Directed by: James Mather, Stephen St. Leger
Starring: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Peter Stormare, Vincent Regan, Joseph Gilgun
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 95 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

When you see the name Luc Besson attached to a movie, you usually know you are in for a treat. He knows action (“The Transporter”) and sci-fi (“The Fifth Element”), “Lockout” is a great combination of the both with even some great humor thrown in. The film was done on a relative low budget of $20 million but when you look at it it should have cost at least $90 million. I have no idea how Adam Sandler’s terrible comedies cost over $80 million for each film. The visual effects in this film are over-the-top, fun and feel straight out of video game…especially the car chase in the beginning. On the box the film is labeled as “Die Hard meets Blade Runner,” but I really couldn’t stop thinking to myself it really felt like remake of “Escape from New York”, which is not a bad thing. Overall this is a real fun time for all sci-fi fans.

The film follows, Snow, a man convicted of wrongfully committing espionage against the U.S. but is offered his freedom if he can rescue the president’s daughter from an outer space prison taken over by violent inmates. Doesn’t that sound cool enough? Of course normally action/sci-fi slow down after the opening scene but that is not the case with this film at all. This film is literally a 95 minute non-stop roller coaster. Guy Pearce was awesome in this film and kicks some major ass. Maggie Grace…well…she could have stayed on the island in “Lost” but at least they are fun and snarky together. The only question I have is what is the deal with the Unrated Edition? The film was 95 minutes in theaters and 95 minutes with the Unrated cut, I guess there was not much left to put back in.

If you thought the movie was kick-ass enough, the Blu-ray presentation is even better. “Lockout” looks absolutely fantastic on Blu-ray. It’s 1080p transfer really delivers especially since most of the film is very dreary and dark. To accompany the perfect video transfer, the Dolby DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio track is out-of-this-world (get it?). Since the film is 95 minutes non-stop ride, this audio track really gets pushed to the limits and succeeds well. This release also includes a streaming Ultraviolet digital copy, which is yet another plus. Though then we come to the special features, which basically are a let down. There are only two short featurettes and nothing else. The first is “Breaking Into Lockout” is features cast and crew chatting about their characters and the production, typical. “A Vision of the Future” is a cool look into the films futuristic look and feel. Despite the lack of extras, this is still a great film and an awesome Blu-ray.

Director: Rand Ravich
Starring: Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron, Joe Morton, Clea Duvall, Donna Murphy
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 109 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: N/A

1999 was an interesting year for Johnny Depp. He just came off of my favorite films and his best performance in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and on the eve of the great “Sleepy Hollow”. This film was never my favorite Depp film ever but I still enjoyed it. I thought it played well on the horror/thriller genre. Johnny Depp doesn’t get to play the baddie often and he definitely plays it well. Nonetheless fans of his films will definitely want to check out this HD upgrade and pick up this release.

The Blu-ray itself includes a nice 1080p transfer.  The film packs some decent special effects and looks really good.  The audio included is a sweet Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which works well for the suspense in the film.  So with this release we get a good film, great Blu-ray transfer… but unfortunately zero special features.  I wasn’t expecting new features but I am not sure why they did not just mirror the DVD special features.

Buy It 7/10 on Blu-ray™
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Premise: Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominees Johnny Depp (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” franchise, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Charlize Theron (“Monster,” “The Italian Job”) star as the perfect all-American couple–astronaut Spencer Armacost and his beautiful schoolteacher wife–so passionately in love they can sense each other even while he floats in space and she is two hundred thousand miles below. But in two minutes it all turns to inexplicable terror. For two minutes, Armacost completely loses consciousness while on a space mission, returning home just barely alive. His wife senses something amiss from the moment he lands on earth. She begins to have strangely violent dreams–dark, paranoid thoughts–and the sensation that her husband is not the lover, or the man, he was.

