Directed by: Justin McConnell
Starring: Vincent Thomas, Steve Vieira, Stefano Gallo
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Running Time: 82 minutes

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

When it comes to apocalypse/end-of-the-world film, I am always intrigued. This one fails to entertain at all though until the closing minutes, which is too much of an obvious payoff. The film is also doesn’t decide what it wants to be. Is it a zombie film? ghost story? rouge government conspiracy? Either way I still can’t put a fingers on what its goal was. The gore is also missing from the film. I am also just plain shocked that Fangoria has called the film “Genuinely Shocking”. Did they see the same film?

The premise follows a family of four who are trying to survive in the wake of the end of the world. They are looking to exit the city and escape to the their rural home. As they travel, they find that they are not alone and they find that their greatest nightmares may just be the least of their problems.

Even though the film had me bored out of my mind, the special features are decent. A little unique but decent. There is two commentary track included. One with writer/producer/director Justin McConnel and co-producer Kevin Hutchinson. The other one is with actor John Fantasia. Thre is a music video for Rob Kleiner’s “Devil in Disguise”. There is also trailers, photo gallery and cast/crew bios. The next features are unique, there is a QR code to unlock a making of documentary called “Apocalypse on a Budget”. There is also online downloads available to get the original score and screenplay.

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Directed by: Gregory Widen, Patrick Lussier, Joel Soisson
Starring: Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz, Viggo Mortensen, Virginia Madsen, Vincent Spano
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Running Time: 344 minutes

The Prophecy: 4 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy 3: The Ascent: 3.5 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy IV: Uprising: 3 out of 5 stars
The Prophecy V: Forsaken: 3 out of 5 stars

First off, Christopher Walken delivers one of his best roles as Gabriel in this franchise. I am psyched to have this series available on Blu-ray.  Though, I am very disappointed with that fact that “The Prophecy II” is M.I.A and why isn’t it included in this box set. I am absolutely clueless on that one but it is a little irritating overall. This collection does include the first and third, both with Christopher Walken and then also its back-to-back sequels four and five. Overall this series is always fun to watch and continues to be entertaining throughout each viewing.  Not the best Blu-ray transfers but still enough to make this worth the purchase.

“The Prophecy” follows an L.A. homicide detective, who while fighting to stop the forces of evil, finds an unlikely ally in an elementary school teacher. Together they race against time and terror to save the world as we know it. “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” concludes the Gabriel trilogy, as fearsome armies of rebel angels wage war in heaven and on Earth, Pyriel, the brutal Angel of Genocide, rises to power and intends to destroy mankind. The only one on Earth with the ability to stop the bloodshed is Danyael, who was born of an angel and a woman. “The Prophecy: Uprising” jump starts the series again, when an ancient religious manuscript lands in the hands of an unsuspecting young woman, she is suddenly thrust into the center of an epic battle between ruthless fallen angels. “The Prophecy: Forsaken” follows the fighting for control of the Lexicon – an ancient religious text that reveals the arrival of the Antichrist – a group of fallen angels will stop at nothing to capture it and the young woman who possesses it.

The Blu-ray presentation on these collection sets are usually lacking the perfect Blu-ray quality but are still better than DVD. What I found is weird is that all these films are packed with 1080p high definition transfer except “The Prophecy 3: The Ascent” which is only 1080i. Each film is also presented with an impressive 5.1 Dolby Digital track, which is an impressive stand for Echo Bridge. Like most Echo Bridge releases there is no special included for any of these films, unlike the past DVDs. But if you are a fan of the series, and don’t mind missing the second film, this is a cheap and quick way to get the films on Blu-ray.

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Directed by: Joe Chappelle
Starring: Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, Kim Darby, Marianne Hagan, Mitch Ryan
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Running Time: 88 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” is a very touchy release. Following the the impressive fourth and fifth films, it its harshly criticized. I have always been a fan of this film, especially since it also was the first in the series that I saw in the theaters. Personally though, I am a fan of the producer’s cut or “Halloween 666” as the fans know it by. Even though it is not the best release kudos to Echo Bridge for bringing the “Halloween” franchise to Blu-ray.

