Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones
MPAA Rating: R
Disney: Touchstone Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 127 minutes

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

I remember counting down the days until the release of “Ed Wood”. After watching Depp/Burton collaborate in 1993’s “Edward Scissorhands”, I became a lifelong fan of both. I was also a big fan prior of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”, despite how “bad” it is. This film was like nothing like I had ever seen at the time. Depp’s performance in the film is honestly one of his best. He completely embodied the role of Edward J. Wood Jr. Although “Ed Wood” didn’t muster up a wide audience and the film wasn’t really given a proper background. In 1994, Depp still wasn’t considered a sure-fire for hits back then. I loved the fact that this film was shot in black-and-White and just screams Tim Burton. Fans of his work and this film should not miss this great HD upgrade. Good job Disney!

The 1080p transfer looks great with this black-and-white film. Cinematographer Stefan Czapsky actually shot the film on black-and-white stock, which is something that is not as widely available in today’s times. The film has it spots here and there of slight noise but I feel that it plays with the film’s indie aspect. The audio track includes an excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1. It features clear dialogue and works well with Howard Shore’s score. Note: this is rare that Tim Burton didn’t use Danny Elfman for his score.

The special features are ports from the 2004 DVD, but are still very impressive. There is a jam-packed commentary track (well sort-of) with Director Tim Burton, Actor Martin Landau, Co-Writers Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander, Director of Photography Stefan Czapsky and Costume Designer Colleen Atwood. These are various interviews complied together into the track. There are five short deleted scenes, all which I enjoyed. There is a music video composed by Howard Shore for the title theme. “Let’s Shoot This F#*%@r!” is a behind-the-scenes look tracked with Depp. “The Theremin” focus on Shore’s score. “Making Bela” shows how Martin Landau transformed into Bela Lugosi. “Pie Plates Over Hollywood” features Tom Duffield discussing about his own challenges on the film. Lastly there is the theatrical trailer included.

BARRICADE IS AVAILABLE ON DVD ON SEPTEMBER 25TH!

WHAT: On September 25th, BARRICADE DVD’s will be hidden throughout 25 cities across the US. Clues to the locations where DVDs are hidden will be sent out via Twitter and Facebook on the BARRICADE Facebook and Twitter pages. Fans can also check in via Foursquare and if they are in a location where DVDs are hidden they will be entered to win exclusive WWE merchandise!
WHEN: Tuesday, September 25th
WHERE: Location in a city near you. Check the BARRICADE Facebook and Twitter page.

Markets included in this:

· Atlanta
· Baltimore
· Boston
· Chicago
· Cleveland
· Dallas-Ft. Worth
· Denver
· Detroit
· Houston
· Indianapolis
· LosAngeles
· Miami
· Minneapolis
· New York
· Orlando
· Philadelphia
· Phoenix
· Pittsburgh
· Portland
· Sacramento
· San Francisco
· Seattle
· St. Louis
· Tampa-St. Pete
· Washington DC

About WWE Studios:
WWE Studios continues to strategically diversify its slate of films, which includes theatrical releases and direct-to-home premieres, under the guidance of President Michael Luisi. Upcoming films for WWE Studios include: Dead Man Down, which was co-financed with IM Global and will be distributed by FilmDistrict, starring Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace; The Hive, which was co-produced with Troika Pictures, starring Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin; and No One Lives, which was co-produced with Pathé Films and premiered at Midnight Madness at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, starring Luke Evans and WWE Superstar Brodus Clay™. For additional information, go to www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wwestudios

About BARRICADE:
Terrance Shade (Eric McCormack) takes his children on a holiday getaway to a cabin in the woods. But when a blizzard buries the house, the family finds themselves trapped and without communication. As the storm surges on outside, a sinister presence materializes. Unable to explain it, and unable to escape it, they quickly realize that maybe they haven’t locked the evil out…instead they’ve just locked it in. The film stars Eric McCormack, Jody Thompson, Connor Dwelly, Ryan Grantham and Donnelly Rhodes. Directed by Andrew Currie. Written by Michelbrent Collings. Available on DVD exclusively at Walmart on September 25th. For additional information, go to www.facebook.com/BarricadeMovie or www.BarricadeMovie.com

MPAA Rating: PG
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Running Time: 193 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker plain-and-simple any kind of shark documentary. “Shark Divers” delivers some decent entertainment for any shark lovers. If you are looking for some hardcore documentary, this may not be for you. But it is a fun mix and facts with entertainment factor. Mill Creek’s delivers overall a nice collection of documentaries including the following: “The Shark Divers”, “Shark Business”, “Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” and “Giants of San Benedicto”.These are film taking advantage of the high-def underwater photography and are developed by Danny Mauro.  He has worked on over 100 programs about the marine environment, including “The Blue Realm”. So you know that these docs have a lot of love going into them.

