MPAA Rating: PG-13 / PG
Distributed by: Lions Gate
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 217 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

With “Marvel’s The Avengers” on the way this May, this is very hot content. The “Ultimate Avengers” series was made back in 2005 and “New Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow” was made in 2008. If you already own the “Ultimate Avengers” films, you don’t need to re-purchase this for the bonus film “Next Avengers”. If you don’t own any of these I would run out to the store and grab these, especially since they are being sold at a very reasonable price. If you have a Blu-ray player, I would recommend you grab this set

“Ultimate Avengers” is inspired by Marvel’s best-selling books, The Ultimates. It focuses on six heroes, lead by Captain America, who must fight as one to save the world. “Ultimate Avengers 2” forces our heroes to reunite in order to fight a rematch of heroic proportions in order to assist The Black Panther. “New Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow” focuses on the spawn of The Avengers taking the lead after their parents demise was met by Ultron.

To top off this impressive collection of movies, there is also a ton of bonus features included on this release. There are a few making-of featurettes, interactive games, concepts art gallery and more. The animation on this film are very colorful and sharp. The movies are just plain fun and if you are fan of Marvel’s work it is a no brainer. If you are looking to get more excited for “Marvel’s The Avengers” to hit theaters then this collection is a good way to brush up on your favorite superheros and get ready for May 4th.

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Created by: Loren Bouchard
Voices of: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 286 minutes

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

If you can get past the first episode of this show, you will find this is a decent but not amazing show. If you find the voice of Bob familiar BTW, that is because is it done by H. Jon Benjamin, who also voices Agent Sterling Archer on FX’s “Archer”. I like the animation overall, it is raw and not perfect (which a a rare thing).  If you are a fan of this show be sure to tune it and support it. It is currently airing its second season on Sunday nights on Fox. I think the first season is a bit better than the current season as well.

The show centers on the Belcher family, who run the hamburger restaurant, Bob’s Burgers. The show is fun for all the family and definitely included quite a bit of family dysfunction. Some of the situations that Bob deals with are that his oldest daughter, Tina, can’t control her hormones. His middle son, Gene, helps promoting the restaurant by dressing up as a giant burger, but forgets to take the costume off to pee. Lastly we have Louise, the youngest, that tells her class that Bob’s burgers are made from human flesh!. It is no “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons” but it is far better than crap like “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show”.

The special features are impressive overall. If you are a fan of audio commentary, this DVD set has it. In fact, it has an audio commentary for every single episode, which is quite sweet. There is a funny music video for “Lifting Up the Skirt of the Night”. There are two audio outtakes for the following episodes “Bed & Breakfast” and “Sexy Dance Fighting”. Lastly there is the original demo included with an introduction from the creator Loren Bouchard.

Multi-award nominated video director Tony Kaye, who has worked with such artists as Soul Asylum, Roger Waters and the late Johnny Cash, made a big splash with his first feature film, “American History X.” The film, about a white supremist gang member trying to keep his younger brother from following in his footsteps, featured Edward Norton in an Oscar nominated performance. The studio, New Line Cinema, asked Kaye to re-cut his original version, which he did. Unsatisfied, a third edit was done without Kaye’s approval. Outraged he asked the studio to remove his name from the credits and replace it with Alan Smithee, a common pseudonym for directors whose film was taken away from them and re-cut against their wishes. The name has appeared on such films as “Hellraiser: Bloodline” (directed by Kevin Yagher), “Catchfire” (directed by Dennis Hopper) and the television film “Riviera,” which was directed by the great John Frankemheimer. When the studio refused he asked that his credit be listed as “Humpty Dumpty.”

Despite the controversy, Kaye is still a talented and much sought after director. He has earned six Grammy award nominations for his video work, winning the award in 2006 for his video of Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” His second feature, an abortion documentary entitled “Lake of Fire,” was praised by critics and named to the short list (Best 15) of documentaries by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His third and most recent film, “Detachment,” recently screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, again to high praise. During a long day promoting the film Mr. Kaye took the time to sit down with Media Mikes to talk about art, working with his daughter and the meaning of life!

Mike Smith: How has your day been?
Tony Kaye: Quite hectic, thank you. But I enjoy these different experiences in speaking about my work.