The best part of this film is that it brings back Donald Pleasence in what was unfortunately his last role. The film follows the terror of Michael Myers six years after he was presumed dead in a fire and he returns to kill his bloodline again.  Long-hidden secrets of the maniacal murderer are revealed and end with shocking results. The film also stars Paul Rudd. who was just coming off his role in “Clueless”.

The Blu-ray release is not the best I have ever seen but far from the worst. The high definition transfer only clocks in at 1080i and is decent but not amazing. Though I am a not a major big fan of the DTS-HD MA 2.0 track, it is decent but I would have preferred a surround track. The special features on this release are also M.I.A and comes with no extras. If you are reading this Echo Bridge, make the “Halloween” fans happy and finally release the “Producer’s Cut” of this film. I guarantee you will not regret it.

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Directed by: Steve Miner
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, LL Cool J, Michelle Williams
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Running Time: 85 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 0 out of 5 stars

“Halloween H20” was never really my favorite installment in the “Halloween” franchise. I felt like it was a bit too much Hollywood and lost its edge. Nonetheless it is still a “Halloween” film. Laurie Strode is also one of the best strong female horror icons, so it is always great to see Jamie Lee Curtis take on the role. Echo Bridge did not put a lot into this release though and fans of this franchise will not be happy overall with this. It is barely a step up from a DVD release.

The film picks up with Laurie Strode (Curtis), who is now a headmistress of a private school and still struggling with her 20-year-old memories of Michael Myers. Of course guess who suddenly reappears looking to continue to stalk his sister. Michael also sets his sights on the school’s students and staff including Laurie’s son (Josh Hartnett), his girlfriend (Michelle Williams) and the school security guard (LL Cool J). It is up to Laurie to conquer her greatest fears and go up against her brother, Michael, once and for all…or at least until “Halloween: Resurrection”.

This Blu-ray presentation is extremely disappointing with a weak 1080p transfer, which looks bland and lacking sharpness. The film is presented in 1.78.1 but was shot in 2.35.1, so you can expecting cropping. The audio track is also a bit disappointing with its DTS-HD MA 2.0 and no surround track. What is even more disappointing is that the DVD release at least offered a 5.1 track. If you are looking for special features you will be disappointed again. This film is baron, there is no extras, trailers or even subtitles. Sorry Echo Bridge, very weak release.

Directed by: Rick Rosenthal
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Sean Patrick Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tyra Banks, Busta Rhymes
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 90 minutes

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

Alright we all know that “Halloween: Resurrection” is not the best in the series, but it is far from the worst. I mean, who doesn’t want to see Busta Rhymes kung fu kick Michael Myers? When this was released back in 2002, it a smart way to pick up from “Halloween: H20” and a great way to continue the series, although it didn’t turn out that way. With horror franchises like “Halloween” it’s fans just want to watch Michael Myers continue his killing spree, the film itself can just be so-so. I wish they would continue stop constantly rebooting these franchises and just continue with sequels like this one. They are fun and able to be re-watched over and over.

With the rising craze of reality TV, this installment of the “Halloween” franchise adds that aspect the Michael Myers story. Reality TV producers (Rhymes, Banks) pick a group of teenagers who are chosen to spend a night investigating in the childhood home of serial killer Michael Myers. . The live streaming broadcast takes a turn for the worse when Michael Myers himself shows up and starts killing the shows contestants.

The Blu-ray presentation is damn impressive. Of course there is a big focus on head cams in the dark, so completely clarity is not expected. The 1080p transfer looks great overall and the film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. There also is a great variety of audio tracks included a Dolby Digital 5.1 HD, DTS-HD MA, and LCM 2.0 Stereo tracks, very impressive. Kudos to Echo Bridge for stepping up with this release.

Unlike most Blu-ray releases from Echo Bridge, “Halloween: Resurrection” comes packed with some decent special features, even if they are only in 480p. There is an audio commentary track from Director Rick Rosenthal and Editor Robert Ferretti, which is very informative and interesting. There are about 10 minutes of Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes. There is a tour of the set with Production Designer, Troy Hansen. “On the Set with Jamie Lee Curtis” focuses on the role of Laurie Strode in the film. “Head Cam Featurette” takes a look at the cameras used in the film. Lastly there is a storyboard split screen which compare various scenes in the film, decent but a little short. Overall very impressive features for fans of the series.