“The Shark Divers” – Sharks are BIG business in adrenaline eco-tourism. And some thrill seekers deliberately pursue close encounters with deadly sharks – without the protection of a cage. The bigger and more dangerous the shark, the better. But have we taken this risky sport too far? “Shark Business” – Shark Business unravels some of the mysteries surrounding sharks with controversial behaviorist Dr. Erich Ritter. You’ll witness divers testing the limits of shark-human interaction outside of cages with dangerous sharks such as lemon, bull and even Great White sharks!

“Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants” – Whale Sharks: Gentle Giants introduces us to this amazing creature through scientists who are racing against time to save the species. Utilizing space-age technology from NASA and the Hubble Telescope, researchers are able to identify, catalogue and track individual sharks.

“Giants of San Benedicto” – You’ll travel to the remote Socorro Islands off Mexico’s Pacific coast and see breath-taking encounters with enormous manta rays. You’re sure to love these majestic giants as you see how they invite human contact, and encourage certain divers to ride them. The film crew also travels to the Bahamas to visit “Bubbles”, a fifteen foot Manta in the world’s largest aquarium, and witness her release back into the ocean.

The Blu-ray release itself looks nice but not stunning within its high definition transfer. Despite the fact that it was shot underwater, it still looks presentable for the format, thought not going to blow anyone away.  The audio track  included is DTS-HD MA 2.0 is like the video transfer…acceptable.  The narration sounds decent and works well with the music in the docs. If you are looking for any additional special features, besides the four documentaries, you will be disappointed.  I wouldn’t though have expected much more besides the films themselves.

Directed by: Eli Roth
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Lauren German, Heather Matarazzo, Jordan Ladd, Barbara Nedeljakova, Bijou Phillips, Roger Bart, Richard Burgi.
Distributed by: Mill Creek Entertainment
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 189 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Eli Roth hit the horror scene with the amazingly original “Cabin Fever” in 2002. “Hostel” was a perfect follow-up for him, even outdoing his first film. His decision to do “Hostel Part II” himself was a risky but overall turned out pretty well. Both films are also presented by Quentin Tarantino, so that always bodes well for a film. Mill Creek Entertainment has put both of these great films together in this impressive double feature. Both “Hostel & Hostel Part II” include their unrated director’s cut, which is quite a bonus. or a low-cost of less than $10 bucks, this is a must for all horror fans.

“Hostel” is a shocking and relentless film in the tradition of Saw about two American backpackers (Jay Hernandez and Derek Richardson) in Europe who find themselves lured in as victims of a murder-for-profit business. “Hostel Part II” is the shocking and gruesome sequel about the underground torture ring where rich businessmen pay to torture and murder their victims.

Both “Hostel” and “Hostel Part II” look fantastic on this Blu-ray release. They are presented in there own respectively 1080p transfers and are presented in an 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Both films also come with an impressive DTS-MA 5.1 audio track. The film’s score by Nathan Barr sounds impressive throughout both films. Alas, this release is lacking in the special features department. None of the previously released features are included on this set. But like I said earlier for $10 bucks, this is still a sweet deal!

Directed by: Makoto Kamiya
Starring: Matthew Mercer, Dave Wittenberg, Courtenay Taylor, Val Tasso, Robin Sachs, Wendee Lee, Salli Saffioti
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 25, 2012

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

“Resident Evil: Damnation” is the CGI animated sequel to “Resident Evil: Degeneration”. I wasn’t a mega big fan of “Degeneration”. I thought they could have done much better with the “Resident Evil” franchises’ first trip to CGI animation. Well “Damnation” is the answer that “Resident Evil” fans have been looking for. It follows the continuing efforts of special agent Leon Kennedy as he tries to reveal Umbrella Corporation evil-doings.  My only issue with the film was that it was a perfect specimen for 3D.  I have no idea why Sony didn’t put this out as a 3D Blu-ray release, it would have been amazing.  Nonetheless, the film is action packed and packed with some amazing effects.