MS: “Detachment” is a very deep and dark film. How did you become attached to the project?
TK: I’ve always had an interest in being a teacher…maybe art school or film school or something. I’m very interested in social issues. So when my agent sent me the script and I saw what it was about I was immediately intrigued. It was really the wonderful writing of Carl Lund…it was so good that I wished I had written it. I felt it would give me a wonderful opportunity to get some great actors and some great performances.

MS: The film features some of Adrien Brody’s best work. How did you attract him to the film?
TK: Adrien’s father has been a public high school teacher for 30 years. And he reads a lot of the scripts that are sent to Adrien. And he said, “son, you have to do this one!” (laughs) It was really an incredible opportunity for me. I’ve got a teacher that wrote the movie and then I get the son of a teacher as the star of the movie. Plus I had the opportunity to cast an Oscar winning movie star. Adrien is such a cool guy and he brought that dynamic to the set. All of the other actors were saying, “well, Adrien seems to be listening to Tony so I might as well do the same!”

MS: Speaking of the other actors, you have a great supporting cast, including James Caan, Blythe Danner and Marcia Gay Harden. Were you involved in the casting? Were you able to pick and choose the actors you thought best for the roles?
TK: When you have a script that’s as good as the one Carl wrote it’s very easy…it’s certainly not difficult…for great actors to want to give their time.

MS: The animation sequences in the film are quite original. How did you come about the decision to include it?
TK: The idea of the animation came to me during editing. I wanted the school to be a character. I wanted the school to talk. And the way I thought it could talk would be if the blackboard became animated. And there was no texting in the movie…there was no “smart” board. There was a blackboard. There are no computers…in fact the teachers don’t have lap tops, they write in composition books.

MS: The film also features the screen debut of Ms. Betty Kaye, your daughter. What was the experience like, directing her?
TK: It was an incredible gift and opportunity for a father that’s a director to actually work with his oldest daughter on her first film. It was an incredibly challenging role for her and she’s so brave. It makes me cry…I weep…and I’ve seen the movie fifty times! And I still cry when I see what she’s exposed herself to. Really unbelievable. She’s a great artist and she’s finishing her education now at University. I should add that I had every intention of not giving her the role if she wasn’t the best. I saw a couple hundred girls for that role and she really was the best. I gave her the script two or three years before we made the film so she really knew the movie. She really knew that character from every single angle.

MS: You have a book coming out titled “Epicomedy.” Tell us a little bit about that project.
TK: I was originally an art student…I had to study filmmaking when I was in college. My initial calling was to pain. I’ve been painting all my life. I did a couple of conceptual shows in the late 1980s. I’m doing a book…a couple books…which will include all of my scribbling and paintings and things.

MS: IMDB lists your next project as “Attachment.” Any similarities in that film and this one or just in the titles?
TK: Well, nothing is an accident, you know? I believe that everything is predestined…worked out…in your life. But yet your choices are what your choices are. And it’s up to us how we deal with them….re-actively or proactively. Hopefully not re-actively, as I’ve learned in my own life. There is a similarity in the underlying theme. I didn’t write “Attachment.” I actually thought it was a joke when it was sent to me. The underlying theme of both movies is love. And that love beats death. So there is an underlying theme, but it’s buried eight million miles deep!

Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Timothy Gibbs, Michael Landes, Wendy Glenn
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributed by: Big Air Studios
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 82 minutes

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

When you have a title on the DVD, “From the director of Saw II, III & IV”, it is an immediate draw for me. I have loved director Darren Lynn Bousman’s work, specifically “Repo: The Genetic Opera”. This film is totally different from those works though. It is well-paced, haunting and delivers some great spooks for sure. “11-11-11” had a rocky road with distribution in theaters and seemed to get shun to DVD with the subtitle “The Prophecy”. Either way I am glad it finally made it out and people get to see it. Horror fans are going to want to check this out for sure. It definitely has similarity to “The Omen” series in a sense but overall stands perfectly well on its own. It manages to successfully make you look behind you back after watching the film.

After the death of both his wife and child, author Joseph Crone travels from the United States to Barcelona, Spain, in order to reunite with his estranged brother and dying father. Joseph is suddenly haunted with by the number 11 and he needs to get to the bottom of it. He finds that the number holds meaning not only to himself but possibly to all of religion and 11/11/11 turns out to be more than just a date…it’s a warning!