Directed by: Matt Piedmont
Starring: Will Ferrell, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Nick Offerman, Genesis Rodriguez
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 84 minutes

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

Will Ferrell is one of my favorite comedic actors.  He always manages to make me laugh.  His film roles recently have been hit or miss, he is still one of my favorites.  “Casa”, unfortunately sits right on the border of hit or miss.  When I heard the idea of a comedy that features Will Ferrell speaking only Spanish, I thought it would be the funniest idea ever.  Even though the film runs only 84 minutes, its angle gets old after about 30 minutes.  Don’t get me wrong it is still funny but I do not think it is something I will be able to re-watch and quote (especially since I don’t speak Spanish) like “Anchorman”.  Fans of Ferrell, I suggest you give it a shot but just don’t expect to fall on your ass laughing.

The film follows Armando Alvarez (Ferrell) who lives a simple life living and working on his father’s ranch in Mexico.  Armando’s younger brother Raul (and his father’s favorite), shows up with his new fiancé, Sonia when the ranch encounters financial problems.  Since Raul’s is a very successful international businessman, he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. Things get sticky when Armando falls for his brothers wife Sonia and Raul’s success is coming from working with drug lord, the mighty Onza.

The 1080p transfer isn’t really made to look amazing since it is purposely low-budget and parodied. The Spanish audio included is an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.  The special features included are a commentary track by director Matt Piedmont, writer/producer Andrew Steele, and Will Ferrell.  There is a Behind-the-scenes featurette and a few deleted scenes included as well.  There is a funny music video for “Fight for Love” by Will Ferrell and Genesis Rodriguez.  I love when Will Ferrell sings.  There are four different “Commerciales” starring Will Ferrell, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, and Nick Offerman.  These together are funnier than the film. Lastly Pedro Armendáriz Jr.’s final interview is included.

Starring: Pink Floyd
Distributed by: Eagle Vision
Release Date: June 26, 2012
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 85 minutes

Our Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“If you look long enough into the void, the void begins to look back through you.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

For the entirety of its 85-minute running time, “Pink Floyd: The Story of Wish You Were Here” finds the Floyd looking into multiple voids: the band’s disillusionment with the music industry after attaining mega-success with 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon”, the increasing angst and conflict between the group’s individual members, and – perhaps most substantially – the void in the eyes of their former band leader, Syd Barrett, who had left the group in 1968. It’s an absorbing story to be sure and the documentary manages to capture the internal strife as well as the creation of an album that would defy the odds and become just as much of a classic masterpiece as “Dark Side”.

“Story” bookends itself with a live performance of “WYWH”s title track from Live 8 in 2005. There’s no voice-over narration but, rather, title cards that serve to transition the viewer back into Pink Floyd’s formative years – and it’s choice that serves the film well given the number of interviewees it presents. Rightly, the main story begins with the tragic tale of Syd. It’s a heartbreaking tale of a brilliant musician and true visionary wearing out his welcome with random precision due to his succumbing to the lure and excessive usage of brain-frying psychedelic drugs that were part and parcel of late 60’s culture. By the time the film shows its final picture of Barrett, it’s easy to understand why Pink Floyd would dedicate an album to his disappearance from and lingering absence in the band.

New interviews with band members Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason – as well as an archived interview with the late Rick Wright – allow each to shed light on their own personal connection with Syd and how the legacy of this crazy diamond truly shines on. It’s clear that the Floyds are an intelligent lot and the interview segments featuring them are insightful and engaging. Performance segments dissect various musical passages and refrains that served as the genesis of the songs that comprise “Wish”.

“Story” also introduces us to a wide range of people who were involved in the creation of the album both inside and outside of the studio. As with the “Classic Albums” DVD series, clips featuring a producer or engineer behind the mixing desk playing isolated instrumental or vocal tracks from the multi-track master tapes are especially interesting and fun. “Story” does this via sound engineer Brian Humphries by bringing him back to Abbey Road for the first time since the album was recorded. There, we’re treated to single-track samples from “WYWH” that allow us to hear exquisite musical details that are difficult to hear densely-layered final cuts that comprise the album. We even get to hear Roy Harper’s guest vocal track on “Have a Cigar”, one which easily surpasses both Waters’ and Gilmour’s attempts to handle the singing in-house – despite Roger’s new-found belief that, had he persevered, he “could have done it better”.