Sony’s official synopsis: “Kennedy sneaks into a small Eastern Europe country to verify rumors that Bio Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s) are being used in war. Right after his infiltration, the US government orders him to leave immediately. Determined to uncover the truth, Leon ignores the order and enters the battlefield to end the chain of tragedies caused by the B.O.W.s.”

Sony’s release delivers a combo pack including the Blu-ray of the film, as well as the Ultraviolet digital streaming version of the film. The 1080p transfer looks absolutely perfect and is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.  I was literally blown away with the video presentation. But like I said this would have been 10x better it was delivered in 3D.  The audio track is also amazing packing a sharp Dolby TrueHD 5.1.  The film is major action packed and literally gave my surround sound a run for its money.

The special features are good but not amazing. There is a behind-the-scenes featurette called “The DNA of Damnation”, which dives into the production but is a little short. “Las Plagas: Organisms of War” looks into the creatures that were created in the film. There is a funny gag reel included on English version, I always love it when CGI films show their faux funny side. Lastly there is a conceptual art gallery, which is actually quite impressive since this showed the origin of where these designs started.

Christopher Sean and John Gearries are the creators of the upcoming “Twilight” spoof film “Twiharder” Media Mikes had the chance to talk with both John and Chris recently about the film and what it was like taking it from the Internet to the big screen.

Adam Lawton: What made you decide to do a parody of the “Twilight” series?
John Gearries: We knew that there was a big market for us to tap into. Being new film makers we really wanted to be seen by a large audience. I think if you look at the genres that have been in the past for younger people they have had something to do with a specific trend. Right now the vampire trend is going crazy. Chris and I were thinking what we could use to help us be seen by a large number of people and that’s why we chose the “Twilight” series. That series is also pretty easy to poke fun at.

AL: Were you fans of the original films?
Christopher Sean: To be fair I actually enjoyed the original films. I liked the story. John then pointed out to me that there was really nothing happening in those stories. That was the truth as there was really nothing more going on than a 105 year old vampire falling in love with an underage school girl. I started to think about some of the other points about how the vampires were always sunbathing and the werewolf’s never had shirts on.
JG: The thing that I saw was all these subliminal topics that were never brought up. Why was someone always taking off their shirt or wet? There was really no reason for that to happen when it does. If a vampire is 105 years old why he is still interested in young girls? His mind still should be aging. Why is he even still going to high school every day?

AL:  Did you find yourself re-reading the books at all during the writing process?
CS: We didn’t read too much of the books. We mostly watched the movies and were just grossed out. I can’t wait for the final film to come out.
JG: I saw the first 2 films once but that was it. I am not a Twihard fanatic or anything. I think it would be hard for me to sit through those films over and over. I guess they are fun movies for kids but these films just made me upset as they really had no point.

AL: Can you tell us about the “I’m So Sexy” music video shoot?
CS: John came to me with the idea for the video. John wrote the song under the name John Blaze. When he first sang it for me I knew it was going to blow up. We shot that in a mansion up in the hills of Thousand Oaks.
JG: I wanted to see all the werewolves extra wet and playing with each other. (Laughs) I wanted something for the YouTube community to have a “Twilight” song.  There were a few other songs out there already but I went darker and tried to push things as far as I could. The entire concept came from the “Big Pimp’n” video.

AL: What was the most difficult part of taking this from a web series to a motion picture format?
JG: Probably the large number of people involved was the most difficult aspect. We had around 30-40 actors, 80 production/crew staff and another 10 or so music artists involved. To bring that in collectively and make it work cohesively has been tough. We have run into a number of constraints. Shooting the film was also a bit difficult. We had a number of kids show up on set and just start screaming the characters names. Not only are the characters in “Twiharder” vampires and werewolves but they are also Hollywood stars. They live in a world where they are famous, vampires, and in love. They have a lot of fans. Everyone was great but there was a lot of responsibility.

