this little production and didn’t have that type of money. Roger’s management stepped in and hammered at these guys until they gave this to us for virtually nothing. It is a real rarity, if you look at Roger’s credits, he hasn’t done many domestic films. So it was a real honor.

MG: Tell us about the development of the unique type of animation used in this film?
GBH: I have done all kinds of animation. In school, I had experimented with all types and even helped developed some of the first CGI when I worked at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. That aspect is very technical and gets devoid of the hand of the artist and creativity gets riddled down and sterilized when you use that type of animation. It is also very time intensive and expensive. When I moved to Hawaii, I didn’t have clients that could give me a budget where I could do that kind of animation. So I developed this new style of cut-out, which is very economic and also very easy to train with. It is mostly drawn and photoshopped by hand. We break up the drawing into mini-pieces and then move those pieces in a compositing program. It is much quicker and as an artist also much more fun since you can just throw stuff in and get it to look really rich and dense quickly. It is a very different way of animating and it is also pretty unique. I think if we get a chance to do a follow-up movie we would be able to rival the big boys like Pixar or Dreamworks. We worked out the kinks in this movie and really sharpened it up. If we get to do a sequel it will be guaranteed to knock peoples socks off.

MG: I would have loved this seen this film on Blu-ray? Any plans?
GBH: When you go to a distributor, they do things a certain way. Unless we sell tens of thousands of DVD, they are not going to do a Blu-ray release. That is the reality of it. It is very hard to make an economical Blu-ray release. With that being said, I do feel though that people that encoded this DVD made it look fucking phenomenal, especially with the data rate that they were given.

MG: What do you have planned next?
GBH: You have to have a lot of irons in the fire. I just did a pitch to Comedy Central for a bunch of shorts. I can’t talk about that more since it is still in the works. I have got plans to pitch Sony also for another TV show, maybe based on “Strange Frame”. I am also developing an animated feature for younger teens called “Ali Jamal and the Rat Prince”. It is more of a fantasy project than sci-fi but it will be in the same animation style. Then I also have a few live action projects that I am also developed but which are much lower budget. I have a background in live action and since animation takes such a long time, I would like to get a few projects done with in that format as well next.

Television personality Audrina Patridge is probably best known from the hit reality series “The Hills” where she was one four original cast members. Since the show has ended Audrina has appeared in her own reality series as well as several movies such as “Sorority Row” and “Into the Blue 2”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Audrina recently about her appearance at this year’s Maxim Beach Party and her upcoming role in “Scary Movie 5”.

Adam Lawton:  Can you tell us about the Maxim Spring Break event?
Audrina Patridge: This is my second year doing the event in Panama City Beach Florida. I am the grand ambassador for Curve Appeal perfume and cologne. Maxim Magazine and Curve teamed up to put on this Spring Break party. The event features a giant stage built right on the sand next to the ocean. It is really beautiful. There is going to be a bunch of different contests held throughout the break such as hula hooping, push-up contests and of course the booty shake contest. This was one I judged last year and a guy was actually the winner. It is so much fun to see everyone out there having fun. You get to see people of all ages out there. There are also lots of Curve models walking around handing out samples so that not only do the guys and girls on break look good but they smell good as well.

AL: How did you become involved with Curve?
AP: I have always been really big on fragrance as I think it’s important to leave a lasting impression. I get a lot of compliments on the smell of the fragrances and am a really big fan myself. It’s great that we have been able to partner up.

AL: What do you like most about going to Spring Break each year?
AP: I love traveling and have had so many great opportunities to do so. I like getting to meet all the different people as well. I am 27 now and I think everyone deserves a Spring Break no matter how old you are. Fortunately I get to be a part of this and it is just so much fun. Being down here takes me back to my early twenties. It’s just a fun time.

AL: Will you be doing any promotion while you’re down there for “Scary Movie 5”?
AP: I am just there for the Spring Break Party but “Scary Movie 5” comes out April 12^th. I did a cameo in the film which was a lot of fun. We filmed my piece in Georgia at this huge, beautiful mansion that was really old. I can’t wait to see how things turned out.

AL: Do you have any other projects coming out that we can be watching for?
AP: Nothing that I can talk about just yet. Everyone has to make sure they get some Curve Appeal and go see “Scary Movie 5” on April 15^th.