The DVD looks good with its Widescreen 16/9, 2:35.1 transfer.  I still would have loved to seen this film released on Blu-ray, not sure why Big Sky Studios skipped that option. The sound is also impressive for DVD and packs a 5.1 Dolby Digital track, which works well with the haunting score.  Major props needs to go to Joseph Bishara for creating such an amazing score just like he did last year with “Insidious”.  The special features only include a short behind-the-scenes making-of featurette and a few deleted scenes. I would have loved to seen a commentary track from Darren Lynn Bousman on this release.

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Directed by: Steve McQueen
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Lucy Walters, Mari-Ange Ramirez
MPAA Rating: NC-17
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Running Time: 101 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Michael Fassbender deserved to win an award for this role, his performance in this film is honestly nothing short of amazing. It is haunting and also very powerful. “Shame” tells the story of Brandon, who is a New York businessman that is completely obsessed with sex. His life is turned upside-down when his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) arrives and brings his past current in his life. Carey is also stunning in the film and really nails the role as well. The film was rated NC-17, since it is a pretty graphic, warning to the kiddies, but overall is packed with an amazing very intense and engaging story. Definitely one of the best of 2011.

The Blu-ray presentation is notable and and looks sharp in its 2.35:1 widescreen 1080p transfer. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is subtle but kills with the film’s music and score. I loved this film’s score and thought it drove the movie so well, kudos to Harry Escott. This release also comes with a DVD copy of the film and a digital copy (which expires on August 31, 2012). I wish Fox would get on the bandwagon and start including the streaming Ultraviolet digital copies.

The special features on the release are not as impressive as the film is though. There are four three-minute featurettes including “Focus On Michael Fassbender”, “Director Steve McQueen”, “The Story Of Shame” and “A Shared Vision”. They are short and a little bit of a let down overall. There is also an interview included with Fassbender called “Fox Movie Channel Presents: In Character With Michael Fassbender”. Lastly there is the the original theatrical trailer included.

Directed by: Joshua Logan
Starring: Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 179 minutes

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

This film was based off the classic Broadway musical and it definitely has it problems overall but still manages to entertain. The film runs a very long three hours and definitely drags in parts. The saving grace for the film was the musical numbers and the performances.  I really enjoyed the music and Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave are just stunning. You can just see the amount of production that went into this film, no expenses were spared. The Blu-ray itself is worth picking up if you are a fan of this film for sure and it is a great way to introduce the film to you if you have never seen it.

This 45th Anniversary Edition comes with a Digibook packaging, which contains a lot of great images and information. Also included is a separate CD containing four songs from the score, though I wish they would have included the full CD. The video resolution on the Blu-ray looks great with its 1080p transfer and presented in an 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The audio included is a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which is fantastic, especially with the film’s musical sequences.

The special features are decent at best with only two new features for this release. There is a new commentary track by Stephen Farber, which is interesting and very in-depth. There is also a new featurette called “Camelot: Falling Kingdoms”, which runs about 30 minutes and includes interviews and some interesting production information. There are also two featurettes included that were on the previously released on DVD and are only presented in standard definition. The first is called “The World Premiere of Camelot” and takes us back to to 1967 for the premiere of the film. The second is “The Story of Camelot”, which focuses on the “real” Camelot. Lastly there is four theatrical trailers included. Since this film is known for its music, it is sad that their is no Isolated Score track that was on the DVD release.

Synopsis: The oft-told tales of Arthurian legend have always been fertile ground for art. With countless books, films and songs on the subject, there have been many interpretations of Merlin, the Knights of the Round Table, the glories of the kingdom of Camelot and the doomed love triangle of King Arthur, Lady Guenevere and Sir Lancelot du Lac. The musical Camelot, however, remains the most iconic. Consider the historical context of the piece. Originated for the stage in 1960, Camelot coincided with the presidency of a young John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was a big fan of Camelot; he identified with King Arthur and, according to the First Lady, she and the President would often listen to the soundtrack before going to bed at night. Tragically, and ironically, just as Arthur’s rule lasted for one brief, shining moment, so did Kennedy’s, and the press forever linked the two legendary leaders many hundreds of years apart. Camelot is emblematic of JFK and, as such, it is emblematic of an era.

Camelot celebrates its 45th anniversary with the Blu-ray debut on April 24th !