AL: How do you feel this spoof differs from the other that have been released recently?
CS: This one’s better! (Laughs) Not only are we poking fun at the movies but also at the actors who are in those movies. Everything that “Twilight” is we are poking fun at. The film solely incorporates things from those films not a number of different films. We really get in-depth and poke things with a big stick.
JG: Films like “Scary Movie” throw a whole bunch of popular movies together into one film. Our film “Twiharder” is about the acting and the writing. It’s all really dark humor and can seem a bit disturbing.

AL: When can we expect to see the film?
JG: We are really shooting for late October or November. We wanted it to come out around Halloween but we are still wrapping some things up. It’s looking more like early winter.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Denholm Elliott, John Rhys-Davies, Kate Capshaw, Cate Blanchett, Sean Connery
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 482 minutes

Raiders of the Lost Ark: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: 5 out of 5 stars
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

“Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures” finally hits Blu-ray on September 18th. This collection marks the Blu-ray debut of the “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.  This is the first time they have been released in high-def and this release does not disappoint at all. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” has previously been released on Blu-ray is stunning as well, despite hatred by fans (not including myself). This collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford complies the one of the best adventure series to date.  You know that there was a lot of love and supervision for this release by director Steven Spielberg and renowned sound designer Ben Burtt.  Overall this really is a major upgrade in presentation from the last DVD release. If nothing else this release leaves you with one burning question, “Snakes—why did it have to be snakes?”.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the real star of this release for sure.  It has been meticulously restored in order to preserve the original look, sound and feel of this iconic film. They went back to the original negative scanned at 4K and reviewed frame-by-frame so that any damage could be repaired.  The sound delivered for this release was Burtt’s original master mix, which had been archived and unused since 1981.  When all was said and done this digital restoration was extremely impressive.  The other installments in the franchise also look stunning being presented in 1080p high definition, also presented in there 2.39:1 original aspect ratio.  Even though “Raiders” got the most attention, “Temple of Doom” and “Last Crusade” really do look very sharp on Blu-ray.  Besides the occasional film spots, I was left blown away by these presentations. When you also think about “Indiana Jones”, you immediately start humming that iconic theme song, “Da Da Dah Dahhh Dah Dah Da Da Dah Dahh Dah Dah“.  The sound is very important for this to work.  They have arrived on Blu-ray with a very impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  It is perfectly balanced and sounds just amazing over my surround sound system.

The special features are literally flowing out of this release and are very impressive.  Thought I am very surprised that there are no commentary tracks available for any of the films.  There are two newly produced “On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark” featurettes: “From Jungle to Desert” and “From Adventure to Legend”.  Like I said this release is the “Raiders” show, so it gets the best treatment. There are a “Making the Films” featurettes for each film in the series. “Raiders” also  includes the original 1981 “The Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark” documentary as well. There are a bunch more of additional behind-the-scenes featurettes as well.  The first three focus on the most important aspects of the series; “The Stunts of Indiana Jones”, “The Sound of Indiana Jones” and “The Music of Indiana Jones”. They are short but definitely sweet. “The Light and Magic of Indiana Jones” takes use through the the work of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). There is a detailed look into everyone’s favorite scene “Raiders: The Melting Face!”, one of the reasons why PG-13 were initialized.

What is Indiana Jones without its snakes and other creatures in “Indiana Jones and the Creepy Crawlies”, it will have you lifting your feet off the floor.  “Travel with Indiana Jones: Locations” takes us through the wonderful locations where these films were shot and details about the shooting.  Like James Bond, there are such strong woman in this series and “Indy’s Women: The American Film Institute Tribute” provides a nice nod to them.  “Indy’s Friends and Enemies” dives into the other characters in the series besides Dr. Jones himself. The last three features are all on “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”…wait don’t turn it off yet, these are decent features.  The first focuses on the “Iconic Props”, which are featured in the last installment.  The next one focuses on “The Effects”, even as iconic as the original trilogy is, this film packs some great effects.  The last focuses on the last sequel road through “Post Production” and the challenges faced. Lastly there are high definition trailers and teasers for each film to close this great release.