The documentarians behind “Story” are savvy enough to recognize that any story about Pink Floyd that doesn’t explore the visual aspect of the band’s album artwork and concert animations would be woefully inadequate.  The film covers this topic extensively by featuring interviews with longtime Floyd collaborators designer Storm Thorgerson, illustrator/cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and photographer Aubrey “Po” Powell. Even the iconic “burning man” featured on the “WYWH”s front cover, Ronnie Rondell, shares stories about his precarious contribution to the album (as photographer Powell states, “15 times to catch on fire is rather a lot.”).

“The Story of Wish You Were Here”, despite feeling a little disjunct because of the back-and-forth nature in which it alternates between focusing on Syd and the in-the-studio work, is an excellent documentary and is essential viewing for Floyd fanatics.  In fact, it’s so well done that it would likely hold the attention of even the newest of newbies. It would have made the recently-issued 5-disc “WYWH Immersion Edition” box set all the more immersive; why it wasn’t included in that pricey mega-package is a genuine mystery.

Somewhat ironically, if there’s any disappointment to be had with “Story”, it’s the near absence of interviews with Rick Wright, who passed away in 2008. One of the highlights of the 2001-issued “Classic Albums: The Making of Dark Side of the Moon” DVD was Wright’s solo piano performances of segments from that disc – even though, musically, “Dark Side” was a David Gilmour-dominated LP. By comparison, “WYWH” is a showcase for Wright’s abilities as a composer and musician. That the timing of the production of the documentary didn’t allow it to interact with him and focus more on his contribution is a shame because – even though the album is a brilliant homage to Syd Barrett – musically on “Wish”, the correct answer to the question of “Oh, by the way, which one’s Pink?” is indeed “Rick Wright”.  The diamond that was Rick shines on just as brightly as Syd’s.

Directed by: Yimou Zhang
Starring: Christian Bale, Ni Ni, Xinyi Zhang, Paul Schneider, Tong Dawei
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 146 minutes

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

when Christian Bale goes…I follow. Since “Empire of the Sun”, I have been a fan of mostly everything he has done. “The Flowers of War” is a unique film, a completely Chinese production, with Bale just thrown in for his “The Dark Knight” fame. Due to this it only features about 40% English speaking and the rest is Chinese and Japanese. The film is also extremely long running almost two and a half hours and after 90 minutes it feels very stretched out. Bale’s performance is good but nothing like his role in “The Fighter”. Props needs to be given to director Zhang Yimou, who has done some of my favorites “Hero” and “House Of Flying Daggers”, who is great at what he does but this one doesn’t come close to his best work.

The story follows the classic story of love and war. Taking place during WWII on the streets of Nanjing, we meet a group of opposites who all seek refugee in a church.  There is a group of schoolchildren, a dozen prostitutes and an American mortician posing as a priest. When they become prisoner in the church by Japanese soldiers, it is up to the priest to unite with the group and put together a plan to protect the children from the on-going events of the war.

Besides my issues with the film, its Blu-ray presentation is superb.  It looks fantastic with its 1080p transfer and packs a nice aspect ratio of 2.40:1.  The star of the film, sorry Christian, is its audio track of DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1.  During the war scenes, it is absolutely fantastic and works so well.  The special features are not bad overall.  There is a behind the scenes extra look into the film’s production featuring the following five featurettes “The Birth of The Flowers of War”, “Meeting Christian Bale”, “The Newborn Stars”, “Hard Time During War” and “Perfection of Light and Color”.  Very thorough and informative overall.  Lastly there is a trailer included.