Oren Peli is known best for his working on the “Paranormal Activity” series. Oren also produced last year’s amazing horror film “Insidious” and recent TV series “The River”. His latest project is being released on May 25th called “Chernobyl Diaries”, directed by Brad Parker (click here for our interview with Brad). Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Oren about not only producing this film but also co-writing.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you give us some of the films origin?
Oren Peli: I was killing time one day by browsing on the internet. While I was looking around I came across a link posted by someone who had gone to the city of Prypiat which is near the Chernobyl site. I guess in the last few years the town has been opened up as a tourist site. People can go there with a tour guide and walk around and take pictures. I had always known about the Chernobyl disaster but it never occurred to me that there was an abandoned town right next to it. The town was evacuated over night and left empty for 25 years. I thought it was sad but also fascinating. It was a great setting for a scary movie.

MG: How did this films writing differ from your previous work?
OP: In some aspects it was fairly similar. You start with a grain of an idea which you develop. You have to come up with the characters and the setting. Because it’s a horror movie you also have to think about what would be scary and how to put those scares into the movie. For me it was the whole idea that you are in an abandoned town where there is not supposed to be anyone or thing around. You become stranded in the middle of the night and you hear what you think could be a human scream from a distance. You now know that you are not alone. That is the core scare factor of the film.

MG: How did Brad Parker become attached to the project?
OP: After meeting with my producing partner we decided we were going to make the movie. We then joined forces will Phil Mason who financed the movie. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to direct the movie because my schedule would just not allow it. We met with a lot of directors that were very talented but some of them were not available and some we didn’t think were right for the genre. When we met Brad we were very impressed with his visual sense. We got along great and luckily he was the right guy for the job.

MG: What is your biggest challenge when working with a smaller budget?
OP: Low budget generally means you don’t have two months to shoot. You have to work in a smaller time frame. In this particular film one of the most important characters is the city. We had to make sure that we portrayed it accurately. We didn’t have an infinite budget for visuals and set building. We had to be very creative and smart in order to maximize our budget. It’s a challenge all around.

MG: Are you concerned at all about the film opening up against “Men in Black III”?
OP: I am sure “Men in Black III” will do very well but it’s a different audience. That film is more of a family film where ours is an R-rated hardcore horror film. The tradition of opening films on Memorial Day weekend has been very strong so I think all the films will do very well.

MG: What do you like most about producing films over directing?
OP: I think the main thing is directing islike a full time job. You are working on a film for a year at a time. When you are producing you are able to juggle several things at once. If I was directing “Chernobyl Diaries” I wouldn’t be able to do it because of all the other things I have going on. As a producer you are able to over think projects.

MG: What other projects are you working on next?
OP: I actually have a policy of not discussing any projects that I have in development. Sorry.

Brad Parker is making his directorial debut with the new film “Chernobyl Diaries”. The film is co-wrote and produced by Oren Peli, known for the “Paranormal Activity” series. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Bradley about working on the film and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us why you chose “Chernobyl Diaries” for your directorial debut?
Brad Parker: There were two things really. The idea of working with Oren Peli who is a great guy and sort of a master of suspense was very exciting. The other thing was the city itself. It was a place I had been aware of and had collected photos of the location thinking that someday I would shoot a film there. When we first met we hit it off and were instantly able to start talking about the city as a character. We got right into the nuts and bolts of production. The place and the man were the two main elements.

MG: So you had knowledge of the area prior to starting?
BP: Yes I did. I had sort of learned from my friend Mark Romanic that as I came across fascinating photos I should save them on my computer. I created an archive for when I needed a specific look for something. I was able to pull from the knowledge of the place through a photographic sense.

MG: What do you think was this projects biggest challenge?
BP: The biggest challenge I think was the amount of time we had to do the film. I met theproducers of the film about a year ago. I had a rough treatment of the film at that time and we were set to start shooting not too long after that meeting. We really got into production very quickly. We shot the film in about 20 days so that was probably the biggest challenge. It was a lot of fun but very hard at the same time. Some of the locations were challenging and there were a number of things going on in a few of the scenes.