Even though Mike G. spoke with him last year (click here), I jumped at the chance to speak with one of my favorite actors, Ed Asner. Well known for his work on such series as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Lou Grant,” my favorite Asner performance showed a side of him that few people familiar with his comic chops would ever expect to see, that of the cruel father Axel Jordache in television’s first mini-series, “Rich Man, Poor Man.” His work earned him one of his seven Emmy Awards (out of a total of seventeen nominations to date). Two more personal reasons excited me about speaking with him: he was born here in Kansas City and one of my colleagues in the critic’s circle, Marie Asner, is married to Mr. Asner’s cousin, Harold. While promoting his new film, “Let Go,” Mr. Asner talked with Media Mikes about his love for acting, sequel talk regarding “UP” and his favorite characters.

Mike Smith: Fill us in on your character in “Let Go.”
Ed Asner: He’s an old con but very incompetent. If you remember “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight,” he’s the whole gang rolled up in one. But he’s a loveable old turkey – he has character, he has affection and love. He has a beautiful woman that he loves in the film that he stupidly does not pursue because his brother is pursuing her at the same time. He is constantly ignoring the gift horse that is being offered him in life and chooses the harder means of making a living and failing at it, which is choosing to be a stick up man. He’s pretty tragic but funny at the same time.

MS: You’ve won seven Emmys by portraying some of television’s most memorable characters. Obviously there’s Lou Grant, but you’ve also played Axel Jordache in “Rich Man, Poor Man,” Captain Davies in “Roots” among others. Do you have a favorite among them?
EA: I could not never deny the seven years of playing Lou Grant on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” It was a joy to share the power of that writing and to delight people with that writing and to be able to carve out a character to execute that writing. Those seven years are a precious package. In terms of one shot characters, the epiphany I had doing Axel Jordache…the feelings and respect I had for that character…that creature… in what I think is one of the most memorable mini-series in history…it gives me great joy to be identified with that man.

MS: Ernest Borgnine worked well into his 80’s because he still loved the process of acting. Is that what keeps you so busy? By my count you have no less than five projects in the works right now.
EA: Ten years ago I would have been happy to be doing just one of those. To have four or five in the can is certainly a pleasure. Acting is the air of my life. It’s my oxygen. Put me in the box if I can’t act.

MS: Any word on a sequel to “UP?”
EA: No. With each passing year “UP” continues to grow in people’s memories. I love the singularity and the fact that it remains a solitary gem all by itself.

MS: When are you coming home? We miss you here.
EA: I was home in June. I did my one man show as FDR for a fund raiser. Apparently you didn’t haul your ass out there, did you? (laughs)

MS: I did not. My son got married in June and to be honest I didn’t know you were in town. I’m going to have to scold Marie next time I see her for not telling me you were here!
EA: Give Marie a big fat kiss for me!

David Denman has come full circle. As a young man in college, his first time before the camera put him on screen with Ed Asner. Now 15 years later he co-stars again with Asner, playing his probation officer, in the new comedy “Let Go.” While in the middle of a busy week of multiple projects Denman took time out to talk to Media Mikes about the late Patrice O’Neal, going to Julliard and what it’s like to play a probation officer (he’s done it twice)!

Mike Smith: What drew you to your role in “Let Go?”
David Denman: I was given the script by my agent and I really responded to the character. I thought there was a real sweetness in his view of the world and what he did on a bigger scale. That’s how it came to be. I just really liked it. I thought it was genuinely quirky and fun. I thought it would be a change and definitely a challenge.

MS: Probation Officer is an unusual profession and one you don’t see on screen a lot. Did you have to do any special research to get a feel for the character?
DD: Not on this job…I had played a parole officer previously and had a couple of conversations . What I learned is that most of the people getting out of jail don’t really get rehabilitated that easily so my character is very cynical about things. When you’re making movies you can do a lot of research and get a lot of different perspectives. And Walter’s perspective is definitely quite different.

MS: How did a California kid wind up at Julliard?
DD: When I was in school I always wanted to do theatre. There was a guy I went to high school with…he was the “professional kid.” He would do commercials. And he would always say, “when I get out of here I’m going to go to Julliard.” I asked him what it was and he told me. He told me that Robin Williams had gone there. Kevin Kline. All of these great actors. I’d never heard of it. I didn’t even know there were schools out there for acting. So when I graduated I went to the American Reparatory Theatre in San Francisco. It was very much like conservatory training, very intensive eight or ten weeks studying a craft I want to do. I applied to Julliard and I did what I had to get in. It was great to do regional theater…to travel and do shows. I went back to California on vacation and booked a job on “ER.” I stayed in California and never went back. That was 15 years ago.