Directed by: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: Jason Biggs, Eugene Levy, Chris Klein, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Universal Studios
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 113 minutes

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

When “American Pie” came out I was still in high school just like Jim and his friends. I have grown up with these films and even have a kid myself like Jim. But “American Reunion” though is just one sequel too many. I think I had enough after the second, let alone the four (not referenced) direct-to-video spin-off/sequels. This film is just the a continuous of the same, it really doesn’t take the franchise into anything new at all or doesn’t give it any direction. There were a few decent laughs but nothing special, overall. Eugene Levy (again) was the best part of this film and should have his own movie. Also I understand they wanted to re-create the original poster with this film but Natasha Lyonne was seriously in the film for 40 seconds.

The Blu-ray edition includes two cuts of the film: a 113-minute theatrical cut and a 114-minute unrated version. So you can see that it doesn’t matter which one you watch they are basically the same, just like the last few sequels. This release comes in a combo pack with a Blu-ray disc, DVD disc and a streaming UV Digital Copy. The 1080p video resolution looks ok but nothing special and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The audio track is also decent with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, not really challenged.

The special features are also decent but nothing to call home about. There are two audio commentary, the first is with co-writers/co-directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, some funny moments overall. The second “Out of Control” audio track is a video commentary with Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott and other members of the cast who pop-up on screen throughout and give comments. I preferred the second one for sure though it is sometimes erratic.

Next up, there are over 40 minutes collected of deleted, extended, alternate scenes, as well as a Gag Reel (which funnier than whole movie). “The ‘Reunion’ Reunion: Re-Launching the Series” is a behind0the-scenes featurette with the cast chatting about returning. “The Best of Biggs: Hangin’ with Jason B.” is an all you can eat Jason Biggs buffet. “Lake Bake” is a location feature with the cast and crew. “Dancing with the Oz” is a look into Chris Klein dance act. “American Gonad-iators: The Fight Scene” is a feature on the films climactic fight sequence. “Jim’s Dad”, aka the best part of the film, takes a look at Eugene Levy’s character. “Ouch! My Balls!” is a behind-the-scenes with the cast planting spoof. Lastly there is an interactive yearbook with clips from the entire Pie series.

Directed by: Scott Leberecht
Starring: Zak Kilberg, Maya Parish, Tracey Walter, Arlen Escarpeta, Kevin McCorkle
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

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

When it comes to vampires in movies, there is no shortage at all. Hollywood has been mass-market producing films with vampires since the “Twilight” craze. This horror film takes a different approach the genre and is quite unique. I really enjoyed the film the moment it started all the way to the end. It had a great build up in the story and presented the idea of a vampire in a really unique way. The film was also not stingy on the gore, which I enjoyed. Kudos to Scott Leberecht on giving the vampire genre some points back finally.

“Midnight Son” follows the the story of Jacob, a young man with a rare skin disorder that prevents him from being exposed to sunlight. When he meets Mary and falls in love, things change for him. Jacob’s actions become increasingly bizarre as he struggles to cope with the effects of his worsening condition. Forced by the disease to drink human blood, he must control his violent actions as local law enforcement aim their sights on him as a suspect in a series of grisly murders.

The special features are decent for this vampire film. There is a commentary track from Scott Leberecht, Zak Kilberg, Maya Parish and Jo D. Jonz. Therer is also interviews with the cast and crew, short but sweet. There are a few deleted scenes as well, as a trailer included. Overall horror fans should give this flick a look, it almost reminded me of “Near Dark” a bit.

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Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Jordana Brewster, Clea Duvall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn Hatosy
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Entertainment
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Running Time: 105 minutes

Blu-ray Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras Score: N/A

“The Faculty” is one of Robert Rodriguez’s unrecognized successes. I remember seeing this film on Christmas Day in 1998 and dragging along my non-horror fan father, who ended up enjoying the film as well. I mean aliens invading your school…who doesn’t think that is mega cool. While the film has its cliches, it is well shot, features a young hot cast and great special effects.