MG: Your background is in visual effects. Did you get involved with any of that for this film?
BP: I did. I got involved by deciding where not to use visual effects. I have being doing visual effects work for so long that I have become aware of where effects work and where they do not. I had a limited budget so I had to figure out how to use that appropriately. I worked with my friend and former co-worker Mark Forker on the visual stuff. It was great to be out there with a friend and an ally. We are very like minded and I trust him. He and I see eye to eye when it comes to visual aesthetics.

MG: What do you think you were able to take from this shoot that you will be able to use in future projects?
BP: The experience of working with this group of actors. It’s kind of semi-improvisational which I really liked. I found it very liberating and it was a great way to work. Working on long takes was another thing I loved. That was a great way to shoot and get natural performances. I think I will be taking that with me for future shoots.

MG: Are you at all nervous about the film opening up against “Men in Black III”?
BP: It’s hard to say. I don’t know what to expect being this is my first film. I am a big fan of the “Men in Black” series. I hope people respond well to the film. I don’t know how we will do but I hope people like it.

MG: Do you know what your next project will be?
BP: I am in development right now with Bad Robot. My friend Matt Reeves is producing the film and it is being released by Paramount. I can’t really say too much about it just yet.

Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 47 mins
Columbia Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

It’s been 10 years since Agent’s “J” and “K” have made our world safe from aliens. A lot of things have changed since then. A lot hasn’t. But when the fate of the world depends on things changing 40 years in the past, who you gonna call? No, not the Ghostbusters!

The original “Men in Black” was the second of three summer films that established Will Smith as a bonafide box office star (and a sure bet to open a film over the 4th of July). His young buck agent “J” played perfectly off of Tommy Lee Jones’ gruff agent “K.” “MIB 3” finds them just as we remember them. But MIB itself has changed. The new head of the agency is the lovely “O” (Emma Thompson). She and “K” appear to have a bit of a past but if that’s true she’s not saying. When a galactic menace named Boris the Animal ( played by “Flight of the Conchords” Jemaine Clement) escapes his lunar prison, intending to settle a long time score with “K”, “J” must travel back in time to 1969, where he again encounters “K” (a brilliant Josh Brolin). While there doors are unlocked and questions are answered.

A resounding return to the magic that made the original “Men in Black” so successful, “MIB 3” is what a summer movie should be: FUN! Well written and featuring some of the best effects on screen this year (my apologies, “Avengers”), the film also features some fine performances. Smith easily slips back into the wise cracking “J” while Jones has mastered the crusty old mentor role. The standout here is Brolin, who nails Jones’ mannerisms and vocal tics. Every time he calls Smith “slick,” hondo” or “sport” you almost expect to see Jones standing behind him. Clement is also solid in a role I never would have considered him for. His Boris the Animal (“it’s JUST Boris,” he hisses when addressed by his full moniker) is truly evil and much more suited to take over the world then Johnny Knoxville’s head in “MIB 2.” The visual effects are just as sharp, with 12 time Oscar nominee (and 7 time winner, including for the original “Men in Black”) Rick Baker and staff outdoing themselves.

Director Sonnenfeld keeps the pace moving smoothly while the script by, among others, Etan Coen (“Tropic Thunder”) and David Koepp (“Jurassic Park,” “Spider-man”) delivers the humor as well as an unexpected emotional payoff. As in the other films in the series, the production values are top notch with special credit going to cinematographer Bill Pope (the “Matrix” films, “Spider-Man 2 and 3”), whose lens seemingly captured a post card of New York City, circa 1969. Credit as well to long time Sonnenfeld production designer Bo Welch, whose attention to the detail of the late 1960s is outstanding.

Starring: Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski and Olivia Dudley
Directed by: Bradley Parker
R
Running time: 1 hour 30 mins
Warner Brothers

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Blame “The Blair Witch Project.” Since that film came out in 1999, a plethora of “found footage” films has invaded the multiplex. Some of them (“Cloverfield,” the “Paranormal Activity” series) have been downright scary. Others, like the recent “Apollo 18,” have been anything but. Now we have “Chernobyl Diaries” which, thankfully, is no “Apollo 18.”