MS: You shared a couple episodes of “The Office” with the late Patrice O’Neal, who just passed away. Do you have any special memories of working with him?
DD: He was a lot of fun. There wasn’t a whole lot of acting going on…he was pretty much his character. It was always fun because he was so quick. He threw a lot of improv into his work. I wasn’t aware he was a stand up comedian until after we started working together. He was really funny. We had a good time.

MS: What are you working on next?
DD: I’m finishing an M. Night Shayamalan movie (“After Earth”) with Will and Jaden Smith and I’m currently shooting an independent movie called “Blue Potato,” which takes place in upstate Maine. It’s a coming of age story that happens over the course of a potato harvest. I play a farmer who becomes a mentor to one of the kids. It was really a great little script and I’m having a lot of fun shooting it. And then I’ll be back on “The Office” in an episode I just shot last week.

Created by: Hanna-Barbera
Cast: Marty Ingels, Barbara Minkus, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Alan Lurie, Susan Silo, Barry Gordon, Chuck Mccann, Neilson Ross
Distributed by: Warner Archive
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 312 minutes / 216 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Hanna-Barbera really knows animation.  Back in the day, I would always jump on the chance to visit any product that they delivers and that is still true to today.  Pac-Man is brilliantly voiced by Marty Ingels, known best for his role in “He’s Dickens…I’m Fenster”.  I love his voice and he just embodies the character,  who knew Pac-Man had such a cool voice.  The show follows Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Baby as they set off on their adventures. Pac-Man also meets up with those pesky ghosts: Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde and Sue, as well as the dreaded Mezmaron, who wants their power bellets.  The second season also introduces cast additions including Pac-Man’s teenage cousin PJ and the super-heroic Super-Pac! Overall, this show is just plain stupid fun and nothing more.  If you grew up watching this show, revisiting it with these season release will be a real treat guaranteed to get a high score.

The first season includes all 26-episodes from the season.  The second season includes 16-episodes. It is presented in 4X3 full frame and its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.  The audio format is the typical Warner Archive mono track but works super well with the show. The second season also comes with a great special bonus feature! This release includes the fan-favorite prime-time holiday special “Christmas Comes to PacLand”.  I grew up watching this and look forward to watching it ever year on TV till today…but now I am happy to have it on DVD.  Each season looks great on DVD and is newly restored by Warner Archive.  One question left though where is the “Pac-Man Halloween Special”?

“Pac-Man: The Complete First Season”
Pac-Man! The game that gobbled up a nation’s quarters while its hero gobbled up those annoying Ghost Monsters spawned sequels, spin-offs, toys, games and more. Taking note of Pac-Man’s avid fan base, famed carton studio Hanna-Barbera hit upon the idea of adapting the game for Saturday morning animation – becoming the first video game to make the jump to TV. Kids were immediately enraptured and a score of other arcade favorites soon followed Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Baby Pac-Man from the gaming console to the cathode ray tube. In this 2-Disc, 26-Episode collection, Pac-Man does battle with Inky, Blinky, Pinky, Clyde and Sue, the Ghost Monster minions of the dreaded Mezmaron, who lusts after Pac-land’s precious power spheres. Aided by his plucky and charming wife and son, Pac-Man saves the Pac-President, confronts the vampiric Pacula, discovers the Abominable Pac-Man and more. Pac-Venture awaits – no quarters required!

“Pac-Man: The Complete Second Season”
Pac-Man returns for a Power Pellet chomping second season of adventures, with some very special cast additions – teenage cousin PJ and the super-heroic Super-Pac! Together with the rest of the Pac pack, they continue to thwart Mezmaron and his minions while time-travelling, battling Robo-Pacs and Pac-Apes, and taking a trip to Pac-Hollywood. Save your quarters, this game’s been extended! Contains all 16 sophomore season adventures. Special Bonus! You’ve hit the high score – this collection also includes the fan-favorite primetime holiday special Christmas Comes to PacLand! Originally airing during Pac-Man’s first season (but as an evening broadcast event), Christmas Comes to PacLand sees Pac, Pepper, Baby and the Pac-Pets enjoying an unexpected snowfall when an errant ghost attack sends Santa’s reindeer WAY off course. Can Pac-Man save the most special day of all? Guest-starring Santa and some very special reindeer.