The film takes place at Herrington High, where the kids start realizing that When very creepy things start happening. The student soon find out their biggest fear that their teachers are in fact from another planet. Though as the mind-controlling aliens start spreading from the faculty to the students’ bodies, it’s up to the few select students, a group of loners, leaders, nerds and jocks to save the world from this pending alien invasion.

This Blu-ray release is actually quite impressive. The video resolution looks great with its 1080p transfer. The aspect ratio is slightly altered within its 1.78:1 but looks good. The audio is also very sharp with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There is also a 5.1 DTS track and a 2.0 Stereo track as well. Very impressive sound options here! Echo Bridge really delivered the good with the presentation for this release. Though the downfall is that there are no special features included.

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Directed by: D.W. Brown
Starring: Nick Stahl, Olivia Wilde, Dash Mihok, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Daniel Franzese
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Runing Time: 90 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker for a decent cast. When I saw that “On The Inside” stars Nick Stahl and Olivia Wilde, I thought I would give it a shot. It was a decent surprise overall. It was pretty intense drama, that deals with a lot of trauma. The acting is impressive especially Nick Stahl…where are you? I am huge fan of Olivia Wilde but high notes also need to go to Pruitt Taylor Vince for his role. The film looks a bit of steam towards the end but overall entertains within its tight 90 minutes.

Allen Meneric, college professor (Nick Stahl) is sentenced to a psychiatric hospital after brutal murder a man who he thought raped his girlfriend. While in the hospital he gets chosen for a socialization program, during that he meets fellow inmate (Olivia Wilde). When a fellow inmate and unpredictable psychopath (Dash Mihok) stages a break out, Allen seeks redemption and choses to protect Mia from the violence that is breaking out in the institution.

The film is gritty but the Blu-ray presentation is decent. The 1080p transfer works well with its 1.78:1 ratio. The audio is also impressive with its Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. The release comes in a two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo, which is also a plus. Unfortunately, the only special feature is an audio commentary track with writer/director D.W. Brown and stars Joanne Baron and Daniel Franzese. Overall, nothing too impressive to listen to either.

Briana Evigan is known best for her role in “Step Up 2: The Streets”.  She has also worked with Darren Lynn Bousman on recent films, “Mother’s Day” and “The Devil’s Carnival”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Briana about working with Darren and also her new film “Stash House”.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with working with Darren Lynn Bousman?
Briana Evigan: I think for “Devil’s Carnival” he had already had someone else hired. I don’t know if there were some complications that came up or whatever but he called me last minute and luckily everything worked. This has been probably one of my most favorite jobs so far. I hadn’t read the script or heard any of the songs so I just figured it out as we went along.

MG: How did you first meet Darren?
BE: He had given me an offer for a show titled “Fear Itself”. We met doing that in Edmonton and a couple years passed and a role in “Mothers Day” came up so he gave me that and then “Devil’s Carnival” popped up. We have a great relationship and I think we enjoy working with each other. It’s kind of easy and fun.

MG: Can you tell us about the Ms. Merrywood role?
BE: I am a klepto and I have a problem with stealing. I am a jewel thief that wakes up in hell. I guess it is explained as a sort of shoot out that happens but you don’t see that in the movie. I wake in hell and have to deal with the consequences. I have seen the film once and I thought it was a little bit confusing but I can’t wait to see it again. It’s a journey of everyone trying to get out of hell and into heaven.

MG: Can you tell us about the song you perform in the film?
BE: I have always been a musician. To keep that going I have tried to have songs onsoundtracks and make a little extra cash which is fun. This was really cool because I got to perform a song in the actual movie. Yes you are lip syncing but you still are doing it live. I love the song and I am very lucky.