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Directed by: Robert Persons
Narrated by: William Davidson
Distributed by: Variance Films
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 72 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I am a sucker for cool poster art. I usually get easily draw or turned off by a film’s poster or box art. “General Orders No. 9” was one of those examples, with its pipe-smoking rabbit. I was shocked to find out that it was in fact a documentary about deals with the progress of change happening American South. Doesn’t sound interesting to you? Well it is definitely not for everyone. This is a very interesting unique film and if you are a fan of documentary and amazing cinematography then check out “General Orders No. 9” for sure.

If you have seen the work of Terrence Malick, especially “The Tree of Life”, I couldn’t help but think that some of this footage was from that movie. It seems like something that would have come out of Malick’s head. The film is a unique display of experimental filmmaking that has spanned over eleven years’ work from first time writer-director Bob Persons. This is a film about the changing landscape of the American South and focuses on nature and man’s progress. It is told entirely with images, poetry, and music throughout.

“General Orders No. 9” is definitely a unique film and quite a visual journey of the South’s landscapes. It is subtle and simplistic, yet while sending across a very important message. The film is currently available to own using iTunes for a reasonable $9.99. Like I said this is not for everyone, but you are open for an experimental documentary on the landscapes of the South then this will be for you.

Joel M. Reed is the writer and director of the cult classic film “”Bloodsucking Freaks”. Joel also appears in the upcoming independent horror/comedy “Supernaturalz”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Joel about creating a cult classic and what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get involved with the film “Supernaturalz”?
Joel M. Reed: For many years Kevin (Sean Michaels) has been a student of mine and follower. However he misled and said I was to do a hard core scene with a stripper. I would have not only added length to the production but width.

MG: How was it working with Kevin Sean Michaels being the director?
JR: He made me the man I am today.

MG: Tell us about how you came up with the idea for “Bloodsucking Freaks”?
JR: I was producing a film called “Teen Demon” and having trouble raising money when an agent Dorothy Palmer told me about an off-Broadway S &M Ballet being presented by a guy name Giles Fontaine. It was him and his girlfriend totally nude. I had dinner with a group of famous and rich ballet aficionados the following week and told them of the show. They all demanded tickets. After the performance they all said if I made a movie about an off Broadway S&M theater they would give me all the money. I wrote the script in one day and they all sent over s&m stuff from their collections. Some too sick for me. When they read the final script they said they loved it but they were all broke at the moment. About that time Joel Weinberg a film attorney called me and asked me if I had a movie I could should before the end of the year. I said, “Yes, “Sardu, Master of the Screaming Virgins”. Do you want to read a script?” He replied, “Fuck the script.” Pick up a check on Monday. It was for $125,000.00 dollars.

MG: When Troma acquired the film they changed the title, which was the third time for this film, any feeling about that?
JR: The film would have succeeded under any title.

MG: Did you ever feel that you were going to far with the content and gore in the film?
JR: I thought the film was funny. Actually is quiet tame by today’s standards.

MG: How does it feel to be the director of one of the most controversial films of all time?
JR: A lot of Goth kids chase me down the street.

MG: Tell us about your film school and its teachings on how make your own cult movie?
JR: I have a new concept in teaching film writing and directing and producing. It’s more like Navy Seal Training. It trains you in all the qualities that make one a film maker that have nothing to do with art.

MG: Will we ever see “Bloodsucking Freaks II” get made?
JR: I have some even more earth shaking films to made with more shock value.
Sardu and Ralphus are gone. Anything I do is the true “BSF Part II”.

Directed by: Drew Goddard
Starring: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford
Distributed by: Lionsgate Entertainment
Running time: 105 minutes

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

In this campy horror film, five young adults plan a vacation in the woods at a cabin only to end up with a lot more than they expected. This movie starts out as what one would presume is your typical comedy/horror film. Although it takes a whole other angle and leaves the audiences surprised. I would have to say that this is a must see if you like quirky movies and especially if you are a Joss Whedon fan, who co-wrote and produced.

When the group ends up at this cabin in the middle of the woods, they are just looking at an secluded escape from daily life. If the location wasn’t creepy enough, the house is filled with animal heads mounted on the walls, a one way mirror hidden behind a gruesome picture and a cellar filled to the brim with odd knickknack and trinkets from times past. The quintuplet of friends soon find themselves in the middle of a horror story, unable to escape what turns out to be a ritual killing with a much much bigger picture.

If you are already familiar with other works by Joss Whedon, then early on you will begin to recognize faces. If your like me and love his work, you’ll get more and more excited as the movie progresses. With a menagerie of familiar and new actors and a story only Joss Whedon could weave, this movie proves to be a perfect blend of horror and comedy. I felt that it rides the fine line between the two genres expertly. I have seen many films but this theater experience was just amazing.  The audience was totally just glued to the screen, as was I.  This film will not disappoint.