Director: Mary Lambert
Starring: Denise Crosby, Fred Gwynne, Miko Hughes, Dale Midkiff, Brad Greenquist, Michael Lombard
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes

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

As Halloween approaches, “Pet Sematary” is one of those films that are a must watch. This film was adapted from author Stephen King own novel and follows the supernatural happenings surrounding a small-town pet cemetery. This still packs some good scares and holds up despite its growing age and high-tech newer horror films.  Paramount really delivered the goods on this release and didn’t disappoint and also delivers the film in a nice lenticular case. If you are looking to revisit this film whether it has been a few months or a few years since your last viewing, this is a must purchase. Horror fans should definitely not miss this opportunity.

Paramount’s official synopsis: “[The film] tells the story of Louis and Rachel Creed (Dale Midkiff, The Crow: Salvation, and Denise Crosby, Star Trek: The Next Generation) and their two children, an average family who move into an idyllic home in the countryside to begin what promises to be a perfect new life. Unfortunately, their dream home sits next to a pet cemetery with a horrible and dark secret. When a family tragedy causes Louis to become unhinged with grief, he pays a visit to the cemetery and unleashes an unspeakable evil on the world.”

The Blu-ray looks very sharp in its 1080p transfer and its 1.85:1 original aspect ratio. Paramount did right with this film and gave it a real sharp Blu-ray restore. The audio track included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, works great with the jump and the film’s wonderful score. The special features included are a little slim but all effective. There is an good commentary track from director Mary Lambert. “Stephen King Territory” follow the author as his dives into both the film’s locations and the origins of his novel. There are two Behind-the-scenes featurettes also included. The first is called “The Characters” and the second is called “Filming the Horror”, both are great if you are a fan of the film.

Directed by: Kimble Rendall
Starring: Phoebe Tonkin, Xavier Samuel, Julian McMahon, Sharni Vinson
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Anchor Bay really scored a winner with “Bait 3D”.  The film was shot natively shot in 3D and really delivers some great entertainment.  I watch many creature films, especially on Syfy.  I was hopefully this wasn’t going to be another one of those.  Well it was way more than I expected.  This is what “Shark Night 3D”, should have been like.  “Bait 3D”, really brings the action and very well for that matter.  The special effects are very impressive for this film especially with the great white sharks.  The story is a little laughable but well-executed.  Overall it is one hell of a fun time. Besides being a kick-ass film though, “Bait 3D” also features a stellar ensemble cast including Xavier Samuel (“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”), Sharni Vinson (“Step Up 3D”), Alex Russell (“Chronicle”), and Julian McMahon (TV’s “Nip/Tuck”).

Official Premise: This intense 3D thriller tells the story of a group of survivors in a sleepy beach town who suddenly find themselves trapped inside a submerged supermarket, following a freak tsunami. As they try to escape to safety, they soon discover that there is a predator among them more deadly than the threat of drowning—vicious great white sharks lurking in the water, hungry for fresh meat. As the bloodthirsty sharks begin to pick the survivors off one by one, the group realizes that they must work together to find a way out without being eaten alive.

It is also being released a combo pack with the 3D and 2D version of the film on one Blu-ray and a seperate DVD version of the film.  I really recommend this film in 3D though. The effects are fantastic and include some great in your face moments. The 1080p transfer works well with the 3D effects as well and delivers a very sharp video.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also packs some heat and works well with the non-stop action. The special features though are very lacking there is another a gallery of original production storyboards included.  I would have love to seen more focus on the 3D, the sharks and the overall production.