MG: Can you tell us about your work on “Mother’s Day”?
BE: “Mother’s Day” was very different. To be honest I don’t know if I would want to do another film like that. It was a very dark psychological film. Excuse my language but it was a little too fucked up for me. I really enjoyed it and I actually met my boyfriend on that job. When I watched it back was when I thought that I would try and stay away from movies like this one. It’s a very well done film.

MG: Were you aware of the earlier version of the film?
BE: I was but I hadn’t watched it. I was always told not to watch the originals when working on a remake. It was the same with “Sorority Row”. You can unintentionally start copying people.

MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming film “Stash House”?
BE: I am really excited for this film. Sean Farris and I play a married couple that may have gotten married a little bit too early. Sean’s character ends up buying me a house. What he didn’t know was the house is full of heroin which Dolph Lundgren is clearly in charge of. It was great and super cool to work with Dolph.

MG: Can you tell us a little bit about the training you had to do for your role in “Step Up”?
BE: There was a lot of work that went into that. I originally started off as a dancer/musician so I had a backgroundin that. They threw me in with 20 of the best dancers in the world and it looked like I never danced before. I had a month of training. It was really more of learning the routines. The idea was to have everything down so that when it came time to shoot things would be less stressful. There were a lot of hours put in during that month. I remember having to put ice in my bath tub after some of those trainings. It was one of the best experiences in my life.

MG: Do you have any other projects you wanted to talk about?
BE: I have a really awesome project in the works but unfortunately I can’t talk about it just yet as everything isn’t closed up. I am also waiting on a few other things that I really want. Everything looks like it’s going to work out time wise so I will be really excited if everything works out.

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When we started this web site Mike G. and I both had a “wish list” of celebrities we’d like to interview. One of the ones on mine was Ernest Borgnine. Over the years we played cat and mouse, trying to nail down a time when he wasn’t working. I actually came within 20 minutes of speaking with him when he was recalled back to the set of the film he was working on for re-shoots. I can remember receiving an email from his manager a few months ago telling me that, because of my patience and perseverance, he would try to put Ernie and I in touch with each other. Sadly, that conversation will never take place. Mr. Borgnine passed away today from renal failure. He was 95.

Born Ermes Effron Borgnine on January 24, 1917, the son of Charles and Anna, whose families had emigrated to the United States from Italy. Unsure about what career to pursue after graduating high school Borgnine joined the U.S. Navy, where he served for a decade, receiving his discharge in 1945. It was his mother who suggested, because of his personality, that he use his G.I. benefits and study acting. He spent four years working in a local Abingdon, Virginia theatre troupe before making his Broadway debut in 1949 in the show, “Harvey,” which closed shortly after he joined (the show had run for almost five years). He continued to work in NYC until he headed to California, where he made his film debut as the Chinese (!) runner of a gambling club in “China Corsair.”

He continued to work in film and episodic television for the next couple of years. In 1953 he won the role that would establish him as one of the screens most hated characters, Sgt. “Fatso” Judson, in the Oscar winning “From Here to Eternity.” He excelled at playing screen heavies but, in 1955, was cast against type as quiet, lovelorn butcher Marty Piletti in “Marty.” To many Borgnine showed a range they hadn’t imagined. He truly won over his peers because he would go on to win the Academy Award as Best Actor for his performance. He would work steadily for the next six years in film and T.V. until he joined fellow Oscar winners Donna Reed (“The Donna Reed Show”) and Shirley Booth (“Hazel”) in the growing and popular world of television, forgoing his film career to star as Captain Quentin McHale in the naval comedy “McHale’s Navy.”

When the show ended it’s run he returned to the big screen in two major films, 1967’s “The Dirty Dozen” and, two years later, “The Wild Bunch.” In 1972 he was part of an all-star cast featured in the disaster-epic “The Poseidon Adventure.” As policeman Mike Rogo, on honeymoon with his former call girl wife, he gives a virtuoso performance steeped in both macho toughness and devastating heartbreak. SPOILER ALERT: When his wife is killed he breaks down and curses Gene Hackman’s preacher and, through him, God, telling Him, “You took from me the only thing I ever loved in the whole world, my Linda!”