On a trip to Europe three young friends visit all of the major cities on the continent. London. Prague. Frankfurt. The trio is made up of Chris (McCartney), his girlfriend Natalie (Dudley) and their friend Amanda (Devin Kelly). The group ends up in Kiev, where they plan to meet up with Chris’ brother, Paul (Sadowski). The plan is to take a trip to Moscow. But the plans change when Paul enlists Uri (Dimitri Diatchenko), an “extreme tour” guide. Uri informs them that he can take the group to Pripyat, which is where the workers of the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant and their families lived. They learn that, after the reactor meltdown a quarter century ago, the residents of the town were given less than five minutes to evacuate. It now stands as a town that time forgot, where because of the fallout, nothing can live. Almost nothing.

Best described as “I Am Legend” meets “Paranormal Activity,” “Chernobyl Diaries” is a pretty slick little film. The “Paranormal Activity” gene comes straight from the source as the film was co-written by Oren Peli, the writer/director of the original film. His script is solid here, with an unflinching look at what the effects of a nuclear disaster can be. In Pripyat giant bears and packs of dogs hunt in the woods while fish resembling the kind swimming near the nuclear plant on “The Simpsons” fill the lake. The city is also occupied by what appears to be a race of people that have mutated into night dwelling monsters.

Though some of the scares are telegraphed the majority of the film is pretty intense. Credit a strong cast, a keen eye by first time director Parker and a production designer who has managed to bring, excuse the pun, a dead town to life. The set pieces are impressive as are the visual effects. If you’re looking for a fright this holiday weekend you could do much worse then “Chernobyl Diaries.”

Emma Fuhrmann stars opposite Morgan Freeman in the upcoming Rob Reiner film “The Magic of Belle Island”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Emma recently about her role in the film.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the film “The Magic of Belle Island”?
Emma Fuhrmann: The film is about Morgan Freeman’s character Monty who moves in next door to where my family lives. My character becomes very intrigued by Monty and seeks his help with a few things. In the end our lives are changed by happens over the course of the summer. It’s about our journey together.

AL: Can you tell us a little more about your role?
EF: My character’s name is Finnegan O’Neil. She is the middle daughter in a family with three girls. She is sort of the tom boy type and likes to be outside.

AL: What was it that interested you in the role?
EF: My agent had sent me the script and after reading it I thought the character would be cool to play. I live in Texas so I ended up doing a video audition. Around 2 or 3 weeks later I got a call from my agent saying that Rob wanted to see me. I flew to New York and a couple hours after the audition while waiting in the airport I found out I was offered the role.

AL: What was your first response when you found out you had gotten the role?
EF: I wanted to scream but I couldn’t scream because I was in the airport. I just started crying.

AL: What was it like working with Morgan and Rob?
EF: It was such an amazing experience. Everyone was so nice. I remember one day Rob and Morgan were singing all these songs together and it was really funny. They were actually really good singers.

AL: Was there anything difficult about the role?
EF: I had to yell at Morgan in one of the scene and it seemed kind of weird that I was yelling at Morgan Freeman. The rest of the scenes were pretty easy as I am a little like my character.

AL: What do you think you learned from working on this film?
EF: I learned a lot from watching Morgan. He would stay in character all of the time even when we weren’t shooting. He played his character so well. I learned that it’s important to always stay in character. It’s help a lot. It was really fun watching those guys work.

Max Charles is only 8-years old but is having on heck of busy year. He is co-starring in “The Three Stooges” and even playing the role of a young Peter Parker in this summer’s reboot “The Amazing Spider-Man”. He is also voicing Sherman in the upcoming animated film “My Peaboy & Sherman”. Max took our sometime to chat with Media Mikes about this busy year and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about experience on the film “The Three Stooges”, must have been a fun time?
Max Charles: “The Three Stooges” was so much fun to film. We were in Atlanta all summer and since my scenes are with Will (Sasso), Sean (Hayes) and Chris (Diamantopoulos), I got to hang out with them in the green room. They are so funny and we were always laughing even in between scenes.