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Directed by: Josh Stolberg
Starring: Connie Britton, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, America Olivo, Jonathan Silverman, Alan Tudyk and David Arquette.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: New Video Group
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes

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

I wasn’t sure what to expect for with “Conception” but I was very pleasantly surprised. The film was sharp, clever and funny…all while having a decent heart. The main draw for me was really it’s amazing ensemble cast including Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland both from “Modern Family”, Connie Britton (“American Horror Story”, Alan Tudyk (“Firefly) America Olivo (“Friday the 13th”), Jonathan Silverman (“Weekend at Bernie’s”), and even David Arquette (“Scream”) pops in for a sec.

“Conception” is a clever, romantic comedy that proves it takes more than sex to make a baby. From a couple fighting the odds of fertility to young teenagers losing their virginity, the film follows nine very different couples on the night they conceive, showing that sex can sometimes be more neurotic than erotic.

“Conception” is a sexy yet hilarious neurotic comedy that shows the real side of relationships. Overall, it surprised me since I wasn’t expecting much. The DVD does comes with a few special features. There is an interview with Director Josh Stolberg and Producer Leila Charles Leigh, which is presented by American Express. There are a also a few deleted scenes and outtakes included. Overall nothing special but worth checking out if you enjoyed the film.

Directed by: Randall Cole
Starring: Nick Stahl, Mia Kirshner, Devon Sawa
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed: New Video Group
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Running Time: 97 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Prior to receiving this DVD, I had never heard of “388 Arletta Avenue”. But the front of the box was a real draw for me since it is from the makers of “Splice” and “Cube”, Vincenzo Natali, whom I am big fan of. This also packs a very impressive genre cast including Nick Stahl (“Terminator 3”), Mia Kirshner (“The Vampire Diaries”), Devon Sawa (“Finding Destination”). The film itself isn’t scary but it is super creepy and very effective. It is was also shot from the point-of-view of hidden cameras hidden throughout the house, the car etc. I really enjoyed the Randall Cole’s fresh take on found-footage horror genre.

On the surface, James Deakin (Stahl) lives a quiet, routine, comfortable life with his wife Amy (Kirshner) in their suburban home. Under the subtle manipulation of a faceless voyeur, however, cracks in their relationship begin to emerge. When Amy suddenly disappears, James is left to wonder if she’s been abducted or simply abandoned him, but their tormentor doesn’t stop there. As the manipulations become more twisted and violent, James desperately tries to identify just who’s doing this to him and why, but his adversary always seems to be one step ahead.

“388 Arletta Avenue” runs a really tight 97 minutes and literally has you sitting on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out the ending. Though, The film doesn’t deliver in terms of special features. There is only one extra, which is cast/crew behind-the-scenes interviews. It is not bad overall and like most Tribeca Film release it is presented by American Express. Randall Cole is definitely on my radar and will definitely keep an eye out for his future films. Overall though, I would definitely recommend this film highly.

Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones, Connie Nielson
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Running Time: 144 minutes

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

“Vanity, definitely my favorite sin”. One of my favorite lines any film. Al Pacino gives one of his best roles to date. He is just so fucking evil in this film and yet you still are routing for him to rule. Keanu Reeves also does a great job prior to all his “The Matrix” slow-motion fighting. This film include the Unrated Director’s Cut of the film, though I never really noticed a major difference between the cuts. The film is a ripe 2 hours and 15 mins but it really owns every single minute. I remember sneaking into this film in theaters and running out of the theaters completely in love with it. Well 15 years have passed and I only love this film more. I highly recommend this Blu-ray release, completely worth the upgrade.

The 1080p transfer on the Blu-ray just looks amazing. Warner did up this film right and doesn’t disappoint at all. The audio includes an DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, which works perfectly with the film’s sharp dialogue and of course the amazing score, courtesy of James Newton Howard. Th special features are ports from the 1998 DVD but are still decent. There is a commentary by director Taylor Hackford, decent overall. There are twelve deleted scenes with optional commentary from Hackford (unlike the DVD where it was not optional). Overall, I enjoyed these quite a bit. Lastly there is a theatrical trailer included. I wish they would have done a little more to celebrate the film’s 15th anniversary but overall still a nice release.

Kevin Lomax (Reeves), an ambitious, talented young district attorney, joins a powerful New York law firm headed by the mysterious and charismatic John Milton (Pacino). as Lomax faces the intense seduction of success and money, he is increasingly tempted.

Buy It 9/18 on Blu-ray
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