He continued to work steadily for the next four decades, appearing in such television productions as “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Jesus of Nazareth” and “Hoover,” as well as supporting roles in such shows as “Air Wolf” and “The Single Guy,” as well as such notable films like “Escape From New York,” “The Black Hole,” “Baseketball” and last years spy-drama “RED.” Younger generations will always remember him as the voice of Mermaidman on the animated “Spongebob SquarePants.” I will always remember him as an actor who always amazed and who did what he loved until the day he died. I wish fate would have put us together, even on the telephone. It would have been one of those moments I’d always remember.

Directed by: Mark A.Z. Dippé
Starring: Michael Jai White, John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 98 minutes

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

I have always been a huge “Spawn” fan, even owning an original #1 comic. I always had a special place for this film in my heart even though it has a lot of flaws and some really terrible visual effects. As much as I love “Spawn”, I would have to really recommend this only to the biggest fans of the character. The film is fun but has not aged well at all. I would love to hopefully one day see McFarlane make a sequel/reboot that is a lot darker like the comic. Warner’s Blu-ray release is really a great upgrade from the last DVD release. The 1080p transfer is sharp and clear, especially since most of the film is very dark. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio track is also very impressive and sounds great with the film’s action. Nonetheless Warner’s delivers a great Blu-ray presentation and that is worth the purchase alone, especially for its low cost.

The special features included are nothing new for Blu-ray but still impressive. There is an audio commentary from Creator Todd McFarlane, director Mark A.Z. Dippe, producer Clint Goldman and visual effects supervisor Steve “Spaz” Williams. It is decent McFarlane’s track should have been included on its own track. There is a very extensive six-part behind-the-scenes looks into the production, running over 70 minutes. Including a 22-minute documentary called “Making of Spawn”, seven featurettes titled “Todd McFarlane: Chapter and Verse”, five “Scene to Storyboard Comparisons” and more. I’ve always loved this film’s soundtrack, included two music videos for “Trip Like I Do” with Filter & The Crystal Method and “Long Hard Road Out of Hell” with Marilyn Manson & the Sneaker Pimps. Lastly there is a Theatrical Trailer included.

Premise: A government assassin is brought back to life as a black superhero with supernatural How can you avenge betrayal and murder? How can you fight for right in a world so steeped in evil? How can you protect those you love most from all that can do them harm? No man living – or dead – can tell you. But one trapped between both is struggling for an answer that can save the lives of his most beloved, or plunge the world into eternal darkness. The cloak and chains of Spawn explode onto the screen in a deadly tornado of untapped, unwrapped, merciless power.

Buy It 7/10 on Blu-ray™
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Starring: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward and Bruce Willis
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 34 mins
Focus Features

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Wes Anderson has always managed to amaze me. From early films “Bottle Rocket” and “Rushmore” to the stop motion “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” he has perfected a simple style of filmmaking that is easily recognizable but not easy to replicate. He continues that tradition with his new film, “Moonrise Kingdom.”

As the film begins, in what appears to be the style of an old 16 mm educational film we all remember from school, we are introduced first to the Bishop family. They live in a plain clapboard house on the water in Rhode Island. Mr. Walt Bishop (Bill Murray) is the quiet, reserved father. His wife, Laura (Frances McDormand) is also quiet but hiding something inside. The children consist of three young sons and pre-teen daughter, Suzy (Hayward). A brief tour of the house and surrounding areas concludes by the water, where we are suddenly introduced to a narrator (Bob Balaban), who informs us that the story we are about to see gets pretty intense when, three days from now, a hurricane is going to hit land.