Starring: Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantoupoulos and Will Sasso
Directed by: Bobby and Peter Farrelly
PG
Running time: 1 hour 32 mins
20th Century Fox

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In 1930, a film called “Soup to Nuts” was released. Though it didn’t break box office records it is best remembered for one great achievement: introducing the world to The Three Stooges. Consisting of brothers Moe and Shemp Howard (Shemp would be replaced by Curly shortly afterwards) and violinist Larry Fine, the trio poked, kicked and nyuk-nyuk-nyuked their way through almost 200 shorts and feature films. Their popularity was so great that their studio, Columbia, would refuse to rent them to theatre owners unless they promised to play a poorly performing Columbia feature. The Stooges continued on in various forms (after Curly died, Shemp returned – following Shemp’s death both Joe Besser and Joe DeRita followed). In the 1960s, as television took off, the Stooges were introduced to a new generation, including me. Parents began to complain that their children were poking each other in the eyes and I’ve heard of several cases of one sibling hitting another one in the head with a hammer just because it looked funny on TV. Now, almost four decades after the last Stooges, Moe and Larry, passed away, comes a film that tries to recapture the magic of good, old fashioned slapstick comedy.

Presented in a series of faux-shorts (the first one titled “More Orphan Then Not”), “The Three Stooges” begins with three boys being dropped off at an orphanage. As they grow up they seem to attract any mishap that might be in the area. Moe (Skyler Gisondo) is the bossy one of the bunch. Larry (Lance Chantiles-Wertz) is the quiet one. His silence, along with his very unusual head of hair, make prospective parents wonder if he is undergoing chemotherapy. Curly (Robert Capron) is the million-miles-a-minute hyper one. But they are a team. Years later, now adults, the boys learn the orphanage is in threat of being closed due to funding. Determined to save their home, the Stooges make their way out into the world.

Full of the classic timing and slapstick humor that have made the Stooges fan favorites for almost a century, “The Three Stooges” could have been a horrible disappointment. It would have been difficult to create a bio pic about the boys because their personalities are so engrained in our memories. But to actually emulate all that made the Stooges popular, and do it well, is a miracle. All three leads are superb comedians in their own right, with Emmy award winner Hayes (Larry) being the most recognizable. Sasso (Curly) is a comedy vet with a long stint on “Mad TV” while Diamantoupoulos (Moe) is known more for his serious work on shows like “24.” They all succeed in bringing the Stooges to life with Diamantoupoulos seeming to be channeling Moe Howard. To learn that Howard died less than a week before Diamantoupoulis was born makes that last sentence eerie!

The comedy is pretty toned down by Farrelly brother standards. The majority of the laughs come from the onscreen shenanigans. When the script calls for the inclusion of peeing babies and a testicle joke or two, these modern comedy attempts seem startlingly out of place. But old fans and new fans should rejoice as the Stooges are introduced to a new generation.

Directed by: James Mather, Stephen St. Leger
Starring: Guy Pearce, Maggie Grace, Vincent Regan, Joseph Gilgun, Lennie James, Peter Stormare
Distributed by: Open Road Films / FilmDistrict
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I went into this thinking it would be just another prison rescue movie. Well the movie definitely proved me wrong. Not only was there action from start to finish it was also very funny and kept your attention throughout.

The year is 2079 and Snow (Guy Pearce) is being framed for murder. He finds himself in a no-win situation but with a possibility to clear his name. Pearce does an excellent job and has a lot of one liners that are very humorous. Emilie Warnock (Maggie Grace) plays the president’s daughter. When the two finally meet their personalities clash and find themselves in situations they would rather not be in. Hydell (Joseph Gilgun) plays a very psychotic trigger happy inmate. I do hope to see him in more movies.

The special effects were pretty good for the most part. At the start of the film when Snow is fleeing a crime scene there is a chase. This scene doesn’t look that well and almost feels as if you were watching a video game. Through the rest of the movie the effects weren’t as bad and done quite well.

As I stated before, this is not your typical prison break movie. The movie is filled with action and humor throughout. I definitely left the theater enjoying the movie more than I thought I would have. If you like action/thrillers this movie does not disappoint.