MG: What did you enjoy most about playing the young orphan Peezer?
MC: Peezer is the Three Stooges little buddy so that was fun!! I really like the character because he seems like a nice and fun kid. He really cares about his friends especially his best friend Murph. Peezer also encourages the Stooges to do the right thing and try to save the orphanage.

MG: How was it working on the upcoming “The Amazing Spider-Man” and playing a young Peter Parker?
MC: Amazing!! I still can’t believe I am Peter Parker and got to work on this film! The Amazing Spider-Man was my first feature film so it will always be REALLY special to me. Whenever I saw Andrew on set he would come over and sit with me and we would talk about the movie and acting. I thought that was really cool. When we were in New York filming we saw him riding his bike when we were walking in our hotel and when he saw me he rode over to talk to me. Nice is cool!

MG: Was it exciting to play such a notable superhero?
MC: Spider-Man has ALWAYS been my favorite superhero! When I was like three years old I was even Spider-Man for Halloween! I think I wore that costume ALL YEAR! I had NO idea I would EVER get to be Spider-Man in a movie!

MG: You are set to voice Sherman in the upcoming animated film “My Peaboy & Sherman”, tell us about that?
MC: Sherman is a GREAT character and SO much fun. He has a big heart but he seems to accidentally get in a ton of trouble. Mr. Ty Burrell plays Mr Peabody who is a very smart Dog who is always getting Sherman out of the trouble he makes. It’s awesome because they get to travel in a time machine and go to fun places. Sherman would be a fun kid to be friends with!

MG: What do you like most about voice work?
MC: Voice work is great because you can get crazy with your voice and acting. I like getting into the character when we are recording a session instead of just standing there saying the words. They said they are getting some pretty funny behind the scenes footage too.

MG: What other projects do you have planned upcoming?
MC: I play Max Weaver in an ABC comedy pilot called “Down To Earth”, so we hope that gets picked up for Fall. It’s a really funny show. I’m working on “Peabody and Sherman” right now and doing several voices for other tv shows like “Family Guy”, “American Dad” and “Robot Chicken”. I have a movie called “Unstable” coming out soon that I am one of the leads in and I did a guest spot on “Scent of The Missing” for TNT and I got to play the missing. I’m also working on some music with my brothers.

Directed by: Ralph Fiennes
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Running Time: 124 minutes

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

I haven’t seen an Shakespeare adaption this good since “Titus”. The story of “Coriolanus” has been revamped and brought forward into modern times. Ralph Fiennes is not a good actor…he is an amazing actor. I mean have you seen him in the “Harry Potter” series and even Hades in “Titans” series. I know he’s won awards for other films in the past but those are my favorites. If you know the story then you know it is not for the squeamish. This film is bad-ass and is a mix of “Rambo” and “Fight Club”, with the dialogue of Shakespeare.

“Coriolanus” is also directed by Fiennes, job well done for sure. Fiennes is also not alone is this film though he is backed by a great supporting cast including Gerard Butler (“300”), Vanessa Redgrave (“Letters to Juliet”), Brian Cox (“Super Troopers”), Jessica Chastain (“The Help”) and James Nesbitt (“The Way”). It is a real team effort with this film and everyone pinches in there’s and more.

The story of “Coriolanus” is one of honor and betrayal, what else would you expect from Shakespeare. It follows Caius Martius aka Coriolanus (Fiennes), who is a Roman General, put up against his people who both respect yet fear him. Coriolanus, fed up against his power-hungry mother (Redgrave) and being rejected by his own people, starts a riot that gets him expelled from Rome. After being banished, he joins up with his enemy Tullus Aufidius (Butler) in order to get his revenge and meet his own destiny.

The Blu-ray presentation is very impressive. The 1080p transfer looks great and the audio sounds great with its DTS HD-MA 5.1 track, especially with the action scenes. The special features are not amazing but decent. There is a interesting/in-depth commentary from director/star Ralph Fiennes, I really love listening to him talk. Lastly there is a decent featurette “The Making of Coriolanus”. This release also comes packaged with a DVD a long side with the Blu-ray disc.

Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Liam Neeson, Dermot Mulroney
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Universal Studios
Release Date: May 15, 2012
Running Time: 117 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out 5 stars

Liam Neeson is definitely one bad-ass son-bitch. He proved it recently in “Taken” and “Unknown” and again in this film ‘The Grey”.  This film is the perfect thriller from the moment it starts and really nails the aspect of isolation.  The locations where this film was shot was absolutely beautiful to look at and I found myself just staring.  The pace is slow moving but really gets deep into its characters and leaves you at the edge of your seat.  Also be sure to stay through the credits for a cool bonus scene!

The story follows a group of oil-men, who become stranded in the remote Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. Ottway (Neeson) leads the group of men, who are forced to survive against a pack of grey wolves who are stalking them.  They have to use more than just brute strength in order to outsmart these vicious pack of wolves in order to survive.

This release comes in a Two-Disc Combo Pack with the Blu-ray and DVD.  As well as a digital streaming copy using UltraViolet service.  The video looks absolutely perfect in its 1080p transfer and wonderful aspect ratio of 2.40:1.  The audio is also perfect with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, you literally almost feel every gust of wind and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.    The special features though are lacking.  There is a decent and information commentary track with director/co-writer Joe Carnahan and editors Roger Barton and Jason Hellmann. Lastly, there is also twenty plus minutes of deleted scenes, which are definitely worth checking out.

Selene Luna has appeared in variety of television series and movies such as “The Cho Show” and 2010’s “My Bloody Valentine”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Selene about her career and what she is currently working on.

Adam Lawton: What made you decide to go into show business?
Selene Luna: I have a very specific answer for that. Being the only little person in my entire family I didn’t grow up around anyone else that was like me. For that reason I always understood that I would be stared at and or treated differently. By the age of 5 I decided I would be an entertainer. I just thought that it would be a good platform for people to stare at me on my terms. I figured I would give them something to look at. Everything kind of snow balled from me having that attitude.

AL: Being involved in both standup comedy and acting is there one type of performance that has been more of a challenge than the other?
SL: I will do whatever I can get my hands on. To be honest it’s all equally challenging. As far as gratification goes I get the most gratification from performing live on stage. I love theater and live performance. That is my number one passion. Both types of performance are challenging and require tenacity and leather skin.

AL: Do you ever find it hard to get people to break out of the idea that you can only play certain roles because of your stature?
SL: That is probably my greatest challenge. It is something that has always been there and will probably never go away. That is something that attracted me to being a standup comic. I feel likethat is the only place where I have control of the material and I can do what I want. I am able to give whatever impression I want to give. As far as scripted television or films go that is just not an option for me. The only person I can think of that has been able to break through this type of thing is Peter Dinklage. He is one in a million. Just to be clear my philosophy or take on this type of thing is that Hollywood equally discriminates against everyone. I don’t think little people are special in this department. Transgendered and or gay individuals are often discriminated against as well. You never see a film where the next door neighbor or someone just happens to be bull dyke. That is something you just don’t see. Everyone gets it at a certain level. Someone like me might get it a little more amplified but its show business. We are all equally warned. I think it happens to everyone and it’s brutal. You really have to be into it. It’s also really important I think for performers to create their own material regardless of what they want to do in life.

AL: You have appeared in a number of horror films. Is this a genre you are a fan of?
SL: I love horror. I am a big chicken but I love to get scared. It’s fun for me. From the work I have done horror movie sets are hands down the most fun to work on. If a horror offer comes along I take it and run with it. It’s like being a little kid and it’s a lot of fun. You get to scare people and play around. It’s hilarious! I have never seen a death scene where the entire crew is not fighting to crack up. It’s just so ridiculous. Horror has also been the only genre that will embrace someone like me. The casting for these types of films is more about the freaky and unusual. Call it what you will but it gives me opportunities that I would not have otherwise.