Told as innocently as its 1965 setting, “Moonrise Kingdom” may be Anderson’s most accessible film to date. But it’s still clearly an Anderson film. From the quirky situations the characters find themselves in to the almost slide-show like camera movement, the film is a celebration of a simpler time when young love had a chance if you fought hard enough. Besides the Bishop family we meet some of the other quirky characters of the story. Young Sam (Gilman) is a run-away Khaki Scout whose brief encounter with Suzy a year ago has resulted in the two becoming pen pals with dreams of running off and being together forever. Scoutmaster Ward (Edward Norton) feels bad because he didn’t realize that Sam was a problem child. However, he doesn’t feel bad enough that he doesn’t arm his young charges with hatchets, knives and a bow and arrow when the begin to search for the AWOL Sam. Also involved in the search is Captain Sharp (Willis) the local law. Other characters, played by well known names like Harvey Keitel and Tilda Swinton, also meld seamlessly into the story. But it is Gilman and Hayward, both making their film debuts, that steal the film and hold it together. Whether holding hands overlooking the water or fumbling through their first kisses, the two youngsters are heartbreakingly believable as they learn the good and bad of first love.

The script, by Anderson and Roman Coppola (Francis’ son, Sophia’s brother) is tight and smart while the photography, by Robert Yeohman, jumps off the screen. And a smart soundtrack, comprised of Alexandre Desplat’s original score interspliced with Hank Williams and Benjamin Britten compositions, helps carry the mood.

Directed by: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Starring: Clive Owen, Ella Purnell
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Millennium Entertainment
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 100 minutes

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

“Intruders” has a lot of positive backing it, like its stars Clive Oven, a kick-ass cover and is directed by  Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (“28 Weeks Later”), but it falls through on the overall delivery.  Intruders” starts off really really good and sets up some fantastic suspense and even a few great spooks.  Unfortunately, the closing of the film is rushed and ends up disappointing.  I need to commend Fresnadillo, since he is a fine director and I can’t wait to see how he handles the upcoming “Highlander” reboot.  If you are looking for a decent but not perfect horror film, you can check this out.  I could though see the character Hollow Face becoming a horror icon.

This chilling story follows two different stories with children living in different countries, who are each visited nightly by a faceless monster known as Hollow Face. While lurking in the corner, Hollow Face wait to take them from their parents. John Farrow (Clive Owen) seeks a way to protect his daughter Mia (Ella Purnell), of course nobody else can see Hollow Face and the line between the real and the imaginary begin to blurs as the two stories intertwine.

Even though the film is a big of let down, “Intruders” features really sharp 1080p transfer but the star of the film is the audio track.  The film includes an amazing Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless track, which works really well with the score and the typical horror shrieks and jumps. Now back to disappointments, since the special features are lacking.  There is a short featurette, running just over seven minutes, which features cast and crew interviews. Lastly there is a Behind-the-Scenes look at the production with a lot of on-set footage, which was the best part.

Directed by: Jason Bourque
Starring: Jewel Straite, A.J. Buckley, Alan Dale
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: July 17, 2012
Running Time: 92 minutes

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

I am a sucker for Syfy Original Saturday Movies. “Doomsday Prophecy” is just that and nothing really else. It is exactely what you would expect from a low-budget action/disaster film. It does have a great cast though Jewel Staite (“Firefly”) and A.J. Buckley (“Supernatural”). If you are looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday night “Doomsday Prophecy” is the way to go for sure.

The plot is simple (of course), the events of a prophesied day of destruction begins to unfold, massive earthquakes…the Black Sea disappearing into the earth…and that is only the beginning. There is a predicted celestial phenomenon that can annihilate and kill millions. It is up to the stars of the film to assist in avoiding globally cataclysmic disaster.

The Blu-ray looks sharp with its 1080p transfer and sounds great with its 5.1 Dolby Digital track. These films don’t have the best visual effects but for what they are worth they are good and very entertaining. The only special feature included is a behind-the-scenes featurette called “Doomsday Prophecy: The Stories Are True”.