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Directed by: Tom Mattera, David Mazzoni
Starring: Cloris Leachman, Tara Reid, Joshua Ormond
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Breaking Glass Pictures
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 98 minutes

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

When I first heard about this movie, I thought to myself “Cloris Leachman and Tara Reid in a horror movie…I gotta see this”. Well, the latter was a little bit of a let down because Tara Reid is only in maybe 10 minutes of the film. The main star of the film is young actor Joshua Ormond. He definitely delivers a haunting performance. Cloris Leachman is great as usual but doesn’t get to shine much in the role. The ending is a little anti-climatic but overall the film is tight and delivers a few good jumps. Compared to come of the recent “gems” from Breaking Glass Pictures, this one definitely stands out.

The film is set in 1973, where the news is filled with reports of Manson’s killings. Steven (Joshua Ormond) is sent to live with his grandparents (Cloris Leachman and Bev Appleton) in the country while his mother (Tara Reid) and father are temporarily seperated. The grandparents have only one rule…stay away from the corn stalks. Of course Steven is drawn into the fields and what he finds will turn his life into a nightmare. Strange things start happening including strange noises and strange people watching him. It is up to Steven’s family to protect him from what lies beyond the field.

The DVD special features are impressive as usual for Breaking Glass release. The include hiliarious outtakes from Cloris Leachman (what a mouth she has). There is a great making-of documentary included. There are a few behind-the-scenes featurettes, including interviews with real people this film is based of. There is footage from the world premiere focusing on Cloris. Lastly there is a photo gallery and trailer included.

Directed by: Fuminori Kizaki
Japanese Cast: Toshiyuki Morikawa, Rikiya Koyama, Katsunosuke Hori, Yurika Hino – Jean Grey, Hideyuki Tanaka, Kaori Yamagata
English Cast: Steven Blum, Scott Porter, Cam Clarke, Jennifer Hale, Ali Hillis, Fred Tatasciore
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 287 minutes

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

I grew up reading the comics for Marvel’s X-Men and I have always been a fan.  I though have never really enjoyed the live-action “X-Men” films especially the “Origins” series.  This Japanese anime series definitely redeems the “X-Men” brand and kicks some major ass.  It is non-stop action and really intense.  I also very recommend watching with the intended Japanese audio track.  I feel it adds a lot to the anime feel of the series.  Fans of X-Men are going to want to jump at the chance to see this series.  I only wish this series was longer than twelve episodes but luckily there is also a stand-alone “Marvel Anime: Wolverine” series as well.  You here that Sony, please release that one as well!

The series follows the reuniting of The X-Men the death of Jean Grey in order to track down Hisako Ichiki (Armor), a missing teenage girl in Northern Japan. The X-Men need to also go up against fanatical anti-mutant group, the U-Men.  They find out that Professor Xavier reason for bring them back together is bigger than they think. The result could either bridge the gap between mutants and humans, or tear the two species apart forever.

The special features on this DVD are worth checking out though . “Re-Examining The X-Men” is a behind-the-scenes looks into the creating these episodes. “X-Men: A Team of Outsiders” in an in-depth look at Marvel’s famous mutants. “Special Talk Session” is a roundtable discussion with the series creator. though not as cool as this series, check out our review of “Marvel Anime: Iron Man”.

Directed by: Yuzo Sato
English Cast: Adrian Pasdar, Neil Kaplan, Milo Ventimiglia, Cindy Robinson
Japanese Cast: Keiji Fujiwara, Unshō Ishizuka, Rikiya Koyama, Hiroe Oka
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Running Time: 287 minutes

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

I am a huge fan of Japanese anime. Combine that with the amazing work of Marvel superheros and you should have match made in heaven. Although besides the fact that this series looks really cool as an anime, it just doesn’t entertain as much as I thought it would. The series is rather slow and doesn’t get really start until it is almost over. Overall, this series had some good parts and I would recommend to Iron Man fans. I enjoyed the fact it was produced and default to Japanese audio with subtitles, I think that really adds a lot to the feel of the show. If you are looking for some kick-ass Marvel Anime, I would also highly recommend the X-Men series.

The show follows Tony Stark as his arrives in Japan to build a new arc reactor that will deliver unlimited free energy to the Japanese people. He also plans to retire from suiting Iron Man and focus on plans to mass-produce armor known as “Iron Man Dio”. Stark faces not only challenges from the Japanese government and a mysterious organization Zodiac funded by terrorists. Stark needs to battle of them in order to save the day. Keep an eye out for crossover from Marvel including X-Men’s Wolverine.