AL: Can you tell us about your role in “Girls Will Be Girls”?
SL: The people involved in that show are friends of mine and they have been doing it for awhile. I happened to be visiting a friend who owns the studio where the show was being shot. I was walking by and one of the producers pulled me aside and said I would be a perfect fit for a role they were looking to cast. I love everyone involved and it was a lot fun. I got to play an 8 year old kid who is kind of like the neighborhood brat. She lives next door to one of the main characters who I harass to the point of them kidnapping me. It’s super funny.

AL: You have worked with Margaret Cho quite a bit in your career. How did you two start working together?
SL: We have known each other for quite a long time now. We first met through a mutual friend at one of Margaret’s birthday parties. I had gone as this friends date and that’s wherewe met for the first time. We bonded from there. I had actually already known Margaret’s husband through the art and burlesque scene. I had been doing burlesque for many years by this point. Sometimes Margaret and her husband would come to the shows and participate. We have a lot of mutual friends and it was just a matter of time before our worlds collided. The first work I did with her was the off Broadway burlesque show that Margaret put together. We ended up touring with that show and we really bonded during that time.

AL: Do you have any other projects in the works?
SL: Starting in May I will be doing a tour with Dita Von Teese. I have toured with her before but we will be starting out by doing some west coast shows and we will be announcing more dates as the tour progresses. I am very excited about this. The burlesque world is really where I learned my chops. It is still a great passion of mine and I have a lot of fun doing that. I will also be doing some more stand-up dates with Margaret.

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker and Liam Neeson
Directed by: Peter Berg
PG 13
Running time: 2 hrs 21 mins
Universal

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

“H-7. Hit. B-7. Miss. H-8. Hit. You sunk my Battleship!”

If you grew up in the 1970s you remember the television commercial about the two old men playing “Battleship” while attending the opera. I certainly played it enough in my time (though I will admit here that I often cheated, stating “Miss” when in reality my mine sweeper should have been heading to the bottom of the ocean). Now, from Hasbro, the toy company that gave you such films as “Transformers” and “G.I. Joe” (as well as their sequels), comes “Battleship.”

2005. A planet almost identical in location from its sun as Earth is discovered in a far away galaxy. Hoping to learn more about it, our government builds a transmission station and the next year sends a radio beacon into space, hoping to reach the planet. The project is called, simply, the Beacon Project. As the beam heads skyward, we are introduced to Alex Hopper (Kitsch), a slacker in every sense of the word. Alex currently lives on the couch in the home owned by his brother Stone (Alexander Skarsgard), a commander in the U.S. Navy. Another of his apparently frequent run-ins with the law cause Stone to lay the law down, demanding Alex make something of his life by joining him in the Navy. Aye-aye, sir!

Over the top in every way, “Battleship” is two-plus hours of explosions in what is really a mash-up of “Independence Day,” “Transformers,” “Signs” and “Power Rangers.” But, not necessarily in a good way. The film starts off promisingly, with Alex going above and beyond to obtain a snack for the pretty daughter (Decker) of a Navy admiral (Neeson). But then things begin to unravel. In what seems like a day (no transitional scenes) Alex is now a naval officer stationed in Hawaii. He is also part of a soccer team that plays the sailors of the Japanese navy who are visiting Pearl Harbor to take part in a training exercise and attend a dedication to the battleship U.S.S. Missouri. Good point? I’m going to say “no.” Because I know that if I were a naval veteran at Pearl Harbor the last thing I want to see is the Japanese navy! Anyway, during the game Alex gets in an altercation with a Japanese player. Apparently that’s a bad thing because, as Alex heads out to sea on his training exercise he’s informed that “JAG” is probably going to kick him out of the Navy. Really? Without a trial? Is Alex in the RUSSIAN navy?

On the slight “plus” side of the film, the special effects are first rate though, like “Transformers 2,” they are eventually almost a blur because of the films’ dependence on them. The cast does its best with what it was given. Kitsch is a likable actor who’s two biggest roles (here and this past spring entry “John Carter”) have pitted him against special effects. He needs to find a role that lets him achieve the performances he reached on “Friday Night Lights.” And hopefully avoid his agent’s phone call when the ultimate Hasbro movie, “Lincoln Logs vs Tinkertoys,” is being cast!