The special features on the DVD are impressive and included some decent extras. The first feature called “Re-Imagining Iron Man” focuses on converting the show to anime. “21st Century Hero: The Technology of Iron Man” focuses on Tony Stark’s goodies and gadgets. “Special Cross Talk” is a roundtable discussion with the shows creators. “Voicing Tony Stark” is an interview with Japanese voice of Tony Stark, Keiji Fujiwara. I hope Sony is planning on releasing the rest of the Marvel Anime series for “Blade” and “Wolverine” as well. Fingers crossed.

Do you want to meet the stars and minds behind the new musical movie sensation, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, face-to-face? Now is your chance! THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL team recently confirmed the list of cast and crew appearing on each date of this exclusive road tour and are now revealing this list to the world!

The creators of the film, director Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich (Lucifer), are scheduled to appear at each tour stop and will be joined at several exclusive showings by numerous stars of the film. The stars will participate in meet & greets, Q&A forums, sing-a-longs, and more! See below for a list of the cast and crew currently confirmed to appear on the tour and stay tuned for more appearance confirmations for the remainder of the tour coming soon.

***Stars CONFIRMED to join THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL creators Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich on the tour are:

TUCSON, AZ
Marc Senter

EL PASO, TX
Hannah Minx

HOUSTON, TX
Hannah Minx

AUSTIN, TX
Hannah Minx

DALLAS, TX
Hannah Minx

NASHVILLE, TN
J LaRose

ATLANTA, GA
J LaRose

ORLANDO, FL
J LaRose

TAMPA, FL
Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch

CHARLOTTE, NC
Ivan Moody

RICHMOND, VA
Ivan Moody
J LaRose

PITTSBURGH, PA
Briana Evigan

BALTIMORE, MD
Briana Evigan

NEW YORK CITY, NY
Briana Evigan

CHICAGO, IL
Emilie Autumn

DES MOINES, IA
Emilie Autumn
M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan

KANSAS CITY, KS
Emilie Autumn

MORE BEING ADDED SOON!

***All celebrity special guests are confirmed on tour but are subject to cancellation due to professional commitments outside of THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL’S control. Please visit our official Facebook page for tour news and updates: www.facebook.com/devilscarnival.

Buy your tickets NOW to experience the devilish insanity in person with your favorite actors and musicians. Keep in mind, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL can only be seen on this exclusive tour, so you must attend a showing to witness the madness!

See below for all CONFIRMED cities and theaters showing THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL and buy your tickets here: http://thedevilscarnivaltour.eventbrite.com/

4/9 – Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Loft Cinema

4/11 – El Paso, TX @ El Paso Starplex

4/12 – Austin, TX @ Alamo South Lamar

4/13 – Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse

4/14 – Dallas, TX @ Lakewood Theater

4/17 – Nashville, TN @ The Nashville Limelight

4/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Plaza Theater

4/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Premiere Cinema 14 (at Fashion Square Mall)

4/20 – Tampa, FL @ The Tampa Pitcher Show

4/21 – Charlotte, NC @ The Neighborhood Theater

4/22 – Richmond, VA @ The Byrd

4/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Hollywood Theater

4/25 – Baltimore, MD @ The Charles Theatre

4/26 – New York, NY @ Times Scare NYC

4/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Painted Bride

4/28 – South Hadley, MA @ The Tower Theater

4/29 – Boston, MA @ The Foxboro Theater

5/1 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Toronto Underground Theater

5/2 – Toledo, OH @ Collingwood Arts Center

5/3 – Chicago, IL @ The Music Box Theater

5/4 – Des Moines, IA @ The Fluer Cinema Cafe

5/5 – Kansas City, KS @ Leawood Cinema Theater

5/6 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater

5/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Tower Theater

5/9 – Seattle, WA @ The Admiral Theater

5/10 – Portland, OR @ The Clinton St. Theater

5/11 – Sacramento, CA @ The Colonial Theater

For more information and to view the official trailer, visit http://www.TheDevilsCarnival.com.

Purchase the sinister THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL soundtrack at www.TheDevilsCarnival.com, iTunes, or Amazon.com!

THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL is produced by EMPIRE FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP. Executive producer credit goes to Stephen Ruff and Thomas M Kastelz.